Flora and Fauna

Less well known than European Honeybees, Texas’ native bees are nevertheless vital components of a healthy environment, and can provide a new dimension of enjoyment in your home garden. This program will cover basic information on the current challenges all bee species are facing, and the tricks they use to survive natural challenges in Texas’ extremes. Learn why they are important to all of us, facts about gentle solitary native bees and their lifestyles, and photo examples of the many beautiful forms and colors of native bees. We will include tips on what to plant and provide to attract them to your home landscape and help them survive there, and basic identification hints. We’ll discuss simple homemade native bee nest sites and find out how to participate in nationwide citizen science tracking efforts.

Carol Clark is a Texas Master Naturalist, long-time member of the Native Plant Society of Texas, Chair of the Bring Back the Monarchs to Texas committee of NPSOT, and a Monarch Watch Conservation Specialist. She is also a co-administrator of the Texas Native Bee Co-op Facebook page. When she’s not busy teaching others about pollinators or native plants, she enjoys looking after her own colossal Monarch Waystation and private wildlife refuge in Cooke County. She is a frequent speaker on conservation topics around the state.

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Curious George Settles in for the Day

By Clyde Camp, 2011

Curious George arrives at about 20 seconds into the video link and settles in for the day. He’s verbally accosted by a couple of jays and a squirrel about midway through the video. George is the male of the last breeding season (spring, 2020) – a grey-phase Eastern Screech Owl. His mate then was a red-phase female named Hunter. Their breeding attempt was unsuccessful with two clutches of eggs, neither of which hatched.

They are both visiting the box off and on again and probably staking their claim on it in late fall 2020.

You can read about, with photos and videos, that attempt (as well as the 2018/19 attempt by a different pair) at http://crcamp.com/owls

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Ramblings on a Cold Morning

By Sally Evans, Founder Emeritus, 2006

By the time anyone reads this epistle the Backyard Bird Count will be over, the Great Winter Storm will be over, Valentine’s Day will be over, and we will be working on the pandemic to be over! It has been a difficult time for people on so many areas of their lives with survival being uppermost. Actually the GBBC came at a good time because many folks could not do anything else except peep out the draped windows at the birds coming in to find what food they could. Bird feeders came to many of their rescues.

I had the opportunity to listen to a ZOOM talk given by Dr. Drew Lanham who is an author and an ornithologist. He was suggesting that bird watchers get so intent on bird identification and location that they (we) forget to put their binoculars down and view the whole picture. So I did. The birds were coming in close to the window so I could see them well and I had time to sit and observe. I knew that many of the birds I counted at different times were the same birds I had seen before. They live here and come here often for the handouts I give. The male cardinals with their brilliant reds against the snow were spectacular – and they were almost always accompanied or led by a female cardinal who was also very lovely. The red-bellied woodpecker’s red head was exceptionally bright and I could see him clearly on the suet feeder as he went back and forth from the tree to the feeder. It was always the same male. Once or twice I saw a female. On the bird count it would seem I had seen several of these birds but I knew it was the same one each time. I was following directions – counting all that I saw each time.

And the little upstart that took over the feeders and tried to chase everyone else away even though most were bigger than it was. It was a butter butt – a yellow rumped warbler – and every day it would go from feeder to suet to bush to feeder to suet, etc. except when it would chase another bird away. Just one! But according to the bird count I probably saw four or five!

For the very first time I had pine siskins. There were about a half a dozen that came to the thistle feeder and they chased away the few goldfinches that came to the thistle feeder. But the finches were clever and would just wait around and when the siskins flew away they moved in. I saw this because I put my binoculars down and just watched the birds and the trees and the snow. The doves would sit for long periods of time in the trees, fat fluffed bumps on the limbs. Then one must have said ,”GO!” because they would all fly off somewhere or inundate the feeders and throw seed all over.

I know there were rabbits at night because I found tracks everywhere. They would have had a hard time finding food as the snow was about three inches deep. My toes would have been frozen! Why weren’t their feet too cold to hop around?!
I also had time to contemplate. How fortunate I was to have a home, food, electricity, family and friends who were checking on us, a warm blanket and a pair of binoculars to watch the panorama in my own back yard. So like the robin who has been sitting on the banister in the morning sun, I will look at my surroundings and wait for better times.

