Jim’s This & That, Jan 2017

JIM’S THIS & THAT: January 2017
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Note: Because January is about as slow as it gets in terms of scheduled walks and activities,
there will only be one “This & That” this month.

***
Should auld acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot and days of auld lang syne?
For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne,
We’ll take a cup of kindness yet, for auld lang syne.
Robert Burns.
(And did you know that “auld lang syne” means “days gone by”?)
***
In keeping with Jim Varnum’s tradition, This & That will be reporting first sightings of our great overwintering and migratory bird populations. We’ll list the first 100 species reported, or until the March 15-31 This and That, whichever comes first. Send word of your avian finds to nature_links@yahoo.com, with the species, location, and date of sighting.
AND THE FIRST REPORT IS….a northern cardinal, reported by  – and thanks to – Suzanne Tuttle.
***
Don’t forget to share your trout lily sightings. When you’re in the field this winter – and remember that trout lilies have been seen in Dallas County as early as January 20 – and see trout lilies, please report them to troutlily57@hotmail.com, along with any pertinent data: date and specific location of sighting, estimated number of plants seen, your contact information etc. If we’re already preparing to count trout lilies, spring isn’t far away…
***
Texas Parks & Wildlife supports the US Fish & Wildlife Service’s proposal to remove the black-capped vireo from the Endangered Species List. More about it here:
https://medium.com/usfws/black-capped-vireos-4203392fbefb#.ncaebb161
http://tpwd.texas.gov/newsmedia/releases/?req=20161214a
***
The Dec. 15 “Restore” newsletter from the Society for Ecological Restoration newsletter has an interesting article tackling the tricky question “What’s the best way to improve bee habitat?” (There’s more to making pollinators happy than planting lots of flowers). Check it out at https://ensia.com/articles/pollinators/
***
Have you resolved to make more quick getaway-type trips this year? Or to save money? Do both by checking out a list of 30 cheap getaways for DFW, Houston, and central Texas… https://www.tpwmagazine.com/archive/2009/mar/ed_1/index.phtml?utm_campaign=govdelivery-email-lbo-dec2016&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
***
For those who use apps and connected devices to keep up with the natural world, here’s a good list, courtesy of author Amy Martin and the GreenSource DFW newsletter:
http://www.greensourcedfw.org/articles/north-texas-wild-smart-phone-apps-enhance-your-connection-nature
***
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, January 2017:
1.3.17
7pm
Collin Co. NPSOT 1st Tuesday monthly meeting: overview of the Native Plant Society’s “Native Landscaping Certification Program”.
Laughlin Hall, Heard Museum, McKinney.
1.3.17
7-8:30pm
Preservation Society for Spring Creek Forest 1st Tuesday monthly meeting: Best Trees for North Texas
1.4.17
7-8:30pm
Arlington Conservation Council 1st Wednesday meeting:  topic TBA
1.7.17
9am-11:30ampm
Preservation Soc. For Spring Creek Forest 1st Saturday workday, 1770 Holford Road, Garland
1.7.17
8:30am-12pm
Lake Lewisville Environmental Learning Area (LLELA) workday; meet at the greenhouse and carpool from there to various work areas.
1.7.17
9-11am:
9am-12pm:
John Bunker Sands Wetland Center 1st Saturday public walks:
Beginner Birding
Advanced Birding
1.7.17
10am-3pm
Blackland Prairie Raptor Center “First Saturday” public event
1.7.17
7-10 am
Bird walk with Gailon Brehm & Rodney Thomas at Connemara Conservancy
1.7.17
10am-12pm
Coppell Biodiversity Education Center :
So You Think You Want Bees
1.8.17
2-3:30pm
Winter Tree ID at Spring Creek Park Preserve, 1787 Holford Road, Garland.
??s to danawilson59@yahoo.com or 469.531.6856
1.10.17
7:30pm
Ft. Worth Audubon: Topic TBA
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
1.10.17
7:30pm
“Insects in the Garden” by the N. Texas Water Garden Society
1.10.17
6:30pm
Blackland Prairie Native Prairies Assn. 2nd Tuesday monthly meeting: overview of the 2016 prairie tours
1.10.17
7-9pm
Blackland Prairie Texas Master Nat. monthly meeting: Topic TBA
http://bptmn.org/
meets at the Heard Museum
1.14.17
10am-12pm
Texas Discovery Gardens: Techniques of Plant Propagation
1.14.17
7:30-9:30am
LLELA early-morning bird walk
1.14.17
10-11:30am
Friends of Hagerman NWR 2nd Saturday speaker: Dr. Wayne Meyer – Birding in Peru
1.14.17
8-9am
Prairie & Timbers Audubon 2nd Saturday bird walk at the Heard Museum
1.14.17
9am-12pm
TRAC – 2nd Saturday workday
1.14.17
8am-12pm
For the Love of the Lake – second Saturday spruce-up
1.16.17
7pm
Dallas Native Plant Society 3rd Monday monthly meeting; topic TBA. Midway Hills Christian Church at 11001 Midway Road, Dallas, TX 75229
1.19.17
7-8:30pm
Audubon Dallas 3rd Thursday monthly meeting: Native Cats of Texas at Half Price Books at 6:30 P.M., 5803 E. Northwest Highway
1.19.17
9am-11:30am
Texas Discovery Gardens workday (meet at the greenhouse)
Questions to johncwilt@aol.com
1.21.17
9am-11:30am
Texas Discovery Gardens workday (meet at the greenhouse)
Questions to johncwilt@aol.com
1.21.17
10am-12pm
John Bunker Sands Wetland Center: 3rd Saturday Bunkers Pond trail walk
wetlandcenter.com
1.21.17
9am-12am
Cedar Ridge Preserve 3rd Saturday workday
1.21.17
10am-12pm
Coppell Biodiversity Education Center :
Urban Wildlife within DFW
1.22.17
9am
Winter Tree ID at Connemara Conservancy
??s to Tony, 972-824-4916;
1.22.17
1-3pm
Twelve Hills Nature Center (Oak Cliff) workday
www.twelvehills.org
1.23.17
7-8:30pm
Indian Trails Master Nats. 4th Monday monthly meeting; topic TBA
1.24.17
7:30pm
Prairie & Timbers Aububon 4th Tuesday monthly meeting: Pemberton Big Spring: Rediscovering a Piece of Forgotten Texas
1.26.17
7-8pm
Trinity Forks (Denton) Native Plant Society monthly meeting: Trees in urban areas may work as urban air filters.
1.28.17
9am-3pm
LLELA trail guide training
1.28.17
6-6:30pm
Heard Museum guided night hike
 
Jim’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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