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.

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.
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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…
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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
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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/

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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
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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

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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.

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.