April 17, 2024

by

Spring has arrived and events are blooming! We have tons of iNaturalist BioBlitzes all over the county. We wanted a Mothing BioBlitz, and we got one coming up in Frisco’s Grand Park. We have guided prairie tours and community engagement events. Starting Sunday is National Volunteer Week! Check out our calendar at bptmn.org, click on Calendar to see the latest events happening near you!

If chapter members need to share information in the bi-weekly newsletters,
please send your requests to communications@bptmn.org.

Michelle Connally
Communications Director
Blackland Prairie Chapter

Upcoming Advanced Training

Check out our chapter’s calendar for more information and current opportunities.
Member VHAT Calendar (txmn.org)
IF BAD WEATHER IS EXPECTED, VIEW THE CALENDAR AND CONTACT THE PROJECT LEADER BEFORE TRAVELING.

Upcoming Volunteer Service Hours Opportunities

Check out our chapter’s calendar for more information and current opportunities.
Member VHAT Calendar (txmn.org)
IF BAD WEATHER IS EXPECTED, VIEW THE CALENDAR AND CONTACT THE PROJECT LEADER BEFORE TRAVELING.

  • March 12 thru June 1 – Lights Out Dallas Bird Survey – Spring 2024
  • Sun-Fri – Connemara Meadow Work Days
  • Mondays – Erwin Park Prairie Restoration
  • Thursdays – Wylie Prairie Restoration
  • Wednesday, 17th – Clymer Meadow 3rd Wednesday Workday
  • Wednesday, 17th – Plano Oak Point Park and Nature Preserve Work Day
  • Friday, 19th – Frisco Work Day – Northwest Park
  • Friday, 19th – BioBlitz – Hoblitzelle Park
  • Friday, 19th – BioBlitz – Oak Point Park
  • Saturday, 20th – 3rd Saturday Pollinator Garden at Caldwell Park Workday
  • Sunday, 21st – BioBlitz – YMCA Collin County Youth Adventure Camp
  • Tuesday, 23rd – Plano Work Day – Hoblitzelle Park
  • Thursday, 25th – Community Engagement – UT Dallas Earth Fair
  • Friday, 26th – BioBlitz – Connemara Meadow
  • Saturday, 27th – Community Engagement – Anna Earth Day
  • Saturday, 27th – 4th Saturday Stiff Chapel Cemetary Workday
  • Saturday, 27th – BioBlitz – Arbor Hills Park
  • Saturday, 27th – BioBlitz – Grand Park
  • Saturday, 27th – iNaturalist City Challenge – Mothing Event – Grand Park
  • Sunday, 28th – Frisco Work Day – Commons Park
  • Sunday, 28th – BioBlitz – Stewart Creek Park
  • Monday, 29th – BioBlitz – Erwin Park

National Volunteer Week starting Sunday, April 21st!

The Blackland Prairie Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalists stands as a testament to the power of volunteerism and its ability to bring about positive change in the community. The dedication of volunteers not only enriches the environment but also fosters a sense of unity and purpose among its members. It’s the passion and energy of individuals like you that fuel the success of conservation efforts and inspire others to join in the mission to educate others and conserve the natural beauty of Texas. As we celebrate National Volunteer Week, let’s continue to nurture this spirit of service and commitment to the environment. Together, we can make a lasting impact on the Blackland Prairie and beyond.

Shaking the Trees Member Contributions

Last Chapter Meeting & Deep Dive recordings

Chapter Business from recent chapter meeting

March 2024 Re-Certifications

  • Susan Abernethy
  • Kathy Boys
  • Randy Boys
  • Brenda Clark
  • Patricia Crain
  • Heather Fell
  • Georgette Guernsey
  • Janice James
  • Leah Justice
  • Yvette Justice
  • Michael Petrick
  • Lisa Stripling
  • Cathy Van Bebber

Milestone Achievements

  • 4000 Hours – Linda Nixon
  • 1000 Hours – Sharla Stack, Cindy Steele
  • 500 Hours – Greg Hupf, Paul Napper
  • 250 Hours – Randy Boys, Kelly Shaw-Proia

Blackland Prairie Chapter Grant Program now accepting Applications. Click HERE for more details.

Mark your Calendars!

