[{"id":121782,"date":"2026-04-01T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-01T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/?p=121782"},"modified":"2026-03-11T14:53:39","modified_gmt":"2026-03-11T19:53:39","slug":"recognizing-2025-membership-milestones-and-certifications-a-special-edition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/recognizing-2025-membership-milestones-and-certifications-a-special-edition\/","title":{"rendered":"Recognizing 2025 Membership Milestones and Certifications, a Special Edition"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">Inside Volume 2 Issue 1<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Issue by Co-Editor Lisa Sanders<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Initial and Double Certifications<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Volunteer Service Milestones<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Member Re-certifications<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>2025 Service Award Pin: the Greater Roadrunner<\/em> by Lisa Sanders<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Membership by the Numbers<\/em>, a year-by-year comparison chart<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Volunteers in Action<\/em> photo collages<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><em>Thank you, <\/em>Coastal Prairie Chapter volunteers, for all you do to fulfill Our Mission.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<div data-wp-interactive=\"core\/file\" class=\"wp-block-file\"><object data-wp-bind--hidden=\"!state.hasPdfPreview\" hidden class=\"wp-block-file__embed\" data=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/04\/2025-Membership-Special-Edition.pdf\" type=\"application\/pdf\" style=\"width:100%;height:600px\" aria-label=\"Embed of 2025 Membership Special Edition.\"><\/object><a id=\"wp-block-file--media-34aa9741-271d-4d6c-9bb8-a8d4eedf4c8d\" href=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/04\/2025-Membership-Special-Edition.pdf\">2025 Membership Special Edition<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/04\/2025-Membership-Special-Edition.pdf\" class=\"wp-block-file__button wp-element-button\" download aria-describedby=\"wp-block-file--media-34aa9741-271d-4d6c-9bb8-a8d4eedf4c8d\">Download<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Learn More &#8230; and <em>Join Us!<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>April is National Volunteer Month<\/strong>! Make a difference in your community by <a href=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/become-a-texas-master-naturalist\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"87418\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">becoming a Texas Master Naturalist<\/a> yourself or find and visit with other Master Naturalist volunteers while they serve in our communities<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/teamup.com\/event\/show\/id\/pRgmZ2mSvnm2ySYekPwbGS5qs5yyBo\">Monthly Bird Hike at Seabourne Creek <strong>April 1<\/strong><\/a> &#8230; <em>our signature project! <\/em>| Birders of all levels are welcome<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/teamup.com\/event\/show\/id\/PB16by9KWdstizjASpVL8JQ9KsNJDK\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/teamup.com\/event\/show\/id\/PB16by9KWdstizjASpVL8JQ9KsNJDK\">Monthly Chapter Program: Living Dinosaurs on the Prairie <strong>April 2<\/strong><\/a> | Learn with other Texas Master Naturalists the history and status of the federally endangered Attwater&#8217;s prairie-chicken<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/teamup.com\/event\/show\/id\/LzVuDVMp6jzBUSgSbKDPEGcqvuKtCh\">Mindful Nature Walk with Tierra Ortiz-Rodriguez <strong>April 4<\/strong><\/a> | Enrich your connection with natural surroundings at Sugar Land&#8217;s Cullinan Park<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/teamup.com\/event\/show\/id\/pRgmZ2mSvnm2ySYekPwbGS5qs5yyBo\">Children&#8217;s Story Time and Nature-themed Craft with Tierra Ortiz-Rodriguez <strong>April 4<\/strong><\/a> | Bring the kids for some Nature learning and fun<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/03\/APCNWR-Boomin-and-Bloomin-Event-Flyer-2026.pdf\" data-type=\"attachment\" data-id=\"121803\">Boomin&#8217; and Bloomin&#8217; Festival <strong>April 11 and 12<\/strong><\/a> | Come enjoy the refuge and witness the lek of the Attwater&#8217;s prairie-chicken; bring the family! <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div data-aos= \"slide-up\" data-aos-duration=\"400\" data-aos-delay=\"0\" data-aos-easing=\"ease\" data-aos-once=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-uagb-info-box uagb-block-bf5f7411 uagb-infobox__content-wrap  uagb-infobox-icon-above-title uagb-infobox-image-valign-top\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-content\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-icon-wrap\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M416 48C416 39.13 408.9 32 400 32h-64C327.1 32 320 39.13 320 48V96h96.04L416 48zM63.88 160.1C61.34 253.9 3.5 274.3 0 404V448c0 17.6 14.4 32 32 32h128c17.6 0 32-14.4 32-32V128H95.88C78.26 128 64.35 142.5 63.88 160.1zM448.1 160.1C447.6 142.5 433.7 128 416.1 128H320v320c0 17.6 14.4 32 32 32h128c17.6 0 32-14.4 32-32v-44C508.5 274.3 450.7 253.9 448.1 160.1zM224 288h64V128H224V288zM176 32h-64C103.1 32 96 39.13 96 48L95.96 96H192V48C192 39.13 184.9 32 176 32z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div><div class=\"uagb-ifb-title-wrap\"><h3 class=\"uagb-ifb-title\">Join us Outdoors all Spring<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-ifb-separator\"><\/div><p class=\"uagb-ifb-desc\"><a href=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/public-outreach-calendar\/\">Coastal Prairie Outreach Events Calendar<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><a href=\"https:\/\/teamup.com\/event\/show\/id\/hUdDs8HvFaJTZ11h3pXmUdTqMkaEGx\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Nature-Day-Wild-for-Wetlands-Flyer-1024x1024.jpg?resize=1024%2C1024\" alt=\"Nature Day Wild for Wetlands Flyer, April 18, 2026 at Seabourne Creek Nature Park\" class=\"wp-image-121606 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Nature-Day-Wild-for-Wetlands-Flyer.jpg?resize=1024%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Nature-Day-Wild-for-Wetlands-Flyer.jpg?resize=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Nature-Day-Wild-for-Wetlands-Flyer.jpg?resize=768%2C768&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Nature-Day-Wild-for-Wetlands-Flyer.jpg?w=1389&amp;ssl=1 1389w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">It&#8217;s almost here &#8230;<br \/>bring the whole family!<br \/><br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/teamup.com\/event\/show\/id\/hUdDs8HvFaJTZ11h3pXmUdTqMkaEGx\">April 18, 2026 <\/a><br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/teamup.com\/event\/show\/id\/hUdDs8HvFaJTZ11h3pXmUdTqMkaEGx\">Nature Day Wild for Wetlands<\/a><\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-countdown uagb-block-0740a4ca\"><div class=\"wp-block-uagb-countdown__box wp-block-uagb-countdown__box-days\"><div role=\"timer\" aria-live=\"off\" class=\"wp-block-uagb-countdown__time wp-block-uagb-countdown__time-days\">&#8211;<\/div><div class=\"wp-block-uagb-countdown__label\">DAYS<\/div><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-uagb-countdown__box wp-block-uagb-countdown__box-hours\"><div role=\"timer\" aria-live=\"off\" class=\"wp-block-uagb-countdown__time wp-block-uagb-countdown__time-hours\">&#8211;<\/div><div class=\"wp-block-uagb-countdown__label\">HOURS<\/div><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-uagb-countdown__box wp-block-uagb-countdown__box-minutes\"><div role=\"timer\" aria-live=\"off\" class=\"wp-block-uagb-countdown__time wp-block-uagb-countdown__time-minutes\">&#8211;<\/div><div class=\"wp-block-uagb-countdown__label\">MINUTES<\/div><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-uagb-countdown__box wp-block-uagb-countdown__box-seconds\"><div role=\"timer\" aria-live=\"off\" class=\"wp-block-uagb-countdown__time wp-block-uagb-countdown__time-seconds\">&#8211;<\/div><div class=\"wp-block-uagb-countdown__label\">SECONDS<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In lieu of the regularly scheduled April Courier, this annual Special Edition celebrates Coastal Prairie Chapter membership and volunteerism<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1442,"featured_media":121784,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","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_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false},"categories":[40424,3],"tags":[74773,7820],"class_list":["post-121782","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-volunteers","category-news","tag-milestones","tag-training","entry"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/04\/2025-Prairie-Perchers-by-K.Padilla.jpeg?fit=1280%2C766&ssl=1","uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/04\/2025-Prairie-Perchers-by-K.Padilla.jpeg?fit=1280%2C766&ssl=1",1280,766,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/04\/2025-Prairie-Perchers-by-K.Padilla.jpeg?resize=150%2C400&ssl=1",150,400,true],"medium":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/04\/2025-Prairie-Perchers-by-K.Padilla.jpeg?fit=300%2C180&ssl=1",300,180,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/04\/2025-Prairie-Perchers-by-K.Padilla.jpeg?fit=768%2C460&ssl=1",768,460,true],"large":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/04\/2025-Prairie-Perchers-by-K.Padilla.jpeg?fit=1024%2C613&ssl=1",1024,613,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/04\/2025-Prairie-Perchers-by-K.Padilla.jpeg?fit=1280%2C766&ssl=1",1280,766,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/04\/2025-Prairie-Perchers-by-K.Padilla.jpeg?fit=1280%2C766&ssl=1",1280,766,true],"archive":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/04\/2025-Prairie-Perchers-by-K.Padilla.jpeg?resize=400%2C225&ssl=1",400,225,true],"gform-image-choice-sm":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/04\/2025-Prairie-Perchers-by-K.Padilla.jpeg?resize=300%2C300&ssl=1",300,300,true],"gform-image-choice-md":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/04\/2025-Prairie-Perchers-by-K.Padilla.jpeg?resize=400%2C400&ssl=1",400,400,true],"gform-image-choice-lg":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/04\/2025-Prairie-Perchers-by-K.Padilla.jpeg?resize=600%2C600&ssl=1",600,600,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Shannon Westveer","author_link":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/author\/shannonwestveer\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"In lieu of the regularly scheduled April Courier, this annual Special Edition celebrates Coastal Prairie Chapter membership and volunteerism","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/ph2qpz-vGe","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/121782","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1442"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=121782"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/121782\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/121784"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=121782"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=121782"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=121782"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":121736,"date":"2026-03-15T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-15T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/?p=121736"},"modified":"2026-03-10T16:52:44","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T21:52:44","slug":"acclimation-pens-give-endangered-chicks-a-fighting-chance-at-survival","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/acclimation-pens-give-endangered-chicks-a-fighting-chance-at-survival\/","title":{"rendered":"Acclimation Pens Give Endangered Chicks a Fighting Chance at Survival"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Chapters Collaboration at its Finest<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/\">TMN Coastal Prairie<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/glc\/\">TMN Gideon Lincecum<\/a> Chapters answered the call together, rolling up sleeves alongside <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fws.gov\">US Fish &amp; Wildlife<\/a> staff and other refuge volunteers. We disassembled and rebuilt a pen in a new location, then moved on to refurbish three other pens. Working together, we repaired torn netting, cinched paracord ceilings, patched every sneaky hole, yanked invasive plants, spiked perches to stop hawks, ran electric fencing, and beefed up predator-proof barriers across multiple movable acclimation pens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/03\/Attwater-prairie-chicken-by-G.Englehardt-1024x768.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-121797\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/03\/Attwater-prairie-chicken-by-G.Englehardt.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/03\/Attwater-prairie-chicken-by-G.Englehardt.jpeg?resize=300%2C225&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/03\/Attwater-prairie-chicken-by-G.Englehardt.jpeg?resize=768%2C576&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/03\/Attwater-prairie-chicken-by-G.Englehardt.jpeg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Male Attwater&#8217;s prairie-chickens practice for the females, the lek | Photo by Garrett Engelhardt<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Project<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These pens are the VIP soft-release suites: predator-safe, portable (to dodge disease buildup), and designed to let young birds spend around 2 weeks getting comfy with prairie sights, sounds, wind, and bugs before stepping into the wild. Solid maintenance equals higher survival odds for a bird that\u2019s down to a whisper of its former millions-strong Gulf Coast chorus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The project was very successful and exceeded all expectations, according to wildlife biologist Bianca Sicich (aka the \u201cPen Czar\u201d). She set aside two weeks for the project, which she envisioned was deconstructing and rebuilding one pen, perhaps refurbishing an existing pen. The first two days had to be canceled due to freezing, wet weather. When temperatures rose to above freezing, the work started on the third day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Crews braved frigid temperatures, pokey things, finger fatigue from zip ties, hours of ladder time, problem solving, and sometimes endless kneeling \u2014 always showing up for morning and afternoon shifts with relentless good humor and teamwork.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Teams worked so well together, the scope of the project was enlarged to include <em>every<\/em> pen on the refuge, in spite of losing two days from freezing weather! All pens looked sharp, final tweaks were mapped, and the refuge stands ready to welcome the next generation of Attwater\u2019s prairie-chickens to their new home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-tiled-gallery aligncenter is-style-rectangular\"><div class=\"\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery__gallery\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery__row\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery__col\" style=\"flex-basis:66.79759%\"><figure class=\"tiled-gallery__item\"><img decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/03\/APCNWR-volunteers-by-J.Stipelcovichpg-1024x767.jpeg?strip=info&#038;w=600 600w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/03\/APCNWR-volunteers-by-J.Stipelcovichpg-1024x767.jpeg?strip=info&#038;w=900 900w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/03\/APCNWR-volunteers-by-J.Stipelcovichpg-1024x767.jpeg?strip=info&#038;w=1200 1200w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/03\/APCNWR-volunteers-by-J.Stipelcovichpg-1024x767.jpeg?strip=info&#038;w=1280 1280w\" alt=\"APCNWR volunteers by J.Stipelcovich\" data-height=\"959\" data-id=\"121794\" data-link=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/?attachment_id=121794\" data-url=\"http:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/03\/APCNWR-volunteers-by-J.Stipelcovichpg-1024x767.jpeg\" data-width=\"1280\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/03\/APCNWR-volunteers-by-J.Stipelcovichpg-1024x767.jpeg\" data-amp-layout=\"responsive\"\/><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"tiled-gallery__col\" style=\"flex-basis:33.20241%\"><figure class=\"tiled-gallery__item\"><img decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/03\/Roll-it-out-by-J.Stipelcovich-1024x768.jpeg?strip=info&#038;w=600 600w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/03\/Roll-it-out-by-J.Stipelcovich-1024x768.jpeg?strip=info&#038;w=900 900w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/03\/Roll-it-out-by-J.Stipelcovich-1024x768.jpeg?strip=info&#038;w=1200 1200w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/03\/Roll-it-out-by-J.Stipelcovich-1024x768.jpeg?strip=info&#038;w=1280 1280w\" alt=\"Roll it out by J.Stipelcovich\" data-height=\"960\" data-id=\"121793\" data-link=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/?attachment_id=121793\" data-url=\"http:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/03\/Roll-it-out-by-J.Stipelcovich-1024x768.jpeg\" data-width=\"1280\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/03\/Roll-it-out-by-J.Stipelcovich-1024x768.jpeg\" data-amp-layout=\"responsive\"\/><\/figure><figure class=\"tiled-gallery__item\"><img decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/03\/Hand-y-work-by-J.Stipelcovich-1024x768.jpeg?strip=info&#038;w=600 600w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/03\/Hand-y-work-by-J.Stipelcovich-1024x768.jpeg?strip=info&#038;w=900 900w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/03\/Hand-y-work-by-J.Stipelcovich-1024x768.jpeg?strip=info&#038;w=1200 1200w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/03\/Hand-y-work-by-J.Stipelcovich-1024x768.jpeg?strip=info&#038;w=1280 1280w\" alt=\"Hand-y work by J.Stipelcovich\" data-height=\"960\" data-id=\"121791\" data-link=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/?attachment_id=121791\" data-url=\"http:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/03\/Hand-y-work-by-J.Stipelcovich-1024x768.jpeg\" data-width=\"1280\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/03\/Hand-y-work-by-J.Stipelcovich-1024x768.jpeg\" data-amp-layout=\"responsive\"\/><\/figure><\/div><\/div><div class=\"tiled-gallery__row\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery__col\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33333%\"><figure class=\"tiled-gallery__item\"><img decoding=\"async\" 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data-height=\"960\" data-id=\"121792\" data-link=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/?attachment_id=121792\" data-url=\"http:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/03\/Ziptie-install-by-J.Stipelcovich-1024x768.jpeg\" data-width=\"1280\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/03\/Ziptie-install-by-J.Stipelcovich-1024x768.jpeg\" data-amp-layout=\"responsive\"\/><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"tiled-gallery__col\" style=\"flex-basis:50.00000%\"><figure class=\"tiled-gallery__item\"><img decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/03\/Securing-netting-by-J.Stipelcovich-1024x768.jpeg?strip=info&#038;w=600 600w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/03\/Securing-netting-by-J.Stipelcovich-1024x768.jpeg?strip=info&#038;w=900 900w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/03\/Securing-netting-by-J.Stipelcovich-1024x768.jpeg?strip=info&#038;w=1200 1200w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/03\/Securing-netting-by-J.Stipelcovich-1024x768.jpeg?strip=info&#038;w=1500 1500w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/03\/Securing-netting-by-J.Stipelcovich-1024x768.jpeg?strip=info&#038;w=1800 1800w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/03\/Securing-netting-by-J.Stipelcovich-1024x768.jpeg?strip=info&#038;w=2000 2000w\" alt=\"Securing netting by J.Stipelcovich\" data-height=\"1920\" data-id=\"121796\" data-link=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/?attachment_id=121796\" data-url=\"http:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/03\/Securing-netting-by-J.Stipelcovich-1024x768.jpeg\" data-width=\"2560\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/03\/Securing-netting-by-J.Stipelcovich-1024x768.jpeg\" data-amp-layout=\"responsive\"\/><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-background is-style-wide\" style=\"background-color:#d8806d;color:#d8806d\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Come Visit the Refuge in Eagle Lake<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-medium\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"398\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/03\/APCNWR-wants-you-by-J.Stipelcovich-300x398.jpeg?resize=300%2C398&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-121798\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/03\/APCNWR-wants-you-by-J.Stipelcovich.jpeg?resize=300%2C398&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/03\/APCNWR-wants-you-by-J.Stipelcovich.jpeg?resize=772%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 772w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/03\/APCNWR-wants-you-by-J.Stipelcovich.jpeg?resize=768%2C1019&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/03\/APCNWR-wants-you-by-J.Stipelcovich.jpeg?w=880&amp;ssl=1 880w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Every bird counts; every protected acre matters. Want to help keep the comeback rolling?