Prairie Partner Update A publication for and about Blackland Prairie Texas Master Naturalists

SPRING 2017

Message Forum Replaces BPTMN Yahoo Groups by Deborah Canterbury

name, such as ”jsmith" for John Smith (no quotes) OR

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PhotobyMaryGazioglu

2

ChapterOf$icers

President:DeborahCanterbury

VicePresident:PattiTuck

Secretary:BeverlyCarpenter

Treasurer:NancyDavis

ChapterCommitteeChairs

Education:LuAnneRay

Membership:JoyceWilson

OutreachEducationandCommunity:DonnaCole

OutreachProgramManager:GregHayden

VolunteerHours/AdvancedTraining:YvetteJustice

ClassRepresentative:EllyTittle

StateRepresentative:DavePowell

Webteam:RandyRobinson,SusanSmith,Deborah

Canterbury(moretbd)

Communications:JodiHodak

Immed.PastPresident:ClydeCamp

NominationsCommittee:ClydeCamp

OtherContacts

FacebookEditor:LorryCole

PhotoEditor:MikeRoome

NewsletterEditor:MaryGazioglu

Librarian:MarkBaver

Hospitality:CarolynandLarryCurfman

Advisors

LeRoyThompson,Jr.:CollinCountyGameWarden

TexasParksandWildlifeDepartment

GregChurch:AgriLife

2017 Officers and Committee Chairpersons

TheBlacklandPrairie

Chapterlostadedicat-

edandloyalnaturalist

andmanyadearfriend

withthepassingofBill

Cornette.Whenyougo

totheWyliePrairie

Projectgiveoneofthe

manytreeshetrimmedahugandwhenyou

areattheHeardgobyandsayhitotheelbow

bushjustabovetheamphitheatre.Heloved

thatbushandstartedhistrailwalksfrom

there.HeservedontheEducationCommittee

andalwayshada“teacher’spet”attitudefor

helpingwithwhateveryouasked.Amemorial

servicewillbeinlateAprilattheHeardand

wewillmakeavailablethedetailsastheyare

con-irmed.Ifyouhaveanideaaboutsome-

thingthechaptercandotohonorhislifeasa

proudmasternaturalist,pleaseletmeknow.

Billwasproudofthe1,000hourpinhere-

ceivedinDecember.Hehadamachoswag

usinghisbatterypoweredchainsawtogetrid

oflowgrowthandunderbrushattheErwin

PrairieProject.

BillCornette

3

250hours

Deerman,Sarah

Dulian,James

Hoke,Nancy

Metcalf,Maureen

Smith,Susan

Tuck,Patricia

500hours

Baver,Mark

Hamrick,Vickie

Hayden,Greg

Mulkerin,Tom

Westmoreland,Cathy

1,000hours

Clark,Carol

Cornette,William

Manasseri,Tony

Ray,LuAnne

Zartler,Richard

2,500hours

Davis,Nancy

Ellerbe,Ed

Roome,Mike

4,000hours

Mitchell,Karen

Barraclough,Bette

Baumann,Gwen

Binnings,Jim

Bodenhamer,Bebe

Cole,Donna

Cole,Lorry

Dessert,Amy

Gazioglu,Mary

Graham,Phyllis

Hoke,Nancy

Look What Our Members Accomplished in 2016!

100,167 - TOTAL VOLUNTEER HOURS IN 10 YEARS!

2,200 ADVANCED TRAINING HOURS!

9DoubleCerti$ications!

20,358 OPPORTUNITY HOURS!

MilestonePinstoMembersforachieving...

250hours—19500hours—201,000hours—12

2,500hours—64,000hours—25,000hours—2

71 RE-CERTIFIED NATURALISTS!

18 Initial Certifications!

71 RECERTIFICATIONS!

Recent Milestones

McBee,Linda

Metcalf,Maureen

Salsgiver,Mikel

Skinner,Jane

Smith,Susan

Stierlen,Lorelei

Tittle,Elly

Tuck,Patricia

Welty,Kristen

Recent Recertifications

Karen Mitchell receives

a certificate from

Deborah Canterbury

for attaining 4,000

hours of volunteer

service.

4

Nature Musings from BPTMN President, Deborah Canterbury

problemsoftheworldbyroamingthoseroads

andwhenIfoundthistreeIwasinheaven.Ithad

experiencedahardlife,misshapen,scuffedup,

butwasstillthere.Ishareditwithfewpeople.I

haven’taclueastowhattypeoftreeitwas.

OnonevisitIwasmetwithpartsoftheoldstrip

bulldozedandsurvey-lags,-lags,-lagsevery-

where.Iwascrestfallen.Idiscoveredthatthey

wereenlargingthefootprintofourlittleHobbs

CountryClubandeverythingwasplannedtobe

bulldozedthatlaybetweenthe-lags.Mytree.A

fewnightslaterIwentoutandpulledupevery

surveystakeIcouldseeandtookthemwithme.

