field notes - Texas Master Naturalist

Capital Area Master Naturalists 2012
FIELD NOTES
Meeting
28th March, 2012,
Jeanette Larson,
will discuss
“Hummingbirds:
Fact and Folklore.”
Jeanette is the
author of
Hummingbirds:
Facts and Folklore from the Americas. She
will be happy to sign books for you and
will have some to sell as well.
Regular Monthly Meetings are normally
the last Wednesday of each month
(except December when we do not meet)
and are held at 6:30, at the Austin Nature
and Science Center, Zilker Park Map to
Austin Nature Center http://bit.ly/hJ2Pli. All meetings are open
to the public so bring a friend!
Meridith O’Reilly
Fro m th e P res id e n t
Hi Everyone,
When I first started this edition of Field
Notes I thought, “wow, spring is here” but
after today we seem to have reverted to
winter again. We do need the rain of course
but I was enjoying the warm but not too hot
days. It was on a not so hot day that the
new class and the “helpers” were treated to
something really special. This baby
rattlesnake had ventured out on to some
stone steps to warm up in the morning sun.
He was just beautiful. He put up with thirty
plus visitors and was content to just watch
and taste us. You can see how small he was
when you realize that those are live oak
leaves and live oak acorn cups. I returned
later in the day just in time to catch him
gliding away into the crack in the steps. It
was a wonderful experience and lovely to be
with people who were happy to leave him
be.
I hope you are all making great spring
discoveries and enjoying this time with
other like minded people. Have fun in the
field.
Christine Powell
CAMN Board Meeting
Join the Board of Directors for a spirited
discussion about CAMN business at our
next meeting on May 3rd, 2012. Contact
any Board Member for more details and
for the location of the meeting. Minutes
of past meetings are on the website in
the Members Only area.
Volunteer and
Advanced Training
Opportunities
Visit the CAMN website at http://
camn.org/ and log in to the CAMN
Volunteer Calendar to start fulfilling those
volunteer hours.
Visit the CAMN yahoo group
for On-line networking
Christine Powell
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Thanks!
In This Issue
From the President
1
What a day
3
Wow! What a Great Opportunity!
4
Class of 2012, The Animal Class
5
Morel of the Story
7
Insecta Fiesta Workday February 25, 2012
8
Texas Bluebird Society Annual Meeting
11
A Wildlife Garden Begins with Healthy Soil
12
The Journey Continues…
14
Hogzilla vs. The Environment
17
EPISODE 70: Signs of Springs are Everywhere
18
The Elusive Quarry
19
Help Find Homes for Emerald Ash Borer Traps
20
CAMN TAW Monitoring in 2011
21
Scat and Frass
23
Officers and Committee Contacts
24
First I must apologize for the lateness of this issue but
due to kitchen renovations, days without power and the
loss (as in death) of my laptop it feels like it is a miracle I
have finally got the issue this far!
Again it is another fine issue of the CAMN Field Notes
and it is thanks to many of you. Almost all of the content
comes from the members of our chapter. Some of our
authors are "old hands," new “old hands and totally new
hands! As always it is "the more, the merrier." It certainly
makes light work for me when I see your contributions
rolling in each month and can incorporate them into our
"newspaper of record." I know I love to read about all we
are doing and I am sure you do too. So please, if you see or
do anything unusual, or even something you have been
volunteering at for years tell us about it.
Thanks again to all who sent me things - keep them
coming.
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Christine Powell,
Editor
Do you have a Sighting
to share?
Thanks Heike for the great image. I know all of us are out there seeing wonderful things right now so please share! Send
your sightings and interesting images of your volunteering events to the Editor so we can all share in the fun!
I went for a walk in my back yard
yesterday morning, to check on, and
possibly clean out my bluebird nest boxes
for the upcoming nesting season, when I
looked down and found this mushroom.
Isn't it beautiful? There was dew on
everything and the air smelled moist and
fresh. I had to run back to the house and
get my camera. It was a glorious morning.
I am not sure what type of mushroom this
is, but I thought you might find the
picture interesting for your monthly
newsletter.
Regards,
Heike Laudien, 2012 CAMN group
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Fiel d Celeb r a t i o n : C h r i s ti ne Po w e l l
What a Day!
What a wonderful event our 2012 Annual Awards
Ceremony turned out to be. We packed Wild Basin with
people, food and lots of fun. Our second silent auction was
a huge success and I want to thank you all so very much
for all your donations and for the great job you all did
bidding on the amazing array of items. We even managed a
few bidding wars but there were no hard feelings. This year
we did have one crisis - I lost something I really wanted to
Nancy Woolley,. Hey, being President has it’s rewards. I
was able to persuade the artist who made the item to make
another for me and I made a donation for the same as the
winning bid to CAMN! So it worked out as a win, win for
everyone all round. What item was that, you ask? Well,
new CAMNer Meredith O’Reilly makes wonderful light
or fan pulls in the shape of beautiful little bats - they truly
are wonderful (see below). We are all so talented and it
would be lovely to
see more original
handmade items in
the auction next
year. Wouldn’t that be great? So, if you create, then please consider sharing one of your
originals with us next year.
The silent auction is our major fundraiser as you know and this year, it, along with donations,
brought in over $800. This money will be put to great use to keep the organization ticking
over. It will also mean we can continue with Education and Outreach and continue to help
our community to understand the importance of what is around them.
Of course pins were awarded and it was a pleasure to realize the impact we have on the area
around us. Over the next few weeks I am going to try and analyze just where we all do our
volunteering and will give you an update on what I find out. I will also get David to put
together a list of who received what and I will publish that too.
There was lots of very good food, great conversation and much laughter. If you have never
attended one of these events please do try next year, it really is a lot of fun.
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Fi e l d S ur v ey s: Ma r s h a Ma y
Wow! What a Great Opportunity!
Biological Information Team Central Texas Project
The goal for this project is to get
professionals and hobbyists in the field for
some fun botanizing, herping, birding and
searching for inverts as well as organizing
biological assessment teams for future
surveys on other private lands within
Central Texas. Another important goal for
this project is to help fill the gaps in the
Texas Natural Diversity Database. This
database, maintained by TPWD, tracks
rare species and habitats throughout the
state and data is greatly needed. For this
project there will be four survey teams:
Plants, Reptiles and Amphibians, Birds
and Invertebrates.
gone 2.3 miles you will be at a Y with the
left fork going to Diamond X ranch. Take
the right fork and continue another 0.9
miles to 4 mailboxes with 2341 on the
black one and a road that T's into Miller
Creek Loop from the left. That road is
Blue Ridge Dr. (usually has a street sign) turn left and go 0.7 miles to the Selah
Gate. Stay on main road for 2.9 miles to
get to the CENTER.