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Texas Master Naturalists<\/strong> welcome all helpers ages 18 and over; volunteer every Friday with us <strong>8:00 AM until 12:00 PM. *<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Or just visit! <\/strong>Entry is FREE Tuesdays through Saturdays 8:00 AM until 3:30 PM November through May; days changed to Thursdays through Saturdays with the same hours from June through October.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>What can you do there? <\/strong>Hike the trails, cruise the auto tour, scan for 250+ bird species, explore wildflowers and big Texas skies. You might not spot an Attwater\u2019s prairie-chicken booming on the lek, but you\u2019ll carry home a bigger piece of what makes the prairie worth saving \u2014 and perhaps even the people who refuse to let it fade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>*<\/strong> Volunteer days may be <strong>subject to change<\/strong> due to inclement weather or refuge requirements. Many volunteers communicate regularly on Coastal Prairie Chapter&#8217;s Slack channel, #<strong><em>team-attwater<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-right wp-block-paragraph\">Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge<br \/>(979) 205-5862<br \/>1206 APC NWR Road<br \/>Eagle Lake, TX 77434<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Learn More!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/teamup.com\/event\/show\/id\/PB16by9KWdstizjASpVL8JQ9KsNJDK\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Monthly Chapter Program <strong>April 2<\/strong><\/a> | &#8220;Living Dinosaurs on the Prairie: The Evolutionary Story of Birds and the Fight to Save the Attwater Prairie-Chicken&#8221; with Jaide Cooper<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/03\/APCNWR-Boomin-and-Bloomin-Event-Flyer-2026.pdf\" data-type=\"attachment\" data-id=\"121803\">Boomin&#8217; and Bloomin&#8217; Festival <strong>April 11 and 12<\/strong><\/a> | Come enjoy the refuge and witness the lek of the Attwater&#8217;s prairie-chicken; bring the family! (event flyer below)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/glc\/attwater-acclimation-pen-construction-and-rehab-project\/\">Acclimation Pen Construction and Rehab Project<\/a> | Blog by Texas Master Naturalist Gideon Lincecum Chapter<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fws.gov\/refuge\/attwater-prairie-chicken\">Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge<\/a> | USFWS refuge, home of the endangered Attwater prairie-chicken<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile has-background\" style=\"background-color:#f9f7ed;grid-template-columns:25% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"480\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/03\/Jean-Stipelcovich.jpeg?resize=480%2C640&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-121789 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/03\/Jean-Stipelcovich.jpeg?w=480&amp;ssl=1 480w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/03\/Jean-Stipelcovich.jpeg?resize=300%2C400&amp;ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Guest Author: Jean Stipelcovich<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Jean is a collaborative soul who thrives in group settings, which led her to help create a dedicated volunteer team at the Attwater Prairie Chicken NWR (APCNWR). Her core passion lies in relationships, both human and interconnections in nature. She sees them above and below the soil as beautiful models of interdependence worth nurturing and protecting.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div data-wp-interactive=\"core\/file\" class=\"wp-block-file\"><object data-wp-bind--hidden=\"!state.hasPdfPreview\" hidden class=\"wp-block-file__embed\" data=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/03\/APCNWR-Boomin-and-Bloomin-Event-Flyer-2026.pdf\" type=\"application\/pdf\" style=\"width:100%;height:600px\" aria-label=\"Embed of APCNWR Boomin and Bloomin Event Flyer 2026.\"><\/object><a id=\"wp-block-file--media-42dcb754-b0e3-4428-aaf3-091599a85725\" href=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/03\/APCNWR-Boomin-and-Bloomin-Event-Flyer-2026.pdf\">APCNWR Boomin and Bloomin Event Flyer 2026<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/03\/APCNWR-Boomin-and-Bloomin-Event-Flyer-2026.pdf\" class=\"wp-block-file__button wp-element-button\" download aria-describedby=\"wp-block-file--media-42dcb754-b0e3-4428-aaf3-091599a85725\">Download<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Once numbering in the tens of millions, only a few hundred Attwater prairie-chickens depend upon the service of others for their very lives<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1442,"featured_media":121794,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","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_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false},"categories":[59976,40424,3],"tags":[49246,59969],"class_list":["post-121736","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-ornithology","category-volunteers","category-news","tag-attwater-prairie-chicken-nwr","tag-attwaters-prairie-chicken","entry"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/03\/APCNWR-volunteers-by-J.Stipelcovichpg.jpeg?fit=1280%2C959&ssl=1","uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/03\/APCNWR-volunteers-by-J.Stipelcovichpg.jpeg?fit=1280%2C959&ssl=1",1280,959,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/03\/APCNWR-volunteers-by-J.Stipelcovichpg.jpeg?resize=150%2C400&ssl=1",150,400,true],"medium":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/03\/APCNWR-volunteers-by-J.Stipelcovichpg.jpeg?fit=300%2C225&ssl=1",300,225,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/03\/APCNWR-volunteers-by-J.Stipelcovichpg.jpeg?fit=768%2C575&ssl=1",768,575,true],"large":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/03\/APCNWR-volunteers-by-J.Stipelcovichpg.jpeg?fit=1024%2C767&ssl=1",1024,767,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/03\/APCNWR-volunteers-by-J.Stipelcovichpg.jpeg?fit=1280%2C959&ssl=1",1280,959,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/03\/APCNWR-volunteers-by-J.Stipelcovichpg.jpeg?fit=1280%2C959&ssl=1",1280,959,true],"archive":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/03\/APCNWR-volunteers-by-J.Stipelcovichpg.jpeg?resize=400%2C225&ssl=1",400,225,true],"gform-image-choice-sm":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/03\/APCNWR-volunteers-by-J.Stipelcovichpg.jpeg?resize=300%2C300&ssl=1",300,300,true],"gform-image-choice-md":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/03\/APCNWR-volunteers-by-J.Stipelcovichpg.jpeg?resize=400%2C400&ssl=1",400,400,true],"gform-image-choice-lg":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/03\/APCNWR-volunteers-by-J.Stipelcovichpg.jpeg?resize=600%2C600&ssl=1",600,600,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Shannon Westveer","author_link":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/author\/shannonwestveer\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Once numbering in the tens of millions, only a few hundred Attwater prairie-chickens depend upon the service of others for their very lives","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/ph2qpz-vFu","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/121736","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1442"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=121736"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/121736\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/121794"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=121736"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=121736"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=121736"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":121767,"date":"2026-02-28T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-28T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/?p=121767"},"modified":"2026-02-28T08:07:41","modified_gmt":"2026-02-28T14:07:41","slug":"how-nature-wows-and-roots-us-all-march-2026-courier","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/how-nature-wows-and-roots-us-all-march-2026-courier\/","title":{"rendered":"How Nature Wows and Roots Us All, March 2026 Courier"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">Inside Volume 14 Issue 3<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Issue by Co-Editor Masood Murtuza<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Why the Texas Master Naturalist Program Matters<\/em> <em>for Ourselves and for Nature<\/em> by Dr. Barkat Charnia<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Willow Fork Park: A Community Treasure<\/em> by Diane Russell<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Texas Deep Freeze Recovery<\/em> by Lisa Sanders<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>A Red Miracle in Winter!<\/em> by Asli Dural<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The wooded walk cover photo was kindly shared by member Ute Welk<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div data-wp-interactive=\"core\/file\" class=\"wp-block-file\"><object data-wp-bind--hidden=\"!state.hasPdfPreview\" hidden class=\"wp-block-file__embed\" data=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/03\/Coastal_Prairie_Chapter_Courier_2026-3-1.pdf\" type=\"application\/pdf\" style=\"width:100%;height:600px\" aria-label=\"Embed of Coastal_Prairie_Chapter_Courier_2026-3-1.\"><\/object><a id=\"wp-block-file--media-53060563-2438-4f25-b69d-78f5dee5def7\" href=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/03\/Coastal_Prairie_Chapter_Courier_2026-3-1.pdf\">Coastal_Prairie_Chapter_Courier_2026-3-1<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/03\/Coastal_Prairie_Chapter_Courier_2026-3-1.pdf\" class=\"wp-block-file__button wp-element-button\" download aria-describedby=\"wp-block-file--media-53060563-2438-4f25-b69d-78f5dee5def7\">Download<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-left\">Upcoming Events for the Public &#8230; <em>Join Us!<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/teamup.com\/event\/show\/id\/QmS3KSX9SCLcY1naHnubeAUejjrFtD\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/teamup.com\/event\/show\/id\/QmS3KSX9SCLcY1naHnubeAUejjrFtD\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Monthly Bird Hike at Seabourne Creek <strong>March 4<\/strong><\/a> &#8230; <em>our signature project! <\/em>| Birders of all levels welcome<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/teamup.com\/event\/show\/id\/imov6dKoPCLzvEEUzGS1JYMNmoWwtX\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/teamup.com\/event\/show\/id\/imov6dKoPCLzvEEUzGS1JYMNmoWwtX\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Monthly Chapter Program: The Art of Seeing Birds <strong>March 5<\/strong><\/a> | Learn how to better see, identify, and enjoy birds through art and other creative means with other Texas Master Naturalists<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/teamup.com\/event\/show\/id\/nUZDj8jXXwsXmp2KEPp4qcnGJxoDx7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Monthly Nature Hike at Seabourne <strong>March 15<\/strong><\/a> | Enjoy a Texas Master Naturalist guided nature walk at our signature park<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div data-aos= \"slide-up\" data-aos-duration=\"400\" data-aos-delay=\"0\" data-aos-easing=\"ease\" data-aos-once=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-uagb-info-box uagb-block-bf5f7411 uagb-infobox__content-wrap  uagb-infobox-icon-above-title uagb-infobox-image-valign-top\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-content\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-icon-wrap\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M256 159.1c-53.02 0-95.1 42.98-95.1 95.1S202.1 351.1 256 351.1s95.1-42.98 95.1-95.1S309 159.1 256 159.1zM509.3 347L446.1 255.1l63.15-91.01c6.332-9.125 1.104-21.74-9.826-23.72l-109-19.7l-19.7-109c-1.975-10.93-14.59-16.16-23.72-9.824L256 65.89L164.1 2.736c-9.125-6.332-21.74-1.107-23.72 9.824L121.6 121.6L12.56 141.3C1.633 143.2-3.596 155.9 2.736 164.1L65.89 256l-63.15 91.01c-6.332 9.125-1.105 21.74 9.824 23.72l109 19.7l19.7 109c1.975 10.93 14.59 16.16 23.72 9.824L256 446.1l91.01 63.15c9.127 6.334 21.75 1.107 23.72-9.822l19.7-109l109-19.7C510.4 368.8 515.6 356.1 509.3 347zM256 383.1c-70.69 0-127.1-57.31-127.1-127.1c0-70.69 57.31-127.1 127.1-127.1s127.1 57.3 127.1 127.1C383.1 326.7 326.7 383.1 256 383.1z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div><div class=\"uagb-ifb-title-wrap\"><h3 class=\"uagb-ifb-title\">Find Us All Year Long!<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-ifb-separator\"><\/div><p class=\"uagb-ifb-desc\"><a href=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/public-outreach-calendar\/\">Coastal Prairie Outreach Events Calendar<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><a href=\"https:\/\/teamup.com\/event\/show\/id\/hUdDs8HvFaJTZ11h3pXmUdTqMkaEGx\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Nature-Day-Wild-for-Wetlands-Flyer-1024x1024.jpg?resize=1024%2C1024\" alt=\"Nature Day Wild for Wetlands Flyer, April 18, 2026 at Seabourne Creek Nature Park\" class=\"wp-image-121606 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Nature-Day-Wild-for-Wetlands-Flyer.jpg?resize=1024%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Nature-Day-Wild-for-Wetlands-Flyer.jpg?resize=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Nature-Day-Wild-for-Wetlands-Flyer.jpg?resize=768%2C768&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Nature-Day-Wild-for-Wetlands-Flyer.jpg?w=1389&amp;ssl=1 1389w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">Coming Soon &#8230;<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/teamup.com\/event\/show\/id\/hUdDs8HvFaJTZ11h3pXmUdTqMkaEGx\">April 18, 2026 <\/a><br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/teamup.com\/event\/show\/id\/hUdDs8HvFaJTZ11h3pXmUdTqMkaEGx\">Nature Day Wild for Wetlands<\/a><\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-countdown uagb-block-0740a4ca\"><div class=\"wp-block-uagb-countdown__box wp-block-uagb-countdown__box-days\"><div role=\"timer\" aria-live=\"off\" class=\"wp-block-uagb-countdown__time wp-block-uagb-countdown__time-days\">&#8211;<\/div><div class=\"wp-block-uagb-countdown__label\">DAYS<\/div><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-uagb-countdown__box wp-block-uagb-countdown__box-hours\"><div role=\"timer\" aria-live=\"off\" class=\"wp-block-uagb-countdown__time wp-block-uagb-countdown__time-hours\">&#8211;<\/div><div class=\"wp-block-uagb-countdown__label\">HOURS<\/div><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-uagb-countdown__box wp-block-uagb-countdown__box-minutes\"><div role=\"timer\" aria-live=\"off\" class=\"wp-block-uagb-countdown__time wp-block-uagb-countdown__time-minutes\">&#8211;<\/div><div class=\"wp-block-uagb-countdown__label\">MINUTES<\/div><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-uagb-countdown__box wp-block-uagb-countdown__box-seconds\"><div role=\"timer\" aria-live=\"off\" class=\"wp-block-uagb-countdown__time wp-block-uagb-countdown__time-seconds\">&#8211;<\/div><div class=\"wp-block-uagb-countdown__label\">SECONDS<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Texas Master Naturalists know how to find the beauty in all they see, even in winter! Read the full issue here (Cover photo: Ute Welk)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1442,"featured_media":121771,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","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_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false},"categories":[74749,40424,3,40425],"tags":[41089,74779,74777,74778,74651],"class_list":["post-121767","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-animals","category-volunteers","category-news","category-projects","tag-frog","tag-katy","tag-northern-cardinal","tag-willow-fork","tag-winter","entry"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/03\/March-2026-Courier.jpeg?fit=1280%2C738&ssl=1","uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/03\/March-2026-Courier.jpeg?fit=1280%2C738&ssl=1",1280,738,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/03\/March-2026-Courier.jpeg?resize=150%2C400&ssl=1",150,400,true],"medium":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/03\/March-2026-Courier.jpeg?fit=300%2C173&ssl=1",300,173,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/03\/March-2026-Courier.jpeg?fit=768%2C443&ssl=1",768,443,true],"large":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/03\/March-2026-Courier.jpeg?fit=1024%2C590&ssl=1",1024,590,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/03\/March-2026-Courier.jpeg?fit=1280%2C738&ssl=1",1280,738,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/03\/March-2026-Courier.jpeg?fit=1280%2C738&ssl=1",1280,738,true],"archive":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/03\/March-2026-Courier.jpeg?resize=400%2C225&ssl=1",400,225,true],"gform-image-choice-sm":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/03\/March-2026-Courier.jpeg?resize=300%2C300&ssl=1",300,300,true],"gform-image-choice-md":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/03\/March-2026-Courier.jpeg?resize=400%2C400&ssl=1",400,400,true],"gform-image-choice-lg":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/03\/March-2026-Courier.jpeg?resize=600%2C600&ssl=1",600,600,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Shannon