Author Archives: ChihuahuanDesertProtector

By Rick LoBello, Board Member In 2020 I received a phone call from an old friend here in El Paso who wanted my help in keeping a skunk out of his garage. When I talked to him about his options I discovered that the problem was pretty easy to solve. As it turns out thereContinueContinue reading “Chihuahuan Desert Wildlife: Skunks”

One of the most colorful small shrubs in the Chihuahuan Desert, the trumpet flower (Tecoma stans), is rarely seen in El Paso probably because it has a very limited range where it is found mainly in Big Bend National Park and parts of the Davis Mountains.    The three-foot shrub is commonly called yellow bells.  IfContinueContinue reading “Chihuahuan Desert Plants: Trumpet flower”

By Rick LoBello, Board Member Now that the Castner Range has been designated a National Monument it is important for our community to understand the fascinating biodiversity of the Franklin Mountains. The Castner Range National Monument section of the Franklin Mountains is connected to the lands that surround it including private and public lands likeContinueContinue reading “Biodiversity of the Castner Range, a delicate balance”

Helping people connect the dots between climate change and their quality of life is a big challenge, mainly because many have not been able to see how climate change is impacting their daily lives.   Here at the Chihuahuan Desert Education Coalition we plan to report to you on how our quality of life is impactedContinueContinue reading “How wildlife is impacted by climate change – the plight of the Grey-headed Albatross”

Pyhruloxia courtesy of Mark Cunningham By Rick LoBello, Board Member Spring is in the air and now is a great time to watch for local birds getting ready to nest and sing away all across our city and the surrounding desert. One of our most beautiful resident birds is the Pyrrhuloxia, a very close relativeContinueContinue reading “Meet your neighbors: the Pyrrhuloxia”

The off shore wind farm was established on a natural reef 3.5 kms outside Copenhagen Harbor, in the autumn of 2000 and consists of 20 turbines, each with 2 megawatt capacity. by Robert D. Vines PE, C.P.M., Board Member The most important, but most difficult action required to save our planet, is that every countryContinueContinue reading “Governments addressing climate change”

Gould’s Turkey Meleagris gallopavo Mexicana Status: Least Concern. Size: On average males weigh 8 to 30 pounds with females weighing 8 to 12 pounds. Habitat: Arid desert and mountain regions. The Gould’s Turkey is the largest of the five subspecies of turkey. It is known only to the US Mexico border area of the southwestern corner of NewContinueContinue reading “Chihuahuan Desert Wildlife: Gould’s Turkey”

Western diamondback rattlesnake By Rick LoBello, Board Member Late summer rains here in the Chihuahuan Desert are once again bringing out all kinds of snakes. A couple of years ago I came across a five-foot diamondback rattlesnake crossing the road near the Westside Open Reserve at the Community Park. Bullsnake Many people when they seeContinueContinue reading “Snakes on the move!”

Desert willow. To help you look for native trees Texas A&M has compiled a list of native trees for El Paso on their website. By Rick LoBello, Board Member Did you know that planting non-native trees can have serious impacts to our environment? Non-native trees can change ecosystems and habitats. They can reduce or impede water flowContinueContinue reading “Do the right thing, be sure to pick the right tree”

By Rick LoBello, Board Member Its been a while since I have seen one of the Curve-billed Thrashers living in my neighborhood, but the other day I am sure I heard one proclaim its presence with its loud whit-wheet whistle call.  If you pay attention to the birds near your home you probably have heardContinueContinue reading “Meet your neighbors: The Curve-billed Thrasher”