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May 2014 Newsletter

One group of GISD second graders at the theater in the woods, viewing the nature play put on by the ANC Children’s Program. Photo: Billy Teels

Cast of the nature play taking their bows before an appreciative second grade audience. Photo: Billy Teels

Officers: President: Dave Moore Vice-president: Joe Langdon Treasurer: Jim Crocker Secretary: Wendy Moore Past president: Bill Diehnelt Committee Chairs: Training: Robert Theimer Membership: Wanda Riley Vol. Services: Ken Coy Programs: Joe Langdon Outreach: Billy Teels

Second Graders at the ANC By the ANC Children’s Program (Eliza Balmuth, Jake Balmuth, Matt Engle, Kate Reilly, Jonathon Schild, and Arthur Wilkerson)

One warm Friday in March, sixty-six excited second graders (three classes of twenty-two students each) and several teachers came to the Acton Nature Center on a field trip. While they were there they listened to short lectures by some of the Rio Brazos Master Naturalists, did art projects, played several games, had a picnic, and watched a skit put on by some of the ANC homeschoolers, who are members of the ANC Children’s Program. The second graders came to the ANC primarily to learn about the characteristics of animals native to our area and had fun in the process. They learned about the animals through interactive presentations by RBMN members with nature-oriented games interspersed for fun. The idea of having the second graders come to the ANC originated with Susan Francis, a teacher at Acton Elementary. She contacted Mel Schrader at the Hood County Development District. Mel coordinated the details with the school district in order to make the day possible. The day was carefully planned and stressed over by parents of the ANC homeschoolers, who had volunteered to be in the play. The day before the event the Master Naturalists, parents, and homeschoolers met at the ANC to gather supplies, set up, and clear away a blockage to the bridge. The ANC homeschoolers made costumes and practiced the play. On the big day the volunteers arrived early to do last minute preparations before the two yellow school buses arrived full of excited children.

The Master Naturalists had set up three stations for the students to go through, consisting of “Water,” “Earth,” and “Air,” all manned by one or two naturalists, who gave a short presentation before introducing an activity for them to participate in. The “Water” station gave a short talk about reptiles and amphibians that live around the nearby pond, including frogs and snakes. After the presentation, the students painted pictures of fish using rubber models with various colors of paint on them. The “Earth” station had a small talk about the various tracks made by animals then the students were allowed to create their own tracks in boxes of flour using molds. After that they were taken to a strip of dirt where they were allowed to spot tracks on their own. Lastly, at the “Air” station, a Master Naturalist explained how bats use echolocation to hunt at night. The students then tried this for themselves by blindfolding one student to be the bat, while three others played the moths. The rest of the students formed a circle around them, and the bat must tag the moths in a “Marco-Polo” like game called “Bat and Moth.” After all the classes passed through every station, they returned to the parking lot for a quick lunch before moving into the forest for the play. The classes passed beside the bridge and were seated in the forest in front of the stage, which consisted of a small creek, two trees, and the Sam Houston Bridge. The play taught the students the various ways animals called mates and how they navigate and hunt in the dark.

Second Graders at the ANC………....1 ANC Run…………….…………………2 ANC Butterfly Garden………………...2 Where are the Egyptians….………….2 Monthly Programs…….………………3 Scorpion Walk..………………………..3 Plant Families......……………………..4 Passing on the Passion………………5 Fossil Rim Fire……………….………..6 Burleson Family Campout……………7 Golden-cheeked Warbler.……………7 Rockport Field Trip……………………8 Fifth graders at the ANC……………..9 Upcoming events……………………..9

Inside this issue

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By

Texas Master Naturalist, Rio Brazos Chapter

The fruits of our winter labor translated into this spring’s beauty. Photo: Wendy Moore

Over 300 participated in this year’s Acton Nature Run at Revolver Brewing. Photo: Tammy Smith

The kids loved the play and so did everyone else, and in the early afternoon when the second graders were getting ready to leave everybody seemed tired, but happy. Some were reluctant to leave in spite of the muggy, hot weather. It is good to see attention brought to Acton Nature Center after all the Master Naturalists’ hard work to bring it into its present state. It seems only fitting that the day should end in such a success because of all the hard work that was put into it, and the excellent cooperation of the classes. In gratitude for the wonderful day and volunteer efforts, the ANC received many thank you notes in the mail from appreciative second graders (page 10). Where are the Egyptians?

By Bill Diehnelt

A winter’s workday at the ANC Butterfly Garden. Photo: Wendy Moore

We’ve also had some wonderful help with the mulching from some of the homeschoolers and their parents. It is nice to see how so many pitch in for all this work. We are so grateful for everyone’s willingness to lend a hand. There will be more rocking and mulching in the fall, so if you missed out on the fun, we will have more opportunities for you. We had a few plants that didn’t survive the heat of last summer. So, when you tour the garden there are a few new additions. We are also implementing a new way of identifying the various plants in the garden. Wendy Moore has painted the names of plants on flat rocks to replace the metal identification stakes.

