CAMN FIELD JOURNAL AUGUST 2008 PAGE 1

he NatureSmart Family program is NOT…

Formal education! No classrooms, no lessons, no tests, no TAKS or TEKS! It IS fun, outdoor, nature activities for the whole family.

Difficult! It IS a way for CAMNers to share their passion for nature in informal conversations with families. CAMNers who volunteer do not need any kind of formal teacher training.

Someone else’s program! It IS our very own program. We started it, we received a grant to do it, and we’re making it happen. Its success depends on the broad-based participation of our membership.

A one-time event! It IS a series of four, seasonal events: Insect Safari and Native Plants in the fall, Fur and Feathers in the

winter, Hill Country Habitat in the spring, and Water Discovery in the summer.

Interested? We need CAMNers to sign up NOW to man a birding scope for 30 minutes to observe Parque Zaragoza’s flock of monk parrots, lead informal half-hour hikes through the mature oaks and cedar elms, or assist with insect observation, butterfly bracelet crafts, and potting plants for our first event on Saturday, September 13, at the park. We also need volunteers to help with preparations (you don’t need to be present at the event), take photographs, gather feedback from the families, and hand out prizes.

In addition to our fun, family activities at Parque Zaragoza, Austin’s Park and Recreation Department is hosting a neighborhood celebration of Diez y Sies (Mexican Independence Day). Music,

FIELD JOURNALCapital Area Master Naturalists

Meeting

September 24th, 2008 6:30 p.m.Austin Nature and Science Center Dr. John Abbott, entomologist, is curator of the Texas Natural History collections at the Texas Natural Science Center and at the Brackenridge Field Laboratory.  He got a B. S. from A&M and his P.H.D. from North Texas. He will be speaking not on Dragonflies and Damselflies (his specialty), but on the role of insects in forensics. It should be most interesting.

NOTE DATE CHANGE November Meeting will on the 19th.

CAMN Board Meeting

September 4, 2008 6:45 p.m.The Academy of Oriental Medicine at Austin, Upstairs Conference, 2700 West Anderson Lane Austin, TXAll Master Naturalists are welcome to attend.

Volunteer and Advanced Training Opportunities

Visit the CAMN website and log in to the CAMN Volunteer Calendar to start fulfilling those volunteer hours. The Environment Needs YOU!

Statewide TMN Meeting

October 24-26th, 2008 - Texas Master Naturalist Statewide Annual Meeting—see page 3.

M O N T H L Y N E W S L E T T E R

September 2008

NatureSmart Family

T NatureSmart Family

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dancing, jalapeno-eating contest, rock wall for climbing—it will be lots of fun!

If you have an hour you can share on Saturday, September 13, contact one of us RIGHT NOW! If you want to help, and can’t make it this time, call us anyway. We’ll begin to plan our winter event soon. We’d love you to have you on the team!

Peggy Murphy (264-0330, paxpeg@prodigy.net)Simonetta Rodriguez (369-3701, simonett@alum.mit.edu)

The setting for the event (opposite) is in a beautiful oak grove which should ensure a glorious setting for a#. If it is hot, the trees wi# supply shade; if it is fa#-like, then the sun casting a glow over the events should just add to the magic!

The vi#age banners are truly works of art! Many members of CAMN, their 'iends and families have taken part in their creation. There have been several painting parties and more wi# be held as nine banners are planned in total. If you would like to help out, contact either Pe(y or Simonetta as soon as possible.

Bio-diversity Survey

How healthy is the Austin Environment? Join us on Sunday September 7th for the monthly bio-diversity survey at the Austin Nature and Science Center and Zilker Preserve from 8:00 to 11:30 a.m. Normally, this is done on the first Saturday of each month. So, if you

must miss it because of a commitment why not try to be there this Sunday?

Come and learn to identify common (and exotic) Austin flora and fauna. This is a CAMN-approved volunteer activity, and all are welcome. For more information contactMelissa Macdougall (melissa.jane.mac@gmail.com or 422-6270).

Among the plants and wildlife to survey (depending upon the season) there are birds, blooming plants, seeds / fruits / berries, new green growth, mammals and mammal signs, reptiles, amphibians, fish, butterflies and moths, dragonflies and damselflies, other insects and spiders, and more!

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At a Glance

his is a chance to meet other like minded people from all over Texas and share experiences, make new friends

and reacquaint with others. Gathered in the beautiful and peaceful surroundings of the Mo-Ranch in Hunt TX, thirty nine chapters will join together to celebrate “Ten Years of Tending Texas.”There will be new opportunities plus the best of previous events combined

to make this the best-ever gathering of Texas Master Naturalists. There will be new Advanced training opportunities, new events, and surprises.Special projects like our own NatureSmart Family and Kim Bacon’s Beewatchers will be highlighted and need our support. There are also opportunities to present your own work for other to see and admire. It is a beautiful place and a wonderful time is ensured.

September 28, 2008

Early Discounted Registration Deadline

October 7, 2008

Late RegistrationDeadline today

October 24, 2008

Events:Advanced training 2:00-5:00 Supper 6:00-7:00 7:30 till late: Advanced training, Disscussions, Silent Auction, Campfire

October 25, 2008

Breakfast at 7:30Advanced training all day 12:00-1:00 Lunch Chapter displays for questions and answers, silent auction bidders pick upo items, Campfire

October 26, 2008

7:00 am Birding!7:30 Breakfast 8:30 Keynote speaker: Barry Lipscomb 9:45 Awards Presentations 10:15 Advanced Training 12:15 Lunch Pack up and head home….Happy trails!

Ten Years of Tending Texas!

T

Field trip

9th Annual Statewide Meeting Mo-Ranch, Hunt, TX October 24-26, 2008

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ost of us are aware of the typical life cycle of a butterfly – first an egg is laid on a food

plant, a caterpillar (or larvae) hatches from the egg, once the caterpillar eats enough it turns into a chrysalis, and shortly after a beautiful adult butterfly emerges. However, unlike other butterflies, migration plays a key role in the Monarch’s lifecycle, and it is a fantastic migration at that!

Unlike most other insects in temperate climates, Monarch butterflies cannot survive a long, cold winter. Instead, they spend the winter in one of two main roosting spots – those west of the Rockies travel to small groves of trees along the California coast, and those east of the Rockies fly further south to the forests high in the Chihuahua Mountains of Mexico.

