Nature Notes is a weekly article written by GCBO staff members and volunteers. Articles are written about interesting stories, fascinating species, and other environmental topics. All of our authors are avid birders, so you can expect to read a lot of bird-related Nature Notes! In these articles you can read about everything from sea foam to turkeys to the science of migration. We write about anything that we find fun and interesting, so Nature Notes are always entertaining!

These articles are published in many local papers all along the coast of Texas, bringing GCBO’s passion for nature and wildlife to audiences that might not normally be exposed to it. Our mission with these writings is to educate the public about the wonders and issues going on in our environment and to get people thinking about the natural world around them!

If your publication is interested in Nature Notes, please contact education and outreach manager Celeste Silling at csilling@gcbo.org or call our office at 979-480-0999.

To read our previously published articles, click on the links below.

2024

The North American River Otter by Ashley Van Wieren, February 23, 2024

Amazing Migrations by Rebecca Bracken, February 16, 2024

Talking Animals by Ashley Van Wieren, February 9, 2024

Brown Creeper by Taylor Bennet, February 2, 2024

Invasive Birds by Celeste Silling, January 26, 2024

Birds of a Different Feather by Rebecca Bracken, January 19, 2024

Symbiotic Relationships of Birds by Ashley Van Wieren, January 12, 2024

Nightjars by Rebecca Bracken, January 5, 2024

2023

Eastern Phoebe by Taylor Bennet, December 29, 2023

Peregrine Falcon by Taylor Bennet, December 21, 2023

Marvels of the Marbled Murrelet by Alex Coenen, December 14, 2023

Where are the Birds!? by Martin Hagne, December 7, 2023

Mystery Sounds Affecting Cities by Ashley Van Wieren, November 30, 2023

Ibises of the Upper Texas Coast by Celeste Silling, November 23, 2023

Bald Eagles on the Upper Texas Coast by Celeste Silling, November 16, 2023

Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtles by Ashley Van Wieren, November 9, 2023

How Hurricanes Impact Birds by Alex Coenen, November 2, 2023

Shining a Light on Dark Skies by Celeste Silling, October 26, 2023

Pelagic Birds: A Life on the Ocean by Martin Hagne, October 19, 2023

Big Personalities Sometimes Come in Small Packages by Rebecca Bracken, October 12, 2023

The Black-Footed Ferret: One of America’s Rarest Mammals by Ashley Van Wieren, October 5, 2023

Buff-breasted Sandpiper by Taylor Bennett, September 28, 2023

Rock, Paper, Scissor-tailed Flycatchers by Alex Coenen, September 21, 2023

Ruby-throated Hummingbird Fall Migration by Celeste Silling, September 14, 2023

The Crested Caracara by Martin Hagne, September 7, 2023

Share the Dunes by Rebecca Bracken, August 31, 2023

Rising Temperatures Could Impact Coral Reefs by Ashley Van Wieren, August 24, 2023

