Capital Area Master Naturalists 2009 FIELD JOURNAL Meeting September 30, 2009 6:30 p.m. Austin Nature and Science Center

Sept 30th — Daniel Dietz: "Managing Stress in the Wildland Urban Interface."

CAMN Board Meeting

There is a Board meeting on September 3rd and we are hoping for a big attendance and very little hot air!. Join us! Our meetings are open to the membership and we are meeting this month at ProEd on Shoal Creek, Ausitn.

Jim Weber Volunteer and Fall is coming Advanced Training I saw my first migrating Monarch MoRanch is a wonderful location Opportunities today as well as a Baltimore Oriole nestled in the Hill County. If you Visit the CAMN website at hanging around my garden. It seems like to hike then this is the place for www.camn.org and log in to the CAMN early but I guess that is just because you. If you love Advanced Education Volunteer Calendar to start fulfilling those we have had such a long hot summer with a purpose then, again, this is for volunteer hours. with no cool down until this week. I you. If you want to have fun with other am so ready for Fall! Apparently so is people of a like mind, then sign up. the wildlife! You don’t have to go for the whole I think I am so ready because I have weekend - they have day passes. so much to do that I have put off over CAMN is trying to have a definite the last few months because it has presence there this year so we need been so hot. One thing I put off until you. We will have a wonderful display the summer was my project for the for the NatureSmart Family project arts fair at the Annual Master and Julia Osgood will be giving a Naturalist Conference at MoRanch. I presentation on the relationship we think I am too late but some of you have with the Austin Nature and may not be. See pages 2 and 3 for Science Center. Jeri Porter and I will more details and inspiration. be heading up the Silent Auction and I am sure each night there will be fun The conference this year looks good and a good time. Join us. Sign up now on paper and I am sure it is going to be for this year’s Texas Master Naturalist even better there. We are hoping for a Conference while there is still time really good CAMN turn out so if you and room! are trying to decide then let me Christine Powell Giuseppe Arcimboldo ~ Autumn, 1573, oil on persuade you to join us there. canvas, Musee du Louvre, Paris

CAMN FIELD JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2009 P A G E 1 Field Trip: State Conference Calling all Artists I know we have many very talented people out there and we temperatures of . For several years Roger was our need you to come forward and enter your art work in the Texas Curriculum Chair, avid herpetologist and frog monitor for Master Naturalist Art and Photo Competition. To give you Texas Parks and Wildlife. He also spent many hours some idea of the standard and what to expect I contacted all volunteering for McKinney Falls and was active as an those who had won from CAMN in previous years. interpretive guide at various locations in the area. Apparently, in his abundant spare time he was able to produce award Below you can see the beautiful journal entry from Norm winning artwork. See the next page for his entry. McGinnis’ award winning submission. We all could and should be keeping a journal and hopefully some of us are What can I say? These are incredible pieces but I know there managing to do something on the lines that Norm taught us are others of you out there who can do same. If you want to on our first day of classes. include something but are not going we can take of it for you. Just contact a Board Member and they will make sure it gets Our other winning entry is from Roger Myers. I am sure you there and back safe and sound. Let’s show the State how all remember Roger who has now moved to the cool talented we are.

“When I entered this record of my visit to Palo Duro Canyon, I did not set out to win any awards. I simply knew that I would have the best little painting of coyote scat among the entries. When my name was announced as the winner for the drawing and painting category I was VERY surprised. A few moments later when my name was announced for best of show, I was overwhelmed. Later that day during lunch I overheard a conversation between two of our fellow Capital Area Master Naturalists. "I heard one of them say that "what he is doing any one of us could do. The difference is he is doing it." So I have kept at my observing and recording. Whether it's art or not can be debated. But in this age of little caring for our natural world, I believe it's an important practice.” Norm McGinnis

CAMN FIELD JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2009 P A G E 2 Field Trip: State Conference Calling all Artists

“I don't know what comments or advice I have to share, but as a natural science illustrator by training, I probably had a slight advantage entering the competition. But the quality of all the entries was high and reflective of the fact that naturalists are generally good observers and recorders of the natural world. I was both surprised and honored to have been chosen a winner. I basically became a natural science illustrator because I am visually oriented and love to observe critters closely. Close observation and a keen interest in the subject are the most important ingredients. Artistic ability is less important and is manifested in how well one observes. As master naturalists, we are all equipped with the attention to detail and the patience to record information with care and precision, be it in the form of words, numbers, sketches, paintings, photos, sculpture, or even fabric or stained glass. So I guess my advice would be, "Go for it!". We all possess unique and valuable insights into the natural world that we should share with our fellow master naturalists. We are all enriched by those shared insights.” The subject is a male Eastern Box Turtle that I did in transparent watercolors using a maskoid cement technique to preserve a hard edge where light areas are surrounded by dark as in the shell and skin patterning. The framed size is about 22.5 in. x 18.5 in. Roger Myers

Photo & Art Contest: Revised Rules This Year! Enter your favorite photo or art work into the Texas Master Naturalist Photo & Art Contest while at the Annual Meeting. Just bring your item(s)—or send them with a friend. Winners will be announced during the Awards Ceremony. Photo & Art Contest entries should be placed on exhibit no later than 5:00 pm in the designated area on Friday. Judging is to be done by popular vote of attendees. Photos should be brought to the meeting labeled on the back including the participant’s name, chapter, category and a title for the work. Contest Rules: All entries must be the original work of and submitted by a Master Naturalist volunteer. Photograph categories include: 1) Wildlife 2) Plants 3) Scenery 4) Chapter Projects and/or Master Naturalist(s) at work or play. Photographs (black & white or color) will compete together in each category. Photographs should be unmatted, unframed and be of a standard size up to "8x10" and have no digital enhancements. Photos must be Texas-specific (i.e. taken in Texas) Entries are limited to one per category per individual. Art entries may include original drawings, paintings, carvings and sculpture, etc. All art entries compete in one category. In the event there are less than five entries in a given photo or art category a placement ribbon will not be awarded.

CAMN FIELD JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2009 P A G E 3 Field Trip: Dale Rye with Images by Jeri Porter Aquarena Springs

Those of us who have spent awhile here managed by the in will remember when Biology Department Aquarena Springs was an amusement and Aquatic park notable for mermaids and Ralph Resources Program the Diving Pig. Well, the amusement at the university. park is gone, but the springs at the This is a large area headwaters of the San Marcos River are of very shallow still pumping out 90 cubic feet of water water providing a per second (58 million gallons per day) rich environment at 72˚ F., even though the current for wetland flora drought has cut flow by half. On and fauna. A Saturday, July 18, a group of almost walkway built of twenty CAMN members visited what is recycled plastic has now Aquarena Center, a research and been constructed education project of the River Systems for several hundred Egret Institute of Texas State University—San feet over the Marcos. submerged wetland, allowing the rare far escaped eradication). We had originally intended to tour the opportunity to closely observe such an Next, we went to the area where the wild rice research site studied by Flo environment without getting one’s feet Center’s managers are propagating Oxley, a friend of CAMN, the Director wet. The biologists managing the area plants that they will eventually relocate of Education and Conservation at the have had to work hard to control the to other parts of the property. Because Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, invasive aquatic plants that afflict many the large Balcones Escarpment springs and a doctoral student at the university. Texas wetlands. Overall, however, non- like Comal Springs, San Marcos Springs, Unfortunately, the river was so clogged invasive species greatly predominate. Barton Springs, and the springs on the with people swimming, tubing, and This thrilled the native plant people in Jollyville Plateau and San Gabriel River otherwise escaping the heat that we the group, who rarely get to see Texas are isolated ecosystems, they tend to could not easily get close to the site. plants from wet environments. develop unique flora and fauna. The San That part of the trip will be The birders among the group were Marcos Springs, wetlands, and River are rescheduled, but the tour of Aquarena equally excited to see green herons, host to a substantial number of Center was itself very much worth the egrets, and both little and great blue threatened, endangered, or protected trip to the Hays County seat, even for herons. There were numerous fish species of both plants and . The several of us who traveled from visible through the exceptionally clear rarest, the San Marcos Gambusia Williamson or Llano Counties. water, including gambusia, sunfish, bass, (Gambusia georgei), was a small fish native We toured several components of the and the non-native tilapia. Several to only the first kilometer of the river Center. Our first stop was the Aquarena species of turtle were swimming by or system. Since it has not been seen since wetlands area that is being restored and sunning themselves on rocks near shore. 1983, it is likely extinct. Other species While we did not are still hanging in there, including the see any snakes or San Marcos Salamander and Flo’s nutria, they are also subject, Texas Wild Rice (Zizania an important (and in texana), found in only one place in the the latter case, world: a short stretch of this river. unwelcome) part of Aquarena Center takes its obligation as the ecosystem. The custodian of the headwaters very path continues over seriously, hence the attention to the drier wetlands propagation. surrounding the Our next stop was the famous fleet of water, where our glass-bottomed boats. General Edward plant experts Burleson, a hero of the Texas identified a number Revolution, built the dam forming of unusual plants (as Spring Lake to drive his gristmill in well as the almost- 1848. While underwater dancers dressed inevitable invasive as mermaids no longer frequent the Green Heron species that have so lake, the view from the boats is no less

CAMN FIELD JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2009 P A G E 4 Field Trip: by Dale Rye Aquarena Springs

Tilapia Water Lily

spectacular. The water is crystal-clear, see native Texan aquatic flora in its plants and animals living in Spring Lake, with the influx from the 200-odd proper setting. the wetlands, and the river. There is a springs on the bottom quite discernible The glass-bottomed boat also passed particular focus on the some of the from the surface. Because of the over an archeological dig. This locality eight endangered and threatened presence of endangered and threatened has been continuously occupied for species such as the San Marcos species, almost no one is allowed into perhaps as long as anywhere in the Gambusia (obviously only represented the water except scientific divers who Western Hemisphere—at least since the by photographs and related species), the have received hours of special training. Clovis Culture flourished 13,000 years San Marcos Salamander, and the The boats provide a way for the general ago. Much of the evidence remains Fountain Darter. We topped off our visit public to view the springs without unlooted, since the area immediately to Aquarena Center with lunch at the damaging them, and it is also possible to around the springs has been underwater picnic grounds. It was a trip that any of rent a glass-bottomed kayak. Highlights for 160 years. The Center can now us would recommend to anyone. of our trip included sighting a large supervise scientific excavations by Spotted Gar (Lepisosteus oculatus), one of trained divers to recover this important Field Trip a family of primitive fishes that part of American prehistory. AQUARENA SPRINGS PART II flourished in the Mesozoic. We also saw After our boat trip, we toured the small San Marcos turtles, sunfish, bass, and other species. aquarium near the lake. This contains September 12, 2009 at 10:00 AM Again, the plant people were excited to material and specimens on many of the

