This is an archive of articles written by Anita Westervelt between 2015 and 2021 for the Rio Grande Valley Chapter, Texas Master Naturalist. To focus on the most current information, these earlier articles were retired from the original site. We are pleased to provide a permanent home for them here. Please note that the articles are preserved mainly in their original form and may contain outdated information or links. For Anita’s current work, please visit the South Texas Border Chapter’s blog: stbctmn.org/blog.
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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…
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Not your typical store-bought holiday decorations
Story and photos by Anita Westervelt, Texas Master Naturalist With a little imagination, and a couple of hints, our Valley nature parks might be seen to decorate themselves for the holidays — naturally. One such obvious plant is tasajillo (Opuntia leptocaulis), a pencil-thin, slender, jointed cactus often called Christmas cactus because its fruit turns red…
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Slower going, but some snakes are still making appearances
Story and photo by Anita Westervelt, Texas Master Naturalist One reptile, the diamondback water snake (Nerodia rhombifer), may still be observed in the Valley while temperatures remain pleasant. Diamondback water snakes have a broad range which includes all of the Rio Grande Valley counties and all but the northwest counties of Texas. The range extends…
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Gifts of the Seasons
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…
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Vines add vertical interest while attracting birds and butterflies
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…
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Anita’s Blog — Volt, Venue or Wake?
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…
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Elaborate nest construction uses a variety of materials
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…
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Anita’s Blog — It was a Sluggish Day
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…
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Colorful and unique creatures share the warm Gulf waters off South Padre Island’s shore
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…