Mr. Burr Williams

Mr. Burr Williams
Executive Director
Sibley Nature Center
Midland, Texas

Today Donna and I had some errands to run and one of them was to stop by the Sibley Nature Center in Midland to drop off a special delivery.

We've met Mr. Williams in person once before when the Center hosted two programs, one by the Horned Lizard Conservation Society and another by the Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute on Desert Pollinators.

Today we caught him -- I wouldn't say not busy because he is indeed a busy and industrious man -- but today there were no special programs going on at the Center. That is to say, we had him to ourselves!

We had so many questions. And here's the man that has the answers we were seeking. And much more.

By the time we were done, we had become official members of the Sibley Center, got a DNA testing pack for horned lizards with instructions (the instructions are hoot, let me tell you), we got the heads up on dates for plant propagation sessions at the Sibley greenhouse this fall, and we are going to join the Master Naturalists for 2009. Our heads were spinning with excitement.

The thing that I love about Mr. Williams so much -- besides the twinkle in his eye and deep melodious voice; besides the great Center and its website that he has built up over the years to be educational and invaluable; besides the amazing walking encyclopedic resource his is -- is that he loves amateur naturalists. He said he enjoys most people that are enthusiastic and love nature. Hey, that's Donna and me.

He explained these days amateur scientists are more important than ever. There is so much to study, but the areas that get studied by professionals are things that either help or hurt man's interests. There's no money in other things, like horned lizards, for example. Our state reptile, aka the "horny toad" is precious to the ecosystem as well as to most Texans' pride, however it is not a threat or a direct contributor to man's (current) interests. So, it's the volunteers and enthusiasts that can fill in informational blanks on the benign and neglected.

His pep talk has given Donna and I a new sense about what we do. We now plan to take on the challenge to be more scientific in our outings. We'll begin taking notes on what we observe, where we see it, and likely publish it on the web for the curious seeker's reference.

Oh, and what was that special delivery we made to Mr. Williams? Well, Mr. Williams is the only person on the planet that I know that would have wanted -- nay, who asked for -- the dessicated weasel I found some months back in Howard County. (I also must thank my companions who allowed me to carry this, um, aromatic find with us, in the truck, 60 miles back home. They are saints.)

And now I know this weasel's skeleton, once cleaned and bleached, will educate many school children and those of any age who remain life-long learners. My scary, wrinkled find is in good hands.