Glassbottom boat One of the many numerous dragonflies, a neon skimmer

CAMN FIELD JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2009 P A G E 5 Field Prep: by Jim and Lynne weber Amazing

From the Greek roots of arthron riding on their mother’s back, and have a life pair of legs, which are enlarged in size and (meaning ‘joint’) and podos (meaning ‘foot’), expectancy of about four years. mostly black with yellow tips. It is widely arthropods are animals characterized by Like all , the striped bark believed that this coloration plays a key role their jointed limbs and repeating body has four pairs of legs with a comb- in warding off potential predators by clearly segments, each with a pair of appendages. like structure called the pectines between its’ advertising its poisonous qualities and They are so versatile that they have been last pair of legs. While scorpions also have confrontational nature. called the “Swiss Army knives of species”, two eyes on the top of the head and two to Like the striped bark scorpion, the Texas and make up over 80% of all described living five pairs of eyes along the front corners of redhead is a predator whose prey (primarily species known to date. In central Texas, the the head, they do not see well and must rely other ) is captured and killed by its most fascinating arthropods include the on the pectines to identify different surface poison claws. Again, its bite, while painful, scorpion and the centipede. textures and to help detect prey. Their is not deadly to humans, but the same Of the ninety species of scorpions nocturnal habits assist them in managing precautions should be taken. identified in the , eighteen of temperature and water balance which are While arthropods like scorpions and them occur in Texas and only one statewide. important functions for survival in dry centipedes can be the source of nightmares The number of species found increases as you habitats. While the sting of this species is and phobias for many people, their role in move west and south in the state, with two painful and can cause swelling, none of the the ecosystem is one of extreme versatility. species occurring in the Austin area species in Texas are considered deadly. By examining the ways in which they are (compared to fourteen in National However, a person who has been stung adapted to survive in a wide range of Park!). Close relatives of ticks, mites, and should be watched for any adverse reaction. conditions, we learn that they are largely spiders, scorpions are easily recognized by Known as the largest centipede in North beneficial to us by keeping the balance of their shape, generally prefer dry habitats, America, the giant redheaded or Texas harmful insects in check, and when hide during the day, and are most active at redhead is among the largest of any many- encountered, make for a Texas-sized story or night. legged centipede in the world These fast- two! The most common scorpion in our area moving and aggressive “titans” differ from

is the striped bark scorpion, which has two millipedes by the presence of only one pair

broad, black bands running down the length of legs per body segment, and those legs are

of its back. Tan in overall color, this species attached to the sides of each segment rather can be easily identified by its slender pincer- than near the midline. bearing arms (pedipalps) and long, slender While not frequently observed, those tail, which is longer on males than females. Texas redheads that do make themselves While these scorpions can mate in the fall, known attract a lot of attention due to their

spring, or early summer, gestation requires large size and fierce appearance. They

about 8 months. Litter size can vary from 13 average about 6-8 inches in length and in to 47, with the average being 31! Immature rare cases may reach up to 10 inches! Their scorpions molt up to six times before they coloration is striking, where the head and mature, with the first being anywhere from the first two body segments are dark red, the

three to seven days after birth. Born alive in wide trunk is black tinged with green, and semi-transparent sacs, once they shed these the first 20 pairs of legs are yellow. The thin layers they spend their first few weeks posterior end of the centipede holds the 21st

Striped bark scorpion

Send your nature-related questions to [email protected] and we’ do our best to answer them.

Texas redhead

CAMN FIELD JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2009 P A G E 6 Field Notes: by Cheryl Goveia Austin Science & Nature Center Monthly Survey On Friday the 3rd July I joined a group of about ten folks to help in the monthly Survey behind the Austin Science and Nature Center, located just off Stafford Drive behind Zilker Botanical Gardens. This gathering is usually conducted on the first Saturday but since that was the 4th of July they went a day early, so I was able to attend. My weekends are spent micro managing spouse on various yard projects that require brute strength and...seeing clients.

We began at 7am and it was already 80 degrees in the shade...but it felt like 60 compared to the day before. The list of things we saw is enormous. One person carries a plant list where we note blooming and fruiting natives and another takes notes on all / sightings.

I remember taking the photo (above left) but can't remember what we were looking at! We did see a few baby Preying Mantis...maybe that's what it is?

This is Balsam Gourd (sbove right), Iberviea Lindheimeri (Lindheimer's Globeberry) I'd never seen it before so I had to check out its uses and found that the seeds are eaten by scaled quail and the leaves, in a drought by white tailed deer. It is unique to the .

A little water (left) was here and there, full of mosquito larvae!

CAMN FIELD JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2009 P A G E 7 Field Notes: by Cheryl Goveia Austin Science & Nature Center Monthly Survey

Noah, a 14 year old Eagle Scout who was part of our CAMN class this year, went about turning over rocks and found these doomed Gecko eggs...exciting find!

Yikes, I didn't know that Poison Ivy made berries...apparently the birds just love 'em!

I just love this sweat wall for it's burnt orange color and plethora of Maiden Hair Fern.

Clear puddle, rare find.

Some of our group ambling through a dry creek bed.

Cheryl’s original post can be found at http:// consciousgardening.blogspot.com/2009/07/austin- science-and-nature-center.html. Cheryl is a member from the 2009 class and is involved in various projects. Her blog is fantastic and should be checked out at various times.

CAMN FIELD JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2009 P A G E 8 Field Notes: by Cheryl Goveia Austin Science & Nature Center Monthly Survey Empty turtle egg casings.

We came to a meadow at some point and one of the ladies began naming the butterflies and it reminded me of our CAMN graduation when Jeri got up and said that the only thing she felt a "Master" of was observing. It must take a lifetime to feel like you know what's around you. And, on the other hand...does it matter? To me, not really. I get a kick out of the classes and it helps in Carpenter ants with larvae under another rock. distinguishing one sound from another, one species from another so they all don't just become, birds, frogs, bugs and flowers. I try to hold onto a few new things and just really enjoy the fresh air, the exceptionally genuine company...people included, and work on my scout skills.

We couldn't find the name of this in our guides...Anyone Green stinkbug looking critter...again, the name know what it is...until we have a name I say we call it vanished into the hot thick air. Popcornus Planti.

CAMN FIELD JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2009 P A G E 9 Field Notes: by Cheryl Goveia Austin Science & Nature Center Monthly Survey

Hairy Nightshade cooked to a nice burnt orange by the sun. Nightshade plants are a huge family, some edible some mildly to fatally toxic. I grow a few myself because they are gorgeous...such as Datura Metal or Brugmansia...also, the common potato. Hairy Nightshade, and many of the other small berry's like belladonna are toxic and even fatal depending on dosage, you don't want to have these in your garden if you have cats.

Such a beautifully sculpted wall, it's amazing the creative power of water.

We had a great time at the ANSC and if you're looking for something new and educational to do with the kids head on out there...it's fun for the whole group! Those of you interested in the Master Naturalist program, watch out for the applications to show up online sometime in August. Get it in early, I was on the waiting list for two years! Want to try? Monthly biodiversity survey at ANSC and Zilker Preserve are held on the first Saturday of each month and is where we record plants, animals, and seasonal changes — information which is shared with the Nature Center staff for use in their programs and entered into a database for future reference. We also post our species lists and photos in the Naturalists' Workshop for visitors to peruse and add their own observations. Check the CAMN calendar for more information.

Quintessential image of our Austin soil situation. CAMN FIELD JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2009 P A G E 10 Field Notes: Warning Zebra Mussels Believed to be Entering the Trinity River System Invasive zebra mussels (Dreissena believed to be well established there. as golden alga,” said Phil Durocher, polymorpha) have been confirmed to On Aug. 3 live zebra mussels were Inland Fisheries Division director. have spread from Lake into the found in West Prong Sister Grove TPWD will be working with local, head waters of Lake Lavon, and experts Creek approximately 300 yards state and federal agencies, reservoir fear they could eventually spread downstream of the Lake Texoma water controlling authorities and water throughout the Red River and Trinity transfer pipe. This creek flows into districts to develop a plan for dealing River watersheds. Zebra mussels Lake Lavon. “Lake Lavon is in the with zebra mussels. Boaters and anglers multiply rapidly and can block water headwaters of the vast Trinity River are being encouraged to help slow the treatment plant intakes and pipes as Basin, which extends southward to the spread of zebra mussels from one well as attach themselves to boats, Gulf of , so the potential water body to another by cleaning ropes or anything else left in the water. impacts to water quality, fisheries boats, livewells and trailers when They can cause declines in fish resources, water distribution systems leaving any water suspected of having populations, native mussels, and birds. and recreation are huge,” said Inland zebra mussels. Boaters and anglers are They can also restrict water flow in Fisheries Biologist Bruce Hysmith in a also being asked to report sightings of pipes, foul swimming beaches, damage TPWD news release. “Zebra mussels suspected zebra mussels to the boat engine cooling systems and cause have the potential to be an even greater Operation Game Thief Hotline at navigation buoys to sink. Live threat to Texas freshwater resources (800) 792-4263. More information, specimens of zebra mussels have been than invasive aquatic plants such as including links to photos and detailed reported in Lake Texoma and are now giant salvinia and toxic organisms such information, is on the TPWD Web site (http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/

PROFILE Scientific name: Dreissena polymorpha Common name: Zebra Mussel Native To: Eurasia Date of U.S. Introduction: 1988 Means of Introduction: Ballast water Impact: Competes with native species; clogs pipes Current U.S. Distribution: Current Zebra Mussel sightings distribution (updated daily) Zebra Mussel Query by State Zebra and Quagga Mussels map Management Plans: Aquatic Species / Zebra Mussels and Dreissena species Want to Help? Selected Internet Resources: Join the Texas Mussel Watch Federal Government State Government Freshwater mussels are one of the most imperiled groups of animals in the U.S. Texas University/Academic hosts more than 50 species of native freshwater mussels. Because scientists have only International recently become aware of the severe decline in mussel populations, some species may Organizations have become extinct before their decline was even documented. Although there are Video: Boat Owners - How to Prevent many mussel species considered rare in Texas, only one mussel species, the Ouachita Zebra Mussels rock-pocketbook mussel, which has been found only in two tributaries of the Red River, is listed as endangered. No special equipment is needed to monitor for mussels, but volunteers must attend a workshop to receive a monitoring manual. Monitoring workshops are scheduled in different parts of the state. To find out more about Texas Nature Trackers or to sign up for a Texas Mussel Watch monitoring workshop, please contact TPWD's Wildlife Diversity Program at 1-800-792-1112, x 8062.

