Author: Anita Westervelt
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The Vultures are Back!
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By Anita Westervelt, Texas Master Naturalist Beautiful when effortlessly soaring on the thermals with out-stretched wings, up close, their bare-skinned red head with greenish warts and hooked white bill do not an attractive bird make. Not everyone appreciates turkey vultures but these carrion scavengers perform a much-needed environmental service. I think of them as the…
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Two native milkweeds to plant in the Valley
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Story and photos by Anita Westervelt, Texas Master Naturalist Earlier this year the National Wildlife Federation issued an open letter to mayors across the nation asking them to help create native habitat in cities in an effort to save the iconic monarch butterfly. You can jump on the band-wagon at home, too. A small space…
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Valley Native Frank Wiseman achieves honored milestone as Texas Master Naturalist
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Special to the Valley Morning Star by Anita Westervelt SAN BENITO, Texas – Valley native Frank Wiseman was honored Tuesday for achieving a significant milestone of 5,000 volunteer hours in the Rio Grande Valley Chapter, Texas Master Naturalist organization. In recognition, Wiseman received a special state Texas Master Naturalist 5,000-hour service pin: a gold dragonfly…
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A paddling of ducks
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Story and photos by Anita Westervelt, Texas Master Naturalist As we get ready for fall bird migration, a fun thing to think about is the ancient language art of collective bird nouns. Beginning in ancient England, the practice was a way to make landed gentry appear more intelligent than commoners. Using collective bird nouns exhibits…
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Warblers that stay for the winter
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and Sidebar — Three Valley native plants attract wintering-over warblers Stories and photos by Anita Westervelt, Texas Master Naturalist They’re tiny, they’re quick, they’re wily. They’re warblers — certainly the thrill of spring and fall migration — and lucky is the Valley yard where some species choose to spend the winter. Warblers are skittish. They…
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Anita’s Blog — It’s a Big Deal! Christmas Bird Count
Rare Birds are highly likely to be spotted during the count. When that happens, they have to be fully documented on a “rare bird form.” The State of Texas compiler determines if the rare bird documentation meets the criteria to be included in the count. Once a rare bird has appeared on at least three consecutive…