The Texas Hill Country is a special place. It is its ecology--the combination of the climate, the topography, the creeks and rivers, the plants and animals--that make it so. This book describes the Hill Country ecology for current, as well as for new and prospective, residents. It seeks to teach readers about the Hill Country, including the native habitat, the land, the water, the plants, the animals, the people, and the myriad interactions among them. It is a series of brief, easy-to-read essays that have originally appeared in the Kerrville Daily Times under his weekly column, "Hill Country Naturalist," for the past seven years. From discovering the lyricism in the grasslands and picturesque creeks to discussions of the issues and concerns of managing rural lands so as to preserve and improve the native habitat, Hill Country Ecology: Essays on Plants, Animals, Water, and Land Management instills a greater love and respect for nature for anyone who cares to read even one essay. Readers will experience the joy only one can find in observing and interacting with nature--and they'll find they're delightfully entertained along the way. "Jim Stanley's longtime experience makes his book the ideal resource for factual, practical, and dependable wisdom about the Texas Hill Country's ecology, and how we should understand and care for all our natural resources." Hill Country Ecology is a pleasurable read, and a valuable resource to everyone who appreciates this special region of our state." --David K. Langford, Vice President Emeritus, Texas Wildlife Association