[{"id":34803,"date":"2026-04-09T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/bptmn\/?p=34803"},"modified":"2026-04-09T13:31:13","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T18:31:13","slug":"%f0%9f%90%be-volunteer-spotlight-john-w-garbutt-sharing-what-nature-means-to-me","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/bptmn\/%f0%9f%90%be-volunteer-spotlight-john-w-garbutt-sharing-what-nature-means-to-me\/","title":{"rendered":"\ud83d\udcf8 Volunteer Spotlight: John W. Garbutt, A Passion for the Prairie"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"I<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

For John W. Garbutt<\/strong>, being a Texas Master Naturalist<\/strong> is about the power of shared passion. Since the founding of our chapter newsletter – Shaking the Trees Newsletter<\/a><\/strong>, John has been a vital voice, using his photography and writing to translate his deep connection with nature into inspiration for others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether he\u2019s documenting wildlife through his lens to educate our community or working side-by-side with fellow naturalists on habitat restoration projects, John\u2019s goal remains the same:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

“To use those passions to give back to our communities to hopefully enrich the quality of life within them while educating those we come in contact with.”<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

John believes that by sharing these experiences, we can inspire everyone to step outside and discover their own connection to the natural world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are so proud to have volunteers like John dedicated to sharing his love and his lens of nature<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tFebruary 6, 2026\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\tCooper’s Hawk<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tRemember the ‘white aliens’ of 2020? \ud83d\udc7d For this week\u2019s Flashback Friday, we\u2019re revisiting John Garbutt\u2019s wonderful chronicle of a Cooper\u2019s Hawk family\u2014from incubation to the surprise discovery of ‘Thing 5.’ It\u2019s a beautiful reminder of the magic we find when we slow down and observe.\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tRead More<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tSeptember 8, 2025\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\tFinding Happiness Through Sharing Nature<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tJohn W. Garbutt – Class of 2019- Over time, I learned to find happiness alone through nature. A majority of the learning has been from behind the camera\u2019s viewfinder, the eye piece on my binoculars; and through contributing to the chapter\u2019s monthly newsletter, Shaking the Trees.\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tRead More<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tJuly 28, 2025\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\tMy Favorite Things through the Four Seasons: Spring<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tJohn W. Garbutt- Class of 2019- It was near the end of February when my sister brought up the imminent arrival of Barn Swallows. Usually the first migrant, the avian harbinger of spring arrives in early March. A couple of years previous, I had seen my first one on…\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tRead More<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tAugust 16, 2024\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\tMy Summer Goodbye to the Night-Herons<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tJohn W. Garbutt, Class of 2019- It was a warm and windy Fourth of July.\u00a0 As I approached the pond, the sound of Chimney Swifts and their successful broods greeted me.\u00a0 Arriving at the pond, I hoped to see the fledgling Yellow-crowned Night-Herons exploring for the first time.\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tRead More<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tJuly 8, 2024\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\tMy Spring Amongst the Night-Herons- Part 4<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tJohn W. Garbutt, Class of 2019 – By the second weekend of May I anticipated finding evidence of hatchling or nestling stage herons. When attempting to find evidence that the eggs have hatched, I look for many things.\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tRead More<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tJuly 8, 2024\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\tMy Spring Amongst the Night-Herons- Part 3<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tJohn W. Garbutt, Class of 2019 \u2013 \u201cSometimes I don\u2019t. If I like a moment, for me, personally, I don\u2019t like to have the distraction of the camera. I just want to stay in it.