Least Sandpiper by Taylor Bennett, August 17, 2023

Nature’s Most Powerful: The Harpy Eagle by Ashley Van Wieren, August 10, 2023

Brown-headed Cowbirds: Brood Parasites by Celeste Silling, Aug 3, 2023

Magnificent Frigatebird by Celeste Silling, July 25, 2023

The Many Wrens of the Texas Coast by Martin Hagne, July 18, 2023

Merlin the Falcon by Martin Hagne, July 11, 2023

Bird Photography: A Beginner’s Guide by Ashley Van Wieren, July 4, 2023

Bats are Beneficial by Susan Heath, June 27, 2023

Laughing Gulls by Taylor Bennett, June 20, 2023

Yellow-crowned Night-herons by Susan Heath, June 13, 2023

Texas Swallows by Celeste Silling, June 10, 2023

The Whistling Tree Duck by Martin Hagne, June 3, 2023

Coastal Oak Mottes by Susan Heath, May 27, 2023

Vagrants by Adam Trujillo, May 20, 2023

May BNB by Taylor Bennett, May 13, 2023

Cicadas by Celeste Silling, May 6, 2023

Stopover Sites by Celeste Silling, Apr 29, 2023

Baby Birds by Celeste Silling, Apr 22, 2023

Vultures by Taylor Snyder, Apr 15, 2023

Singing by Adam Trujillo, Apr 8, 2023

Cattle Egrets by Taylor Snyder, Apr 1, 2023

State Birds by Celeste Silling, Mar 25, 2023

Ants by Celeste Silling, Mar 18, 2023

Merlins by Martin Hagne, Mar 11, 2023

Verdins by Rebekah Snyder, Mar 4, 2023

Gulls and Terns by Adam Trujillo, Feb 25, 2023

Yellow-rumped Warbler by Taylor Bennett, Feb 18, 2023

Barred Owls by Susan Heath, Feb 11, 2023

Sedge Wrens by Taylor Bennett, Feb 4, 2023

Endemism by Adam Trujillo, Jan 28, 2023

NestFest by Celeste Silling, Jan 21, 2023

Rock Pigeons by Taylor Snyder, Jan 14, 2023

Sharks Ate My Bird by Martin Hagne, Jan 7, 2023

2022

Robins by Martin Hagne, Dec 17, 2022

Poinsettias by Celeste Silling, Dec 10, 2022

Short-billed Dowitcher by Taylor Bennett, Dec 3, 2022

Ocelots by Celeste Silling, Nov 26, 2022

Attwater’s Prairie Chickens by Celeste Silling, Nov 19, 2022

Orioles by Adam Trujillo, Nov 12, 2022

Long-billed Curlews by Taylor Bennett, Nov 5, 2022

Big Bend National Park by Alex Pearcy, Oct 29, 2022

Beachcombing on the Texas Coast by Celeste Silling, Oct 22, 2022

Bats by Celeste Silling, Oct 15, 2022

Grasshoppers by Susan Heath, Oct 8, 2022

Smith Point Hawk Watch by Celeste Silling, Oct 1, 2022

Scissor-tailed Flycatchers by Rebekah Snyder, Sep 24, 2022

Wheel Bug by Rebekah Snyder, Sep 17, 2022

Hummingbird Imposters by Susan Heath, Sep 10, 2022

RTHU Migration by Susan Heath and Celeste Silling, Sep 3, 2022

Woodpeckers by Martin Hagne, Aug 27, 2022

Sitting with Sanderling by Rebekah Snyder, Aug 20, 2022

Smith Point Hawk Watch by Susan Heath, Aug 13, 2022

Where to See Wood Storks by Celeste Silling, Aug 6, 2022

Fall Migration by Celeste Silling, July 30, 2022

Moving with the Birds by Martin Hagne, July 23, 2022

Black-necked Stilts by Taylor Bennett, July 16, 2022

Texas Bees by Celeste Silling, July 9 2022

Fourth of July Trash By Celeste Silling, July 2, 2022

Spiders of Texas By Celeste Silling, June 25, 2022

Traveling Cowboy Bird By Martin Hagne, June 18, 2022

Light Level Geolocators By Taylor Bennett, June 11, 2022

Shoebills By Adam Trujillo, June 4, 2022

Pitcher Plants By Susan Heath, May 28, 2022

Coastal Marshes By Martin Hagne, May 21, 2022

Reddish Egret By Kenlynn Volz, May 14, 2022

Grackles By Celeste Silling, May 7, 2022

Beach Nesting Birds Project by Taylor Bennett, April 30, 2022

Lammergeier by Adam Trujillo, April 23, 2022

Chimney Swifts by Sue Heath, April 16, 2022

Bird Banding by Celeste Silling, April 9, 2022

Mermaid Purses by Kenlynn Volz, April 2, 2022

Brood Parasites by Susan Heath, March 26, 2022

Horned Lark by Taylor Bennett, March 19, 2022

Birdwatching by Adam Trujillo, March 12, 2022

Porcupines by Susan Heath, March 5, 2022

Whales by Celeste Silling, February 26, 2022

Penguins by Kenlynn Volz, February 19, 2022

Balloons by Celeste Silling, February 12, 2022

Loons by Taylor Bennett, February 5, 2022

Buzzards by Susan Heath, January 29, 2022

Corvids by Adam Trujillo, January 22, 2022

Waterfowl by Celeste Silling, January 15, 2022

Tracking by Martin Hagne, January 8, 2022

Bluebirds by Susan Heath, January 1, 2022

2021

Whistling Ducks by Celeste Silling, December 25, 2021

Turnstones by Taylor Bennett, December 18, 2021

Garbage by Marissa Zamora, December 11, 2021

Turkeys by Susan Heath, December 4, 2021

Freeze by Martin Hagne, November 27, 2021

Texas Bats by Celeste Silling, November 20, 2021

Texas Turtles by Celeste Silling, November 13, 2021

Parthenogenesis by Marissa Zamora, November 6, 2021

Falcon on the Beach by Sue Heath, October 30, 2021

Black Birds by Martin Hagne, October 23, 2021

Fall Migration by Celeste Silling, October 16, 2021

Non-Breeding Shorebird Study by Taylor Bennett, October 9, 2021

Brood Parasitism by Marissa Zamora, October 2, 2021

Fishing Line a Major Hazard to Birds by Sue Heath, September 25, 2021

Hummingbird Fun Facts by Kay Lookingbill, September 18, 2021

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds by Sue Heath and Celeste Silling, September 11, 2021