Second Graders, continued from page 1

2014 Acton Nature Run By Mel Schrader

This year’s Nature Run was a huge success, with over 300 participants and netting over $10,000 for the ANC. Changing the location to Revolver Brewing and their offer of one free beverage to each participant proved to be a great incentive. This event has many to thank, but mostly the friends of the ANC for their willingness to help out in all areas on Race Day! From parking, to registration, vendor setup, water distribution and clean up, the event could have not gone smoother. So, HUGE thank you to all who helped and who continue to make ANC the wonderful destination and community attraction it is. Great news, Revolver Brewing is on board for the 2015 Acton Nature Run!

ANC Butterfly Garden By Linda Diehnelt

The Butterfly Garden at ANC continues on its evolving path. The Butterfly Garden committee had two main goals for this year--to mulch some of the existing beds and line the pathways with rock. So a group of volunteers got together on a cool, brisk morning and made a trip to a nearby ranch owned by Karen and Joe Langdon’s relatives. We filled a trailer and a pickup bed with a nice selection of rocks and then took a brief tour of their guest house and the property that overlooks Lake Granbury. Afterwards, we still had enough energy left to place the rocks in the garden. What a crew we had!!! Most of us survived that and came back for another day of mulching.

Approximately 4600 years ago, 200,000 men women and children began work to move over 3 million tons of rocks to build the great pyramid of Egypt. It took them over 10 years to accomplish this great feat. On a slightly smaller scale a small group of men and women from the Rio Brazos Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalist began building “The Bird Feature” for the Acton Nature Center. This feature is designed to attract birds for observation at the soon to be built “Bird Observation House”. Over 8,000 pounds of rocks will be utilized to make a fountain that is about 17’ in diameter. The plan is to have this fountain in service by the end of the summer. As you can see in the photos, moving and setting the three main rocks does look like a bunch of Egyptians crawling around on the ground. There are a few notable exceptions though--the red paint on the ground to show the approximate size and location of the rocks and the mechanical device used to move these monster rocks. Other than that it is just the building of “The Great Pyramid.” In the coming weeks we will set the two remaining large rocks and begin to finish the outer border of the pond area. After the outer rim is complete, the pump sump and pump system will be installed. And as a final crowning achievement, there will be a “Rain Tree” installed to distribute the water over the rocks and onto the ledge. An additional phase of this project is the idea that we might wish to run the pump using solar power. This phase will begin after the building is complete, which we hope will be early in the fall.

Some of the helpers at the ANC Nature Run. Photo: Tammy Smith

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The Scorpion Walk By Malea Balmuth

May 2014

All of our recent monthly meetings have been well attended with several new faces appearing at almost every meeting. The February program was given by Mark Pyle, North Texas Herpetological Society, on Snakes of North Central Texas. Mark concentrated on snakes within our three county areas and referred us to several excellent references and websites that we can all access in the future as needs arise. His presentation was informative and generated many questions from the members. The March program was given by Dave and Wendy Moore. Dave’s part of the program was on Birds of Big Bend National Park. Big Bend has more species of birds recorded than any other U.S. National Park. Dave discussed the reasons for this diversity and presented photos of birds taken by several of our members that participated in the field trip there last November. Wendy’s part of the program consisted of how she and the ANC Children’s Program made ink from oak-insect galls. She then gave a hands-on demonstration, with help from the homeschoolers, on how they used that ink to create artwork. Greg Story, Regional Coordinator, National Weather Service, gave the April program on the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network (CoCoRaHS). Flooding accounts for more deaths and damage in the U.S. annually than any other form of weather, yet we still lack predictive capability for many flooding events. CoCoRAHS was developed to provide a more comprehensive dataset on flooding by allowing “backyard weather observers” to measure and submit rainfall totals through a vast cooperative network. Greg encouraged participation by our members and told us how we could get involved. The May program was given by Kelley Snodgrass, Fossil Rim Chief Operating Officer who gave an enlightening presentation on the mission and operations of Fossil Rim. He shared how Fossil Rim is one of a few institutions in North America that have produced over 125 cheetah cubs. Their large enclosures provide the space and seclusion necessary for the successful breeding of cheetahs in captivity. He also pointed out how important volunteers are to making Fossil Rim a success and how many of our members volunteer there on a weekly basis.

