Please join us in welcoming our newest team member, Caroline Nixson! Caroline is a native Houstonian, coming to Houston Audubon after working in secondary education and the performing arts for several years. She has profound love for the natural world, from her own backyard, to the trails of Terry Hershey Park, the Texas Gulf Coast, and the celestial beyond — she feels lucky to live in the Space City! Caroline is thrilled to join our staff and support the community and members of Houston Audubon as our new Volunteer Coordinator. She answered a few questions for us to get to know her better.
1. What is your favorite game or sport to watch?
As a graduate of Texas State University, I love cheering on the Bobcats! College football, baseball, and hockey are on most often in our house.
2. Aside from the necessities, what can you not live without?
My personal survival kit includes my water bottle, chapstick, and portable charger. It’s not uncommon to make a quick detour back home if I realize I’ve forgotten one of them… I can’t get through the day if I leave one behind!
3. Who is your favorite author?
David Sedaris’ essays and short stories are delightful. My mom and sister love his writing, too, and we’ve gone to a performance of “Santaland Diaries,” and his live readings at Jones Hall. He’s a fantastic storyteller and weaves humor and social commentary together masterfully.
4. What is your favorite bird?
Wrens and hummingbirds of all varieties have so much personality concentrated into their tiny bodies, and are hilarious to watch! There are countless species I had never heard of before joining Houston Audubon, and I am eager to expand my avian knowledge and identify a new species each month to discover more of the rich diversity of birdlife around our area.
5. Are you an early bird or a night owl?
Definitely an early bird. Quiet mornings with my coffee while hanging out on the couch with our dog, or wandering through the ELM Sanctuary while the birds wake up and other critters retreat for their daytime naps, I find solace in those moments and it is a treasured part of my routine.
6. What’s your worst habit?
My phone battery and my gas tank can never both be full at the same time — one is always critically low. I’ll figure out the balancing act one day.
7. What is your favorite animal?
My love for the natural world extends to what I will categorically call critters — bats, opossums, snakes and spiders are all my favorites! I’m fascinated by them all. They are such important members of our ecosystems, and widely misunderstood, leaving them vulnerable to needless harm! They are peaceful, quite shy, and much less scary once you learn more about them.
8. What is your favorite food?
My simple culinary philosophy is that anything can be improved with cheese or a dollop of peanut butter.
9. What book have you read most recently?
The Unfiltered Enneagram: A Witty and Wise Guide to Self-Compassion, by Elizabeth Orr. I discovered the enneagram a few years ago and it radically changed how I relate to others and myself. As a textbook Type Two, I am very focused on cultivating relationships and a sense of belonging.
10. What radio station do you listen to?
Houston Public Media’s programming rocks, and I regularly learn something new from their informative and thought-provoking segments. The NPR reporters are my co-pilots when I’m in the car and I rarely listen to anything else while I’m driving. My dream for another lifetime is signing off on a segment one day… “I’m Caroline Nixson, and this is NPR.”
We’re excited to welcome Caroline to the team! Be sure to introduce yourself if you see her at a Houston Audubon event!
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