Written by Jerry Hambly, Elm Fork Chapter – Park by Park – Surveying the Trees of North Texas -This engaging and informative article by Jerry Hamby from the Elm Fork Chapter elaborates on several tree surveys lead by Rick Travis at Coppell Nature Park, Beulah Acres, LISDOLA Pratt Nature Preserve and Grand Park. Jerry delves into all aspects of Rick Travis’s work as a Naturalist, shedding light on his contributions to environmental stewardship and the nurturing of a new generation of naturalists. If you want to join Rick in his Tree surveys, contact him at rickt@bptmn.org.
STT 47
Our Fortune 250 Hours – Kathy Boys
Kathy Boys, Class of 2023 – I’ve been wanting to do this program for years! I’ve always loved nature and have worried about our environment and man’s impact. Now I feel like I can make a difference as a volunteer, particularly through youth engagement and education.
Thoughts From Behind the Viewfinder Vol 3.
John W. Garbutt- Class of 2019- When the end of October nears, my thoughts are not of candy and costumes but of the waterfowl arriving to North Texas. In the midst of suburbia, it seems that every branded neighborhood or park contains artificial bodies of water or ponds fed by diverting water from an existing creek. In doing this, “we” have unintentionally, or perhaps sometimes with purpose, created a plethora of winter homes for waterfowl seeking respite from the frozen bodies of water in which they were raised.
Native Bees – What’s the buzz?
Vicki Sanders, Class of 2023 – Everyone is familiar with the Western Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) because it provides us with honey and is a pollinator of many plants. But did you know that it is not indigenous to North America? We have around 4,000 bees that are indigenous to our continent; and in Texas there are at least 1,100 native bee species, possibly up to 1,500. Unlike honeybees, our native bees struggle when they cannot find native plants which provide their primary sources of nectar and pollen.
Ravenwood
Greg Tonian, Class of 2017 – Springtime has come to Ravenhood.
Crane flies have been swarming for weeks,
Carcasses strewn throughout the house.
They seem to arrive in a frenzy, then vanish,
Arising from winter’s grasp,
Why in such haste,
Peer pressure to be the first to emerge,
To procreate?
Spring is Coming to the Frankford Prairie
Julia Koch, NTMN – Spring is coming to Frankford Prairie… and so is the spring Prairie tour (April 13th 4:00-6:00) as well as our spring concert April 29th @ 6:30.
Plummeting Monarch Butterfly Population: Experts warn of a summer with fewer butterflies, urge action
Leah Justice, Class of 2021–
Article sourced from WFAA, Author Jesse Hawila, Feb. 16, 2024
April 8, 2024 Eclipse Information
Rick Travis, Class of 2018 – Click here for information on the April 8th Solar Eclipse, watch a Eclipse 101 Deep Dive with Vicki Sanders, additional Eclipse Path Maps and Links to local Eclipse Events.
Thoughts From Behind the Viewfinder Vol 2.
John W. Garbutt- Class of 2019- I have been fortunate to have a few memorable encounters at Frisco Commons. Some of my favorites are my first Golden-winged Warbler, my first Least Bittern, a Ring-necked Pheasant, coyotes, a Great-horned Owl, Eastern Screech Owls, bobcats, and the Cooper’s Hawk and Yellow-crowned Night-Heron nests.
One of the most recent encounters was of a pair of Bobcats.