Westveer","author_link":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/author\/shannonwestveer\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Texas Master Naturalists know how to find the beauty in all they see, even in winter! Read the full issue here (Cover photo: Ute Welk)","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/ph2qpz-vFZ","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/121767","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1442"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=121767"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/121767\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/121771"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=121767"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=121767"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=121767"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":121629,"date":"2026-02-15T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-15T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/?p=121629"},"modified":"2026-02-16T08:18:01","modified_gmt":"2026-02-16T14:18:01","slug":"invasive-when-introduced-species-run-amok","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/invasive-when-introduced-species-run-amok\/","title":{"rendered":"Invasive: When Introduced Species Run Amok"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"552\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/02\/Texas-Invasives-Species-Page-1024x552.jpeg?resize=1024%2C552\" alt=\"Texas Invasives: Species Page, Lantana camara\" class=\"wp-image-121670\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/02\/Texas-Invasives-Species-Page.jpeg?resize=1024%2C552&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/02\/Texas-Invasives-Species-Page.jpeg?resize=300%2C162&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/02\/Texas-Invasives-Species-Page.jpeg?resize=768%2C414&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/02\/Texas-Invasives-Species-Page.jpeg?resize=1536%2C828&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/02\/Texas-Invasives-Species-Page.jpeg?resize=2048%2C1104&amp;ssl=1 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Texas Invasives: Species Page, Lantana camara <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">Not All Introduced Species Are Invasive<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The word &#8220;native&#8221; to a well-informed Texas Master Naturalist is different from what is advertised in box stores. &#8220;Texas native&#8221; might very well be indigenous, but remember that El Paso in west Texas is 830 highway miles from Beaumont on the opposite border; annual rainfall between those extremes can differ by a couple dozen inches or more. Their geology and climate are also in stark contrast. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;Cultivars (or &#8220;nativars&#8221;) are clever names we&#8217;ve given to plants fiddled with by humans to promote certain qualities and features, like bigger blooms or leafier vegetation. DNA modifications often come at the expense of something else, much to the detriment of the insect wildlife \u2014 think bees and butterflies \u2014 that use them. Like dogs from wolves, these human-created Frankenstein plants are far removed from the countries they historically inhabited, from the natives they once were.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When you&#8217;re a plant evolved over thousands of years to preferred soil, precipitation, climate, and wildlife relationships, locality really matters!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Native<\/strong> (noun) &#8211; an organism indigenous to the area it inhabits, coevolved to other organisms also in the system<\/p>\n<cite>Merriam-Webster<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Species that become invaders are from other parts of the world, far from Texas borders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/5rLN975cW_0?version=3&#038;rel=0&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">Fort Bend Creatures Gone Wild<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Around 10% of introduced plants become invasive in Texas. They arrive to Texas usually without the ecological system they evolved with. Sometimes, they are able to grow and thrive unchecked by our system, outcompeting native species. They spread in destructive ways &#8230; they become ecosystem destroyers. The Texas Master Naturalist curriculum textbook states that invasive species are &#8220;the second leading cause of declining species diversity after habitat loss.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Learn to recognize the top offenders in and around Fort Bend County, especially plants. Identify and remove them, replace with species native to the coastal prairie ecoregion where we reside. Find information on recommended mechanical, chemical, or biological methods of removal at <a href=\"https:\/\/texasinvasives.org\">TexasInvasives.org<\/a>. (A clickable quick-sheet PDF has been provided below for convenience.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Invasive<\/strong> (noun) &#8211; an organism that is not native to the place where found and tends to grow and spread easily, usually to the detriment of native species and ecosystems<\/p>\n<cite>Merriam-Webster<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"682\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"121671\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/02\/Water-hyacinth-by-SWestveer-682x1024.jpeg?resize=682%2C1024&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-121671\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/02\/Water-hyacinth-by-SWestveer.jpeg?resize=682%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 682w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/02\/Water-hyacinth-by-SWestveer.jpeg?resize=300%2C450&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/02\/Water-hyacinth-by-SWestveer.jpeg?resize=768%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/02\/Water-hyacinth-by-SWestveer.jpeg?w=853&amp;ssl=1 853w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 682px) 100vw, 682px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Water hyacinth<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"492\" data-id=\"73313\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2015\/10\/feral-hog.jpg?resize=600%2C492&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-73313\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2015\/10\/feral-hog.jpg?w=600&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2015\/10\/feral-hog.jpg?resize=300%2C246&amp;ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Feral Hog<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" data-id=\"92142\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2021\/05\/apple_snail_eggs_shadowcreekranch_DSC_9580-1024x683.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Channelized apple snail egg mass\" class=\"wp-image-92142\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2021\/05\/apple_snail_eggs_shadowcreekranch_DSC_9580-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2021\/05\/apple_snail_eggs_shadowcreekranch_DSC_9580-scaled.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2021\/05\/apple_snail_eggs_shadowcreekranch_DSC_9580-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2021\/05\/apple_snail_eggs_shadowcreekranch_DSC_9580-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2021\/05\/apple_snail_eggs_shadowcreekranch_DSC_9580-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1365&amp;ssl=1 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Channelized apple snail egg mass<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:15px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-image alignleft uagb-block-6922263a wp-block-uagb-image--layout-overlay wp-block-uagb-image--effect-static wp-block-uagb-image--align-left\"><figure class=\"wp-block-uagb-image__figure\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/02\/Lantana-camara-flower-leaves-by-Alvesgaspar-1024x768.jpeg ,https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/02\/Lantana-camara-flower-leaves-by-Alvesgaspar.jpeg 780w, https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/02\/Lantana-camara-flower-leaves-by-Alvesgaspar.jpeg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 150px\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/02\/Lantana-camara-flower-leaves-by-Alvesgaspar-1024x768.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"uag-image-121672\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" title=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" role=\"presentation\"\/><div class=\"wp-block-uagb-image--layout-overlay__color-wrapper\"><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-uagb-image--layout-overlay__inner top-left\"><h3 class=\"uagb-image-heading\">Invasive Spotlight: <em>Lantana camara<\/em><\/h3><figcaption class=\"uagb-image-caption\">Lantana camara image by Alvesgaspar, Wiki Commons<\/figcaption><\/div><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to the species sheet at TexasInvasives.org, <a href=\"https:\/\/texasinvasives.org\/plant_database\/detail.php?symbol=LACA2\">hyperlinked LACA2<\/a> in the file below, <em>Lantana camara<\/em> (also known as <em>Lantana x strigocamara<\/em>) can be easily removed by mechanical methods \u2014 pulling the plant, taproot and all. It is often mistaken for the Texas native <em>Lantana urticoides<\/em>, a favorite and well-behaved landscape nectar shrub that reliably attracts butterflies and bees. Nurseries may sell a sterilized cultivar look-alike; the taxonomy (scientific name) on the tag will help guide you. But should the plant ever develop <strong>black seeds<\/strong> after planting, it should be <strong>removed immediately<\/strong>. Urban birds like mockingbird and northern cardinal will readily eat the seeds, disperse them into the wild environment with their excrement: poop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The more we and our neighbors learn about a plant&#8217;s habits and how they behave in the system, the better stewards we can all be to the larger environment in and around our neighborhoods. As a predominantly privately-held land state, volunteerism and knowledge is key to any successful conservation efforts made by our government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The insect wildlife and systems connected with our spaces depend upon our active involvement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div data-wp-interactive=\"core\/file\" class=\"wp-block-file\"><object data-wp-bind--hidden=\"!state.hasPdfPreview\" hidden class=\"wp-block-file__embed\" data=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/02\/Fort-Bend-Texas-Invasive-Plants.pdf\" type=\"application\/pdf\" style=\"width:100%;height:490px\" aria-label=\"Embed of Fort Bend Texas Invasive Plants.\"><\/object><a id=\"wp-block-file--media-ba86a176-b1de-4c45-b247-d241b93dbe50\" href=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/02\/Fort-Bend-Texas-Invasive-Plants.pdf\">Fort Bend Texas Invasive Plants<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/02\/Fort-Bend-Texas-Invasive-Plants.pdf\" class=\"wp-block-file__button wp-element-button\" download aria-describedby=\"wp-block-file--media-ba86a176-b1de-4c45-b247-d241b93dbe50\">Download<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Additional Resources<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Invasive Species Awareness Week is <strong>February 23-27<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/tpwd.texas.gov\/huntwild\/wild\/species\/exotic\/prohibited_aquatic.phtml\">Prohibited and Controlled Exotic Species<\/a> | Texas Parks and Wildlife Department<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/naisma.org\">North American Invasive Species Management Association (NAISMA)<\/a> | Get involved!<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/texasinvasives.org\">Texas Invasive Species<\/a> | Plant and animal species selected as &#8220;invasive&#8221; in Texas by a consortium of state sponsors (including Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and Texas A&amp;M AgriLife Extension Service)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.inaturalist.org\/observations?introduced&amp;place_id=1556&amp;quality_grade=research&amp;view=species\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.inaturalist.org\/observations?introduced&amp;place_id=1556&amp;quality_grade=research&amp;view=species\">iNaturalist Introduced Plants in Fort Bend County<\/a> | There are more than 500+ documented by citizen scientists in this one county alone &#8230; nearly 2,000 in the entire State of Texas<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:24px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div data-aos= \"zoom-out-right\" data-aos-duration=\"400\" data-aos-delay=\"0\" data-aos-easing=\"ease\" data-aos-once=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-uagb-info-box uagb-block-dcb7dfb7 uagb-infobox__content-wrap  uagb-infobox-icon-above-title uagb-infobox-image-valign-top\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-content\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-icon-wrap\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 576 512\"><path d=\"M252 208C252 196.1 260.1 188 272 188H288C299 188 308 196.1 308 208V276H312C323 276 332 284.1 332 296C332 307 323 316 312 316H264C252.1 316 244 307 244 296C244 284.1 252.1 276 264 276H268V227.6C258.9 225.7 252 217.7 252 208zM512 64C547.3 64 576 92.65 576 128V384C576 419.3 547.3 448 512 448H64C28.65 448 0 419.3 0 384V128C0 92.65 28.65 64 64 64H512zM128 384C128 348.7 99.35 320 64 320V384H128zM64 192C99.35 192 128 163.3 128 128H64V192zM512 384V320C476.7 320 448 348.7 448 384H512zM512 128H448C448 163.3 476.7 192 512 192V128zM288 144C226.1 144 176 194.1 176 256C176 317.9 226.1 368 288 368C349.9 368 400 317.9 400 256C400 194.1 349.9 144 288 144z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div><div class=\"uagb-ifb-title-wrap\"><h3 class=\"uagb-ifb-title\">Stop the Spread &#8230; with Purchases:<\/h3><\/div><p class=\"uagb-ifb-desc\">Select only locally native plants for your yard and balcony<br \/>Notify local nursery management of a known invasive plant for sale<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div data-aos= \"fade-left\" data-aos-duration=\"400\" data-aos-delay=\"0\" data-aos-easing=\"ease\" data-aos-once=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-uagb-info-box uagb-block-4aeb6de5 uagb-infobox__content-wrap  uagb-infobox-icon-above-title uagb-infobox-image-valign-top\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-content\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-icon-wrap\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 576 512\"><path d=\"M549.8 237.5c-31.23-5.719-46.84-20.06-47.13-20.31C490.4 205 470.3 205.1 457.7 216.8c-1 .9375-25.14 23-73.73 23s-72.73-22.06-73.38-22.62C298.4 204.9 278.3 205.1 265.7 216.8c-1 .9375-25.14 23-73.73 23S119.3 217.8 118.6 217.2C106.4 204.9 86.35 205 73.74 216.9C73.09 217.4 57.48 231.8 26.24 237.5c-17.38 3.188-28.89 19.84-25.72 37.22c3.188 17.38 19.78 29.09 37.25 25.72C63.1 295.8 82.49 287.1 95.96 279.2c19.5 11.53 51.47 24.68 96.04 24.68c44.55 0 76.49-13.12 96-24.65c19.52 11.53 51.45 24.59 96 24.59c44.58 0 76.55-13.09 96.05-24.62c13.47 7.938 32.86 16.62 58.19 21.25c17.56 3.375 34.06-8.344 37.25-25.72C578.7 257.4 567.2 240.7 549.8 237.5zM549.8 381.7c-31.23-5.719-46.84-20.06-47.13-20.31c-12.22-12.19-32.31-12.12-44.91-.375C456.7 361.9 432.6 384 384 384s-72.73-22.06-73.38-22.62c-12.22-12.25-32.3-12.12-44.89-.375C264.7 361.9 240.6 384 192 384s-72.73-22.06-73.38-22.62c-12.22-12.25-32.28-12.16-44.89-.3438c-.6562 .5938-16.27 14.94-47.5 20.66c-17.38 3.188-28.89 19.84-25.72 37.22C3.713 436.3 20.31 448 37.78 444.6C63.1 440 82.49 431.3 95.96 423.4c19.5 11.53 51.51 24.62 96.08 24.62c44.55 0 76.45-13.06 95.96-24.59C307.5 434.9 339.5 448 384.1 448c44.58 0 76.5-13.09 95.1-24.62c13.47 7.938 32.86 16.62 58.19 21.25C555.8 448 572.3 436.3 575.5 418.9C578.7 401.5 567.2 384.9 549.8 381.7zM37.78 156.4c25.33-4.625 44.72-13.31 58.19-21.25c19.5 11.53 51.47 24.68 96.04 24.68c44.55 0 76.49-13.12 96-24.65c19.52 11.53 51.45 24.59 96 24.59c44.58 0 76.55-13.09 96.05-24.62c13.47 7.938 32.86 16.62 58.19 21.25c17.56 3.375 34.06-8.344 37.25-25.72c3.172-17.38-8.344-34.03-25.72-37.22c-31.23-5.719-46.84-20.06-47.13-20.31c-12.22-12.19-32.31-12.12-44.91-.375c-1 .9375-25.14 23-73.73 23s-72.73-22.06-73.38-22.62c-12.22-12.25-32.3-12.12-44.89-.375c-1 .9375-25.14 23-73.73 23S119.3 73.76 118.6 73.2C106.4 60.95 86.35 61.04 73.74 72.85C73.09 73.45 57.48 87.79 26.24 93.51c-17.38 3.188-28.89 19.84-25.72 37.22C3.713 148.1 20.31 159.8 37.78 156.4z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div><div class=\"uagb-ifb-title-wrap\"><h3 class=\"uagb-ifb-title\">Stop the Spread &#8230; in Waterways:<\/h3><\/div><p class=\"uagb-ifb-desc\">Leave plants and animals where you found them<br \/>Discard aquarium contents responsibly &#8230; <em>never<\/em> in open bodies of water<br \/>Empty and clean your boat&#8217;s bilge before transporting<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div data-aos= \"zoom-out-up\" data-aos-duration=\"400\" data-aos-delay=\"0\" data-aos-easing=\"ease\" data-aos-once=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-uagb-info-box uagb-block-7b922d5a uagb-infobox__content-wrap  uagb-infobox-icon-above-title uagb-infobox-image-valign-top\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-content\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-icon-wrap\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 576 512\"><path d=\"M328.1 112L563.7 405.4C571.7 415.4 576 427.7 576 440.4V464C576 490.5 554.5 512 528 512H48C21.49 512 0 490.5 0 464V440.4C0 427.7 4.328 415.4 12.27 405.4L247 112L199 51.99C187.1 38.19 190.2 18.05 204 7.013C217.8-4.027 237.9-1.789 248.1 12.01L288 60.78L327 12.01C338.1-1.789 358.2-4.027 371.1 7.013C385.8 18.05 388 38.19 376.1 51.99L328.1 112zM407.5 448L288 291.7L168.5 448H407.5z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div><div class=\"uagb-ifb-title-wrap\"><h3 class=\"uagb-ifb-title\">Stop the Spread &#8230; with Camping and Equipment:<\/h3><\/div><p class=\"uagb-ifb-desc\">Leave plants and animals where you found them<br \/>Purchase and burn firewood <em>only<\/em> from local sources<br \/>Clean your boots and equipment to remove seed <\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Not all introduced species are invaders, but