Wildlife, wild places, and the people connected to them – explored through field stories, conversations, and natural history.
Modern Texas Naturalist explores the wildlife, wild places, and people of Texas through field stories, conversations, photography, and natural history. It’s a place for curiosity, good stories, and a deeper connection to the remarkable state we share.
Conversations, stories, and natural history from Texas — featuring wildlife, wild places, conservation, and the people who help us better understand them.
Listen to recent conversations and field-based stories from Modern Texas Naturalist, hosted by Romey Swanson.
Wildlife, books, field notes, conversations, recommendations, and whatever else has caught my attention lately — delivered straight to your inbox.
A search for the elusive high-elevation owls of the Davis Mountains—and the questions, friendships, and discoveries that emerge from listening in the dark.
A good-natured rivalry with California becomes a deeper look at bird diversity, rare visitors, big landscapes, and what it really means to call a state “birdy.”
What years spent searching for reptiles and amphibians taught me about landscapes, change, conservation, and the importance of participation.
Romey Swanson is a Texas naturalist, wildlife biologist, conservationist, writer, and host of Modern Texas Naturalist. His work and curiosity have taken him from desert springs and mountain forests to rivers, ranches, and communities across Texas — always with an eye toward the wildlife, landscapes, and people that make this state remarkable.
Bring Modern Texas Naturalist to your organization, conference, classroom, or community gathering. Talks can be tailored for virtual or in-person audiences, with custom field experiences and programs available by request.
Stories and insights from wildlife, landscapes, rivers, ranches, and field experiences across Texas.
Field-based programs drawing from owl research, herpetology, survey work, and the natural history of Texas species.
Practical conversations about conservation, partnerships, private lands, water, and how people shape outcomes for wildlife and wild places.
Follow the latest stories, conversations, field notes, and new episodes from Modern Texas Naturalist.