Jon Hammond
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Articles by Jon Hammond
Pen in Hand: The Person-Carrying-Something-On-Their-Back moon
When it comes to the different phases of the moon, it’s the big, beautiful full moon that gets the lion’s share of the attention in stories, poetry and song. But the slender crescent of the new moon is magical in its own way. For one thing, it’s much more rare — the graceful arc of the new moon can only be seen a fraction of the amount of time of a large round moon. The full moon rises about sundown, is visible all night long, and it doesn’t set until about sunrise of the following day.
Pen in Hand: The Person-Carrying-Something-On-Their-Back moon
When it comes to the different phases of the moon, it’s the big, beautiful full moon that gets the lion’s share of the attention in stories, poetry and song. But the slender crescent of the new moon is magical in its own way. For one thing, it’s much more rare — the graceful arc of the new moon can only be seen a fraction of the amount of time of a large round moon. The full moon rises about sundown, is visible all night long, and it doesn’t set until about sunrise of the following day.
Natural Sightings: When twigs come to life
Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email A Walkingstick on the side of a catalpa tree. Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Save Tom Huxley took this photo in the Tehachapi Valley of a Walkingstick on the side of a catalpa tree. This individual appears to be a Western Short-horned Walkingstick (Parabacillus hesperus), probably the most common of the few Walkingstick species in California.
Natural Sightings: When twigs come to life
Tom Huxley took this photo in the Tehachapi Valley of a Walkingstick on the side of a catalpa tree. This individual appears to be a Western Short-horned Walkingstick (Parabacillus hesperus), probably the most common of the few Walkingstick species in California. They are typically two and one-half inches to three and one-half inches long, and can be from tan to dark brown, or any shade in between.
Pen in Hand: The Rock Shop: explore the world of geology
The gem and mineral show held in conjunction with the Tehachapi Mountain Festival each year is a popular event, featuring everything from jewelry and cut stones to rare minerals and fossils. But it only happens once annually. Now there’s a year-round place to go and explore the world of geology and its wonders: The Rock Shop, recently opened by the Tehachapi Valley Gem and Mineral Society in the Old Towne Shopping District.
Pen in Hand: The Rock Shop: explore the world of geology
The gem and mineral show held in conjunction with the Tehachapi Mountain Festival each year is a popular event, featuring everything from jewelry and cut stones to rare minerals and fossils. But it only happens once annually. Now there’s a year-round place to go and explore the world of geology and its wonders: The Rock Shop, recently opened by the Tehachapi Valley Gem and Mineral Society in the Old Towne Shopping District.
Natural Sightings: Wrestling practice for future battles
Sonya Elliot took this photo in Bear Valley Springs of a pair of young bull elk locking their antlers. The autumn rut, or breeding season, is now winding down. Starting in late summer, dominant bulls start to assemble a harem of cows and their calves from this spring or even previous seasons. Because cows are only receptive for a day or two when in estrus, proximity is essential, so a dominant bull will stay close to the cows while attempting to keep rival bulls away.
Natural Sightings: Wrestling practice for future battles
Sonya Elliot took this photo in Bear Valley Springs of a pair of young bull elk locking their antlers. The autumn rut, or breeding season, is now winding down. Starting in late summer, dominant bulls start to assemble a harem of cows and their calves from this spring or even previous seasons. Because cows are only receptive for a day or two when in estrus, proximity is essential, so a dominant bull will stay close to the cows while attempting to keep rival bulls away.
Pen in Hand: Western Meadowlarks: the beautiful flutelike singers
There have been more than 250 species of birds whose appearance in the Tehachapi area was confirmed by the Tehachapi Mountains Birding Club. One of my abiding favorites on this long list is the beautiful Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta). These splendid birds are residents of open grasslands, savannahs, pastures and fields.
Natural SIghtings: A tiny little housemate
Jim Albright took this photo inside his Tehachapi Valley home of a Silverfish sitting on his hand. These intriguing little insects are from one of the most ancient lineages still found on Earth — they date back 400 million years ago to the Devonian period, a time before any insects had wings or the ability to fly. The Silverfish (Lepisma saccharinum) look very much like their fossil ancestors. They are about one half-inch in length, and they taper slightly toward their hind end, like a tiny carrot.