\u201d- Sean O\u2019 Connell- The Secret Life of Walter Mitty\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tRead More<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tJune 6, 2024\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\tMy Spring Amongst the Night-Herons- Part 1<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tJohn W. Garbutt, Class of 2019 \u2013 \u201cIt is fortunate, perhaps, that no matter how intently one studies the hundred little dramas of the wood and meadows, on can never learn all of the salient facts about any one of them.\u201d- Aldo Leopold, \u201cSky Dance\u201d- A Sand County Almanac\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tRead More<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tMarch 31, 2024\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\tThoughts From Behind the Viewfinder Vol 3.<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tJohn 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…\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tRead More<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tMarch 4, 2024\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\tThoughts From Behind the Viewfinder Vol 2.<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tJohn 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\u2019s Hawk and Yellow-crowned Night-Heron…\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tRead More<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tFebruary 26, 2024\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\tThoughts From Behind the Viewfinder Vol 1.<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tJohn W. Garbutt- Class of 2019- \u201cWe must remember that the public can see all the animals we have in any good zoo, but to see them in their natural environment they must come to places like the Wichita\u201d- Aldo Leopold, 1925.\n\nDespite my numerous trips here, it was my trip…\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tRead More<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tJanuary 26, 2024\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\tWhen Is It Safe to Dream About Fall?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tJohn Garbutt, Class of 2019 – When is it safe to dream of autumn\u2019s cooler days and colors? Is it perhaps today (early August), a day when Texans rejoiced, for the consecutive streak of twenty-one days over 100 degrees Fahrenheit was broken with an official high temperature of 99 degrees?…\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tRead More<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tSeptember 20, 2023\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Yellow\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\tContinued Observations of a Yellow-crowned Night-Heron Colony<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tJohn W. Garbutt, Class of 2019 – On May 1st I set out to observe the herons hunting along the edge of the pond. I anticipated that with mouths to feed in the colony, I would find a lot of heron activity at sunrise. I laid on the ground using…\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tRead More<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tJuly 30, 2023\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Yellow\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\tObservations of a Yellow-crowned Night-Heron Colony<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tJohn W. Garbutt, Class of 2019 – March was winding down. The morning was cool, which made for a lovely morning to make another attempt at locating the Cooper\u2019s Hawks\u2019 nest in the riparian area of the park. I finally found it on the 26th. It turned out that the…\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tRead More<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tJune 1, 2023\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Tufted\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\tBirding the Seasonal Shift – May 12, 2023<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tJohn W. Garbutt, 2019 – I have always disliked the end of the year and the subsequent arrival of spring. I like fall and winter. Time seems to slow down from October through December until the last week of the year. Then the next few months seem to go quickly….\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tRead More<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tApril 1, 2023\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\tWintering Ducks<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tJohn W Garbutt, 2019 – I struggled on how to approach doing an article for the newsletter. I initially wanted to do one on ducks and the seasonal shift that brings them down in autumn. I also switched the theme from my enjoyment of them, my approach to photographing them,…\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tRead More<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tApril 6, 2021\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\tWinter Ducks at Russell Creek Park<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t