Itwasclosetohomecomingbon-iretime–well,

yougetthepicture.Ileftasigninthecrookof

thatlimbandthetrunkthatsaid“leaveme

alone.”

Therewasaheadlineinthenewspaperafew

dayslaterthatsaid“VandalsDelayCountryClub

Development”.Ikeptaneyeoutandastheyre-

surveyed,thetreewasspared.Now,IknowthatI

didnotdeterthedevelopmentandthatprobably

anewsurveyjustmessedupabitonthestakes.

Butitfeltgoodthatmytreewouldbetherea

whilelonger.ItwastherewhenIwouldcome

backtovisitfromcollegeandevenuntilmypar-

entsretiredandmovedaway.

EverytimeinmylifewhenIhavehadtoomuch

demandfromajob,frompersonalsituationsor

thesituationsofothersIhavesoughtsanctuary

innature.Ididnotrealizeatthosetimesjust

howimportantnatureandtheenvironmentwas

andstillistome.Itonlytook64yearsandthe

BlacklandPrairieChaptertopointthatouttome.

IgetmorejunkthanIshouldon

Facebookandthroughemailbe-

causeIcannotstopmycurious

mindfromforcingmy-ingersto

wadethroughsomesites.Recently

Ireceivedinformationaboutthe

originofthetermTreeHugger.

Huh.Ithoughtitwouldhavecome

fromthe60’sandwasusedbydevelopersplacingdis-

paraginglabelsonthosewhodisagreedwiththeir

plow-it-all-down-and-cover-it-with-concrete-and-

cheap-plantswaysthatleadtotheirde-initionofpro-

gressandpro-it.

Accordingtoalong-timeeditorandenvironmental

writer,BryanFarrell,the-irsttreehuggerswere294

menand69womenbelongingtotheBishnoisbranch

ofHinduism,who,in1730,diedwhiletryingtoprotect

thetreesintheirvillagefrombeingturnedintothe

rawmaterialforbuildingapalace.Theyliterallyclung

tothetrees,whilebeingslaughtered.Buttheiraction

ledtoaroyaldecreeprohibitingthecuttingoftreesin

anyBishnoivillage.Andnowthosevillagesarevirtual

woodedoasesamidstanotherwisedesertlandscape.

TheBishnoisinspiredtheChipkomovement(“to

cling”inHindi)thatstartedinthe1970s.Peasant

womenintheHimalayanhillsofnorthernIndiathrew

theirarmsaroundtreesdesignatedtobecutdown.

Withinafewyears,thistactic,alsoknownastreesat-

yagraha,hadspreadacrossIndia,ultimatelyforcing

reformsinforestryandamoratoriumontreefellingin

Himalayanregions.

Readingthisgavemepauseaboutmytravelsasatree

huggerandnaturalist.My-irsttreehuggingexperience

waswheninhighschool.InsoutheasternNewMexico

treesareprecious.Therewasabeautifuloldtreethat

hadabranchmaybeayardoffthegroundand15feet

longthatinvitedmetocomesitandtalk.Itwasalong-

sideanabandonedairstripandwasthedeviltogetto

viaunpavedroads.Ialwaysescapedwhatwasthenthe

5

The Mammoths of Texas by Patti Tuck

ThedemiseofourWacoMammothshasbeenthesubjectofextensiveresearch.Mostrecentstudiesofsedimentsandsurroundrocksupport-lash-loodactivity.ThesiteinWacoalongtheBosqueRiverbasinshowssedimentsformedfromrapidlyrisingwatersapproximately65,000yearsago.Thiswasthe-irstofatleastthreesimilarevents.Duringthisevent,19mammothsfromanurseryweretrappedandcouldnotescape.

TheHeardPaleoLabhasrecentlyacquiredamammoth,Murphy.MurphywasfoundalongPinOakCreekinCentralTexas.Moreinformationtocome!

“It isn't easy to become a fossil...only about one bone in a billion, it is thought, becomes fossilized. If that is so, it means that the complete fossil legacy of all the Ameri-cans alive today - that's 270 million people with 206 bones each - will only be about 50 bones, one-quarter of a complete skeleton. That's not to say, of course, that any of these bones will ever actually be found.“

— Bill Bryson

In A Short History of Nearly Everything (2003), 321-322

Bibliography

ColumbianMammothEducator'sGuide.(2014,August14).RetrievedJanuary29,2017,fromhttps://www.perotmuseum.org/media/-iles/Programs/.../MammothEducatorPacket

H.(2016,June14).WildandWoollyFactsAbouttheWildandWoollyMammoth.RetrievedJanuary30,2017,fromhttp://dinosaurs.about.com/od/otherprehistoriclife/ss/10-Facts-About-the-Woolly-Mammoth.htm#step1

WoollyMammoth.(2014,February28).RetrievedJanuary30,2017,fromhttp://kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/woolly-mammoth/#

WoollyMammoth.(2014,February28).RetrievedJanuary30,2017,fromhttp://kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/woolly-mammoth/#woolly-mammoth-

standing.jpg

OnJuly10,2015,PresidentObamasignedanEx-

ecutiveOrderdesignatingtheWacoMammoth

NationalMonument!