Texas invasive species are ecosystem disrupters. Learn who they are and how to battle them<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1442,"featured_media":121670,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","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_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false},"categories":[3,93],"tags":[49327,74776,49271,49168],"class_list":["post-121629","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-news","category-plants","tag-invasive-species","tag-lantana-camara","tag-nature-video","tag-tpwd","entry"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/02\/Texas-Invasives-Species-Page.jpeg?fit=2530%2C1364&ssl=1","uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/02\/Texas-Invasives-Species-Page.jpeg?fit=2530%2C1364&ssl=1",2530,1364,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/02\/Texas-Invasives-Species-Page.jpeg?resize=150%2C400&ssl=1",150,400,true],"medium":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/02\/Texas-Invasives-Species-Page.jpeg?fit=300%2C162&ssl=1",300,162,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/02\/Texas-Invasives-Species-Page.jpeg?fit=768%2C414&ssl=1",768,414,true],"large":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/02\/Texas-Invasives-Species-Page.jpeg?fit=1024%2C552&ssl=1",1024,552,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/02\/Texas-Invasives-Species-Page.jpeg?fit=1536%2C828&ssl=1",1536,828,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/02\/Texas-Invasives-Species-Page.jpeg?fit=2048%2C1104&ssl=1",2048,1104,true],"archive":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/02\/Texas-Invasives-Species-Page.jpeg?resize=400%2C225&ssl=1",400,225,true],"gform-image-choice-sm":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/02\/Texas-Invasives-Species-Page.jpeg?resize=300%2C300&ssl=1",300,300,true],"gform-image-choice-md":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/02\/Texas-Invasives-Species-Page.jpeg?resize=400%2C400&ssl=1",400,400,true],"gform-image-choice-lg":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/02\/Texas-Invasives-Species-Page.jpeg?resize=600%2C600&ssl=1",600,600,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Shannon Westveer","author_link":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/author\/shannonwestveer\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Not all introduced species are invaders, but Texas invasive species are ecosystem disrupters. Learn who they are and how to battle them","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/ph2qpz-vDL","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/121629","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1442"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=121629"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/121629\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/121670"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=121629"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=121629"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=121629"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":121662,"date":"2026-02-08T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-08T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/?p=121662"},"modified":"2026-02-02T15:08:08","modified_gmt":"2026-02-02T21:08:08","slug":"a-year-in-review-2025-in-photos-and-numbers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/a-year-in-review-2025-in-photos-and-numbers\/","title":{"rendered":"A Year in Review, 2025 in Photos and Numbers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/02\/Susan-with-Kerry-by-CParker-1024x683.jpg?resize=1024%2C683\" alt=\"2025 President Susan Walther and Secretary Kerry Padilla\" class=\"wp-image-121664\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/02\/Susan-with-Kerry-by-CParker.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/02\/Susan-with-Kerry-by-CParker.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/02\/Susan-with-Kerry-by-CParker.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/02\/Susan-with-Kerry-by-CParker.jpg?w=1425&amp;ssl=1 1425w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">2025 President Susan Walther and Secretary Kerry Padilla<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">From the Outgoing President<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Susan Walther, Chapter President from 2024-2025, summed up a remarkable year for Texas Master Naturalists Coastal Prairie Chapter in a meeting slide stack, shared with membership at the last meeting of the year \u2014 the Holiday Party. Thank you to every member who contributed in so many ways in support of our Mission. Volunteers: you keep service work joyous and rewarding for all who live in our communities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">(Stats within were compiled late November 2025.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div data-wp-interactive=\"core\/file\" class=\"wp-block-file\"><object data-wp-bind--hidden=\"!state.hasPdfPreview\" hidden class=\"wp-block-file__embed\" data=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/02\/2025-A-Year-in-Review.pdf\" type=\"application\/pdf\" style=\"width:100%;height:450px\" aria-label=\"Embed of 2025 A Year in Review.\"><\/object><a id=\"wp-block-file--media-ef0dc7cd-e02c-408e-8df2-18a2a0e1e888\" href=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/02\/2025-A-Year-in-Review.pdf\">2025 A Year in Review<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/02\/2025-A-Year-in-Review.pdf\" class=\"wp-block-file__button wp-element-button\" download aria-describedby=\"wp-block-file--media-ef0dc7cd-e02c-408e-8df2-18a2a0e1e888\">Download<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div data-aos= \"slide-up\" data-aos-duration=\"400\" data-aos-delay=\"0\" data-aos-easing=\"ease\" data-aos-once=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-uagb-info-box uagb-block-bf5f7411 uagb-infobox__content-wrap  uagb-infobox-icon-above-title uagb-infobox-image-valign-top\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-content\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-icon-wrap\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M256 159.1c-53.02 0-95.1 42.98-95.1 95.1S202.1 351.1 256 351.1s95.1-42.98 95.1-95.1S309 159.1 256 159.1zM509.3 347L446.1 255.1l63.15-91.01c6.332-9.125 1.104-21.74-9.826-23.72l-109-19.7l-19.7-109c-1.975-10.93-14.59-16.16-23.72-9.824L256 65.89L164.1 2.736c-9.125-6.332-21.74-1.107-23.72 9.824L121.6 121.6L12.56 141.3C1.633 143.2-3.596 155.9 2.736 164.1L65.89 256l-63.15 91.01c-6.332 9.125-1.105 21.74 9.824 23.72l109 19.7l19.7 109c1.975 10.93 14.59 16.16 23.72 9.824L256 446.1l91.01 63.15c9.127 6.334 21.75 1.107 23.72-9.822l19.7-109l109-19.7C510.4 368.8 515.6 356.1 509.3 347zM256 383.1c-70.69 0-127.1-57.31-127.1-127.1c0-70.69 57.31-127.1 127.1-127.1s127.1 57.3 127.1 127.1C383.1 326.7 326.7 383.1 256 383.1z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div><div class=\"uagb-ifb-title-wrap\"><h3 class=\"uagb-ifb-title\">Find Us All Year Long!<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-ifb-separator\"><\/div><p class=\"uagb-ifb-desc\"><a href=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/public-outreach-calendar\/\">Coastal Prairie Outreach Events Calendar<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Nature-Day-Wild-for-Wetlands-Flyer-1024x1024.jpg?resize=1024%2C1024\" alt=\"Nature Day Wild for Wetlands Flyer, April 18, 2026 at Seabourne Creek Nature Park\" class=\"wp-image-121606 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Nature-Day-Wild-for-Wetlands-Flyer.jpg?resize=1024%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Nature-Day-Wild-for-Wetlands-Flyer.jpg?resize=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Nature-Day-Wild-for-Wetlands-Flyer.jpg?resize=768%2C768&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Nature-Day-Wild-for-Wetlands-Flyer.jpg?w=1389&amp;ssl=1 1389w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">Next FREE Nature Day: <br \/><br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/teamup.com\/event\/show\/id\/ChFxi51e3kiZExzvWSrLJ7Qajzjpic\">April 18, 2026 <\/a><br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/teamup.com\/event\/show\/id\/ChFxi51e3kiZExzvWSrLJ7Qajzjpic\">at Seabourne Creek Nature Park<\/a><br \/>in Rosenberg, TX<\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-countdown uagb-block-e035e864\"><div class=\"wp-block-uagb-countdown__box wp-block-uagb-countdown__box-days\"><div role=\"timer\" aria-live=\"off\" class=\"wp-block-uagb-countdown__time wp-block-uagb-countdown__time-days\">&#8211;<\/div><div class=\"wp-block-uagb-countdown__label\">DAYS<\/div><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-uagb-countdown__box wp-block-uagb-countdown__box-hours\"><div role=\"timer\" aria-live=\"off\" class=\"wp-block-uagb-countdown__time wp-block-uagb-countdown__time-hours\">&#8211;<\/div><div class=\"wp-block-uagb-countdown__label\">HOURS<\/div><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-uagb-countdown__box wp-block-uagb-countdown__box-minutes\"><div role=\"timer\" aria-live=\"off\" class=\"wp-block-uagb-countdown__time wp-block-uagb-countdown__time-minutes\">&#8211;<\/div><div class=\"wp-block-uagb-countdown__label\">MINUTES<\/div><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-uagb-countdown__box wp-block-uagb-countdown__box-seconds\"><div role=\"timer\" aria-live=\"off\" class=\"wp-block-uagb-countdown__time wp-block-uagb-countdown__time-seconds\">&#8211;<\/div><div class=\"wp-block-uagb-countdown__label\">SECONDS<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Immediate Past-President Susan Walther shares a slide stack PDF highlights of her last year as Chapter President; view it here<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1442,"featured_media":121664,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","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_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false},"categories":[40424,3,74638,49161],"tags":[74686,48107,74753,74774,74772,74773,74775,7820],"class_list":["post-121662","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-volunteers","category-news","category-seabourne-creek","category-success-stories","tag-tmnannualmeeting","tag-big-sit","tag-grant","tag-hmns-sugar-land","tag-holiday-party","tag-milestones","tag-sugar-land","tag-training","entry"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/02\/Susan-with-Kerry-by-CParker.jpg?fit=1425%2C950&ssl=1","uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/02\/Susan-with-Kerry-by-CParker.jpg?fit=1425%2C950&ssl=1",1425,950,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/02\/Susan-with-Kerry-by-CParker.jpg?resize=150%2C400&ssl=1",150,400,true],"medium":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/02\/Susan-with-Kerry-by-CParker.jpg?fit=300%2C200&ssl=1",300,200,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/02\/Susan-with-Kerry-by-CParker.jpg?fit=768%2C512&ssl=1",768,512,true],"large":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/02\/Susan-with-Kerry-by-CParker.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1",1024,683,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/02\/Susan-with-Kerry-by-CParker.jpg?fit=1425%2C950&ssl=1",1425,950,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/02\/Susan-with-Kerry-by-CParker.jpg?fit=1425%2C950&ssl=1",1425,950,true],"archive":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/02\/Susan-with-Kerry-by-CParker.jpg?resize=400%2C225&ssl=1",400,225,true],"gform-image-choice-sm":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/02\/Susan-with-Kerry-by-CParker.jpg?resize=300%2C300&ssl=1",300,300,true],"gform-image-choice-md":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/02\/Susan-with-Kerry-by-CParker.jpg?resize=400%2C400&ssl=1",400,400,true],"gform-image-choice-lg":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/02\/Susan-with-Kerry-by-CParker.jpg?resize=600%2C600&ssl=1",600,600,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Shannon Westveer","author_link":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/author\/shannonwestveer\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Immediate Past-President Susan Walther shares a slide stack PDF highlights of her last year as Chapter President; view it here","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/ph2qpz-vEi","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/121662","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1442"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=121662"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/121662\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/121664"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=121662"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=121662"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=121662"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":121612,"date":"2026-02-01T05:06:37","date_gmt":"2026-02-01T11:06:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/?p=121612"},"modified":"2026-02-01T05:06:41","modified_gmt":"2026-02-01T11:06:41","slug":"no-rest-for-winter-volunteers-february-2026-issue-courier","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/no-rest-for-winter-volunteers-february-2026-issue-courier\/","title":{"rendered":"No Rest for Winter Volunteers, February 2026 Issue Courier"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"574\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Courier-February-2026-1024x574.jpeg?resize=1024%2C574\" alt=\"February 2026 Courier cover image, great blue heron by Raymond Choo\" class=\"wp-image-121633\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Courier-February-2026.jpeg?resize=1024%2C574&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Courier-February-2026.jpeg?resize=300%2C168&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Courier-February-2026.jpeg?resize=768%2C431&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Courier-February-2026.jpeg?resize=400%2C225&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Courier-February-2026.jpeg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">February 2026 Courier cover image, great blue heron by Raymond Choo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">Inside Volume 14 Issue 2<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>12-page issue crafted and created by <strong>Co-Editor Jo Cosbey<\/strong> and the <em>Courier<\/em> team<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Susan Walther Achieved 5,000 Hours Milestone<\/em> by Bert Stipelcovich<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Book Review: <em>Around the World in 80 Plants<\/em> by Jim &#8220;The Grand Poobah&#8221; Butcher<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Getting to Know Our Seabourne Creek Nature Park Prairie Plants VII: A Few of the Earliest to Bloom<\/em> by Susie Doe<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>The Search for the Streak-backed Oriole<\/em> by Erik Wolf<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cover image of a great blue heron in courtship display was generously shared by Fulshear community member and photographer, Raymond Choo<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div data-wp-interactive=\"core\/file\" class=\"wp-block-file\"><object data-wp-bind--hidden=\"!state.hasPdfPreview\" hidden class=\"wp-block-file__embed\" data=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/02\/Coastal_Prairie_Chapter_Courier_2026-2-1.pdf\" type=\"application\/pdf\" style=\"width:100%;height:600px\" aria-label=\"Embed of Coastal_Prairie_Chapter_Courier_2026-2-1.\"><\/object><a id=\"wp-block-file--media-d45c4f88-49af-40ed-b76a-d61b575fbb38\" href=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/02\/Coastal_Prairie_Chapter_Courier_2026-2-1.pdf\">Coastal_Prairie_Chapter_Courier_2026-2-1<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/02\/Coastal_Prairie_Chapter_Courier_2026-2-1.pdf\" class=\"wp-block-file__button wp-element-button\" download aria-describedby=\"wp-block-file--media-d45c4f88-49af-40ed-b76a-d61b575fbb38\">Download<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Upcoming Events<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Spring 2026 Training Class is FULL<\/strong> | Complete the form at <a href=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/become-a-texas-master-naturalist\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/become-a-texas-master-naturalist\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Become a Texas Master Naturalist!