Natural SIghtings: A tiny little housemate
Jim Albright took this photo inside his Tehachapi Valley home of a Silverfish sitting on his hand. These intriguing little insects are from one of the most ancient lineages still found on Earth — they date back 400 million years ago to the Devonian period, a time before any insects had wings or the ability to fly. The Silverfish (Lepisma saccharinum) look very much like their fossil ancestors. They are about one half-inch in length, and they taper slightly toward their hind end, like a tiny carrot.
Pen in Hand: Western Meadowlarks: the beautiful flutelike singers
There have been more than 250 species of birds whose appearance in the Tehachapi area was confirmed by the Tehachapi Mountains Birding Club. One of my abiding favorites on this long list is the beautiful Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta). These splendid birds are residents of open grasslands, savannahs, pastures and fields.
Pen in Hand: The 2026 bounty of acorns Original
This has been a bountiful year for acorns in the Tehachapi Mountains. These nutritious nuts produced by our native oaks have been feeding humans here for thousands of years. The most common tree oak species in our area — Valley Oak, Blue Oak, Black Oak and Canyon Oak — all seem to have had a banner year for acorn production. The smaller shrub oaks also seem to have produced lots of acorns.
Natural Sightings: A trio of giants
Eric Hand took this photo in Stallion Springs of some California Condors that had stopped to drink from a water source at the home of the late Chuck McCollough. These gigantic birds now have a world population of 607 birds, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which is an amazing improvement over the low of just 22 birds in the early 1980s.
Natural Sightings: A trio of giants
Eric Hand took this photo in Stallion Springs of some California Condors that had stopped to drink from a water source at the home of the late Chuck McCollough. These gigantic birds now have a world population of 607 birds, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which is an amazing improvement over the low of just 22 birds in the early 1980s.
Pen in Hand: The bobcat and the buck
I happened to witness a brief but interesting wildlife encounter last week, which was a good illustration of the complexities of animal behavior in the wild. I was working up on Deertrail Drive in Bear Valley Springs one afternoon when I saw what looked to be a big, rangy older male bobcat sunning himself on the warm brick of the driveway. He got up and leisurely took a drink from a fountain, and then walked away from the house. I wasn’t making any noise at the time, so he didn’t notice me.
Pen in Hand: The bobcat and the buck
I happened to witness a brief but interesting wildlife encounter last week, which was a good illustration of the complexities of animal behavior in the wild. I was working up on Deertrail Drive in Bear Valley Springs one afternoon when I saw what looked to be a big, rangy older male bobcat sunning himself on the warm brick of the driveway. He got up and leisurely took a drink from a fountain, and then walked away from the house. I wasn’t making any noise at the time, so he didn’t notice me.
Natural Sightings: A pale green orb
Allan Peake took this photo on his front porch in the Tehachapi Valley of what appears to be a Lesser Green Lynx Spider that was waiting motionless on the wall. Lesser Green Lynx Spiders (Peucetia longipalpis) and a larger relative, the Green Lynx Spiders (Peucetia viridians), are very similar and can be difficult to tell apart in the field or from a photo. Both are apparently found in our area.
Natural Sightings: A pale green orb
Allan Peake took this photo on his front porch in the Tehachapi Valley of what appears to be a Lesser Green Lynx Spider that was waiting motionless on the wall. Lesser Green Lynx Spiders (Peucetia longipalpis) and a larger relative, the Green Lynx Spiders (Peucetia viridians), are very similar and can be difficult to tell apart in the field or from a photo. Both are apparently found in our area.
Pen in Hand: Autumn in the Tehachapi Mountains
Autumn has returned to the Tehachapi Mountains, though our high temperatures the past few days have felt much more like summer. When the daytime highs are above 85 degrees Fahrenheit and overnight lows are in the 60s, any longtime Tehachapi resident thinks: “That’s summer weather!” And indeed that is our typical summer temperature profile: highs in the 80s and nighttime lows in the 60s. Hot days aside, fall is actually back.
