Author: Anita Westervelt

  • Gifts of the Seasons

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    Anita Westervelt

    Story and photos by Anita Westervelt, Texas Master Naturalist Gifts come in many forms. To Texas Master Naturalists it might be a “life” bird, a “first ever” sighting of an uncommon butterfly or a native plant surprise that’s just appeared in the yard. A butterfly that created quite a stir a couple of years ago…

  • Vines add vertical interest while attracting birds and butterflies

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    Anita Westervelt

    Story and photos by Anita Westervelt, Texas Master Naturalist Several years ago, I dedicated a partially dead mesquite tree as a natural trellis for a native climbing milkweed (Funastrum cynanchoides). The vine travelled up the trunk and reached the highest branches by the second spring. Lovely globes of pink-edged white blooms peppered the vine in…

  • Anita’s Blog — Volt, Venue or Wake?

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    Anita Westervelt
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    Audubon’s 120th Christmas Bird Count — CBC — is close. December 14, 2019 to January 5, 2020 Something to do with your holiday houseguests, friends and family while you earn volunteer hours! How fun is that? Check it out: https://www.audubon.org/conservation/join-christmas-bird-count I thought this would be a good time for fun with bird words. Question: What…

  • Elaborate nest construction uses a variety of materials

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    Anita Westervelt

    Story and photos by Anita Westervelt Ash trees seem to shed most of their leaves with the first fall wind event, revealing what might previously have been hidden — like the magnificent architecture of an Altamira oriole’s nest. The female Altamira oriole builds an interesting and elaborate nest, sometimes taking as many as three weeks…

  • Anita’s Blog — It was a Sluggish Day

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    Anita Westervelt
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    It was a sluggish day. Even the mower seemed slow, hampered by a headwind as it was. The only thing moving quickly was the wind — gusts so forceful the clipped grass chips stung my legs. Dust and clippings swirled under my face mask and into my eyes. Other than those annoyances, it was a…

  • Colorful and unique creatures share the warm Gulf waters off South Padre Island’s shore

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    Anita Westervelt

    By Anita Westervelt, Texas Master Naturalist Moray eels are a unique fish found worldwide in tropical and temperate seas. They are often brightly colored, have a big mouth, tapering body and swim using a series of undulating movements. Morays have no side fins like typical fish. Instead, they have a dorsal fin — generally the…