North Texas Master NaturalistJim’s This&That, April 15-30, 2017
Take a look inside for… Texas art/ H. Garrett event / raptor photos / ecological restoration / monarch watchers / rare plants / eagle tours /
hog forum / birdsong ID
Take a look inside for… Texas art/ H. Garrett event / raptor photos / ecological restoration / monarch watchers / rare plants / eagle tours /
hog forum / birdsong ID
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Every day, I see or hear something
that more or less kills me with delight,
that leaves me like a needle
in the haystack of light.
It was what I was born for –
to look, to listen,
to lose myself inside this soft world –
to instruct myself over and over in joy and acclamation.
(Mary Oliver, b. 1935)
that more or less kills me with delight,
that leaves me like a needle
in the haystack of light.
It was what I was born for –
to look, to listen,
to lose myself inside this soft world –
to instruct myself over and over in joy and acclamation.
(Mary Oliver, b. 1935)
***
A rare artistic opportunity to hear Texas nature artist Billy Hassell. Billy Hassell, a Texas based artist, will be the speaker at the April 20, 2016 monthly meeting of the Elm Fork Master Naturalists, Thursday, April 20, 10:30am-12pm at the Carroll Courts Building (701 Kimberly Drive, Suite A101, Denton, TX 76208). Billy will discuss how he expresses his love of nature in his work. In addition he will talk about how Texas Parks and Wildlife has commissioned him to create a lithograph series depicting the wild things and wild places of Texas. He has also agreed to bring some of his artwork to the meeting. More info at https://txmn.org/elmfork/events/
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Howard Garrett Book Signing: On Saturday, April 22, 2017 from 10 a.m.-12 p.m., Howard Garrett will offer a book signing during the Hear Museum Spring Plant Sale. Garrett is one of the leaders in the research, education and promotion of natural organic gardening, landscaping, pet health and pest control and how to enjoy a healthier lifestyle. He recently released an updated version of his book, The Organic Manual, which covers everything from bed preparation to tree planting. Garrett will be on hand to answer questions and sign books. Proceeds from copies of his books sold during the Heard Plant Sale benefit the Heard. More at http://www.heardmuseum.org/default.aspx?p=117914&evtid=582164:4/22/2017
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The Blackland Prairie Raptor Center’s annual Raptor Photo Day is coming up. Bring your camera gear and spend a morning taking pictures of our education raptors in natural settings. Saturday, May 20th; gate opens 7:15am, photo day runs 7:30-11am. 1625 Brockdale Park Road, Lucas, 75002. For more information, including the pre-registration and photo permission form, see http://www.bpraptorcenter.org/
***
The Society for Ecological Restoration offers an upcoming webinar, “Applying seed-based approaches to ecological restoration: an overview and examples from across the globe” on Tuesday, Apr 25, 11am – 12pm EDT. In this webinar, we present the rationale and successive steps that are required for the efficient delivery and use of seeds in ecological restoration. Case studies from prairie ecosystems in North America and from the hot deserts of north-western Australia illustrate the process. Our aim is that the information from these experiences will assist other practitioners to improve their seed-based restoration outcomes by adopting and implementing these globally-relevant approaches and techniques. There will be a period for discussion at the end of the webinar. We encourage interaction among participants to learn from each other and improve restoration success and efficiency. Register at https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7428932058754726402
***
New Monarch Watch Citizen Scientist Project Needs Our Help! Monarch Watch is seeking the immediate assistance of hundreds of monarch enthusiasts (citizen scientists) in collecting observations of monarchs in their area during the spring and fall. This project is an attempt to assemble quantitative data on monarch numbers at critical times during the breeding season. The data from these observations will be used to assess their value in predicting trends in the population. More at
http://monarchwatch.org/blog/2017/03/31/new-monarch-watch-citizen-scientist-project/
http://monarchwatch.org/blog/2017/03/31/new-monarch-watch-citizen-scientist-project/
***
Plan ahead! The Botanical Research Institute of Texas (as part of their Techniques in Ecological Restoration & Management series) offers Rare Plants of North Texas: Identification and Monitoring Techniques, Sat., June 3, 1pm – 3pm in the BRIT Classroom. Learn about the rare plants that grow right here in North Texas. We will focus on local rare plants, learning about their unique habitats and how to distinguish them from their more common relatives. We will explore the types of information needed when reporting and monitoring for rare plants and practice these skills on the BRIT campus. *Please note, online registration for this class closes 6/1/2017.* More at http://www.brit.org/events/term
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The John Bunker Sands Wetland Center will be “Talking With The Eagles” on May 6, 10am-12pm. Get your eagle questions answered on a hike to the Eagle Tower with Wetland Stewards Kathy and Bill Nance. At the tower we will watch Bald Eagle activity and share information about the eagles. Come and go as you like, but be prepared to be on your feet for up to 2 hours! Bring a light weight chair if you plan to stay for a while. Call 972-474-9100 or email: ldunn@wetlandcenter.com with any questions.
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Save the Date!…for the North Texas Urban Feral Hog Forum, Monday, May 1, 2017, 8am-12pm. Miles Building H, Room H-126 Brookhaven College, 3939 Valley View Ln, Farmers Branch TX 75244.
