Michelle Connally, Class of 2018 – If you live in North Texas, you should visit the Clymer Meadow. It is a 1,475 acre of majestic Blackland Prairie managed by the Nature Conservancy. There is no better time to visit than the spring with the nice weather and gorgeous wildflowers. Our Blackland Prairie Chapter members have monthly and quarterly workdays available. 1st Thursdays, 3rd Wednesdays and Feb, June, Sept and Nov 4th Saturdays.
Current News
Thoughts From Behind the Viewfinder Vol 1.
John W. Garbutt- Class of 2019- “We must remember that the public can see all the animals we have in any good zoo, but to see them in their natural environment they must come to places like the Wichita”- Aldo Leopold, 1925.
Despite my numerous trips here, it was my trip on October 1st that I first noticed this quote. My trip was to see Rocky Mountain Elk which were extirpated from the area by 1875 and reintroduced in 1908.
Sharing naturalist events on Social Media: What our chapter members need to know.
Michelle Connally, Class of 2018 – We’re excited to announce a change to increase our social media engagement and impact! With unanimous board approval, the Communications Committee can now independently share community events aligned with our mission on social media.
Community Engagement – Sustainability
Marla Layne, Class of 2023 and 2024 Community Engagement Director – BPTMN Bryan Beck educated an engaged group of eight-year-old students on environmental issues on January 20, 2024 at the M.T.O. Shahmaghsoudi Dallas First Junior and Teens Sustainability Seminar.
Food Instincts of the Orange-crowned Warbler
Balaji Devarajan, Class of 2022 – A Yellow-bellied Sapsucker made a few cuts on the Willow tree to consume the tree sap. It was perched at the same spot for more than two hours. At some point it had enough sap and decided to move on; and almost immediately an Orange-crowned Warbler came out of nowhere to the holes made by the Sapsucker.
Leah Justice’s Interesting Finds and Factoids –
Leah Justice, Class of 2021 Submitted a NBCDFW5 News article by Lucy Ladis – TPWD Foundation releases new album ‘Texas Wild’
News Article – Trees Are Stressed. Now They Can Tell Us Why
Leah Justice, Class of 2021 – Submitted Bloomberg Article by Todd Woody – TreeTag sensors, developed by startup ePlant, can give homeowners, farmers and forestry managers early warning when trees are water stressed or in danger.
BPTMN’s 1st Annual Mothing Event
Charlise Hill Larson, 2019 and 2021-2022 Vice President – o celebrate National Moth Week, July 23-31, the Blackland Prairie Chapter of Texas Master Naturalists is hosting its 1st Annual Mothing Event. We’ll meet on the evening of July 30 from 8-11p in the Pecan Grove at The Connemara Meadow. Jean Suplick, Lisa Travis and Rick Travis will be setting up their mothing equipment so that you can a fun and educational evening in the meadow.
July Update – Recovering America”s Wildlife Act – H.R.2773 and S. 2372
Linda Nixon, 2018 and Communications Director – As you probably already know, the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act would provide $1.3 billion per year to states, and $97.5 million to tribal nations, from existing revenues to fund wildlife conservation, habitat management and restoration, outdoor recreation, and education programs. Of this, Texas would be eligible for more than $50 million per year to implement the Texas Conservation Action Plan and help stabilize the at-risk species in our state.
Blackland Prairie Chapter Class of 2022
Charlise Hill-Larson, 2019 & 2020-21 Vice President – Welcome and Congratulations to the Class of 2022 Blackland Prairie Master Naturalists.