For Plant questions: please contact Jason
Singhurst at
Jason.singhurst@tpwd.state.tx.us or
512-389-8726
For Herp questions: please contact Andy
Gluesenkamp at
andy.gluesenkamp@tpwd.state.tx.us or
512-389-8722
From San Antonio take 281 and watch for
290 from Austin to come in on your rightWhen you go through the intersection of
290 and 281 you will immediately go over
the bridge that crosses Miller Creek, and
immediately after that turn left across the
median and south bound lane of 281 and
enter a county road that is identified as
"Miller Creek Loop - CR 203". When you
have gone 2.3 miles you will be at a Y with
the left fork going to Diamond X ranch.
Take the right fork and continue another
0.9 miles to 4 mailboxes with 2341 on the
black one and a road that T's into Miller
Creek Loop from the left. That road is
Blue Ridge Dr. (usually has a street sign) turn left and go 0.7 miles to the Selah
Gate. Stay on main road for 2.9 miles to
get to the CENTER.
The project begins Friday evening at 7PM
on April 13, 2012 and runs through Sunday,
April 15, 2012.
Agenda:
April 13th - 7PM - Project Overview –
possible evening surveys
April 14th – (time tbd) Surveys
April 15th – (time tbd) Continue surveys
Location and directions to:
SELAH Bamberger Ranch
2341 Blue Ridge Dr.
Johnson City, Texas 78636
Here are directions:
From Austin - take 290 west to junction
with 281
When you get to the intersection of 290
and 281, turn right onto 281 and you will
immediately go over the bridge that
crosses Miller Creek, and immediately
after that turn left across the median and
south bound lane of 281 and enter a
county road that is identified as "Miller
Creek Loop - CR 203". When you have
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Camping outside the Center is also
available.
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For Bird questions: please contact Cliff
Shackelford at
cliff.shackelford@tpwd.state.tx.us or
936-559-5795
For Invertebrate questions: please contact
Michael Warriner at
michael.warriner@tpwd.state.tx.us or
512-389-8759
Please let me know as soon as possible if
you will be joining us and which team you
would like to be on.
Lodging:
Thank you.
The facility is a beautiful bunkhouse with
plenty of beds with men on one side and
women on the other. Be sure to bring your
own linens, pillow and towels (I also bring
ear plugs, just in case I need them). Bring
your own food. There are kitchen facilities.
For more information, please contact me
at marsha.may@tpwd.state.tx.us or
512-389-8062.
Sincerely,
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Marsha E. May
Texas Nature Trackers
Wildlife Diversity Program
Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept
4200 Smith School Road, Austin, Texas 78744
Work (512.389.8062) Cell (512.965.6714)
marsha.may@tpwd.state.tx.us
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Fiel d Cla ss : C h r i s t i n e P o w e l l
Class of 2012, The Animal Class
Well, this is the first group image of the Class of
2012. We all thought that the beautiful old Live Oak
at Commons Ford would make a perfect backdrop
to a class photo — and it does. This was the groups
second class and what a wonderful day we all had.
True to their past form they managed to find the
beautiful baby rattle snake early in the day. He
turned out to be popular with everyone and calmly
hung around for us all morning while we all got
photos and had lots of discussions about just what he
was thinking coming out on such a cool day. Next up
was a nice sized scorpion inside the kitchen of the
house where we were conducting classes. Again, we
all had a good look and then carefully removed him
to a place of safety outside. What is it with this class
and animals—last week turkeys this week reptiles
and scorpions. It makes you wonder what will be
next—dinosaurs maybe!
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Field Class: Christine P owell
Class of 2012, The Animal Class
Joan Singh and Ed Fair gave a
guided tour and detailed
explanation to the Common
Ford Ranch Prairie Project.
Once the restoration is
complete, the area will easily
become one of the best birding
area in Austin.
Val Bugh (below left) gave an
exciting and inspiring
presentation on digital nature
journaling. Each of us should be
keeping some record of what
we see and our reflection on
what we observe but I wonder
how many of us really do?
Katie Raney (below right), Park
Interpreter and Volunteer
Coordinator, Bastrop and
Buescher State Parks, was a
new addition to our presenters
and gave an inspired lecture on
Interpretation. A good day was
had by all!
Ed Fair (far left and Joan Singh left back) give a detailed explanation to the Common Ford
Ranch Prairie Project
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Field Prep: by Jim and Lynne Weber
Morel of the Story
Mycology, or the
study of fungi, used
to be considered a
branch of botany,
rather than a distant
part of biology, until
it was recognized
that fungi are more
closely related to
animals than to
plants. Mushrooms
are the fruiting
bodies of certain
fungi, and while
fewer than one
thousand species
have been identified
in the state of Texas,
it is estimated that as
many as eight to ten
thousand species
remain to be
identified! Often
associated with molds, mildews, and yeasts, several mushroom
species are edible, and the most avidly hunted of all wild
mushrooms is the Common Morel (Morchella esculenta, pictured
above).
The cap of the Common Morel is sponge-like, yellowish
gray to tan in color, oval to mildly elongated, and has a mottled,
pitted surface. Its stalk is white, hollow, and has a slightly
rubbery texture. This species is most commonly found in our
state growing in the limestone soils of Central Texas, but it has
also been found in the acidic soils of East Texas and in parts of
the Big Bend country. It can be seen singly or in small groups
on the ground under oaks and junipers, often along creek beds.
Its species name, esculenta, means ‘good to eat’, and morels
regularly appear on the menus of some the best restaurants.
Although a process to grow these mushrooms under
controlled conditions was reported years ago, attempts to
commercially cultivate them have been far from successful.
Laboratory studies have shown that common morels hold
several medicinal properties, including immune system
regulation, anti-tumor effects, fatigue resistance, and anti-viral
properties. This species has long been used in traditional
Chinese medicine to treat indigestion and shortness of breath,
and is even listed in the National Register of Medicinal Plants in
the country of Nepal.
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Several similar species of morels are recognized in Texas, but
the Common Morel is known by various colorful names,
including yellow morel, sponge morel, Molly Moocher,
haystack, and dryland fish. Members of this species can vary in
size, color, as well as the shape of the cap. When cut down the
center, the ‘true morels’ reveal a hollow stalk, unlike a ‘false
morel’ that looks similar but the interior of its thick, white stalk
is deeply furrowed or folded and not at all hollow. Care must be
taken to properly distinguish between the two, as the False
Morel (Gyromitra caroliniana) is toxic to humans.