<\/a> to be notified by email when enrollment opens again for the next course early July<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/teamup.com\/event\/show\/id\/UiCdq5fzmfj9hACCiLF1SP9gxqaez2\">Monthly Bird Hike at Seabourne Creek <strong>February 4<\/strong><\/a> | <em>Our signature project! <\/em>Birders of all levels are welcome to come<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/teamup.com\/event\/show\/id\/3ABg3DqzHtgzNXuJgic6tiVuqytkcf\">Monthly Chapter Program: Creatures of the Aquifers <strong>February 5<\/strong><\/a> | Learn with Texas Master Naturalists about the secret lives in Texas&#8217; groundwater by Benjamin Schwartz<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/teamup.com\/event\/show\/id\/KgkgwQ16bcqyPj6DYHvsAY4hfvNibg\">Houston Museum of Natural Science at Sugar Land <strong>February 14<\/strong><\/a> | &#8220;Leave No Trace&#8221; outreach table for museum members<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/teamup.com\/event\/show\/id\/UAnBNwnGVKjWowr5Sf96zPRqQoK1Cd\">Nature Walk at Seabourne Creek <strong>February 15<\/strong><\/a> | <em>Our signature project! <\/em>All are welcome to enjoy a casual hike with a Texas Master Naturalist guide<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>February 2<\/strong> is <a href=\"https:\/\/tpwd.texas.gov\/landwater\/water\/habitats\/wetland\/\">World Wetlands Day<\/a>! | Be sure to pin the next public event featuring wetlands to your calendar \ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><a href=\"https:\/\/teamup.com\/event\/show\/id\/hUdDs8HvFaJTZ11h3pXmUdTqMkaEGx\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Nature-Day-Wild-for-Wetlands-Flyer-1024x1024.jpg?resize=1024%2C1024\" alt=\"Nature Day Wild for Wetlands Flyer, April 18, 2026 at Seabourne Creek Nature Park\" class=\"wp-image-121606 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Nature-Day-Wild-for-Wetlands-Flyer.jpg?resize=1024%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Nature-Day-Wild-for-Wetlands-Flyer.jpg?resize=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Nature-Day-Wild-for-Wetlands-Flyer.jpg?resize=768%2C768&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Nature-Day-Wild-for-Wetlands-Flyer.jpg?w=1389&amp;ssl=1 1389w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">Save the Date:<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/teamup.com\/event\/show\/id\/hUdDs8HvFaJTZ11h3pXmUdTqMkaEGx\">April 18, 2026 <\/a><br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/teamup.com\/event\/show\/id\/hUdDs8HvFaJTZ11h3pXmUdTqMkaEGx\">Nature Day Wild for Wetlands<\/a><\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-countdown uagb-block-0740a4ca\"><div class=\"wp-block-uagb-countdown__box wp-block-uagb-countdown__box-days\"><div role=\"timer\" aria-live=\"off\" class=\"wp-block-uagb-countdown__time wp-block-uagb-countdown__time-days\">&#8211;<\/div><div class=\"wp-block-uagb-countdown__label\">DAYS<\/div><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-uagb-countdown__box wp-block-uagb-countdown__box-hours\"><div role=\"timer\" aria-live=\"off\" class=\"wp-block-uagb-countdown__time wp-block-uagb-countdown__time-hours\">&#8211;<\/div><div class=\"wp-block-uagb-countdown__label\">HOURS<\/div><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-uagb-countdown__box wp-block-uagb-countdown__box-minutes\"><div role=\"timer\" aria-live=\"off\" class=\"wp-block-uagb-countdown__time wp-block-uagb-countdown__time-minutes\">&#8211;<\/div><div class=\"wp-block-uagb-countdown__label\">MINUTES<\/div><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-uagb-countdown__box wp-block-uagb-countdown__box-seconds\"><div role=\"timer\" aria-live=\"off\" class=\"wp-block-uagb-countdown__time wp-block-uagb-countdown__time-seconds\">&#8211;<\/div><div class=\"wp-block-uagb-countdown__label\">SECONDS<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div data-aos= \"flip-left\" data-aos-duration=\"400\" data-aos-delay=\"0\" data-aos-easing=\"ease\" data-aos-once=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-uagb-info-box uagb-block-8733e1fe uagb-infobox__content-wrap  uagb-infobox-icon-above-title uagb-infobox-image-valign-top\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-content\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-icon-wrap\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 640 512\"><path d=\"M288 48C288 21.49 309.5 0 336 0H432C458.5 0 480 21.49 480 48V192H520V120C520 106.7 530.7 96 544 96C557.3 96 568 106.7 568 120V192H592C618.5 192 640 213.5 640 240V464C640 490.5 618.5 512 592 512H336C309.5 512 288 490.5 288 464V48zM352 112C352 120.8 359.2 128 368 128H400C408.8 128 416 120.8 416 112V80C416 71.16 408.8 64 400 64H368C359.2 64 352 71.16 352 80V112zM368 160C359.2 160 352 167.2 352 176V208C352 216.8 359.2 224 368 224H400C408.8 224 416 216.8 416 208V176C416 167.2 408.8 160 400 160H368zM352 304C352 312.8 359.2 320 368 320H400C408.8 320 416 312.8 416 304V272C416 263.2 408.8 256 400 256H368C359.2 256 352 263.2 352 272V304zM528 256C519.2 256 512 263.2 512 272V304C512 312.8 519.2 320 528 320H560C568.8 320 576 312.8 576 304V272C576 263.2 568.8 256 560 256H528zM512 400C512 408.8 519.2 416 528 416H560C568.8 416 576 408.8 576 400V368C576 359.2 568.8 352 560 352H528C519.2 352 512 359.2 512 368V400zM224 160C224 166 223 171 222 176C242 190 256 214 256 240C256 285 220 320 176 320H160V480C160 498 145 512 128 512C110 512 96 498 96 480V320H80C35 320 0 285 0 240C0 214 13 190 33 176C32 171 32 166 32 160C32 107 74 64 128 64C181 64 224 107 224 160z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div><div class=\"uagb-ifb-title-wrap\"><h3 class=\"uagb-ifb-title\">Come Join Us!<\/h3><\/div><p class=\"uagb-ifb-desc\">All winter, Coastal Prairie Chapter <br \/>members serve The Mission both indoors and out. <br \/>Explore our <a href=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/public-outreach-calendar\/\">Public Outreach Calendar<\/a> and<br \/>let us connect you with nature where you are.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When weather brings Master Naturalists indoors, they bring the joys of nature with them; read the full issue here (Cover photo: Raymond Choo)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1442,"featured_media":121633,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","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_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false},"categories":[59976,40424,3,93],"tags":[74747,74651],"class_list":["post-121612","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-ornithology","category-volunteers","category-news","category-plants","tag-courier","tag-winter","entry"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Courier-February-2026.jpeg?fit=1280%2C718&ssl=1","uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Courier-February-2026.jpeg?fit=1280%2C718&ssl=1",1280,718,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Courier-February-2026.jpeg?resize=150%2C400&ssl=1",150,400,true],"medium":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Courier-February-2026.jpeg?fit=300%2C168&ssl=1",300,168,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Courier-February-2026.jpeg?fit=768%2C431&ssl=1",768,431,true],"large":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Courier-February-2026.jpeg?fit=1024%2C574&ssl=1",1024,574,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Courier-February-2026.jpeg?fit=1280%2C718&ssl=1",1280,718,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Courier-February-2026.jpeg?fit=1280%2C718&ssl=1",1280,718,true],"archive":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Courier-February-2026.jpeg?resize=400%2C225&ssl=1",400,225,true],"gform-image-choice-sm":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Courier-February-2026.jpeg?resize=300%2C300&ssl=1",300,300,true],"gform-image-choice-md":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Courier-February-2026.jpeg?resize=400%2C400&ssl=1",400,400,true],"gform-image-choice-lg":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Courier-February-2026.jpeg?resize=600%2C600&ssl=1",600,600,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Shannon Westveer","author_link":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/author\/shannonwestveer\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"When weather brings Master Naturalists indoors, they bring the joys of nature with them; read the full issue here (Cover photo: Raymond Choo)","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/ph2qpz-vDu","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/121612","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1442"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=121612"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/121612\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/121633"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=121612"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=121612"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=121612"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":121480,"date":"2026-01-15T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-15T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/?p=121480"},"modified":"2026-02-05T09:30:18","modified_gmt":"2026-02-05T15:30:18","slug":"seeding-natives-beautify-landscapes-sustain-a-larger-biological-community","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/seeding-natives-beautify-landscapes-sustain-a-larger-biological-community\/","title":{"rendered":"Seeding Natives Beautify Landscapes, Sustain a Larger Biological Community"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Coreopsis_and_native_bee_SWestveer-1024x576.jpeg?resize=1024%2C576\" alt=\"Coreopsis and leaf-cutter bee by S. Westveer\" class=\"wp-image-121533\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Coreopsis_and_native_bee_SWestveer.jpeg?resize=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Coreopsis_and_native_bee_SWestveer.jpeg?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Coreopsis_and_native_bee_SWestveer.jpeg?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Coreopsis_and_native_bee_SWestveer.jpeg?resize=400%2C225&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Coreopsis_and_native_bee_SWestveer.jpeg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Coreopsis and leafcutter bee, Photo by S. Westveer<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">&#8220;Native&#8221; is Local to Ecological Region<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Vascular plants have been around for hundreds of millions of years. That&#8217;s plenty of time for plants to develop partnerships with soil microbiology, flowers to their pollination partners. Natural disturbances over time have informed and adapted their DNA to result in the most resilient of plants.&nbsp;Historically, nature has thrown at them drought, floods, hurricanes, fires, freezing spells \u2013 even stampeding herds of bison. They have survived it all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the 21st century suburban ecosystem, native plants are up against an increasingly fast-paced and destructive disturbance: people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Texas State wildflower,&nbsp;bluebonnet, grows, blooms, and produces seed in a short time December through April. It is an annual, not a perennial, and thrives with degradation and disturbance. Like other peas in the plant family Fabaceae, this first succession plant aims (in nature) to quickly repair damaged soil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The timing of a native bee&#8217;s life cycle is closely aligned with her flower. She has only a short time to collect pollen from her evolved flowers to provision offspring before she dies. This is a millions-of-years perfected and mutually beneficial partnership. &#8220;Wildflower patches,&#8221; though, have been disappearing from urban landscapes \u2013 the native bees&#8217; and our shared backyards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-tiled-gallery aligncenter is-style-rectangular\"><div class=\"\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery__gallery\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery__row\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery__col\" style=\"flex-basis:36.03540%\"><figure class=\"tiled-gallery__item\"><img decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Bluebonnet_leaves_SWestveer-768x1024.jpeg?strip=info&#038;w=600 600w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Bluebonnet_leaves_SWestveer-768x1024.jpeg?strip=info&#038;w=900 900w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Bluebonnet_leaves_SWestveer-768x1024.jpeg?strip=info&#038;w=960 960w\" alt=\"Winter: Bluebonnet leaves by S. Westveer\" data-height=\"1280\" data-id=\"121482\" data-link=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/?attachment_id=121482\" data-url=\"http:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Bluebonnet_leaves_SWestveer-768x1024.jpeg\" data-width=\"960\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Bluebonnet_leaves_SWestveer-768x1024.jpeg\" data-amp-layout=\"responsive\"\/><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"tiled-gallery__col\" style=\"flex-basis:63.96460%\"><figure class=\"tiled-gallery__item\"><img decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Bluebonnet_SWestveer-1024x768.jpeg?strip=info&#038;w=600 600w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Bluebonnet_SWestveer-1024x768.jpeg?strip=info&#038;w=900 900w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Bluebonnet_SWestveer-1024x768.jpeg?strip=info&#038;w=1200 1200w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Bluebonnet_SWestveer-1024x768.jpeg?strip=info&#038;w=1280 1280w\" alt=\"Spring: Bluebonnet, spring flower stalk by S. Westveer\" data-height=\"960\" data-id=\"121481\" data-link=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/?attachment_id=121481\" data-url=\"http:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Bluebonnet_SWestveer-1024x768.jpeg\" data-width=\"1280\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Bluebonnet_SWestveer-1024x768.jpeg\" data-amp-layout=\"responsive\"\/><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">Have Questions? We Have Answers!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We can all help by restoring these plants in our yards, balconies, and natural spaces. These have been our most frequently asked questions on seeds and wildflowers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Q1: Where can I find seeds native to our ecological region (Gulf Prairies and Marshes)?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Reach out to local Texas Master Naturalists who not only share their knowledge but often share local seed stores too. Sign up for seed-collecting events through <a href=\"https:\/\/www.coastalprairieconservancy.org\/volunteer\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.coastalprairieconservancy.org\/volunteer\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Coastal Prairie Conservancy<\/a> and hand-harvest your own. Join a local chapter of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npsot.org\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.npsot.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Native Plant Society of Texas<\/a>; attend one of their native landscaping classes. Become a Master Naturalist! Knowledge is power, and it is also free, abundant, and accessible. Select species can be bought at <a href=\"https:\/\/seedsource.com\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/seedsource.com\">Native American Seed<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Q2: Won&#8217;t any seeds work?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That depends, but usually, no.\u00a0Box stores know that wildflower seeds prominently marked as &#8220;Texas Wildflowers&#8221; are easily sold. Texas is a very large state with 10 distinctly different ecological regions, and each region is distinguished by soil, precipitation, climate, and the plant community. Seeds from flowers evolved in a different region may not germinate much less thrive without significant effort. Packages marked simply &#8220;wildflowers&#8221; will not yield the functional bloom (for pollinators) you intended to pay for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Flower species from the other side of the planet \u2013 pansies, petunia, periwinkle \u2013 are exotic species to our wildlife. They all lack what our native pollen-collectors need. Female bees will simply fly right by them, not recognizing them as a nectar reward, much less \u201cher baby&#8217;s plant&#8221; from which to collect pollen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Q3: When is the best time to over-seed with wildflowers?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The best time to sow seeds is <em>today!&nbsp;<\/em>Learn about the species you chose at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wildflower.org\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.wildflower.org\">Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center<\/a>.&nbsp;Place seeds in direct contact with soil where seedlings won&#8217;t get mowed or hand-weeded; lightly mulch with leaf litter. If you live in an apartment or don&#8217;t have a yard, start them in a container instead.&nbsp;They will germinate into beautiful flowering and functional plants when conditions are right for them. Rainfall is the best way to get them started (to germination). Seeds &#8220;know&#8221; what to do!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Q4: I picked up FREE seeds at a Coastal Prairie Chapter event. What are they?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our chapter\u2019s give-away packets include black-eyed Susan, two kinds of <em>Coreopsis sp.<\/em>, and firewheel. Native flowers are not only beautiful, but they also sustain entire life cycles of pollinators in an otherwise urbanized ecosystem. In planting them, we are greatly helping our wildlife neighbors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-tiled-gallery aligncenter is-style-rectangular\"><div class=\"\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery__gallery\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery__row\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery__col\" style=\"flex-basis:68.12014%\"><figure class=\"tiled-gallery__item\"><img decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Vetch_SWestveer-1024x683.jpeg?strip=info&#038;w=600 600w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Vetch_SWestveer-1024x683.jpeg?strip=info&#038;w=900 900w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Vetch_SWestveer-1024x683.jpeg?strip=info&#038;w=1200 1200w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Vetch_SWestveer-1024x683.jpeg?strip=info&#038;w=1500 1500w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Vetch_SWestveer-1024x683.jpeg?strip=info&#038;w=1800 1800w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Vetch_SWestveer-1024x683.jpeg?strip=info&#038;w=2000 2000w\" alt=\"Pea vetch and native bee by S. Westveer\" data-height=\"1603\" data-id=\"121487\" data-link=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/?attachment_id=121487\" data-url=\"http:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Vetch_SWestveer-1024x683.jpeg\" data-width=\"2405\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Vetch_SWestveer-1024x683.jpeg\" data-amp-layout=\"responsive\"\/><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"tiled-gallery__col\" style=\"flex-basis:31.87986%\"><figure class=\"tiled-gallery__item\"><img decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Rudbeckia_SWestveer-1024x768.jpeg?strip=info&#038;w=600 600w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Rudbeckia_SWestveer-1024x768.jpeg?strip=info&#038;w=900 900w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Rudbeckia_SWestveer-1024x768.jpeg?strip=info&#038;w=1200 1200w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Rudbeckia_SWestveer-1024x768.jpeg?strip=info&#038;w=1500 1500w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Rudbeckia_SWestveer-1024x768.jpeg?strip=info&#038;w=1800 1800w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Rudbeckia_SWestveer-1024x768.jpeg?strip=info&#038;w=2000 2000w\" alt=\"Black-eyed Susan by S. Westveer\" data-height=\"1536\" data-id=\"121486\" data-link=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/?attachment_id=121486\" data-url=\"http:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Rudbeckia_SWestveer-1024x768.jpeg\" data-width=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Rudbeckia_SWestveer-1024x768.jpeg\" data-amp-layout=\"responsive\"\/><\/figure><figure class=\"tiled-gallery__item\"><img decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Coreopsis_SWestveer.jpeg?strip=info&#038;w=600 600w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Coreopsis_SWestveer.jpeg?strip=info&#038;w=640 640w\" alt=\"Coreopsis and leaf-cutter bee by S. Westveer\" data-height=\"427\" data-id=\"121483\" data-link=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/?attachment_id=121483\" data-url=\"http:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Coreopsis_SWestveer.jpeg\" data-width=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Coreopsis_SWestveer.jpeg\" data-amp-layout=\"responsive\"\/><\/figure><\/div><\/div><div class=\"tiled-gallery__row\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery__col\" style=\"flex-basis:49.97082%\"><figure class=\"tiled-gallery__item\"><img decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Firewheel_SWestveer.jpeg?strip=info&#038;w=600 600w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Firewheel_SWestveer.jpeg?strip=info&#038;w=640 640w\" alt=\"Firewheel and leaf-cutter bee by S. Westveer\" data-height=\"427\" data-id=\"121485\" data-link=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/?attachment_id=121485\" data-url=\"http:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Firewheel_SWestveer.jpeg\" data-width=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Firewheel_SWestveer.jpeg\" data-amp-layout=\"responsive\"\/><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"tiled-gallery__col\" style=\"flex-basis:50.02918%\"><figure class=\"tiled-gallery__item\"><img decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Fleabane_SWestveer-1024x682.jpeg?strip=info&#038;w=600 600w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Fleabane_SWestveer-1024x682.jpeg?strip=info&#038;w=900 900w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Fleabane_SWestveer-1024x682.jpeg?strip=info&#038;w=1200 1200w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Fleabane_SWestveer-1024x682.jpeg?strip=info&#038;w=1280 1280w\" alt=\"Fleabane and native bee by S. Westveer\" data-height=\"853\" data-id=\"121484\" data-link=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/?attachment_id=121484\" data-url=\"http:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Fleabane_SWestveer-1024x682.jpeg\" data-width=\"1280\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Fleabane_SWestveer-1024x682.jpeg\" data-amp-layout=\"responsive\"\/><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Learn More! Resources, Upcoming Events<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/coastal-prairie-chapter-training-class\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/coastal-prairie-chapter-training-class\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Become a Master Naturalist<\/a> | There are a <strong>few spots remaining<\/strong> for our Spring 2026 Training Course <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/02\/Winter-to-Spring-Succession-with-Photos-by-Shannon-Westveer.pdf\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"http:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/02\/Winter-to-Spring-Succession-with-Photos-by-Shannon-Westveer.pdf\">Suburban Winter-to-Spring Wildflowers Succession<\/a> | A color timeline of what&#8217;s growing wild in Fort Bend County yards by Coastal Prairie Chapter<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/npsot.org\/houston\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"http:\/\/npsot.org\/houston\">Native Plant Society of Texas<\/a> | <strong>Houston Chapter<\/strong> is our conservation partner<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/winter-wildflowers-dont-mow-let-it-grow\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/winter-wildflowers-dont-mow-let-it-grow\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Don&#8217;t Mow &#8230; Let It Grow!