North Texas Master NaturalistJim’s This & That is a personal communication, begun by avid naturalist Jim Varnum, which strives to fulfill Jim’s vision of connecting individuals interested in the natural world — primarily in the Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas area — with each other and with resources to increase an appreciation of nature. If you have comments and questions about its content, or wish to receive – or not receive – Jim’s This & That e-mails, please contact nature_links@yahoo.com.
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Suppose that a half dozen of us are seated around the walls of a very dark room. We are told that somewhere in the open middle space is a chair. Who would find it? Not those of us who sat still and philosophized about where chairs are placed in rooms. The person who would locate it is the one who’d get up, then walk and stumble around until he or she discovered it. Nobody ever found anything while sitting down. So don’t be afraid to stumble!
(Samuel Johnson, 1709 – 1784)
Suppose that a half dozen of us are seated around the walls of a very dark room. We are told that somewhere in the open middle space is a chair. Who would find it? Not those of us who sat still and philosophized about where chairs are placed in rooms. The person who would locate it is the one who’d get up, then walk and stumble around until he or she discovered it. Nobody ever found anything while sitting down. So don’t be afraid to stumble!
(Samuel Johnson, 1709 – 1784)
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* Why don’t some couples go to the gym? Because some relationships don’t work out.
* Scientists tried crossing an abalone with a crocodile, hoping to get an abadile but ended up with a crocabalone.
* It’s hard to explain puns to kleptomaniacs because they take things literally.
* Why don’t some couples go to the gym? Because some relationships don’t work out.
* Scientists tried crossing an abalone with a crocodile, hoping to get an abadile but ended up with a crocabalone.
* It’s hard to explain puns to kleptomaniacs because they take things literally.
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So you want to be a bird landlord? From Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge…”We are taking applications for 2017 Adopt a Nest Box, starting December 1 and ending February 1, 2017, or as soon as the 20 boxes for the program have been adopted. First come first served. Thank you! Details at:
http://www.friendsofhagerman.com/Activities?e51=1931&em51=12&ey51=2016
So you want to be a bird landlord? From Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge…”We are taking applications for 2017 Adopt a Nest Box, starting December 1 and ending February 1, 2017, or as soon as the 20 boxes for the program have been adopted. First come first served. Thank you! Details at:
http://www.friendsofhagerman.com/Activities?e51=1931&em51=12&ey51=2016
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Suzanne Tuttle Receives the 2016 Award for Excellence in Ecological Restoration! …from the Texas chapter of the Society for Ecological Restoration. Those who have been lucky enough to work alongside Suzanne or take her excellent plant and tree ID workshops knows this award is well-deserved. See the attached document – “Tribute to the Prairie Queen” by Michelle Villafranca of the Ft. Worth Nature Center – to learn more about Suzanne’s many talents and accomplishments.
Suzanne Tuttle Receives the 2016 Award for Excellence in Ecological Restoration! …from the Texas chapter of the Society for Ecological Restoration. Those who have been lucky enough to work alongside Suzanne or take her excellent plant and tree ID workshops knows this award is well-deserved. See the attached document – “Tribute to the Prairie Queen” by Michelle Villafranca of the Ft. Worth Nature Center – to learn more about Suzanne’s many talents and accomplishments.
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The recent issue of txH2O from the Texas Water Resources Institute looks at a variety of issues related to weather extremes in Texas; check it out at:
http://twri.tamu.edu/publications/conservation-matters/2016/october/extreme-texas-weather-explained-in-new-txh2o/
The recent issue of txH2O from the Texas Water Resources Institute looks at a variety of issues related to weather extremes in Texas; check it out at:
http://twri.tamu.edu/publications/conservation-matters/2016/october/extreme-texas-weather-explained-in-new-txh2o/
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The new 2017 Soils Planner/Calendar titled “Soils Have Memory” is now available online at the NRCS Soils website. Half the pages are part of a beautiful color calendar, the other half is a fact-filled look at soil and how it can reflect the site of the site where it is found. Note that other years’ calendars are also available, each covering a particular aspect about the role of soild in the ecosystem. Great educational materials, beautifully illustrated. https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/soils/edu/?cid=nrcseprd1250008
The new 2017 Soils Planner/Calendar titled “Soils Have Memory” is now available online at the NRCS Soils website. Half the pages are part of a beautiful color calendar, the other half is a fact-filled look at soil and how it can reflect the site of the site where it is found. Note that other years’ calendars are also available, each covering a particular aspect about the role of soild in the ecosystem. Great educational materials, beautifully illustrated. https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/soils/edu/?cid=nrcseprd1250008
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The Preservation Society for Spring Creek Forest presents the 6th Annual “Christmas is for the Birds”, Saturday, December 3, 2016 10:00 a.m. – noon, 1787 Holford Road, Garland (between Arapaho and George Bush Tollway). Pre-school and elementary school aged children can make bio-degradable bird feeders out of peanut butter and bird seed, then hang the feeders in the trees. There are also short nature walks to show children a little of the fabulous forest.
