Happy Fourth Birthday!

Four years ago, a new light entered the world. Audrey Anne became the light of my life. A day full of celebrations including friends at Andy's Kitchen, where Audrey has eaten breakfast almost every Saturday (and other days!) since she was 6 months old, her friends at pre-school and of course celebration with me. I love you Audrey Anne - and cannot believe you are FOUR!



















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Screech Owls Resurface in Mac-dom

"I spent four years researching a population of eastern screech owls in suburban Temple Texas." That is the line that begins literally dozens of talks I have given on this project that culminated in a master's thesis, but contained so many life lessons and academic ones that I continue to use every day. I loved these critters. They nested in one of 20 owl boxes that I had set up with my academic mentor - Dr. Fred Gehlbach. I dutifully checked all the boxes every five days for the 3 month nesting season over a four year period. I took my 7th graders and eventually my college students out to the field site to see how we 'do' biology - and it isn't with pocket protectors and beakers! I saw starlings mating in the box, hundreds of wildflowers, snakes, hawks who ate my nestlings, cranes migrating, honeybees that took over a box, other owls, thousands of birds -- I loved being in the field. This fall, there is an interested consortium that wants to fund a screech owl study here in Corpus Christi. This will be post tenure review and I will have some time once again! Yes, I want to do another owl study. And take school children and college students out in the field. The Welder Wildlife Refuge is within driving distance and they want this as much as I do. The owls are calling.

I am submitting an online journal article regarding this study to Nature. Fingers are crossed. The editor contacted me with this interest and I need these publications. What is really important to me is that the owls have taught me so many lessons - now more people can read about that. They are good, positive lessons concerning their cohabitation with humans in sharing and protecting our environment.

Here are some photos for your enjoyment. It's been a blast going back through the data and remembering my feathered friends!!!

Grey phase roosting (resting) pose during the daytime

Screech owl peeking out of the nest box (they normally live in tree cavities but have no preference between nest boxes or natural cavities)

The female incubates eggs for approx 28 days, and is totally dependent on her monogomous mate to bring her food. She also stays in the box when the nestlings are first born until they are large enough to stay warm on their own.


red phase female flying from the nest box - their wing span is impressive and they don't make a sound when they fly


banding the nestlings - we band the female and all nestlings so we can ID the owls:

red phase female feeding an older nestling


Here are six siblings - posed for the shot. They will leave the nest, hanging out with parents for a couple of months and learning to fly and capture food. Then, they disperse to new territory. You can hear them calling pre-dawn and at dusk during spring and summer.


I hope to be adding some current shots from Corpus Christi research that is planned in future. Stay tuned!!!!

Reading Books and Planting Flowers

Sunday was awesome - sun was out, nice and warm and I decided it was time to pot some plants for spring. Right when I was walking to my apartment, arms full of plants, I got a text message from Annie that Audrey wanted to come visit -- so I invited her to come over and help. Audrey arrived with her book. I suggested she read to me while I plant the flowers.

She got all cross legged and began to read "If You Take A Mouse To School". I'm not sure what a mouse would want to do at a school, but she said it was her favorite book so I figured I'd find out.

A few pots later, she had read the book at least four times. Let me tell you, mice really do have a fine time at school.



Finally, she helped level the soil, pat down the plants and water them. She told her Mommy they would be all grown by "next week".



We both learned a lot on Sunday - Audrey learned how to plant flowers and I learned about what mice do at school. It was pretty perfect for a Sunday.

Insects, sharks and butterflies

Audrey often comes over to hang out and watch television and eat chocolate pudding - she knows there is always some waiting for her in the refrigerator. We read books - and instead of picking out a typical storybook she ALWAYS goes upstairs to my office and gets the field guides. Books of insects, sharks, butterflies, reptiles, amphibians...I have dozens of them. She LOVES them. We find them much more interesting than Curious George or Sponge Bob. Yep, the apple does not fall far from the tree. I predict she's going to LOVE science like I do.

Four days - and the news is not good.

This is a graph that, if you haven't seen it already, you will. The world famous Keeling curve. Look up and read sometime about the scientist and process that went into this meticulous data collection. I have seen it many times and hundreds of others over the last four days. Climate change, global warming, carbon sequestration, cap and trade, nuclear fission and fusion, renewables....on and on. So many talks by scientists from all over the world and educators from far and wide. Policy makers. Statisticians. Corporations. Private sector. All with the same message. And, the news -is -not - good.

This is a meeting that does not go into the politics but presents the science. The evidence. The facts. I have learned so much both about the history of climate change and the science as the data is presented by work that is done by top scientists and has been published in a rigorous peer-reviewed process that let's us know the results are credible, reliable, repeatable, and trustworthy.

There is so much I didn't know. Four days of meetings and presentations. A sore butt from sitting for so long. Yet there was one thing I never heard --- the answer. There is no silver bullet. Every idea that everyone has had with regard to alternate (non-carbon based) energy sources has a clear reason why that idea might be a stepping stone, but it is not going to solve the problem.

Much work needs to be done by everyone. And yes, it's urgent work.

I want to get home and get started doing my part - education. And helping the scientists make the very confusing data understandable to the general public. Its a huge task. When I feel overwhelmed, I think of Audrey and what will be left for her if things don't change - and change quickly.

American Association for the Advancement of Science

A few months ago two science educators in Corpus Christi Texas submitted a proposal. In a nutshell, one educator is from the awesome Texas State Aquarium. The other teaches at TAMUCC. They wanted to go to the AAAS conference and proposals were being accepted for a fully funded trip. Over 4000 proposals were submitted, only 100 selected. Yeah - we're in! I can't wait - 2 days of seminars related to increasing public awareness of climate change followed by 3 days of AAAS science meetings - many related to climate change. We're charged with creating new climate change exhibits at the aquarium (her job) with curriculum designed for schools to accompany visits by children and adults (my job). Excited?? I cannot wait!!!

My Funny Valentines

It's too cold to swim but for the first visit to the beach on Valentine's Day, some little people just couldn't keep their jeans on. A prelude to spring and summer here in Corpus Christi!!