Mushrooms can be very photogenic and make for yet
another reason for the whole family to walk new or familiar
trails and see what earthy treasures can be found. While morels
normally occur in the spring, they can appear after any unusual
period of cool, rainy weather. And that’s the morel of the story!
Send your nature-related questions to
naturewatch@austin.rr.com and we’ll do our best to answer
them. If you enjoy reading these articles, look for our book,
Nature Watch Austin, published by Texas A&M University Press.
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Field Report: Julia Osgood
Insecta Fiesta Workday February 25, 2012
The staging area at th estart of the day
A handful of CAMN volunteers joined community
volunteers on Saturday, February 25, 2012 to help get ready
for the Insecta Fiesta which will take place April 21st. John
Abbot, PhD is the Curator of Entomology, Texas Natural
Science Center at UT Austin. John led the day’s volunteer
effort and worked pretty hard himself. While some
volunteers planted native plants, removed invasive plants,
and helped set up the greenhouse, most of us CAMNers
were interested in creating an insect hotel. Never heard of
an insect hotel? Neither had most of us, but we had all
searched the web for examples and were excited to build
hotels for the event. They are typically made from cast off
items that are fashioned into an attractive yard sculpture
that ultimately serves as habitat for insects. Of course, any
critter is welcome. Insects like solitary bees or wasps use
insect hotels as nesting areas, laying eggs and dragging
prey back for their offspring. Other insects find them to be
a welcome refuge, whether they winter over or just hang
out in the shelter on a windy day.
CAMNer Al Janelle was the man with a plan for our insect
hotels. We started with cinder blocks, bricks, and salvaged
wood. Diego and Mateo Carlson, along with their mom,
Jennifer helped CAMNers Lynn Hill, Laura Southwick,
Kim Lanzillotti, and Julia Osgood. We drilled holes in
slices from tree stumps to serve as shelter for solitary
wasps and bees and used dead twigs and ball moss to fill
the nooks and crannies. After a day of work, volunteers
had created three attractive and functional hotels that are
free of charge for any insect that wants to move in.
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Lynn standing by the staging area
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Field Report: Julia Osgood
Insecta Fiesta Workday February 25, 2012
Kim Lanzillotti and Julia Osgood discussed building an insect
hotel at Kim's daughter's elementary school. Kim has contacted
her daughter's science teacher and, as soon as the plan is in place,
we'll need other CAMNers to help out. Look for a posting in the
Weekly Reader soon.
Here are some links for more information and examples:
Photos of insect hotels.125
Wikipedia article
Insect Hotel Start - the before picture
Insect Hotel - finished hotel
Helpers - Diego and Mateo Carlson
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Field Report: Julia Osgood
Insecta Fiesta Workday February 25, 2012
CAMN helpers - Jennifer Carlson, Laura Southwick,
and Kim Lanzillotti
Al Janelle doing what he loves - building exquisite and
useful items
From: http://www.rspb.org.uk/advice/
gardening/insects/wildlifestack.aspx:
Getting started
Choose a level, firm site in the sunlight
or light shade — most invertebrates
prefer moist areas of dappled shade. Find
somewhere easily visible, perhaps close to
a hedge, shrub bed or pond.
Arrange some bricks on the ground on
their side. If you have those with holes in
them, face the holes outwards. If not,
butt a pair of bricks together side by side
and leave a small gap before the next pair.
Try creating ‘H’ shaped cells of bricks and
fill the space between with woodchips,
leaf litter and sand (frogs and toads like to
bury themselves into sand and soft soil).
Lay a wooden pallet or strips of wood
across the top of your bricks and then
construct the next level in the same way.
Remember to fill the gaps with your
materials like hay, straw, dry leaf litter and
wood chippings. Straw will provide
nesting sites for ladybirds and thin twigs
will provide shelter for larger insects.
Place another pallet across the top and
repeat. Logs and pine cones will provide
extra homes for all sorts of insects.
Keep your stack dry with roof tiles or a
sheet of board covered in roofing felt or
Made of recycled materials, wildlife
stacks replicate natural features sought by
wildlife in your garden — particularly by
invertebrates such as ladybirds, many of
which help control less welcome visitors.
Wildlife stacks also provide refuges for
frogs, toads and small mammals.
You can make your stack as large or as
small as you wish — the only limitations
are your imagination. Be creative and
provide lots of nooks and crannies using
the materials at your disposal.
Building a wildlife stack won’t just
benefit wildlife — you’ll have the pleasure
of being able to watch a host of different
creatures making their homes and learn
all about their fascinating behavior at
close quarters.
Wildlife stacks make an interesting
alternative where it's not possible to have
or include natural features in your garden.
They're not a substitute for well
structured vegetation and dead and
decaying wood though, so ideally, try and
provide them as well.
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polythene. On top of this, place crushed
brick rubble, concrete or limestone
chippings and plant with sedum or other
low growing drought tolerant plants.
What you need
The following list is for guidance only and is in no way exhaustive.
Pallets, or strips of wood
Pen casings and drinking straws
Cardboard tubes and corrugated card
Straw, hay, dry leaf litter and moss
Plant pots
Plastic and ceramic pipes of various
diameter
Roofing felt
Stones
Bricks and concrete blocks, preferably
with holes
Roof tiles
Hollow bamboo canes
Dead hollow stems cut from shrubs and
herbaceous plants
Pinecones
Logs drilled with various sized holes
Crushed brick and concrete rubble
Succulent plants
Sand
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Fiel d S ch o ol : J e r i P o r t e r
Texas Bluebird Society Annual Meeting
I’d never been to Nacogdoches; it was billed as the
“oldest town in Texas”, I’m working on attracting
bluebirds to the yard where I’m now living—then I see
that Cliff Shackelford (right) will be the keynote
speaker—not to be missed. My sister and I decided to
make the five plus hour trek.
We arrived (after we had navigated the town in the rain)
at the conference in time to make happy hour and
dinner. I found Cliff and he invited us to the table to
dine with them and we re-hashed lots of old owl
stories. He told me he couldn’t impart much of
substance regarding bluebirds to a bunch of bluebird
experts, so his topic the next day would be
woodpeckers.