Austin is on the very eastern edge of this central flyway to Mexico, and in October/November large numbers of Monarchs work their way through Central Texas. These butterflies were actually born on milkweed plants in Canada earlier in the summer. Even though they look like summer adults, they won’t mate or lay eggs until the following spring. Instead, their small bodies prepare for a strenuous flight. As they migrate southwards, the Monarchs stop to nectar, and actually gain weight in the form of fat to fuel their flight and last them throughout their winter roost. These butterflies wake up about mid-morning, gathering nectar from flowers in full bloom, and fly until sunset, covering distances up to 400 miles in a single day. Although this generation of butterflies has never ventured into Mexico in the past, somehow they still find their way.

Once they reach their wintering grounds in Mexico, the Monarchs roost in huge clusters that virtually drip off the evergreen trees, and feed on the nectar of native plants. If they survive the winter, they will begin the trip back to Canada in late March or early April. Although the same butterflies that winter in Mexico don’t survive long enough to see Canada once more, the next three generations carry on the lifecycle as they migrate north. Each first through third generation lives only six to eight weeks, and it is this fourth generation -- the great, great grandchildren -- that complete the return journey back into Mexico.

Driven by seasonal changes such as temperature and day length, the migration of the Monarch is unique in all the world. They travel up to a total of 3,000 miles -- much farther than all

other tropical butterflies and they are the only butterfly species to make such a long, two-way migration every year. Amazingly, they fly in masses to the same winter roosts, often to the exact same trees, but unlike other migrating species (such as birds and whales), it is their children’s grandchildren that return south the following fall.

Now that you know a little something about their magical migration, stop to admire these amazing beauties as you see them flutter by you this fall on their way to their winter home in Mexico!

M

An adult Monarch rests

Field trip

Magical Monarch Migration Jim & Lynne Weber

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Field Journal

A Thing for HeronsNorman McGinnis

have this thing for herons, any long legged wading bird really, but the Little Green Heron in

particular. I have spent the past seven breeding seasons observing a small nesting colony at Auditorium Shores. I have seen the herons mate, then sit for days incubating eggs until one by one the chicks appear at the edge of the nest. I have watched these chicks grow and fledge, finally leaving the nesting colony to forage on their own.

I’ve often wondered where these birds go after leaving. I have wished there were some way for an amateur naturalist like me to follow them and observe how they feed and interact with each other. Little did I know that

with the completion of the new Butler Park pond, on the west side of the Long Center/Palmer Events Center Complex, I would be able to spend this summer observing their feeding strategies.

The pond has several shallow flat areas perfect for these little herons to forage in. There is a good supply of tadpoles, frogs, invertebrates, and stocked fish. It is only a short distance from the nesting colony, and has seen heavy use by the Butorides clan. Adult herons have used this to supply food for themselves and their broods. I have seen as many as six adults at a time attempting to feed at this pond. I don’t think the designers of this pond had

considered making a heron foraging habitat but the pond serves them splendidly.

On August 27, I made my way to the decks on the west side of the pond with the intent of observing turtles and drawing them in my journal. I had noticed on my recent visits that the turtles that earlier in the summer had fled when I approached were now swimming toward me. I figured someone had been feeding them. With a few flour tortillas to use as bait I walked out onto the southernmost deck. At the southeast corner of the deck is a small man made island with a pond cypress planted at its center. At the foot of the cypress sat a small

I

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female Green Heron, in a low crouched fishing position.

I walked slowly toward the heron, expecting it would probably fly off. Instead the bird circled the tree, pumping her tail feathers and raising her crest several times. I was standing eight to ten feet from this heron. To my amazement this normally shy bird had not flown.

I took my chance and began tearing off small bits of flat bread and dropping them onto the surface of the water. The water boiled with gambusia minnows. Small sunfish began to rise, and the feeding frenzy had begun. Fish and turtles began pigging out on the bread. The heron’s eyes focused on the frenzy. She crouched lower and began snapping up minnows and small fish. I had suddenly slipped beyond being an observer of herons. In this instant I had become an active participant in this little heron’s life.

As I continued to watch I noticed that small minnows were seized just behind the gills. A quick flip of head and they slipped down the heron’s throat head first. Larger sunfish were usually caught by the dorsal fins. The bird would pause from fishing to snap at, and capture, any dragonfly that within 6” to 8” of it. The way the heron crouched and the way it focused its eyes was reminiscent of the way a

house cat stalks a string toy... very, very intense.

My mind flashed back to July 9, 2001, when I observed an adult green heron using tent moth caterpillars to bait small fish from the branch of sycamore tree. I began to wonder what sort of intelligence is required for a heron to make that mental leap. At what point would a heron decide to collect these bits of bread and use them of her own volition, move the bait and baited closer to her, and take full advantage of my gift? I notice several bits of bread

near the heron’s feet. It would be easy for her to pick one up, drop it on the water and create feeding madness. But she does not. When all my bread is gone, she relaxes standing in the sun, and begins to preen.

I walk wistfully back to my truck with my pen and journal in hand. My scribbled notes from this day and others are my only testament to what I’ve seen. Nature is here in this city. It is rich and found in the most unlikely places. I am blessed. I have this thing for herons.

“Instructions for living a life:

Pay attention,

Be astonished,

Te# about it.” Mary Oliver

We all know Norm is the “Master Journalist” but I know many others of you do keep nature journals too. Would you be prepared to share your entries with other CAMNers? I love to read and see them and I know other would too. I wish I kept one but I don’t but it doesn’t stop me from enjoying other peoples. So, how do I keep my memories? I tell my husband and write articles! Send your journal entries to Kim Bacon kimbacon@mac.com or Christine Powell xtinepowell@verizon.net

Taken earlier this summer, an adult green heron in breeding colors catching a frog.

The Yardwise website is up and completely functional. Yardwise is a website that the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center helped TCEQ assemble that provides helpful advice (and links to helpful advice on other sites) which can help residential landowners create less resource-intensive landscapes. Check it out!

CAMN FIELD JOURNAL AUGUST 2008 PAGE 7

A Master Naturalist Builds

If you build it, they WILL comeChristine Powell

I know it is an over used cliché but “if you build it, they WILL come.” I have the proof!

For many years now I have wanted a pond and for the last three I had let my husband in on my secret. It goes without saying he was not thrilled at the thought of yet another one of Christine’s “projects” and despair doesn’t even begin to describe how he felt when he learnt we were going to do it ourselves. I was all for getting in a contractor but “we will never be able to afford it.” Dale thought I should go it alone and dig my own hole… Needless to say the pond waited to be built. Every now and again I would go out, try and dig a hole, strike limestone, and give up. About two years ago I had a change of attack—I bought the water plants. They have grown and expanded in my two portable bog gardens and a children’s play pool. I have had several resident Great southern ??? frogs since the very beginning and they have formed a very close relationship with my dogs. I am not totally sure the relationship goes both ways but my dogs love them, especially when they call and hop out of the undergrowth!