  • iNaturalist City Nature Challenge (Check out our calendar HERE for all the BioBlitz events)
    • Observations: April 26-29
    • Identification Period: April 30 – May 5
    • Friday, April 26, 2024 6:30 – 8:30 PM
      • Bioblitz at Connemara Meadow
    • Saturday, April 27, 10:00 AM – 12:00 noon
      • Bioblitz at Arbor Hills Nature Preserve
    • Saturday, April 27, 2024 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM
      • Bioblitz at Grand Park in Frisco
    • Saturday, April 27, 2024 8:00 PM – 10:30 PM
      • Mothing Bioblitz at Grand Park in Frisco with Sam Kieschnick
    • Sunday, April 28, 2024 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
      • Bioblitz at Stewart Creek Wetlands in Frisco
    • Monday, April 29, 2024 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
      • Bioblitz at Erwin Park in McKinney
    • What is a BioBlitz?
      • A BioBlitz is a targeted attempt to survey, and record observed flora and fauna species within a designated area. It’s “species snapshot” for that location and date. We will be using iNaturalist to record our observations. If you haven’t already downloaded the iNaturalist app on your phone, you may want to do that before the event.
  • 2024 Clymer Meadow Preserve Spring Tours, need to RSVP for the fantastic tours!
  • Day at the Hagerman NWR – Saturday, June 8th (Check out our calendar HERE for event details)
  • 2024 Annual Meeting in San Marcos, October 24th – October 27th. Meeting Website

Help Wanted

  • Texas Nature Trackers Bat Acoustic Monitoring Project
    • Program is being initiated by TPW/Texas Nature Trackers Program​
    • 2 pre-established grids in our chapter’s AOR. One is classified as a priority grid. ​
    • Acoustic monitoring is planned for April, May, June.​
    • Project volunteers can also assist with data analysis.​
    • Interested in joining the Acoustic Bat Monitoring Team?​
    • Link to the Bat Monitoring Application Form:    https://txmn.tamu.edu/blog/tnt-bat/​
    • Contact BPTMN Project Coordinator Christina Lane: anyanfei1@gmail.com

  • BPTMN Lending Library Wish List
    • We’re looking for an array of books to improve the selection of topics, titles and authors available in our lending library. ​
      • The Wilderness Warrior by Douglas Brinkley
      • Nature’s Best Hope by Douglas Tallamy
      • The Soil Will Save Us by Kristin Ohlson
      • An Immense World by Ed Yong
      • The Overstory by Richard Powers
      • Evolution by Carl Zimmer
      • Braiding Sweet Grass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
      • How To Read Nature by Tristan Gooley
      • Classics:
      • Silent Spring by Rachel Carson
      • A Sand County Almanacs by Aldo Leopold
      • Anything by E. O. Wilson
      • Anything by John Muir
      • Books listed as additional resources on Training Class website:
      • Bringing Nature Home by Doug Tallamy
      • Prairie Time: A Blackland Portrait by Matt White
      • The Nature of Oaks by Doug Tallamy
      • The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben
      • Crows by Candace Savage
      • Nature Obscure by Kelly Brenner
      • Random selections:
      • Gathering Moss by Robin Wall Kimmerer
      • The Soul of an Octopus by Sy Montgomery
      • H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald
      • The Genius of Birds by Jennifer Ackerman
    • If you’d like to donate books for the BPTMN library, contact our chapter librarian, Linder Orourke. Click HERE for more information.

Next Month’s Chapter Meeting information

Tuesday, May 14, 2024 – 7:00 PM
Click here to view our Calendar.

Come and hear about the activities and sites that await you in the “wilds” of Frisco!  You will learn about the how the city balances the demands of development with the protection of its natural resources and what the future looks like for this fast-growing community. 

Speaker – Jeff Witt

Jeff Witt is the Natural Resources Manager for the City of Frisco’s Parks and Recreation Department.  He has been with the City for 25 years.  Jeff previously worked in the Development Services and Engineering Departments.  During that time he has served as a resource to the City on matters of an ecological nature, long range planning and right-of-way acquisition. 

He has a Masters degree in Geography from East Tennessee State University.  Prior to coming to the City of Frisco, he worked for the City of Plano.  Before entering public service, he served as a consultant to the Corp of Engineers, Air Force, Navy, Department of Energy and Department of Justice on environmental planning and natural resource preservation issues.

Physical Meeting Location:  Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary, 
1Nature Place, McKinney TX 75069, Science Resource Center (SRC) building.
Directions to SRC:  Drive through Heard gates; go past parking lot and museum building; continue until the road ends at the large white SRC building. 

Online Zoom Meeting Registration:  
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUqc-yrqT4rHtzVMlNaWFk_mL0NlAjq0Lpj
Please register ahead of time for this meeting using your Zoom Account Email address. 
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with information about joining the meeting.
Online Meeting Host: Heather Fell – heatherf@bptmn.org

Logging AT:  The monthly meeting presentation will allow members to earn 1-hour of AT. Log as AT: BPTMN Chapter Monthly Meeting Only (1 hour) with the speaker’s name and topic in the description box.

