Nature Notes

Marfa Public Radio

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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Top 10 Nature Notes Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Nature Notes episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Nature Notes for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Nature Notes episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

Autumnal glory: probing the mysteries of West Texas Aspens

Nature Notes

08/24/23 • 4 min

The West Texas sky island mountains sustain wondrous biodiversity, but there's one particularly graceful being concealed here: Populus tremuloides, the trembling aspen. New research into West Texas aspens could shed light on their history, and on the continent-wide story of this iconic species.

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Dive into deep time: discovering the vanished creatures of Big Bend's ancient sea

Nature Notes

09/21/23 • 4 min

West Texas today is high and dry. But long ago it was beneath a shallow sea. In "Dinosaurs and Other Ancient Animals of Big Bend," the book's authors guide readers into the region's singular fossil record — including the teeming life of this ancient ocean.

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A new book brings Big Bend's ancient animals to life

Nature Notes

08/31/23 • 4 min

Big Bend National Park has a singular fossil record, spanning 130 million years. In "Dinosaurs and Other Ancient Animals of Big Bend,” that epic story is told, bringing vanished creatures, and vanished worlds, to life.

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Desert lifelines: a new initiative aims to restore West Texas streams

Nature Notes

10/05/23 • 4 min

There's nothing more wondrous in a desert country than flowing water. But modern human activities have had stark effects on West Texas streams and creeks. Now, there's a new initiative to restore them.

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Of rain and redolence: Sept. 14 talk by Gary Nabhan is a journey into the desert 'osmocosm'

Nature Notes

09/07/23 • 4 min

Our region's vistas are iconic, but its desert scent — especially after a rain — is just as distinctive. Renowned writer Gary Nabhan will speak on the fragrances of the Chihuahua desert at Marfa's Crowley theater.

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Ursine explorers: tracking black bears’ recolonization of West Texas

Nature Notes

06/13/24 • 4 min

With the return of black bears to West Texas, researchers are tracking their movements and studying their habits. And with careful science, they're hoping the bears can once again flourish in the region.

New findings deepen the story of White Sands' “ghost prints”

Nature Notes

10/19/23 • 4 min

The “ghost prints” of White Sands National Park are among the century's most remarkable archeological discoveries. And new findings strengthen the case that these Chihuahuan Desert footprints are also the oldest evidence of people in the Americas.

West Texas “Nabkha” Dunes Reveal a Rugged Region’s Fragility

Nature Notes

10/10/24 • 4 min

Large swaths of West Texas are dominated by features called coppice dunes. These dunes reveal that, when human activity and extreme weather intersect, landscapes can be rapidly transformed.

The Texas carpenter ant takes “probiotics” to the next level

Nature Notes

12/21/23 • 4 min

The ant has evolved an organ specifically to host its “good bacteria.”

Scientist Explore an Enigmatic Lizard in the Chinati Mountains

Nature Notes

11/14/24 • 4 min

Trans-Pecos Texas has a stunning diversity of reptiles and amphibians, and herpetologists, both professional and avocational, flock here from around the world. Now, researchers are turning their attention to one example of that diversity – a mysterious lizard known as the Dixon’s whiptail.

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FAQ

How many episodes does Nature Notes have?

Nature Notes currently has 61 episodes available.

What topics does Nature Notes cover?

The podcast is about Nature, Podcasts, Education and Science.

What is the most popular episode on Nature Notes?

The episode title 'Dive into deep time: discovering the vanished creatures of Big Bend's ancient sea' is the most popular.

What is the average episode length on Nature Notes?

The average episode length on Nature Notes is 4 minutes.

How often are episodes of Nature Notes released?

Episodes of Nature Notes are typically released every 13 days, 4 hours.

When was the first episode of Nature Notes?

The first episode of Nature Notes was released on Jan 19, 2023.

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Nature Notes

Marfa Public Radio

Top 10 Nature Notes Episodes

FAQ

How many episodes does Nature Notes have?

What topics does Nature Notes cover?

What is the most popular episode on Nature Notes?

What is the average episode length on Nature Notes?

How often are episodes of Nature Notes released?

When was the first episode of Nature Notes?

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