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Vol. 9 • No. 4 | Sept/Oct 2020 Lori Franz, Editor • Holly Zeiner, Layout/Design For information contact: http://txmn.org/goodwater or goodwatermn2@gmailcom United Way Day of Caring: Berry Springs Park and Preserve September 25, 2020

Once again, Berry Springs is joining in Mother Nature’s home so if you are Berry Springs has over 30 flower beds forces with United Way of Williamson allergic to , plants, or have difficul- and green spaces that we want to beautify County and hosting “United Way Day of ty in working in Texas heat, please do not for everyone’s enjoyment. We will not Caring.” The event will be held on Friday sign up. be having our annual Fall Clean-Up/Pot September 25, from 8:30 am until Noon. Luck this year so this will be our only We will be sprucing up our flower beds Everyone will be required to wear face group event till 2021. We really do need and green spaces in the park. masks and must practice social distancing your help. at all times. You need to bring your own Use the Sign-up Genius or email Susan tools for weeding, pruning/trimming and If you are unable to attend this event, Blackledge, the event coordinator, at hand trowel, or small digging tool, work YOU CAN VOLUNTEER ANYTIME [email protected]. You will be gloves, beverage container & beverage by contacting Susan Blackledge at susie- assigned to a flower bed via email prior to (ice water will be provided). The pavilion [email protected] or call 512-844- the event. is reserved for the event so feel free to 4820. You may have a special talent or There are inherent risks in working bring a snack or a sack lunch. interest to benefit the park. H An Urban Fox Visitor (Gray Fox, Urocyon) By James Todd McCann

My first meeting with Frances (my wife again and she named her) occurred one morning on my walked by and way to work. headed to the backyard. This I was standing in the driveway enjoy- time she posed ing the morning and looked to my left. for a photo. Standing about ten feet away on the side- walk was Frances, also enjoying the day. Shortly after We looked at each other and stood there that she disap- for about five minutes. Then we both peared. A pair of started moving to the left. She stayed on urban foxes are the grass while I walked in the street. Af- well-established ter a few steps she doubled back and went in the area. So, to the sidewalk and to our backyard. she most likely found a new ter- Over the next few weeks, she was a reg- ritory for herself. ular visitor, and she was camera-shy. One H afternoon I was standing in the driveway Spotlight on Susan Blackledge 2020 GWTMN Board By Williamson County Parks Department Susan Blackledge joined the County Parks Department working at Southwest Wil- Officers liamson County Regional Park in January 2005, but soon after transferred to Berry President - Nancy Phillips Springs Park and Preserve. Vice President - Mary Gail Hamilton Treasurer - Bob Waring Susan oversees the Secretary - Sandra Spurlock daily operations of the park which can come Directors with a plethora of Past President - Wayne Rhoden different duties such State Representative - Charles Grimes as visitors' services, Membership - Randy Spurlock grounds and facility maintenance, special New Class - Wayne Rhoden projects, staff and Vol. Services Projects - Susan Hickman volunteer management, Adv. Training - August Wusterhausen and community rela- Outreach and Publicity - Erin Buhl tions to name a few. Host - Betty Jo Phillips She was instrumental in Communications - Mary Ann Melton adopting the park am- Youth Development - Mary Ann Melton bassadors named "The At Large Director 1 - Jim Hailey Donkeys” in 2006. They At Large Director 2 - Open have been a mainstay ever since. New Class Rep. Fall - Joel Chamberlain Susan is quite a park ambassador herself and has a special love for the natural setting New Class Rep. Spring - Erin Buhl that makes Berry Springs so popular. She has worked tirelessly on projects centered around the prairie restoration, pond management, and special care of the Pecan or- Project Chairs chard. Angler Education - Jim Nelson Balcones Canyonland - Maggie Bond Susan is a natural at generating volunteer Berry Springs P&P - Susan Blackledge support. In fact, she has successfully lev- Blackland Heritage Park - eraged support and key partnerships with Mary Ann Melton many groups over the years. Along with our Blue Bird Count/Nest - Christie Gardner chapter of Master Naturalists, there are the Garey Park - Jim Hailey, Bob Waring, Master Gardeners, Native Plant Society, Ea- gle & Boy Scouts, Friends of Berry Springs, Deb Hailey, Patricia Lopacki and the Wilco Community Service Restitu- Gault Site Wildlife Survey- Bob Waring tion Program. Good Water Book Club - A. J. Sencheck Good Water Library - Judy Grimes These and other volunteers have contrib- Good Water Stream Team Monitoring - uted thousands of hours of support and Randy Spurlock service to Berry Springs. Habitat Dev. SGU Church - Billye Adams Susan enjoys taking care of the donkeys, McNeil Bridge Bats - Christie Gardner seeing visitors enjoying the park with their Odonata Research - Mike Farley families, people walking their dogs, and Pollinator Garden - Elizabeth Sartain witnessing weddings. One of the main highlights for her is seeing everyone with a smile on their face while visiting the park. River Ranch County Park - Susan said getting positive feedback from park visitors makes all of her efforts and hard David Armstrong work worth it. Nature Trackers - Mike Farley

