May 3, 2024

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BPTMN Newsletter – May 3, 2024

Hello Blackland Prairie Chapter Members,

Additional Naturalist events are available, and we do not want you to miss out! Read about our special “NOTE” event at White Rock Lake this Saturday.

Next weekend, we have a special event at Hagerman NWR—a Choctaw Cultural Day Event. The same evening, enjoy a mothing event at Frisco Grand Park.

Check out our calendar at bptmn.org; click on Calendar in the Menu to see the latest events around you!

Cherish the last of our cool weather with these fantastic events and good times together.

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

Check out our chapter’s calendar for more information and current opportunities.
Member VHAT Calendar (txmn.org)
IF BAD WEATHER IS EXPECTED, VIEW THE CALENDAR AND CONTACT THE PROJECT LEADER BEFORE TRAVELING.

  • Saturday, May 4th – Native Plants and Prairies Day at White Rock Lake
  • Saturday, May 4th – LLELA 1st Saturday
  • Saturday, May 4th – Hagerman Bird Walk
  • Saturday, May 11th – LLELA 2nd Saturday
  • Saturday, May 11th – Heard Museum 2nd Saturday Bird Walk
  • Saturday, May 11th – Hagerman 2nd Saturday: Woodpeckers
  • Saturday, May 11th – Hagerman Choctaw Cultural Day
  • Tuesday, May 14th – #TMNTuesday – No Mow Zones
  • Tuesday, May 14th – Chapter Meeting – Wild Frisco!
  • Saturday, May 18th – Clymer Meadow 37th Annual Spring Wildflower Tour
  • SAVE THE DATE BUT RSVP SOON!
    • Saturday, June 1st – Clymer Meadow Late Spring Prairie Tour
    • Saturday, June 8th – Hagerman NWR chapter social with AT!

NOTE – Check out the Native Plants and Prairies Day presented by NPSOT – Dallas Chapter, TMN – North Texas Chapter, NPAT – Blackland Prairie Chapter happening this Saturday, May 4th, at the Bath House Cultural Center at White Rock Lake.  The event has been approved for six hours of Advanced Training. It features an array of outstanding speakers, making it a must-attend for enthusiasts of prairies, insects, birds, plants, coyotes, and experts like Amy Martin, The Saucedos, Ricky Linex, Randy Johnson, Sam Kieschnick, among others. For more details about this incredible event on Saturday, May 4th, visit the provided link. https://ntxnppd.org/

Upcoming Volunteer Service Hours Opportunities

Check out our chapter’s calendar for more information and current opportunities.Member VHAT Calendar (txmn.org)IF BAD WEATHER IS EXPECTED, VIEW THE CALENDAR AND CONTACT THE PROJECT LEADER BEFORE TRAVELING.

  • March 12 thru June 1 – Lights Out Dallas Bird Survey
  • Sun-Fri – Connemara Meadow Workdays
  • Mondays – Erwin Park Prairie Restoration
  • Thursdays – Wylie Prairie Restoration
  • Friday, May 3rd – Frisco Workday
  • Saturday, May 4th – Hagerman – Little Big Sit
  • Saturday, May 4th   – City of Plano Family Nature Event Community Engagement Booth
  • Sunday, May 5th  Connemara Bird Walk Survey
  • Friday, May 10th – Frisco Workday
  • Saturday, May 11th – LLELA 2nd Saturday River Care Team
  • Saturday, May 11th – Hagerman Choctaw Cultural Day
  • Saturday, May 11th – BioBlitz at Grand Park
  • Saturday, May 11th –Chapter BioBlitz Mothing Event – Frisco
  • Saturday, May 18th – 3rd Saturday Pollinator Garden in J.M. Caldwell Sr Park

Shaking the Trees Member Contributions

Last Chapter Meeting & Deep Dive recordings

2024 April Chapter Meeting with Dwight Wilson | Learning to Read Tracks and Signs

Next Month’s Chapter Meeting information

Tuesday, May 14, 2024 – 7:00 PM
Click here to view our Calendar.

Come and hear about the activities and sites that await you in the “wilds” of Frisco!  You will learn about the how the city balances the demands of development with the protection of its natural resources and what the future looks like for this fast-growing community. 

Speaker – Jeff Witt

Jeff Witt is the Natural Resources Manager for the City of Frisco’s Parks and Recreation Department.  He has been with the City for 25 years.  Jeff previously worked in the Development Services and Engineering Departments.  During that time he has served as a resource to the City on matters of an ecological nature, long range planning and right-of-way acquisition. 

He has a Masters degree in Geography from East Tennessee State University.  Prior to coming to the City of Frisco, he worked for the City of Plano.  Before entering public service, he served as a consultant to the Corp of Engineers, Air Force, Navy, Department of Energy and Department of Justice on environmental planning and natural resource preservation issues.

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.

For any additional questions, please contact.
Chapter Meeting Host: Stephanie Cleveland – stephaniec@bptmn.org 

TMN State Program Updates

Title: No Mow Zones

Date: May 14, 2024 at 12pm

Speaker: Rachel Richter, Urban Wildlife Biologist, TPWD

Description: Mowing is time consuming. Mowing is expensive. Mowing, in most cases, doesn’t provide any benefit to wildlife. So why are so many of our community greenspaces dominated by mowed fields? This presentation will cover the benefits of reduced mowing programs, best management practices for “no mow” zones, and tips for starting a successful program in your community.
https://txmn.tamu.edu/tmntuesdays/#

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