RBMN Monthly Programs By Billy Teels and Dayna Inbody

On Friday, February 28th, the ANC homeschoolers enjoyed a different twist to their day. Instead of the usual morning/afternoon program, we met mid-afternoon and began our day helping Bill and Linda Diehnelt spread mulch in the butterfly garden. Afterwards, Wendy and Dave Moore and Dayna and Chris Inbody introduced the children to a new form of watercolor painting involving various techniques to replicate a stained glass look. This would be a 3 session effort which culminated in beautiful paintings! Following our art class, Master Naturalists and parents joined us for a delicious pot luck meal at the newly cleaned farm house. We thank Karen Langdon, Carol Gisler, and Wendy Moore for the hard work to provide us a sparkling house to enjoy! Gary Hinds and several of the homeschoolers spread wildflower seeds around the farm house. As the sun was setting, one Naturalist after another walked down the lane to enjoy the evening. We had approximately 35 people join us for the big event of the evening - The Scorpion Walk. Before beginning our adventure, Mike Balderas educated the children on how reptiles respond to weather. Following dinner, Billy Teels guided us in listening to and identifying night sounds. In preparation for the scorpion walk, Dave Moore handed out special UV flashlights he had ordered for the evening. This UV light helped us to see the scorpions at night. The scorpions are made visible due to the special protein in their exoskeletons that converts non-visible UV light into visible light (Jake's photo attached.) Everyone enjoyed turning over rocks (with Mike's supervision!) in anticipation of finding a scorpion. We found 3 scorpions and numerous crickets, ants, spiders and even a few chorus frogs. We concluded the evening with viewing the night sky. Jake Balmuth, Chris Inbody and Gary Hinds brought spotting scopes and laser pointers to locate and identify constellations and planets (Pleiades, Messier 45, Taurus, Orion nebula, Jupiter, Cassiopeia to name a few). Once again we celebrate our gratitude to our wonderful and dedicated teachers in the Rio Brazos Master Naturalists. We look forward to future programs bringing together the homeschoolers and RBMN.

The water feature is laid out for the ANC bird blind in this February workday. Photo: Wendy Moore

Joe’s skid loader was needed to position large rocks used in the water feature. Photo: Wendy Moore

A scorpion during our February night walk with a regular flash. Photo: Jake Balmuth

The same scorpion as above under UV light. Photo: Jake Balmuth

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Plant Family ID By Billy Teels

News from the ANC By Billy Teels

May 2014

resembles a dayflower, but is different because the flower is not subtended by a folded bract (spathe), but rather by a large, round, and flattened bract. It also has conspicuously bearded anthers that are tipped with yellow hairs. Look for it in Dinosaur Valley State Park. The spiderworts (Tradescantia) are the largest members of the family, often reaching a height of a foot or more. Their leaves are long, folded, and arched gracefully downward, resembling a large spider; giving rise to its common name. The petals are relatively large and equal in proportion. They range in color from purple and blue to rose and pink. Spiderworts occur in a variety of habitats from sands and clayey soils to wetlands, and although they are not uncommon anywhere, neither are they abundant, seldom forming floral aspects. When used as a garden plant, spiderworts tolerate a lot of neglect and can be grown in either full sun or shade. Because they are both tough and showy, they are becoming used in more and more flower gardens.

Widow’s tears (Tinantia anomala) from Dinosaur Valley State Park. Photo: Billy Teels

In previous editions of the newsletter, 3 families of monocots common to north-central Texas have been covered (yuccas, arrowheads, and arums). It is important to reiterate that all plant families will not be treated in this series of articles, just the ones common in our area. This edition will deal with the spiderwort family (Commelinaceae), represented here by 3 genera; the dayflowers (Commelina), the widow’s tears (Tinantia), and the spiderworts (Tradescantia). Between these three genera, there are about 15 species in our area. The Commelinaceae are herbaceous plants with alternate, entire leaves that form basal sheaths around swollen stem nodes. The flowers are subtended by leafy bracts, and have 3 petals that are generally blue or various shades of purple. The stems of most species are strongly mucilaginous and will drip like snot if snapped, giving to the colloquial name snotweed. Some members of the family (e.g. Tradescantia) are quite showy and have become popular in the nursery trade. Other members of the family, such as oysterplant (Rhoeo) and wandering-jew (Zebrina) have long been used as garden or house plants. The dayflowers (Commelina) are relatively small plants with trailing stems. They have flowers that are subtended by broad folded bracts called spathes. The 3 petals are brilliant blue and unequal, with the 2 upper petals being large and rounded and the lower one measurably smaller. The common name “dayflower” is derived from the temporary nature of their blossoms. In most species, the delicate blue flowers last only half a day or less, appearing in the morning and gone by afternoon. Although most of our dayflowers are native and pose no threat to agriculture or gardening, one species, Asiatic dayflower, (Commelina communis) has become a problem in much of the U.S. This species has stems that lay along the ground that root firmly into the soil at the nodes, making it hard to remove completely by hand. It is also resistant to many herbicides, including glyphosate (Roundup), a contributing factor to its listing as a noxious weed by USDA in 1993. The genus Tinantia has but one species in the area—widow’s tears or false dayflower (Tinantia anomala). It is an annual associated with limestone soils in the southern portion of our area, often in shade. Superficially it