AnewnationalparkinTexasanditisjustdown

theroad!TheWacoMammothsite“possesses

exceptionalvalueorqualityinillustratinganatu-

ralthemeforscienti-icstudyandretainsahigh

degreeofintegrityasatrueanaccurateunspoiled

exampleoftheresource.”Sowhatisamammoth

andwhatmakesitaresourceforstudy?

Woollymammothsareextinctrelativesoftoday’s

elephants.ThespeciesfoundinTexasistheCo-

lumbianMammoth,Mammuthuscolumbi.The

ColumbianMammothisadistantcousintothe

WoollyMammothwhichdominatedthenorthern

partofNorthAmericaandAsiaclosetotheglacial

icethatcoveredthenorthernpartsoftheconti-

nent.TheColumbianMammothhadlesshairand

whilefoundinseveralareasofNorthAmerican

tendedtoheadawayfromtheglaciatedregions.

ThetermmammothmeanshugeandtheColum-

bianMammothswerenoexceptionreachingupto

13feettallandweighinginaround10tons.Their

spiraltuskscouldreachupto14feetinlength.

TheColumbianMammothwereherbivoresand

grazedthroughouttheopengrasslandsofnorth

andcentralTexas.Theycoexistedwithhumans

until11,700yearsagowhenthemammothdied

out.Severalreasonshavebeenpostulatedfor

theirextinctionincludingclimatechange,over

huntingbyhumansanddisease.Climatechange

andecosystemstabilityhavebeencitedasthe

maincauses.

6

Beverly Carpenter

OurnewRecordingSecretary,

BeverlyCarpenter,grewupinthe

AirForceuntilJr.Highwhenher

fatherwenttoworkfortheFAA

inOklahomaCity.Shewentto

highschoolandcollegeinOkla-

homaandworkedthereuntil

1974thenmovedtoTexas.

BeverlytaughtEnglishinjunior

highandhighschoolandthen

becameaschoollibrarianin

Oklahoma.InTexas,sheworkedatDallasPublic

Libraryonafederally—fundedprojectcalledthe

NortheastTexasLibrarySystemthentookateach-

ingpositionatBaylorUniversityinWacoteaching

LibraryScience.In1978,shereturnedtoDallasand

openedBrookhavenCollegeastheDirectorof

LibraryServices.BeverlylateralsotaughtBusiness

andDevelopmentalReadingandWritingclasses

beforeretiringafter25yrs.atBrookhavenCollege.

“Ibecameamasternaturalistafterlearningabout

thegoals,activitiesandexperiencesfromseveral

friendsinPlanoGardenClubwhohadcompleted

theircourseworkandwerebusyvolunteering,”

saidBeverly.“Itsoundedlikeagoodcombination

forcontinuingtolearnandgivingbacktothecom-

munity,whichweretwoofmygoalsinretirement.”

BeverlycurrentlyvolunteersattheFossilLabofthe

HeardMuseum,Jr.NaturalistprogramatWilson

MiddleSchool,andBPRaptorCenter.Otherareas

whereshehasvolunteeredincludeChildren’s

Meadow,Holi-ieldLearningCenterandHeritage

Farmstead.

“Ihavefoundthisorganizationtobeoneofthebest

experiencesforcontinuingtolearninanatmos-

phereofcollegialsupportandfunwhilefeelingI

amalsocontributingsomethingtothecommunity,”

saidBeverly.“Ihavemetwonderfulpeopleand

developedvaluedrelationshipsandfriendships

aroundoursharedpriorityofeducatingothers

aboutandprotectingournaturalresources.”

BPTMN Volunteers by Mary Gazioglu

Patti Tuck

Pattibeginsherten-

ureofvicepresident

thisyearandbringsa

wealthofexperience

inthesciences.

ShegrewupinCentral

andSouthAmerica.

“Mydadworkedfor

theStateDepartment,

andsimilartoamilitarybackground,weweretrans-

ferredtoanewposteverytwoto-iveyears,”shesaid.

Shewasaneducatorfor40yearsworkinginSanAnto-

nioISD,PlanoISD,LittleRockMagnetSchoolprogram

inArkansas,andFriscoISD.“Itaughtallgradelevelsbut

spentmostofmyyearsteaching8thgradescience.Ire-

tiredoutofFriscoassciencedepartmentchair,instruc-

tionalcoachandsponsorofseveralacademiccompeti-

tionsandprograms.”

Herpathtobecomingamasternaturalistbeganwith

SallyEvans.“SherecruitedmeasIwaslookingfora

placetolandthatwouldallowmetoworkinareasIwas

interestedin.ManyoftheprogramsthatIworkedwith

wereinenvironmentalscience,soBPTMNgavemea

chancetodothethingsIhadbeenteaching.”