Flora and Fauna Shaking of the Trees Post Shaking the Trees TPWD Wildlife

Recovering America’s Wildlife Act Update

Written By Richard Heilbrun, TPWD

Richard Heilbrun, who is well known by TMN’s and is Program Leader at Texas Parks & Wildlife Department,has been actively involved with The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act. We recently asked him about its progress since not much comes out of D.C. nowadays that is not related to COVID.

The Wildlife Act made substantial progress in 2020. The standalone bill, HR 3742, passed out of committee with bipartisan support. The text of that bill, slightly altered, was inserted into HR 2, which passed the US House on July 20 and was sent it to the US Senate. Though the Senate declined to consider HR 2, the passage of the language in the House was a huge milestone for the effort and shortens our work dramatically in this Congress.

In this year’s Congress, the House Committee on Natural Resources has told us that Recovering America’s Wildlife Act will not need a hearing and will just be advanced through Committee.

Strategists in DC are pushing for a 2-track approach. First, it will be introduced as stand-alone legislation by Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI) and Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE). In March or April, we expect them to circulate a Dear Colleague Letter and a request for initial bill co-sponsors. When that happens, we’d encourage the wildlife community in Texas to contact their members of Congress. Then it will be introduced into the Senate. There are several Senators that have already contacted us offering to introduce the measure there. Once we’ve demonstrated support for the stand-alone measures, our second track will be to ask for it to be inserted into larger legislative packages such as an Infrastructure Package.

We’ll support both tracks, knowing that having 2 possibilities gives us a better chance of final passage. Many people have told us that if we can mobilize conservation-oriented support, Recovering America’s Wildlife Act has a good chance of being passed this year. We just have to keep our foot on the gas.

Sign up for updates at https://www.txwildlifealliance.org/ Learn more about the bill there and viewing the Texas Focus YouTube Video below.

Anyone interested in getting involved can contact me at Richard.Heilbrun@tpwd.texas.gov or Rachel Rommel, state coordinator for the Texas Wildlife Alliance at r.rommel@txwildlifealliance.org

Texas Focus Video

AgriLife Extension Dragonflies Flora and Fauna Insects Plants Shaking of the Trees Post Shaking the Trees

Carnage in Collin County

In early April there is a sunny spot in our back yard early in the morning. Usually I would find a robber fly perched on a leaf waiting for its first victim. The warmth of the sun would bring out some smaller flies which seemed to be its favorite target. What’s interesting is that the robber fly seemed to be fearless. I could get right up to it with my camera and he just seemed to dare me to take away his prey. It does seem to be a little strange to see a fly eating a fly.

In early fall I could often find another robber fly [Promachus hinei]. One day I saw one had caught a paper wasp. Again, I could take my time getting its portrait. It was quite impressive how the fly would control the wasp with its legs

Dragonflies are constantly looking for their next prey. This Common Green Darner [Anax junius] has another dragonfly for its meal. The victim looks to be a Blue Dasher. According to Greg Lansley, dragonflies will often eat other dragonflies. In fact, they will even eat the young of their own species.

In the fall I watch the wheel bugs and the praying mantis. I have a small grove of goldenrod in the backyard and there were several wheel bugs all summer long growing up. When the goldenrod bloomed, I could see why they were there. The flowers were full of honey bees and wasps. Every day four or five wheel bugs were getting their fill. Often two or three would be feasting at a time, to the point expected to see a pile of carcasses on the ground

A praying mantis shared in the bounty of the bees. One day in early November I found something unexpected. One of the wheel bugs had attacked the mantis.

Upon closer inspection of the mantis, it was clear that it was not in good shape. Some parasites had been growing in its body and had recently escaped the abdomen. I did a little search of mantis parasites. It was quite disturbing what I found. It was clear to me that being an insect is a dangerous existence and I was glad I could leave the carnage behind and go into the house for a nice cup of coffee.

Flora and Fauna Shaking of the Trees Post Shaking the Trees Texas State Parks

A January Visit to Lake Tawakoni State Park

By Jean Suplick

Sometimes you’ve just got to break out of COVID confinement and have a change of scenery. That’s why in early January, Michael and I hooked up the camper and headed to Lake Tawakoni State Park. Ninety minutes away from our Plano home, the park hugs the western shore of the Lake Tawakoni, a reservoir on the Sabine River. It’s a beautiful, well maintained park with a sandy beach for summertime swimming, lots of wooded hiking trails, a boat ramp, pocket prairie, and, of course, campsites. Plus it is far enough away from the metroplex that the night skies are fairly dark and the stars are pretty bright.