CAMN FIELD JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2009 P A G E 11 Field Notes: by Christine Powell You Say Epizote, I say Epazote

Recently, I was trying to find out what The leaves of a our local herbs were. I thought there young Epizonte must be some, after all, the Native plant found at a Americans must have used something local Farmers to flavor their food, surely! I was just Market in curious since we are all well versed Georgetown. about Mediterranean herbs and finally I came across Epizote/Epazote (pronounced: eh-puh-ZOE-tay). I thought I would share my findings Long known and with you all. described this When the ancient Aztecs wanted to drawing is from flavor their beans, they often used the the late 1800’s. herb epizote (epizotl in their language, Why don’t we Nahuatl). Not only does it impart a use this herb distinctive taste reminiscent of more nowadays? liquorice, but it is reputed to reduce the formation of internal gas from the beans. Epazote remains a favorite for that purpose throughout Mexico and the adjacent lands today, and has retained its Aztec name (unlike epahuxtli, the beans themselves). The plant Dysphania ambrosioides is also known as Jesuit's Tea, Pigweed, West Indian Goosefoot, Hedge Mustard, Jerusalem Parsley, Pazote, Mexican Tea, or Herba Sancti Mariæ. It also known as wormseed because of it's effects on preventing worms in animals. It is often added to animal feed for this reason. Another of its names, skunkweed, perhaps says it all! ‘Epatl' and 'tzotl' meaning smelly animal. Mexican tea is a nicer name and I think I will stick with that! Epazote is a native of a wide range from central Mexico into South America, but it is cultivated (and sometimes escapes to become a weed) over much of America and Europe. When classifying Epazote you find that is is from the Chenopodiaceae family which also includes, lambsquarters, spinach, beets, chard,

CAMN FIELD JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2009 P A G E 12 Field Notes: by Christine Powell You Say Epizote, I say Epazote

and quinoe. Moving to the genus in all but west-central and Chenopodium (recently changed to northern Mexico. Epazote Dysphania) meaning “goose foot” and, has also be used as a green finally, the species is ambrosioides vegetable but can be toxic. meaning “food of the gods” probably The famous and award- referring to the strong scent! winning chef Rick Bayless uses Epazote extensively in Epazote is an annual or short-lived his recipes. perennial plant, growing to almost four feet tall with irregular branches and On our side of the border, it sharp-toothed oblong 5-inch leaves up is perhaps best known for its to five inches long. The small green medicinal uses. One, of flowers are produced in a branched course, is to fight gas. It has panicle at the end of the stem. The also been used in the small fruits produce thousands of tiny treatment of a wide range of black seeds that can spread epazote ailments including female fairly quickly. The plant is easy to grow troubles, malaria, chorea, in full sun. The seeds germinate in hysteria, catarrh, and asthma. about 7-14 days and be ready to harvest However, its major medicinal in 45-65 days. Since it is is native to use derives from the fact tropical and subtropical regions, that an oil found in the plant epazote prefers sandy, loamy soil over (particularly the seeds) fights dry arid conditions. internal parasites; hence the The herb can be used for flavoring, and is name "Wormseed." This popular in a wide range of traditional effect may have added to its dishes from the Mexican interior popularity among the Robert H. Mohlenbrock @ USDA-NRCS (including its most common use in black Aztecs. Oil of Chenopodium PLANTS Database / USDA NRCS. 1992. Western beans). Also with a wide variety of sauces and its active ingredient, wetland flora: Field office guide to plant species. West Region, Sacramento.

ascaridole, was once I found some in a four inch pot at my a standard American local Farmers Market in Georgetown medical treatment, but it can also be found in some but is no longer used Mexican groceries, growing wild in much by physicians many places, or even cultivated in your because heavy doses own garden. If you do find it in can cause substantial Mexican groceries, epazote can be side effects. rather wilted. It will still be good for Herbalists cooking. Once you picked it place it in recommend use only the refrigerator, in a glass with water, as of the leaves, rather you would cut flowers, loosely covered than the seeds, with a plastic bag; or in the refrigerator, because they contain rolled in a very lightly dampened towel, less of the toxic in a plastic bag. I needn't have bothered agent, and suggest buying it as it happens as I think I may that it might be wise have found some growing wild at the to avoid using bottom of the garden! I guess I will key Although not a native plant it is hard to determine when epazote when it out first and then be very careful how Espoze was introduced to the US (and the rest of the world). Distribution: Chenopodium ambrosioides L. pregnant. I use it.

CAMN FIELD JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2009 P A G E 13 Field Meeting: by Dale Rye Owls of Texas

At a incredibly well attended meeting Northern Saw- on August 26, the Capital Area Chapter Whet Owl is a of the Texas Master Naturalists heard a little owl (6 splendid presentation on owls by Ed inches tall) with Rosenburg, a lifelong amateur a small face. The ornithologist now residing in Sun City Long-Eared Owl Georgetown. He began by pointing out has up-and-down the distinctive features of the group as stripes on its This is my little a whole. They are mostly nocturnal chest and is Eastern Screech birds of prey with sharp senses, thanks often seen in owl who stayed to their large eyes and generally groups. The with us for asymmetrically-placed ears. They have Short-Eared Owl several weeks this sharp talons for seizing prey and most lives in nests on spring — until have serrated primary flight feathers the ground in the Mocking that allow them to fly silently. many parts of birds drove him Of the nineteen owl species found in the state. The away! North America, there are only four that largest owl found are not found in Texas—the Great Gray in Texas, the Owl, Boreal Owl, Northern Hawk Owl, Snowy Owl, can weigh up to four Burrowing Owl lives in the ground, and Whiskered Screech Owl. Ed pounds. The smallest owl, the Elf Owl, often near prairie dog towns or other showed the group diagnostic lives in the deserts of and concentrations of rodents. The photographs and played the calls of the can weigh as little as 8/10th of an ounce. Flammulated Owl occurs in brown or fifteen species that have been observed Among the most common Texas owls gray, has little ears, and a hooting call. in various parts of Texas. are the Eastern and Western Screech The Great Horned Owl is a canny Perhaps the most distinctive is the Barn Owls. Both are about 7 ounces in size, hunter (often of other owls) and has Owl, with its heart-shaped white face. but the Eastern has a gray beak and particularly sharp senses. It stands up to This species has controlled rodent sometimes occurs in a red variant. The two feet tall and can lift 10 pounds... an populations on farms since farming Western Screech Owl has a black beak excellent reason not to let your cat out came to America. The Barred Owl and and occurs only in gray. The two have at night. the similar Spotted Owl live in the deep different calls. The Northern Pygmy The presentation was well received by woods of and elsewhere, Owl only weighs 2 ounces (about the the audience, who headed out into the where they sometimes are spotted size of a bluebird) and cannot fly night after the meeting determined to hunting in the shadows in daytime. The silently, but it is an aggressive killer that look for their own neighborhood owls. has been known to bring down eagles! Bent (1938) Next CAMN Meeting Adult Northern Pygmy-Owl; referred to it as “blood- On September 30th our very own thirsty, rapacious . . . Daniel Dietz will be speaking to us fiend . . . from the top of about "Managing Stress in the its gory beak to the tips Wildland Urban Interface." of its needle-like- claws.”The Ferruginous Our meetings are getting bigger and Pygmy Owl found in better every month so come and is diurnal in join us for some great sightings, habit. It can be fabulous speakers, sensational door distinguished from the prizes and incredible food. Our Northern because the wonderful new President Lynne is Ferruginous rests with doing a wonderful job of organizing its tail straight down, us in a very casual and informed way while the Northern while Cindy in providing us with Pygmy Owl sits with it fabulous food. Come and enjoy! tilted forward. The

CAMN FIELD JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2009 P A G E 14 Field Notes: by Mike Quinn The Night 20 Strepsipterans Hit my Sheet...

So what do the following have in common?

Mississippi Entomological Museum Smithsonian Institution University of California at Berkeley Florida State University Midwestern State University Monsanto Texas A&M University University of Texas at Austin

Folks (in high and low places) in all of those institutions commented on a short note I posted to both a Texas- centric and an international entomological email list about having collected 20 (!!!) male Strepsipterans July 31, 2009 in Austin, Texas.

As can be seen from the photo, Strepsiptera are truly bizarre insects. The females are wingless and never leave the host they parasitize. The adult males live but a few Only after collecting the first half dozen did I dare to take hours and must find and mate with a female in that short a photograph before reaching for the alcohol vial to time period. preserve the catch. Each time I squeezed off a frame, I briefly lost track of the critter. But through the night, none Of those replying to my email post, some said they had got away. collected single digit numbers of this rare insect order, but most (from the Smithsonian to Monsanto to UC Berkeley) At this point it's getting late and I'm starting to think said they'd never collected a single one. Twenty in one about when to quit collecting for the night. Then another night may well be a record (no one's yet disputed it). burst came in and I had 12, a dozen, then 13, a baker's dozen. Both figures seemed like decent stopping places, The Strepsipterans didn't all come in at once. Some time but I was still pumped up so I waited a bit more and then I after 11 p.m., I went out to check my backyard mercury was up to 17. vapor set up that backs up to a Juniper/Oak dominated park surrounded by suburbia. As I was close to 20, there was no way I could call it a night, yet I was exhausted, and so I laid down to rest Shortly, I noticed a Strepsiptera on the sheet. I freaked briefly. When I rose, one more was on the sheet. The final out, having only collected one previously. I grabbed my two finally came in and I turned off the light and hit the aspirator/pooter and snagged the fragile insect. I quickly sack with Strepsiptera dancing in my head! noticed two more perched on the sheet at odd angles, perhaps near dead. Before long, more males came in and I quickly had seven. Visit Mike’s Blog at http://txento.blogspot.com/

Children In Nature Awards Winners Announced To highlight successes in connecting children with nature and to inspire even more families, educators, health care professionals and developers, five winners have been selected for the 2009 awards. On September 30, 2009, Westcave Preserve will bring Carter Smith, Executive Director of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to the 2009 Celebration of Children in Nature Awards. Mr. Smith will talk about the current disconnect between children and nature and the urgency in finding regular opportunities for kids to actively explore the natural world. Connecting our children to nature is one of the highest priorities for Texas Parks and Wildlife, who have been leaders in helping families and children discover the wonder of nature for decades. More »

