Deborah Canterbury

Plano Plano Heritage Farmstead Plants Shaking of the Trees Post Shaking the Trees VH

Native Plant Garden at Plano Heritage Farmstead

By Bryan Beck, 2017

The native plant garden at the Plano Heritage Farmstead Museum has been through a lot in the past month or so. First, came the boot-deep snows and the bone-chilling cold. Next was the eighty-degree temperatures that we had at the end of February. Then hail and even fog reared their ugly heads. And, most recently we have seen the pre-April showers and wind that we are accustomed to getting around here. But none of these plagues could stunt the emergence of our wonderful prairie natives at the Farmstead!

Before weeding at Prairie Farmstead photo by Bryan Beck

Or so we thought… The middle of March brought about the one plague that the Farmstead garden hadn’t been accustomed to since its inception. Part of the garden was mistakenly weed-whacked by some overly zealous maintenance workers! Now, I don’t blame them totally… If someone gave me a weed eater, and some gasoline and told me to go whack back some weeds I’d do it, too. Unfortunately, the team in charge of upkeep at the Farmstead haven’t had a Master Naturalist class in a while and had a hard time distinguishing between the dandelions and the Texas Star. It was harder to discern the Dallas grass from the Indian grass, and our coneflowers were mistaken for clover flowers in a large patch of the garden. Not all the garden suffered cutbacks (pun intended), but a fair amount of our native sons and daughters were taken to the ground by the whirling weed machine.

After weeding at Prairie Farmstead photo by Bryan Beck

So, if you see Lu Anne, Deb, Logan, or the Nappers (our regulars) at a virtual meeting, put a virtual arm around them and tell them it’ll be ok. It’s a good thing that our Texas native plants are as tough as the conditions they are raised under. Remember, our prairie is maintained by disturbance. Buffalo, bison, fire, and humanity has all threatened these plants in the past. And, there are few worse disturbances than the mechanized mayhem that happened at the Farmstead. But know that the plants’ roots are strong, and their resilience is even stronger. Please make plans to come out to the Plano Heritage Farmstead garden later in the Spring to enjoy the rehabilitated and rejuvenated plants and people that call our Blackland Prairie home!

Flora and Fauna Shaking of the Trees Post Shaking the Trees TPWD Wildlife

Recovering America’s Wildlife Act Update

Written By Richard Heilbrun, TPWD

Richard Heilbrun, who is well known by TMN’s and is Program Leader at Texas Parks & Wildlife Department,has been actively involved with The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act. We recently asked him about its progress since not much comes out of D.C. nowadays that is not related to COVID.

The Wildlife Act made substantial progress in 2020. The standalone bill, HR 3742, passed out of committee with bipartisan support. The text of that bill, slightly altered, was inserted into HR 2, which passed the US House on July 20 and was sent it to the US Senate. Though the Senate declined to consider HR 2, the passage of the language in the House was a huge milestone for the effort and shortens our work dramatically in this Congress.

In this year’s Congress, the House Committee on Natural Resources has told us that Recovering America’s Wildlife Act will not need a hearing and will just be advanced through Committee.

Strategists in DC are pushing for a 2-track approach. First, it will be introduced as stand-alone legislation by Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI) and Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE). In March or April, we expect them to circulate a Dear Colleague Letter and a request for initial bill co-sponsors. When that happens, we’d encourage the wildlife community in Texas to contact their members of Congress. Then it will be introduced into the Senate. There are several Senators that have already contacted us offering to introduce the measure there. Once we’ve demonstrated support for the stand-alone measures, our second track will be to ask for it to be inserted into larger legislative packages such as an Infrastructure Package.

We’ll support both tracks, knowing that having 2 possibilities gives us a better chance of final passage. Many people have told us that if we can mobilize conservation-oriented support, Recovering America’s Wildlife Act has a good chance of being passed this year. We just have to keep our foot on the gas.

Sign up for updates at https://www.txwildlifealliance.org/ Learn more about the bill there and viewing the Texas Focus YouTube Video below.

