Hidden Treasure
While monitoring excavation at the C-44 Reservoir project in Florida, I uncovered ancient seashells transformed into honey calcite—rare, fossilized remnants of the region’s prehistoric marine past. This discovery became the moment I fell in love with gemstones and began my journey into jewelry-making.
An Unexpected Friendship
Fred, the Crested Caracara I grew to know over several years, wasn’t just passing through our construction site—he was nesting there. When I documented him carrying long limbs for his nest, we realized an endangered species had made this project area his home. That discovery triggered a 1,500-foot protection buffer and changed the entire way we worked on site. This is the story of Fred, the clever raptor who taught me to look twice and always protect what you find in the field.
From Desolation to Beauty in a Blink
West Texas can look harsh and barren at first glance, but during wind turbine construction season, I discovered an unexpected beauty — bluebonnets and cactus blooming together beside the rising turbines
Titan Apple Snail
While conducting fieldwork in the Everglades, I stumbled upon a clutch of Titan Apple Snail eggs—an invasive species scientists believed had been contained. That unexpected discovery set off a wave of urgency across the research teams and changed the direction of our work overnight.
The Everglades Alive!
I found her in three months. A 7.5-foot queen, undeniable in her midnight shimmer.
Life Returns to Navarre Beach
A tiny Least Tern hatchling peeks out from behind a cluster of beach grass, its downy feathers blending perfectly with the sandy landscape as it cautiously observes its surroundings.
Never Ending Nesting
Three Least Tern eggs, speckled with black and perfectly camouflaged against the sandy beach, rest in a simple nest surrounded by scattered shells and a weathered bone fragment.
The Everglades Awakening
A detailed hand-drawn rendering of wild orchids from a morning in the Everglades, capturing the rich green foliage, delicate yellow hues, and intricate textures of the blooms that stood out in the early dawn light.