I guess it is safe to say Dale was now getting worried. Clearly I was not to be deterred. So I waited, dug a few more test pits, hit more limestone and waited some more. At the beginning of this year I caught the flu, was very ill, but

was happy pottering around my makeshift pond. But then something wonderful happened, one, we got a bigger tax refund than we expected and two, I volunteered at Jim and Lynne Webers’ for the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center garden tour in May. I spent a superb day meeting and greeting people as they went round this magnificent garden and preserve. One person I met was Russell Womack from Capitol Landscaping, who had put in their pond and done most of the rockwork. If any of you have been to Jim and Lynne’s you know what a wonderful place it is.

My next challenge came when I had a particularly bad case of pneumonia (is there a good case?) and Dale realized I was never going to make it through the limestone alone. We called Russell, he came out, saw I really needed help, and the next thing I know is we are getting a pond!

In just two short weeks Russell had turned my steep and deadly hillside into a glorious retreat. My—I am not sure they are not pet—cardinals were bathing and drinking within minutes of the workmen leaving. Within three days of completion I had rock chirping??? frogs move in. Dragonflies are there too. In fact every day more come. I do have one problem, the neighborhood herd of deer come to drink each night which means the water levels drop

I

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CAMN FIELD JOURNAL AUGUST 2008 PAGE 8

quite substantially but that is the least of my worries—it will be keeping them off the plants that will be the real challenge.

I can’t tell you how much the pond has made both of us so happy. Dale thought it was just another one of my crazy

ideas but really loves it. While I am just so happy sitting there watching all the wildlife, you need to have fun. Go on, build it and they will come to you, too.

Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve was founded in 1974 to protect 227 acres of Texas Hill Country. There are over three miles of hiking trails through woodland, grassland, and stream-side habitats. Wild Basin also hosts a variety of family events, concerts, adult workshops, children’s and school programs.

If you enjoy sharing outdoor experiences with children or adults this is a volunteer opportunity for you. The training will count as Advanced hours and when you start volunteering at Wild Basin it will count towards your re-certification. So, can you spare a few hours per month to volunteer? If so, Wild Basin needs you as a volunteer Trail Guide! No experience is necessary, and you’ll join a dedicated and diverse group of volunteers who enjoy sharing their love of nature. Wild Basin relies on volunteer guides for three different programs that are scheduled during Fall and Spring.:

School Tours Have an adventure with a purpose! Students travel in small groups with a trained guide on a two-hour hike through Wild Basin’s Hill Country habitat. Guided hikes for schools give students a hands-on outdoor experience and can be correlated to classroom studies in the natural sciences. Programs are appropriate for 1st through 5th grades, and can accommodate up to sixty students split into several groups with several guides.

Tiny Footprints Preschool Tours Get the little ones off to a good start appreciating nature and enjoying science with these programs for parents and preschoolers, preschool groups, and classes. The Basin’s Tiny Footprints program offers four themes: Butterflies and Caterpillars; Spiders and Scorpions; Ants and Rolypolies; and Nutty

Squirrels. We also travel to area schools with the Wee Trails program.

Wild Afternoons These specially designed tours help provide a unique educational experience for organized children’s groups after school and on weekends. Scout groups can meet merit badge requirements. The programs can include: Eco Explorers, Watching Wildlife, Birding, Forestry, Insects, Finding Your Way, Journaling, or Indian Lore.

Trail guides must be able to participate in training sessions, and be prepared to hike for two hours on a rugged trail. Guides must be at least 21, possess good communication skills, and must be comfortable as a leader of groups with both children and adults. There is a $25 one-time training fee, which includes instruction, materials, trail guide manual, and membership to Wild Basin.

Would you like to be a trail guide at Wild Basin?  Their trail guides inspire an appreciation for nature in school children, adults, and families who visit the preserve.  Trail Guide Training is on September 6th and 7th from

8:30a-4:00p.  Contact Karen Jager at www.wildbasin.org for a registration form and more information.  Come join our talented group of volunteers in teaching about the geology, wildlife, plants and history of Wild Basin!

As you can see 'om the picture right my pond plants are actua#y very happy where they are—the children’s paddling pool. They wi# be rehoused in the near future after I have got over the first flush of the pond, oh, and the waterfa#!

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ne of the most abundant jewels in Texas, the black-chinned hummingbird may be

small, but its’ fall migration is a feat of gigantic proportions!

Measuring a mere three and one-half inches long with a three and three-quarter-inch wing span, this hummingbird weighs only three to three and one-half grams, which is about equivalent to the weight of a dime plus a dollar bill. The male is dull metallic green above, gray below, black on the chin and upper throat, with an iridescent violet lower throat known as a gorget (pronounced gore-jet). The female lacks the characteristic coloring on the chin, upper throat, and lower throat.

Like all hummingbirds, nectar serves as its main food source, fueling the tiny bird’s extreme metabolism. These hummingbirds feed on several species

of plants, most notably native penstemons, agaves, salvias, sages, and honeysuckles. While artificial feeders supplement their diet, they also prey on insects and spiders, particularly during nesting season, which gives them the dietary fat and protein necessary to breed.

The black-chinned hummingbird’s unique skeletal structure allows them to fly forwards, backwards, sideways, and even on their backs! This requires a wingbeat frequency of about 50 beats per second, and massive muscles that make up a third of their tiny body weight. While the males perform an elaborate flight display during courtship, no pair bond is formed between the males and females. Females build the tiny nest (out of spider webs, mosses, and various plant fibers), incubate the eggs, and raise the young, while the males are feeding and

O

Black-chinned Hummingbird

Field trip: Nature Watch

Hummingbird Highways Jim & Lynne Weber

Female ruby-throated (?) hummingbird

CAMN FIELD JOURNAL AUGUST 2008 PAGE 10

Have you been somewhere special in Texas that might interest other CAMNers? Why not tell us about it. Include your images. Let us all share in your joy and perhaps one of us will choose to visit someplace new because of your adventure!Send your submissions to Kim Bacon (kimbacon@mac.com) or Christine Powell at (xtinepowell@verizon.net)

off chasing other females. This is unusual among birds as a whole, since this class of animals exhibits the greatest amount of monogamy among vertebrates (animals with a backbone or spinal column).