Duringhertimeasanaturalist,Pattihasvolunteeredat

theHeardMuseumpaleolab,Children’sHospitalpolli-

natorsandnativeplantgarden,andthemonarchpro-

ject,tolistafew.

Pattistatesherphilosophyaboutourenvironment.“The

earthisdynamic,”shesaid.“Nooneeventoccurswith-

outaffectingamultitudeofsubsequentevents;some

good,somebad.Asmasternaturalists,weneedtobe

awareofasmanyfactorsaspossibletoaddresstheir

impacteffectively.”

PattiTuckholdsaTigerOwl,aspeciesof

theGreatHornedOwl.

7

While snuggled in our cabin

on New Year’s Day, our son

asked what books my hus-

band and I read last year. It

took some time to recall all

the titles, but I finally had

my reading log. Then I re-

flected on the question I

asked my students as they

looked at their logs, “What

do you notice?” Hmmm, I could beef up the quali-

ty of my fiction choices, no doubt. Then I studied

my favorite non-fiction choices: The River of

Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt’s Darkest Journey by

Candice Millard, In the Heart of the Sea: The

Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex by Nathaniel

Philbrick, Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of

the Mt. Everest Disaster by Jon Krakauer, and

Deep Down Dark: The Untold Stories of 33 Men

Buried in a Chilean Mine, and the Miracle That

Set Them Free by Hector Tobar. These are some

heavy-duty choices! Why do I love those books?

As I thought about my favorite non-fiction choic-

es, I realized most of them centered on the con-

flict “Man vs. Nature.” What? How can a master

naturalist be drawn to books that pit us against

nature? That is very UNnaturalist! Slowly it

dawned on me – I love being outside, hiking in a

forest or desert, rafting a wild river, swimming

in the ocean, or climbing a mountain. And yet,

every minute I’m outside, buried in the pit of my

stomach, I know my adventure can go horribly

wrong. When I read this type of non-fiction, I

relive that tension as I put myself in the place of

the characters. I can relate to their helplessness

as they grapple with the sheer power of Mother

Nature. I am in awe of Her power and their

bravery.

If you’re ready to live vicariously, I suggest you

start with my absolute top pick in the “Man vs.

Nature” category, The River of Doubt: Theodore

Roosevelt’s Darkest Journey. I love how the au-

thor, Candice Millard, made Theodore Roosevelt

come to life. This isn’t a dry historical novel!

She goes to the trouble of developing Roose-

velt’s state of mind so the reader can under-

stand what drove him to explore The River of

Doubt, one of the last uncharted tributaries of

the Amazon River. This is the kind of challenge

Roosevelt can’t resist, especially as a way to re-

cover from his embarrassing presidential de-

feat. You may grow weary waiting for Teddy’s

adventure to begin, but without some back-

ground on TR, his family, and circle of well-

meaning friends and guides, I don’t think we

could appreciate the magnitude of their endeav-

or. Be patient!

Once the expedition kicks off, it doesn’t take

long before the group encounters problems. Too

much weight on too few animals. Deciding what

to keep and what to leave behind. Deciding

WHO to keep and who to leave behind! Can we

relate to not having the right gear for the job?

Oh yes! The men on this expedition went so far

as to carve their own canoe when their ill-

suited boats were smashed or washed down-

stream. Numerous waterfalls on the river lead

to unexpected delays, and even death, as the

men portage their boats and gear. The delays

mount and soon food is running low. Hunting

trips rarely yield food, the animals are so well

camouflaged. Fishing? The River of Doubt rare-

ly gives. Soon malaria plagues the group, espe-

cially TR’s son, Kermit. The list of obstacles

goes on and on until you are left wondering if

this perilous journey will ever end. I was

exhausted by the end of the book and I didn’t

even take a step!

I hope you will consider reading this novel or

one of my other favorites. What’s next on my

reading list? Why more man vs. nature choices

– Endurance by Alfred Lansing or David Wel-

ky’s A Wretched and Precarious Situation: In

search of the Last Arctic Frontier. Time to leave

the jungle behind!

Master Naturalist vs. Nature by Lisa Runyon

8

JoinfellowmasternaturalistsfromsevenNorthTexasChaptersatour2017regionalNorthTexasconference“NavigatingtheNewNormal.”OurgoalistolookattherapidlygrowingpopulationandbuiltenvironmentinNorthTexasthatiscreatingour“newnormal”andtounderstanditsimpactonourlocalnaturalresourcebase.Weseektolearnwhatitmeansforus,asacadreofcommittedandtrainedvolunteersconcernedwiththeprotec-tionandrestorationofournaturalresourcesandwitheducatingthisrap-idlygrowingpopulation.