Labor Day Litter by Celeste Silling, September 4, 2021

Adaptations of Fish-eating Birds by Sarah Belles, August 28, 2021

Mushrooms by Celeste Silling, August 21, 2021

Beach Nesting Birds Update by Taylor Bennett, August 14, 2021

Dragonflies by Celeste Silling, August 7, 2021

July Beach Nesting Birds Update by Taylor Bennett, July 31, 2021

Nests by Sarah Belles, July 24, 2021

Skunks by Sue Heath, July 17, 2021

An Established Exotic by Martin Hagne, July 10, 2021

Caterpillars by Celeste Silling, July 3, 2021

June Beach Nesting Birds Update by Taylor Bennett, June 26, 2021

The Science of Bird Sounds by Sarah Belles, June 19, 2021

Turtles by Sue Heath, June 12, 2021

Grackles by Martin Hagne, June 5, 2021

Summertime Snakes by Sarah Belles, May 29, 2021

Beach Nesting Birds Project by Taylor Bennett, May 22, 2021

Virtual Nature Festivals by Celeste Silling, May 15, 2021

Mississippi Kites by Sue Heath, May 8, 2021

Nighthawks by Martin Hagne, May 1, 2021

How Birds Use Tools by Celeste Silling, April 24, 2021

Shorebird Projects Update by Taylor Bennett, April 17, 2021

Roseate Spoonbills by Sarah Belles, April 10, 2021

I Found a Baby Bird, Now What? by Sue Heath, April 3, 2021

Vultures by Martin Hagne, March 27, 2021

What To Feed the Birds by Celeste Silling, March 20, 2021

Black-bellied Plovers by Taylor Bennet, March 13, 2021

Wildlife Fallout After Extreme Weather by Sarah Belles, March 6, 2021

American Robins by Sue Heath, February 27, 2021

Birds Staying Warm by Martin Hagne, February 20, 2021

Invasive Species by Celeste Silling, February 13 2021

American Avocet by Taylor Bennett, February 6 2021

Tree Swallows by Sarah Belles, January 30 2021

Goldfinches by Sue Heath, January 23 2021

Bird Strikes by Martin Hagne , January 16 2021

Winter Adaptations by Celeste Silling, January 9 2021

Snowy Plovers by Taylor Bennett, January 2 2021

2020

Pied-billed Grebes by Sarah Belles, December 26 2020

Butcherbirds by Susan Heath, December 19 2020

Winter Bird Invasions by Martin Hagne, December 12 2020

Marine Debris by Celeste Silling, December 5 2020

Ospreys by Taylor Bennett, November 28 2020

Moon Jellyfish by Sarah Belles, November 21 2020

Feeling Ducky by Susan Heath, November 14 2020

The Brazoria Palm by Celeste Silling, November 7 2020

A Piping Plover Story by Celeste Silling, October 31 2020

Hummingbird Facts 4 by Kay Lookingbill, October 24 2020

Hummingbird Facts 3 by Kay Lookingbill, October 17 2020

Hummingbird Facts 2 by Kay Lookingbill, October 10 2020

Hummingbird Facts 1 by Kay Lookingbill, October 3 2020

Why Grow Native Plants? by Celeste Silling, September 26 2020

Marbled Godwit by Taylor Bennett, September 19 2020