Thank you for all you do, Susan! H

Vol 9 • No. 4 | Page 2 Porcupines By Mary Ann Melton

The first thing that comes to everyone’s es long from head to tail and weigh be- shower urine over the head of the female. minds when you think about the North tween 10 and 40 pounds. The back looks Gestation is about 205 – 217 days. A lit- American porcupine, Erethizon dorsat- arched because of the humped shoulders. ter is usually one porcupette in spring or um, are those amazing quills. The Latin Eyes are small and dark. Front hands early summer. The porcupettes have soft name means “quill pig.” have four fingers with long curved claws. quills at birth that harden quickly. They The back feet can forage for food after just a couple of Because have five toes days. The young porcupines are ready to they are slow also with long live on their own by the time they are two moving with curved claws. months old. Lifespan can be as long as 18 poor eyesight, The soles years. their quills are are hairless their prima- helping them While porcupines are solitary creatures ry defense climb trees. during most of the year, they may group system. The Legs are short. in a den for the winter or around a food 30,000 quills The front of source. Porcupines do not hibernate, are flat until the body is but will remain in a den during adverse the porcupine yellow brown weather. A family group of mother and feels threat- with long yel- young are called a prickle. ened, but rise low stiff guard quickly to de- hairs. The While the range maps do not show ter predators. quills grow Texas, I have seen and documented interspersed porcupines near Amarillo, Memphis, When a porcupine feels threatened, it with the fur. Tail is short and black. and Junction. There is also a photo of a may chatter or clack its teeth in warning. porcupine at River It will seek shelter under a rock, log, or Only bea- Ranch County up a tree. They also can produce a nox- vers are larger Park. ious odor. At some point, the porcupine rodents. turns its back, the quills become erect, Editor’s Note: the back feet stomp, and the tail shakes. Porcupine River Ranch has While loose quills may come off, most of teeth contin- named one of the the time the predator must come in con- ue to grow all park trails Porcu- tact for the quills to detach and become their lives. They pine Hill and we embedded. are herbivores know why. Keep with a varied an eye out for this The quills are hollow and two to three diet. Their rascal once they inches long. They are longer on the back front teeth help open. H and tail. Because they are lightly attached them eat natural bark, stems, fruit, leaves to the skin, they come off easily into a and springtime buds. They are excellent predator. The quills will work their way climbers and spend much of their time in into the skin of the predator. The body trees. While there are more than two doz- heat and moisture cause the barbs to ex- en porcupine species globally, the North Dont forget pand and become more deeply embedded American porcupine is the only species to sign up for at the rate of 1 mm per hour. These quills in the United States and Canada. It is the have sharp tips and barbs that make them largest of all the porcupine species. the all difficult to remove. They grow new quills replacing ones that are lost. Porcupine breeding season is during virtual fall and early winter. Males may fight Annual There are no quills on either the abdo- over the females. Courtship is elaborate men or on the face. The head is small on with vocalizations: moaning, screaming, Conference! a chubby body. They may be 25-40 inch- grunting or barking. The males dance and

Vol 9 • No. 4 | Page 3 River Ranch County Park Update By Lori Franz

Changes at River Ranch County Park of trails available. are underway as construction starts to take shape. Once the project is complet- Friends of River Ranch Coun- ed, the park will feature overnight RV, ty Park’s mission is to “advocate tent, and primitive camping. There will and support the park through be over 12 miles of trails designated for information, interpretation, and hiking, equestrian, and some biking. The assistance in the maintenance and day-use area will include tables and grills conservation of the park.” for picnicking, a large playground, horse- In joining, there will be park shoe pits, and a group pavilion that will benefits and recognition levels, be available for reservations. The park's with special categories for you to Interpretive Center will house interactive choose from. Information will exhibits and include a conference room become available very soon! H and classroom space available for rent. Weather permitting, River Ranch County Park will be available to the public later this year. (Williamson County Parks Department, Newsletter: July 2020)

Friends of Riv- er Ranch has been working closely with the County Parks’ staff as we near the opening this fall. Following a recent Board meeting we got a personal tour from Russell Fishbeck, Direc- tor of the County Parks and his team. We were shown the progress on the Interpretive Center, Headquarters Building, Gate Entrance, Play- ground, and Pavilion.

