Donna Cole, Class of 2006 – We did hold our first class that February of 2006, and with over twenty new members we could qualify for ‘chapterhood’ and became THE BLACKLAND PRAIRIE CHAPTER OF THE TEXAS MASTER NATURALISTS!
Members
In my backyard? Are you kidding?
Sam Crowe, Class of 2021 – For years, I have been trimming shrubs and pulling out vines that have been determined to take over everything in my yard. That changed a little this year.
One day, I glanced out the window and saw what looked like a Gulf Fritillary laying eggs on one of the vines. For the next few days, I paid more attention to the area, and every day, Gulf Fritillary would stop by.
Continued Observations of a Yellow-crowned Night-Heron Colony
John W. Garbutt, Class of 2019 – On May 1st I set out to observe the herons hunting along the edge of the pond. I anticipated that with mouths to feed in the colony, I would find a lot of heron activity at sunrise. I laid on the ground using a Bald Cypress as a blind and its roots as a tripod as I awaited a heron to work its way toward me.
Western Honey Bee’s in Tom’s backyard
Tom Shackelford, Class of 2018 – These Western Honey Bees have been working hard and enjoying the bird bath recently placed nearby for fresh water.
If I were
Greg Tonian, Class of 2017 – If I were… Poem – A reflection on a Labor Day Weekend Backpacking Adventure on the 29-mile Eagle Rock Loop In Arkansas in The Ouachita National Forest.
Mary Lou Cole, Class of 2004 – A Legacy of Love
Deborah Canterbury, Class of 2014 – Emeritus and chapter co-founder Sally Evans reports that one of our chapter founders, Mary Lou Cole recently passed away.
Protecting Our Water through Stream Team Monitoring
Vicki Sanders, Class of 2022 – Tom Heath is a great example of how we show our love of water by conducting regular testing. He has been a member of Texas Stream Team since 2005. He started out as an advocate for clean water as a member of For The Love of the Lake with White Rock Lake since 2003 and jumped on the opportunity to become more engaged by taking the Standard Core Testing Training offered by Texas Stream Team by the City of Dallas.
Observations of a Yellow-crowned Night-Heron Colony
John W. Garbutt, Class of 2019 – March was winding down. The morning was cool, which made for a lovely morning to make another attempt at locating the Cooper’s Hawks’ nest in the riparian area of the park. I finally found it on the 26th. It turned out that the Hawks were renovating the previous year’s construction. Excited with the discovery, I decided to head down the path to scout where the Yellow-crowned Night-Heron pair nested the previous year near the creek.
Our Tribe’s Fortune 1000 Hours – Fran Woodfin
Fran Woodin, 2007 – “. I was intrigued and decided to sign up. I have always been interested in nature and have degrees in biology and botany.”
Our Tribe’s Fortune 1,000 Hours – Nancy Riggs
Nancy Riggs, 2021 – “I love being a master naturalist and the Blackland Prairie Chapter is amazing. There is always so much going on within the chapter and it is well run without being ‘over the top’!”