Woodpeckers! How does this tie into bluebirds? Well,
he made it work. We listened to a discussion led by
Greg Grant, horticulturist, conservationist and garden
when the woodpecker appeared and started enlarging the
writer, about using native plants to attract bluebirds and many
opening cavity. Being ever ready with solutions, my brother
other species. I made a list of at least fifteen plants he cited as a
promptly attached metal guards around the holes, and the
good food source for bluebirds that I had not previously
woodpeckers then started hammering away, I assumed frustrated
considered, including Hackberry (who would have thought??),
because he could no longer enlarge the entry way. According to
Rough leaf dogwood, Escarpment Black Cherry, Texas lantana,
Cliff,what we were doing is enabling amplification of the
Pokeweed, Elderberry, Blackberry and Dewberry. Bluebirds, of
pecking, allowing the woodpecker to make his presence known
course, are insect eaters and will select those for the diet if
to everyone within shouting distance, establishing his territory!
available. The plants provide sustenance when the insects are not If you hear slow, methodical pecking, that’s referred to as
available, so look for those plants which offer early spring, fall,
“drilling”; seeking insects for a food source.
and winter fruit. Secondary plant fruits bluebirds will choose are
When woodpeckers drill holes into dead wood, it gives bluebirds
Agarita, Mexican Plum, American Beautyberry, Chile Pequin,
and other cavity-nesters a place to build their nest. If you have
Ashe Juniper (no need to plant THAT), Possumhaw, Coralberry,
dead trees on your property and are allowed to leave them, do so
plus others.
as they provide habitat for multiples of birds. If woodpeckers are
East Texas is blessed with multitudes of Eastern Bluebirds but
drilling into live wood, they are merely attempting to draw the
they are fairly common in Central Texas as well. Given the
sap, which will then attract insects for a food source. This will
proper attraction of housing, most birders will be successful in
not damage the tree and is part of the natural process.
attracting these lovely birds. They favor edge spaces for their
During the proceeding night, the city received 2.5 inches of rain
nests and, while somewhat shy, they appear to favor habitat
as part of an exciting thunderstorm, which lasted for several
which is human occupied, perhaps because many of us offer
hours. On our return to Austin we encountered lots of flooding,
favorable conditions. The birds prefer houses with specific
with the Sabine and Trinity Rivers swollen with water. It was an
requirements to avoid predation and a ready source of food. We
exciting drive, as we haven’t experienced so much water at one
have been trapping for brown headed cowbirds at our ranch
time in years. May this be a forecast of better weather ahead and
(west of Wimberley) for approximately 5 years. Now that the
population is under control, we are seeing many more bluebirds. a reduction in the drought, which has caused so much pain to
this state the past few years.
Cliff’s discussion focused on woodpecker habits and habitat.
The birds are somewhat territorial and when you hear a series of The website for the Texas Bluebird Society is http://
repeated tapping, that’s referred to as “drumming”, which seems www2.texasbluebirdsociety.org/. Check it out for detail on
attracting bluebirds, nest box plans, and events sponsored by the
to be a communication method. We recently installed a number
of bluebird boxes in the yard and I’d hardly hung up the hammer organization. Data reported to the Cornell University site will
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Fiel d Notes : M e r e d i t h O ’ R ei l l y
A Wildlife Garden Begins with Healthy Soil
A visit by American Robins to my yard this
week was extra exciting for a couple of
reasons. In years past, I’d see at most one
annual Robin gracing my yard with its
presence, but this year there were an
estimated 50 Robins spread across the
entire property all at one time. However,
they absolutely refused to gather up for a
group picture, despite my special request.
But I was excited for another reason – to
me, they were a sign that my wildlife garden
is in good shape for spring.
Perhaps the Robins had noticed what I’ve
noticed, as well – my yard is filled with
earthworms. I can’t dig a shovelful of soil
without seeing many earthworms
immediately, especially since recent rains
revived the soil moisture content. But of
course, the reality is that many of the
earthworms we see here in Texas aren’t
actually native. Although our state does
have some native earthworms, what we
often see are introduced earthworms brought to North America by Europeans long ago. They have managed to established
themselves quite well on our continent – too well, perhaps. In northern areas, where glacial movements of the last Ice Age ended the
presence of native earthworms, newcomer earthworms from other continents are proving to substantially harm the forest ecosystems.
I can’t tell you much about our native Texas earthworms, nor can I tell you how they have been affected by the prolific presence of
non-native earthworms. But I can tell you that down here in the South, earthworms in general are seen as beneficial rather than
harmful. They pull organic matter into the soil to break it down, create passageways for air and water, release nutrient-rich wastes,
help control harmful bacteria by consuming them, and loosen soil for root systems to penetrate. American Robins would probably add
that they’re tasty, too, but I’m leaving that to the imagination rather than personal research. Not only do they have these and other
benefits, but their mere presence is often considered an indicator of healthy soil. And that’s what our goal is for a wildlife garden –
healthy soil. But what exactly does that mean?
Healthy soil, regardless of earthworm presence, is soil that can naturally provide the nutrients and structure necessary for plant
growth, particularly for plants that belong in that
eco-region. And just like a healthy ecosystem
above ground, there is an entire ecosystem within
the soil. Organic matter, as well as carbohydrates
provided by plants, feed bacteria and fungi, which
in turn feed protozoa, nematodes, and arthropods.
The waste products of these low-level predators
provide nutrients in the form plants need, and they
themselves become food for larger organisms,
which ultimately become food sources for birds,
mammals, and other creatures that are primarily
part of the ecosystem above ground. If it sounds
like I’m describing a food web, you’re right.
Of course, there’s far more to it than that. For
example, mycorrhizal fungi help plant roots better
take in nutrients through a symbiotic relationship.
And healthy soil actually has both beneficial and
pathogenic organisms, but the former keep the
latter in check by competing for resources or
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Field Notes: Meredith O’Reilly
A Wildlife Garden Begins with Healthy Soil
directly inhibiting them. Furthermore, bacteria and other
microorganisms help nutrients stay in the soil (unlike chemical
products that just wash right through to our groundwater).
poorer soil, mind you. Of course, be sure to stay away from
chemical products completely (as I’m sure you already do) –
they disrupt the underground ecosystem, killing off the
beneficial organisms and preventing plants from doing their part
in the soil.
Truly, it’s fascinating what goes on under our feet. Thank
goodness for all the tiny soil organisms that help natural
gardens thrive. How do you help your soil be all that it can be?
By the way, healthy soil smells really good. I’m serious.
By simply following nature’s method of adding organic matter to So, in summary: It’s spring. Add compost. Go!
the soil. You can do this by adding compost, or by just using leaf
litter as mulch. Earthworms and other creatures will help pull
the organic material into the soil, where the magic can happen.