It is very exciting to see the daily progress and development first hand, especially for those of us who have been volunteering there for years. Families, Pictured from top, clockwise: hikers, birders, equestrians, cyclists, and campers will discover this Texas gem within our very own county, and will Headquarters and Entry, Interpretive Center, Playground, View want to return again and again! One from Porcupine Hill, Board Tour. weekend isn’t enough to take in the miles

Vol 9 • No. 4 | Page 4 Gilded River Cruiser - First WilCo Record Chapter Member Story and Photos by Jack Cochran Milestones As I wrote in my previous Good Water helpfully describing its field marks for By Randy Spurlock Ripples article, Finding Butterflies at Ber- me. ry Springs Park and Preserve, I’m a lifelong I entered the dragonfly as an iNat- First I would like to congratu- birder that expanded my observational uralist (iNat) observation, and to my late the newest certified mem- interests to include butterflies. What surprise it was the sole iNat Gilded River bers of our chapter: I left out is that I’ve become equally Cruiser record for not only Williamson obsessed with other insects, including County, but the whole of Texas! Martin Mindy Phillips from our dragonflies and damselflies, collectively Reid, an expert reviewer for the Odonata Spring 2019 class known as Odonata (or odonates). I’m Central (OC) database, indicated it was Robert Cater & Concetta kicking myself one of very Raymond from our Fall 2019 for not paying few records class closer attention for Texas and to odonates encouraged me Congratulations to the earlier, because to submit it following members that have they are among at OC. Turns re-certified (and earned their the most diverse out there were Bumblebee pin) for this year: and colorful only seven and interesting previous OC Billye Adams “bugs.” I suspect Gilded River Joel Chamberlain my heightened Cruiser records Lori Franz interest has to for Texas, none Craig Halliday do with moving for Williamson Tonja Hamel to Texas, which County, and Dale MacLean has around the last state Gail McAdoo 160 dragonfly record was 25 Carole Minnix species, about half of those known from years ago in Denton County. Richard Powe North America. Texas has more of every- One of the most satisfying things about Gail Salazar thing, doesn’t it?! this sighting for me was the generous Larry Swift help of the Texas naturalist community, August Wusterhausen On June 10, 2020, I walked into which led to making many new friends Marcia Wutke Gate 6 of the San Gabriel Wildlife Area with similar interests. I would encourage Holly Zeiner at Granger Lake to look for anyone who is into nature obser- Prothonotary Warbler (there’s vation to consider documenting We also have several mem- the birding connection again). your sightings at citizen science bers getting hour milestones as During my hike to the river databases to help increase our well: I photographed numerous understanding of the appear- dragonflies knowing I’d have ance, range, habitat, timing, etc. First for 250 Hours: to (try to) identify them later. I of our Texas fauna and flora. Sharie DeMoss-Wiseman struck out on the warbler, but Richard Powe after arriving home, I download- Resources for Odonates: ed my photos and started the iNaturalist (inaturalist.org), Next up for 500 Hours: identification process for insects Odonata Central (odonatacen- Scott Quigley and plants, using field guides tral.org), Dragonflies of Texas, A and online resources. One dragonfly Field Guide (John C. Abbott, University And for 1000 Hours: stuck out, boldly marked with yellow- of Texas Press), Damselflies of Texas, A Dave Gage on-brown/black and large reddish eyes. Field Guide (John C. Abbott, University I posted it on the Facebook page, Texas of Texas Press), Dragonfly ID (phone Dragons and Damsels, as a possible Swift app, search App Store), Texas Dragons River Cruiser, but Rick Nirschl quickly and Damsels (Facebook) H identified it as Gilded River Cruiser,

