Look up, in the sky! What’s soaring above? If it’s winter in Texas, there is a good chance you are seeing falcons that are migrating through. Texas is home to many falcon species. The most well known falcons are the Aplomado falcon, American Kestrel and Peregrine falcon. These birds are either resident, meaning they live here year-round, or migratory, meaning they live here for only part of the year. Most birds like songbirds are spring migrants and will migrate to Texas in the spring, stay here for the warm months, and leave in the fall. But falcons will migrate here in the fall, stay in Texas for the winter, and leave in the spring like many other birds of prey. Birds of prey is a term used to describe birds that are predators. This includes falcons, hawks, eagles and owls.
After the sun goes down and the stars come out, the world around us comes to life. Nocturnal animals, or animals that are active during the night and sleep during the day, begin their day as the sun sets. Animals can be nocturnal for many different reasons. Some animals are awake at night to hunt because that is when their prey, the animals they eat, are most active. Others are active at night to avoid predators. These animals use adaptations, or characteristics that help the animal live in the dark. Some of the most common characteristics we see are enhanced senses. This includes things like better vision with larger eyes, better hearing or better smell. Animals you may see at night include birds, reptiles, amphibians, mammals and insects! Some animals have changed their behavior to be nocturnal, or active at night, to avoid humans. This includes animals like raccoons, opossums and skunks that live in cities and areas with more people. Some animals are active at night because of other factors, like the temperature. To avoid the summer heat, these animals sleep during the day and move more at night. Animals can be nocturnal for more than one reason! Let’s take a deeper dive into some native Texas nocturnal critters.
Our backyards can be home to many different species of wildlife. There are over six hundred species of birds native to Texas, many of which take advantage of the mild climate, where it is not too hot and not too cold most of the year, and stay here year-round, although many will fly to warmer or cooler climates during winter and summer. When a bird flies to a warmer or cooler climate, it is called migration. Most migratory birds will fly south to warmer climates in Central and South America when it is fall and winter in North America, and then they will fly north again when North America is warmer here. Many people can enjoy observing birds that visit their own backyards throughout the year. Some people choose to provide the birds with food, water and shelter to help replace native habitat that is lost when new neighborhoods are built.
Caves are home to all kinds of interesting animals. A lot of what you will find depends on how deep in the cave you go. At different depths in the cave, you will find different types of cave critters, including a few that look a lot like the wildlife you find outside a cave. The only difference is they have adapted – or changed – to live in a place that is completely dark.
Look up, in the sky! What’s soaring above? If it’s winter in Texas, there is a good chance you are seeing falcons that are migrating through. Texas is home to many falcon species. The most well known falcons are the Aplomado falcon, American Kestrel and Peregrine falcon. These birds are either resident, meaning they live here year-round, or migratory, meaning they live here for only part of the year. Most birds like songbirds are spring migrants and will migrate to Texas in the spring, stay here for the warm months, and leave in the fall. But falcons will migrate here in the fall, stay in Texas for the winter, and leave in the spring like many other birds of prey. Birds of prey is a term used to describe birds that are predators. This includes falcons, hawks, eagles and owls. 
After the sun goes down and the stars come out, the world around us comes to life. Nocturnal animals, or animals that are active during the night and sleep during the day, begin their day as the sun sets. Animals can be nocturnal for many different reasons. Some animals are awake at night to hunt because that is when their prey, the animals they eat, are most active. Others are active at night to avoid predators. These animals use adaptations, or characteristics that help the animal live in the dark. Some of the most common characteristics we see are enhanced senses. This includes things like better vision with larger eyes, better hearing or better smell. Animals you may see at night include birds, reptiles, amphibians, mammals and insects! Some animals have changed their behavior to be nocturnal, or active at night, to avoid humans. This includes animals like raccoons, opossums and skunks that live in cities and areas with more people. Some animals are active at night because of other factors, like the temperature. To avoid the summer heat, these animals sleep during the day and move more at night. Animals can be nocturnal for more than one reason! Let’s take a deeper dive into some native Texas nocturnal critters. 
Our backyards can be home to many different species of wildlife. There are over six hundred species of birds native to Texas, many of which take advantage of the mild climate, where it is not too hot and not too cold most of the year, and stay here year-round, although many will fly to warmer or cooler climates during winter and summer. When a bird flies to a warmer or cooler climate, it is called migration. Most migratory birds will fly south to warmer climates in Central and South America when it is fall and winter in North America, and then they will fly north again when North America is warmer here. Many people can enjoy observing birds that visit their own backyards throughout the year. Some people choose to provide the birds with food, water and shelter to help replace native habitat that is lost when new neighborhoods are built. 
Caves are home to all kinds of interesting animals. A lot of what you will find depends on how deep in the cave you go. At different depths in the cave, you will find different types of cave critters, including a few that look a lot like the wildlife you find outside a cave. The only difference is they have adapted – or changed – to live in a place that is completely dark.