Every year in the late fall, bird enthusiasts and citizen scientists across the country start preparing for the spring nesting season, which in Central Texas begins in early February. We never tire of monitoring bird boxes, nest cams, and natural cavities to get an intimate glimpse into the secret lives of birds.

Thanks to the concerted efforts of people building nest box trails all across the US, bluebirds are making a comeback today. Bluebirds will begin checking out nest sites for their first brood of the season in January. Late fall through December is the ideal time to ready existing nest boxes and to replace old ones.

So I set out on an early October teal hunt of my own. Only I didn’t bring my shotgun, but instead my camera. I was to meet two-time Naturescapes winning photographer Mike Davis for a sunrise photo shoot on the Plum Creek Soil and Water Conservation Lakes in Kyle.

The night was right for fun and fright at Boo! Hole Halloween 2022. Hays County Master Naturalists were there!

An October Pollinator Slideshow and Monarch Gallery