Blackland Prairie Master Naturalists

Blackland Prairie Chapter

“Education, Restoration, Preservation”

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 beneficial management of natural resources and natural 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.

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2018 Monthly Meeting Topics

March 13 : ”What’s New in the World of Monarch Butterflies?” – Carol Clark

This program will attempt to distill information presented by over 40 researchers at two Monarch Butterfly conferences this year, and the some of the newest research from around the country. Are Fire Ants a problem for Monarchs? How about Tropical Milkweeds? What happened with this year’s migration? What’s going on with coastal Monarchs?  How do Monarchs navigate to  where they need to go? Why are Milkweeds so easy to grow for some people and hard for others? These questions and more will be covered.

  – Carol is an amateur botany enthusiast, a Texas Master Naturalist, and longtime member of the Native Plant Society of Texas, and is a Conservation Specialist with Monarch Watch.  She also co-administrates the Texas Native Bee Co-op Facebook page for Texas Parks and Wildlife. She and her husband own and operate Clark Haven Farm, a wildlife preserve and custom wildflower seed business in Cooke County.

April 10: “Citizen Science” – Marsha May

– Marsha is a biologist with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Texas Nature Tracker program. She has worked for TPWD in this program for over 17 years. She holds a B.S. in wildlife science from Texas A&M University and a M.S. in aquatic biology from Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State University). Her favorite species are birds and freshwater mussels.

May 8: “Fundamentals of Forest Ecology” – Chris Ebling

This presentation by one of our own chapter members will include energy flow, nutrient cycling, forest structure, and Texas forest systems.

  – Chris has been part of the Texas Master Naturalist program since 2007, having been trained and certified through the Blackland Prairie chapter.  Chris has degrees in Forestry and Resource Interpretation.  In cooperation with the Natural Resource Conservation Service, Texas Parks and Wildlife, and Ducks Unlimited, Chris constructed and maintains a 15-acre seasonal wetland in Fannin County for the benefit of migratory waterfowl and ancillary species. He speaks regularly on forest ecology, forest management, dendrology, tree identification techniques, and entomology.

2018 Past Speakers:

February 13 : ”Light Pollution – More Than a Barrier to Sky Gazing” – Tom Fleming

January 9 : ”Open House. Welcome Back to Members, Come Join Us to Visitors” A Review of chapter and state, exciting and vital information about the Future and Recognitions. (no AT)

– Mike Roome, President

2017:

December 12: “This Badlands Tortoise is 34 Million Years Old and at The Heard” – Pat Kline, Lead Project Preparator

November 14: ”Prairies in Old Cemeteries” – Candace Fountoulakis, Master Gardener and member of the Plano Garden Club. A board member of The Plano Conservancy for Historic Preservation, Inc.

October 10: “The Urban Harvest: Foraging in the City” – Daniel Cunningham, Texas A&M AgriLife Research Extension

September 12: “Reptiles with a particulare emphasis on Texas ” –  David Mead, Class of ’17

August 8: “Past Climates: Putting the Climate Puzzle Together with Models” – Dr. Angela Osen; University of Texas Arlington, Tarrant County College

July 11: “13 Things You Need to Know About the Poison Oak and Ivy Rash” –  Amy Martin – Author of Itchy Business: How to Treat the Poison Ivy and Poison Oak Rash, Prevent Exposure and Eradicate the Plant (www.Itchy.biz).

June 13 : “Frogs! ” –  Scott Kiester, Texas Master Naturalist, Elm Fork Chapter

May 9: “Dead Zones in Rivers and the Gulf of Mexico and Their Causes” – Donald Harper, Professor Emeritus, Texas A&M Galveston

April 11: “Zika and Other Issues” – Daphne Lynch, Epidemiologist for Collin County

March 14: “New Frisco Wetlands in the Hackberry Creek and Stewart Creek Drainages” – Corp of Engineers, Jon Loxley and Jim Frisinger; Jayce Proctor, UNT

February 14: “Texas Wild Cats” – Monica Morrison

January 10: 2016 Successes and 2017 Opportunities – Where our members volunteer and why.