Anyone interested in getting involved can contact me at Richard.Heilbrun@tpwd.texas.gov or Rachel Rommel, state coordinator for the Texas Wildlife Alliance at r.rommel@txwildlifealliance.org

Texas Focus Video

Shaking of the Trees Post Shaking the Trees

Chip and Dale Still Entertain

By Deborah Canterbury, 2014

As I have nothing better to do than stare out my window into the back yard, I have been highly entertained by the two squirrels who frequent my bird feeders and scoff at my futile attempts to deter them. So I did some fact finding to assure me that I am smarter than a squirrel and that I still know how to read and research.

Fact #1: They Were Brought into U.S. Parks Intentionally

Squirrels can be pests around your property, but did you know that they were introduced to American nature parks intentionally?
After the Industrial Revolution, squirrels were mostly absent from cities. In order to liven up city parks (like Manhattan’s Central Park), the city reintroduced squirrels to the area.
It was believed that a bit of nature in the city was crucial to maintaining people’s well-being. Additionally, feeding the squirrels became a leisurely activity for children and adults alike. So the presence of squirrels in parks actually benefited the human population mentally, but it also had the unfortunate effect of contributing to infestations later down the line.

Fact #2: Squirrels Have an Expert Sense of Smell

You know they love to bury acorns (and my pecans not filched by crows) for winter foraging. Squirrels will typically bury their nuts around a memorable location, like next to a large oak tree. To protect their stash from birds, they bury them under only ¼ inch of soil. They are able to use their keen sense of smell to detect the nuts they buried, even if they have been covered in a foot of snow.

Fact #3: Squirrels Mislead their Scavengers

Not only are squirrels adept at tracking the nuts they buried, but they use misdirection to trick the scavengers who want to steal their nuts.
Squirrels have been known to tamper with soil and cover it with leaves, even when they haven’t buried a nut there. They make it look like they buried a nut there, in order to trick scavengers.

Fact #4: Squirrels Are Experts At Finding Mates

When mating season arrives, female squirrels in heat begin emitting a scent that male squirrels can smell from up to a mile away. During this time I hear numerous males hot-footing it across my roof. It’s worth noting that squirrels do not mate for life. Rather, a female squirrel will go to great lengths to avoid mating with the same male twice.This allows the squirrel population to stay genetically diverse, minimizing the risk of mutations and makes female squirrels very self sufficient.

Okay, four “Did-ja-knows” are enough. I need to stop and let the dogs out to pursue for the umpteenth time today their futile attempt to chase the long-tailed rodent currently draped around my newly filled feeder onto the roof where it can mock and tease them.

Flora and Fauna Heard Shaking of the Trees Post Shaking the Trees Wildlife

Heard Trail Topping

By: Deborah Canterbury

It was a joint effort between the Heard animal team, the Celina based concrete company and volunteers including Blackland Prairie Master Naturalists who received emergency approval to monitor the wellness of the animals whose homes are along the trail to and around the Butterfly Garden.

Imagine a paving company whose team is so dedicated to the Heard mission that they do a major portion of prep work without power tools so not to scare Nibbles the cay, the latest raccoon acquisition, bobcats Elliott and Devon, and the deer and fox.

Michele Dudas explained to the crew and volunteers what stress signals to look for and when to quit, offer a small treat or speak to them in a calm manner and walk by as the daily visitors do. A quiet down times were expected and planned for. Her team plus volunteers were posted at each habitat. In a few cases the museum staff most familiar with a specific animal entered the enclosure to calm them with their presence. The major problem? Myopathy. Capture myopathy is also known as white muscle disease. When the muscle is used, its metabolism changes from using oxygen to using stored energy in the muscle. This leads to a buildup of lactic acid that goes into the bloodstream where it changes the pH of the body and affects the heart output. If the heart does not pump correct oxygen to the muscle, the muscle starts to die. Over the next week or so, the product produced by the muscle’s death damages the kidney and affects other organs. All but the mid trail between butterfly house and deer remains unpaved. A job well done by all.

They worked in sections, were quiet in their conversations and took time to learn about the residents. Owner said it was the hardest job of his 30 years.