By John Garbutt, 2014 To some, winter and Uri are now four letter words never to be spoken again as we enter spring.  As a birder, the harbinger of spring, Barn Swallows, have been here since the first of March and are flying past my window. The trees outside are…\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\tRead More<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tJanuary 10, 2021\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\tThe Continuing Chronicles of the Commons Cooper\u2019s<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t

By: John Garbutt Watching the five Cooper\u2019s Hawks fledge in mid-June under their mother\u2019s watchful eyes seems like years ago. After that moment, I figured I had possibly seen the last of them, at least as a group. I also had other places to go, The Rio Grande Valley, Fort…\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\tRead More<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tOctober 1, 2020\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Mississippi\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\tJohn Garbutt – Mississippi Kites<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t

After the birding doldrums of August, I longed for a change in the wind and the early signs of fall songbird migration. I ventured out on September 6th to Frisco Commons to see what I could find. I would find Baltimore Orioles, Blue-Gray Gnatcatchers, White-Eyed Vireos, and Great Crested Flycatchers….\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\tRead More<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\n\n
\n
\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
Submit your article here<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We celebrate our Blackland Prairie Chapter of Texas Master Naturalists for National Volunteer Month with a spotlight on our John W. Garbutt, a dedicated naturalist who uses photography and storytelling to bridge the gap between our community and the natural world. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1226,"featured_media":34806,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_crdt_document":"","_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false},"categories":[10581,27102,6621],"tags":[74903,75001,74652,75171,75159,74946],"class_list":["post-34803","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-current-news","category-general","category-members","tag-blacklandprairie","tag-blacklandprairiechapter","tag-john-w-garbutt","tag-nationalvolunteerweek","tag-stt-70","tag-texasmasternaturalist","entry"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/bptmn\/files\/2026\/04\/I-Volunteer-Because-Blackland-Prairie-Chapter-Template-John-W-Garbutt.png","uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/txmn.org\/bptmn\/files\/2026\/04\/I-Volunteer-Because-Blackland-Prairie-Chapter-Template-John-W-Garbutt.png",1080,1350,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/txmn.org\/bptmn\/files\/2026\/04\/I-Volunteer-Because-Blackland-Prairie-Chapter-Template-John-W-Garbutt-120x150.png",120,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/txmn.org\/bptmn\/files\/2026\/04\/I-Volunteer-Because-Blackland-Prairie-Chapter-Template-John-W-Garbutt-240x300.png",240,300,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/txmn.org\/bptmn\/files\/2026\/04\/I-Volunteer-Because-Blackland-Prairie-Chapter-Template-John-W-Garbutt-768x960.png",768,960,true],"large":["https:\/\/txmn.org\/bptmn\/files\/2026\/04\/I-Volunteer-Because-Blackland-Prairie-Chapter-Template-John-W-Garbutt-819x1024.png",819,1024,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/txmn.org\/bptmn\/files\/2026\/04\/I-Volunteer-Because-Blackland-Prairie-Chapter-Template-John-W-Garbutt.png",1080,1350,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/txmn.org\/bptmn\/files\/2026\/04\/I-Volunteer-Because-Blackland-Prairie-Chapter-Template-John-W-Garbutt.png",1080,1350,false],"archive":["https:\/\/txmn.org\/bptmn\/files\/2026\/04\/I-Volunteer-Because-Blackland-Prairie-Chapter-Template-John-W-Garbutt-400x225.png",400,225,true],"gform-image-choice-sm":["https:\/\/txmn.org\/bptmn\/files\/2026\/04\/I-Volunteer-Because-Blackland-Prairie-Chapter-Template-John-W-Garbutt.png",240,300,false],"gform-image-choice-md":["https:\/\/txmn.org\/bptmn\/files\/2026\/04\/I-Volunteer-Because-Blackland-Prairie-Chapter-Template-John-W-Garbutt.png",320,400,false],"gform-image-choice-lg":["https:\/\/txmn.org\/bptmn\/files\/2026\/04\/I-Volunteer-Because-Blackland-Prairie-Chapter-Template-John-W-Garbutt.png",480,600,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"mconnally","author_link":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/bptmn\/author\/mconnally\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"We celebrate our Blackland Prairie Chapter of Texas Master Naturalists for National Volunteer Month with a spotlight on our John W. Garbutt, a dedicated naturalist who uses photography and storytelling to bridge the gap between our community and the natural world.","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/bptmn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34803","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/bptmn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/bptmn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/bptmn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1226"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/bptmn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=34803"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/bptmn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34803\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/bptmn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/34806"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/bptmn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=34803"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/bptmn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=34803"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/bptmn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=34803"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":34797,"date":"2026-04-09T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/bptmn\/?p=34797"},"modified":"2026-04-09T12:59:17","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T17:59:17","slug":"thank-you-sarah-densmore-wildlife-rehabilitator","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/bptmn\/thank-you-sarah-densmore-wildlife-rehabilitator\/","title":{"rendered":"\ud83d\udc3e Volunteer Spotlight: Sarah Densmore, A Success Story in Wildlife Rehab"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"sarah<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