Erect dayflower (Commelina erecta) from the ANC. Photo: Billy Teels

Prairie spiderwort (Tradescantia occicentalis) from the ANC. Photo: Billy Teels

Still lots of activities going on at the ANC! This year Master Naturalists began building a new bird blind, including a relatively large water feature. Thus far, the layout for the blind has been completed, and work on the water feature is well underway. Linda Diehnelt has organized several work sessions in the butterfly garden. Additional native plants have been added to attract butterflies, and a number of labeled rocks have been installed to aid identification. The ANC Children’s Program continued this semester covering a variety of topics; including, the effects of weather on reptiles and plants, watercolor painting, and nature writing. In addition the children helped Master Naturalists with hands on projects such as spreading mulch in the butterfly garden, broadcasting wildflower seeds, checking bird boxes, and developing and performing a “nature play” for Granbury ISD second graders.

The ANC Children’s Program engaged in watercolor paintings that resemble stained glass. Photo: Chris Inbody

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Passing on the Passion By Tessa Chenoa

Special events at the Center included conducting the 7

th Annual Great Backyard

Bird Count on February 15 and 16. A presentation was given following the Saturday walk on “Birds of the Texas Gulf Coast” in preparation of the May field trip to Rockport. On February 28

th the Master

Naturalists led a night walk with about 35 people participating in a search for scorpions using UV flashlights. That night also included some stargazing and constellation identification as well as listening for owls, frogs, and other night sounds. On March 28

th

and April 18th second graders from Granbury

ISD visited the Center with several RBMN members serving as guides and docents. On April 19

th a wildflower walk was conducted

with approximately 20 people attending. The 6

th Annual Acton Nature Center Run was

held on April 26th, this year hosted by

Revolver Brewing. The route began at the Brewery and then proceeded onto Matlock Road; not through the Center as in year’s past. This year’s event had greater participation and netted more profit than in previous years. And, on May 23

rd over one

hundred 5th graders from Acton Elementary

School visited the Center with master naturalists again serving as interpretive guides and docents. First Saturday bird walks have continued with good participation. Bird-wise, there have been few surprises, although photo opportunities have abounded and several of our good photographers have taken advantage. Three new species have been added to the list since the first of the year—rock dove, Mississippi kite, and wild turkey, bringing the cumulative total for all walks to 137. Probably the most memorable highlight of the season was the Mississippi kite migration that occurred on the May 3 walk with 30 or more kites soaring over the Center in singles, pairs, and small groups.

A mother screech owl exiting the nest before Children’s Program volunteers checked the box. Photo: Jake Balmuth

These downy owlets on April 25 had fledged from the nest by May 23. Photo: Jake Balmuth

Perfect weather and lots of wildflowers helped make the April wildflower walk a huge success. Dayna Inbody

May 2014

By now, nearing 50, I have realized and even embraced the fact that I am “different” from other people. It used to surprise me, but not anymore. Even for a naturalist, I am probably odd. But, I am okay with it…even comfortable enough to share antics like the ones below, because it demonstrates how one person’s passion for nature, and specifically for the small things in nature, can influence generations: Twenty-five years ago, I developed a fascination for arthropods in general, and insects in particular. I remember it to the day; because that’s the day my eldest son toddled up to me carrying his first “bug.” That spontaneously ignited within me two key maxims, which have become integral parts of my “mothering” technique and indeed of my overall personality: 1) “Never let ‘em see you sweat.” And 2) “Teach kids not to squish bugs.” These two “maxims” have, of course developed corollaries over the years – with #1 being applied in such situations as “group tours when something goes horribly awry,” and “team management under hostile conditions,” and #2 developing into an overall career in teaching people to appreciate and protect biodiversity – not just of insects, but of all species. But at that moment in time, when Schuyler was two, my love of insects hurriedly, and quite unexpectedly, blossomed. Fast forward three years. Now Schuyler is five and Jesse is two. Schuyler stands near the top of the slide in the backyard, practicing kindness by rolling roly-polies down the slide, “because they think it’s fun.” At the bottom of the slide, Jesse demonstrates the need for training in kindness as he systematically stomps each roly-poly as it falls off the end of the slide. Small creatures became a natural training ground in compassion, in thoughtfulness, in appreciation of differences – between species, or even just between two people. My interest in tiny critters, especially insects, grew alongside my children. By the time my sons were 17, 14 and 10, it had even rubbed off on our dogs! At this time, I was rehabbing small mammals with DFW Wildlife Coalition as a Cross Timbers Master Naturalist. I helped with opossums, cottontails, and a few skunks (until the boys rebelled at having to wash the dogs so often). There were opossums in the bedroom, in

Advice from a wildflower: Show

your true colors, delight in

simple pleasures, celebrate your

natural beauty, open up, spread

seeds of joy, its OK to be a late

bloomer, and be wild and

wonderful.