For any additional questions, please contact.
Chapter Meeting Host: Stephanie Cleveland – stephaniec@bptmn.org 

TMN State Program Updates

Program Invitation for Dr. Kjell Lindgren, Texas Master Naturalist/ Astronaut

“Seeing the Natural World from Space and How It Inspired Me to Become a Texas Master Naturalist”
Presented by Dr. Kjell N. Lindgren 
Thursday, May 2 2024 7:00 – 8:30pm

Don’t miss this unforgettable opportunity to soar among the stars and reconnect with the wonders of our planet through the eyes of a true space pioneer. Join Kjell N. Lindgren, A Texas Master Naturalist, as he shares his awe-inspiring experiences from his journey to the heights of space. Commander Lindgren will reveal how this unique perspective transformed his understanding of the natural world, and ignited a profound passion for environmental stewardship.

Fellow Texas Master Naturalists, those of you who were at the 2022 Annual Meeting will remember Dr. Lindgren’s inspirational presentation to us just a few days after his return to earth from serving as Commander on a 170-day mission on the International Space Station. We welcome you to see him speak again, and hope that many others can join us for your first viewing of this unique and thought-provoking program.


About Our Presenter: Dr. Kjell N. Lindgren was selected by NASA in 2009. Growing up in an Air Force family, he spent most of his childhood abroad and returned to the U.S. to complete his education with an undergraduate degree from the U.S. Airforce Academy and a Doctorate of Medicine from the University of Colorado. He is residency trained in both emergency and aerospace medicine. He joined NASA as a flight surgeon in 2007 and served as the Deputy Crew Surgeon for STS-130 and Expedition 24. He was selected as an astronaut in June 2009 as one of 14 members of the 20th NASA astronaut class. In 2015, Dr. Lindgren flew on Expedition 44/45 and logged 141 days in space. He participated in two spacewalks and in more than a hundred different scientific experiments. Dr. Lindgren served as commander of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-4 mission. Crew-4 launched on Apr. 27, 2022 to the International Space Station joining Expedition 67 for an additional 170 days on orbit, returning home on Oct. 14, 2022. Dr. Lindgren has spent a cumulative total of 311 days in space. He currently serves as the Deputy Director of the Flight Operations Directorate (FOD). (Intro from Nasa.gov). 
 
Zoom Attendance: You may also attend by Zoom. Use the link below to register in advance for Zoom attendance.
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUoduiurjMjHtRXVs_GrcrMu3zwDTgMKZkk
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

The Texas Master Naturalist program is sponsored by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.
 
Please join us either in person or by Zoom for a great presentation!

Susan Walther
President
Texas Master Naturalist™, Coastal Prairie Chapter
Mobile: 281-450-4906
susan@coastalprairie.org

2024 Annual Meeting – Call for Presentations & Field Sessions

The Texas Master Naturalist Program welcomes your presentation proposals as contributions to be considered for our Annual Meeting and agenda! Individuals wishing to present are invited to submit their proposals via the “Submit Abstract” button below.

This year’s Annual Meeting will be hosted Thursday, October 24th through Sunday, October 27th in San Marcos, Texas. Nestled in the heart of the Lone Star State, San Marcos, Texas, unveils a natural symphony where the enchanting melody of the San Marcos River dances alongside vibrant greenery. As the sunlight filters through the towering cypress trees, it casts a golden glow on the river’s crystal-clear waters, revealing a mesmerizing underwater ballet of aquatic life. The San Marcos Springs, the lifeblood of this ecological marvel, showcase a unique blend of aquatic flora and fauna. Rare and endemic species find refuge in these pristine waters, forming a delicate ecosystem that stands as a testament to the town’s commitment to conservation. San Marcos, where the balance between urban development and environmental preservation is an art form, invites residents and visitors alike to immerse themselves in a natural sanctuary. The city’s commitment to sustainable living ensures future generations will continue to marvel at the harmonious coexistence of humanity and the untamed beauty of its environment.

We are planning for an in-person Annual Meeting for 2024! We are asking that all presenters be prepared to host their sessions in person with us this fall, however special considerations may be given where needed. The final full event schedule will be released mid-summer. We are seeking proposals for both classroom presentations and field sessions out and around San Marcos:

As a classroom presenter, you would have the opportunity to inform and train TMN members from across the state on various natural resource topics and provide more in-depth information than their initial core training and curriculum.  You are also encouraged to make this an opportunity to enlist and train our program volunteers to assist you, your program, and your work as part of their annual volunteer service commitment. Classroom sessions are currently scheduled to begin each day of the conference at 8am and end at 5pm. Classroom sessions will be offered concurrently with one, two, three and four hour blocks, built-in breaks and potentially themed days (dependent on final submissions received).

