by Ed Meza For the month of July, the South Texas Ecotourism Center offered a four-week summer camp to students ages seven to tenon Tuesdays through Thursdays. The goal was to introduce the children to the preservation, restoration and education of our various rich ecosystems in the Rio Grande Valley and South Texas.  The first week focused on native plants. Students learned how…

by Linda Butcher The Texas Legislature has designated 72 “official” state symbols over the years. The broad collection of favorites ranges from the beautiful blue topaz, the state gemstone to the tough prickly pear which is the state plant. In 1901 the Texas Legislature adopted the BLUEBONNET as the state flower. Lupinus subarnosus was the species chosen.…

contributed by Diane Hall Officers President ———- Roberto Gaitan 1st Vice President ———- Robin Gelston 2nd Vice President ———- Barbara Peet Secretary ———- Carolyn Cardile Treasurer ———- Betsy Hosick Directors Membership ———- Joni Gillis New Class ———- Barbara Peet Communications ———- Diane Hall Advanced Training ———- Teresa Du Bois Volunteer Service ———- (open) New Class Rep ———- Dan Martin At Large:…

by M. Kathy Raines “I’m going out to check on my spiders!” I declared as I traipsed into the darkness for one last look at backyard wildlife. No, of course, they’re not my spiders. Wild creatures are not pets. Yet, I became oddly attached to these two Tropical Orb Weavers, which, each night this June, wove gigantic…

by Javier Gonzalez There is a new resident breeding species along the South Padre Island Birding Nature Center & Alligator Sanctuary’s (SPIBNS&AS) boardwalk trail, but technically, it currently stands as a subspecies, rather than a full species. “Mangrove” Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia sp. oraria), is a subspecies of the most common North American warbler, the Yellow Warbler (Setophaga…

by Joseph and Nellie Kowalski Back in July 2010, weather experts with the National Weather Service posed the question, “How can there be a flood coming when there’s not a cloud in the sky?” Hurricane Alex of 2010 came ashore in early July in northeastern Mexico, about 100 miles (180 km) south of the Rio…