CAMN FIELD JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2009 P A G E 15 Field Notes by Dale Rye Invasion of the Alien Ants We are used to the idea of invasive the victim and attack. While only 80 plants, and even of invasive animals, human deaths have been recorded, but one of the most serious threats to losses among livestock and wildlife native environments comes from have been significant. Many species invasive insects. As with the other have newborns that instinctually cower invaders, exotic insects may lack any motionless on the ground to keep a low natural enemies or diseases in their new profile if they feel threatened, which is territories. This enables them to precisely the wrong thing to do if you outcompete species that have spent are under a RIFA attack. A fire ant millennia evolving into a specific niche infestation can clear an area of small in a specific ecosystem where they, the amphibians, reptiles, and even Linepithema humile, the Argentine Ant species they feed on, and the species mammals, besides their effect on other that feed on them have reached insects. Ground-dwelling native bees these colonies. Most of the Argentine equilibrium. The population explosion are particular targets, and this of course ants in Europe, California, and Japan among the alien species can make them affects any plant species that is are part of a single super-colony whose major pests and drive them to expand dependent on the bees for pollination. members leave one another alone. their range very rapidly. Three ant Attempts to drown the ants Individuals can mingle freely in widely- species have created particular typically result in their forming a ball separated nests, giving them a huge problems in recent years. or raft that floats to another spot. advantage over native ants that are The Red Imported Fire Ant Trying to kill them with thirst does not limited to a single nest. The smaller (RIFA, Solenopsis invicta) arrived at work either, because they can usually colonies in South America coexist with Mobile, Alabama, in cargo shipments tunnel down to moist soil. The other ants, while the invasive super- from Brazil in the early 1930s. They breeding chamber with the queen is colony tends to wipe out all have subsequently expanded from New often more than six feet underground. competition and develop high Mexico to Maryland (with an outlying Fast-acting insecticides kill the workers population densities. By wiping out the colony in California). Not only have before they can get to the queen with native ants, the Argentine ants threaten they spread naturally, but in infested the poison, so slow-acting baits are animal and plant species that depend nursery products. The ants form large about the only effective remedy. on those ants for food, pollination, or mounds that can interfere with farm Recently, an increasing number of seed dispersal. The California Horned machinery, and their deep, extensive RIFA colonies have been observed that Lizard is threatened by these ants, tunnels often damage plant roots. They have multiple queens in widely much as the Texas Horned Lizard is by are attracted to electricity and can separated locations within the tunnel fire ants. An invasion of Argentine ants short out a junction box fairly easily. system, making them that much harder is almost always accompanied by a Fire ants are the leading cause for to eliminate. There have also been surge in the population of plant pests traffic light failures in Texas. Nationally, efforts at introducing biological such as aphids and scale insects, annual damage from the RIFA may controls, like the phorid . because the ants "tend" these species approach $6 billion. The species is also A somewhat more recent arrival is for their sweet secretions. This can a problem in parts of Australasia. the Argentine ant (Linepithema humile), have serious effects on gardening and The name comes from their stings, which comes from the area of South agriculture. which inject a necrotizing alkaloid that America where Argentina, Paraguay, The final one of the three we will causes a pain like fire and brings up Uraguay, and Brazil come together. discuss is known as the Rasberry crazy white pustules a day or so later. The They have spread to every continent ant, Paratrechina sp. nr. pubens. As the first ant to sting releases a pheromone but Antarctica. Fortunately for us in incomplete scientific name suggests, that causes every ant nearby to swarm Texas, they are more common in this is not an ant population well- California than elsewhere in America known to science; it is a species "near" A Queen red fire ant (perhaps because of competition from the Caribbean crazy ant (P. pubens). It is, captured from a the RIFA). In their native range, the in fact, named after the exterminator in neighborhood in . ants are self-limiting because they form Houston who first described it in 2002. The ant was placed in a mutually antagonistic colonies; when They are called "crazy ants" because computer scanner and an ant comes upon an unfamiliar individuals forage erratically. Some scanned. Its body was worker, it attacks it. Unfortunately, the indication of the impact of this species slightly crushed during the ants that have colonized other areas of is that it is displacing the RIFA in some scanning. the world came from only a few of parts of as it expands

CAMN FIELD JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2009 P A G E 16 Field Notes by Dale Rye Invasion of the Alien Ants from a center in Harris County near potentially causing significant damage to invasive species we can observe in Pasadena. The A&M Urban the plants these insects feed on. In America, and the impact is immense. Entomology Center observes, "after South America, some grasslands have experiencing the Rasberry crazy ant, been destroyed by fluid loss most residents prefer the fire ant." from sucking insects tended These ants do not have defined by crazy ants. mounds but live in swarms of millions of Although the heaviest individuals under or within objects concentrations of the almost anywhere. Although they nest Rasberry crazy ant are in outdoors, they often range indoors. Southeast Harris County, Colonies have multiple queens that localized infestations have forage with the workers. Rasberry crazy spread to most surrounding ants will eat almost anything. Related counties. There has been at invasive species are decimating the least one report in South wildlife on Christmas Island in the Central Texas, in Bexar Pacific and attacking livestock in South County. They could spread America. In Texas, they are having a almost anywhere the serious impact on birds, even those that winters are warm enough nest in trees, and have been known to for their survival. attack pets and people in their Unfortunately, the Rasberry backyards. Fortunately, they do not crazy ant is not attracted by sting, just bite. Like the Argentine ant, the baits that can help the crazy ants tend aphids and scale control fire ants and similar insects for their sweet secretions, pests. About the only thing that is effective in preventing them from invading a house is creating a barrier of Localized infestations have also been contact insecticide in concentrations confirmed from areas in Bexar, Brazoria, that require a professional exterminator. Fort Bend, Galveston, Hardin, Harris, After the first application, it is necessary Jefferson, Liberty, Montgomery, Orange, to sweep away the dead ants in order to Walker and Wharton counties. New treat the underlying surface. The barrier infestations are suspected beyond these areas of usually lasts no more than 2-3 months. infestation. However, sample identifications As we have seen, the impact of have not been confirmed. This ant has the these three species of invasive ants has potential to spread well beyond the current been quite significant. They have range in coastal Texas. However, it is a semi- profoundly changed the ecology of their tropical ant and potential northern A&M new environments, and not in a good distribution will be limited by cooler weather way. Multiply this times all of the conditions. Images: Texas A&M Monarch Waystations The 2009 Monarch Butterfly migration from Canada to The organization MonarchWatch has set up a program to Mexico recently entered the United States. This magnificent help offset the losses by creating Monarch Waystations. These display of nature is threatened by loss of habitat in the are areas in home gardens, schools, parks, and other open land overwintering sites and along the route. The butterflies rely where the fall flowers and-crucially-the milkweed needed by on milkweed for their caterpillars as successive generations the Monarchs are available. Quite simply, without milkweed move north each spring and summer, and on more flowers for habitats there can be no Monarch migration. the migrating adults in the fall. Development and the use of MonarchWatch has seed kits available to help create a herbicides has reduced these food supplies in the agricultural Waystation and has a program for certifying sites as registered settings that Monarchs once relied on. For example, some Monarch Waystations. These sites are recognized on a national 30% of the historic summer breeding grounds are corn and registry. For details and additional information to download, soybean fields that are now sown with genetically-modified see http://www.MonarchWatch.org Since the butterflies have crops that allow the broadcast use of gyphosate not developed the internet skills to access the registry (Roundup(R)), which eliminates the milkweed. themselves, there need to be enough Waystations for the Monarchs to find on their own!

CAMN FIELD JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2009 P A G E 17 Field Work: Al Janelle There’s a snake in my yard!

My helper Ambrosio found a little visitor in the back yard Tuesday while he was watering some plants. He heard a warning rattle and looked down. The rattler was only inches from the tip of his tennis shoe. Ambrosio stepped back slowly and came to tell me he found a snake. I asked him if it was striped and he said come see it. It was so cute, all cuddled up under a plant in the back yard. I knew exactly what it was. It was a Western Diamondback pit viper. I grabbed my camera and took a few quick shots. It's funny what I've learned to do first when encountering wildlife. In a flash of insanity I felt like I could safely

capture it. I put my camera away and brought back outside a special 32" long trigger operated tool that I had bought at the Canton flea market years ago. I gently grabbed the reptile somewhere along the middle of its length and pulled it out of its hiding spot. Frankly I wasn't exactly sure where it's head was pointing because they are so well camouflaged. I then placed it on a shovel, and followed Ambrosio to the back gate. I then handed both tools to Ambrosio, who by this time doubted my enthusiasm, grabbed my camera again and took a few more photos of my little friend.

Then I carried it about a quarter of a mile back behind the property into the COA greenbelt. As the shovel skipped over the tall grass the snake lowered itself below the flat blade and curiously shifted about. I released it alive into the woods when I had gotten far enough off of the power line access road. Cool! When we got back home Ambrosio asked me why I didn't kill it. I told him that it wasn't hurting anybody, and it deserved to live out its life, just not in my back yard. This was my very first rattlesnake capture. Whew! I do not recommend this kind of foolish behavior. Had it been a larger reptile my thought process would surely have followed a different path. BTW, do I get CAMN credit for my time?

CAMN FIELD JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2009 P A G E 18 Field Work: Christine Powell Number, Please? Because we have so much fun with one another, it is possible sometimes to forget why the Master Naturalists organization exists. We provide training to citizens who are concerned about nature and the environment in order to empower their volunteer efforts for the community. Unlike most volunteer organizations, CAMN and the other MN chapters are not primarily intended to take on group projects, but to provide trained workers for projects that are run (and financed!) by other organizations. We organize our own chapter projects only if there is a gap that nobody else can fill. The measure of success for a MN chapter, then, is not how much the chapter did as a group, but how much its members did individually for their communities. One rough measure of that is the number of volunteer hours that are reported by the members of a MN chapter.

In Area Out of Area Travel Training

260

50 18

1478

As of July 2, the Capital Area chapter of the Texas Master Naturalists had contributed 1477.75 hours in Central Texas during 2009, with an additional 18 hours out of the area and 94 hours spent traveling to or from volunteer projects. That adds up to 1589.75 volunteer hours so far this year from the 32 people who had submitted reports, an average of almost 50 hours each. They had also attended 260 hours of advanced training. Given the many members who only get around to reporting their hours near the end of the year and those who actually do volunteer work that is never reported, this understates the total contributions of the chapter by a considerable margin. (Parenthetically, Beck Runte would really, really appreciate it if you would report as you go instead of swamping her with reports near the deadline!) So far, 17 people had already met their 40-hour commitment for certification, with three of them reporting over 100 hours between January 2009 and the end of June.