The Preservation Society for Spring Creek Forest presents the 6th Annual “Christmas is for the Birds”, Saturday, December 3, 2016 10:00 a.m. – noon, 1787 Holford Road, Garland (between Arapaho and George Bush Tollway). Pre-school and elementary school aged children can make bio-degradable bird feeders out of peanut butter and bird seed, then hang the feeders in the trees. There are also short nature walks to show children a little of the fabulous forest.
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Thanks to all the contributors who have shared the following terrific links and resources! Do you have a favorite book, movie, website, field guide, app, or other nature-related news or resource you’d like to share? Write a brief description and send it to nature_links@yahoo.com – we’ll help spread the word.
Thanks to all the contributors who have shared the following terrific links and resources! Do you have a favorite book, movie, website, field guide, app, or other nature-related news or resource you’d like to share? Write a brief description and send it to nature_links@yahoo.com – we’ll help spread the word.
Upcoming activities, Dec. 1 – Dec. 15, 2016:
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12.1.16
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“Adopt a Nest Box” at Hagerman NWR (Until 2/1/2017 or when 20 boxes have been adopted)
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12.3.16
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10am-12pm
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Preservation Soc. For Spring Creek Forest- “Christmas is for the birds” free family event
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12.3.16
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8:30-9:30am
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Amble Around Arbor Hills (Plano) nature walk
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12.3.16
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10am-12pm
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LLELA nature walk
(http://www.llela.org/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/15651/1500?curm=12&cury=2016) |
For further information call 972.219.3550 Monday through Friday, or 972.219.7980 on weekends. You may also contact lcole@cityoflewisville.com..
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12.3.16
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9-11am:
9am-12pm |
John Bunker Sands Wetland Center:
Beginner Birding Advanced Birding |
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12.3.16
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10am-3pm
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Blackland Prairie Raptor Center “First Saturday” public event
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12.4.16
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8-11 am
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Bird walk with Gailon Brehm & Rodney Thomas at Connemara Conservancy
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12.7.16
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10-11am
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Guided Nature Walk – Arbor Hills (Plano)
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12.7.16
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7-8:30pm
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Arlington Conservation Council: Topic TBA
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12.8.16
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7:30pm
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Ft. Worth Audubon: Kids in Nature
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Room 100 of the Research and Education Building at the UNT Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie (Beyer Hall – room 100)
http://www.fwas.org |
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12.10.16
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10-11am
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Audubon Dallas/Trinity River Audubon Center host Seth Patterson of the Gorgas Science Foundation and renowned wildlife artist Raul Andrade on the subject “Hummingbirds of the World”.
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12.10.16
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7:30-9:30am
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LLELA early-morning bird walk
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12.10.16
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10-11:30am
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Natural History of the Armadillo
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12.10.16
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8-9am
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Prairie & Timbers Audubon Second Saturday bird walk at the Heard Museum
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12.10.16
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9am-12pm
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TRAC – 2nd Saturday workday
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12.10.16
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8am-12pm
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For the Love of the Lake – second Saturday spruce-up
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12.12.16
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6:30-8pm
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Native Prairie Assn. of Texas (Ft. Worth chapter): Topic TBA
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12.13.16
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7-8pm
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Blackland Prairie Texas Master Nat. monthly meeting: Holiday Celebration, recognitions and topic: Lavon Lake Watershed Project
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http://bptmn.org/
meets at the Heard Museum |
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12.14.16
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10-11am
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Guided Nature Walk – Arbor Hills (Plano)
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12.15.16
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9am-12pm
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Texas Discovery Garden workday; meet in the greenhouse
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johncwilt@aol.com with questions.
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