Blackland Prairie Newsletter

BPTMN Newsletter – January 15, 2026

Hello Blackland Prairie Chapter of Texas Master Naturalists,

Welcome to 2026! We’re kicking off the year with a fascinating look at nature’s “living opals” brought to life through the eyes of our own Randy Boys and a cautionary update from Leah Justice on a new biting mite that makes chiggers look tame.

Our chapter continues to make local waves through a Local Profile article, with Monarch View Park in Frisco becoming a beacon for native restoration under the leadership of Laura Kawayama and our partnership with Play Frisco and H-E-B. You can also “focus on the future” by donating your retired binoculars to the Blackland Prairie Raptor Center to help inspire a new generation of birders.

Our Treasurer, Linda Nixon, – wants you to know about the updated 2026 Expense Reports in the Members Area.

For those looking to grow their gardens on a budget, dive into a few topics submitted by Vicki Sanders, including the magic of winter sowing using recycled milk jugs, or join the TPWD 2026 Texas Waters Webinar Series to sharpen your specialist skills.

Deep dive into the biology of your garden soil at the “Getting to Your Roots: The Soil Food Web” seminar on January 17th, featuring organic gardening legend Jeff Lowenfels and local experts. And let Kathy Boys get you excited about those “Aha!” moments for Girl Scouts, Kathy shares how our Eco Explorer program uses hands-on discovery and volunteer guidance to foster the next generation of environmental stewards.

Don’t forget to check out the 2026 Book Club dates and our latest library additions submitted by our librarian, Linder O’Rourke.

Finally, enjoy John W. Garbutt’s seasonal reflection on autumn migrations and a global look at how Central America’s forests remain vital lifelines for our migratory birds, submitted by Donna Cole.

Looking ahead, don’t miss on Tuesday, February 10th at 7 PM. Join us as we welcome Laura Johnson, Executive Director of the Blackland Prairie Raptor Center. 🦅 Presenting on Raptors in North Texas

Help Keep Our Chapter Meeting Snack Table Thriving! 🥨

As our chapter continues to grow, so does our love for sharing a bite together! To keep this welcoming tradition going, we invite you to bring a small snack to share—whether store-bought, homemade, sweet, or savory, every contribution makes our meetings more enjoyable. If you’re able to help out at an upcoming gathering, please sign up below to help us build a more connected community!

Sign Up Genius: 2026 Snack Donations

You can access our latest 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/

Do you have newsletter feedback or want to help? Send us an email – [email protected]

This newsletter will provide:

Next Month’s Chapter Meeting
Shaking the Trees Member Submissions – Shaking the Trees Newsletter
Past Meetings Recordings
Past Deep Dives Recordings
Upcoming Advanced Training & Volunteer Hours Opportunities – Member VHAT Calendar.
TMN State Program Updates
Chapter Advisor
Chapter Partners

If chapter members need to share information in the monthly newsletters or provide feedback.
Please send your emails to [email protected].

Michelle Connally
Communications Director
Blackland Prairie Chapter

Next month’s Chapter Meeting information

2026 February Chapter Meeting with Laura Johnson | Raptors in North Texas

We are talon you—you won’t want to miss our February 10th meeting!

Join us as we welcome Laura Johnson, Executive Director of the Blackland Prairie Raptor Center.

🦅 Presentation: Raptors in North Texas. From the silent flight of owls to the soaring agility of hawks, raptors are vital members of our local ecosystem. Laura will guide us through the species found right here in North Texas, helping us identify them and understand the critical roles they play in our environment.

About Our Speaker: Laura Johnson is a dynamic leader committed to conservation and education. As the Executive Director at the Blackland Prairie Raptor Center, she spearheads initiatives dedicated to raptor rehabilitation and prairie conservation. Laura is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Behavior Analysis and holds an MBA from Texas Woman’s University. Her unique blend of wildlife conservation and leadership expertise ensures the Center remains at the forefront of its field.

Help Keep Our Chapter Meeting Snack Table Thriving! 🥨

Sign Up Genius: 2026 Snack Donations

When: Tuesday, February 10, 2026 – 7:00 PM
Click here to view our Calendar.

SRC Doors will open at 6:30 PM
The Zoom meeting waiting room will open at 6:45 PM
The Business Meeting will begin at 7:00 PM
Naturalist Talk will start at 7:30 PM (approximately)

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, past the parking lot and museum building, and continue until the road ends at the large white SRC building.

Register in advance for this Zoom meeting:
Use the email address associated with your personal Zoom account.
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Z7BrnoA7R0mMCCmAg05GQQ
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

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.

If you have any additional questions, please email.
Chapter Meeting Host: Marla Layne, [email protected]