One fascinating feature of the figures is how the alumni/ae of some CAMN classes have substantially different reported averages than others. The most recent class, 2009, has 19 members who had not yet reported any hours, eight who are well on their way to certification, and two who had already reported more than 40 hours by July 2. The first class, 1998, only has five members still active in CAMN, but the average for the members who have reported at all so far this year is 51 hours apiece. By

CAMN FIELD JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2009 P A G E 19 Field Work: Christine Powell Number, Please?

far the most active class is 2008, with 465 volunteer hours from just 8 members reporting. Sadly, there are other classes where fewer than 10% of the members who certified in the past had submitted any 2009 hours by July 2. Four classes have yet to report any hours at al. You know who you are, but if you don't, see the following chart.

Reported Hours by CAMN Class Year

500 465

375

251 250 177 133 141 125 102 70 56 30 34 0 0 0 0 0 1998 1999S 1999F 2000S 2000F 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

As I said at the beginning of this article, your reported hours are perhaps the best available measure of how successful the Master Naturalist program has been, so please let Beck know what you have been up to!

Can You Help?

As you all know, when we set up our branch of the Master Naturalists we chose not to charge yearly dues. Quite honestly, trying to collect them is perhaps more effort than it is worth. Since all of us would rather be out in the community giving our time than doing administrative chores, it has worked beautifully. That is… until now. CAMN is getting larger, so more and more needs to be done. Where we have muddled along on grants and occasional donations we now find we are really (like everyone else) stretched very thin.

The Board has made the decision not to raise our training costs, so as not to financially exclude people who really would love to learn how to help educate their communities on what must be our greatest gift, nature.

We want to remain dues free but we really do need to get some money from somewhere—and that is were you all come in! If you can afford to make a donation, however large or small, CAMN would be very grateful. As we are a registered non-profit, it would be tax deductible and you can be assured that all funds will be put to good use. Checks can be sent to CAMN at Capital Area Master Naturalists, c/o Austin Nature and Science Center, 301 Nature Center Drive, Austin, Texas 78746.

CAMN FIELD JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2009 P A G E 20 Field Work: Peggy Murphy “The one that lets you blast birds?”

That was the response I got from my friendly, neighborhood postal worker when I asked to purchase my first Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp a few years ago. Yes, waterfowl hunters know all about the stamp; they MUST possess this stamp to hunt legally. But the vast majority of birders and butterfliers and others who enjoy our National Wildlife Refuges for other recreation are not even aware that the stamp exists. So, for those of you who are thinking: “Why should I buy one? I don’t hunt waterfowl,” here are a few good reasons: • Proceeds from the stamp go to acquire wetlands and grasslands habitats that support numerous species of non-hunted birds and other animals and plants, improve water quality and air quality, and provide needed open space. • None of us should expect waterfowl hunters to bear alone the burden of purchasing stamps to acquire the habitats we all enjoy. The number of waterfowl hunters is on a steady decline, while the threats to existing wetlands and other natural habitats are increasing rapidly and continuously. • The stamp only costs $15, about as much as one meal at a nice chain restaurant. • The stamp program, started in 1934, is the most cost-effective land conservation initiative in existence in our country. An astounding 98% ($14.70) of every $15 stamp purchase goes directly to acquisition of a large backlog of prioritized natural habitats—wetlands and grasslands--across the entire nation. Check the new, revised listing of Migratory Bird Conservation Fund amounts to see how much of your favorite NWR was acquired by funds from the Duck Stamp: http://www.fws.gov/realty/pdf_files/MBCF_acres_per_Refuge.pdf • The Stamp serves as a pass for refuges that charge for entry. • If just 20% of birders and other outdoor recreationists purchased this inexpensive stamp annually, think of how much more natural habitat could be protected. Still not convinced? Read what others say: "Where there are wetlands, there are ducks, but there also are rails, yellowthroats, marsh wrens, plovers and sandpipers, terrapins and turtles, salamanders and frogs. Wetlands give a big wildlife diversity bang for the buck. Buy a duck stamp, whether you hunt ducks or not. Know that virtually all of your $15 goes directly into wetland purchases. Think of it as a wetlands conservation stamp. Carry it with pride, and spread the word." Julie Zickefoose, Artist and Author

"As a conservation donation, it [the Stamp] is unparalleled... It's simply the most efficient application of your money to conservation." (Birder’s World, August 2006) David Sibley, Artist and Author

"Exquisite waterfowl prints, painted by celebrated wildlife artists, priced at $15, and the program safeguards critical habitat? Almost sounds too good to be true. I've been buying duck stamps for nearly forty years and recently I've gotten into the habit of buying two." Pete Dunne, Director of New Jersey Audubon Society's Cape May Bird Observatory

“If you use a National Wildlife Refuge, thank a duck hunter.” any birder who knows about the stamp

The stamp is good from the first of July through the end of June of the next year, so now is a good time to buy one for all your fall and spring outings. You can purchase one from several sources: • Your local post office (call first; they don’t all have them) • USPS.com (search for item 334140, self-adhesive version; shipping charges will be added) • Your favorite sporting goods store that sells hunting licenses (again, call first and ask if the stamp is separate from the hunting license) • The Georgia Ornithological Society sells the Duck Stamp for $17. They include a nifty holder for the stamp so you can attach it to your binoculars, lanyard, or your favorite birding outfit or hat. Their address: GOS, P.O. Box 181, North High Shoals, GA 30645 Find details on their website: http://www.gos.org/duckstamp/duckstamp.htm

CAMN FIELD JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2009 P A G E 21 Field Sighting: Kevin M. Anderson, Coordinator Volunteer opportunities at Hornsby Bend AWU CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH

River monitoring trips, bird surveys, amphibian monitoring, riparian vegetation surveys, soil ecology research – all of these opportunities are available to Master Naturalist volunteers at Hornsby Bend through the Austin Water Utility’s Center for Environmental Research. Over the last ten years, many CAMN members have been involved with projects and monitoring at Hornsby Bend, and some have gone on to lead monitoring activities, like Claude Morris who leads the monthly river monitoring trips along the Colorado River between Austin and Bastrop. Depending on your interests, amount of time for volunteering, and experience level, we can work with you to find a rewarding volunteer project which will help the City of Austin collect important biological data which will help the environmental research at Hornsby Bend. Another way to volunteer and learn more about local ecology is to join us for our monthly Ecological Literacy Day event on the last Saturday of every month. We began these volunteer days in 1998 as a way to maintain the visitor amenities at Hornsby Bend like the trails, habitat gardens,

birding shelter, and more. In exchange for a few hours of work, we take time to help you learn about birds, riparian ecology, soil organisms, and more depending on your interests. It is a great way to learn more about Hornsby Bend, meet other people interested in ecology, and give back to your community. We meet on the last Saturday at 9am in the Center for Environmental Research lobby and are done by noon or 1pm. For more information about Hornsby Bend and the AWU Center for Environmental Research visit our website — http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/water/cer2.htm

To learn more about the birds of Hornsby Bend visit our Hornsby Bend Bird Observatory Program website - http:// www.hornsbybend.org

CAMN FIELD JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2009 P A G E 22 Field Work: Jeri Porter Daniel Dietz – Special Friend of CAMN

Daniel completed his CAMN training about the operation he will some years back while an employee of have volunteer the Wildflower Center. He moved from opportunities for CAMN that position to the Nature and Hays County volunteers Conservancy-Texas Chapter then to help them in their moved to Vermont as part of the Nature mission to protecting Conservancy in that area. Apparently he natural areas or areas to missed the heat and came back to Texas protect wildlife, unique in 2006 to take a position with the City natural communities, and of Austin, Austin Water Utility, biodiversity throughout the Wildland Conservation Division as State of Texas. The BCP will Environmental Conservation miss Daniel’s contributions Information Specialist. but his replacement will soon be on board and we During that time many of us became can look forward to part of the volunteer corps for the additional opportunities to Balcones Canyonlands Preserve leading help with their mission. hikes, performing karst surveys, gathering data on invasive plants, At Daniel’s retirement party monitoring cowbird and feral hog traps, Lynne Weber (both pictured and surveying property lines. right) presented him with a “Friends of CAMN” plaque Daniel has now moved on and is joining to show our appreciation for the Texas Land Conservancy as their his work. We expect to see Stewardship Director, based in Austin. more of him in the future and wish him He promises that as he learns more the very best in his future work.

CAMN T-shirt Design Contest Deadline Sept. 20 Here is the formal solicitation for CAMN T-shirt designs! logo. But we can always create something new. 1. The deadline for design submission is Monday, Sept. 20. We would hope that the TMN logo would be used as it is a good way to let others know of the program. One idea 2. Please submit your design by email attachment to Linda would be to add it on the sleeve. If used, remember it is a Nowlin at [email protected] registered trade mark so use as presented in the member resource area of the web site. Both gif. and tif. files can be 3. If you create your design as a drawing on paper, please found there: http://masternaturalist.tamu.edu/page.asp? scan it and submit it as a pdf. If the design only has one o=tmn&s=tmnr&p=192837 color, a scan will work well, but please use a Sharpie marker or similar marker to make the lines very dark. 4. The CAMN Board will choose the winning design.

The design can also be created in a graphics program on a 5. We need help with the following: Mac (like Apple Illustrator) or PC (like Photo Shop or Adobe Illustrator). This works well if the design has more • Can anyone help with graphics design programs if needed than one color. If you do not have access to these programs, (Apple Illustrator, Photo Shop, Adobe Illustrator) before just submit the design as a scanned pdf and we will find we submit the design to the T-shirt manufacturer? someone who can help put the winning design in one of • Can anyone recommend a T-shirt manufacturer? these applications. Please contact Linda Nowlin with any questions or The original CAMN logo had a heron, hands and plant. suggestions: [email protected] Does anyone have a soft copy of that logo? Jeri says there are 2 T-shirts left in the storage building with that original We look forward to seeing some cool designs!