While most biologists believe that the shortening length of daylight hours triggers fall migration, the black-chinned hummingbird begins its long journey south from Texas in September, to spend the winter in western Mexico. The number of birds migrating south may be twice that of the northward trip in the spring, since it includes all immature birds that

hatched during the summer, as well as surviving adults.

Amazingly, for a newly hatched hummingbird, there is no memory of past migrations, only an urge to put on a lot of weight, fly in a particular direction for a certain amount of time and hundreds of miles, and look for a good place to over-winter. Once it learns such a route, a bird may retrace it every year as long as it lives! There is evidence that fall and spring migration routes differ, with the hummingbirds following the Texas coast back into Mexico in the fall and crossing non-stop over the Gulf of Mexico on their

way north in the spring. Perhaps the hurricane season is a factor, and these birds have developed an innate sense to avoid the Gulf during its most precarious weather season.

The timing of the fall hummingbird migration occurs when their natural food is most abundant. However, you can enjoy this amazing spectacle up-close by keeping your feeders full of clear, fresh sugar water through at least the end October, and enjoying the company of these enchanting little gems as they make a rest stop in your yard!

“Bug” CatcherDo you hate bugs in your home, but likewise hate to ki# them?  A child ’s ‘catch and release’ bug viewer is the perfect tool for you!  Available at many Nature Center gift stores, my husband bought this one for me as a gag gift 10 years ago.  It’s gotten plenty of use, sometimes to show critters to child relatives, but mostly to rid my home of unwelcome guests.  Last week I had a first:  I spotted a baby lizard

scurrying across the floor of the breakfast room!  My handy, dandy “bug” catcher a#owed me (after quite a chase!) to return him to the natural habitat of my garden, with the hopes he’# survive to eat many bugs as he grows.

On hummingbirds—

Their own wings churn the air like rotors, and while the wings whiz frantically about its body the little bird is stabilized, able to hover in front of a flower and draw nectar into its long, grooved tongue, which, when not in use, lies coiled in the hummingbird’s cranium like a fire hose.

Stephen Harrigan – A Natural State

GOT INFO FOR THE

NEWSLETTER?

Send us information and photos about projects you volunteer for, advanced training opportunities you attended, and notice of awards CAMN members receive. We try to get the newsletter out on the 1st of the month so the deadline for submitting material is the 27th of the month before publication.

Send materials to Kim Bacon (kimbacon@mac.com) or Christine Powell at (xtinepowell@verizon.net)

CAMN FIELD JOURNAL AUGUST 2008 PAGE 11

Field Sightings

Turk’s Cap (Mavaviscus arboreus var. drummondii)Christine Powell

alvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii or Turks cap is a local favorite with people and wildlife alike. I love it as it

keeps the hummingbirds coming back time and time again. Named for Thomas Drummond, it is a versatile and useful plant. First comers to Texas thought the flowers resembled Turkish fezzes and hence the name. It is a spreading deciduous perennial shrub that can occasionally reach nine feet in height but usually stays a more manageable three to six feet. If you have very shady areas this is a must have for you. To keep in a garden setting, prune back after a couple of years. It is very drought tolerant. In nature it is found along streams, on the edges of woods, and on limestone slopes and ledges. Several new hybrids have recently appeared making it much more attractive to the average gardener. It is moderately deer resistant.The bright red pendent shape flowers are hibiscus-like and never actually fully open. The petals overlap to form a loose whorl with the stamen column protruding. The flowers keep on blooming all summer into November. Although Turks Cap will grow in the sun it much prefers a shady site in a sandy soil. Having said that it is very adaptable and I have seen it growing in full sun in a heavier soil. White through pink varieties are now available which are quite exquisite. It is hard to fail with this plant.

It is an aggressive spreader but is easy to control and the wildlife love it. The nectar is used by hummingbirds, butterflies, moths, and insects while the fruit is eaten by birds and mammals.The fruit is actually edible either raw or cooked and is supposed to resemble an apple or watermelon in taste. One disadvantage, however, is that the five large seeds reduce the amount of actual fruit to a little more than a nibble! The fruits, though, can be made into a jelly or syrup that is supposed to have a distinctive and subtle flavor. A tea can be made of the dried flowers and is reminiscent of hibiscus tea. The leaves have many medicinal uses.The flower and leaves both can be used to make a dye. The colors range from a pale peach, deep peach, mauve, to a golden tan.Turks cap can be propagated several ways. Seeds should be collected as soon as the fruit ripens. Spread the fruit on screens to dry and separate. After a few days, the pulp will shrivel and may easily be rubbed off the seeds. After thoroughly drying, dust the seeds with an insecticide and store in ventilated containers at room temperature. Seeds stored for long periods of time should be refrigerated in sealed containers.Fresh untreated seeds can be sown right away. They should be sown no deeper than half an inch and they will germinate quickly if planted outside after the danger of frost has past. The

germination of seeds is inhibited by cold temperatures. Soft wood cuttings should be four to six inches long with the bottom leaves removed. Dip into a rooting hormone and they quickly take root. Large clumps of Turks Cap can be divided in early spring and transplanted to a new area but be sure to water well. Turks Cap can take a while to get started in the spring and so you need to give it another plant to share the space. Giant spiderwort makes an excellent choice. It’s an early grower and bloomer and by the time the Turk’s cap develops its bloom period is over leaving the Malvaviscus to take over. Pigeon Berry (Rivinia humilis), Tropical sage (Aalvia coccinea), Cedar sage (Salvia roemeriana), and Inland Sea Oats (Chasmanthium latifolium) all also make excellent companion plants. Several sources suggest that if you repeatedly cut back or trim the plants they will form an adequate ground cover or if left to grow and thicken they can be coaxed into a low hedge. Either way, what a wonderful display!

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Texas Mussel Watch Workshop Saturday, November 15, 2008, 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM Lecture in the morning at the Austin Nature Science Center (301 Nature Center Drive), field work in the afternoon at a local creek. Learn how to identify freshwater mussel species in Texas and participate in scientific research. Sponsored by the Capital Area Master Naturalists, this TPWD Texas Mussel Watch workshop will be held on Saturday, November 15, 2008 from 9:00 AM until 3:30 PM. Water will be provided, but bring your own snacks/lunch and hat/ sunscreen/boots/sandals. SBEC and TEEAC credit is available for educators.

The workshop fee is $10/person for materials, and more information on the program can be found at http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/learning/texas_nature_trackers/mussel/.