Natural Sightings: A patriarch to reckon with
Jill Esparaza took this photo in Bear Valley Springs of a dominant bull elk, who was with a harem of cow elk. This is now the autumn rut, or mating season, and the biggest bulls try to assemble some cow elk and stay right with them for a breeding opportunity, while being vigilant against allowing other bulls to get too close.
Pen in Hand: An unmistakable and statuesque shorebird
If you take a walk around one of the small lakes or ponds in our area, you may see a very large bluish gray bird standing by the shore, peering intently into the shallow water. It can only be a Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias). These largest of shorebirds are a common sight in the Tehachapi Mountains, and will make appearances even at very small bodies of water. Standing about four feet tall and with wingspans of about six feet, Great Blue Herons are easy to identify.
Natural Sightings: A beautiful canyon resident
Martin Rossi took this photo of a California Sister butterfly at Tehachapi Mountain Park. California Sister butterflies (Adelphus californica) seldom visit flowers for nectar, and often engage in a behavior known as “puddling,” during which they land on mud or damp soil to extract minerals and amino acids. California Sisters are a common sight in canyons where there are trickling creeks or springs where they can puddle or obtain water.
Pen in Hand: Kids Day at the museum — an afternoon of fun and exploration
In what has become a cherished Tehachapi tradition, the Tehachapi Museum hosted its annual Kids Day at the Museum on Sept. 20, and hundreds of local kids and their families were in attendance. “It was a wonderful day with more than 200 children and their families taking part in activities,” said event organizer Dixie Coutant of the Tehachapi Heritage League.
Pen in Hand: Cordage: the invention that changed the world
One of the most amazing technological advances that people ever made did not involve the wheel, iron smelting or the internal combustion engine. It came long, long before those innovations, and helped humans to survive for many thousands of years. That life-changing invention? It was cordage from plant fibers. The word cordage is an umbrella term that encompasses all manner of string, thread, twine, yarn, rope, etc.
Natural Sightings: Just stopped in for a drink
Larry Chamberlain took these photos at his home in Stallion Springs of a thirsty Red-tailed Hawk getting a drink from a plastic pool used for a pet dog. Larry explained how he happened to get these photos: “A couple of years ago we had the pleasure of having a hawk visit in our bird bath. He stayed for quite a while then. The last couple of days we've had this one show up and quench his or her thirst in the dog's pool and in the bird bath once again.
Pen in Hand: Mike Finley: a craftsman shaping wood into heirloom objects
Mike Finley is a third-generation Tehachapi resident who uses his discerning eyes, skillful hands and artistic sensibilities to create finely crafted objects that highlight the natural beauty of wood. Mike has some of his pieces at the Tehachapi Art Center co-op on Tehachapi Boulevard, along with artwork by his equally talented wife, Peggy. Mike and Peggy were Tehachapi High School sweethearts (Class of 1980) who have now been married for 44 years.
Natural Sightings: Just trying to blend in
Jay Stebbins took this photo of a young Coast Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma blainvillii) in the Tehachapi Valley. This one was only about two and one-half inches long. Horned Lizards are found in much of the Tehachapi Mountains and in the surrounding arid parts of Kern County. They look like miniature dinosaurs, with their crown of horns and pointed scales.
Pen in Hand: In praise of the ones that matter most: cow elk
While the bull elk in the Tehachapi Mountains, with their massive size and enormous antlers, get the most attention, it is the cow elk that are the most critical to the continued success and survival of any given elk herd. The elk in our area, as most people know, are descended from a group of about 400 American Elk (Cervus canadensis nelsonii) that were imported from the Yellowstone National Park area around 1966.
Natural Sightings: Little masked siblings
Klew (Karen Lewis) took these photos at her Stallion Springs home of four small baby raccoons. “These babies were photographed just outside my window out in Stallion Springs one morning around 6:30 a.m., they make just the cutest chortles!” Klew said. She notes that frequent wildlife sightings, of a wide variety of animals from American Elk to California Condors, is one of the pleasures of her living in Stallion Springs.
