Coastal Prairie ChapterCoastal Prairie Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalists (CPCTMN) is a group of trained volunteers who share their appreciation and knowledge of nature with the community through outreach, education and conservation/restoration projects, in or near the Fort Bend and Waller County areas.
JOIN US FOR EARTH DAY ON APRIL 22
Lots of great activities
CHAPTER PROGRAMS
The Coastal Prairie Chapter programs are free and open to the public and are held on the first Thursday of the month at the Rosenberg Civic Center 3825 TX-36, Rosenberg, TX 77471. Join us at 6:30 p.m. for a 30 minute social time and the hour long program begins at 7:00 p.m.
- May 2, 2019: “It’s Time for a Makeover! Understanding Plumage Variations” presented by Kristine Rivers. Plumage variations in individual birds of the same species can make identification more difficult, especially when birds are molting and transitioning from one plumage to another, as many of them are right now! In this interactive presentation, we’ll discuss the reasons for plumage variation, how molting can affect identification, and color changes of bills, lores, legs, and feet. Bring your favorite field guide if you would like to practice your identification skills. Kristine became a certified Texas Master Naturalist in 2016. She has been the President of the Cradle of Texas Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalists since January 2017. She has participated in every year of the Brazoria Christmas Bird Count since its inception in 1984, and has been an Area Leader since 2013. Kristine loves sharing her passion for nature and wildlife with others, and founded Birding for Fun in 2015 to provide educational services and guided tours to the public. She has taught birding classes and workshops for the City of Pearland, the City of Meadows Place, the City of Missouri City, and Galveston’s Osher Lifelong Learning Center (OLLI). She has also been involved with FeatherFest as a liaison, presenter, and field trip leader since 2016.
- June 13, 2019: “Feral Hogs and Chronic Wasting Disease” presented by Clint Faas. Clint is the Wildlife Biologist with the TPWD in Fort Bend County. Plus Clint will discuss other current topics important to Fort B end County.
CURRENT PROJECTS:
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EARTH DAY! A variety of activities will be offered to the public for free at the Seabourne Nature Park in celebration of Earth Day on April 22, 2019. The public is invited to help with a prairie restoration planting of native wildflowers or join a master naturalist-led guided tour of the butterfly garden, bird sanctuary or the prairie demo garden and others.
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SEABOURNE CREEK NATURE PARK is our signature project. Click here to view the Seabourne Creek Nature Park brochure.
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BIRD HIKES The next monthly bird hike will be held at Seabourne Creek Nature Park on Wednesday, May 1, 2019 at 8 am. For a full list of the birds seen at Seabourne, go to Seabourne e-Bird Species List.
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SEABOURNE WEEKEND NATURE WALKS are available by appointment only.
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SEABOURNE NATURE FEST– held the first weekend in November. Click here to see photos from the 2018 event.
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COASTAL PRAIRIE BLOG
April 2019 Gardens Report from Seabourne Creek Nature Park
Seabourne Creek Nature Park Gardens – Preparing for visitors at Earth Day Celebration on April 22, 2019. Butterfly Garden TMN-MG Linda has had a few volunteers each Wednesday workday, some Master Naturalists and some volunteers from a Rosenberg church, who also pick up trash in the park. Fire ant mounds have been individually treated, weeding has been worked on. Pergola is finished. Photos follow. http:// Prairie Demo Garden Some plots are in the process of being reworked or renamed. Brochures are out and signs are up. Photos follow. http://… Read More →
April 2019 Bird Walk at Seabourne Creek Nature Park
On a mild overcast morning, on April 3, 2019, 21 people took a walk at Seabourne Creek Nature Park and identified 50 species and 2 taxa of birds. These included: Blue-Winged Teal, Snowy Egret, Crested Caracara, White-Eyed Vireo, and House, Sedge, and Carolina Wrens. Link to eBird website with the bird walk data, plus stock pictures and bird songs:
Seabourne Gardens update for February 2019
In February, the Butterfly Garden was pruned by TXMN Linda R., with help from TXMNs Bert S. and Christine E. Demo Garden had some plots reworked; the Mardi Gras garden will become a Pocket Prairie. TMNs bumped up Switch Grass, Selfheal, and Rosin Weed, for future planting in the prairie.