To register, or for more questions, contact Kathy McCormack at 512-698-9880 or VEFL21@yahoo.com.

Field Postcards

Sometimes . . . You Get A New Interest!

I am doing some training for the new Dinoland exhibit at Zilker Park. We are learning what to say to the excited school children who will be viewing these life sized models of the prehistoric reptiles.All participants had a two hour pre-training tour given by Dr. Owen from the Hall of Geology and Paleontology lab in the Texas Memorial Museum. We not only got a private tour, but we got to meet and

talk to a working paleontologist! It was most enlightening. If anyone is interested, the further training is set for September 9th and 10th in the mornings. You can call Clark Hancock or Margaret Sullivan.  This exhibit only lasts until November, so docenting will not be a full year commitment. Sally Scott

Texas Mussels at RiskFreshwater mussels are one of the most imperiled groups of animals in the U.S. Texas hosts more than 50 species of native freshwater mussels.

Because scientists have only recently become aware of the severe decline in mussel populations, some species may have become extinct before their decline was even documented. Although there are many mussel species considered rare in Texas, only one mussel species, the Ouachita rock-pocketbook mussel, which has been found only in two tributaries of the Red River, is listed as endangered.

CAMN FIELD JOURNAL AUGUST 2008 PAGE 13

Postcard: Rare Sighting

Davis Mt. “Horny Toad”Cindy Phillips

During a recent trip to the Davis Mountains with our friends and fellow CAMN members Beck Runte and Ann Syptak, we participated in a 2-mile Sierra Club hike. The morning was cool and cloudy, and the trail meandered through grasses and wildflowers up to a mountain meadow. The thrill of the walk for me was sighting a baby “Horny Toad”. A few minutes later this well camouflaged was discovered on the granite rocks. It was good to know they are still about. It was my first sighting in Texas in 20 years.

A Time for Horned Lizards!Rollo Newsom tells us that Lee Ann Linam, immediate past president, and Joyce Gibson Roach, newly installed president, of the Horned Lizard Conservation Society recently led several members on horned lizard surveys near Midland. We were pleased to find these lizards in the Davis Mountains.

CAMN FIELD JOURNAL AUGUST 2008 PAGE 14

Field Notes Monthly meeting

Rare Plants and how we can help!Christine Powell

t the August CAMN monthly meeting we welcomed an old friend, Bill Carr. As always, Bill

delighted us with his stories while stressing what dire straits some of our Texas flora is in. As we all know, we live in a rich and diverse area, but that also means that we have a large number of endangered or threatened species of plants.

To quote Bill, “Texas is a really big state, with 262,000 square miles, 801 miles north to south, 773 miles east to west and 23,500,000 humans.” To break it down even further “…and it’s very diverse, with 5500 plant taxa, 622 birds, 73 snakes, 50 lizards, 41 frogs and toads, 28 turtles, 25 salamanders, 1 crocodilian, 400+ butterflies, 260 odonates, and 248 robber-flies.” I now feel totally able to hold my own at any trivia event!

Rare and endangered species form an integral part of each of the major natural ecosystems in Texas. Their existence or disappearance is a

bellwether for the health of the entire vegetation region. Today’s threats to rare plants almost inevitably represent tomorrow’s threats to the more common native plants as well. With the state rapidly approaching a water crisis, the preservation of the native plant inventory that has adapted to survive without supplemental watering—and the elimination of imported species that crowd out the natives while wasting water—must be a critical part of any conservation strategy.

Biodiversity is no longer just an obsession for “tree huggers,” but should concern anyone who wants their taps to produce water when they want it. It should also be a concern for anyone who wants Texas to look like Texas and not some other state or country. These rare plants often serve as hosts for beneficial or attractive insects and other wildlife. In many parts of the state, hunting and tourism are critical to the local economy; everywhere, we are dependent on a

healthy natural environment. The rare native plants are an important sign of health or its decline. Concerned citizens should respond to the critical need to recognize such plants before their preservation can even be contemplated.

Members of the general public have found it almost impossible to identify

A

Rare Plants of Texas

978-1-58544-557-8

flexbound with flaps

$35.00

LC 2006039150.

5 3/4x9 1/4. 656 pp.

247 color photos.

234 color maps.

215 drawings.

Bib. Index.

Natural History.

Reference.

For anyone who loves native plants, Rare Plants of Texas is a must-have. Because of their focus on common plants, the standard field guides do not include many of the 225 species currently described as endangered, imperiled, or declining (or other species that are considered species-of-concern or candidates for listing). The only sources of information have been the in-house summaries for Texas Parks and Wildlife botanists, and even those date back only to 1987.Rare Plants of Texas includes maps down to the county level to show where these species may be located, along with photographs and line drawings that supplement the written information on each plant. This includes a description and data on distribution, habitat, and related issues. Introductory chapters deal more generally with the threats to native plants and the methods being used for recovery. All this information makes Rare Plants of Texas a must have for anyone owing property in Texas and who wants to preserve our native flora.

CAMN FIELD JOURNAL AUGUST 2008 PAGE 15

rare plants that might happen on their path. That doesn’t mean that they didn’t encounter them. A number of these plants were discovered by ordinary people who were unusually observant. One example is Enquist’s Sandmint (brazoria enquistii), found in the Llano Uplift and identified by Matt Turner (a

member of the Native Plant Society in Austin). Because most of these species weren’t identified in the field guides to native plants, the natural inclination was to regard them as invasive weeds and destroy them. This has had a significantly adverse effect on the natural diversity of Texas. Bill’s new

book (see sidebar) Rare Plants of Texas provides a vital resource for preventing this from happening.

Bill had several ways we, as Master naturalists can help. For ease of understanding, I have listed these directly from his presentation:

Projects for Capi to l Area Master Natural ists?Rare plant surveys:

• Help with census of canyon bean (Phaseolus texensis) — this would involve working directly with Bill

General inventories

• Collecting and identifying all the species of a ranch or park can lead to amazing discoveries—this can be in an area of Bill’s choosing, often on land not accessible to the general public or on your own property.

Life history studies

• Little is known about most rare plants, such as Hill Country wild-mercury—this could be really fascinating. You would spend hours just watching a plant to see how it is adapted to it environment, how is it pollinated, and watching its life-cycle.

Management / stewardship

• Control of exotic plants is crucial, especially here in urban Austin—now there is a recommendation to join the Capital Area Invaders if ever I heard one.

Call Bill any time (512-459-5326)

Texas needs more botanists!

• Become a Capital Are Master Botanist—contact Bill now!

