Everything appeared normal when I checked the nest box on June 20. But when I returned on June 27, the scene was dramatically different.

Bouquets Built for the Rocks
It took everything I had not to pull over for a closer look. Had I not been on a schedule, I almost certainly would have pulled over to see if any had gone to seed.

Part 1 - Stowaways Behind the Grille Bewick’s Wrens readily adapt to life around people, often nesting in birdhouses, sheds, and mailboxes. But sometimes, they choose a location that leaves their human neighbors scratching their heads.

Part 2 - Letters from the Wren—An Imagined Journal Inspired by True Events “I've been busy gathering the final layer of the best soft moss ever, and when I come back, the whole building is gone! Gone, I tell you!”

Relive the laughter, music, and community spirit of the HCMN Kazoo Band through photos, videos, and memories from Wimberley's Fourth of July parades.

Despite the late-July heat, the month’s generous rainfall sparked an explosion of color—though on this visit, it was an unusual abundance of white blooms.

A Pathfinder’s Vision
What happens after training ends, when the classes are over and the real journey begins? A new HCMN initiative is helping volunteers find connection, purpose, and a place to belong.

Explore, Connect, and Find Your Path
Something new is taking root. Pathfinders learn how one shared challenge inspired a program designed to help them thrive beyond training.

What the Night Reveals
Bat monitoring season is underway but choosing where to listen is no simple task. See how HCMN volunteers use science and technology to track bats across Hays County.

Putting Texas Native Plants Into More Hands
As Master Naturalists, our conversations about stewardship don’t have to end when an event is over. Discover a new tool helping Texans continue learning about native plants and pollinator habitat at their own pace.

Pollinator Week: June 22 - 28, 2026
Nectar. Rest. Repeat. One garden visitor offered a closer look at pollination in action.

The 2nd Annual Stagecoach Park Conservation Fair connected families with nature and the local organizations working to protect it. See highlights from this growing community event in Buda, Texas.

A Firefly Grant, a handful of dedicated volunteers, and a big idea. Three years later, the Beautiful Hays County Activity and Coloring Book has become a countywide teaching tool for curious kids.

Watch the remarkable transformation of a Gulf Fritillary from egg to butterfly, captured through the patient observations of HCMN member Bob Currie and Salwa Khan.

Every bird counts—and so does every observer. See how the San Marcos community came together to celebrate World Migratory Bird Day and support the birds that travel through Hays County each spring.

Spring migration was in full swing at this year’s San Marcos Migratory Bird Festival. Come along on a bird walk filled with colorful warblers, unexpected sightings, and one exciting new bird at the end of the trail.

See highlights from the HCMN Spring Reunion and Fall 2025 Graduating Class—an afternoon of fellowship, learning, gratitude, and accomplishment, including Chapter Awards and Special Recognitions.

Part 2 - What Makes Bird Habitat Good?
Every property owner can do (and not do) things that make life better for birds. Learn how to enhance the health and diversity of bird life on your land.

Want to know more about improving the habitat for cavity nesting birds? See how nest box management and preservation of natural cavities can improve the numbers of native birds who find a home on your property.

The HCMN Project Fair returned in April during the Spring Reunion and Fall Graduation, bringing members and guests together to explore exciting volunteer opportunities.