Vol 9 • No. 4 | Page 5 Tuna Blood: the History of a Color By D. Clark Wernecke

It looks a little like a white mold of produce a fiery scarlet color that amazed is a laborious process as the insects must some sort that you see on prickly pear explorers who first saw it. A number of be gently brushed off of the prickly pear but as you get closer it appears kind of insects in the same family also produce by hand (the Aztec used deer tails). They fluffy. Ever wonder what that was? Would carminic acid but, of all of them, it is are then dried and the processing method you be surprised to find out that it’s cochineal that makes the best red. (hot water, sunlight, steam or heating in something with a long history and world an oven) produces different shades of red importance? I know I was when I first Cochineal was originally found in and orange. The dye was in great demand saw some white patches on prickly pear at South and Central America and was the until the invention of chemical dyes in the Gault Archaeological Site. A Master source of the reds used by the Peruvian the mid-19th century but there is now a Naturalist told civilizations resurgence in demand for a safe, natural me what it was and the Aztecs. non-toxic dye. The largest users today called, cochineal, At the time of are the food and cosmetic industries. If which sounded Cortes’ arrival you read a label and it says cochineal, vaguely familiar in the new carmine, carminic acid or Natural Red so I did a little world 11 cities 4 – it’s full of bugs. Peru is the leading research. paid tribute supplier of cochineal today shipping to the Aztecs more than 700 metric tonnes a year. Cochineal is a with 40 bags Next time you see cochineal wax on a scale , Dac- of cochineal prickly pear, if you reach past the spines tylopius coccus, each year. Each carefully, pick up a little of the white of the superfam- bag contained fluff, and crush it between your fingers. ily Coccoidea. 150 pound Your fingers will be stained with a deep Scale insects By Katja Schulz from Washington, D. of dried red that used to travel under guard in are marked by C., USA - Cochineal Bugs on Prickly insects with Spanish treasure galleons. extreme sexual Pear, CC BY 2.0, https://commons. about 70,000 dimorphism – wikimedia.org/w/index.php?cu- insects per For more information: the males have pound. The You can download a .pdf of Cochineal rid=49980621 legs and wings Spanish tried Red: The Art History of a Color from and look like a the Metropolitan small fly while the females are soft and to protect it as a state Museum of Art have no limbs and are protected under secret since it was their at: https://www. dome-like scales. The white cottony-look- second most profit- metmuseum.org/ ing stuff on the prickly pears is a waxy able export from the art/metpublica- substance the nymphs produce to protect New World behind tions/Cochineal_ them from the sun and water loss. They silver. Eventually the Red_the_art_histo- also use these long waxy filaments in a secret was stolen and ry_of_a_color form of ballooning, letting the wind take other nations founded Or get Amy them to other prickly pear patches. They cochineal plantations Butler Greenfield’s live on the juices of the prickly pear. of their own. Without book: A Perfect cochineal the British Red: Empire, As far as humans are concerned it’s Army would not have Espionage, and the all about the females. They secrete their red coats, Cath- Quest for the Col- something called carminic acid to deter olic Cardinals their or of Desire from predators and carminic acid is the source red robes, or the red Amazon or your of carmine, the most brilliant red found stripe on the Texas flag local library H in nature. Humans have always regard- adopted in 1839. ed red as an important color, the color A female (left) and male of life and death, but most natural dyes The insects are usually harvested in (right) cochineal. The female is from plants and minerals produce at best early to mid-summer when they are about 5mm long. a dull red or pink. Dried cochineal bugs about 90 days old. Collecting the insects

