Encouraging news came this week of a reinvigorated program to restore blight-resistant American chestnut. If successful, this would be the biggest news for our eastern forests since the chestnuts were wiped out before 1950. This is reason for optimism.

Depressions in the proterozoic rocks of the Llano uplift are particularly good for catching water after a rain... and those little pools are particularly good at keeping your Black-throated sparrows clean. #birds

Sing Out! #birds

Texas Persimmon (Diospyros texana) in Texas - as it should be. This one an absolute unit. Every yard from Brownsville in the south, east to Waco, west to Terlingua, and North to Brownwood should have one of these... if only to please me and the raccoons. #nativeplants

They're called Caracaras (Cara being spanish for "face") because they have two faces; a left face and a right face. #birds

Second.

This is what it looks like to take wildlife collisions seriously. There are >40 wildlife overpasses and underpasses with fencing along the Trans-Canada Highway near Banff, Alberta. They’ve reduced wildlife-vehicle collisions by 80%, saving human & animal lives while promoting connected ecosystems.

For Pride Month a Rainbow Bird singing in a Brokeback Mountain scene. #birds #pride #birdsonbarbwire Painted Bunting, The Ranch, June 2026

Neighbor drama in the tenement house. "I'll raise my kids as I see fit!, back off."

"Have you seen my idiot son? I left him here in the garden. Oh, nevermind, there he is." #birds Purple Martin dad in the garden. June 2026

Ever seen a baby Dickcissel? Now you have. It's a big scary world out there buddy, but I think you'll be alright. Just fly off to the vanishing grasslands and do your thing. Come fall you can take a trip to South America. #birds

I will ensconce myself in this bush and await for Dad to return with more tasty bugs. What could go wrong? "Look at me! I'm a bat!" Purple Martin fledgling Texas, June 2026 #birds

Five seconds of a Yellow-billed Cuckoo in the garden dispatching a grasshopper. The Ranch, Texas June 2026 #birds

Dickcissel watching a butterfly out by the barn. Been a faithful companion this summer, unlike those Meadowlarks who fled north leaving me all alone... Texas, June 2026 #birds

Can't talk now. Got a mouthful of bugs. Purple Martin June 2026 #birds

Lizard doing a lizard dance. I guess. Very good at it. Common Spotted Whiptail (Aspidoscelis gularis) or the Huico Pinto del Noreste en espanol... which is, admittedly, a much better name. Che Huico! Que haces?

The carrot that thinks it’s a yucca, Eryngium yuccifolium youtube.com/shorts/trING...

"Wake up kids, dad has brought home a mess of flying insects for dinner. Looks like it's some sort of termite tonight. What do you mean, you don't like termites? You've never even tried termites. Listen your father worked hard for those termites and your going to eat some." #birds

My campaign to change the name of this bird from Dickcissel to Cheep Cheep-cheep has yet to catch on, but I've been survey all the Cheep Cheep-cheeps on the place and they all seem to be in favor of the change. Like this one at the top of a Mesquite tree. #birds

Birds on Barbwire. Mr. Purple Martin looking sharp. #birds #birdsonbarbwire

My scissors got wet. I hope they don't rust. Scissor-tailed Flycatcher in the rain. #birds

Male House sparrow on a post in the rain, followed by a female House sparrow on a post in the rain, followed by no sparrows on a post in the rain. Sparrows posting you might say.

Baby black-tailed jackrabbits are called "leverets". Here a newborn leveret attempts his first leap. Adult jackrabbits can leap as far as 20 feet... this one has a way to go. Although he is pretty fucking adorable in the attempt. The Ranch June 2026.

In June, the Mesquite bloom and all is alright with this small part of the world. Texas Hill Country. June 2026 #nativeplants

The sty of contentment that TS Eliot spoke of... Feral hog in his day spa taking a warm mud bath. If you watch to the end you will see him fart in the tub. You can't get this quality content just anywhere. Watch this space. Texas June 2026.

"What are you doing hare", I asked. "I live hare", she replied. Hares are masters of wordplay, if you only listen... and if you look deeply in the eye of this hare, you can see the porch on which I'm sitting filming a hare looking at me.

"I have a bug stuck on my nose, don't I." Ah, the agonies of adolescence. Juvenile Barn swallow. Texas June 2026. #Birds

A snake came to my water-trough On a hot, hot day, …. And so, I missed my chance with one of the lords Of life. From Snake by DH Lawrence Yeah, but I caught him on camera. Just look at this underworld god. #birds #nativeplants

Not everything has to be stupid.

Susanna (titmouse) and the Elders. Of a green evening, clear and warm, She bathed in her still garden, while The red-eyed elders, watching, felt The basses of their beings throb In witching chords, and their thin blood Pulse pizzicati of Hosanna. Peter Quince at the Clavier - Wallace Stevens

My friend. One of the Carolina Wrens that hop, sing, fly, eat, breed and raise more Carolina wrens in my yard. If you build them a home, they'll move in. They'll be your friends. #birds

Next Year's Purple Martins have arrived! I'm going to be a dad! - A step dad, that is. My new step son seems underwhelmed with me, with life. #birds

I thought this was Mr. and Mrs. Orchard oriole out on a date, but it turns out it's more of a father/daughter outing to the big sunflower... and dad neglected to bring snacks.

Mr. Vermillion Flycatcher - The Mask of Zorro bird - back on the rebar. #birds

Blue Grosbeak on some distant barbwire. #birds #birdsonbarbwire

Barn Swallow on Barbwire. #birds #Birdsonbarbwire.

Painted Bunting recharging his colors in “the glow”. Can’t stay too long in “the glow”. It’s dangerous. Just wet yourself down and jump in and out. #birds

Bell's Vireo, itching and scratching and singing like a... well. like a Bell's Vireo. I think this one has got it down. Texas June 2026. #birds

His real name is John, but all his friends call him Jack. You can call him Jack.

Reposting this for #WrensDay because all I got was a sexbot come on the first time... and lookit the little guy. #birds🪶 #Naturephotography

The new Bewick models are out for the year and they're looking good... See it's a pun... Bewick is pronounced like Buick the car make and this is a new Bewick's Wren... and if you have to explain your puns, they really don't work... but nevermind, forget it. Just lookit the little guy... #birds

"Yes, I'm a Painted Bunting. I'm just painted all green. Unlike my garish husband." Ms. Painted Bunting at the top of a Texas Live Oak. June 2026.

Hello, Handsome. Turkey Vulture in the golden hour. Mason county, Texas June 2026.

Orchard Oriole having trouble competing with the Texas spring wildflower season.

Metallic Green Bee with an itchy back.

I had a staring contest with this snake. I won. How about that? Eye-lock battle champion. Plain-bellied Watersnake. The Ranch. June 2026.

I met the world’s happiest bird today. He was happy to meet me. He would be happy to meet you, too. Barn Swallow. The Ranch. June 2026. #birds

The new Bewick models are out for the year and they're looking good... See it's a pun... Bewick is pronounced like Buick the car make and this is a new Bewick's Wren... and if you have to explain your puns, they really don't work... but nevermind, forget it. Just lookit the little guy... #birds

Birds on barbwire #58 Ash-throated Flycatcher on the hunt for some Ash-throated flies. The Ranch. June 2026. #Birdsonbarbwire #Birds

Ever seen a cow drink? Now you have.