ANC news, continued from page 4

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Jake Balmuth got this great shot of a singing male painted bunting during the May 3 bird walk. For those that haven’t checked it out, the ANC is a great place to see this species. Photo: Jake Balmuth

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May 2014

Fossil Rim Fire By Sara Paulsen

On April 27, Sara and Chris Paulsen gave a guided tour at Fossil Rim to children with special needs through a support group of parents for that cause. Photo: Sara Paulsen

Fire destroyed the Fossil Rim Nature Store earlier this year. Although insurance will cover some of the costs, donations and volunteerism are being used offset the rest of the costs to rebuild. Photo: Sara Paulsen.

On February 17 of this year, a fire destroyed the Nature Store at Fossil Rim Wildlife Center. The store is located at the Overlook which is the halfway point of the scenic drive through the 1800 acre wildlife facility. The flames were spotted above the tree line and Kelley Snodgrass, Chief Operating Officer of FRWC was immediately contacted. Somervell County Fire Department quickly arrived at the scene and within 4 hours put out the fire. The building was surrounded by trees, brush, and parched land showing signs of the ongoing drought. Despite the potential for wildfire, minimal damage occurred to the surrounding property. The entire Overlook could have been burned down if not for the SCFD. The fire’s origin was within a portion of the building used for storage; however, the cause of the fire may never be determined. Just a few months prior, a volunteer team organized by Chris Paulsen from Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant had painted the exterior of the building. The team efforts resulted in a much needed fresh look to the nature store, including the area that was destroyed. FRWC generates a tremendous portion of their annual income from Spring Break tourism, including revenue from the Nature Store. The fire occurred just a few weeks prior to Spring Break, and all of the merchandise within the store was totally destroyed. However FRWC has many friends and supporters. Vendors made monetary donations, reduced invoices, and even donated merchandise to provide inventory to sell. A temporary building was set up to serve as the Nature Store and volunteers including Chris and Sara Paulsen, Bob and Gail Bullard, Tessa Chenoa, Gail Bradshaw, and Carol Lee from our RBMN chapter spent countless hours stocking, pricing, and organizing merchandise and doing whatever else was needed to insure a successful Spring Break. Despite the tragedy of the fire, the Nature Store generated 70% of the profits as compared to last year. Plans are currently in progress to rebuild the Nature Store. Insurance reimbursement will cover much of the cost but funding will fall short by approximately $250,000-$300,000. Because FRWC is a non-profit organization, they will be relying on other sources of income such as donations, sales of personalized bricks to build a walkway, and volunteer efforts to generate funds.

These pre-schoolers are sequencing life stages of the monarch at a lesson given by Sara Paulsen to Faith Academy Home-schoolers in Granbury on April 29. Photo: Sara Paulsen

the bathtub. Even sometimes in my purse, if I had “bottle babies” that needed to be fed often. But still, I loved insects the most. Hank, our border collie who firmly believed he was a doctor/conflict resolution counselor/ opossum rehabber (another story for another time), started barking at something on the back porch one day. He would stare at me through the window, bark at me, and then bark at the porch. I went out to investigate. Sure enough, it was an animal in need – a caterpillar, which had somehow become entangled in a spider web and was fighting desperately to free itself. “Good dog, Hank!” The caterpillar didn’t need rehabilitating, but I did reassure Hank and release it back into the wild. Grown and married now, my two oldest sons refuse to kill insects or spiders for their wives, who were not raised by entomomaniacal mothers. My new husband now employs “catch and release” programs in our house as well. This is definitely counter to his previous nature. And he knows I find it infinitely more romantic when he hollers in the back door, “Hey, sweetie, I found you a cool bug, come see it,” than if he were to buy me a dozen roses (and they say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks! :}). When we, as naturalists, are consumed by our passion for something, that passion just naturally rubs off on those around us. On a day to day basis, this is hard to see…the boys certainly denied sharing my passion for nature throughout their growing years! But, all these years later, what were all 6 of my children’s favorite Christmas gift this year? State Park passes! Go figure. My oldest daughter (31) took her family camping just this past weekend. And just a few days ago, Jesse, now 24, texted me a photo he took of a Dobson fly…Yep, I’m definitely rubbing off on them! It just took a quarter of a century to see it.