<\/a> | Wildflower blog and resources from February 2023<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/native-plant-gardening\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/native-plant-gardening\/\">Plant for Pollinators<\/a> | A resources page by Coastal Prairie Chapter<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/public-outreach-calendar\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/public-outreach-calendar\/\">Coastal Prairie Chapter Public Events<\/a> | A calendar full of opportunities for you to learn about nature near you<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A Q&#038;A to help recognize, select, and sow wildflower seeds for beauty and wildlife benefit (Photo: S. Westveer)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1442,"featured_media":121533,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","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_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false},"categories":[49159,93],"tags":[20350,74748,21431,74751,36753],"class_list":["post-121480","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-entomology","category-plants","tag-bees","tag-habitat","tag-seed","tag-suburban","tag-wildflowers","entry"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Coreopsis_and_native_bee_SWestveer.jpeg?fit=1280%2C720&ssl=1","uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Coreopsis_and_native_bee_SWestveer.jpeg?fit=1280%2C720&ssl=1",1280,720,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Coreopsis_and_native_bee_SWestveer.jpeg?resize=150%2C400&ssl=1",150,400,true],"medium":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Coreopsis_and_native_bee_SWestveer.jpeg?fit=300%2C169&ssl=1",300,169,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Coreopsis_and_native_bee_SWestveer.jpeg?fit=768%2C432&ssl=1",768,432,true],"large":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Coreopsis_and_native_bee_SWestveer.jpeg?fit=1024%2C576&ssl=1",1024,576,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Coreopsis_and_native_bee_SWestveer.jpeg?fit=1280%2C720&ssl=1",1280,720,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Coreopsis_and_native_bee_SWestveer.jpeg?fit=1280%2C720&ssl=1",1280,720,true],"archive":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Coreopsis_and_native_bee_SWestveer.jpeg?resize=400%2C225&ssl=1",400,225,true],"gform-image-choice-sm":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Coreopsis_and_native_bee_SWestveer.jpeg?resize=300%2C300&ssl=1",300,300,true],"gform-image-choice-md":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Coreopsis_and_native_bee_SWestveer.jpeg?resize=400%2C400&ssl=1",400,400,true],"gform-image-choice-lg":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/Coreopsis_and_native_bee_SWestveer.jpeg?resize=600%2C600&ssl=1",600,600,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Shannon Westveer","author_link":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/author\/shannonwestveer\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"A Q&A to help recognize, select, and sow wildflower seeds for beauty and wildlife benefit (Photo: S. Westveer)","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/ph2qpz-vBm","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/121480","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1442"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=121480"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/121480\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/121533"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=121480"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=121480"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=121480"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":121424,"date":"2026-01-01T04:47:01","date_gmt":"2026-01-01T10:47:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/?p=121424"},"modified":"2026-01-31T14:29:12","modified_gmt":"2026-01-31T20:29:12","slug":"celebrating-a-remarkable-year-january-2026-issue-courier","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/celebrating-a-remarkable-year-january-2026-issue-courier\/","title":{"rendered":"Celebrating a Remarkable Year, January 2026 Issue Courier"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/January_2026_Courier-1024x576.jpeg?resize=1024%2C576\" alt=\"Black witch moth as the cover of January 2026 Courier issue by R. Watson\" class=\"wp-image-121470\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/January_2026_Courier.jpeg?resize=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/January_2026_Courier.jpeg?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/January_2026_Courier.jpeg?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/January_2026_Courier.jpeg?resize=400%2C225&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/January_2026_Courier.jpeg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Black witch moth as the cover of January 2026 Courier issue by Randolph Watson<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">Inside Volume 14 Issue 1<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em>2025 Holiday Party Photo Scrapbook<\/em> and Issue by Co-Editor Shannon Westveer<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Randolph Watson Rockets to 4,000 Hours of Service<\/em> by Lynn Trenta<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Guest Article: <em>SPLASh Rabbs Bayou Cleanup Helps More than Texas Wildlife and Waters<\/em> by Elizabeth Virgl <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>The Remote Challenge: Igniting a Volunteer Spark For Attwater Prairie-Chicken NWR<\/em> by Jean Stipelcovich<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The migratory black witch moth by member Randolph Watson is the cover photo<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Did you miss the Special Edition issue last month?<\/strong> <em><a href=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2025\/12\/Seabourne-Creek-Special-Edition-Autumn-2025.pdf\">Seabourne Creek Autumn 2025<\/a><\/em> by Co-Editor Jodi Berls<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div data-wp-interactive=\"core\/file\" class=\"wp-block-file\"><object data-wp-bind--hidden=\"!state.hasPdfPreview\" hidden class=\"wp-block-file__embed\" data=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2025\/12\/Coastal_Prairie_Chapter_Courier_2026-1-1.pdf\" type=\"application\/pdf\" style=\"width:100%;height:550px\" aria-label=\"Embed of Coastal_Prairie_Chapter_Courier_2026-1-1.\"><\/object><a id=\"wp-block-file--media-452c77ee-5910-4bf6-8246-63bfc54e20d8\" href=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2025\/12\/Coastal_Prairie_Chapter_Courier_2026-1-1.pdf\">Coastal_Prairie_Chapter_Courier_2026-1-1<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2025\/12\/Coastal_Prairie_Chapter_Courier_2026-1-1.pdf\" class=\"wp-block-file__button wp-element-button\" download aria-describedby=\"wp-block-file--media-452c77ee-5910-4bf6-8246-63bfc54e20d8\">Download<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-left\">Upcoming Events for the Public &#8230; <em>Join Us!<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/become-a-texas-master-naturalist\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/become-a-texas-master-naturalist\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Become a Texas Master Naturalist!<\/a> Enrollment for <a href=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/coastal-prairie-chapter-training-class\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Spring Training opens <strong>January 6<\/strong><\/a> | Don&#8217;t delay &#8230; classes always fill up fast<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/teamup.com\/event\/show\/id\/CPUhMidavqVdsHgxTQGyQcWVEQdk5Y\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/teamup.com\/event\/show\/id\/CPUhMidavqVdsHgxTQGyQcWVEQdk5Y\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Monthly Bird Hike at Seabourne Creek <strong>January 7<\/strong><\/a> &#8230; <em>our signature project! <\/em>| Birders of all levels welcome<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/teamup.com\/event\/show\/id\/LqN4DkKUe4uxSxuw2THmiaG3x81xEv\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Monthly Chapter Program: Texas Cats <strong>January 8<\/strong><\/a> | Learn about native Texas cats with Texas Master Naturalists<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Happy New Year! Read the January 2026 Issue Courier here (Cover photo: Randolph Watson)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1442,"featured_media":121470,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","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":"content-sidebar","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false},"categories":[40424,3],"tags":[74747],"class_list":["post-121424","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-volunteers","category-news","tag-courier","entry"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/January_2026_Courier.jpeg?fit=1280%2C720&ssl=1","uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/January_2026_Courier.jpeg?fit=1280%2C720&ssl=1",1280,720,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/January_2026_Courier.jpeg?resize=150%2C400&ssl=1",150,400,true],"medium":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/January_2026_Courier.jpeg?fit=300%2C169&ssl=1",300,169,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/January_2026_Courier.jpeg?fit=768%2C432&ssl=1",768,432,true],"large":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/January_2026_Courier.jpeg?fit=1024%2C576&ssl=1",1024,576,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/January_2026_Courier.jpeg?fit=1280%2C720&ssl=1",1280,720,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/January_2026_Courier.jpeg?fit=1280%2C720&ssl=1",1280,720,true],"archive":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/January_2026_Courier.jpeg?resize=400%2C225&ssl=1",400,225,true],"gform-image-choice-sm":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/January_2026_Courier.jpeg?resize=300%2C300&ssl=1",300,300,true],"gform-image-choice-md":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/January_2026_Courier.jpeg?resize=400%2C400&ssl=1",400,400,true],"gform-image-choice-lg":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2026\/01\/January_2026_Courier.jpeg?resize=600%2C600&ssl=1",600,600,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Shannon Westveer","author_link":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/author\/shannonwestveer\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Happy New Year! Read the January 2026 Issue Courier here (Cover photo: Randolph Watson)","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/ph2qpz-vAs","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/121424","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1442"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=121424"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/121424\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/121470"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=121424"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=121424"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=121424"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":108018,"date":"2024-01-27T07:00:39","date_gmt":"2024-01-27T13:00:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/?p=108018"},"modified":"2026-01-04T09:14:21","modified_gmt":"2026-01-04T15:14:21","slug":"start-a-new-habitat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/start-a-new-habitat\/","title":{"rendered":"Start a New Habitat"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"767\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Start-a-New-Habitat-1024x767.jpeg?resize=1024%2C767\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-108056\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Start-a-New-Habitat.jpeg?resize=1024%2C767&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Start-a-New-Habitat.jpeg?resize=300%2C225&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Start-a-New-Habitat.jpeg?resize=768%2C575&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Start-a-New-Habitat.jpeg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-left\">Change Starts At Home<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By mid-January, many New Year\u2019s Resolutions have already been made and broken. Ingrained human behavior, it would seem, is a difficult thing to change. For every Texas Master Naturalist, \u201cbeing the change\u201d we want to see in the world is easier than one might think.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Observation and exploration of outdoor environments both come easy to outdoor types: watching bird parents collect caterpillars and spiders to feed their babies; witnessing a butterfly emerging from its chrysalis; spying a bobcat drinking from the bird drip. Making connections and associations from home brings joy and awe into otherwise routine lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Renowned entomologist and author of <em>Bringing Nature Home<\/em>, Doug Tallamy has been helping others make species connections for decades. He created the <em>Homegrown National Park<\/em> movement to bring awareness to the potential of urban and suburban landscapes as the green spaces of our future, restoring nature&#8217;s diversity where our development has otherwise removed it. &#8220;How well a landscape accomplishes its goals depends on how well we, as landscape managers, choose and deploy the plants on our landscape,&#8221; Tallamy says. All that&#8217;s needed for us as individuals is to understand <em>what<\/em> is needed to become better stewards of our land. Wildlife diversity is not just beneficial for us. We need nature as much as nature needs us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">How well a landscape accomplishes [ecological] goals depends on how well we, as landscape managers, choose and deploy the plants on our landscapes.<\/p>\n<cite>Doug Tallamy<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There\u2019s no need to make big behavior changes difficult to sustain past the New Year. The easiest and most productive ways to positively impact the environment is a simple refraining from action. At home, these minimal steps result maximum reward and satisfaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>STOP pesticides outside the home; welcome biodiversity and improved water quality<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>STOP over-managing a winter garden; provide vital habitat and food resources for the tiniest of neighbors<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>STOP purchasing exotic plants for your landscape; save water, time, money, and maintenance\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>STOP mowing turfgrass unnecessarily; watch winter wildflowers spring into bloom<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Want to do more? Doug Tallamy along with Master Naturalists urge everyone to embrace nature\u2019s place among our daily lives, restore our place within nature once again. Pick one &#8230; or do them all!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>find locally native plants\u00a0promoting wildlife abundance<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>landscape with a variety (different flowers, grasses, perennials, annuals) for diversity<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>at least one <em>keystone species<\/em> of native plant (i.e. a tree) providing for many species<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>leave the leaves \u2013 better, <em>mulch<\/em>\u00a0<em>with leaves<\/em> \u2013 conserving on-site carbon, promoting soil health<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>identify and remove <a href=\"https:\/\/www.texasinvasives.org\/invasives_database\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">invasive species<\/a> on your property<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>catch rain runoff in barrels, slowing its flow off your property or into the aquifer with a native bioswale<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>ask a Master Naturalist for their advice and experience<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>get <em>on the Homegrown National Park\u00a9 map<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">TMNCPC Members \u2014 On the Map!