February 20, 2024

by

Chirp Chirp! BPTMN Flock!

You can access our latest bi-weekly newsletter from our Chapter’s Home Page at bptmn.org, click on the “Blackland Prairie Newsletter” image OR by direct link – https://txmn.org/bptmn/newsletters/

This bi-weekly newsletter will provide:

  • Upcoming Advanced Training Opportunities
  • Upcoming Volunteer Service Hours Opportunities
  • President’s chapter business from chapter meeting
  • Membership Report
  • Significant Milestone Achievements, Initial & Re-certifications
  • Help Wanted
  • Chapter website updates
  • Advanced Training recordings
  • Last Chapter Meeting recording
  • Next month’s Chapter Meeting information
  • TMN State Program Updates
  • Chapter Advisor – A new advisor, Dr. Curtis Jones
  • Chapter Partners

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 Opportunities

Check out our chapter’s calendar for more information on these opportunities.
Member VHAT Calendar (txmn.org)

#TMNTuesday 2024 January and February Webinar Recordings are available for AT!

2/22 AT- NPAT Webinar Series – Navigating Climate Models: Understanding Climate Trends
2/27 AT- ZOOM – Burrowing Owls – PTAS Monthly Meeting
2/29 AT- LLELA Trail Guide Training

Upcoming Volunteer Service Hours Opportunities

Check out our chapter’s calendar for more information on these opportunities.
Member VHAT Calendar (txmn.org)

2/21 VH- Oak Point Park Trail Guide
2/21 VH- Clymer Meadow Preserve Restoration
2/24 VH- Clymer Meadow Preserve Restoration
2/25 VH- Frisco Work Day Grand Park
2/29 VH- “NEW” Oak Point Park Trail Maintenance

Chapter Meeting Summary

We had over 140 people attend our February meeting, 65 in person and 77 via Zoom!

Membership Report

December 2023 Recertifications

  • Stephanie Cleveland
  • Donna Cole
  • Stephanie Gonzalez
  • Rachel Garcia
  • Barbara Hibberd
  • Sumi Srikanth
  • Jennifer Standfield

January 2024 Recertifications

  • Michelle Connally
  • Marla Layne
  • Vicki Sanders

Milestone Achievements

1000 Service Hours

  • Marla Layne

500 Service Hours

  • Nancy Casillas

250 Service Hours

  • Kathy Boys
  • Maci Cozart
  • Balaji Devarajan
  • Sharon Wagner

From the desk of the Treasurer – Linda Nixon

After the February 13 Chapter Meeting, dues are now $30.
Members that have not paid by the March 12 meeting will be marked inactive and unable to enter hours.
Active status will be reinstated upon payment.
There are 3 ways to Pay:
• At meetings – cash or check made out to BPTMN – be sure you get a receipt.
• Via U.S. Postal Mail to
BPTMN Treasurer
825 N. McDonald, Suite 150
McKinney, TX 750369
(Postmarked date must be on or before dates listed above)
• Via Paypal, link on https://txmn.org/bptmn/ (top right side, $1.50 processing fee included)

Mark your Calendars!

Check out our chapter’s calendar for current opportunities.
Member VHAT Calendar (txmn.org)

iNaturalist City Nature Challenge
– Observations: April 26-29
– Identification Period: April 30-May 5

Chapter Eclipse Watch Party at Connemara: April 8

Upcoming Mothing Events:

iNaturalist Grand Park Frisco Mothing Event: April 27
Summer Oak Point Park Plano Mothing Event: June 15
Fall Mothing Event at Connemara: TBD

Help Wanted

We need more Moth-ers!
For information on how to get started, contact:
Jean Suplick: jean.suplick@gmail.com
Patrick Pilarski: patrick.x.pilarski@gmail.com
Melanie Schuchart: mschuchart@aol.com
Rick Travis: travisfam2@yahoo.com

Wanted: Speakers and Topic ideas for Deep Dive Talks
Contact Stephanie Cleveland: stephaniec@bptmn.org

Interested in the Texas Nature Trackers Bat Acoustic Monitoring Project
Contact Chapter Leader Christina Lane: anyanfei1@gmail.com

Interested in the Plano Parks Native Area Restoration Program
Contact Jean Higgins: b.jean.higgins@gmail.com
The team includes Daniel Miranda and Francis Ngoh

Interested in LLELA Train Guide Training
Contact Erin Piper: epiper@cityoflewisville.com

Chapter Meeting recordings

Next Chapter Meeting & Potluck Dinner

Dave Powell, Blackland Prairie and Prairie Restoration

Tuesday, March 12, 2024 – 7PM – Click here to view our Calendar

Our own Blackland Prairie Master Naturalist, Dave Powell, will present on the Blackland Prairie and Prairie Restoration.

About our speaker:
In 2005, after retiring, I became a volunteer Trail Guide at the Heard Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary. In 2007, I became a contract educator teaching the natural environment. I joined the Blackland Prairie Chapter of Texas Master Naturalist in 2007, holding several leadership positions. As an Independent Science Educator, I teach a wide range of topics about the natural environment in Texas.
I love learning and sharing what I have learned over the past 17 years.
Keeping Nature Real is my motto. – Dave Powell

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.

New Blackland Prairie Website updates

New VHAT Calendar – Member VHAT Calendar (txmn.org)
If there is another outage, the VHAT calendar and pertinent information will be available on bptmn.org.

Sharing naturalist events on Social Media: What our chapter members need to know.

Heather Fell – Updated VHAT Opportunity Request Form
Always check the BPTMN VHAT calendar to see if the VHAT opportunity has already been approved.
If it is NOT on the VHAT calendar, then submit your request for approval using this form.
VH/AT Opportunity Request Form (txmn.org)

Lisa Travis – Our Tribe’s Fortune 4000 Service Hours

Leah Justice – Our Tribe’s Fortune 1000 Service Hours

Laurie Sheppard – Friends of Hagerman – Monarchs need your help!

Bryan Beck – January 2024 Community Engagement debrief

Balaji Devarajan – Apricity is a hiemal word!

John Garbutt – When is it safe to Dream about Fall?

Leah Justice – What does a Daniel Miranda and a Bald Eagle have in common?

Balaji Devarajan – Food Instincts of the Orange-crowned Warbler

Scott Aldrich – Field Badge Order Form

From our Partners

LLELA 3rd Saturday “Natural Pathways” with Lewisville High School Students VH Opportunity

TMN State Program Updates

#TMNTuesday – https://txmn.tamu.edu/tmntuesdays/
March’s topic has not been announced, you can always review 2024 #TMNT webinars for AT.

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