Advertise on podcast: Nature Notes

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★★★★★

4.8

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19 reviews

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Why do rattlesnakes rattle and hummingbirds hum? How do flowers market themselves to pollinators? Why do tarantulas cross the road? Nature Notes investigates questions like these about the natural world of the Chihuahuan Desert region and the Llano Estacado. Through interviews with scientists and field recordings, this Marfa Public Radio original series reveals the secrets of desert life. Join host Dallas Baxter for new episodes on each week on Thursdays. Episodes are written and produced by Andrew Stuart and edited by Marfa Public Radio and the Sibley Nature Center in Midland, Texas.Nature Notes is supported by Shield-Ayres Foundation.

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The Gray Vireo: An Oft-Overlooked Desert Bird Reveals Stark Climate Truths

2026/11/12

It’s been described as among the “dullest, most drab” birds in North America. It’s not widespread, and the places where it lives are remote, far from most research institutions and most researchers. It’s perhaps not surprising that the gray vireo – a small desert songbird – has been almost entirely overlooked by scientists.

With Drone Photography, Archeologist Tom Alex Documents Big Bend Heritage Threatened by Border Projects

2026/11/05

Border construction threatens scores of archeological and historic sites in the national park, and bulldozing near Santa Elena Canyon in August already damaged the historic Sublett Farm site, an early 20th century homestead.

Seeking Crops for a Warming World, “Extreme Bean Dream Team” Turns to the West Texas Mountains

2026/10/29

Wild tepary beans thrive in the borderland mountains – including in El Paso’s Franklin Mountains. These remarkably hardy West Texas legumes could play a role in making common beans more drought- and heat-tolerant.

In Fiber Artifacts from West Texas, Archeologist Finds a Thread Connecting the Deep Past and the Present

2026/10/22

Lauren Bussiere is the head of collections at the Texas Archeological Research Laboratory, or TARL. She’s investigating more than 800 fiber artifacts collected in West Texas almost a century ago. Her project could shed new light on our region’s prehistory. It’s also opening new connections between her institution, which is charged with holding prehistoric artifacts, and the descendants of the people who made them.

On the Pecos, Sul Ross Scientist Finds the Resilience of a Beleaguered River

2026/10/15

The Pecos River is the Rio Grande’s longest tributary, and it’s famously the threshold of the West. It’s also among the most endangered rivers in the United States.

Anthropologist Finds “Multispecies Conviviality” Among Javelinas and Texans

2026/10/08

In “Living with Javelinas: Multispecies Conviviality in Texas,” forthcoming from UT Press, anthropologist Adam Johnson explores how people can coexist thoughtfully with wildlife, with the iconic borderlands creatures as the case study.

At Indio Mountains, Scientists Track the Secret Lives of West Texas Rattlers

2026/10/01

Rock rattlers are small, rarely exceeding 2 ½ feet. Their coloration reflects their environment. Rock rattlers in limestone landscapes are typically light grey, while those found in the Davis Mountain are often pink.

While the Risks Here are Low, West Texans Are Still Wise to Be Tick Aware

2026/09/28

Alpha-gal Syndrome is a potentially dangerous allergy to red meat, and it’s transmitted by the lone star tick. The tick gets its name not from our state, but from the single white spot found on the backs of females.

In New Research, Alpine Geologist Traces the Forces Behind the Big Bend’s Dramatic Landscapes

2026/09/10

The American West is slowly being torn apart by tectonic forces. One element of this “extension” is the Rio Grande Rift, a growing rip in the continent, traced by the river itself, from Colorado to Big Bend.

On the Rio Grande’s “Forgotten Reach,” Border Wall Imperils Wildlife and Science

2026/09/03

The Trump administration’s planned 30-foot-high border wall, stretching more than 160 miles from Hudspeth County to the western boundary of Big Bend Ranch State Park, will impact a landscape as wild as any in Texas, with profound impacts for both desert wildlife and desert science.

Border Projects Could Complicate the Return of Bears to Texas

2026/08/27

How will the Trump administration’s new border-infrastructure projects impact these bears? Scientists at Alpine’s Borderlands Research Institute, or BRI, are seeking answers to this timely question.

Archeologists Mobilize as Border Projects Threaten Ancient West Texas Sites

2026/08/20

In the coming months, the Trump administration’s construction of border barriers could impact hundreds, even thousands, of archeological sites in the Lower Pecos Canyonlands, where the Pecos River and Devils River join the Rio Grande

With Community Science, Big Bend BioBlitz Documents Biodiversity Threatened by Border Projects

2026/08/17

The Trump administration’s plans for an unprecedented expansion of border-policing infrastructure in Big Bend have also triggered an ambitious scientific initiative. The Big Bend Borderlands BioBlitz aims to document the biodiversity here before it’s damaged or destroyed.

From Balmorhea to Big Bend, Geologist Jesse Kelsch Seeks Insight into West Texas Aquifers

2026/07/23

Alpine geologist Jesse Kelsch is seeking insight into the groundwater that sustains the San Solomon Springs as part of her broader research into the region’s aquifers.

Trans-Pecos Wildlife Conference to Connect Landowners, Scientists for Conservation

2026/07/16

August 5th to 7th, the Trans-Pecos Wildlife Conference will bring together landowners and scientists – to explore practical solutions for sustaining our region’s wild creatures.

Podcast reviews

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4.8 out of 5

19 reviews

★★★★★

sjworkouts 2025/11/09

Wonderful!

Extremely enjoyable and informative. Interesting topics about West Texas ecology and history. Dallas Baxter is terrific as well. Thanks so much. Lear...

★★★★★

snežinkaaaaaa 2020/07/03

So much to geek out about!!!

As a newbie to West Texas, this podcast is so great! I love the insights into the region’s history and biodiversity from local experts. Plus I learne...

★★★★★

bowtieshark 2018/11/20

like being in West Texas

This is my favorite podcast that I subscribe to. I get so excited when a new one comes out. I can’t get enough, I wish episodes were an hour long! If ...

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