Passing on the passion, continued

from page 4

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May 2014

One of the best ways to get people interested in nature is to provide activities that take them outside. A Team from the Rio Brazos Master Naturalist Chapter took advantage of the City of Burleson Family Camping and Fishing Adventure to do just that. On Saturday April 26, RBMN partnered with the City of Burleson and the Boy Scouts to provide outdoor activities while 11 families camped along the shore of Bailey Lake. Beginning at 2pm, Cathy and Jim Crocker taught children and adults alike to cast for the kinds of fish found in Texas, identify them, and then helped them complete their fish printing art projects to take home. Dayna Inbody and Sara Paulsen manned our Master naturalist booth where over 70 attendees touched, asked questions, and guessed what was in the mystery box, while Maryann Mathews led families on nature geocaching hikes to the caches strategically placed around the lake. The daytime activities wrapped up about 5:30 and once dusk hit we were entertained by skits from the Boy Scouts around the makeshift bonfire (it was too windy to have a real fire). Robert Theimer took the stage to present information about the Monarch Butterfly with visual aids and once dark, out came the black lights. Robert Theimer enthralled the audience with a glowing scorpion, handed out some black lights to adults, and he and Maryann took 50 adults and children on a scorpion walk, where, thankfully, they found 1 unsuspecting bark scorpion. All in all a great day for the families of Burleson and our Master Naturalist outreach.

The Burleson Family Camping and Fishing Adventure By Maryann Matthews

For the second year, a bird walk was scheduled in late March in attempts to see golden-cheeked warblers as they return from south of the border to one of the few places they breed—Dinosaur Valley State Park. This year only 6 people showed up for the walk, but that allowed us a little more freedom to roam and go places that would we wouldn’t have otherwise. The weather was a cool, but sunny and bright with a light north wind. By the time we arrived at the Cedar Brakes parking lot the morning symphony was in full swing, and we either heard or saw 11 different species before leaving the lot. While crossing the Paluxy River we saw a Louisiana waterthrush dart by and light at the base of a stream riffle just below the crossing. He was doing his typical bobbing and weaving at the water’s edge and both Jake and Jeff got several shots of him before he flew away. After crossing the river we headed up the Denio Creek Valley in golden-cheeked warbler habitat, but no warblers. However, we did see a rufous-crowned sparrow in full song and Jake got a good photo of him. After reaching the property boundary, we headed north along the orange trail until we finally heard a golden-cheeked singing. After scanning the landscape, we finally spotted him in the top of a large red oak just across the property line. He was behind several other trees and difficult for all of us to see or get a good picture of. However, we were pretty satisfied just to get a glimpse of the bird that we came to see. After that, we followed the trail north and made a loop back towards the parking lot on the green trail. Along the way, we stopped to rest by Wildcat Hollow and out of the blue a couple of male golden-cheeks began chasing each other right in front of us. While we struggled to get our cameras adjusted, one began singing in the top of a small juniper less than 20 feet away. All of us with cameras got good shots of him, and then again in several minutes after he flew into a dead live oak just south of the trail. What a great way to cap off the day! Thanks to Kathy Lenz and Dinosaur Valley State Park for letting us conduct this trip in one of the few places on earth that golden-cheeked warblers still occur.

Sara and Dayna manning the RBMN booth. Photo: Maryann Matthews

Eleven families camped along the shore of Bailey Lake at this year’s Burleson Campout. Photo: Maryann Matthews

Jim giving instructions to a young fisherman. Photo: Maryann Matthews

In Search of the Golden-cheeked Warbler By Billy Teels

“If you want to see birds, you

must have birds in your heart.”

John Burroughs

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May 2014

Our first field trip to Rockport was a resounding success with 18 participants (the Moores, Colgins, Inbodys, Diehnelts, Balmuths, Crockers, Theimers, and Teels). The Rockport area has been long-acclaimed as one of the best places in the U.S. to see different kinds of birds during their spring migration. Although the area affords many other opportunities that a naturalist would enjoy, the main objective of our group was to bird.

Most of our group stayed at the Hidden Oaks RV Resort, which became the hub of activities and the gathering place for several meals (thanks Dayna for scoping out the resort and coordinating activities). Birding excursions began on May 5 with a trip to four Port Aransas sites; Paradise Pond, Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center, Gulf Coast at the South Jetty, and Charlie’s Pasture. The next day we went to Calallen to visit Hazel Bazemore County Park and Pollywog Ponds, and stopped on the way back at Indian Point on Corpus Christi Bay and Little Bay in the City of Rockport. On Wednesday, most of the group took a break from birding to visit the Texas State Aquarium in Corpus Christi for a behind the scenes look at all that goes on there (thanks Cathy for coordinating). Because Jake Balmuth couldn’t make the Port Aransas trip on Monday, he and I went back to those sites on Wednesday, duplicating Monday’s agenda. The next day the group went to Aransas National Wildlife Refuge in the a.m. and closed out the birding in the p.m. at Goose Island State Park. May 9 was a free day, and while some people fished, others toured the area and its many attractions.