Gathertogetheron70acresofheavilywoodedlandattheBriarwoodRetreatCenterinArgyle.Learnfromleadingexpertsinthe-ield.Enjoyhikesthroughthewoods,strollaroundthepond,viewAprilwild-lowers,identifyinsects,listenforbirdcalls,observewildlife…allwhilenetworkingwithfellowmasternaturalists.Earnupto9hoursofATinoneweekend!Featuredspeakersinclude:

KeynoteSpeaker-EugeneHargrove,Professor,CenterforEnvironmentalPhilosophy,UniversityofNorthTexasDavidTodd,FounderandExecutiveDirector,ConservationHistoryAssociationofTexasandco-authorof“The

TexasLandscapeProject–NatureandPeople”MichelleBertelsen–LandSteward,Research&EcologicalDesignTeam,LadyBirdJohnsonWild-lowerCenterSharleneLeurig–ProjectDirector,TexasEnvironmentalFlowsProject,TheMeadowsCenterforWaterandthe

Environment,TexasStateUniversityOutdoorSessions:

BirdWalk–CharleyAmos,formerExecutiveDirectoroftheFortWorthAudubonSocietyPollinatorWalk–RandyJohnson,RandyJohnsonOrganicsPondWalk–OmarBocanegra,U.S.Fish&WildlifeServiceTreeWalk–DavidPowell,HeardScienceMuseumandWildlifeSanctuaryWild-lowerWalk–SuzanneTuttle,FortWorthNatureCenter&Refuge,retired

AfternoonPanelSession:

SamKieschnick,TexasParks&WildlifeDepartment–iNaturalistDonnaCole–BlacklandPrairieChapterOutreachChair–EducatingHOAsOthersTBD

S-A-T-U-R-D-A-YNight–Yeah!JoininthefunonSaturdaynight,April8thfordinner,NaturalistJeopardy,anupdatefromTeamingwithWildlife:TruetoTexas,mothidenti-icationwithSamKieschnick,camp-ire,starsands’mores.WehaveanoptionforspendingthenightatBriarwoodtoo!RegistrationOpens:February1st!Detailscomingsoon.$55-EarlyBirdRegistration-February1st–28th$75-LateRegistration–March1st–23rd$20–SaturdayEveningDinner&ActivitiesLodgingatBriarwoodisseparate.Lodginginformationcomingsoon.

For more information, contact:

Gwen Thomas – gmthomas29@fastmail.fm or Laura Simpson – SimpsonL@tx.rr.com

Advanced Training Opportunities

9

Junior Naturalists by Judy Rowe

TheJuniorNaturalistsmeetonWednes-days,afterschool,atWilsonMiddleSchool,PlanoISD.

Wehadabout12-15studentsatmostofourfallmeetingslastsemester.Wecerti--ied10studentsatourDecember7,2016,meeting.JuniorNaturalistshadtoattend80%ofthemeetingsforfallandparticipateinaserviceprojecttoqualifyforcerti-ication.Theymademilkweed

seedpacketsfordistri-bution,workedonclean-ingupthebutter-lygar-denatWilson,andhelpedwiththeHeritageFarmsteadgardens.

WevisitedthefarmsteadforatourofthehousethatbelongedtoAmmieWilson(WilsonMiddleSchoolisnamedafterAimee).WealsohadapresentationonturkeysbyAmethystRomneyattheFarmstead,wherewealsohelpedcatalogplantsintheprairiegardenandcollectseeds.

$2,000 Scholarship Available

from Collin County Master Gar-

deners

TexasA&MAgriLifeExtensionSer-viceCollinCountyHorticultureAgent825N.McDonaldStreet,Suite150McKinney,TX75069January6,2017TO:GraduatingSeniorsSUBJECT:$2,000ScholarshipTheCollinCountyMasterGardenersAssociation,anintegralpartoftheTexasA&MAgriLifeExtensionSer-viceandTheTexasA&MUniversitySystem,ispleasedtoannouncethatTWOindividual$2,000scholarshipswillbeawardedtotwoeligibleCollinCountyTexashighschoolseniorsforthe2016-2017academicyear.ELIGIBILITY:Theawardisavailabletograduatinghighschoolseniors(Classof2017)whoareveri-iableresidentsofCollinCounty,planonattendingaTexascollegeoruniversi-ty,andwhointendtoselectanyoneofthefollowingastheircollegema-jor:Botany,Entomology,Environ-mentalScience,Forestry,orHorticul-ture.TOAPPLY:SubmityourcompleteapplicationtoTexasA&MAgriLifeExtensionService(addressabove)nolaterthan4:00pmonApril14,2017.ThescholarshipwillbeawardedonorbeforeMay19,2017.Theapplicationformmaybeob-tainedontheinternetat:https://www.ccmgatx.org/scholarshipWelookforwardtoreceivingyourapplication.

LaurieJayScholarshipCommitteeChairman

Plano Garden Club Scholarship and

Garden Tour April 29 and 30

PlanoGardenClubgivesscholarshipconsiderationtoCollinCountyresidentswhoareacollegelevelSophomoreorabove.

