I found this Oriental False Hawksbeard on our walk around campus in the garden outside of JBWS. It is a non-native plant in Texas; it is native to Japan and Southeast Asia. It is considered an invasive plant and can be found in places all over the world. I loved it’s little clusters of bright yellow flowers.
http://www.inaturalist.org/observations/5433876
I see this bird and it’s mate all the time, as they have taken up residence right outside my dorm. These sightings started in the last month or so, so I assume they migrated recently. The migration of blue jays is erratic and they can be found throughout their migration range (from Canada to Texas) during the winter months. Blue Jays can also mimic the calls of hawks, which they may use to warn other jays of the danger.
http://www.inaturalist.org/observations/5660115
This picture is actually of a cardinal in a tiger’s enclosure–pretty risky. I nearly didn’t get a picture of this little guy, but I managed to get one with a little flash of the bird’s red feathers. This bird can proudly claim the title of state bird in 7 different states, which I thought was pretty impressive. What’s it like to be that popular? Apparently the oldest Northern Cardinal ever recorded was over 15 years old. This bird is extremely territorial–so much so that it will even attack it’s own reflection.
http://www.inaturalist.org/observations/5794887
Texas Bindweed, also known as Convolvulus equitans, is common in praries and a member of the morning glory family. This plant is an annual and blooms in April through October. It is a vine that twists around weeds and shrubs and is capable of blocking so much light that these plants die. I thought it was one of the most beautiful wildflowers we saw on our walk through campus.
http://www.inaturalist.org/observations/5434101
This Gulf Fritillary flew across my path and I spent about 5 minutes tracking it and attempting to get close enough to get a picture. It was frustrating, but worth it once I got a photo that was decent enough to upload. I learned that they are also called the passion butterfly because they lay their eggs near passion vines, which the caterpillar eats when it hatches. I also learned that sometimes they get confused and it is not uncommon for them to lay eggs on people, which I found amusing. They can be found in over ⅔ of the United States.
http://www.inaturalist.org/observations/5801081
Convergent Lady Beetles are the most common lady beetles in North America and are found all over the continent. Their diet consists mainly of aphids and they’re often used to naturally control the pests. Females lay between 200 and 300 eggs over several months in spring. Though they usually lay their eggs near a source of food, the first hatchlings will often eat unhatched eggs as their first source of energy. When aphids are sparse, they’ll eat honeydew, nectar, pollen, or even the soft petals of plants, but they need to eat aphids to reproduce.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/5447226
The Northern Mockingbird is the only mockingbird commonly found in North America. It’s known for its ability to mimic other birdsongs and even other animals and artificial noises. The bird eats both fruits and insects and is found in open areas, forest edges, and grassy land. Some are permanent residents but northern birds migrate south during winter. The birds are also very intelligent, able to recognize human faces (specifically, those who have intruded or threatened the birds).
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/5601525
Rain lilies are Zephyranthes, members of the Amaryllis family. The species is native to the Americas and the perennials can tolerate a wide range of environmental conditions, from intense cold to dry deserts. The leaves and bulbs are toxic but other parts of the plants have been examined for medical use. Flower colors range from white to yellow to pink.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/5601544
The Hackberry Emperor is a brushfooted butterfly that lives near woodland edges, creeks, buildings, and damp, muddy areas. They’re found in northeastern Mexico, as well as the southwestern and eastern United States. Adults don’t usually feast on flowers, instead preferring rotting fruit, tree sap, dung, and animal carcasses (how morbid). The Hackberry Emperor is named after its only host plant (where females lay eggs), the Hackberry tree.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/5601818
I’ve seen this guy a couple times around the Hilltopper Apartments and finally snapped a picture right outside my back door. The gray fox ranges from southern Canada to Venezuela and Colombia. It used to be the most common fox of America, but human activity has caused its numbers to decrease. It’s also the only American canid that can climb trees. The gray fox is an omnivore, feasting on rabbits, voles, shrews, and birds as well as fruits and vegetables.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/5433834