Bowerbirds by Sarah Belles, September 12 2020

Hummingbird Migration by Susan Heath, September 5 2020

Birds and Gulf Storms by Martin Hagne, August 29 2020

Virtual Birding Festivals by Celeste Silling August 22 2020

Gull-billed Terns by Taylor Bennett, August 15 2020

Dragonflies by Morgan Barnes, August 8 2020

Mexican Eagles by Susan Heath, August 1 2020

Northern Cardinals by Celeste Silling, July 18 2020

Ghost Crabs by Taylor Bennett, July 11 2020

Wildlife Myths by Morgan Barnes, July 4 2020

Cowbirds by Susan Heath, June 27 2020

Kites with no Strings Attached by Martin Hagne, June 20 2020

Balloons by Celeste Silling, June 13 2020

Wilson’s Plovers by Taylor Bennett, June 6 2020

Opossums by Morgan Barnes, May 30 2020

Nighthawks by Susan Heath, May 23 2020

Birding the Pandemic by Martin Hagne, May 16 2020

What Makes Hummingbirds Special by Celeste Silling, May 9 2020

Least Terns by Taylor Bennett, May 2 2020

Aposematism by Morgan Barnes, April 25 2020

We Need to be Oystercatchers by Susan Heath, April 18 2020

Too Much of a Good Thing by Martin Hagne, April 11 2020

Cats and Birds Dont’t Mix by GCBO Staff, April 4 2020

Semipalmated Plovers by Taylor Bennett, March 28 2020

Murders, Ambushes and Prides, Oh My! by Morgan Barnes, March 21 2020

An Amazing Pelican Journey by Kay Lookingbill, March 14 2020

Thunderbirds Over Texas by Martin Hagne, March 7 2020

The Science of Brewing Beer by Celeste Silling, February 29 2020

Mysteries of the Moon Snails by Taylor Bennett, February 22 2020

The Curious Case of the Puffin Face by Morgan Barnes, February 15 2020

Why No Birds? by Martin Hagne, February 8 2020

Birds in Love by Celeste Silling, February 1 2020

Purple Martins by Sue Heath, January 25 2020

Longnose Spider Crabs by Taylor Bennett, January 18 2020

Why Count Birds? by Martin Hagne, January 11 2020

White Nose Syndrome by Celeste Silling, January 4 2020

2019

Support the Birds This Christmas by Sue Heath, Dec 28 2019

Sanderlings by Taylor Bennett, Dec 21 2019

The Biology of Migration by Celeste Silling, Dec 14 2019

How Birds Flock by Celeste Silling, Dec 7 2019

Turkey For Thanksgiving by Sue Heath, Nov 30 2019

The Mighty Red Knot by Taylor Bennett, Nov 23 2019

Vultures: Nature’s Cleanup Crew by Martin Hagne, Nov 16 2019

How Owls Hunt by Celeste Silling, Nov 9, 2019

Sinkholes by Heather Hill, Nov 2, 2019

Blackbird or Black Bird? by Sue Heath, Oct 26 2019

Native Plants by Chris Kneupper Oct 19 2019

Wrack by Taylor Bennett, Oct 12 2019

Smith Point Hawk Watch by Sue Heath, Sept 28 2019

Nature’s Echo by Martin Hagne, Sept 21 2019

Black Skimmers by Taylor Bennett, Sept 7 2019