Rio Grande Valley Chapter

Author: Anita Westervelt

  • Wingspans in the Valley Skies

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    Anita Westervelt

    Story and photos by Anita Westervelt, Texas Master Naturalist The length of a bird is generally the body length from crown to feet or to tip of tail, depending on where the longest measurement will be when the bird is standing or perched. Wingspan, a much more dramatic measurement, is from the very tip of…

  • Turkey Vultures, environmental asset

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    Anita Westervelt

    Story and photo by Anita Westervelt, Texas Master Naturalist Not everyone appreciates turkey vultures, although they should. These carrion scavengers perform a much-needed environmental service. Their scientific name, Cathartes aura, provides a clue to their place in the ecosystem. Cathartes, is a Greek word meaning “purify.” Although a permanent Valley resident, an abundance of turkey…

  • Winter mantra: A time to plant

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    Anita Westervelt

    Story and photo by Anita Westervelt, Texas Master Naturalist Winter may seem mainly for the birds. January was busy with the Christmas Bird Count and backyard feeder count — which brings us to a list of the best native trees for attracting birds. Honey Mesquite is the best all-round tree for wildlife. Seeds are eaten…

  • Plant now for October butterflies

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    Anita Westervelt

    Story and photo by Anita Westervelt, Texas Master Naturalist It’s tree planting time in the Valley! An annual theme that means cooler temps in January and February make it more pleasant to dig in the garden. It also means it’s a good time to plant trees and shrubs. They establish better without the stress of…

  • Anita’s Blog — Feeding the Tiny Birds

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    Anita Westervelt
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    Tony Henehan is our local Texas Parks and Wildlife Department wildlife biologist and now a licensed hummingbird bander — Yay, Tony! Congratulations. Tony and the Ramsey Hummingbird Brigade are asking for help with hummingbird feeders in Harlingen’s Hugh Ramsey Nature Park to attract more hummers — where Tony has recently held bird-banding sessions. Norma Friedrich,…

  • Anita’s Blog — Urban Bird Habitat from an Expert

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    Anita Westervelt
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    I attended a fun and interesting lecture at Quinta Mazatlán, in McAllen, about Bird-friendly Urban Habitat Design. The lecture, presented by the park’s Urban Ecologist, John Brush, may be offered again in April. You’ll want to get on Quinta’s mailing list for event notifications: http://www.quintamazatlan.com/support/newsletter.aspx During the lecture, John noted that feeding birds with seed,…