If you have never been to one (or not been lately) you should join us and meet all the new members we now have and catch up with old friends. With thanks to Sally Scott we have some great programs lined up for you. In September on the 24th our speaker is Dr. John Abbott, entomologist. For those of you who do not know him, he is curator of the Texas Natural History collections at the Texas Natural Science Center and at the Brackenridge Field Laboratory. John got a B. S. form A&M and his P.H.D. from North Texas. He is a fabulous presenter and he is going to cover “CSI” for Master Naturalists! Usually he speaks on Dragonflies and Damselflies (his specialty) but just for us he will be covering the role of insects in forensics. It should be one of our more “unique” presentations so come early.

In October we will be looking at Spiders with the help of U.T Professor Ruth

Buskirk, a lecturer in the School of Biological Sciences and the College of Natural Sciences. Ruth gave a very popular lecture last year entitled ‘The Science of Spiderman.’ At this point we don’t know what aspect of arachnids she will be covering but there are bound to be spiders and lots of fun!

November is still open, but the date is changed to November 19th due to the holidays so mark your calendars now.

December is free — Some of us we will miss our MN friends, sad but true. Maybe we should party? Let Kim or Christine know if you fancy this idea.

January we welcome Flo Oxley, from the Wildflower Center. I am sure she needs no introduction since she is one of our most requested speakers. This one will be packed, so make sure you are there to go with the Flo... 

February is Marsha May from Texas Parks & Wildlife on Amphibians. Marsha is a fun lady and if you have never met her, now is the time. I first met her at the TAS Christmas party - she was the lead singer of the band, the TP&W band, incredible! This lady has a big personality and an attitude that fits right in with CAMN members.

March is Ro Wauer, will talk about Butterflies of Texas. He retired from the National Park Service following a 32-year career as naturalist and scientist, working in such parks as Crater Lake, Death Valley, Zion, Big Bend, and Great Smoky Mountains. He has been an avid birder since a youngster, but turned to butterflies about 12 years ago. He is the author of 25 nature books, three on butterflies, and more than 170 nature articles. His most recent books include Finding Texas Butterflies and Butterflies of the Lower Rio Grande Va#ey.

Our Monthly meetings are fun!

CAMN FIELD JOURNAL AUGUST 2008 PAGE 16

Field Observations

Crablike spiny orb weavers are amongst usJulia Osgood

few weeks ago, while watering some plants, I noticed a little orb web strung between a shrub and my house. When I bent down to

look at it I couldn’t make heads or tails of the owner at first, but when I looked at the underside of the web I knew immediately it was one of those spiders I had seen in my field guide but never in person. I ran into the house and grabbed my tattered copy of the Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Insects and Spiders and there in the last plate was a photo of the Crablike spiny orb weaver (Gasteracantha cancriformis). I was thrilled to have such a perfect specimen living right in my front yard, but I’ve since discovered that they are fairly common in our area. These spiders have a hard carapace-like cover on their dorsal side. The crablike cover varies in color depending on geography. It can be white, yellow, or red. The spiny projections are clearly visible.

The name might imply they are related to crab spiders, a common name for members of the Thomisidae family, but the crablike spiny orb weavers are in the Araneidae family with the other orb weavers. Thomisidae members walk; Araneidae members weave. And weave they do. A freshly spun web caught in the early morning sun shows every strand of the feat of engineering that goes into the web. Although the orb itself spans only a few inches, the supporting strands can be several feet long. The female weaves a new web every day

decorating it here and there with little bits of tufted silk giving some of the strands a dashed line appearance. Once she has completed this task, she positions herself head down at the center of the orb and waits for insects to fly into her web. There the doomed insects are paralyzed, wrapped in silk, and drained dry. Smaller insects might not even get wrapped in silk before having their fluids ingested.

While the female is weaving and eating, one or more males are hanging (literally) nearby. Before mating, the male cautiously makes his way to the web and uses a four tap rhythmical drumming to let the female know his intentions. After mating, the female constructs an egg case containing 100-260 eggs on the underside of a nearby leaf. Then, with her eggs encased in their protective cover, the female dies. Her progeny will over-winter in their egg case and disperse in the spring to start the process anew.

Crablike spiny orb weavers are common in the southern part of the U.S., including Florida citrus orchards where they eat pests that can impact fruit production. In our area they are found in woodland edges and shrubby gardens. Keep your eye out for these little jewels in your own yard.

A

the dorsal (upper) side showing the hard carapace-like cover

The ventral (belly) side

CAMN FIELD JOURNAL AUGUST 2008 PAGE 17

ne of the more fun volunteer activities is to hike local areas which are not usually open to the public. A great resource for such fun is our own CAMN member

Daniel Dietz of the City of Austin’s Wildland Conservation Division. On Saturday, August 16th, I took advantage of a karst inventory led by Daniel covering many acres of the Rutherford Ranch on the south side of FM 967 in northern Hays County. More than 20 folks took part in the survey. Many were Master Naturalists from our group and Hays County. The land is managed as part of the Division’s Water Quality Protection Lands (WQPL) Program. The names are long, but the mission is simple – keep the water clean.

Our task was to walk in a line about 10 feet apart and look for karst features. The land was part of a prescribed burn the previous month, so much of the underbrush was gone... but not all of it was gone. There were still some good stands of impenetrable Ashe Juniper and Green Briar. We were mainly looking for sinkholes and caves. We did find several of these. We mainly saw many, many areas where there were groups of depressions. The land was like Swiss cheese. I didn’t see many creeks or ditches. Most of the water heads straight down into the aquifer. Being set aside, away from cars and pollution, this area will definitely assist the water to stay clean.

What are wildlands? Well, the city website says they are areas of land undisturbed for purposes of agriculture, urban, or industrial use that provide a valuable ecosystem function. They are not parks. The citizens of Austin bought this land to optimize the

O

Field Work: Searching for Karst Features

Fun in the Sun—Looking for Ways Underground Stuart Bailey

Daniel (top, kneeling) give details and expectations for the day. Sometimes you find a sma# one (center), sometimes a big one (bottom right), and sometimes you just want to get down in there (bottom left)!

CAMN FIELD JOURNAL AUGUST 2008 PAGE 18

quantity and quality of water recharging the Barton Spring segment of the Edwards Aquifer.

At the end of the survey, Daniel took us to the old Kuykendall House on the ranch. This place was quite fallen down, but still had some rock walls holding some of the roof and upstairs covered deck.

We also drove past the Kuykendall Cemetery. Because of the hard rock, the departed are buried in above-ground crypts. Located on private property, you must obtain permission to visit the cemetery. We also took a side trip to check out a deep and wide sinkhole.