Inaugurating our stay at our campsite was a Giant Leaf-footed Bug (Acanthocephala declivis) which dropped out of a tree onto Michael’s arm. It got me thinking about all the insects hidden about, trying to make it through the winter. There must be quite a few because the next day, rustling leaves alerted us to an insect-eating Blue-headed Vireo vigorously foraging among the still-attached leaves of a post oak just over our heads. It was energetically poking into one cluster of dead leaves, first in one, then another. I have to assume it was worth the effort.

We saw tracks of common raccoons, but never a live one. However, each evening at dusk, right after we lit our campfire, one or two easily spooked, feral cats would slink around the periphery of the campsite. Cats weren’t the only mammals we saw, though. There were also plenty of deer to be seen in the mornings and evenings..

While most plant life is dead or dormant now, winter is a great time to inspect their fruit and seeds. Both Bigpod Sesbania (Sesbania herbacea) and the Bladder Pod (Sesbania vesicaria) grow near the shores of the lake. Both have dehiscent capsules, i.e. fruits or pods that when dry, split along a seam to release their seeds. The pods of these two Sesbania species are shaped differently, but they are both dry now. It is fun to pull the pods apart to inspect their structure and seeds.

We were surprised to run across a tiny little flower in one of the low mown lawns. It was a Virginia Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica), with its five pretty petals and two green sepals. What a cheery find! This individual little flower is apparently precocious; the seasonality graph on iNaturalist shows that very few observations have been logged in January nationwide.

But that wasn’t the only bright color in the area. On the side of a decaying oak tree we found some beautiful Golden Ear (Naematelia aurantia) fungus.
Our trip truly was a refreshing break from being, well, homebound. If you get a chance, visit Lake Tawakoni State Park. I hope you’ll find it to be a lovely place, as I do. No matter the season or the weather, there’s always something for a naturalist to engage with there. And it’s so close to us!

Mckinney Native Grasses Plants Prairie Restoration Shaking the Trees Wildlife

Thousands of Trees and City Challenges, Oh My!

By: Deborah Canterbury

Dave Powell is constantly widening our net of experience and consulting. 2021 will bring great chapter project opportunities and chances for others to learn from Dave’s city native forbs and grasses projects…if it behaves itself and COVID invasive is brought under control.

The North Texas Municipal Water District, State Forest Service and City of McKinney have asked Dave to consult and to supervise the planting of trees along Wilson Creek within or contiguous to McKinney. They must be planted in flood plain/riparian area and not on private property. In McKinney. One thousand 5 and 10 gallon trees. The 3 zeros is not a typo, folks. All is preliminary planning right now. Dave is working with them with online maps and zoom meetings. Come 2021 things will get fun.

He is also consulting with the Elm Fork chapter about a riparian to native grass and forb transition area at Memorial Park in Flower Mound. There is a similar public project benefitting from his expertise in the Denton/Corinth area. Obviously his State presentation and the positive approaches to development he has established with McKinney and Wylie are receiving far-reaching attention.

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The Continuing Chronicles of the Commons Cooper’s

By: John Garbutt

Watching the five Cooper’s Hawks fledge in mid-June under their mother’s watchful eyes seems like years ago. After that moment, I figured I had possibly seen the last of them, at least as a group. I also had other places to go, The Rio Grande Valley, Fort Davis, and the Bolivar Peninsula. As the calendar turned over to September, I began venturing back out to Frisco Commons on the weekends and on the way to work. The “kids” were missed.

On Sunday, September 13, 7am, I began my usual circuit at Frisco Commons. Baltimore Oriole, Blue-Headed Vireo, White-Eyed Vireo, Eastern Wood Pewee, and a life addition, a Warbling Vireo! Then a family of Downy Woodpeckers moving between a couple of trees. Then everything scattered as an immature Cooper’s Hawk flew in after one of the Downy Woodpeckers! Hello again!

A few days later I witnessed the Cooper’s battling Blue Jays. The jays and hawk swirled around the wood line going in and out of visibility. I tried to capture a few shots as I cheered on my hawk. Nearby the Red-Shouldered Hawks were having issues of their own with the crows.

