By Eric Duran Spring has sprung again at the Nature Discovery Center, and indeed all over Bellaire and West University. Wildflowers are blooming, wintering birds and butterflies are returning from the south, and creatures are waking from their winter slumber. We refer to the winter dormancy of warm-blooded mammals as hibernation, and that of cold-blooded reptiles, … [Read more...] about Brumation over, area turtles s-l-o-w-l-y come back to life
Wired to Nature
Look! Up in the sky! Our spring migration has begun
By Eric Duran As I sit down to write this article in late February, the earliest spring migrant birds have already begun to show up in our area. Though the flow of birds in March is not quite as impressive as the busiest part of spring migration in April and May, this is a good time to head out to your local greenspace — perhaps Russ Pitman Park — or even into your own … [Read more...] about Look! Up in the sky! Our spring migration has begun
Life in a log
By Eric Duran One of the classes we are offering at the Nature Discovery Center in late February is the Life in a Log class, in which we take kids out into the park to roll over rocks and logs and learn about all the tiny animals we find underneath. Many of these animals only come out at night or during wet conditions, and so most of us don't encounter them very often. Many … [Read more...] about Life in a log
WIRED TO NATURE: Welcome our winter visitors
By Eric Duran Now deep into winter, many of our birds have left, the reptiles are in their winter sleep, and insects have died off. Those changes, combined with frequently chilly temperatures and less greenery and color mean winter is not a time when most people think of going out to enjoy nature. However, there are still plenty of things to see out in the parks and in your … [Read more...] about WIRED TO NATURE: Welcome our winter visitors
How nature copes with winter chill in West University-Bellaire
By Eric Duran As colder temperatures set in and winter begins, many of the animals in our area are preparing in different ways. Some animals can cope with the cold, and some animals — not so much. The relatively mild winters in Houston give animals a broader set of options as to how they can last through the season. This month, we'll have a look at three of the strategies … [Read more...] about How nature copes with winter chill in West University-Bellaire