By Eric Duran When people think of fall, they think of changing colors, falling leaves, pumpkins and sweater weather — but they don't normally think of butterflies. Yet along the Gulf Coast and throughout much of the south autumn is a wonderful time to watch butterflies. With fall wildflowers are blooming, migratory species from up north fly down to join us in the south. … [Read more...] about Butterflies are a-flutter over our balmy autumn
Wired to Nature
Nature 101 — Know your reptiles
By Eric Duran It's time to talk reptiles. Reptiles have skin that is covered with scales, made of keratin (which your hair and fingernails are made of). Reptiles have an internal skeleton made of bone, just like you (even snakes). Reptiles breathe air with lungs their whole lives. They don't have tadpoles, like salamanders and frogs. Most reptiles hatch out of eggs, but … [Read more...] about Nature 101 — Know your reptiles
Celebrating pollinators
By Eric Duran Pollinators are important. All of the showy wildflowers that we enjoy around this time of year depend on animals to cross-fertilize them, as well as many of our food crops. A plant attracts animals with brightly colored flowers and strong smells. The flower produces sweet nectar for the animal to feed on. The animal inadvertently carries a little sticky pollen … [Read more...] about Celebrating pollinators
Aliens in your yard
By Eric Duran Many common backyard animals found in your garden are actually from another continent. You may have grown up with them as part of your outdoor landscape, but they didn't originate here in North America. Some creatures have been introduced accidentally in the soil of potted plants, others were introduced purposefully to help with agricultural problems, and some … [Read more...] about Aliens in your yard
Lizards and salamanders: A who’s who
By Eric Duran As a naturalist, I get questions about a lot of different animals. People are often curious about the small creatures they see crawling around their yards, but they don't always know how to describe or label them. One of the misnomers I hear repeatedly is the use of the word "salamander" to describe many small lizards. There is a lot of difference between … [Read more...] about Lizards and salamanders: A who’s who