Meredith is a certified Habitat Steward and a member of our latest
You still have to be aware of which plants tend to favor richer or CAMN class.
Upcoming CAMN Monthly Meetings
28th March, 2012
Jeanette Larson, will discuss Hummingbirds: Fact and Folklore. Jeanette is the author of Hummingbirds: Facts and Folklore
from the Americas. She will be happy to sign books for you and will have some to sell as well.
25th April 2012
Dr. Pamela Owen, Senior Paleontology Educator for the Texas Natural Science Center at the University of Texas at
Austin, on “Magnificent Mammals of Ice Age Austin.” Dr. Owen was recently a featured scientist in a Discovery TV
segment on prehistoric mammals of Texas.
30th May, 2012
No speaker this month but our elections! Come and let us know what you want from our organization. There will be pizza!
The CAMN class of 2012 really have
their s—t together. Scat, that is! Using a
variety of materials, they created lifesize representations of the scat of bobcat,
ringtail, and other Texas animals. It was
a fine way to end the day’s activities.
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Field Trip: Christine Powell and Dale Rye
The Journey Continues…
The CAMN Class of 2012 continues its journey. This
is one of the most enthusiastic groups on record, and
that was obvious on March 3, when the group travelled
to the Gault Site north of Florence on the Bell County
line. The subject was archeology, and there is no more
fitting setting than the richest Paleo-Indian site in
North America. Literally millions of artifacts (mostly
worked stone) have been collected here, where rich
supplies of chert for tool-making can be found near
water and food sources. This far exceeds the total
collected at all other sites put together. Gault has been
occupied nearly continuously for many thousand years,
including use by at least one (and possibly two) groups
that preceded the famous Clovis Culture, which used
to be regarded as the oldest in America. A dominant
feature is a huge midden of debris from centuries of
food processing. The site is also home to the last
surviving railcar (right) from the Bartlett and Western
Railroad, which crossed northern Williamson County
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Field Trip: Christine Powell and Dale Rye
The Journey Continues…
from 1909 to 1935. It is hard to imagine
anywhere in the New World with more
history.
we saw a demonstration of the
effectiveness of the dart-throwing lever
known as an atlatl, a tool that the Aztecs
later used for hunting and war. This was
the only practical weapon for hunting the
megafauna of the Paleo-Indian era from a
safe distance. The class then viewed rock
art from the time of initial European
contact, less than a hundred yards from
The format for the class was very different
from a traditional classroom lecture. Dr.
Clark Wernicke of the Gault School of
Archeological Research led us from place
to place, pointing out how archeology is
done in practice. After visiting the rail car,
the place where the remains of a
butchered mammoth were found. Tools
and fabrication debris literally covered the
ground around us. A fairly short distance
away is the site of the oldest structure yet
found in North America. Perhaps the
highlight of the class was watching several
archeologists working on the ongoing
excavation down to pre-Clovis levels.
There is always scat!
Lunch!
Mary Helen Quinn was our gracious guest for
the day
To the tracks
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Field Trip: Christine Powell and Dale Rye
The Journey Continues…
While we were watching, several artifacts from the Archaic were found and bagged. Throughout the class, students pummeled
Clark with apposite questions.
Following lunch and an excellent presentation by the Education and Outreach Committee on the kits available to support CAMN’s
educational endeavors, the group headed back towards Austin. Halfway there, we stopped at the South San Gabriel River crossing
on U.S. 183 and hiked up the riverbed to view a set
of well-preserved dinosaur tracks from the early
Cretaceous Period. In the picture above, a
CAMNer is standing by each print. The river runs
across the top of the Glen Rose Formation,
sediments laid down over 100 million years ago.
The tracks in the South San Gabriel are about the
same age as those along the Paluxy River in
Dinosaur Valley State Park near Glen Rose, Texas.
They were probably left by therapod dinosaurs like
acrocanthrosaurus, one of the top predators between
Allosaurus and Tyrannosaurus. Remains found in
Oklahoma show an animal some 28 feet long from
nose to tail tip. Although paleontology is not
archaeology, the two subjects are so closely related
that it seemed a shame to waste the opportunity to
link the two on one Saturday adventure. The
weather cooperated by providing almost perfect
conditions for yet another “best class ever.”
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Fiel d Meet in g: Dale Rye
Hogzilla vs. The Environment
Invasive species pose some of the greatest risks to Central Texas
natural ecosystems, and one of the worst threats is the growing
feral hog population. Our monthly CAMN speaker on February
29, Jared Timmons, is in the forefront of that battle. He works as
an Extension Assistant for the Texas AgriLife Extension Service,
focusing on the hog problem and other threats to the Plum Creek
Watershed that runs from Buda and Mustang Ridge to the San
Marcos River southeast of Luling. Many local homeowners know
to their sorrow about the devastation that these animals can
wreak on a garden, but the risks go far beyond that.
Hogs (Sus scrofa) are a European import, but they have been
going wild in Texas since the 1540s. Many domestic swine were
released into the environment as Texans fled Santa Anna in the
1836 Runaway Scrape, and again from failed farms during the
Great Depression. Russian boars imported for hunting became a
significant part of the gene pool beginning in the 1890s. Today,
sounders of 20–30 females and young, with an average weight of
100–150 pounds, range over areas of up to 19 square miles. Each
female can produce 1–2 litters (with 4–6 piglets) every year. Boars
are larger, occasionally up to 400 pounds, but are generally
solitary. There are now millions of feral hogs found in most of the
state, with populations continuing to rapidly rise. Thanks in part
to their European origin, and in part to predator-control
programs, they have no serious enemies in America other than
human beings.
eat uncultivated plants—they do about $52 million in damage to
the agricultural industry in Texas, and that does not count the
horticultural damage in suburban areas.
In addition, feral hogs are omnivores that have become a leading
predator of ground-nesting birds in parts of the state. Hogs are
believed to be a major factor in the decline of the northern
bobwhite and have been shown to heavily impact wild turkeys.
Hogs may attack calves and other small livestock. They also
indirectly threaten livestock and native species like the collared
peccary (javelina) by competing for resources during times of
scarcity like the recent drought. To top it all off, feral hogs can
act as a vector for the spread of a number of serious animal and
human diseases. Jared Timmons mentioned a number of these…
but there are others. Imagine, if you will, the potential for swine
flu developing in the feral population largely beyond human
control.