Overall, the birding couldn’t have been better. We saw 155 different species of birds; one hundred on 5/5, 91 on 5/6 including 35 new species, Jake and I got 101 on 5/7 with 11 new species, and we had 63 species on 5/8 with 9 new species. The birding highlights were too many to enumerate, but here are a few. We saw a lazuli bunting right out of the gate at Paradise Pond, which is very unusual for there because it is a western bird and the path to its breeding grounds generally carries it further to the west. Although not everyone got a good look at it, some of us saw a yellow rail at the Birding Center, which is not only unusual there, but hard to see wherever they

occur because they live in dense marsh vegetation and are very secretive. On the way out of the Birding Center, Wendy spotted a motionless least bittern in the cattails right by the boardwalk, and it did its best to pose for everyone to take its picture. I was expecting to see Wilson's plovers at Charlie's Pasture, but it was a real treat to see snowy plovers there as well each time we went. At Hazel Bazemore we got a look at many of the migratory species that you would normally expect to find there, but we also saw several south Texas breeding birds that are sometimes difficult to see, including buff-bellied hummingbird, green jay, long-billed thrasher, great kiskadee, and brown-crested flycatcher. We even got photos of a male northern bobwhite singing from a tree, a behavior that you don’t often see from it and a species that is becoming rarer and rarer. At Little Bay we got good looks at black skimmers at their breeding colony, along with many raucous gulls, terns, and waterbirds that are nesting there as well. On Wednesday, Jake and I saw a purple gallinule at the Birding Center through a spotting scope that had been set up by Nan Dietert (local birding expert) at the tower that overlooks the marsh. We also saw several species of warblers that we didn’t see on Monday, including some good looks at mourning warblers at Paradise Pond. Although we didn't see anything out of the ordinary on Thursday, we did have a couple of good moments with water birds and alligators at the seasonal pool at the beginning of the Refuge’s Heron Flats Trail, and with warblers and other woodland species at the Big Tree on Goose Island. Another highlight, although not related to birding, was the Wednesday night shrimp boil at the RV Park. Thanks to all who helped cook and provide side dishes. All in all a fun-filled trip with great weather, good friendship, and lots of birds. One of the more fascinating aspects of birding on the Gulf Coast is the good photo opportunities that the birds provide. Most of them are tired and hungry after having flown across the gulf, and they don’t seem to be paying attention as they go about their business, totally oblivious to approaching birders and cameras. We have several excellent photographers in our group and they got some awesome photos on this trip. Chris and Wendy have already posted several large sets on the Google+ site and I am sure that others will follow. Please check them out.

Rockport Field Trip By Billy Teels

Cathy Crocker organized a wonderful behind the scenes tour of the State Aquarium in Corpus Christi. Photo: Chris Inbody

Black skimmers at Little Bay standing on their very minimal nest among the Indian blankets. Photo: Wendy Moore

Golden-cheeked warbler from the March field trip to Dinosaur Valley State Park. Photo: Billy Teels

Birders from the Rockport field trip at the Texas Champion live oak, a hot spot on the last day of birding. Photo: Tom Colgin

9

May 2014

Upcoming Chapter Field Trips/Events

Our chapter assisted with an Acton Elementary School Field Trip on May 23, 2014 and it was a success for all involved. We hosted the fifth grade classes with about 120 students coming to the ANC. Eleven members of our chapter volunteered and led students broken up into 5 groups along the Center’s trails. In addition Robert Theimer guided a group of special needs students. We all went on a different trail and our paths crossed a few times which was at best controlled chaos, requiring head counts often to ensure we hadn't lost or gained more students in the passing. Lucky for us, we had a few school teachers who are chapter members who used their teacher voices and kept everyone in line and focused. The students were given “field guides” that presented both a learning opportunity and information for a scavenger hunt that allowed for fun and teaching moments. A few of the students in our group had visited the ANC before with family members and shared the things they had learned on their visits. Using the” field guide,” students were able to check off plants and animals they had seen and write notes that they were going to share when they got home. The painted bunting heard in the Junipers and the male cardinal seen flying in the Mesquites were great opportunities for talking about some of the birds of the ANC and their habitats. In the wooded area, the duck box that was a home to a screech owl and her family of four was of great interest to all that visited that area. Jake Balmuth had shared photos with us that he took earlier in the spring of the mother owl coming out of the box and her young in the nest that we then shared with the students. At the pavilion, Mel set up a hand washing station that they were all able to use before sitting down for lunch and some needed rest. When all was said and done I believe they were more worn out from the hikes than the Master Naturalists. It was a fun day for all involved and many thanks go out to our volunteers Bill and Linda Diehnelt, Dave and Wendy Moore, Chris and Dayna Inbody, Joretta Haas, Gail Bradshaw, Bonnie Colgin, Robert Theimer, Billy Teels and Mel Schrader.