Astudentmustbecurrentlyenrolledina$ieldpertainingtohorticultureortheenvironment.Fieldsofstudyqualifyingin-clude,butnotlimitedto,Agronomy,AgricultureEducation,Floriculture,Horticulture,LandscapeDesign,Botany,Biology,Forestry,WildlifeScience,PlantPathology,City(ruralandur-ban)Planning,HabitatorForestSystemsEcology,Environmen-talconservation,LandManagement,andotheralliedsubjects.Applicationformsandadditionalinformationmaybefoundonourwebsite: http://www.planogardenclub.org/scholarship/

The club will have a garden tour April 29 and 30. which raises

funds for the scholarship. It features !ive unique gardens in

northwest Plano. See www.planogardenclub.org, for ticket infor-

mation.

10

Wylie Project by Dave Powell

IwasnotattheWylieProjectinJanuary,butitistimetogetbacktowork.Thesmalltreeswillbegingrowingsoon,andthisyearIwanttospraythestumpswithherbicidewhentheyarecutdownIwillhavespraybottlesaftertheErwinParksprayday,andIwillmakesurewehavechemicals.HereismyscheduleforFebruary.Parkdownbythedumpsterswhenyoujoinme—thatleavestheotherparkingforWylieresidents.

Feb2,9,16and23from9:30to12:00

Wealwaystrytopickuptrash,thisyearIwanttotrytocuttheforbsoutofthesamplegrassplots.Wehavenowseededinsixareasnotcountingtheseeddonatedbyothermembersofourchapter.Thelastareaseededshouldnotdomuchthisyear.

ThetwoareasthatDavisMiddleSchoolseededforuslastyearshouldbegrowingthisyear.Therearerestroomsandwaterfountainsinthebuildingcomplex.Ialwayshavemycamera,workgloves,pruningshearsandtrashbag(plasticbag).

Volunteer Opportunities

Erwin Park by Dave Powell

WearejuststartingoursecondyearatErwinPark,ithasbeeninterestingtoseewhathasgrownthisyear.Nowwelookforwardtothenextgrowingseason.Wehavedonealotofworkonclearingtheunderstoryofthetreedareas,however,thereisplentymoretodo.IhadagreatdayouttheretodaywithGreg,MarkandMikeR.GregandIwalkedthetrailinsidetheprairietoseehowitlookedandwereverysatis-ied.Ineedto-indoutwhentherestroomwillbereopened—myguesswouldbeafterthechanceoffreezes,Iwillletyouknow.FollowingismyscheduleforFebruary.

Feb4thfrom9:30to12:00meetattheHillTopPavilionFeb7thfrom9:30to12:00meetatthetreelineweareworkingon

Feb11thfrom1:30to4:00meetattheHillTopPavilionwewillbesprayingScabiosa,Iwillhavechemicalconcen-tratedandspraybottlessoifyouaregoingtohelpletmeknowsoIwillknowhowmanybottlestobuy.

Feb14th,21and28from9:30to12:00meetatthetreelineweareworkingon

Bringandwater,wearlongsleevesandlongpants,bringloppersandpruningsawsifyouhavethem.

WINTER WORLD The Ingenuity of Animal Survival by Bernd Heinrich

Heinrich,aprofessorofbiologyattheUniversityofVermont,isakeenobserverofall

thingsnatural.Inthisbookheexamineshowcreatures,frominsectstobirdstobears,

adapttoplungingtemperatures:somefreeze,somenap,whileothersremainactive.

Everwonderwhybearscanhibernateuptosixmonthswithnolossofmuscleor

bonedensity?Howturtlescantakeadeepbreathandburrowintothemudofpond

bottomsbeforethepondfreezesandremainburieduntiltheicethaws?Andwhat

happenstobees?

Allandmoreisrevealedinthismostenjoyablebook.Theauthor“delightsinthe

seeminglyin-initefeatsofanimalinventiveness.”WhilethewoodsHeinrichroams

arelocatedinVermontandsouthernMaine,Ihadnodif-icultyinrelatinghisobservationsandexperiencesto

someofmyowninnorthernTexas.Thebookhasbeenaddedtoourchapterlibrary.

A Book You Might Like to Read reviewed by Mark Baver

11

Register now for Spring Symposium

February 25

Jointly sponsored by Lady Bird Johnson Wild-

-lower Center in Austin, Texas, and the Native

Plant Society of Texas

Registration includes entrance to the gardens

and a boxed lunch. Pricing is $55/person, or

$50/members of the Society or members of

Wild-lower Center.

Check-in on the day of the event begins at

8 am. There will be a light breakfast availa-

ble. Click to register now. h�ps://

s01.123signup.com/servlet/SignUpMember?

PG=1532984182300&P=153298419114315380

00

The 2017 Innovations in American Government Awards

Bright Ideas, a recognition of the Harvard Kennedy School

ASH Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation,

announced the 2017 Innovations in American Government

Awards Bright Ideas winners and named the Texas Master

Naturalist (TMN)program as a “Bright Idea in American

Government.”