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When millions of Texans partner with Texas Master Naturalists, we all win. This simple shift in paradigm is made even easier with a friendly, educated support system. Coastal Prairie Chapter members Joyce Tipton, Lucy Moyer, Tracey Kolb, Kevin Peters, Anita Maddox, Jan Kolk, Lynn Trenta, and Lorie Foux have all made changes at home, and by learning the ways of Nature intimately, they are not just enjoyed but <em>empowered<\/em> to help others to do the same in their yards. And so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The gallery below features examples of their efforts in Fort Bend, Waller, and Wharton Counties along with the wildlife that call their yards &#8220;home.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-tiled-gallery aligncenter is-style-rectangular\"><div class=\"\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery__gallery\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery__row\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery__col\" style=\"flex-basis:69.16486%\"><figure class=\"tiled-gallery__item\"><img decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Habitat-Back-JTipton-1024x683.jpeg?strip=info&#038;w=600 600w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Habitat-Back-JTipton-1024x683.jpeg?strip=info&#038;w=900 900w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Habitat-Back-JTipton-1024x683.jpeg?strip=info&#038;w=1086 1086w\" alt=\"Habitat Backyard by J. Tipton\" data-height=\"724\" data-id=\"108019\" data-link=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/?attachment_id=108019\" data-url=\"http:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Habitat-Back-JTipton-1024x683.jpeg\" data-width=\"1086\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Habitat-Back-JTipton-1024x683.jpeg\" data-amp-layout=\"responsive\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open image 1 of 17 in full-screen\"\/><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"tiled-gallery__col\" style=\"flex-basis:30.83514%\"><figure class=\"tiled-gallery__item\"><img decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Swamp-Rabbit-JTipton-683x1024.jpg?strip=info&#038;w=600 600w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Swamp-Rabbit-JTipton-683x1024.jpg?strip=info&#038;w=900 900w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Swamp-Rabbit-JTipton-683x1024.jpg?strip=info&#038;w=1200 1200w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Swamp-Rabbit-JTipton-683x1024.jpg?strip=info&#038;w=1500 1500w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Swamp-Rabbit-JTipton-683x1024.jpg?strip=info&#038;w=1707 1707w\" alt=\"Swamp Rabbit by J Tipton\" data-height=\"2560\" data-id=\"108033\" data-link=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/?attachment_id=108033\" data-url=\"http:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Swamp-Rabbit-JTipton-683x1024.jpg\" data-width=\"1707\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Swamp-Rabbit-JTipton-683x1024.jpg\" data-amp-layout=\"responsive\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open image 2 of 17 in full-screen\"\/><\/figure><\/div><\/div><div class=\"tiled-gallery__row\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery__col\" style=\"flex-basis:37.85786%\"><figure class=\"tiled-gallery__item\"><img decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Fawn-and-Project-Sign-SWestveer-1024x683.jpg?strip=info&#038;w=600 600w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Fawn-and-Project-Sign-SWestveer-1024x683.jpg?strip=info&#038;w=900 900w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Fawn-and-Project-Sign-SWestveer-1024x683.jpg?strip=info&#038;w=1200 1200w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Fawn-and-Project-Sign-SWestveer-1024x683.jpg?strip=info&#038;w=1500 1500w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Fawn-and-Project-Sign-SWestveer-1024x683.jpg?strip=info&#038;w=1800 1800w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Fawn-and-Project-Sign-SWestveer-1024x683.jpg?strip=info&#038;w=2000 2000w\" alt=\"Fawn and TMN Project Sign by S. Westveer\" data-height=\"1707\" data-id=\"108021\" data-link=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/?attachment_id=108021\" data-url=\"http:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Fawn-and-Project-Sign-SWestveer-1024x683.jpg\" data-width=\"2560\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Fawn-and-Project-Sign-SWestveer-1024x683.jpg\" data-amp-layout=\"responsive\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open image 3 of 17 in full-screen\"\/><\/figure><figure class=\"tiled-gallery__item\"><img decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Beginnings1-LFoux-1024x768.jpg?strip=info&#038;w=600 600w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Beginnings1-LFoux-1024x768.jpg?strip=info&#038;w=900 900w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Beginnings1-LFoux-1024x768.jpg?strip=info&#038;w=1200 1200w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Beginnings1-LFoux-1024x768.jpg?strip=info&#038;w=1500 1500w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Beginnings1-LFoux-1024x768.jpg?strip=info&#038;w=1800 1800w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Beginnings1-LFoux-1024x768.jpg?strip=info&#038;w=2000 2000w\" alt=\"Beginnings by L. Foux\" data-height=\"1920\" data-id=\"108023\" data-link=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/?attachment_id=108023\" data-url=\"http:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Beginnings1-LFoux-1024x768.jpg\" data-width=\"2560\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Beginnings1-LFoux-1024x768.jpg\" data-amp-layout=\"responsive\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open image 4 of 17 in full-screen\"\/><\/figure><figure class=\"tiled-gallery__item\"><img decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Beginnings2-LFoux-1024x768.jpg?strip=info&#038;w=600 600w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Beginnings2-LFoux-1024x768.jpg?strip=info&#038;w=900 900w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Beginnings2-LFoux-1024x768.jpg?strip=info&#038;w=1200 1200w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Beginnings2-LFoux-1024x768.jpg?strip=info&#038;w=1500 1500w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Beginnings2-LFoux-1024x768.jpg?strip=info&#038;w=1800 1800w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Beginnings2-LFoux-1024x768.jpg?strip=info&#038;w=2000 2000w\" alt=\"Beginnings 2 by L. Foux\" data-height=\"1920\" data-id=\"108022\" data-link=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/?attachment_id=108022\" data-url=\"http:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Beginnings2-LFoux-1024x768.jpg\" data-width=\"2560\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Beginnings2-LFoux-1024x768.jpg\" data-amp-layout=\"responsive\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open image 5 of 17 in full-screen\"\/><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"tiled-gallery__col\" style=\"flex-basis:62.14214%\"><figure class=\"tiled-gallery__item\"><img decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Native-Garden-LTrenta-768x1024.jpg?strip=info&#038;w=600 600w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Native-Garden-LTrenta-768x1024.jpg?strip=info&#038;w=900 900w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Native-Garden-LTrenta-768x1024.jpg?strip=info&#038;w=1200 1200w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Native-Garden-LTrenta-768x1024.jpg?strip=info&#038;w=1500 1500w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Native-Garden-LTrenta-768x1024.jpg?strip=info&#038;w=1800 1800w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Native-Garden-LTrenta-768x1024.jpg?strip=info&#038;w=1920 1920w\" alt=\"Native Garden by L. Trenta\" data-height=\"2560\" data-id=\"108025\" data-link=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/?attachment_id=108025\" data-url=\"http:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Native-Garden-LTrenta-768x1024.jpg\" data-width=\"1920\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Native-Garden-LTrenta-768x1024.jpg\" data-amp-layout=\"responsive\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open image 6 of 17 in full-screen\"\/><\/figure><\/div><\/div><div class=\"tiled-gallery__row\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery__col\" style=\"flex-basis:63.95677%\"><figure class=\"tiled-gallery__item\"><img decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Native-Front-KPeters.jpg?strip=info&#038;w=600 600w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Native-Front-KPeters.jpg?strip=info&#038;w=640 640w\" alt=\"Native Front by K. Peters\" data-height=\"480\" data-id=\"108026\" data-link=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/?attachment_id=108026\" data-url=\"http:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Native-Front-KPeters.jpg\" data-width=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Native-Front-KPeters.jpg\" data-amp-layout=\"responsive\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open image 7 of 17 in full-screen\"\/><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"tiled-gallery__col\" style=\"flex-basis:36.04323%\"><figure class=\"tiled-gallery__item\"><img decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Prairie-Pocket-Fall-SWestveer-768x1024.jpeg?strip=info&#038;w=600 600w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Prairie-Pocket-Fall-SWestveer-768x1024.jpeg?strip=info&#038;w=900 900w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Prairie-Pocket-Fall-SWestveer-768x1024.jpeg?strip=info&#038;w=1200 1200w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Prairie-Pocket-Fall-SWestveer-768x1024.jpeg?strip=info&#038;w=1500 1500w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Prairie-Pocket-Fall-SWestveer-768x1024.jpeg?strip=info&#038;w=1800 1800w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Prairie-Pocket-Fall-SWestveer-768x1024.jpeg?strip=info&#038;w=1920 1920w\" alt=\"Prairie Pocket Fall by S. Westveer\" data-height=\"2560\" data-id=\"108024\" data-link=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/?attachment_id=108024\" data-url=\"http:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Prairie-Pocket-Fall-SWestveer-768x1024.jpeg\" data-width=\"1920\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Prairie-Pocket-Fall-SWestveer-768x1024.jpeg\" data-amp-layout=\"responsive\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open image 8 of 17 in full-screen\"\/><\/figure><\/div><\/div><div class=\"tiled-gallery__row\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery__col\" style=\"flex-basis:100.00000%\"><figure class=\"tiled-gallery__item\"><img decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/SNH_HNP_LOGO_R_R-CLEAR1000.png?strip=info&#038;w=600 600w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/SNH_HNP_LOGO_R_R-CLEAR1000.png?strip=info&#038;w=900 900w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/SNH_HNP_LOGO_R_R-CLEAR1000.png?strip=info&#038;w=1000 1000w\" alt=\"Homegrown National Park Logo\" data-height=\"246\" data-id=\"108035\" data-link=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/?attachment_id=108035\" data-url=\"http:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/SNH_HNP_LOGO_R_R-CLEAR1000.png\" data-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/SNH_HNP_LOGO_R_R-CLEAR1000.png\" data-amp-layout=\"responsive\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open image 9 of 17 in full-screen\"\/><\/figure><\/div><\/div><div class=\"tiled-gallery__row\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery__col\" style=\"flex-basis:49.79848%\"><figure class=\"tiled-gallery__item\"><img decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/IMG_1516-1024x768.jpg?strip=info&#038;w=600 600w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/IMG_1516-1024x768.jpg?strip=info&#038;w=900 900w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/IMG_1516-1024x768.jpg?strip=info&#038;w=1200 1200w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/IMG_1516-1024x768.jpg?strip=info&#038;w=1500 1500w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/IMG_1516-1024x768.jpg?strip=info&#038;w=1800 1800w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/IMG_1516-1024x768.jpg?strip=info&#038;w=2000 2000w\" alt=\"Achemon sphinx moth caterpillar by S. Westveer\" data-height=\"1920\" data-id=\"108029\" data-link=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/?attachment_id=108029\" data-url=\"http:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/IMG_1516-1024x768.jpg\" data-width=\"2560\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/IMG_1516-1024x768.jpg\" data-amp-layout=\"responsive\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open image 10 of 17 in full-screen\"\/><\/figure><figure class=\"tiled-gallery__item\"><img decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Native-Bee-and-Firewheel-SWestveer-1024x768.jpeg?strip=info&#038;w=600 600w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Native-Bee-and-Firewheel-SWestveer-1024x768.jpeg?strip=info&#038;w=900 900w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Native-Bee-and-Firewheel-SWestveer-1024x768.jpeg?strip=info&#038;w=1200 1200w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Native-Bee-and-Firewheel-SWestveer-1024x768.jpeg?strip=info&#038;w=1500 1500w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Native-Bee-and-Firewheel-SWestveer-1024x768.jpeg?strip=info&#038;w=1800 1800w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Native-Bee-and-Firewheel-SWestveer-1024x768.jpeg?strip=info&#038;w=2000 2000w\" alt=\"Native bee and firewheel by S. Westveer\" data-height=\"1592\" data-id=\"108027\" data-link=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/?attachment_id=108027\" data-url=\"http:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Native-Bee-and-Firewheel-SWestveer-1024x768.jpeg\" data-width=\"2122\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Native-Bee-and-Firewheel-SWestveer-1024x768.jpeg\" data-amp-layout=\"responsive\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open image 11 of 17 in full-screen\"\/><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"tiled-gallery__col\" style=\"flex-basis:50.20152%\"><figure class=\"tiled-gallery__item\"><img decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Goldfinch-and-Coneflower-JTipton-683x1024.jpeg?strip=info&#038;w=600 600w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Goldfinch-and-Coneflower-JTipton-683x1024.jpeg?strip=info&#038;w=724 724w\" alt=\"Goldfinch and Coneflower by J. Tipton\" data-height=\"1086\" data-id=\"108020\" data-link=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/?attachment_id=108020\" data-url=\"http:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Goldfinch-and-Coneflower-JTipton-683x1024.jpeg\" data-width=\"724\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Goldfinch-and-Coneflower-JTipton-683x1024.jpeg\" data-amp-layout=\"responsive\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open image 12 of 17 in full-screen\"\/><\/figure><\/div><\/div><div class=\"tiled-gallery__row\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery__col\" style=\"flex-basis:36.04323%\"><figure class=\"tiled-gallery__item\"><img decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Underwing-Moth-Camouflage-SWestveer-768x1024.jpeg?strip=info&#038;w=600 600w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Underwing-Moth-Camouflage-SWestveer-768x1024.jpeg?strip=info&#038;w=900 900w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Underwing-Moth-Camouflage-SWestveer-768x1024.jpeg?strip=info&#038;w=1200 1200w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Underwing-Moth-Camouflage-SWestveer-768x1024.jpeg?strip=info&#038;w=1500 1500w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Underwing-Moth-Camouflage-SWestveer-768x1024.jpeg?strip=info&#038;w=1800 1800w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Underwing-Moth-Camouflage-SWestveer-768x1024.jpeg?strip=info&#038;w=1920 1920w\" alt=\"Underwing Moth Camouflage by S Westveer\" data-height=\"2560\" data-id=\"108032\" data-link=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/?attachment_id=108032\" data-url=\"http:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Underwing-Moth-Camouflage-SWestveer-768x1024.jpeg\" data-width=\"1920\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Underwing-Moth-Camouflage-SWestveer-768x1024.jpeg\" data-amp-layout=\"responsive\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open image 13 of 17 in full-screen\"\/><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"tiled-gallery__col\" style=\"flex-basis:63.95677%\"><figure class=\"tiled-gallery__item\"><img decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Habitat-Garden-JKolk-1024x768.jpg?strip=info&#038;w=600 600w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Habitat-Garden-JKolk-1024x768.jpg?strip=info&#038;w=900 900w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Habitat-Garden-JKolk-1024x768.jpg?strip=info&#038;w=1200 1200w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Habitat-Garden-JKolk-1024x768.jpg?strip=info&#038;w=1500 1500w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Habitat-Garden-JKolk-1024x768.jpg?strip=info&#038;w=1800 1800w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Habitat-Garden-JKolk-1024x768.jpg?strip=info&#038;w=2000 2000w\" alt=\"Habitat Garden by J. Kolk\" data-height=\"1920\" data-id=\"108030\" data-link=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/?attachment_id=108030\" data-url=\"http:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Habitat-Garden-JKolk-1024x768.jpg\" data-width=\"2560\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Habitat-Garden-JKolk-1024x768.jpg\" data-amp-layout=\"responsive\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open image 14 of 17 in full-screen\"\/><\/figure><\/div><\/div><div class=\"tiled-gallery__row\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery__col\" style=\"flex-basis:53.70482%\"><figure class=\"tiled-gallery__item\"><img decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Native-Habitat-TKolb-771x1024.jpg?strip=info&#038;w=600 600w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Native-Habitat-TKolb-771x1024.jpg?strip=info&#038;w=900 900w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Native-Habitat-TKolb-771x1024.jpg?strip=info&#038;w=1200 1200w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Native-Habitat-TKolb-771x1024.jpg?strip=info&#038;w=1500 1500w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Native-Habitat-TKolb-771x1024.jpg?strip=info&#038;w=1800 1800w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Native-Habitat-TKolb-771x1024.jpg?strip=info&#038;w=1928 1928w\" alt=\"Native Habitat by T. Kolb\" data-height=\"2560\" data-id=\"108053\" data-link=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/?attachment_id=108053\" data-url=\"http:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Native-Habitat-TKolb-771x1024.jpg\" data-width=\"1928\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Native-Habitat-TKolb-771x1024.jpg\" data-amp-layout=\"responsive\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open image 15 of 17 in full-screen\"\/><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"tiled-gallery__col\" style=\"flex-basis:46.29518%\"><figure class=\"tiled-gallery__item\"><img decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Spring-Natives-AMaddox-1024x798.jpg?strip=info&#038;w=600 600w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Spring-Natives-AMaddox-1024x798.jpg?strip=info&#038;w=900 900w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Spring-Natives-AMaddox-1024x798.jpg?strip=info&#038;w=1200 1200w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Spring-Natives-AMaddox-1024x798.jpg?strip=info&#038;w=1500 1500w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Spring-Natives-AMaddox-1024x798.jpg?strip=info&#038;w=1792 1792w\" alt=\"Spring Natives by A. Maddox\" data-height=\"1396\" data-id=\"108037\" data-link=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/?attachment_id=108037\" data-url=\"http:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Spring-Natives-AMaddox-1024x798.jpg\" data-width=\"1792\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Spring-Natives-AMaddox-1024x798.jpg\" data-amp-layout=\"responsive\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open image 16 of 17 in full-screen\"\/><\/figure><figure class=\"tiled-gallery__item\"><img decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Prairie-Pocket-Spring-SWestveer-1024x768.jpg?strip=info&#038;w=600 600w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Prairie-Pocket-Spring-SWestveer-1024x768.jpg?strip=info&#038;w=900 900w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Prairie-Pocket-Spring-SWestveer-1024x768.jpg?strip=info&#038;w=1200 1200w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Prairie-Pocket-Spring-SWestveer-1024x768.jpg?strip=info&#038;w=1500 1500w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Prairie-Pocket-Spring-SWestveer-1024x768.jpg?strip=info&#038;w=1800 1800w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Prairie-Pocket-Spring-SWestveer-1024x768.jpg?strip=info&#038;w=2000 2000w\" alt=\"Prairie Pocket Spring by S Westveer\" data-height=\"1920\" data-id=\"108034\" data-link=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/?attachment_id=108034\" data-url=\"http:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Prairie-Pocket-Spring-SWestveer-1024x768.jpg\" data-width=\"2560\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Prairie-Pocket-Spring-SWestveer-1024x768.jpg\" data-amp-layout=\"responsive\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open image 17 of 17 in full-screen\"\/><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Join the Movement<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Every month, Coastal Prairie Chapter hosts informative and educational programs that provide a variety of Advanced Training topics to Master Naturalists\u2122 to help them reach their recertification requirements. The public is always invited to join, whether in-person or remotely via Zoom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>February 1st at 7:00 PM<\/strong>, Doug Tallamy will present for us on the Homegrown National Park\u00a9 movement and how each of us can get involved. Be sure to&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/us02web.zoom.us\/meeting\/register\/tZcldeCorzojEtasHLv7-j7n3pWk4_KExGRB#\/registration\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">preregister for the Zoom<\/a>&nbsp;remote meeting soon, attend from the comfort of your home with our chapter members, and enjoy your opportunity to engage in the conversation of conservation.&nbsp;Don&#8217;t delay<em>; space is limited<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Join Our Chapter<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Twice per year, the Coastal Prairie Chapter trains a group of people on the -ologies and ecosystems of Texas, helping them to further engage the public with the TMN Mission. Enrollment for <a href=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/become-a-texas-master-naturalist\/\">Spring 2024 Training<\/a> opens <strong>Monday, January 29th at 9:00 AM<\/strong>. With only 24 registrants accepted, classes do fill up fast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Join us!<\/em> You too can be the change you want to see in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Learn More<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/homegrownnationalpark.org\/tallamys-hub\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/homegrownnationalpark.org\/tallamys-hub\/\">Homegrown National Park<\/a> | Doug Tallamy<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/native-plant-gardening\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/native-plant-gardening\/\">Planting for Pollinators<\/a> | Coastal Prairie Chapter<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/become-a-texas-master-naturalist\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/become-a-texas-master-naturalist\/\">Join the Spring 2024 Training Class<\/a> | Coastal Prairie Chapter<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Doug Tallamy inspires TMNCPC members to get on the map! Resolutions involving the greater community are easy to keep.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1442,"featured_media":108056,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","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_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false},"categories":[40424,3],"tags":[74741,74748,74751],"class_list":["post-108018","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-volunteers","category-news","tag-doug-tallamy","tag-habitat","tag-suburban","entry"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Start-a-New-Habitat.jpeg?fit=1280%2C959&ssl=1","uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Start-a-New-Habitat.jpeg?fit=1280%2C959&ssl=1",1280,959,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Start-a-New-Habitat.jpeg?resize=150%2C400&ssl=1",150,400,true],"medium":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Start-a-New-Habitat.jpeg?fit=300%2C225&ssl=1",300,225,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Start-a-New-Habitat.jpeg?fit=768%2C575&ssl=1",768,575,true],"large":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Start-a-New-Habitat.jpeg?fit=1024%2C767&ssl=1",1024,767,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Start-a-New-Habitat.jpeg?fit=1280%2C959&ssl=1",1280,959,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Start-a-New-Habitat.jpeg?fit=1280%2C959&ssl=1",1280,959,true],"archive":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Start-a-New-Habitat.jpeg?resize=400%2C225&ssl=1",400,225,true],"gform-image-choice-sm":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Start-a-New-Habitat.jpeg?resize=300%2C300&ssl=1",300,300,true],"gform-image-choice-md":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Start-a-New-Habitat.jpeg?resize=400%2C400&ssl=1",400,400,true],"gform-image-choice-lg":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2024\/01\/Start-a-New-Habitat.jpeg?resize=600%2C600&ssl=1",600,600,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Shannon Westveer","author_link":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/author\/shannonwestveer\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Doug Tallamy inspires TMNCPC members to get on the map! Resolutions involving the greater community are easy to keep.","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/ph2qpz-s6e","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/108018","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1442"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=108018"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/108018\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/108056"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=108018"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=108018"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=108018"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":107060,"date":"2023-11-27T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-11-27T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/?p=107060"},"modified":"2026-01-04T09:13:51","modified_gmt":"2026-01-04T15:13:51","slug":"christmas-bird-counts-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/christmas-bird-counts-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"Christmas Bird Counts 2023-2024"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"766\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2023\/11\/Christmas_Bird_Count_Blog-1024x766.jpeg?resize=1024%2C766\" alt=\"The red Northern Cardinal is an iconic Christmas Bird Count species\" class=\"wp-image-107062\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2023\/11\/Christmas_Bird_Count_Blog.jpeg?resize=1024%2C766&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2023\/11\/Christmas_Bird_Count_Blog.jpeg?resize=300%2C225&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2023\/11\/Christmas_Bird_Count_Blog.jpeg?resize=768%2C575&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2023\/11\/Christmas_Bird_Count_Blog.jpeg?resize=1536%2C1149&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2023\/11\/Christmas_Bird_Count_Blog.jpeg?resize=2048%2C1533&amp;ssl=1 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Northern cardinal. Photo credit: Shannon Westveer<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-left\">Birds: Gateway to Nature Conservation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you are a bird lover, you are not alone. Many Master Naturalists<sup>TM<\/sup> credit backyard bird watching as the interest that brought them into the program. After all, to conserve birds, one must first understand and appreciate the ecosystems that sustain them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Every year for more than 100 years volunteers participate in the Christmas Bird Count (CBC). Master Naturalists<sup>TM<\/sup> with partner conservation organizations rally the public to get outside with binoculars in hand and count every feathered head they see for science. The leader (Compiler) of a CBC collects all that raw data from smaller groups within the circle and submits it to Audubon. Everyone who participates are people dedicated to conserving the avian community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From that data we have learned that in our counties \u2013 Fort Bend, Waller, Wharton \u2013 some of the most iconic grassland birds are disappearing. Bobwhite quail, prairie-chicken, and meadowlarks are rarely heard in spring anymore except at wildlife refuges and protected areas, miles outside the Houston suburbs where they used to proliferate. The data lets organizations know where to focus conservation efforts; TMNCPC partners Wildlife Habitat Federation, Nature Conservancy in Texas, Native Prairies Association of Texas, and Coastal Prairie Conservancy all work to improve and expand a coastal prairie landscape that has otherwise been lost and fragmented by development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Data collected over the years doesn\u2019t just show downward trends. Some birds like the green jay and long-billed thrasher are moving northward into Texas, expanding their range with warming temperatures. We enjoy other success stories too, like that of the bald eagle along the Brazos River or brown pelicans along the coast. During CBCs, we count them all!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bird conservation helps everyone, not just birds. Restoring habitats for birds helps landowners and hunters, whole communities of people who also enjoy clean air and water, a reconnecting to our heritage and creating a refuge for all, a sense of place. Christmas Bird Counts remind us that conservation starts with hanging up a backyard feeder or planting locally native plants. The simplest of actions are needed: observe, identify, and count the bird right in front of you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fort Bend Area CBCs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nationwide thousands of people are doing the same thing on the same day. They use eBird to turn in what they count within a circle or join a group of people on a count walk. Don\u2019t be surprised to see a group of folks in a parking lot gawking and pointing with binoculars on their faces. Young and old come together to meet new faces \u2013 people <em>and<\/em> birds! (New birds are called \u201cLifers,\u201d new people, \u201cFriends.\u201d)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Find a CBC <strong>December 14th<\/strong> until <strong>January 1st<\/strong> near you. TMNCPC partner Houston Audubon Society advertise a <a href=\"https:\/\/houstonaudubon.org\/birding\/christmas-bird-counts\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">more complete list<\/a> of Houston area counts, but here is where you\u2019ll find many TMN Coastal Prairie Chapter members.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>December 16<\/strong> \u2013 Brazos Bend State Park | <a href=\"https:\/\/brazosbendcbc.weebly.com\/\">https:\/\/brazosbendcbc.weebly.com<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>December 16<\/strong> \u2013 Long Point Ranch | <a href=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/event\/vsp-2023-brazos-bend-christmas-bird-count-at-the-james-b-harrison-long-point-ranch\/\">https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/event\/vsp-2023-brazos-bend-christmas-bird-count-at-the-james-b-harrison-long-point-ranch\/<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>December 19<\/strong> \u2013 Fort Bend County (includes <a href=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/seabourne-creek-park\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/seabourne-creek-park\/\">Seabourne Creek<\/a>, Cullinan Park, River Park Nature Trails, Long Acres Ranch) | <a href=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/event\/vsp-fort-bend-christmas-bird-count\/\">https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/event\/vsp-fort-bend-christmas-bird-count\/<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>December 21<\/strong> \u2013 Wharton Peach Creek | <a href=\"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/event\/vsp-2023-wharton-peach-creek-christmas-bird-count-james-b-harrison-burr-property-2\/\">https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/event\/vsp-2023-wharton-peach-creek-christmas-bird-count-james-b-harrison-burr-property-2\/<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>January 1<\/strong> \u2013 Katy Prairie \/ Cypress Creek<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4UDflK9Vvqw?version=3&#038;rel=0&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Watch &#8220;Postcard from Texas&#8221; on YouTube: <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/4UDflK9Vvqw?si=WT2IKg-pFW41wq9y\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/youtu.be\/4UDflK9Vvqw?si=WT2IKg-pFW41wq9y<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Learn About Counting Birds<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Houston Audubon | Christmas Bird Counts 2023<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/houstonaudubon.org\/birding\/christmas-bird-counts\/\">https:\/\/houstonaudubon.org\/birding\/christmas-bird-counts\/<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>National Audubon | State of the Birds 2022 Publication<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.stateofthebirds.org\/2022\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/state-of-the-birds-2022-spreads.pdf\">https:\/\/www.stateofthebirds.org\/2022\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/state-of-the-birds-2022-spreads.pdf<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Merlin Bird ID | Learn who the birds are with the app for your smartphone!<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/merlin.allaboutbirds.org\/\">https:\/\/merlin.allaboutbirds.org<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>eBird | Count birds in your backyard<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/ebird.org\/about\/ebird-mobile\/\">https:\/\/ebird.org\/about\/ebird-mobile\/<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Counting birds is as easy as 1-2-3. Find a Christmas Bird Count circle near you late 2023 and go birding to ring in 2024! (Photo credit: S. Westveer)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1442,"featured_media":107062,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","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_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false},"categories":[59976],"tags":[6618,20366,49271],"class_list":["post-107060","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-ornithology","tag-birding","tag-citizen-science","tag-nature-video","entry"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2023\/11\/Christmas_Bird_Count_Blog.jpeg?fit=2122%2C1588&ssl=1","uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2023\/11\/Christmas_Bird_Count_Blog.jpeg?fit=2122%2C1588&ssl=1",2122,1588,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2023\/11\/Christmas_Bird_Count_Blog.jpeg?resize=150%2C400&ssl=1",150,400,true],"medium":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2023\/11\/Christmas_Bird_Count_Blog.jpeg?fit=300%2C225&ssl=1",300,225,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2023\/11\/Christmas_Bird_Count_Blog.jpeg?fit=768%2C575&ssl=1",768,575,true],"large":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2023\/11\/Christmas_Bird_Count_Blog.jpeg?fit=1024%2C766&ssl=1",1024,766,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2023\/11\/Christmas_Bird_Count_Blog.jpeg?fit=1536%2C1149&ssl=1",1536,1149,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2023\/11\/Christmas_Bird_Count_Blog.jpeg?fit=2048%2C1533&ssl=1",2048,1533,true],"archive":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2023\/11\/Christmas_Bird_Count_Blog.jpeg?resize=400%2C225&ssl=1",400,225,true],"gform-image-choice-sm":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2023\/11\/Christmas_Bird_Count_Blog.jpeg?resize=300%2C300&ssl=1",300,300,true],"gform-image-choice-md":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2023\/11\/Christmas_Bird_Count_Blog.jpeg?resize=400%2C400&ssl=1",400,400,true],"gform-image-choice-lg":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/txmn.org\/coastal\/files\/2023\/11\/Christmas_Bird_Count_Blog.jpeg?resize=600%2C600&ssl=1",600,600,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Shannon Westveer","author_link":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/author\/shannonwestveer\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Counting birds is as easy as 1-2-3. Find a Christmas Bird Count circle near you late 2023 and go birding to ring in 2024! (Photo credit: S. Westveer)","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/ph2qpz-rQM","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/107060","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1442"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=107060"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/107060\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/107062"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=107060"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=107060"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/coastal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=107060"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}]