This least bittern was invisible to all but Wendy, who spotted it within a few feet of the boardwalk at the Birding Center. Photo: Chris Inbody

Great kiskadee in flight, one of the south Texas breeding birds seen at Hazel Bazemore Park. Photo: Chris Inbody

A group of Acton Elementary 5th

graders being led through the ANC by RBMN volunteers. Photo: Chris Inbody

Fifth Graders at the ANC By Dayna Inbody

Dayna waxing poetic to 5th

graders about pond life at the ANC windmill tank. Photo: Chris Inbody

Caddo Lake: June 13. Come camp out at Caddo Lake State Park or stay at lodging in Uncertain or Jefferson, Texas. RBMN will spend several days there naturalizing, canoeing, kayaking, and enjoying one of the most breathtaking backwater environments in the Southeastern U.S.—Caddo Lake, one of only 23 U.S. wetlands designated as internationally significant under the RAMSAR Convention of 1971. For more information contact Dayna Inbody or Cathy Crocker. Star Party: August 2 (backup 8/22), 8:00- 11:00 pm. See RBMN website for flyer or to get more information, to volunteer or get more details, contact Dayna Inbody. Volunteers are needed. Burleson Summer Camp: August 4. Contact Maryann Matthews for more details. Volunteers are needed. Monarch Event: October 10. 9:00-12:00 for schools and the 11th 9:00-12:00 for the public event. Volunteers needed. See our RBMN website for the flyer. For more details contact Dayna Inbody or Gary Hinds. 16th Annual State Convention for Texas Master Naturalist: October 24-26, at Mo Ranch. See website for more details as they become available. Encourage all members to go. Wonderful way to get your hours and to share what we are doing in our chapter to make a difference and to learn how others are doing the same. Celebrate being a Texas Master Naturalist at this year’s State Convention. Big Bend Field Trip: November 9-16. For lodging information, or trip information contact Dayna Inbody, or Billy Teels. Several of our members went last year and more are joining us this year. Several great hikes and Master Naturalist opportunities are waiting for you on this trip. Have a great idea to make trip better or check off a bucket list item let the group know. Open to all members of our chapter. Hope to see everyone there. Appropriate for all age groups.

10

May 2014

In appreciation of their “big day” at the ANC, second graders from the GISD sent in many thank you notes (examples above) that are now posted in the Library.

Mel Schrader took the lead in organizing this year’s most successful ever ANC Run. Way to go Mel! Photo: Tammy Smith

To prevent seepage, the bird blind’s water feature was lined with heavy black plastic, donated by Joe. Photo: Wendy Moore

What are woodlands without bats? Here is part of the amazing cast of the play in the woods performed by the ANC Children’s Program. Photo: Billy Teels

Every play needs a little directing and nurture, as provided by Malea and other mothers of the Children’s Program. Billy Teels

Some of the volunteers for the 2nd

grade field trip stayed around to enjoy the Children’s Program’s last performance. Photo: Billy Teels

A collage of the Children’s Program stained glass-like watercolor art . Photo: Chris Inbody

Evening onlookers at the skit put on by the boy scouts at the Burleson Campout. Later Robert and Maryann led a walk to look for scorpions in the dark. Photo: Maryann Matthews

Although Rockport was mainly about birds, few could resist taking photos of this beautiful coral bean that seemed to be blooming everywhere. Photo: Chris Inbody

11

May 2014

Rio Brazos Chapter

Texas Master Naturalist

www.riobrazosmn.org

An unusual lazuli bunting was spotted at Port Aransas’ Paradise Pond on the first day of birding. Photo Billy Teels

This green kingfisher from Polywog Ponds is an often hard to spot south Texas breeder. Photo: Chris Inbody

Another south Texas breeder from Hazel Bazemore, this brown-crested flycatcher was a first for most of us. Photo: Chris Inbody

The second day of birding was especially good for south Texas breeding birds, such as this buff-bellied hummingbird from Hazel Bazemore. Photo: Chris Inbody

Rio Brazos Master Naturalist

riobrazosmn.org Texas Master Naturalist

txmn.org Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

tpwd.state.tx.us Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Service

agrilifeextension.tamu.edu Fossil Rim Wildlife Center

fossilrim.org Acton Nature Center

actonnaturecenter.org Camp El Tesoro

campeltesoro.org

Quick Links

The group walked right by this gator at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge before someone spotted him on the way out. Photo: Wendy Moore

Bill Diehnelt’s Texas rat snake, from his chicken house, was a big hit with Acton Elementary 5

th graders before

it was released on their hike through the Center. Photo: Chris Inbody

The Rockport birding ended at Goose Island State Park, but not before stopping by the Texas champion live oak, where the birding was also excellent. Photo: Wendy Moore