Much of the talk was devoted to various means that landowners
may use to manage feral hog populations, including hunting,
traps, and snares. There are currently no reliable and safe
biological or chemical controls available, but there is a wealth of
information on feral hog control measures from AgriLife
Extension—which is one of the major sponsors of the Texas
Master Naturalist Program, along with the Texas Parks and
Wildlife Department. Most of these documents can be
downloaded at http://plumcreek.tamu.edu/feralhogs. Even if
Much of the funding for the Plum Creek Watershed Partnership you are not currently affected directly by the feral hog problem,
comes from the federal Environmental Protection Agency. Why is you should be concerned. Non-landowners who are concerned
the EPA interested in hogs? Well, because hogs have no sweat
with the environment may wish to see if their local government
glands, they cool off by wallowing in shallow water along the
authorities are aware of the issue and what steps they are taking
creek, its tributaries, and the adjacent lands, so they can cover
to manage feral hogs. We in CAMN owe Jared Timmons a big
themselves with insulating mud. This stirs up the bottom and
thank you for helping to bring this to our attention.
tears up the ground. In turn, that contributes mightily to
turbidity on what should be a clear, spring-fed creek.
The sediment and bacteria load from hog activity is a
Jared Timmons fields questions from very interested CAMNers
major reason why Plum Creek fails to meet Clean
Water Act standards. This factor also affects water
quality in many other bodies of water in Texas and
throughout the nation.
Other reasons why feral hogs constitute a threat
include their effect on native plant communities,
particularly in riparian areas. Because they eat acorns
and large seeds and increase sapling mortality, hogs
can significantly reduce the reproductive ability of
oaks, hickories, and other valuable trees. The
disturbed soil torn up by hog activity is likely to be
repopulated by small-seeded invasive species like
Chinese tallow. In an experiment by Rice and A&M
researchers, a fenced tract protected from hogs had
twice as many desirable trees and only half as many
invasives, when compared with an adjacent unfenced
tract. The fenced tract also had more forbs and
better soil chemistry, while the unfenced tract had
more bare ground and less diversity. Hogs don’t just
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Fiel d su rv ey: Cl a u d e M o r r i s
EPISODE 70: Signs of Springs are Everywhere
If you have not been out in a while,
there are signs of spring everywhere.
All kinds of wildflowers are blooming. I
have attached a few photos of them.
Signs of spring in the birds include Cliff
Swallows and Purple Martins. We also
heard Carolina Chickadees singing. The
grass is green and the leaves are starting to
bud. Please get out and enjoy the changing
season.
Did we get some interesting birds? The
list is kind of short today with 37 species.
We did manage to get a couple of Pleated
Woodpeckers and a Northern Flicker in a
four woodpecker day. We got the Cliff
Swallows and Purple Martins. We also got
to see a Belted Kingfisher and an Osprey
splash in to the water in an attempt to
catch their lunch.
All in all in was a fun and relaxed
morning. Helping us enjoy the morning
today includes Ann Syptak, Katie Good,
Cora Shinaberry, Odilia DeLeon, Julia
DeLeon, John Barr, Stuart Bailey, Michael
Portman, Andy Balinsky, and Hemant
Kulkarni.
Tarcoola to Fisherman's Park,
Bastrop, US-TX
Mar 3, 2012 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Protocol: Traveling
6.0 mile(s)
36 species (+1 other taxa)
Double-crested Cormorant 8
Great Blue Heron 4
Great Egret 5
Black Vulture 12
Turkey Vulture 18
Osprey 1
Cooper's Hawk 1
Red-shouldered Hawk 2
Red-tailed Hawk 3
Crested Caracara 2
American Kestrel 1
American Coot 7
Killdeer 4
Spotted Sandpiper 2
Greater Yellowlegs 2
Least Sandpiper 4
White-winged Dove 1
Belted Kingfisher 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker 6
Downy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 1
Pileated Woodpecker 2
Eastern Phoebe 2
American Crow 14
Purple Martin 7
Cliff Swallow 8
Carolina Chickadee 46
Tufted Titmouse 12
Carolina Wren 22
American Robin 50
Northern Mockingbird 2
Yellow-rumped Warbler 8
Northern Cardinal 38
Red-winged Blackbird 50
meadowlark sp. 5
Great-tailed Grackle 45
House Sparrow 20
Claude Morris
Hament Kulkarni
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Fiel d Meet in gs : D a l e R y e
The Elusive Quarry
One of the great things about the Capital Area Chapter of the
Texas Master Naturalists is that we have a diverse membership
from a wide area around Austin. That means that our people are
often intermingled with members of chapters in surrounding
counties—El Camino Real in Milam County, Lost Pines in
Bastrop County, Hays County Master Naturalists in (guess), Hill
Country in Blanco County, Highland
Lakes in Burnet County, and the Central
Texas Chapter in Bell County. We have
some particularly close neighbors among
the Good Water Master Naturalists based
in Georgetown. All of these chapters have
their own programs, and this allows us to
provide one another with Advanced
Training Hours that we can apply towards
initial and annual certification.
tropical, Mediterranean, and temperate plants demonstrate
human dependence on plants and show some of the ways to
repair the scars of human exploitation. As quarries in the Capital
Area become abandoned, Master Naturalists should be in the
forefront in demanding that they are properly restored from
eyesores to elegance.
Recently, for example, several CAMN
members were in attendance at a Good
Water program in which geophysicist Sandi
Phillips discussed “Quarries: From Eyesore
to Elegant.” Because of our rich stone
resources—including limestone around
Austin and granite around Llano—Central
Texas is home to an enormous number of
quarries, some of them as large as three
square miles in size. These have historically
provided a major economic boost to the
area. These benefits provide an offset to
the detriments that quarries can create, in
terms of esthetic, noise, dust, and water
pollution problems. However, every quarry
will eventually play out and be abandoned.
Without sensitive restoration work, they
will still provide all the detriments with
none of the benefits.
Ms. Phillips provided two examples of
abandoned quarries that were converted
into economic powerhouses for their
regions. The first was Buchart Gardens on
Vancouver Island near Victoria, British
Columbia. This former cement plant and
associated limestone quarry now draws
over a million visitors a year who pay $30
admission, besides all the money they
spend in the area for food and lodging. The
55-acre complex includes elegant gardens
with blooms most of the year, thanks to the
temperate marine climate.
The other example was the Eden Project
near St. Austell, Cornwall. This old clay pit
was developed with money from the U.K.