The TMN program, initiated statewide by the Texas Parks &

Wildlife Department and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension

Service, develops corps of ‘master volunteers’ who provide

education, outreach, and service dedicated toward the ben-

e-icial management of natural resources and natural areas

within their communities for the State of Texas. With over

400 local, state and national partners, the TMN program

continues to result in a unique master volunteer organiza-

tion. Volunteers gain the Texas Master Naturalist designa-

tion after completing a 40-hour training series of combined

-ield and classroom instruction, engaging in 8 hours of ap-

proved advanced training, and providing at least 40 hours

of volunteer service in their local communities. Volunteers

maintain their certi-ication by completing an additional 40

hours of service and 8 hours of advanced training annually.

The most common volunteer activities include: public edu-

cation programs, wildscape development and demonstra-

tions, citizen science, species inventories, habitat manage-

ment projects, and assistance in agency research studies.

Since 1998, the program has grown from 4 chapters and

150 volunteers to 46 chapters and over 10,400 volunteers.

Today the program serves a multitude of diverse Texas

communities with additional expansion taking place con-

tinually. Program volunteers have provided over 3.2 mil-

lion hours of service valued at more than $75 million given

back to the state since its inception. This service has result-

ed in 221,200 acres of enhanced wildlife and native plant

habitats, reaching over 2.5 million youth, adults and private

landowners through overwhelmingly positive conservation

education programs, and restored wildlife and habitat con-

servation initiatives in the minds of the public in Texas.

More news to come on this as it develops.

https://www.innovations.harvard.edu/2017-innovations-

american-government-awards-bright-ideas

Advanced Training Opportunity Texas Master Naturalist Program

Receives Award

Looking for AT or VH Opportunities?

If you want to know where you can vol-

unteer or add advanced training hours,

take a look at the calendar on the

BPTMN Web site. Cut and paste this

URL into your browser:

http://txmn.org/bptmn/bptmn-calendar/?

tribe-bar-date=2017-02

12

Asthetemperaturesriseandthingsstartturninggreen

again,opportunitiesaboundinNorthTexas.Remember

tocallaheadtocon&irm,wearsunscreen,andpackwa-

terforyouroutdooradventures.Happytrails!

HeardNaturalScienceMuseumandWildlifeSanc-tuary.McKinney.972-562-5566heardmuseum.org

ThirdSaturdayNatureTalks.Callaboutprices.

Feb18,9:30amExtractingLifefromaPlant

March18,9:30amYourBuggyBackyard

April15,TBA

OwlProwlNightHike

March11,6:30pm.Cost:$19/non-member;$16/Members.Seealiveowlpresentationandstayforaguidednighthike.Pre-registrationrequired.

HeardNaturePhotographyContestThephotocontestisopentophotographersofalllev-els.SubmissionsareacceptedFeb4-Feb26.Thecon-testreceptionwillbeheldSaturdayMarch19,2-4pmattheHeard.Proceedsfromthecontestbene-ittheHeardMuseum.Formoreinformation,pleasevisithttp://www.heardnaturephotographers.com/about-the-contest/HeardAnnualSpringPlantSale

You'll-indnativeplants,hard-to--indherbs,well-adaptedplants,andnativemilkweed!Allsalesaretaxfree.AdmissiontomuseumnotrequiredtoattendPlantSale.

MembersOnlySale,FriApril21,4-7pm

PublicSale,April22,9am-5pmandApril23,1-5pm

MoreinfoabouttheHeardPlantSalecanbefoundatwww.heardmuseum.org/plantsale

Volunteeropportunitiesfortheplantsaleareavaila-blebycontactinglragan@heardmuseum.org

OakPointParkandNaturePreserve.Plano.Toavoidcancellation,pleaseregisterforwalks/hikesatplanoparks.org

BirdWalks.Free.

March4,8-9am.andApril1,8-9am.

FamilyNightHikes.Free,bringa-lashlight.

Feb18,6-7:30pm.,March18.,7-8:30pm.andApril15,7:30-9pm.

GuidedNatureWalks.Free.

Feb15,10-11:30am.,March15,10-11:30am.April19.10-11:30am.

Volunteertohelpcleanuptrash.Youpickthedateandtime.Thecityrequiresa7dayadvancenotice.ContactHeatherHarringtonatheatherha@plano.govor(972)769-4313.

OakPointParkisalsoapopularvenueforconcertsandfund-raisingraces.Foracalendarofupcomingevents,gohere:http://dallas.eventful.com/venues/oak-point-park-nature-reserve-/V0-001-000407025-5

ArborHillsNaturePreserve.Plano.

Thepreservefeaturesadesignatedoff-roadcyclingtrail,aswellaspavedandunpavedhikingtrailswithaninterpretivetrailmarkersystem.ArborHillscontainsBacklandPrairie,RiparianForestandUplandForest.