CAMN FIELD JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2009 P A G E 23 Field Work: Invasive Species War Declared Against the Giant Reed At number eight on the Texas basis of debris dams Invasives dirty dozen list the Giant Reed behind man-made Aerial view of Arundo near Big Bend National Park, TX D1481-1 () is familiar to all of us. It is structures that can one of those plants you either love or you lead to damage. It is a hate. I particularly disliked it until I fire hazard because it discovered that Prokofiev’s classic “Peter ignites easily and and the Wolf” would never have been creates intense fires. possible were it not for the musical Spread by rhizomes characterizations made by the bassoon which can be washed (the grandfather), oboe (the duck), and down stream where clarinet (the cat). These wind instruments they take root and require wooden reeds to make sounds, as rapidly grown into do saxophones and bagpipes. The sole thick stands that source of these reeds is Arundo donax. invade new areas at Musicians in various parts of the U.S. the expense of other actually cultivate the plant, to make their species. It can out own instrument reeds. To them it is compete and completely suppress native Along with insect control other known as bassoon cane or oboe cane, vegetation. research is being carried out to attack the Sadly, in some states the Giant reed is “The most devastating impacts of reed from other directions. An animated out of control, Texas is one of them. It is Arundo are along the in Arundo plant can be the basis of virtual believed that every southern state may Texas,” says Goolsby, who’s spearheading experiments in which changes in the have its our large monoculture of Giant Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in plant’s environment can be simulated, reed. These areas have been shown to be Weslaco efforts to manage the weed. studied, and used to predict the possible devoid of bird and insect populations and However, Mexico also has a problem and outcome of real-world Arundo it does not have any natural predators here the reed has led to the extinction of a rare experiments. in the US. Back in its native fish species near Monterrey. Extensive Soil samples have been taken from all Mediterranean environment predators research with insects for the reeds native over the US where the plant is a problem. abound and the reed is kept in check. Spain are bringing hope that a solution Analyses of the types of soils Arundo Research is underway to try and control may be in sight. grows on might reveal whether some are the reed since it is taking over riparian Perhaps to be dubbed the “fab four” less favorable for the plant than others. areas at an alarming rate. each insect attacks the reed in a different The results of these studies should be The ecological threat of Giant reed is part of the plant. A scale insect, available later this year. immense. It chokes riversides and stream Rhizaspidiotus donacis, which may be Other research includes DNA channels, crowds out native plants, released this summer, attacks the roots analyses and the biocontrol investigations interferes with flood control, increases fire and rhizomes. This is seen as the most which are unlocking some of the plant’s potential, and reduces habitat for wildlife, promising of the “fab four” as it could secrets and are giving scientists and including the Least Bell's vireo, a federally potentially debilitate the reed. The scale is streamkeepers alike a new knowledge that endangered bird. The fibrous, also a prolific breeder. The Tetramesa they can use to stop the advance of this interconnecting root mats can form the romana wasp attacks the main stem and aggressive invader. was released earlier this year and is To learn more about Arundo donax check harmless to humans. out these sites: This weakens the http://www.texasinvasives.org/ plant, lessens its invasives_database/detail.php? overall height, and symbol=ARDO4 causes it to form galls http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/ and put out side jul09/arundo0709.htm shoots. The Arundo http://www.texasinvasives.org/ fly (Cryptonevra spp.) publications/publications/ eats the inside of new 08_GiantReed_TFA.pdf shoots, while the leaf sheath miner, Aerial view of Arundo near Eagle Pass, Texas, along the Lasioptera donacis, Rio Grande. D1481-2 destroys leaves. Images courtesy of the USDA

CAMN FIELD JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2009 P A G E 24 Field Work: Volunteer! National Wildlife Refuge Week Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge invites you to participate in free activities on Saturday October 10 at Doeskin Ranch on RR 1174. Guided walks & programs include: -BIRDS & BUTTERFLIES- for Beginners walk - 8:30 – 10:00 am *binoculars and identification books provided. -NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY- digital & 35 mm workshop Register ahead. 8:30 – 10:30 am. Bring your camera manual & camera. For Adults. -PATRIOTIC PLANTS- casual walk to discover how native plants contributed to the birth of our nation. 9:30 am- 11:30 am. -ANIMAL MIGRATIONS- Biologist Chuck Sexton will lead a walk focusing on all movements and migrations of animals —on very large & small scale- which can be observed in the fall. 10- noon -NATURE WALK- Learn about ferns, flowers, fire, frogs & fossils! 10:30 am - noon & 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm -SPIDER WALK- 11 am – 12:15 pm and 2:30- 3:45 pm. Sign up ahead to share amazing facts about spiders w/ "Spider Joe" Lapp! -SNAKES ALIVE!- Live snake program 12:15 pm- 1 pm. -MONARCH MANIA!- Author & children's performer Lucas Miller celebrates nature & the migration of Monarch butterflies with music & puppetry. Prepare to laugh & learn! 1:15 pm- 1:45 pm -DRAGONFLIES & DAMSELFLIES- Walk- 1pm- 2:30 pm Look for different species found at the creek and pond! -NATIVE GRASSES- the Big 4 & a Few More Walk! 3-4 pm at your leisure: -Look for migrating hawks! -Enter the Butterfly tent! -Buy bird nest boxes- 9 am until supply lasts. $5 each. -Creatures from the water- View bizarre water creatures from 10 am- 4 pm. -Help capture the creatures from 9-10 am. -Catch Monarch Butterflies & tag them if Monarchs are present. For more info call Rob Iski at 512-339-9432 x 70 • Groups: please call in advance to register • Times & Activities subject to change

Cal Rob ahead of time if you want to Volunteer.

Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge offers some of the best birdwatching and habitat left in Texas for two endangered songbirds - the black-capped vireo and the golden-cheeked warbler. Less than an hour from Austin, visitors can step off the streets into the wilds of the .

Imagine planting one foot in the Great Plains and the other in the Gulf Coast. When you enter Balcones Canyonlands NWR, you stand at the juncture of these two geographic regions. Add the unusual limestone geology of the Edwards Plateau and it's not surprising to find plants and animals adapted to live here and nowhere else.

The more than 525 plant species include the Texabama Croton, discovered here only in 1989. At least a third of the state's threatened and endangered species live or move through the area.

Getting There . . . Headquarters is located on FM 1431. If you are coming from the Austin area go west through Lago Vista. The office is five miles from the Lago Vista High School. If you are coming from the west, the office is one mile east of the intersection with Cow Creek Road. If you don't want to get on the 183A Toll Road and you're going north on U.S. 183 from Austin, get off at the Lakeline Mall Drive exit. Continue north on U.S. 183.

CAMN FIELD JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2009 P A G E 25 Field Work for Everyone All things to do with Birds “A Swift Night Out” Birdwatchers are no As summer draws to a close and the Chimney Swifts have finished raising their young, these fascinating aerial acrobats Featherweights in the Economy begin to congregate in communal roosts prior to their On 15 July 2009 the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service issued a migration in the fall. Some roosts may consist of an report entitled, "Birdwatchers are no Featherweights in the extended family group of a half a dozen birds or so, but the Economy". The article documented the financial impact larger sites can host hundreds or even thousands of swifts! birders have on the U.S. Economy. In the first paragraph is Join swift watchers all over North America for this 9th mention of a 36 billion dollar impact to the 2006 U.S. annual continent-wide effort. economy. There is a top five-states listing and other information pertinent to states. There are several links For more information and results, please visit: within the article that I have yet to have time to read/ www.ChimneySwifts.org and click on the “Swift Night Out” research. This appears to be very credible financial impact link. information that would be useful in many birding conservation discussions. More information Click HERE

New Austin Chimney Swift Tower Joan Singh from the class of 2008 and who is with the Austin Parks and Recreation Jonestown Chimney Swift Department, Garrison Park recently sent this letter to the chimneyswifts.org . She writes, Roost “This is the recently completed Chimney Swift tower at Convict Hill Quarry. Ben Reyes and Join Kathy McCormack for dinner at the True Grits Alfredo Gonzales (pictured below) are the crew restaurant on FM 1431 in Jonestown from 6:30 – 7:30 pm leaders. Ben did most of the carpentry, and and then walk across the street to watch thousands of Alfredo egged him on. We are working on Chimney Swifts swirl into their roost in an old cistern at displays of the quarry history and the story sunset. This is one of the national “A Swift Night Out” behind the volunteers. Allison Hardy is working weekends (see www.chimneyswifts.org for details) and we on a map, also. Austin Parks Foundation paid for will be submitting our count data from this field trip. The the materials with a grant for the neighborhood. viewing area for the Chimney Swift roost is wheelchair I am very pleased with the finished product! accessible. No reservation is required, but contact Kathy McCormack ([email protected], (c) 698-9880) if you have any questions. Saturday, Sept 12, 6:30 pm to 8:15 pm

Remember the sound of rain? Listen to these rainmakers. Click here!

CAMN FIELD JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2009 P A G E 26 Field Work: Lets get our feet wet Water, Water Everywhere...

Land Water People Wetlands Across America in Texas

2009 Conference (WOW) The Wonders of Wetlands Register now for the November 16-18, 2009 Land Water Get an introduction to wetland ecology through a study of People 2009 Conference. It will be held at the San Marcos the three parameters of wetlands (vegetation, soils, & Convention Center and is hosted by the River Systems hydrology) as well as wetland functions and values by utilizing Institute / Texas State University - San Marcos and Co- K-12 hands-on, inquiry-based, cross-curricular activities. sponsered by Texas Riparian Association/ Texas Water October 21, 2009, $45 includes WOW! Curriculum and Resources Institute/ Water Resources Research additional course materials. Institute.This is all part of its Initiative for Watershed Excellence. Continue the study of wetlands, practice additional activities not covered during WOW!, and learn the processes and This conference will explore the potential to more protocols of the nationwide WOW! Facilitator network. effectively manage and protect water resources, on both a Participants leave with skills and materials to lead WOW local and regional scale, through information, technology and workshops. (WOW! is a pre-requisite.) October 22, 2009 approaches applied to important interfaces within watershed $40 includes Facilitator manual and additional materials. & community dynamics: (POW) The Planning of Wetlands * Land and Water * Natural - Human systems Head through the process for creating, restoring or enhancing a wetland on school grounds, or within the * People to People community. POW! incorporates activities that allow students to fully participate in designing, preparing, and monitoring a Through a three day program of plenary, sessions, and schoolyard wetland, and utilizing it as an outdoor classroom. workshops, conducted by leading water scientists & October 23, 2009, $50 includes POW! Curriculum and managers and socio-economic experts, this event will: additional course materials. When registering, $5 off for two • examine the dynamics of ecological interfaces within workshops, $10 off for all three. watersheds from land use/ water body to groundwater/ surface water interactions, to riparian zone and coastal Workshops are 9am-4pm at the All Saints Episcopal School estuary systems and their functions; in Tyler, TX.