Vol 9 • No. 4 | Page 6 Pollinator 7. Allow fallen leaves to remain on property to provide shelter. Conservation 8. Create areas of bare soil for ground By Wizzie Brown nesting bees (choose sunny areas that will provide dry soil). There are numerous pollinators 9. Use IPM (integrated pest manage- with the majority of those being insects. ment) to reduce pesticide use. When most people think of pollinators, 10. Provide water in a SAFE manner they think of bees and more specifical- for insects. ly, honey bees. While honey bees are 11. Use shallow dishes with rocks or pollinators, they are only a small portion stones. of the bee population around the world. The majority of bees are solitary and For more information or help with nest in the ground. Solitary bees are not identification, contact Wizzie Brown, aggressive so people should not be afraid Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service of them, especially since many of them Program Specialist at 512.854.9600. are also stingless. Check out my blog at www.urban-ipm. Bortle Scale blogspot.com H Butterflies and are also import- By April Rohlich ant pollinators. Unfortunately, due to habitat destruction and other factors, Perhaps you have finished every doc- their populations are on the decline. If umentary, Zoom meeting and movie you want to provide habitat for butterflies available online and organized all your and moths, you need to ensure to fulfill drawers and photos. What's next? Work the requirements of all life stages. Host on your Bortle Scale, of course. plants are needed for eggs and caterpil- lars; nectar plants are needed for adults; The Bortle Scale is a nine-level numeric and overwintering sites are needed for scale that measures the night sky's bright- various stages. ness of a particular location. It quantifies the astronomical observability of celestial Flies are an often overlooked pollinator. objects and the interference caused by With their poor reputation for carrying light pollution. Artificial light can disrupt diseases, many people think of flies as circadian rhythms of migrating birds. pests. Flies can be beneficial by fitting Red-tailed Specter Frogs may decrease or cease their mating into food webs, breaking down waste calls because of bright lighting. It can be material, and pollinating plants (includ- , Euerythra detrimental to fireflies and butterflies as ing some food crops such as apples and phasma well. We humans can well be nourished peppers). by the sight of our sky full of stars. By Mike Farley Ideas to conserve pollinators: Take a walk around your home at night 1. Plant native plants that provide The Eribidae family was first described and check for ways you may eliminate or nectar blooms spring, summer, and by Leon F. Harvey in 1876. change your lighting to better your Bortle fall. It ranges across South-Central Unit- Scale grade. You may want to switch to a 2. Provide a variety of colors. ed States including Alabama, Arkansas, solar motion light, for instance. Or reuse 3. Provide a variety of flower/ bloom Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, an old coffee can to help direct that back shapes. Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and porch light down. Help preserve the dark 4. Provide multiple levels. Texas. night sky and the creatures that depend This is the fourth specimen posted to 5. Reduce turf and replace with flow- on the precious resource. iNaturalist for Williamson, Co. with ering plants. observations in both spring and fall. For further information: darkskyfinder. 6. Plant native bunch grasses which Bumelia is the host plant for the larvae com H can provide food and shelter for according to Bugguide. H insects.

Vol 9 • No. 4 | Page 7 In Memoriam: Michael Patrick Flinn, 1954 - 2020

Michael Patrick Finn in history from the contract for Fort Hood. When the planes (Mike) of Belton, University of Mary hit the World Trade Center, he went to Texas, passed away Hardin Baylor, and Ground Zero to help support the rescue on July 5, 2020 earned his Juris efforts and lead a group of volunteers. He surrounded by family Doctorate from The was the kind of person who ran toward after a short battle University of Texas at the emergency, not away from it. with a rare and aggres- Austin. sive cancer. Mike was funny, a daredevil who was Mike deployed over- always game to travel abroad, jump out Mike was born in seas three times and of a plane, zipline, parasail, tube the river, Heidelberg. He is sur- during his deploy- monitor frogs, turtles and snakes, throw a vived by Amy Flinn, ment to Iraq complet- frisbee, have a super soaker fight, or play his wife of 39 years ed a Master’s degree a board game. and fellow Master in Strategic Studies Naturalist. at the US Army War In the Fall 2016 class, Mike had a total College. After more of 238.5 volunteer hours and 63 AT Mike was an Army brat, but he spent his than forty years of total military service, hours. One-third of his hours went to the high school years in Queens, New York he retired in 2014 as a colonel. amphibian watches and 47 hours of iNat- and identified as a New Yorker until he uralist observations. Mike really enjoyed switched his allegiance to Texas later in In 2001, Mike spent several months being outdoors!H life. He received his Bachelor’s degree in New York City finalizing a housing From Guinea Pigs to Contributors: A Foray into Game Camera Citizen Science GWMN Chapter Meeting September 24 Presented by Mike Farley and Kathy McCormack

This presentation will review our Phase Mike is often referred to by peers, as 1 camera loan project for Texas Parks an artist, or master in craft. A Master and Wildlife, our process development, Naturalist since fall of 2014, Mike has an successes, and culmination. overwhelming desire to photograph and document nature, learning along the way. Now, during our Phase 2 project, we discuss the challenges of beginning from Kathy McCormack is a project man- scratch, the complications associated with ager in a groundwater team at a Texas Covid-19, new processes, and our future state agency. She has been a Texas Master direction. Naturalist since 2006 with a focus on am- phibians, active in several committees at Mike Farley has been employed by Travis Audubon Society and the William- a local family-owned, manufacturing son County chapter of the Native Plant business for 33 years. With 40 years’ Society of Texas, and a volunteer water experience as a machinist, including four quality monitor for 10 years. separate Mars surface missions, Multiple For more information about West Texas Telescope hardware manufac- Kathy relishes learning new things the Good Water Chapter ture, and countless Surgical and Medical about the natural world and sharing that contact us at: profession fabrications, Mike has carried information with others. H http://txmn.org/goodwater the old school torch throughout. or [email protected] A product of the Trade School era,

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