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BirdsFlora and FaunaNewsPlantsShaking the Trees

Shaking the Trees 5th Edition 06/1/20

Shaking the Trees 5!
 
Birds, Bees, Flowers…Stuff
Take a look at answers to the quiz in Edition 4, fledgling growth, knocked out birds and what our leaders collect.
Join in the fun and provide your type of elixir during this dry spell of sharing nature on foot.
 
 
Laurie Sheppard – The Latest Buzz
Greg Tonian – Ovenbird
Jim Dulian’s Quiz Submissions
Jim Dulian’s Heron Chicks
Jean Suplick – Once a Collector always a Collector
Terry Comingore – Think Skinks
Rick Travis – Milkweed Project in the Wetlands Update
 
And as first stated, use this lifeline to help you through this tough time if you need more than the postings. It seems even harder now that so many are trying so hard to move back to normal…whatever that was.

 

BirdsFlora and FaunaGeneralNewsShaking the Trees

Shaking the Trees 4th Edition 05/15/20

Bird birthing updates, Duane’s cool labyrinth, news from a New Mexico naturalist you may know and grass and forbs contest ready for viewing. Keep the info coming folks. You are making many people very happy by sharing your time in nature.

Terry Comingore – Proud Grandpa of Heron Chicks
Jim Dulian – Backyard Heron Nest
Greg Hayden – Greetings from New Mexico
Duane Mortenson – Lockdown in Backyard Oasis
Clyde Camp WildLife Blog
Jim Dulian’s – Grasses & Forb Quiz 

The response and number of hits to the site from our members has been remarkable, y’all. Keep the experiences and joys coming and remember that if you have some needs we can meet, give us a holler. What you have continued to accomplish during this unfamiliar part of our journeys is amazing!

Shaking the Trees

General

Nature Reflections Video Exercise

Texas Master Naturalists,

A small victim of this current quarantine and shelter in place is the missed opportunities of spring. So many of our Master Naturalist volunteer service projects literally take bloom during these spring months each year – we have a new crop of trainees joining in some chapters, plant sales and plantings of native butterfly gardens, youth education programs as Texas students cycle into earth sciences in the spring, bird and butterfly migrations, and so much more that isn’t able to happen in its traditional form right now!

To that end, I would like as many of you as possible to respond to this statement: “In this unprecedented moment of the pandemic, reflect upon what nature means to you and what benefits it provides you, especially in times like these.”

Nature Reflections

If you have any questions or concerns, please let me know. While this is a video exercise, if you would rather share your written thoughts, a meaningful poem or quote relevant to this task, and/or a nature photo you took, please share those as well!

Again, stay safe and healthy, and thank you for your participation in this exercise! It’ll be so nice to hear your voices and see your faces at this moment in time!

Thanks!

Mary Pearl
Mary Pearl Meuth
Texas Master Naturalist Program Assistant State Coordinator
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
E-mail: mpmeuth@tamu.edu

General

Shaking the Trees 3rd Edition 05/01/20

Laurie Sheppard – Rare skipper at Hagerman NWR
Dave Powell – Walking and healing his wing
Clyde Camp – Owl Blog Surprise coming through in the clutch
John Garbutt – Woodpecker wonders
Dick Zartler – Fire on the prairie is success
Deborah Canterbury – Insect “didja-knows”
Paul Napper – East Texas Live
Terry Comingore – Blue Heron update
Mikel Salsgiver: Once a Teacher…
Beverly Carpenter – It’s baby season!

Shaking the Trees

ATGeneralMembers

Trip to Botanical Institute of Texas

Group Photo of BPTMN Member Trip to BRIT

BPTMN Chapter event to Botanical Research Institute of Texas in Fort Worth

Members of our BPTMN Chapter visited the Botanical Research Institute of Texas (aka BRIT) in Fort Worth.  BRIT houses several herbariums (collection of dried plants), seed bank,  botanical art collections, children/ adult classes, educator programs and more.

Visit their site to learn more and support this valuable resource.
http://www.brit.org/

iNaturalistPlants

iNaturalist bioblitz commemorates Texas Native Plant Week

Wild Plant of Texas - Bioblitz Challenge

Since 2009 the Texas legislature has designated the third full week in October as Texas Native Plant Week.

 

This year we have partnered with Texas Parks & Wildlife and Texas Agrilife Water University to celebrate Texas Native Plant Week with an iNaturalist Bioblitz.

The point is to see how many plants can be observed using the iNaturalist app during the week of October 20 – October 27. All plant observations made during the week in Texas with a photo will automatically be added to the project.

 

Read and Watch the video from the Native Plant Society Post here.

 

Related:

Link to BPTMN iNaturalist Page