Pen in Hand: Randall Preserve makes cover of TNC magazine
A beautiful photo of a nature preserve in the Tehachapi Mountains has made the cover of the special 75th anniversary issue of Nature Conservancy magazine. The photo is a springtime image taken by Ian Shive of the Tollhouse Ranch, a sprawling 15,000-acre ranch in Kern County, whose traditional ranch headquarters are a few miles east of the community of Caliente. The Tollhouse Ranch is about 15 miles northwest of the city of Tehachapi.
Natural Sightings: Reflections of subtle beauty
Ernie Lopez took this photo of a Mallard hen duck as she quietly paddled her away near the shore at the small lake at the Golden Hills Nature Park. It is now known as Tom Sawyer Lake, a name bestowed when Boise Cascade created the Golden Hills Golf Course as part of the Golden Hills development in the 1960s.
Pen in Hand: History is made: Del Troy is the first-ever centenarian in a Mt. Festival parade
In a first for the Tehachapi Mountain Festival parade, which has been held for 63 years, the walkers, dancers, horseback riders, float riders and other parade participants were joined by the first-ever centenarian: Del Troy, 100, who was the guest of honor in the Tehachapi Heritage League entry. Del, who was one of the founders of the Tehachapi Heritage League in 1973, rode in a 1923 Model T Ford owned, restored and driven by James Lockard.
Natural Sightings: A beetles that hisses
Cara Hutchinson took this photo in the Errea Garden on South Green Street of what appears to be a Ten-lined June Beetle. Ten-lined June Beetles (Polyphylla decemlineata), also known as watermelon beetles because their stripes resemble those on a watermelon, are large scarab beetles that are native to North America. June beetles are called this name because they often appear during June or July. Ten-lined June Beetles are one of our larger beetles, typically one and one-half inches long.
Pen in Hand: Be honest — have you felt like estivating lately?
Have you felt the urge to estivate lately? Yesterday’s temperature in Tehachapi was 97 degrees Fahrenheit, the hottest day of the year so far, so it’s understandable if you have. The term estivate, or aestivate, in British English, means to enter summer dormancy. It comes from the Latin word aestas, meaning “summer,” and it refers to the process that some animals and plants use to avoid the worst heat of the summer months.
Natural Sightings: A small scaly neighbor
Dan Patterson took these photos of a Southern Alligator Lizard (Elgaria multicarinata) at his home in Bear Valley Springs. Dan says that he frequently sees this same lizard hanging around his house, and that the little reptile has grown accustomed to Dan’s presence.
Pen in Hand: Another successful Tehachapi Oldtimers Reunion
The Tehachapi Oldtimers Reunion was held in Phil Marx Central Park Sunday, Aug. 2, and it turned out to be yet another successful and enjoyable event. The weather had been predicted to be 95 degrees Fahrenheit, and some people reportedly did stay home out of concern about the heat. But with a cooling breeze, it didn’t feel nearly that hot, and nobody at the event was complaining about the temperature, thanks to ample shade and that welcome northwesterly zephyr.
Natural Sightings: Praying or preying?
Al Crisalli Jr. took this photo in the Tehachapi Valley of a praying mantis. Praying Mantises are predatory insects that feed on a wide variety of arthropods. The mantids in our area are ambush predators, meaning they typically remain motionless on foliage or other surfaces and wait for smaller prey to happen by. When some other insect gets close, the praying mantis will suddenly lunge forward and seize it with its spiked forearms.
Pen in Hand: Eurasian Collared Doves: meet your new neighbors
One of the newest arrivals to the Tehachapi Mountains avian community are good-sized, grayish-buff birds with a pleasant appearance and distinctive call: Eurasian Collared Doves (Streptopelia decaocto). I never saw a single one of these birds in the Tehachapi area until about 15 to 20 years ago. Then one day near our driveway, I noticed what looked to be an oversized Mourning Dove with a slightly pinkish cast to it.
Natural Sightings: Our most beautiful snake
Marc Lanner took this photo in Stallion Springs of a California Mountain Kingsnake. These beautiful and harmless snakes have alternating bands of red, black and cream-colored rings along the length of their body. California Mountain Kingsnakes (Lampropeltis zonata) that live in the Sierra Nevada and Tehachapi Mountains typically have red markings that aren't as pronounced as the black and off-white bands.
