March 18, 2024
Michelle Connally, Class of 2018
Good evening, Blackland Prairie Chapter Members,
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
- Including Vicki Sander’s Eclipse 101 Online Deep Dive
- Upcoming Volunteer Service Hours Opportunities
- Review of the President’s chapter business portion of the recent meeting
- Eclipse Information Page and Links to Local Events
- Welcome new Members!
- Significant Milestone Achievements, Initial & Re-certifications
- Mark your calendars!
- Help Wanted
- New VMS Opportunities
- Field Badges Available
- Last Chapter Meeting Recording & After meeting note on his personal Pocket Prairie & list of books.
- Next month’s Chapter Meeting information
- Shaking the Trees Member Submissions
- Project Spotlight – Clymer Meadow & their Spring Tours Information
- Plano Park Project Update
- TMN State Program Updates
- #TMNTuesday
- Chapter Advisor
- 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
Check out our chapter’s calendar for current opportunities and additional details.
Member VHAT Calendar (txmn.org)
Saturday, March 23rd 10:00 AM – Amy Martin presents North Texas Ecotones with a Spring Equinox walk.
Monday, March 25th 6:00 PM – Zoom Deep Dive with Vicki Sanders – Eclipse 101
Upcoming Volunteer Service Hours Opportunities
Check out our chapter’s calendar for current opportunities and additional details.
Member VHAT Calendar (txmn.org)
Ongoing Spring 2024 Lights out Bird Survey
Sunday – Friday – Connemara Meadow Preserve Restoration
Tuesday, March 19th 9:00 AM – Oak Point Park and Native Preserve
Wednesday, March 20th 9:00 AM – Clymer Meadow – 3rd Wednesdays
Wednesday, March 20th 9:00 AM – Frisco Work Day – Grand Park
Wednesday, March 20th 10:00 AM – Plano Oak Point Park Trail Guide
Thursday, March 21st 9:00 AM – Wylie Prairie Restoration Project
Sunday, March 24th at 9:00 AM – Frisco Work Day – Commons
Monday, March 25th at 9:00 AM – Erwin Park Prairie Restoration
Wednesday, March 27th at 9:00 AM – Arbor Hills Nature Preserve
Thursday, March 28th 9:00 AM – Wylie Prairie Restoration Project
Friday, March 29th 9:00 AM – Frisco Work Day – Northwest Community Park
Review of the President’s chapter business portion of the recent meeting
CLICK HERE OR ON THE PHOTO ABOVE FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS
- Welcome New Blackland Prairie Members transferring from the Bluestem Chapter
- Karen Glen
- Amber Grubb
- Zena Wood
- Bob Wood
- February Re-Certifcations
- Pat Crone
- Jean Higgins
- Sue Makuta
- Linda Nixon
- Nancy Riggs
- Laurie Sheppard
- Liz Tipps
- Lisa Travis
- Rick Travis
- Milestone Achievement – 250 Hours
- Liz Tipps
- Milestone Achievement – 4000 Hours
- Karen Spalding -Wright
- Lisa Travis
- Rick Travis
- Mark your Calendars!
- iNaturalist City Nature Challenge
- Observations: April 26 – 29
- Identification Period: April 30 – May 5
- iNaturalist City Nature Challenge – Chapter Outings
- Fri., April 26:
6:30pm – 8:30pm, Bethany Lakes Park, Allen - Sat., April 27:
- 3pm-6pm, Grand Park, Frisco (Special Guest Sam Kieschnick)
- 8pm – 10:30pm, Grand Park, Frisco (Black Light/Mothing Event with Special Guest Sam Kieschnick)
- Fri., April 26:
- 2024 Annual Meeting
- Location: San Marcos, TX
- Dates: Thursday, Oct. 24 – Sunday, Oct. 27
- iNaturalist City Nature Challenge
- Help Wanted
- The Blackland Prairie Raptor Center needs logs and branches!
- Hardwood branches only, please
- Minimum 1 inch diameter, 4 feet long
- If you can help, Contact: Karen Mitchell
- The Heritage Farmstead Prairie Garden has a Wish List!
- The garden is in need of:
- A sturdy bench
- A bee house
- If you can help fulfill either (or both) of these wishes, contact:
- LuAnne Ray: lray.bptmn@gmail.com
- Community Speakers Needed
- Do you have a nature talk you would be willing to share with community organizations?
- If so, join the BPTMN Speaker’s Bureau!
- If interested in joining, contact Crystal Flannery-Bachicha at crystalfb@bptmn.org and provide the following info for addition to the Speaker Bureau Catalog:
- Name
- Topic/Title
- Short Summary
- Email address
- Lights out Dallas – CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS
- Trail Guides Needed for “Blooms on the Prairie” Event at Erwin Park
- When: Saturday, April 20
- Trail walks are scheduled for 9am and 10am.
- Contact: Dave Powell
- Email: powell1217@yahoo.com
- Phone/Text: 469-450-3712
- The Blackland Prairie Raptor Center needs logs and branches!
- Other Chapter Business
- New Opportunities for use in VMS
- Texas Waters Specialist Field Research
- For regular water testing outside of the Texas Stream Team activities.
- BPTMN: Youth Public Outreach
- For youth activities and education.
- AT: BPTMN: Chapter Deep Dives
- Texas Waters Specialist Field Research
- Field Badges Available – CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS
- New Opportunities for use in VMS
Shaking the Trees Member Submissions
Last Chapter Meeting information and recording
Be sure to check out Dave’s post below he made an update with a photo of his personal pocket prairie and the request for his list of books.
2024 March Chapter Meeting with Dave Powell | Blackland Prairie and Prairie Restoration
Next Month’s Meeting
2024 April Chapter Meeting with Dwight Wilson | Learning to read tracks and signs
TMN State Program Updates
#TMNTuesday
Go to https://txmn.tamu.edu/tmntuesdays to view past recordings or register for future webinars!
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