Our Chapter Calendar contains all events, past and future. You can view by month or week. You can also have your Android or iPhone calendar automatically include these events, in a color of your choosing, in your smartphone calendar app. or in your own Google online calendar. Look for the Google calendar called “MN-El Camino” as the calendar name to add to your calendar. Our Weekly Events email notice (latest shown below calendar) goes directly to all members and others who have requested it. To submit events for this notice, and the calendar, send them to ECRMNNotification@yahoo.com.
El Camino Real Chapter
Events Notice
The Cameron Public Library would like to have someone present a program for their Summer Reading Program – Tails and Tales. The programs are on Monday evenings at 6:30 and they have two dates available – July 26th and August 2nd. Children attending are between the ages of two to ten – they have less than 40 at each program. If your are interested, please let Don know. Contact Marie Christopher at Cameron Public Library if you have any questions; 254-697-2401, MChristopher@camerontexas.net.
Event: Free Online Birding Programs
Date: See schedule in details
Where: Online
Details: The Cradle of Texas Chapter of Master Naturalists has partnered with Galveston’s Rosenberg Library to offer a free Birding for Fun 8-week series of Beginner Birding virtual classes. Each class has been approved for one hour of AT (unless you have attended previously) and you can sign up for the entire series or just the class that interests you. Be sure to check with your Advanced Training Director to confirm in advance. If you would like to register, please contact Ash Welborn at awelborn@rosenberg-library.org and let him know which classes you would like to attend. Participation is free, but class size is limited!
Classes will be held on Mondays at 4:30pm via Zoom, as follows:
*Monday, July 12: Location, Location, Location! Understanding Habitat – Birds are an amazingly diverse group of animals with over 10,000 species worldwide, because they have adapted over time to survive in almost every type of habitat. We’ll take a close look at the many different habitat types in our area, and the kinds of birds that each attracts.
*Monday, July 19: Bird’s Eye View on Behavior – Fascinated with bird behavior? So are we! Join us for this special presentation using our personal videos of a variety of water birds in action to learn how you can use behavior to help with identification.
*Monday, July 26: Rat-a-tat-tat! Who’s That? Nature’s Drummers – Woodpeckers are fascinating birds with amazing physiological adaptations and behavioral habits. We’ll discuss their anatomical structure, then review the species that are common in our area.
*Monday, August 2: It’s Time for a Makeover! Understanding Plumage Variation – In this interactive presentation, we’ll discuss the reasons for plumage variations; how molting can affect identification; and color changes of bills, lores, legs, and feet. Bring your favorite field guide if you would like to practice your identification skills.
Event: TMN Tuesdays
Date: Tuesday, July 13 at 12:00 pm
Where: Online
Details: The topic will be Texas Watershed Protection Planning: Addressing Water Quality and Quantity Issues in Texas. The presentation will provide background on water resources in Texas and how it is managed through state and regional planning. We’ll provide an overview of water quality in Texas and what is being done to improve water quality around Texas. Topics include: watershed protection planning, targeting mailings, and educational programs. There will also be a discussion on what individuals and groups can do to conserve water, prevent nonpoint source pollution, and volunteer with organizations in the future.
To register, visit https://txmn.tamu.edu/
VMS: AT: TMN Tuesdays
Event: Let’s Get Outside! Explore nature at a city park in Cameron!
Date: Thursday, July 15, 2021 9:00 am
Where: Orchard Park, 1204 East 6th Street, Cameron, TX
Details: We had to pause our nature surveys at Milam County city parks early last December due to increased Covid restrictions just when we completed the visits to the parks in Rockdale. Let’s resume this activity and meet this week at Orchard Park in Cameron to see what wildlife the public may enjoy. The park has an asphalt walking/jogging trail (a lap is about 1/3 mile), a pond, old pecan trees, and is said to have a 26 apartment 3 story purple martin house.
Requirements for Participation: Willingness to explore nature at the park and share findings with other participants. iNaturalist and eBird observations are encouraged.
VMS: Cit.Sci. – All TPWD Nature Trackers and iNaturalist Observations: TMN Field Research Hours or Cornell / Audubon Projects: TMN Field Research and/or Community Outreach – Indirect (if you submit an ECR blog sharing your experiences at the location)
Event: Girl Scout Celebration / 100th Jubilee Wildscape Event
Date: Saturday, July 17, 9:00 am-12:00 pm
Where: Bird and Bee Farm, 1369 County Road 334, Rockdale (between Milano and Rockdale)
Details: The Girl Scouts are celebrating their 100th Jubilee and will be performing service projects, including one at the wildscape at the Bird and Bee Farm. Scout leaders are getting head counts. The Girl Scouts will be planting the Monarch Watch awarded milkweed and taking home the bee houses provided by our members. We will present a short program on monarchs and milkweed, view the garden and bee stations, have refreshments and send home gifts. Refreshments will be served at about 11:30 am. Volunteers are needed to help set up, take down, serve refreshments, assist Girl Scouts as needed, monitor safety, etc. You can come and go if you like. Volunteers can bring nature items or plants to give away if they like. The Reks have planned a quail release (a SURPRISE!), which is quite exciting. All programs at the Wildscape are similar to Earth Day. If you will be able to help, please let Catherine Johnson know, at cpc69earth@gmail.com.
VMS: VE: Community Outreach – Indirect
Event: August Chapter Meeting
Date: Thursday, August 12
Details: Alston Thoms will present the program. More details coming soon.
VMS: AT: At a Chapter Mtg, AND VE: Administrative Work, Chapter Meeting
Event: October Chapter Meeting
Date: Thursday, October 14
Details: Dr. Crump will present the program. More details coming soon.
VMS: AT: At a Chapter Mtg, AND VE: Administrative Work, Chapter Meeting
Event: TMN Annual Meeting
Date: October 21-24 (Thursday through Sunday)
Where: HYBRID Event – both online and in-person at the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport Marriott in Irving
Details: More information can be found on the conference website, at https://txmn.tamu.edu/2021-
VMS: AT: Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPWD) or TMN Sponsored