On Sunday the 20^th, the hawk’s frustration seemed at a boiling point and if it was begging me for help. Luckily one of its siblings came to the rescue! The Jays versus Copper’s continued for the next couple of weeks. Occasionally I saw two of the hawks together. Based on visual sightings and sound, at least three Cooper’s Hawks were around.

As October arrived, I was still seeing two of the young hawks together and occasionally hearing calls in the riparian area. Early on the 4^th I was observing two in the back and looking for one hawk that flew to my right behind a tree. I could not locate it. Then as I turned to my left, there one was, at eye level, within 15 feet. It sat there for a few minutes as we caught up. Earlier in the year, I watched a Yellow-Crowned Night Heron regurgitate a crawfish skeleton, and the hawk looked as if it was about to have a similar issue. It did produce a pellet. Perhaps a “feather ball” and a score against the jays?

As October turned to November then December, my trips to Commons and sightings lessoned. I look forward to next year and any possible nesting. In my short time of birding, this experience with the Cooper’s Hawk family has been the most enjoyable and memorable.

John W. Garbutt
Class of 2019

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Bethany Lakes Park Birding

By: Jim Dulian

Here is a list of all the water birds we have seen since the beginning of November at Bethany Lakes Park. The loons don’t winter here, but most of these should be around until spring.

* Shown in slide show below

Canada goose
Mallard
American Widgeon
Gadwall *
Lesser Scaup *
Northern Shoveler *
Less Grebe *
American Egret
Great blue heron
Belted Kingfisher
Common Loon
Double crested cormorant
Coot
Ring billed gull

Birds Blackland Prairie Raptor Center Prairie Restoration Raptor Center Shaking of the Trees Post Shaking the Trees Trees

BPRC 2020 Prairie Restoration Projects

By: Lorelei Stierlin and Dick Zartler

In 2020 the Blackland Prairie Raptor Center (BPRC) achieved major milestones in its Blackland Prairie restoration efforts. Thanks to increased participation by members of the BPTMN and community volunteers we:

-Conducted our first prescribed burn of almost 17.5 acres, changing fallowing rangeland to vigorous emerging prairies, discovering species such as prairie larkspur and ruellia which had not had an obvious presence for many years;

– In partnership with Connemara’s northern bobwhite restoration efforts, over 100 northern bobwhites were reintroduced to the BPRC. To aid the survival of these quail, a dozen brush piles were made to provide cover for nests and protection from predators;

-With the help of REI, Scouts, and community volunteers, we cut a new trail introducing new sections of our BPRC prairies to our visitors;

-Led by Rick Travis of the BPTMN, established a base line survey of the number, variety, and location of trees within the BPRC. This survey will guide our efforts to remove non-native trees and shrubs, such as privet and chinaberry, as well as help form a restoration plan for our riparian forests;

-Removed invasive plants from our four native prairie demonstration plots which took hold during the first months of their existence;

-Harvested native grass and plant seeds both within the BPRC as well as in other areas of Collin County. We are also exchanging our collected seeds with The Nature Conservancy of Texas. These seeds will be replanted in the BPRC to improve the biodiversity of our prairie.

-Our prairie education efforts were greatly reduced by Covid-19 restrictions, but early in 2020 we did conduct our regular “First Saturday” guided trail walks and, this fall, socially-distanced training for new trail guides.

In early 2021 we are planning to conduct a prescribed burn in 5-6 acres of unburned areas of the park. We have already begun cutting to the ground 5 to 10 foot fire breaks along fence lines, tree lines, trails and structures and more will be required before the burn.

As our riparian forest plans develop, we will begin thinning trees, and removing invasive trees to provide for better growth of those remaining, and to improve visitor access to our wooded areas.

We also expect to have another bobwhite release this spring and will be constructing brushy shelters for nesting and predator protection.

As the COVID-19 restrictions are reduced, we will again provide guided trail walks through our plots and prairies and will conduct trail guide training in anticipation of increasing community interests in the BPRC’s restoration and conservation efforts.

One of over a dozen brush piles providing safe havens for newly released bobwhites

Main prairie fragment just after burn February 2020

One of four demonstration plots maintained and used for seeds

Article Submitted By Greg Tonian