• identify the implications of these interactions and the Pre-registration is required. To register visit WETLAND or benefits of ecosystem functions to social and economic call 410-745-9620. systems; • identify the tools and approaches that promote and support collaboration between institutions, from managing agencies to research/academic programs, and between communities, from non-profit organization to citizens; and • explore the applications of these tools and approaches, “How to” skills from community programs to transboundary initiatives, Resources for "how to" teaching of outdoor skills. Both are using examples from leading programs throughout the 2-3 minute how-to videos on outdoor skills. and offer reality region. tips to include when taking children outdoors (plan for short experiences, flexibility, including other experiences, etc): The event will feature 60+ presenters addressing an audience of over 300 representing governmental agencies, non-profits, REI: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list? academia, and the general public. Included in the program p=9E1DA7D75E2E50ED are roundtable discussions, educational workshops, a student poster contest and a social event. TPWD: Take Me Fishing http://www.youtube.com/ For more information Click Here view_play_list?p=1D456CAACE1AC47E&search_query=tpwd

CAMN FIELD JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2009 P A G E 27 Field Work: Training NPSOT Workshops and Symopsium Fredericksburg Houston The Fredericksburg Chapter of the Native Plant Society of The Houston Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas Texas will sponsor Wildscapes Workshop, at the will sponsor their 12th Wildscapes Workshop celebrating the Fredericksburg United Methodist Church, 1800 N. Llano beauty of our earth with an educational seminar on native Street. This is an educational seminar on perennials, produce plants, nature, and wildlife, on Saturday, September 26, 2009. and pollinators, on Saturday, September 12, 2009. Emphasis will be on using native plants to create more Emphasis will be on using more native (and approved biodiverse environments that are practical, sustainable, and adapted) plants in your landscape with the goal of creating an hospitable for birds, butterflies and important pollinators. There environment that is practical, sustainable, and irresistible to will be four speakers and the workshop will included exhibits our essential pollinators. In addition to a series of four showing examples of naturally landscaped homes, other seminars, the workshop includes educational exhibits and a educational exhibits, doorprizes, native plant sale, and a book sale. book sale. A plant sale will offer many of the specimens The workshop will be held at the Houston Community featured in the presentations. Following the workshop is a self- College West Loop Campus, 5601 West Loop South at Pin Oak guided tour of three area gardens representative of the Grow Park. You may download a registration form here. A continental it Yourself presentation. breakfast, refreshments, and box lunch are included Sustainable Landscapes, presented by Katherine Crawford. Prairie Rescues, by Jaime Gonzales, Naturalist, Katy Prairie Conservancy This is Sustainability 101. Learn what constitutes a The Katy Prairie Conservancy, Houston Audubon, and other sustainable landscape along with the benefits of such a project. environmental and government agencies, held native plant Ways to create a sustainable landscape or improve the rescue events at Saums Road Prairie during the summer of sustainability of your current garden will be explored, including 2008. The goal was to relocate native grasses and wildflowers information on what plants are desirable, soil type, water needs, from the Saums Road Prairie before its destruction for a and when and how to use appropriate fertilizers and pesticides. development project. Plants from the prairie were transported Edible and Medicinal Native Plants, presented by Janis Merritt. to sites across the City of Houston to create small pocket Some of our beautiful native plants are not only perennial prairies to demonstrate and educate residents on the value of but also edible. Some natives can even have holistic medicinal coastal prairies in our native ecosystem. Each pocket prairie has applications. Learn which natives are useful as food sources, become a wildlife magnet for butterflies, dragonflies, and other and how to recognize which plants are dangerous to eat and insects beneficial to birds. should be avoided. Great Plants for a Wildscapes Landscape, by Mark Bronstad. Pollinators and Plants They Seek Out, presented by Dr. Molly Keck. Mark is a plant propagator and grower for Doremus We’ll identify our primary pollinators and discuss why they Wholesale Nursery in Warren, Texas, located at the edge of the are so essential to our gardens (and to us). Material covered Big Thicket. Many of the native plants in our sale are propagated includes what kind of habitat is necessary to attract and and grown at Doremus. Mark will give a presentation on plants sustain pollinators, and which plants are dependent on that will be available at the native plant sale, and he can answer pollinators. Additionally, we will learn what honeybees need to questions about propagating and growing native plants. produce honey and what we can do to help. Local Butterflies & Flight of the Monarch, by Farrar Stockton. Grow-It-Yourself: Mixing Edible Plants in Your Landscape, presented Every fall, monarch butterflies migrate across eastern North by Daphne Richards. America to remote sites in central Mexico. Their long flight is Tight economic times have helped make Grow-It-Yourself fuelled only by nectar from flowers that are blooming on the way. one of the fastest growing garden trends in years. Even first- Join us to hear more about monarch migration and butterflies of time gardeners are expressing interest in growing their own the Houston area, and what you can do to make sure butterflies vegetables, herbs, and even cut flowers. Native perennials, too, will be here for the enjoyment and delight of future generations. are experiencing resurgence in popularity because of their Native Pollinators, presented by Jack Brady, hardiness and longevity, while container gardening and creative Jack will identify pollinators and discuss their importance to use of small spaces continue as practical ways to integrate our gardens and our wellbeing. Wild native bees, numbering edibles into the existing landscape. more than 4,000 species in North America, contribute substantially to pollination when their habitat needs are met. NPSOT Annual Symposium More than 80 percent of the world’s 250,000 flowering plants October 15-18, Wichita Falls, Texas depend on pollinators, and from 15 to 30 percent of the food eaten throughout the world comes from plants that need to be The Howard Johnson Plaza hotel, 401 Broad St., Tel. (940) pollinated. Jack will describe habitats that are needed to attract 766-6000 will be the main site of the conference. Registration and sustain pollinators and he will tell us how we can help. Brochure with information Click HERE.

CAMN FIELD JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2009 P A G E 28 Field Work for Everyone Scat and Frass Aesop Was Right! 10th Annual Renewable Energy

The American scientist and statesman Benjamin Roundup and Green Living Fair Franklin defined humanity as "a tool using animal." For years, paleontologists used the presence or absence of tools To be held from September 25-27 in Fredericksburg, this to distinguish between human and prehuman sites. We now has grown into the largest "green fair" in the South. Exhibits know, however, that tool making is not a human exclusive. and over 50 speakers will touch on topics including: Solar - Our closest living relatives, the great apes, have been Wind - Geothermal - Water Use & Reuse - Energy observed making extensive use of tools. It now appears that Conservation - Rainwater Harvesting - Green & Sustainable this talent extends more widely through the animal Building - Organic Growing - Alternative Transportation - kingdom. Straw Bale Construction - Exhibits - Recycling - Composting You may remember Aesop's Fable of the Thirsty Crow. - Eco Friendly Products - Natural & Organic Cooking A bird comes upon a pitcher of water, but the level is too Demonstrations - Educational Family Activities. low for him to get his beak inside to drink. Rather than die For sustenance, there will be a Veggie, Organic and of thirst, he Natural Food Court. Bring your own reusable water bottle for drops pebbles the free Pure Quality Water; no plastic bottles will be sold. into the Admission is $10 for Friday or Sunday, $12 for Saturday, or $20 pitcher until for a three-day pass. The website at http://theroundup.org/ the level rises has speaker and exhibitor lists, as well as information on enough for carpooling and other options for attendees. him to drink. The moral is "Little by little does the trick" or The Great Austin Tree Survey "Necessity is the mother of Austin has long been one of the most proactive of invention." American communities in managing its natural environment, For over 2000 and specifically its urban forest. However, there has never years, people been a formal collection of data to inventory the quality and have been quantity of the tree stocks outside the parks and other city- dismissing the owned lands. That is about to be remedied. The Lady Bird story as a Johnson Wildflower Center and TreeFolks, Inc. have mere fable partnered with the city to develop an interactive, web-based because only public campaign to map urban trees. "Citizen Surveyors" will humans are be trained to survey and report tree locations throughout the tool using animals, right? greater Austin area. This information will be validated and Wrong. Scientists at Cambridge University replicated delivered into a citywide public database. By empowering the the situation using rooks (a crow relative). Without any Austin public to help manage its urban forest, the program prompting, the birds dropped stones into a clear plastic hopes to act as a model for communities throughout the tube with a worm floating in it. This raised the water level nation. until they could reach the worm. The birds clearly For a more detailed description of the program, and understood roughly how many stones they needed and information on how to become a Citizen Surveyor, see the could estimate the size of stone that would have the most website at http://austintreesurvey.org/. effect. This is yet another in the series of recent discoveries Shannon Halley is looking for satellite leaders to verify that have been blurring the line between human and animal trees for different parts of town, and this would be a perfect intelligence. match with CAMNers, NPSoTers, & Habitat Stewards. The experiment is described in print and online in They're looking for folks to verify trees all over town, so this Current Biology (25 August, 2009, Vol. 19, Issue 16, pp. is something you can do in your own backyard. 1410-1414) and summarized by the Associated Press at http://www.rr.com/news/news/article/rr/1501/8558655/ If you're interested please email [email protected] Bird_experiment_shows_Aesops_fable_may_be_true/full/

CAMN FIELD JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2009 P A G E 29 Field Work for Everyone Scat and Frass South Central Texas Water Mass Inventory Event