February and March 2019 Bird Walks at Seabourne Creek Nature Park
On Wednesday, February 6, 2019, 23 people took a walk in Seabourne Creek Nature Park on a cloudy and breezy morning in the 70’s. They identified 44 species of birds, along with 2 Red-Ear Slider turtles (Photo by TMN Bert Stipelcovich). Bird species include: Tree and White-Throated Sparrows, White-Eyed Vireo, Pied-Billed Grebe, and Eastern Screech Owl. On Wednesday, March 6, 2019, 10 people identified 45 species of birds on a cloudy and breezy morning in the 50’s. Birds identified include: Sandhill Cranes, Caracaras, a Blue-Headed Vireo, a Yellow-Bellied… Read More →
Fishing at Seabourne Creek Nature Park – Not Just For the Birds
Catch and release fishing is available at Seabourne! Bass, perch, and catfish are periodically stocked in manmade 4 acre Seabourne Lake. Bring your own fishing poles and bait. Park hours: daily 8 am to 7 pm. Website for Seabourne Creek through City of Rosenberg: https://rosenbergtx.gov/seabourn-creek/ Once a year, the Rosenberg Parks and Recreation Dept. and the Coastal Prairie Chapter of Texas Master Naturalists holds a children’s “FISHtastic” event. Entrants, age 4-14, are grouped into three groups by age, and are required to bring their own gear and bait. Trophies… Read More →
Seabourne Garden Update January 2019
The Butterfly and Demo Gardens are mostly resting these months. Here is an update for the Butterfly Garden from Master Naturalist/Gardener Linda: Construction of a pergola for an Eagle Scout’s Project has begun! There is a plan to completely rework the irrigation setup. I am hoping to add some new volunteers from the new Master Naturalist class. I plan to ask members to donate butterfly-attracting plants that have grown well for them and may need to be thinned. Donating their plants may encourage more members to do… Read More →
January 2019 Bird Walk at Seabourne Creek Nature Park
Twelve people walked in a light rain on a 50 degree morning and identified 29 species of birds at Seabourne Creek Nature Park. Birds included 1 Great Blue Heron, 2 Ruby-Crowned Kinglets, 2 Crested Caracara, and 3 Cedar Waxwings. It was too overcast for photos. Click date on photo to see eBird link which lists all bird species seen, plus example photos and recorded bird calls. Photo by Kimberly Farou
Two New Nature Pamphlets for Seabourne Creek Demo Garden
Volunteers Lynn and Jerry Trenta, Terri Hurley, Jade Hems, and Kimberly Farou have created two new pamphlets, one on Pollinators and one on Butterflies, to join the other nature pamphlets available at the Seabourne Creek Nature Park Prairie Demo Garden. Click to see all 5 pamphlets. Photo by Kimberly Farou
Bird Sightings at Seabourne Creek Nature Park on December 5, 2018
On Wednesday, December 5, 2018, a group of 25 took a walk at Seabourne Creek Park and identified 43 species of birds, including: 2 Lincoln Sparrows, 1 Northern Cardinal, 4 Blue-Gray Gnatcatchers, 4 Roseate Spoonbills, and the feature photo of a Least Sandpiper. Two taxa were also identified, incl. a nutria.
Three New Nature Pamphlets Created by CPC Master Naturalists
Volunteers at the native habitat gardens in the Prairie Demonstration Garden have created three informative nature pamphlets that were distributed for free at the Seabourne Nature Fest. Links to these brochures are included here. The Hummingbird brochure by Jade Hems provides fun facts and ways to help these flying jewels. The Native Bee brochure by Lynn Trenta highlights a native bee’s life and how to attract bees to your yard with native plants. The Prairie Bird pamphlet by Terri Hurley provides information on how to find prairie… Read More →