As a field session presenter, you would have the opportunity to showcase the region’s diversity of natural spaces, highlight local TMN chapter projects and inform and train TMN members from across the state on various natural resource topics.  You are also encouraged to make this an opportunity to host a service project for our volunteers to assist you, your program, and your work as part of their annual volunteer service commitment – even while at the conference. Our Annual Meeting is a time to host numerous field session site visits before, during, and after the event. Three goals with Annual Meeting field sessions is to provide advanced training applicable to any registered Master Naturalist traveling to the meeting from anywhere in the state, while also showcasing the local diversity of the area and the work of local host chapters for project sharing, learning and replication. We want field session attending TMN’s to walk away from the event knowing a bit more about the natural landscape of our host location – and to have new ideas for chapter projects or project management ideas.

Annual Meeting registration and costs will be released in July. Classroom session presenters will need to register to attend the Annual Meeting if they intend to stay and participate beyond their presentation time or for event activities outside of technical sessions. 

Learn more about our meeting and submit your presentations for the classroom or field sessions here:

https://txmn.tamu.edu/2024-annual-meeting/#call-for-proposals

Deadline May 15th 2024

See you this fall in San Marcos!

Mary Pearl Meuth
Texas Master Naturalist Program Assistant State Coordinator
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
E-mail: mpmeuth@tamu.edu
Cell: (727) 366-1144
495 Horticulture Dr, 2138 TAMU
College Station, TX 77843-2138

H-E-B Trees for Texans – “For Communities” Grant – closes June 7th

Texan by Nature is proud to partner with H-E-B to catalyze a statewide tree-planting program. H-E-B Trees for Texans creates healthier environments for schools, communities, and our future. To date, H-E-B has planted 162,989 native trees, reforested 260 acres of Texas land, and created shade for 1,724 students in urban areas across the Lone Star State. 

The “For Communities” branch of the program provides funding for tree-planting projects in H-E-B communities across Texas. A $5,000 grant application is open to 501c3 and municipal / government organizations looking to increase their tree canopy and improve the landscapes where they live. To date, this program has provided $75K in funding to 15 unique projects across the state. View the full Story Map here to learn more about the program’s impacts.

Applications for the 2024-2025 planting season will be open from April 10 – June 7, 2024 for planting events occurring from October 2024 – March 2025. Reach out to kenzie@texanbynature.org with any questions.

Best regards,

Urvi Dani [she/her]
Senior Partnership Manager | Texan by Nature
urvi@texanbynature.org | LinkedIn

Texas Master Naturalist Statewide Curriculum – Review and Edition Update!

Friends, Colleagues and Users of the Texas Master Naturalist Curriculum book,

Our first state level Texas Master Naturalist Curriculum was developed in 2004 and printed as a three-ring binder. In 2014, we engaged in a major update and publishing project and printed our curriculum with TAMU Press as a full color, 750+ page, 6.5-pound textbook and finally published it in 2016. It would only make sense that within that 10-year timeline, we start another update to the book!

We are starting the project to review, update and print a second edition of our TMN Statewide Curriculum! Keep in mind, this will be a multi-year project, but the time to start it is now. And we need your help!

To get our review and update started, we have two requests to our readers:

  1. The first is to help us gather information on how our book is being used. This information will be shared with our TAMU Press redesign team as they are looking to make updates to the layout and functionality of the book. Please complete this survey by May 1, 2024.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/tmn2ndedition

  1. The second is to help us collect errors/updates in the current edition. Each unit will be getting reviewed and updated, but two sets of eyes are better than one. Please share any errors or update suggestions in the linked survey below. Note – it’s vital that you share page and paragraph information to help us find these areas of edit need. This survey will remain open.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/tmnbookerrata

​Thank you for helping us advance our Texas Mater Naturalist Curriculum!

Mary Pearl & Michelle

Chapter Advisor

Dr. Curtis Jones, County Extension Agent
825 North McDonald Street Suite 150
McKinney, TX 75069-2175
curtis.jones@ag.tamu.edu 
972-548-4233

Chapter Partners

Blackland Prairie Raptor Center
volunteer@bpraptorcenter.org
https://bpraptorcenter.org/

Connemara Meadow Nature Preserve
Bob Mione | info@connemaraconservancy.org
connermaraconservancy.org/wordpress/meadow-nature-preserve

Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary
Laura Ragan | volunteers@heardmuseum.org
www.heardmuseum.org/volunteer

LLELA Nature Preserve
Erin Piper | epiper@cityoflewisville.com
https://www.llela.org/research-restoration/volunteering