Feral hogs present increasing challenges to both rural and urban communities in North Texas. Feral hogs are not only destructive, but are also a source of bacteria loading in North Texas waterways through waste contributions and destabilization of riparian areas. This event will convene policymakers, stakeholders, and experts to continue the conversation about management strategies, the impact of urban feral hogs, and the development of potential next steps for regional coordination of feral hog management. Free; registration at http://www.nctcog.org/envir/events.asp .
***
Don’t let those birders get you down. Have you been in the field with a birder who can ID species by call and song alone? Pretty intimidating stuff, but maybe Cornell’s new self-paced program, “Be a Better Birder: How to Identify Bird Songs” will help us novice birders fine-tune our ears. More – including a free sample lesson and early-registration bonuses – at:
https://academy.allaboutbirds.org/courses/be-a-better-birder-how-to-identify-bird-songs/?utm_source=hubspot&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=BirdSongCourses
https://academy.allaboutbirds.org/courses/be-a-better-birder-how-to-identify-bird-songs/?utm_source=hubspot&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=BirdSongCourses
***
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, April 15-30, 2017:
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4.15.17
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9-11am
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Indian Trails Master Naturalist Wildflower walk – Mockingbird Park, Midlothian
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4.15.17
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10am-12pm
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Ft. Worth Nature Center: nature hike
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4.15.17
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8-10am |
Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center native plant sale:
pre-sale workshop & bird walk Native plant sale |
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4.15.17
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11am-1pm
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Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge: butterfly garden walk
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4.15.17
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10am-12pm
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John Bunker Sands Wetland Center: 3rd Saturday Bunkers Pond trail walk
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wetlandcenter.com
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4.15.17
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9am-12am
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Cedar Ridge Preserve 3rd Saturday workday
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4.15.17
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9:30-10:30am
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Heard Museum 3rd Sat. nature talk: meet the plants (a preview of the native plant sale)
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4.17.17
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7pm
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Dallas Native Plant Society 3rd Monday monthly meeting: making rain barrels
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4.17.17
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7pm
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Cross Timbers Master Naturalists (Ft. Worth): Urban Coyotes
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Meets at Fort Worth Botanic Gardens, 3220 Botanic Garden Blvd.
http://www.ctmn.org/meetings.php |
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4.18.17
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9-11am
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Twelve Hills Nature Center work day
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4.18.17
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7pm
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Southwest Nature Preserve: Geology of the Woodbine formation
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4.18.17
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6pm
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Urban Forest Advisory Council
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Meadows Conference Center
2900 Live Oak St., Hill Country Room
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4.19.17
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10-11:30am
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Guided nature walk at Oak Point Preserve (Plano)
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4.20.17
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9am-11:30am
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Texas Discovery Gardens workday (meet at the greenhouse)
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Questions to johncwilt@aol.com
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4.20.17
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7:30-9pm
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Audubon Dallas 3rd Thursday monthly meeting: Birding apps
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4.20.17
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1:30pm
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Free tour of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas
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4.20.17
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10:30am-12pm
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Elm Fork Master Naturalists (Denton) third Thursday monthly meeting: Texas artist Billy Hassell
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4.22.17
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9am-11:30am
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Texas Discovery Gardens workday (meet at the greenhouse)
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Questions to johncwilt@aol.com
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4.22.17
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10am-12pm
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Ft. Worth Nature Center: nature hike
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4.21.17
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4-7pm
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Heard Museum spring plant sale – members only
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4.22.17
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10am-12pm
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Howard Garrett book signing at the Heard Museum
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4.22.17
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9am-12pm
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Dogwood Canyon Audubon 4th Saturday workday
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4.22.17
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10am-12pm
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Coppell Biodiversity Education Center: Raptors of N. Texas
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4.22.17
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8:30-10:30am
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Richardson Urban Naturalists: Geology of Breckinridge Park
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4.23.17
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9.11am
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Twelve Hills Nature Center work day
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?s to marcieh@gmail.com or
214-535-9373
www.twelvehills.org |
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4.22.17-
4.23.17 |
9am-5pm
1-9pm |
Heard Museum spring plant sale
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4.23.17
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2:30-4pm
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Coppell Biodiversity Education Center “Wild Sunday”: The water cycle
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4.23.17
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1-3pm
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Ecology of a Limestone Prairie
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RSVP to danawilson59@yahoo.com or 469.531.6856 for location
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4.21.17-4.23.17
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10am-5pm
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Free admission to the Texas Discovery Gardens during Earth Day Texas
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4.24.17
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7-8:30pm
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Indian Trails Master Nats. 4th Monday monthly meeting: Forest types of N. Central Texas
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4.25.17
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7:30pm
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Prairie & Timbers Audubon 4th Tuesday monthly meeting: chapter birding trips to Ft. Davis and Puerto Rico
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4.27.17
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1:30pm
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Free tour of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas
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4.29.17
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10am-12pm
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Ft. Worth Nature Center: nature hike
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4.29.17
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11am-1pm
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Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge: butterfly garden walk
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4.30.17
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9-11am
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Twelve Hills Nature Center work day
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?s to marcieh@gmail.com or
214-535-9373
www.twelvehills.org |
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4.30.17
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1:45 or 2:30pm
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Coppell Biodiversity Education Center guided hikes
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