Millennium Fund. On thirty acres that was
once barren, several “biomes” devoted to
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Google Maps - ©2012 Google
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Fi e l d A le r t : R on a l d B ill in g s, Te x as Forest Servi ce
Help Find Homes for Emerald Ash Borer Traps
The emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis, is an
exotic wood—boring beetle from Asia that was first
discovered attacking and killing ash trees (Fraxinus
spp.) in Michigan in 2002. Since then, this invasive pest
has spread to at least fifteen states and Canada where it
is killing millions of ash trees. To determine if EAB is
in Texas, Texas AgriLife Extension (TAES) has installed
and monitored some 200 traps per year since 2008,
located in high risk areas (public parks and
campgrounds, recreation areas, etc.).
In 2012, the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service (APHIS) plans to greatly expand the EAB
detection survey. For 2012, APHIS has solicited
assistance from the Texas Forest Service (TFS), Texas
A&M AgriLife Extension Service (TAES), Stephen F.
Austin State University College of Forestry and
Agriculture, and several volunteer citizen scientist
groups. These agencies and volunteers have agreed to
install some 700 survey traps in 71 Texas counties in
2012 in an attempt to determine if this beetle is present
(see map right).
Resembling a
three-paneled box kite
(left), the large, purple traps
(24 x 14 inches), coated
with non-toxic sticky
material, will be baited with
fragrant chemicals then
placed in or near ash trees
in state and federal parks,
campgrounds, and on
private lands, with the
landowner’s permission.
TAES at c-helpert@tamu.edu. If the location is suitable, TFS or
TAES personnel and/or volunteers will set up the large three-­panel sticky trap in March and monitor it for EAB in June and
August, removing the trap at the end of the season. No
pesticides are used on the traps and there should be no
significant risks to landowners.
The option to adopt a trap will end on March 15, 2012. With
your help, we can keep EAB out of Texas or detect infestations
in early stages of development. The state’s ash resource is at
stake.
The traps will be hung six
to ten feet above the
ground and will display a
“Do Not Disturb” sign.
Any suspicious—looking
beetles that resemble
emerald ash borers will be collected for review by experts.
The most challenging task now is to identify potential field
locations for traps in targeted counties. The requirement is that
each location must have one or more ash trees present and be
accessible to field crews. If you know of a landowner with ash
trees willing to host an EAB trap within one of the 71 counties
highlighted in green on the map, contact Jim Houser, Regional
Forest Health Coordinator with Texas Forest Service in Austin at
jhouser@tfs.tamu.edu. If the property is located in East Texas,
contact Joe Pase, Regional Forest Health Specialist in Lufkin at
jpase@tfs.tamu.edu. In counties north of Dallas (those
highlighted in blue on the map), contact Charles Helpert with
CAMN FIELD NOTES ! !
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Adult emerald ash borer (½-inch long)
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Fiel d E vent : S a n d y M a y f i e ld , J ul i a Os g o o d , Sue And e r son ,
and K a th y M cC o r m a c k
CAMN TAW Monitoring in 2011
The Capital Area Master Naturalists (CAMN) had
four teams performing TPWD’s Texas Amphibian
Watch (TAW) Adopt-A-Frog-Pond monitoring in
2011. Nocturnal frog and toad calls were monitored
on a monthly basis at Bauerle Ranch Park
(formerly Slaughter Creek Greenbelt) and Mary
Moore Searight Park in south Austin, Lake Creek
Dam in north Austin, and Berry Springs Preserve
in north Georgetown. Bauerle Ranch Park is 306
acres of mostly unimproved ranchland with a small
pond formed by a ranch road spillway and fed by a
tributary to Slaughter Creek. Mary Moore Searight
Park is a city park that includes a portion of
Slaughter Creek, Lake Creek Dam is a dammed up
natural creek drainage area, and Berry Springs
Preserve is a passive county park with a spring-fed
pond and nearby creek. The drought of 2011 started
making its effects known in April as water levels
began to drop, and by July most creeks and ponds
had almost (or completely) dried up. But at the end
of the year, after a month of drizzle and showers in
December, creeks were flowing slowly once more, and
amazingly, a few frogs were heard calling again. Just add water!
In 2011, nine CAMNers and six supporters of Bauerle Ranch
Park logged a total of 68 hours across twelve months monitoring
six amphibian species at Bauerle Pond: Bullfrog, Northern
Cricket Frog, Gulf Coast Toad, Great Plains Narrow-Mouthed
Toad, Green Tree Frog, and Leopard Frog. Three nocturnal bird
species were observed: Yellow Crowned Night Heron, Common
Nighthawk, and Chuck-Will’s-Widow. Additional birds often
active around the pond at sunset and a bit thereafter were Black-
bellied Whistling Ducks, Mourning Doves, Barn Swallows,
Chimney Swifts, and Whip o’ Wills. Three snake species were
also spotted occasionally in/around the pond: Red-striped
Ribbon Snake, Diamondback Water Snake, and Blotched Water
Snake. This was our second year of monitoring at this location,
and Jerry Mayfield and Sandie Mayfield were the site
coordinators.
In 2011, eight CAMNers logged a total of 12 monitoring hours
and observed six amphibian species at Mary Moore Searight
Park: Rio Grande Leopard Frog, Bullfrog, Gulf Coast Toad,
Green Treefrog, Northern Cricket Frogs and Gray Treefrog.
Four nocturnal bird species were observed:
Common Nighthawk, Yellow-crowned Night
Heron, Eastern Screech-Owl, and Chuck-Will’sWidow. Two snake species were also spotted
occasionally in/around the pond: Red-striped
Ribbon Snake and Blotched Water Snake. This
was our second year of monitoring at this location,
and Julia Osgood is the site coordinator. The
attendees at this location tend to live very nearby
(one person walks over) so we do not record
roundtrip miles or hours.
In 2011, 11 CAMNers and four regular visitors
logged over 625 roundtrip miles and almost 30
roundtrip hours for a total of 12 monitoring hours
and observed five amphibian species at Lake
Creek Dam: Rio Grande Leopard Frog, Bullfrog,
Gulf Coast Toad, Green Treefrog, and Northern
Cricket Frog. Two nocturnal bird species were also
observed during three of the 12 months: Common
Nighthawk and Great Horned Owl. This was our
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F ie ld Even t: S a ndy Mayfield, Jul ia Osgood, Sue Anderson, and Kathy McCormack
CAMN TAW Monitoring in 2011
Gulf coast toad by Jason Cox
Bullfrog by Jason Cox
first year of monitoring at this location, and Sue Anderson is the
site coordinator.