ArborHillsAdventures.8:30-10am.Toavoidcancel-lation,pleaseregisterforadventuresatplanoparks.org

Feb4,What'sUnderArborHills?

March4,BirdsofEarlySpring

April1,Wild-lowers

OutdoorEducators

ThePlanoParksandRecreationDepartmentislookingforquali-iedandinnovativeinstructorsforoutdoorrecreation.Ifyouhaveauniquetalent,skillorideaforaclass,pleasevisithttp://www.plano.gov/2230/Outdoor-Recreation

(Contd.pg.13)

Spring Outings and Opportunities by Mandy Carrasco

Carol Clark leads nature

walks at Oak Point Park.

13

LakeLavon,Wylie

For Volunteer opportunities, please contact Ranger Perrin at Lavon Lake Headquarters. 972-442-3141.

BlacklandPrairieRaptorCenter,1625BrockdaleParkRoad

LittleElmPublicLibraryHarryPotterEvent

Feb 2, 6-7pm.

FirstSaturday - Feb 4, 10am-3pm. Guided hikes,

kid's activities. And don't miss the raptor programs at

11am and 1pm.

SchimelpfenigPublicLibrary -Feb. 18,3-4pm.

2ndAnnualFeatherFest,NatureCenter.Gran-bury.(817)326-6005

March 25.,10am-3pm. Free. Come celebrate birds!

Don't forget to visit the Backland Prairie Raptor Cen-

ter booth.

EarthDayTexas.FairPark,Dallas.

April 21-23, 10am-6pm.

Earth Day Texas features three days of hands-on ac-

tivities, green speakers, a -ilm series, an eco expo, and

a celebration of the National Parks System's 100th

year, among many other exciting things to see and do!

http://earthdaytx.org

ConnemaraMeadowNaturePreserve

Open daily, from dawn to dusk.

BirdWalks.Free. Alma Gate directly opposite Tatum

Road

Feb 5, 8am., March 4, 7am. and April 2, 8am.

AstronomyandNightHikes

Schedule your group with Clyde Camp

c.camp@ieee.org

JohnBunkerSandsWetlandCenter.Seagoville.

Open the -irst and third Saturday of each month, 9am-

4pm. Check website for fees and event details. http://

www.wetlandcenter.com

First Saturday Bird Walk and Talks (thru Feb), 9am.

Third Saturday Bunker's Pond Trail Walk, 10am.

Exciting news! The wetland eagle breeding season has

begun. The -irst egg was laid Jan 25!

Events (contd.)

Mad Island Marsh Christmas Bird Count

We thought you would enjoy seeing some of the bird photos

taken at the annual Christmas Bird Count held in Matagorda

County every December. One of our fellow master naturalists

shared them with us.

Palm Warbler photo by Mark Scheuerman

Ash throated flycatcher

photo by Dennis Shepler

Great Horned Owl

photo by Dora Ortega

14

Upcoming BPTMN Meetings

2nd Tuesday, 7 p.m.,

Heard Museum Science Center

•February 14: Monica Morrison – Texas Wild

Cats

•March 14: Corp of Engineers – New Wet-

lands in Frisco

•April 11: Daphne Lynch, Epidemiologist for

Collin County – Zika and Other Issues

November

Websites of Interest…

All About Birds: https://academy.allaboutbirds.org/features/

birdanatomy/ Blackland Prairie Texas Master Naturalist Calen-

dar http://bptmn.org/calendar/

Cornell Lab of Ornithology –

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/Page.aspx?pid=1478

Earthkind Landscaping

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/earthkind/

Green Source DFW

http://www.greensourcedfw.org/

Insects in the City - http://citybugs.tamu.edu/

Ladybird Johnson Wildlife Center

https://www.wild-lower.org/

Prairie Partner Update past issues

http://bptmn.org/_BOARD_FTP/newsletter/

Texas Aggi Horticulture

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/

Texas Parks & Wildlife Updates

https://tpwd.texas.gov/

Texas Smartscape http://www.txsmartscape.com/

Texas Superstar Plants http://

www.texassuperstar.com/plants/

Texas Tree Planting

http://texastreeplanting.tamu.edu/

Prairie Partner Update is published quarterly

by

Blackland Prairie Texas Master Naturalists.

Editor: Mary Gazioglu

email newsletter@bptmn.org.

Past issues can be found on our website at:

http://bptmn.org/_BOARD_FTP/newsletter/

Other BPTMN communications are at:

Smugmug - http://bptmn.smugmug.com/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/bptmn forum.bptmn.org

The Mission of the Texas Master Naturalist program is to develop a corps of well-informed volunteers to provide education, outreach and service dedicated to the benefi-cial management of natural resources and nat-ural areas within their communities for the State of Texas.

The Texas Master Naturalist program is a partnership between the Texas AgriLife Extension Service, Texas Parks & Wildlife and other local partners.

Postal Mailing Address

(address to specific officer/person) BPTMN

P.O. Box 863175 Plano, TX 75086-3175