Pen in Hand: Lauren Hollen: a bright light for science and joy
One of the most remarkable teachers ever at Tehachapi High, and an all-around amazing woman, Lauren Hollen, 79, passed away unexpectedly on May 29. Lauren was a human dynamo, an enthusiastic, energetic person whose passion for science was unsurpassed. She taught chemistry, physics, Earth science and biology at Tehachapi High for 19 years, and she left an indelible mark on her many students. She was a mentor to so many, both young and old alike.
Natural Sightings: Beautiful living lawn art
Jaime Andrade took this photo in Bear Valley Springs of a handsome California Mule Deer buck with a nice rack in velvet. This buck looks to be in robust good health, well-filled out with thick antlers. Deer in the Tehachapi area contain genetics of both California Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus californicus) and Black-tailed Deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus).
Pen in Hand: Condors versus aliens
I was on Bear Mountain yesterday, and I spotted at least 11 California Condors. Even though I have seen them in the wild many times, I never fail to be awed by their size and presence. When you see them by themselves, it is harder to get a perspective on how big they actually are. But when you see them near smaller but more familiar birds, their immense size becomes obvious.
Natural Sightings: Sometimes ya gotta work for a drink
Sue Marzorati took these photos at her home in Stallion Springs of a rabbit and ground squirrel visiting her birdbath. Sue commented: “Squirrels often do gymnastics to get a drink from our birdbath as you can see, but now a rabbit discovered it this morning and had a long deep drink.” The rabbit, a Desert Cottontail (Sylvilagus audubonii) used its notable jumping ability to easily leap up into the bird bath, and shared space at the watering hole with a California Scrub Jay.
Pen in Hand: Tehachapi summer nights
The days have warmed up in the Tehachapi Mountains, and there are hotter temperatures into the 90s expected next week, but as usual, the nights have still remained cool — only in the low 60s or even high 50s. This dependable nighttime cooling is due to Tehachapi’s elevation of about 4,000 feet on the valley floors, and up to nearly 8,000 feet in the mountains. The mountain elevation causes us to have cool nights, and only during prolonged heat spells do we get warm nights.
Natural Sightings: A visitor inquires about the possibility of a meal
Jan Hendricks took these photos on her Ring camera of a black bear that had appeared at her Bear Valley Springs house last week. Jan explains: “It sure was a busy weekend around here...at least for the bear. Pretty sure this guy is the one that broke into our neighbor’s garage. He was caught on my backdoor Ring Camera just before dawn on July 3. He also hit the neighbor across the street from us, tearing their window screen.
Pen in Hand: Acorn Woodpecker Returns to Freedom
Smack! Into a window. Dead? Not this bird. I was working in Bear Valley last week when an acorn woodpecker flew through an open garage door and loudly smacked into a plate glass window at the other end of the garage.
Natural Sightings: Bull elk
A handsome bull against the Tehachapi skyline — Jim Knox took this photo of a bull elk near White Pine and Woodford-Tehachapi Road recently. Several Golden Hills residents have reported spotting bull elk on property that once formed the Golden Hills golf course, which was an 18-hole course that spanned both sides of Woodford-Tehachapi Road.
Visitor Guide: Pen in Hand: A poster of our own
This year will mark Tehachapi’s sesquicentennial, which is a somewhat awkward, mouthful-of-a-way of saying our 150th birthday. Pioneers started settling here earlier than that, in the 1850s, but it was in 1876 that Southern Pacific Railroad completed the train line through Tehachapi and established the depot in its current location. That provided the nucleus of the town, and so that is used as the official birth year of the city of Tehachapi.
Pen in Hand: Bucks in brown velvet
If you’ve seen buck deer in the Tehachapi Mountains recently, you’ve no doubt seen these males growing new antlers that are covered with the fuzzy vascularized skin known as velvet. I was working in Bear Valley last week, and saw a bachelor herd of four bucks placidly grazing among the black oaks on the slopes of Bear Mountain. All four of them were large bucks in good health, and were well on their way to growing impressive antler racks.
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