Rick Travis

Monthly Deep Dive Sessions

Manuela will discuss the importance of lichens for humans and the ecosystem, as well as tips for identifying different type of lichens.

Manuela Dal Forno is originally from Brazil, where she earned a B.S. in Biology and masters in Botany. She completed her PhD in Environmental Science and Policy in 2015 at George Mason University. Manuela’s work has been focusing on multiple aspects of the evolution, diversity, genome and microbiome of lichens; and since 2019, when she joined the Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT), she has also been studying the local Texas and the southern Philippines lichen “flora”.

General Members Shaking of the Trees Post Shaking the Trees

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.

AT Chapter Meetings Flora and Fauna General Mammals

Rick Travis – “Texas Native Cats and the Role of Advocacy” – Monica Morrison

Monthly Chapter Meeting – “Zoom” Meeting

Monica Morrison – “Texas Native Cats and the Role of Advocacy”

Tuesday, November 10, 7pm

Texas is home to an amazing diversity of wildlife, including five species of wild cats, both past and present. But our cats are under threat, due to a variety of factors. This presentation will give an overview of our cats, describe the perils they face, and list steps to help them.

Monica launched Texas Native Cats in 2017 after realizing our wild Texas cats need recognition and help. Texas Native Cats is a Texas nonprofit corporation that consists of volunteers, master naturalists, and others interested in acquainting Texans with our cat species. The organization’s goal is to expand educational outreach to the major metropolitan areas of the state and, ultimately, to improve the lives of our native Texas felines. Prior to establishing Texas Native Cats, Monica volunteered for over 20 years with various organizations, including the Dallas Zoo, In-Sync Exotics, and organizations in South America that work to conserve wild cats.

Click here for more information about Texas Native Cats.

AT Chapter Meetings General

Rick Travis – “Interpreting Wildlife Track and Sign” – Dwight Wilson

Monthly Chapter Meeting

Tuesday, October 13, 2020

“Interpreting Wildlife Track and Sign” – Dwight Wilson

Dwight will share how his mentors taught him to identify and interpret track and sign. Learn how you can track wildlife through gathering information, asking questions, and problem solving. Dwight will share personal stories while introducing you to the tracks and sign of common wildlife here in north Texas.

Bio:

Dwight was raised in rural southwest Missouri on a small farm where he learned to read animal tracks and sign at a young age. Dwight has been able to train with some of the top trackers in the nation including Tom Brown Jr., Charles Worsham and Nathan Kempton. He has applied his skills on research projects and for law enforcement. He currently lives in north Texas where he shares tracking and nature with people from all walks of life. He can be reached at dwtracker@gmail.com, www.dwtracker.com

“Meetings are currently being held virtually using the Zoom application. Non-members interested in attending should contact BPTMN Vice President Rick Travis at rickt@bptmn.org.“

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The Texas Master Naturalist program develops local teams of “master volunteers” to provide educational and outreach services aimed at the better management of natural resources and natural areas within their communities. The Texas Master Naturalist program is a partnership between the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Texas Parks & Wildlife, and other local partners.

AT Approved (State requirement – 1 hour max)

AT Books Chapter Meetings Flora and Fauna

Rick Travis – “Texas Native Plants and Climate Change” – Dr. George Diggs

Monthly Chapter Meeting

Tuesday, September 8, 2020

“Texas Native Plants and Climate Change” – Dr. George Diggs

Dr. Diggs will briefly summarize the most recent evidence for climate change and will discuss his personal observations from Antarctica to the Arctic. It is now clear that climate change is having effects on plants and animals both around the globe and here in Texas. Many species are now becoming mismatched to their rapidly changing environments. A variety of specific examples will be discussed that demonstrate the impacts of climate change, both large and small, and from those that affect whole regions to our own backyards. Examples in Texas span the state from the Gulf Coast and Pineywoods to central Texas and the Trans-Pecos.

Bio:

George Diggs is a botanist and evolutionary biologist who has taught for nearly 40 years at Austin College in Sherman, and a Research Associate at the Botanical Research Institute of Texas. His research interests include the plants of Texas, evolution as it relates to human health, climate change, and biogeography. He has co-authored four books and more than 30 scientific articles. In his research he has traveled to all seven continents. His latest books are The Hunter-Gatherer Within: Health and the Natural Human Diet, co-authored with Dr. Kerry Brock, and The Ferns & Lycophytes of Texas, co-authored with Barney Lipscomb.