General Members Shaking of the Trees Post Shaking the Trees

Michelle Connally – Leadership in Action

As 2020 comes to a close, we reflect on the memories of our time this year. Dedicating time to “education, restoration and preservation” of our precious Blackland Prairie is time well spent. Our wonderful diverse BPTMN membership keeps our chapter going year after year when members join the ranks to provide oversight in leadership roles for projects and our board. We have five board members who have graciously served their terms and our chapter will forever be a stronger organization because of their dedication.

Deborah Canterbury with her friendly smile and listening ear will make you feel right at home at any chapter meeting or event. Working with others to find out our skillsets and interests to start us on our journey as a BPTMN member. Deborah has been selflessly serving our chapter as President, Immediate Past President, Membership and recently State Representative.

Valerie Dalton with her knowledge and organization has kept our meeting minutes, chapter documents and executive board communications for two years as our Secretary. Valerie is always willing to support her fellow members. Valerie will be serving as the 2021 NPSOT President of the Collin County Chapter.

Susan Smith served as the Membership Director while still updating our online calendar with BPTMN events. Happy to answer any questions and working with others for the benefit of our chapter. (She also sent out hand written notes with our pin awards during the Covid-19 pandemic, this little detail felt amazing to be on the receiving end.)

Susan Abernethy served as our Outreach Director. Her easy going style of communication made every event educational and fun. Susan’s hard work helped our chapter reach many Collin & Hunt county residents during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Rick Travis brings his energy for preservation to our chapter and lights the fire in us all to do what we can to make a difference. As Vice President, he has scheduled some of the most amazing Chapter meetings/ Deep Dive Sessions topics and entertaining speakers. Along with his board responsibilities and his additional BPTMN activities, Rick serves as a Board Member on the Frisco Urban Forestry Board. Him and his wife Lisa have enriched our educational programs with their presentations on Trees.

Thank you ladies and gentleman for opening your heart and time to the Blackland Prairie Chapter. Your commitments to the Texas Master Naturalist mission allows the next curious Collin or Hunt county resident the same opportunity to become new BPTMN members.

Members Shaking of the Trees Post Shaking the Trees Social

Deborah Canterbury – What ‘Cha Doin’?

Since the first year of the Blackland Prairie Chapter our tribe members have taken on responsibilities with other groups or have served as advisors and teachers. If you have or are serving as a board member for another organization, if you have served on the chapter board – elected or appointed, if you have been an advisor or presenter for an organization, school or other chapter, if you have taken turns at the Outreach booth, let us know. If you know of someone in the chapter who has done so, pass on the good news for Shaking the Trees. Our philosophy is like a three-legged stool: Education, Restoration, Preservation. Let the education leg be known. List name, class year, and the recipients of service. (i.e. Outreach booth at Collin County Garden Show or Advisor at Plano Senior High for landscaping class) I know several work with school classes and groups. Several serve on boards. Several travel the state/other states sharing the life learnings of a master naturalist. So, what ‘cha doin’?

Insects Insects PBS Shaking of the Trees Post Shaking the Trees

Deborah Canterbury – Ant Talk

PBS has a quick Gross Science edition just about Ant speak.
Click Here or on the Screenshot to go to the Page and Video!

General Members Shaking of the Trees Post Shaking the Trees

Deborah Canterbury – Dedication Behind the Curtain

See those two faces in the back of this class photo? The ones with arrows above their heads? Well, they are still in the back row, so to speak, taking care of the tribe by posting and creating. Linda Nixon, Communications Director (R), is responsible for keeping you in the know about lectures, courses, opportunities and Zoom magic codes to keep us thinking and learning. Michelle Connally, Webmaster (L), has worked directly with the state in transferring our website to new codes, apps, organizing historical data and what-not – making plans to ever improve our internet footprint. Not an easy task. She is also the designer of Shaking the Trees. When we get to see each other again, thank them and give them a real hug!

thanks for the shout out Deborah! I have enjoyed developing a system to get information out to members about all the new online opportunities for both VH and AT. It’s keeping me busy and safe at home in front of my computer!
Linda N.

awe, thank you, Canter! Very grateful to share these stories from our organization. It is a wonderful way to feel connected through each other’s photos, videos, stories, poems & experiences. Great idea! You are one amazing lady!
Michelle C.