In 2011, nine CAMNers, four Goodwater Master Naturalists, and
four visitors logged over 2,340 roundtrip miles and over 63
roundtrip hours for a total of 12.75 monitoring hours and
observed four amphibian species at Berry Springs Preserve: Rio
Grande Leopard Frog, Gulf Coast Toad, Bullfrog, and Northern
Cricket Frog. Four nocturnal bird species were also observed
during five of the 12 months: Great Horned Owl, Barred Owl,
Eastern Screech-Owl, and Common Nighthawk. This was our
third year of monitoring at this location, and Kathy McCormack
is the site coordinator.
Team support for this effort has been outstanding – in addition
to the site coordinators, participants included Alicia Nelson,
Andy Swain, Bill Dodd, Bob Kamper, Bonnie & Leroy Sladek,
C.R. Smith, Cheryl Goveia, Chris Mayfield, Christine
McCulloch, Dan Barry, Gloria Blagg, Greg Cumpton, Jackie
Banded water snake by Jason Cox
CAMN FIELD NOTES ! !
Davis, Jacque Austin, Jason Cox, Jeffrey Davis, Judy & Mike
Johnson, Kelly Lauderdale, Kris Thorne, Liz Wells, Maggie
Moody, Mary Kay & Chuck Sexton, Mikael Behrens, Pat Shirk,
Patty Collier, Susan Blackledge, and Terry Huth. Since we
monitor for the hour or so after sunset, a group provides safety in
numbers in these public places. In addition, a team assures that
there will be monitoring coverage of the site every month (i.e.,
not everyone has to make it every month). Plus, more eyes and
ears mean that we observe more things – not just the amphibians
and birds, but lots of other critters and plants, as well.
In 2012, we plan to continue TAW at these four sites. Julia
Osgood has moved out of the area, but someone else will be
championing Mary Moore Searight Park. Watch the CAMN
Weekly Reader for monitoring dates and time, or contact one of
the remaining site coordinators if you’d like to join the
crepuscular crowd this year !
Green Tree frog by Jason Cox
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Scat and Frass
CAMNers Wanted!
Can you help man a booth or help with an activity on
this day? If so, please contact Christine Powell.
tours & demos • solar cooking • food vendors • "consultants corner"
• permaculture networking •
beekeeping • musicians • more
Roots & Fruits Faire
Central Texas
Saturday May 5, 2012
10am-6pm
Hill Country Natives Nursery
Leander, TX
www.
HillCountryNatives .net
Fountainwood Observatory
From IH-35 take Exit #261 (Texas
Hwy 29). Follow Hwy 29 east into
Georgetown, approx. 1.3 miles. Turn
left at Southwestern Boulevard.
PUBLIC NIGHT:SATURDAY,
March 31, 2012, from 8:00 PM CDT
to 10:30 PM CDT. Sunset 7:49 PM
CDT. End Astronomical Twilight 9:11
PM CDT. Moon, waxing gibbous,
63.18%. The Moon is visible during
the public viewing.
PUBLIC NIGHT: FRIDAY, April 27,
2012, from 8:00 PM CDT to 10:30
PM CDT. Sunset 8:07 PM CDT. End
Astronomical Twilight 9:34 PM CDT.
Moon, waxing crescent, 36.68%. The
Moon is visible during the public
viewing.
CAMN FIELD NOTES ! !
The San Gabriel River trail is under attack! Volunteers are needed to help remove invasive trees and
shrubs along the trail. Invasive species choke out slower growing native species, use up invaluable
water resources, and alter the food web for our birds and mammals.
When: Every Tuesday from 1:30pm – 4:30 pm
Where: Meet at the Rivery Park parking lot (1448 Rivery Blvd.) across from Home Depot
What: Remove invasive trees and plants along the San Gabriel River Trail
Who: Anyone who wants to improve the trail; tree knowledge is not mandatory!
Bring: Mandatory – closed toe shoes, long pants, gloves and bottled water. Optional –
loppers and hand saw.
For more information email the City of Georgetown Urban Forester, Heather Brewer at
heather.brewer@georgetown.org or call (512)930 6113
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Officers
Committees
President: Christine Powell
Vice-President: Kris Thorne
Past President: Lynne Weber
Treasurer: Peg Gavin
Administrative Secretary:
David Dunlap
Recording Secretary:
Maggie Moody
At-Large Board Members:
Shaun-Marie Auckland Dolores Campbell Advisory Board Members:
Kelly Bender
Clark Hancock
Melissa MacDougall
Jeri Porter
Sponsors/Partners
Administrative
Mission Statement
Contact: David Dunlap
Send Hours to: camnhours@gmail.com
Maintains database of students and alumni,
including names, addresses, class attendance,
volunteer hours earned, and advanced training
completed.
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.
Communications
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.
Contact: Dale Rye
Webpage: Dale Rye
Field Notes: Christine Powell
Press releases: Kelly Bender
Responsible for the Internet web page and
press releases.
Curriculum
Contact: Kris Thorne and Peggy Murphy
Develops the CAMN curriculum, as well as
plans the lectures, activities and field trips for
each class.
Advanced Training
Board of Directors
Austin Nature and Science Center
Contact: Bill Dodd
Plans, coordinates, and approves advanced
training opportunities.
According to the CAMN By-Laws, our
Board of Directors consists of the Officers
and the Chair of each Committee.
Texas Parks and Wildlife
Food & Fun
Lower Colorado River Authority
Contact: Becky Patterson
Facilitates the social aspects of CAMN
including the Certification Ceremonies and
holiday celebrations.
If you have concerns you wish the
Board to consider, please contact one
of the Board members via email or
come to a Board Meeting (please let us
know you will be coming).
Austin Sierra Club
The Nature Conservancy of Texas
Field Trips
CAMN Board Meetings are held on the
first Thursday of odd numbered months at:
6:45 p.m. at the Academy of Oriental
Medicine at Austin, 2700 W. Anderson
Lane, Suite 204, Austin, TX 78757. Check
with a Board Member for more details.
Contact: Jerry Mayfield
Facilitates and helps organize field trips.
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Volunteer Opportunities
Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve
Contact: Vernon Berger
Develops criteria to determine whether
volunteer opportunities may be counted for
CAMN credit. Reviews, approves, and
publicizes opportunities.
Hornsby Bend Center for
Environmental Research
Bat Conservation International
Education and Outreach Committee
Contact: Whitney Milberger and Shaun-Marie
Auckland Promotes CAMN and organizes Educational
events.
The agenda for the next Board Meeting is
available here.
Native Plant Society of Texas
Travis Audubon Society
Got info for the Field Notes?
Send info, photos and articles for
publication in the Field Notes to:
xtinepowell@verizon.net Deadline
for submission is the 27th of each
month.
CAMN FIELD NOTES ! !
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M A R C H 2 0 1 2!
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