Ecologist & Biogeographer, Oklahoma Biological Survey
Author of A Naturalist’s Guide to Oklahoma
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art Asclepias biodiversity birding Canadian River collecting seeds education Eurasian milfoil fall foliage field work greenhouse iNaturalist least tern Liatris milkweed mistletoe monarch Oklahoma State Parks OU Biological Station Plants pollinator garden Posters preparation Private Property seeds severe weather spring summer traditions winter winter solstice
I have been exploring Oklahoma’s biodiversity for over 25 years. Arriving at the University of Oklahoma to study grasslands as a grad student, I soon found out that there was much more to Oklahoma than prairie! Working at the Oklahoma Biological Survey for the past 19 years, I have studied all 12 of the state’s ecoregions – surveying endangered birds, looking for invasive aquatic plants, measuring trees of the Ozark forests, collecting data on mesquite grasslands, restoring biodiversity to degraded systems, and more. I managed the Oklahoma Natural Areas Registry Program, organized outreach and science communication projects, and is currently the Oklahoma Natural Heritage Program Coordinator.
Happy Autumnal Equinox! Today marks the day when the sun is directly over the equator and the northern hemisphere will have less direct sunlight until the spring equinox. Personally, I am relieved to be tilted away from the sun for the next two seasons. The growing season is winding down, but we still have lots…
Over the past couple weeks I have been messaging with the marketing department of OU Press about a couple different things book things. First, the cover mock ups – imagine my delighted squeal! Seeing these, made by other people, makes the book seem more real. I think both options are lovely. I asked co-workers, family,…
This is most appropriate because I am headed to the International Monarch Science Symposium hosted by Monarch Watch in Lawrence, KS this week. In my lab, we are growing two late summer/fall thriving milkweed species – the native Honeyvine (Cynanchum laeve) and the non-native tropical milkweed (Asclepias curassavica). Students in my lab will be counting…
This week, I had the privilege of doing field work at a tallgrass prairie remnant that is one of the best examples of grassland I have seen in southcentral Oklahoma. On the grounds of the Choctaw Cultural Center in Bryan County, this prairie has a diversity of native grasses and wildflowers, few exotic invasive species,…
Last fall I hosted a few field notebook/nature journal workshops and attendees were interested in creating a club. I am sorry for the long delay, but I am ready to host nature journal meet up as an official meeting of the Cross Timbers Nature Journal Club! We have a converted meeting space at our office…
In Oklahoma, wetlands occur in all of our ecoregions. These images are from a variety of wetlands in southeastern Oklahoma, which has the greatest number of wetlands in the state – forming in response to the abundance of precipitation, flat terrain, and high water table. In the early 1900s, wetland protection became a priority for…
Did you know that July is National Bison Month? And the bison is Oklahoma’s state animal. The largest North American land mammal is the American bison (Bison bison), aka American buffalo. These enormous animals have had an important impact on the ecology and habitats of the Great Plains. Through grazing, seed dispersal, trampling, and wallowing,…
Happy World Snake Day! 🐍 This lil cutie was found in our backyard in the middle of Norman. The DeKay’s Brown Snake (Storeria dekayi) is one of our most common urban snakes in Oklahoma. You might think this is a juvenile, but these snakes only grow to be about a foot long and the size…
Last week, a group of us put down a couple more sheets of plastic to solarize the weedy lawn at the University of Oklahoma Biological Station at Lake Texoma. Here, my student assistants, Sami and Illiyana are about to put in the sign letting people know this isn’t a big slip and slide! Our previous…
I am excited to announce that I submitted the book manuscript to my editor today! It will go out to reviewers soon. I think that will take a couple months. Then I will need to make edits and revisions. If everything goes smoothly, it should be published by Spring 2026! Many thanks to all of…
I am hosting a workshop series this fall that will introduce people to capturing biodiversity information through journals. I will cover the art and science of field notebooks. Handwriting and drawing will improve observational skills and slow down your brain so that you can explore your curiosity. During these workshops, participants will be led in…
I am excited to let you know about a big project I will be working on this year – I am writing a book! The working title is A Naturalist’s Guide to Oklahoma. This is the book I wanted when I first came to Oklahoma – a little bit about the natural habitats, natural history…
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Priscilla H. C. Crawford 