Conservation Conference AT NPL [Non-vertebrate Paleontology Lab] of the Texas Natural Science Center, PRC33 “THE WAREHOUSE” TEXAS we’ve got a problem - WATER! “What Are We J.J. Pickle Research Campus, 10100 Burnet Road, Austin. Gonna Do When The Well Runs Dry?” That’s the drought plaguing question we should all be asking. With better NEW SESSIONS for Fall 2009 will be on WEDNESDAYS understanding and some answers, you can become part of at 5PM-8:30PM starting on September 2nd. the solution by attending the South Central Texas Water Conservation Conference on October 3, 2009 at the Dress to get dirty and keep warm. Timing is not important. Washington County Fair Grounds, 1305 Blue Bell Blvd., Humor is essential. Bring your friends. Bring a loupe if you Brenham, TX 77833. Register now by sending $25.00 (lunch have one, specimen numbers are often indistinct. The last included) before September 15 to Water Conservation session for Fall semester will be on Wednesday December Conference, c/o Texas Wildlife Association, 2800 NE Loop 16th at 5PM 410, Ste 105, , TX 78218. After September 15, 2009 registration is $35.00. You can go online for a IMPORTANT: Please tell me if you think you’ll be helping at registration form at http://texas-wildlife.org/files/SCTWCC any time during this Fall semester (This is a SECURITY %20Flyer.pdf or call the Washington County office of Texas requirement, our sessions take place “After hours”) AgriLife Extension Service at (979) 277-6212 for more information. To date we have inventoried more than 70,000 specimens Several experts on the subject will make presentations at Feast your eyes on even more invertebrate fossils, rocks and the conference. For example, Dr. Dan Hardin with the Texas minerals this fall season. For more information and directions Water Development Board will explain the severity of the contact Ann Molineux [email protected] problem, and Susana Canseco, environmental expert and water rights attorney, will discuss issues of ground water "ownership". Some other topics addressed will be the hydrology of Texas, the function of Water Conservation Districts, surface water, and rain water collection. The coming Texas water shortage is real and affects Online Texas maps, etc. everyone. Come learn what you can do about it - NOW! A pdf file summarizing the handouts distributed from the Texas Groundwater Protection Committee’s (TGPC’s) exhibit booth can be found at the TGPC’s Public Outreach and Education (POE) Subcommittee’s webpage, http:// Mussel Workshop www.tgpc.state.tx.us/subcommittees/POE/POE.htm. Click Date: Tuesday October 6, 2009 on the “Online Resources for TGPC Handouts” link under Time: 10 am - 1 pm the Additional Resources heading, then click on the links in Place: TCEQ Headquarters, Bldg F 2nd Floor Conference the pdf file to view, save, and print various one-page maps of Room 2210 Texas. Links to additional summary pages, fact sheets, and Cost: $10 to Marsha to cover cost of printed materials publications are also provided in this pdf file.

Now that we have a time and date set, please mark you calendars and RSVP to me so I will have a preliminary head count. We have lots of room so join us.

Thanks for your interest and feel free If you do or go to contact me with any questions or If you do or go to any of these events please let us know what concerns. Dakus Geeslin, Aquatic Scientist/Instream Flows, Water they were like and if they are things we would all enjoy or Supply Divison, TCEQ, would find rewarding. Dena and I would love to know for the 512-239-0058 Newsletter and it doesn’t take much to send us an image and a [email protected] paragraph or two and it makes us so happy!

CAMN FIELD JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2009 P A G E 30 Field Work for Everyone Scat and Frass

Hear Wildflower Center Experts Weekly on mysterious points of light and the of the migration season. The possibility KLBJ wonder they provide. of witnessing one of the great Starting September 26, Wildflower Contact Flo Oxley if you can help. spectacles of nature makes this class a Center horticulturists and botanists will "can't miss" event. give a new dimension to Tom Spencer's Introduction to Raptors Class Tuition for the class is $60 for TAS gardening hour at 8 a.m. Saturdays on If you struggle when trying to members and $75 for non- Newsradio 590 KLBJ. The new show, differentiate between Sharp-shinned members. Participants who go on the named "The Wildflower Hour," will and Cooper’s Hawks, or identify a field trip will be expected to pay an focus on native plants, green gardening Merlin or other species of raptor, this additional fee to cover Robert’s and more with call-in questions introductory class on raptors will expenses. This should range from $25 to welcome. "One thing this drought sure improve your skills. Classroom sessions $35, depending upon how many take the has taught us is the value of gardening will focus on basic identification trip. with native plants," Spencer said, "so techniques to help you recognize the tune in to learn more about how to different buteos, accipiters, and falcons, Fa Grasses Workshop keep your garden green year round. which occur in central Texas and along Fall is the time of year when most of "And, don't worry, we'll still help you the coast. The class will not include our native prairie grasses bloom, out with the brown patch that's killing owls. Robert Reeves will once again making them easier to identify. Learn to your lawn." teach the raptor class. Robert has been recognize many of the common grasses a serious birder for about 34 years, and of central Texas during a two-day Austin Museum Day has been a TAS member for 14 years. workshop held at a preserve in eastern "Thirty Austin Museums – all free, all Other TAS classes he has taught Burnet County from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., day. Special Museum Day events, too." include Beginning Birding, Waterfowl on Saturdays Sept. 26 and Oct 3. Identification, and Backyard Birding. September 20th! Why not Volunteer at This is the fourth year that Bill Reiner your favorite museum! What a great One classroom session will be held at will teach the class on fall-blooming way to celebrate! the Hornsby Bend Center for grasses. He was a biological technician Environmental Research on Saturday, at Balcones Canyonlands NWR for five Nature Nights on Select Fa Fridays at the September 12, 8 am to 4 pm. The class years, where he became familiar with Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center will feature an optional field trip the most of the more than 90 grass species September 18 - Plants and People: From weekend of Sept 26-27 to Hazel that have been identified there. He has Dyes to jelly, medicine to your daily Bazemore County Park near Corpus led grass-identification walks at the meal, find out about the benefits and Christi, which is one of the most refuge and has taught a class on spring- use of native plants in our everyday important hawkwatch sites in North blooming grasses. Currently, Bill is a lives. Program materials available in America. In 2007, over half a million biologist managing the City of Austin's Spanish. Broad-winged Hawks were counted Balcones Canyonlands Preserve. October 16 - Flight of the Monarch during the season at the Hazel Bazemore Hawkwatch, and many years The tuition for the workshop is $50 for Butterfly: Explore the flight of the TAS members and $65 for non- monarch butterfly and their fluttery the total number reaches 100,000 Broad-winged Hawks in a single day. members. In addition there is a $15 friends at this engaging evening supplies fee to be paid at registration. program. Twenty-seven different species of raptors were recorded last year. Peaceful Springs will provide notebooks November 13 - Hill Country for participants to make their own grass Astronomy: Look to the stars and Although we can’t guarantee you’ll see huge numbers of a variety of raptors, identification guides. To register, contact discover wonders of the night sky at the Frances Cerbins or phone 372 9039 and Wildflower Center. Take a tour of the the class field trip will be taken during the period, which is generally the peak the cut off date in September 8th. evening skies for familiar and soon, registration will be cut off Sept 8. LARGE BINDERS NEEDED FOR TRAINING MANUALS

It is that time of year to clear out any large binders that have accumulated at your office or your home. (I would be happy to provide a thank you letter to your company for any binders they might donate.) We need to collect at least 30 and will reuse them for the 2010 CAMN Training Manual. Preference is for binders with front sleeve (in which to insert the cover), but we'll take whatever you can spare. Just let me (Kris Thorne) know and I will make arrangements to pick them up.

CAMN FIELD JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2009 P A G E 31 Field Work: Advanced Training Texas Master Naturalist Conference

10th Annual Statewide Meeting & Advanced Training October 23-25, 2009

Ten Years Strong. Million Hours Long. Texas Master Naturalists still marching on! (Angie Morrison, Lost Pines Chapter)

Early/Discounted Registration Deadline: Sunday, September 27, 2009 Late Registration Deadline: Sunday, October 11, 2009 ALL Registration Closes at midnight October 11th. https://www.regonline.com/TMNconference2009

We are hoping for a large number of CAMNer’s there this year so join us, it will be fun. Honestly, advanced training has never been this much fun. Jeri and I (Christine) will be there manning the Silent Auction tables and we could use your help if you want to volunteer while you are there. Check back at the November 2008 issue of the Field Notes to see what it is like to attend. Also, don’t forget that MoRanch is beautiful so get out there and check the nature trails and have some fun. See you there.

CAMN FIELD JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2009 P A G E 32 Officers Committees Sponsors/Partners

President: Lynne Weber Administrative Mission Statement Contact: Beck Runte Vice-President: Theresa Pella Maintains database of students and alumni, To develop a corps of well-informed Past President: Barbara Coutant including names, addresses, class attendance, volunteers to provide education, outreach, Treasurer: Linda Nowlin volunteer hours earned, and advanced training and service dedicated to the beneficial completed. Administrative Secretary: management of natural resources and Beck Runte Communications natural areas within their communities. Web page: Christine Powell Recording Secretary: Field Journal: Dena Roberts Members of CAMN are dedicated to the Mary Ellen Quinn Press releases: Kelly Bender conservation, preservation, and restoration At-Large Board Members: Responsible for the Internet web page and press of our natural resources. To that end, we Cheryl Goveia releases. encourage and support trained Master Jan Hanz Naturalist volunteers in Austin and Travis Curriculum County in providing community programs Advisory Board Members: Contact: Kris Thorne and projects that increase appreciation of Develops the CAMN curriculum, as well as Kelly Bender, our natural environment and promote, plans the lectures, activities and field trips for Clark Hancock, each class. protect, and preserve native flora and Melissa MacDougall fauna. Advanced Training Contact: Joan Singh Board of Directors Plans, coordinates, and approves advanced Austin Nature and Science Center training opportunities. According to the CAMN By-Laws, our Programs Texas Parks and Wildlife Board of Directors consists of the Contact: Sally Scott Officers and the Chair of each Plans, and coordinates,meeting programs. Texas Cooperative Extension Committee. Field Trips Contact: Joan Singh Lower Colorado River Authority If you have concerns you wish the Plans and coordinates field trips Board to consider, please contact one Austin Sierra Club of the Board members via email or Food & Fun Contact: Cindy Durand show up at a Board Meeting. Facilitates the social aspects of CAMN including The Nature Conservancy of Texas the Certification Ceremonies and holiday CAMN Board Meetings are held on the celebrations. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center first Thursday of odd numbered months at: 6:45 p.m. at the Academy of Oriental Volunteer Opportunities Contact: Julia Osgood Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve Medicine at Austin, 2700 W. Anderson Develops criteria to determine whether Lane, Suite 204, Austin, TX 78757. volunteer opportunities may be counted for Hornsby Bend Center for CAMN credit. Reviews, approves, and The agenda for the next Board Meeting is publicizes opportunities. Environmental Research available here. Ad Hoc Bat Conservation International Education Partners: Jeri Porter, Jessica Wilson , Simonetta Rodriguez, Lynda Blakeslee, Marilyn Got info for the Field Kircus Native Plant Society of Texas Seeks and applies for grants to boost our Journal? outreach efforts. Travis Audubon Society

Send info, photos and articles for Outreach Committee publication in the Field Journal to: Contact: Stuart Bailey Promotes CAMN [email protected]. Deadline for NatureSmart Family Committee submission is the 27th of each month. Contact: Peggy A. Murrphy Promotes CAMN

CAMN FIELD JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2009 P A G E 33