Great exploring, friendship, and knowledge was had by all. We also got to help survey a piece of land to help water quality. Check out the website for other upcoming volunteer opportunities http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/water/wildland/

Benefits of Wildlands

✦Absorb rainfall and reduce flooding.✦Store and slowly release water into creeks, prolonging their flow.✦Filter pollution and dilute impacts of development.✦Great Hikes when you volunteer to work on these lands.✦Volunteer and check out cool sinkholes and caves.✦Protect habitat for a wide variety of wildlife.✦Opportunity to hang out with other like-minded folks.✦Conserve native plants as a genetic seed bank for the future.✦Enhance air quality through presence of vegetation.✦Preserve aspects of cultural history.✦Allow you to check out old buildings and ranches✦Serve as locations for research.✦Get to drink City of Austin Gatorade and eat Daniel’s Fig Newtons.✦Offer beautiful views adding to Austin’s quality of life and reputation as a

community that values its environment.

There is a marvelous old house on the property that adds to the ghostly effect. Cacti abound and horse cripplers are aptly named.

Sometimes an area seems just fu# of cacti and then you find a karst feature under them, incredible!

CAMN FIELD JOURNAL AUGUST 2008 PAGE 19

ack in June a bunch of us CAMNers took the all-day invasives plant class at the Ladybird Johnson

Wildflower Center. After completing the class, Gloria Blagg (CAMN 2008) contacted Daniel Dietz (City of Austin Wildland Conservation Division) to see if the city needed help recording invasives at Balconies Canyonland Preserve (BCP). Daniel was happy for us to adopt a section to monitor and record invasives. Gloria rounded up Theresa Pella along with me and the three of us met Daniel early one morning to walk around the Bull Creek area so he could show us the kinds of things to look for in the BCP lands. After that, we weren’t hot and tired enough yet, so we drove over to the tract assigned to us to see how to get there and check it out. We wound up spending two hours walking around and recording invasives at the Ivanhoe tract.

Since then, Gloria, Theresa, and I have gone back three more times. I couldn’t make it last week and found that I really missed the trip. Besides logging invasives, we see all kinds of things – dragonflies, wildflowers, tiny (really tiny) toads, and plenty more.

We’ve seen deer tracks and what we presume are areas rooted up by wild boars that are known to be on the property. Thankfully we haven’t encount-ered the latter species.

When we find an invasive plant, we stop, record the latitude and longitude from the GPS unit, fill out a data sheet, and take two photos – one close-up and one far-off. So far we’ve found Chinaberry trees, Nandina, Japanese honeysuckle, at least two species of Ligustrum, and more. We start early in the morning to beat the heat and usually put in about four hours. Besides learning more about invasive plants, we’ve increased our native plant knowledge, and we’re all better at orienteering. Getting a little bit lost with your friends and a GPS is kind of

fun. It’s a great way to get outdoors and log a few volunteer hours. When we’re back at our respective homes, one of us enters the data into the Texas Invasives website (www.texasinvasives.org). Check out that website for more info, including upcoming classes. Get invasive with friends or neighbors!

Theresa standing next to a ligustrum.

B

TEXASINVASIVES.ORG is a product of the Pulling Together Initiative, a Texas-sized partnership to manage non-native invasive plants. The Pulling Together Initiative is a collaborative project between the Texas Forest Service, the Forest Health Protection branch of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service, the Central Southwest Gulf Coast Information Node of NBII at the Houston Advanced Research Center, and the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. The purpose of the Pulling Together Initiative is to provide information about identification and management of invasive plants, establish locations for invasive plant demonstration areas, and, through a statewide conference, facilitate information sharing about non-native invasive plants.

Arbor Day Tree Planting

The City of Austin is organizing a Arbor Day Tree Planting October 25th at Bartholomew Park. For information see http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/parks/arborday.htm. The event is a kick off for the Fall planting season, celebrating and promoting the benefits of trees. Some local environmental groups will be participating with booths of displays, distribution materials, and children’s activities related to their respective environmental theme. If you would be interested in assisting with the booth for the Wildflower Center, contact Carrie McDonald at cmcdonald@wildflower.org.

Field training: Capital Area Invaders

Capital Area Invaders Invade Ivanhoe TractJulia Osgood

CAMN FIELD JOURNAL AUGUST 2008 PAGE 20

CAMN In Action

News and Notes

There is a a very nice, new publication entitled “Ecoregions of Texas,” which is a joint effort by TCEQ, EPA, USDA, and a number of university and other state agency folks. It’s packed with detailed information and full-color photos and maps.The online version (which takes a while to load) is at http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/assets/public/comm_exec/pubs/as/199.pdfYou can order print versions of the publication for $5. Specific info on this publication at: http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/cgi-bin/comm_exec/publications.pl The publication date is 12/2007 and the publication no. is AS-199)

The next Nature Nights at the LBJWC, scheduled for Friday, September 19th, 2008, will be celebrating “Plants and People.” Steven Brueggerfoff (sbrueggerhoff@wildflower.org) is looking for people who have a skill that they would like to show off at demonstration tables throughout the evening. If not, maybe you are interested in supporting these experts at a table. The Center will provide advanced training to get you up to speed.

Jessica Wilson from Friends of McKinney Falls is looking for help(jecawilson@yahoo.com). She needs someone to staff a table for the Friends of McKinney Falls on Wednesday, September 10, 2008 from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM at the UT Volunteer Fair. All you have to do is chat with loads of UT students about why you love McKinney Falls and why it’s so much fun to be a Friend.

The 8th Annual Texas Plant Conservation Conference will be held at Texas A&M University—Corpus Christi from September 17–20. This year’s conference will highlight plant conservation work in south Texas and the Coastal Bend. Speakers will discuss their work with Texas rare plants and update participants on the status of their projects. Sponsors include the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Texas Parks & Wildlife, the Native Plant Society of Texas, and Clark Condon Associates. To register online go to: www.wildflower.org.

The Texas Memorial Museum has a range of activities scheduled for Austin Museum Day. For details, check out www.TexasNaturalScienceCenter.org.

Here are the dates for the upcoming Seeds and Pizza parties with Flo Oxley in the volunteer room at the Wildflower Center: Saturday,September 13, 10 am – 2 pm; Saturday, November 15, 10 am – 2 pm. For details contact Flo at oxley@wildflower.org.

