My backyard owl's routine is shaping up as follows: hunt all night, sleep until 5 p.m., then hang out on the front porch until sundown. I'm amazed at how unfazed the owl is by my presence. Even though it appears to be half-asleep, it clearly watches every move I make. I can see its head move as I move around the yard. Yesterday, while it was lounging on its perch, my neighbor had some sort of major project going on - complete with Bobcat machinery - but the owl seemed undisturbed. I managed to inch a few feet closer for this photo. I think this owl may enjoy the attention. I just hope this isn't one of those publicity-hungry owls looking to break into reality TV...

When I moved into my home almost four years ago, my first "improvement" was adding an owl house in an old, bug-eaten hackberry tree in the backyard. I downloaded an owl call on my phone and managed to attract a few curious owls with it. But none of them stayed. A squirrel stayed for a while. A couple of woodpeckers checked out the accommodations but found them lacking. Some unknown creature gnawed large gashes into the top of the owl house.

This year, I was seriously considering moving the house to a different tree. Then, after the first freeze, I noticed a bit of white fuzz clinging to the outside of the house. Feathers? No. It's some kind of man-made fluff.

The next day - finally - the little eastern screech-owl appeared, perfectly framed by the door of the owl house. It looked squinty-eyed and sleepy, but it was definitely keeping an eye on my dog, Lucy. The dog sniffed the air at the base of the tree, and then curled up to take a nap. I could see the owl tilting its head downward to look at Lucy, but it must have decided the dog was not a threat.

I had been watching from inside the house but couldn't get a decent photo from that vantage point. I tried inching the door open and - bloop - the owl disappeared. The owl house is designed to mimic a cavity in a tree. They can perch in the doorway and then disappear into the lower part of the house in an instant when threatened.

I waited another day before trying again, and I managed to get one semi-decent photo. I'm hoping I can get a little closer as the owl grows more comfortable in its new home. More photos coming soon...

During my five years as editorial director of Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine, I learned that the world of outdoor/environmental publications could be divided into four basic types: 1) hunting/fishing (Field & Stream), 2) hardcore outdoor recreation (Backpacker), 3) nonprofit advocacy (Sierra), and 4) global environmental magazines that mostly cover exotic locales (National Geographic).

Although I love National Geographic, my time at Texas Parks & Wildlife taught me that there are amazing places closer to home that don't get much coverage. More importantly, there are environmental issues close to home that don't get any coverage at all.

It is my belief - my bet, if you will - that there is a large number of Texas-based environmentalists, nature lovers, and outdoors enthusiasts whose needs and interests are not being adequately addressed by any publication, in print or online.

Who are these people? They're the ones who get excited when they see a green anole lizard scurry along a fence. They still watch in childlike wonder every time they see a monarch butterfly emerge from its chrysalis. When they go on a hike, they're not just exercising; they're looking for signs of life, from birds to bugs to furry woodland creatures.

As you might've guessed, I'm one of them. A card-carrying nature nerd.

I'm also a sixth-generation Texan. My great-great-great grandfather, Martin Parmer, was a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence. While that was a long time ago, a certain rebellious streak seems to have survived through the generations. I care about this state, and I'm willing to fight for it. Not with knives or guns but with a far more powerful weapon: accurate information.

It absolutely infuriates me that many Texans, including some of our state and national elected officials, continue to deny that global warming is real. It's real, it's a scientific fact. Remember science? While our coverage will always be grounded in science, we won't dwell on sad-clown, sky-is-falling, doomsday scenarios. We'll focus on solutions, and where there aren't yet solutions, we hope to inspire a little brainstorming in the form of robust debate.

And did I mention the fun stuff? If you need a break from all the robust debating, we've got articles on outdoorsy day trips and nature-infused weekend getaways.

The site also offers a number of interactive features. You can comment on stories, publish photo galleries, even submit your own nature-oriented events for the calendar. See an interesting bird or an animal you can't identify? You can submit a wildlife sighting and sign up for alerts to find out about other critters that have been spotted in your area.

Finally, I want to extend a heartfelt thanks to E. Dan Klepper, Wendee Holtcamp, and Barbara Rodriguez. Without their support, this site would probably still be little more than a rough sketch on an envelope.

Let the adventure begin!

Regards,

Robert Macias
Editor in Chief
TexasWildNetwork.com

We sent out our first batch of email newsletters this week, and the response so far has been nothing short of incredible.

And things are about to get even more interesting. Look for some exciting announcements over the next few weeks.