For Sarah Densmore<\/strong>, Class of 2021<\/strong>, volunteering is rooted in a deep-seated mission: “I volunteer because of my love for nature and all within it,”<\/strong> she shares. “By giving care to our wildlife, we encourage incredible diversity to thrive and continue for generations to come.”<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beyond her hands-on work with wildlife, Sarah serves our chapter as the Advanced Training Calendar Coordinator<\/strong>\u2014the “scout” who finds all the unique events for us to earn AT and ensures our members can easily find those opportunities on our VHAT calendar<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From Injury to Independence<\/strong> Sarah honed her specialized skills through her work with Texas Metro Wildlife Rehabilitators<\/strong><\/a> and is now a wildlife rehabilitator herself. She recently shared a remarkable success story involving a very special patient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The black bear cub pictured here with Sarah was found injured in June 2025, at approximately five months old. Her recovery involved surgery and a strictly hands-off rehabilitation process. Because rehabilitated wildlife must remain as wild as possible to survive, this photo captures the very last time she was handled by humans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ready for the Wild<\/strong> Today, this cub is a healthy yearling and a true success story! She has fully healed and\u2014most importantly\u2014has maintained her natural instinct to avoid humans. She is scheduled to be released back into her natural habitat within the next two weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I am where I am today, doing what I love, because of my volunteer work through BPTMN,”<\/strong> Sarah says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are so proud to have volunteers like Sarah dedicated to both the members of the Blackland Prairie Chapter and to wildlife rehabilitation.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
Submit your article here<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We celebrate our Blackland Prairie Chapter of Texas Master Naturalists for National Volunteer Month with a spotlight on our Sarah Densmore, Class of 2021, wildlife rehabilitator and Advanced Training VHAT Calendar Coordinator. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1226,"featured_media":34799,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_crdt_document":"","_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false},"categories":[10581,27102,6621],"tags":[75001,75171,66896,75159,74946],"class_list":["post-34797","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-current-news","category-general","category-members","tag-blacklandprairiechapter","tag-nationalvolunteerweek","tag-sarah-densmore","tag-stt-70","tag-texasmasternaturalist","entry"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/bptmn\/files\/2026\/04\/I-Volunteer-Because-Blackland-Prairie-Chapter-Sarah-Densmore.png","uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/txmn.org\/bptmn\/files\/2026\/04\/I-Volunteer-Because-Blackland-Prairie-Chapter-Sarah-Densmore.png",1080,1350,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/txmn.org\/bptmn\/files\/2026\/04\/I-Volunteer-Because-Blackland-Prairie-Chapter-Sarah-Densmore-120x150.png",120,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/txmn.org\/bptmn\/files\/2026\/04\/I-Volunteer-Because-Blackland-Prairie-Chapter-Sarah-Densmore-240x300.png",240,300,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/txmn.org\/bptmn\/files\/2026\/04\/I-Volunteer-Because-Blackland-Prairie-Chapter-Sarah-Densmore-768x960.png",768,960,true],"large":["https:\/\/txmn.org\/bptmn\/files\/2026\/04\/I-Volunteer-Because-Blackland-Prairie-Chapter-Sarah-Densmore-819x1024.png",819,1024,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/txmn.org\/bptmn\/files\/2026\/04\/I-Volunteer-Because-Blackland-Prairie-Chapter-Sarah-Densmore.png",1080,1350,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/txmn.org\/bptmn\/files\/2026\/04\/I-Volunteer-Because-Blackland-Prairie-Chapter-Sarah-Densmore.png",1080,1350,false],"archive":["https:\/\/txmn.org\/bptmn\/files\/2026\/04\/I-Volunteer-Because-Blackland-Prairie-Chapter-Sarah-Densmore-400x225.png",400,225,true],"gform-image-choice-sm":["https:\/\/txmn.org\/bptmn\/files\/2026\/04\/I-Volunteer-Because-Blackland-Prairie-Chapter-Sarah-Densmore.png",240,300,false],"gform-image-choice-md":["https:\/\/txmn.org\/bptmn\/files\/2026\/04\/I-Volunteer-Because-Blackland-Prairie-Chapter-Sarah-Densmore.png",320,400,false],"gform-image-choice-lg":["https:\/\/txmn.org\/bptmn\/files\/2026\/04\/I-Volunteer-Because-Blackland-Prairie-Chapter-Sarah-Densmore.png",480,600,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"mconnally","author_link":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/bptmn\/author\/mconnally\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"We celebrate our Blackland Prairie Chapter of Texas Master Naturalists for National Volunteer Month with a spotlight on our Sarah Densmore, Class of 2021, wildlife rehabilitator and Advanced Training VHAT Calendar Coordinator.","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/bptmn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34797","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/bptmn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/bptmn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/bptmn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1226"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/bptmn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=34797"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/bptmn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34797\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/bptmn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/34799"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/bptmn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=34797"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/bptmn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=34797"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/bptmn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=34797"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":34787,"date":"2026-04-01T00:01:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-01T05:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/bptmn\/?p=34787"},"modified":"2026-04-01T13:21:38","modified_gmt":"2026-04-01T18:21:38","slug":"blackland-prairie-chapter-spring-grant-cycle-now-open","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/bptmn\/blackland-prairie-chapter-spring-grant-cycle-now-open\/","title":{"rendered":"Blackland Prairie Chapter Grant Cycle now open!"},"content":{"rendered":"