Archive for November, 2009

Winner, November 2009

This month’s ID Challenge contest has come to a close and we have a winner! AJ was the only participant so she walked away with the $10 donation to the charity of her choice. AJ chose Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue (PVDR) as the recipient of this donation made in her name.

And now for the answers: Read the rest of this entry »

I have to follow up my last post because a few days after I wrote it, I looked really close at the plant where the Green Lynx (Peucetia viridans) placed her egg sac. Spiderlings!

Green Lynx spiderlings

…and here’s a close-up: Read the rest of this entry »

I’ve been watching a couple of spiders in my native plant garden since late August. I can’t say with complete certainty, but I’m hoping this photo shows the next generation of the spider families that have been thriving in my Flame Acanthus (Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii) and a patch of what may or may not be Hummingbird Mint (Agastache cana). Anyway, what you should be seeing here is a tiny little spider in the center of an intricate web, with the silhouette of a much larger spider looming in the background. Pretty cool, huh? Read the rest of this entry »

I have compiled the data from several small cleanups, and have it ready to send off to the Ocean Conservancy. I have learned that there is an awful lot of planning involved in organizing these cleanups, and now isn’t too soon to start for 2010!

Here are the results I was able to assemble from some wonderful volunteers:

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If this is the sort of animated .GIF file that you can watch for minutes on end…I’m right there with you. As I’ve said before, I don’t have a video camera, but I can often make due with a series of rapid-fire photos. At another spot on the trail, I saw a grasshopper pounce on something. I swung my camera around to focus, hoping to see the drama of the food chain playing out… Read the rest of this entry »

I spent a beautiful day at Dallas’ Trinity River Audubon Center (TRAC), located southeast of downtown Dallas. This was my first visit, but it won’t be my last! Read the rest of this entry »

Ok, time for another ID Challenge contest where participants play for the wildlife/nature/conservation charity of their choice. The prize is a $10 donation from Birder’s Lounge, made in your name. The first person to get the most number of correct answers wins, and multiple entries are welcome. Good luck!

Picture 1 | Plano, TX

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The October edition of the Birder’s Lounge ID Challenge has come to a close, and we have a winner! Tina Gilson was the first person to get the most number of correct answers (she scored 100%), and she also answered the bonus question correctly, for a total prize of $15 to the wildlife/nature/conservation charity of her choice. Tina has chosen the Warbler Woods Bird Sanctuary to receive this donation in her name. Way to go, Tina! There were two participants this time around, so if you think you don’t have a chance to win, go ahead and give it a try. Your chances may be better than you think.

Winner, October ID Challenge contest

And now, for the answers – and a Do-Gooder update: Read the rest of this entry »

Why am I just now noticing caterpillars? Sure, I’ve seen a few here and there – but I am learning that there are tons of super-cool caterpillars all around us. They don’t necessarily resemble their moth- or butterfly-selves, and it’s a toss-up as to which form is more showy. How do I know this? Because I’ve been pouring over my brand-spankin’-new field guide, “Caterpillars of Eastern North America.”¹

I saw this fabulous, fuzzy black caterpillar today: Read the rest of this entry »