It has been awhile since I have written about my experiences with inheriting an Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) box trail. I started late last fall, with cleaning out the boxes so that they could serve as suitable roosting places for the bluebirds who spend the winter in the area. This spring, I have visited the nests twice – once when only one box had the beginnings of a nest, and 1 week ago when most of the boxes had eggs! Read the rest of this entry »

Science is awesome, right? I’ve been learning about some great tools available on the internet, and want to share that information with you. First up…

Geology

Did you know that the USDA supports a website that enables you to produce a soil survey for just about anywhere in the U.S.? Read the rest of this entry »

The March, 2009 ID Challenge! contest has come to a close and we have a winner! Zeb Acuff was one of several contestants, and won a $10 donation for his charity of choice! Birder’s Lounge has proudly issued a $10 donation check to Tri-State Bird Rescue in Newark, DE.

Prize-Charitable Donation

Thanks to Zeb, I have Read the rest of this entry »

Spring Break is often associated with teenagers flocking to sunny beaches and “strutting their stuff.” Birds and other wildlife are busy celebrating spring in much the same way! Read the rest of this entry »

I want to share the story of my visit to the International Bird Rescue Research Center (IBRRC), in  San Pedro, CA. You’re probably thinking, “Where the heck is San Pedro?” Here is a map of the trip I took, from Las Vegas to the California coast, and back again: Read the rest of this entry »

Spring is such a beautiful time of year – I love to walk around my gardens to see plants waking from their winter slumber. The new buds and blooms bring the bees and butterflies. I’ve even got frogs, eggs, and tadpoles! I’ve got a lot of pictures of “spring at my house,” so I hope you enjoy. Read the rest of this entry »

Look at this gorgeous couple! Ducks are famously glamorous, especially those brightly-colored males. When I first laid eyes on a Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca), I could only marvel that they “really DO look like the picture in my field guide!” Read the rest of this entry »

The Texas Master Naturalist program is a volunteer community service organization sponsored by the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, and the AgriLife Extension Service. The program educates a corp of volunteers in the natural sciences, so that the participants emerge with new knowledge and heightened enthusiasm, ready to give back to their communities. I’ve been in training for the last four weeks, and I’m loving it! There’s about a 50% chance that your state offers a similar program.  Read the rest of this entry »

The time has come for me to wrap up my series on Bosque del Apache, and I’ve saved the Sandhill Cranes for last! The Bosque is a National Wildlife Refuge near Socorro, NM, and it is most well known for its huge flocks of wintering Sandhill Cranes (Grus canadensis).

Read the rest of this entry »