The Wildflower Center needs volunteers to help with the Austin Museum Day, Sunday, September 14th. There are a whole range of opportunities available. For details contact Carrie McDonald or Stephen Brueggerhoff (sbrueggerhoff@wildflower.org). For more information about Austin Museum Day, visit http://www.austinmuseums.org/museum_day_2008.html.

The NPL (Non-vertebrate Paleontology Lab of the Texas Natural Science Center) is sponsoring a Mass Inventory Event beginning on September 10 at 6 pm. The first session will be a refresher and training session for newcomers at PRC333 on the J.J. Pickle Research Campus, 10100 Burnet Road. The subsequent sessions to inventory invertebrate fossils, rocks, and minerals will be on the 2d and 4th Wednesdays of the month. As a security requirement, you must provide your name in advance to Ann Molineux (annm@mail.utexas.edu).

There are often other volunteer opportunities available at the LBJWC so contact Carrie McDonald if you have some spare time on your hands! Here is a sampling of what is coming up—enjoy!

CAMN FIELD JOURNAL AUGUST 2008 PAGE 21

Melissa Macdougall’s passion for CAMN has taken her to a surprising place this summer. She just completed her BA in Environmental Studies / Sustainable Community Development at Prescott College (www.prescott.edu). Melissa says “I recommend their Adult Degree Program to anyone looking for an accredited yet very flexible and individualized degree program with an environmental, multicultural, and community service focus. I was originally an English major at UT

starting in 1974, but didn’t have much interest in going back to school until I discovered Prescott. I was able to design a course of study based on my current interests -- natural history and interpretation -- and how they relate to sustainability. While getting my degree, I also became a Certified Interpretive Guide (through the National Association for Interpretation), and earned a permaculture design certificate.

For most of my courses, I had to find a mentor in my community, and all of them were people I met through CAMN -- Clark Hancock, Kevin Anderson, Minnette Marr, and Dick Pierce all gave so generously of their time and expertise. I am very grateful to them for helping me finally pass this milestone, and to all my CAMN friends for their inspiration and support!”

She was inspired by her CAMN training and experience to go back to

One of my greatest joys is getting up in the morning and wandering around my garden with a cup of coffee. Every summer I eagerly await the figs’ arrival and then I harvest a fresh fig each morning as a special treat. It is very nostalgic for me as I used to feast on fresh figs when I worked in Turkey, so this daily ritual is a time of very happy remembrances. Imagine my horror then, when, each morning I venture out only to discover all my figs looking much like the two images above right.

I have always had to share with wasps and other insects, even the occasional raccoon, but never have I had such damage done. This was either a mighty large insect or something else was at work. After a few days of this obvious violation of the garden code of conduct, I got up extra early and caught the culprit in action.

I have planted my garden to attract as much wildlife as I can and I am more than happy to share whatever grows

but I really would like one fig this year! I have been so successful at attracting wildlife that this year I had numerous birds nesting and, in particular, Northern Mockingbirds. The culprit it turns out was a very young Mockingbird waiting in my fig tree for his parents to return, and helping himself to my figs while he waited. How can you be angry at that?

Local Girl Makes Good!

college, years after leaving, to finish her degree. It should also be said that Melissa was in the second class of CAMN training and that she organizes the Biodiversity Surveys at the Austin Nature and Science Center and Zilker Preserve from 8:00 to 11:30 a.m. the first Saturday of each month. Well done, Melissa, we are all so proud of you.

What’s eating Christine’s figs?

CAMN FIELD JOURNAL AUGUST 2008 PAGE 22

Officers

President: Barbara CoutantVice-President: Lynne WeberFormer President: Sue WisemanTreasurer: Linda NowlinAdministrative Secretary: Margaret HillRecording Secretary: Jim WeberAt-Large Board Members: Rose Ann Reeser, Stuart BaileyAdvisory Board Members: Kelly Bender, Clark Hancock, Jackie McFadden, Melissa MacDougall

Board of Directors

According to the CAMN By-Laws, our Board of Directors consists of the Officers and the Chair of each Committee.

If you have concerns you wish the Board to consider, please contact one of the Board members via email.

CAMN Board Meetings are held on the first Thursday of odd numbered months at: 6:45 p.m. at ProEd, 8700 Shoal Creek Blvd., Austin, TX.

The agenda for the next Board Meeting is available here.

GOT INFO FOR THE NEWSLETTER?

Send us information and photos about projects you volunteer for, advanced training opportunities you attended, and notice of awards CAMN members receive. We try to get the newsletter out on the 1st of the month so the deadline for submitting material is the 27th of the month before publication. Send materials to Kim Bacon (kimbacon@mac.com) or Christine Powell at (xtinepowell@verizon.net)

Cap ital Area Master Natural ists

Officers Committees

Administrative Contact: Margaret Hill Maintains database of students and alumni, including names, addresses, class attendance, volunteer hours earned, and advanced training completed.

Communications Web page: Christine Powell Newsletter: Kim BaconPress releases: Kelly Bender Responsible for the Internet web page and press releases.

Curriculum Contact: Theresa Pella Develops the CAMN curriculum, as well as plans the lectures, activities and field trips for each class.

Advanced Training Contact: Frank Esparza Plans, coordinates, and approves advanced training opportunities.

Food & Fun Contact: Jason Lamza Facilitates the social aspects of CAMN including the Certification Ceremonies and holiday celebrations.

Volunteer Opportunities Committee Contact Person: Julia Osgood Develops criteria to determine whether volunteer opportunities may be counted for CAMN credit. Reviews, approves, and publicizes opportunities.

Ad Hoc Education Partners: Jeri Porter, Jessica Wilson Seeks and applies for grants to boost our outreach efforts.

NatureSmart FamilyContact Persons: Peggy A. Murphy, Simonetta Rodriguez

Outreach Committee Contact Person: Stuart Bailey

Sponsors/Partners

Mission Statement

To develop a corps of well-informed volunteers to provide education, outreach, and service dedicated to the beneficial management of natural resources and natural areas within their communities.

Members of CAMN are dedicated to the conservation, preservation, and restoration of our natural resources. To that end, we encourage and support trained Master Naturalist volunteers in Austin and Travis County in providing community programs and projects that increase appreciation of our natural environment and promote, protect, and preserve native flora and fauna.

Austin Nature and Science Center

Texas Parks and Wildlife

Texas Cooperative Extension

Lower Colorado River Authority

Austin Sierra Club

The Nature Conservancy of Texas

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve

Hornsby Bend Center for Environmental Research

Bat Conservation International

Native Plant Society of Texas

Travis Audubon Society