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Texas Master Naturalists at Concordia University

Balcones Canyonlands Chapter

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balconescanyonlands_txmn

Texas Master Naturalist Chapter in north Austin affiliated with Concordia University and the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve

Happy #batweek! Spike the Northern Yellow Bat chom

Happy #batweek! Spike the Northern Yellow Bat chomps on a mealworm. They like to roost in dead palm fronds.

If you’re looking for an organization to volunteer with or support, check out @austinbatrefuge!

Video courtesy of Lauren Shugart 🦇🎥

“Something caught my eye while I was driving hom

“Something caught my eye while I was driving home after work along Brushy Creek Trail… turned out it was these two gorgeous Luna moths! First time seeing one.”

-Lauren Shugart (@shugartphoto)

Frogs, water scorpions, diamondback water snakes,

Frogs, water scorpions, diamondback water snakes, cattle egrets and more... some beautiful photos across locales like Walter E. Long and Onion Creek, shared by Master Naturalist @caitlyn87 🐸

Nature is for everyone! Nature lovers and allies j

Nature is for everyone! Nature lovers and allies joined us for Pride at the Preserve at Snowden House at the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve this past weekend. Guests tended native garden beds, learned about low maintenance gardening for pollinators, and enjoyed a short hike to discover the beauty of the BCP.

A big thanks to @localqueeratx, Master Naturalists/Master Gardender and pollinator garden experts, Janet Rogal and Robbie Sherfy; and Travis County's Becky Woodward for such a special trip!

Photos: Gene Janulis

Applications to join the Balcones Canyonlands Chap

Applications to join the Balcones Canyonlands Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalist Program are open now until July 29 for our '24-25 class!

Visit https://bctxmn.org/application/ (link in bio to apply).

🐛What is the Texas Master Naturalist Program (@texasmasternaturalist)?

The Texas Master Naturalist Program’s mission is to develop a corps of well-informed volunteers to provide education, outreach, and service dedicated to the beneficial management of natural resources and natural areas within their communities for the State of Texas.

The Texas Master Naturalist Program is sponsored by @tamuagrilife and @texasparkswildlife.

👨‍🌾 Why apply to be a Texas Master Naturalist?

Texas Master Naturalists gain expertise in and access to:
- Local knowledge of the Texas landscape and natural resources through lecture and field experts
- Environmental outreach: learn how to educate your community positively about natural resources and promote conservation
- Continuous learning through advanced training to dive deeper into specific topics
- Networking by forming connections with local and environmental leaders and through volunteer opportunities with organizations to fit your interests
- Credentials through recognition and certification to establish credibility as an environmental expert and to give back to the community

👀 What does membership look like?

Our initial training includes 40 hours of lecture and field TMN Curriculum tailored to our Eastern Hill Country ecosystem. That's just the beginning of your journey - from there you can stay a member, or gain certification with 8 hours of Advanced Training and 40 hours of volunteering (over the next calendar year).

🖥️ Where do training classes take place?

This intensive training session combines 12 Thursday online classes with 4 in-person Saturday field trips. Read more on our application below.

🙋‍♀️ How do I apply?

Visit https://bctxmn.org/application/ and complete all the steps required to apply.

✨Don't wait - we're capping the class at 60 applicants this session. We look forward to seeing you in our next class!

📷: Thanks to Gene Janulis for taking this photo at our May chapter meeting!

Our Master Naturalist volunteers had a relaxing ti

Our Master Naturalist volunteers had a relaxing time at the North Oaks Spring Fling event this past weekend making seed bombs, selling plants, and answering pollinator questions close to the community garden.

It's the perfect time to sow flower seeds and get things in the ground! Thanks for having us, @newcna78753! We look forward to many more events this spring and summer!

📷: Shayla Fleshman, Gene Janulis

What makes a bird a bird?

Four Texas Master

What makes a bird a bird? 🤔

Four Texas Master Naturalist chapters (@texasmasternaturalist) and volunteers converged at the Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge (@usfws) a few days ago to train for the Bridges to Birding program.

Throughout March and April, hundreds of elementary school children in the Central Texas area will be learning all about birds at seven stations, while they also learn the importance of protecting habitat.

What will they learn? How to use binoculars, building a nest, migration, homes for birds, bird songs and calls, and more!

Attendees got to meet a very tall Golden-cheeked warbler -- our Texas native songbird! If you missed the training this year, not to worry: there will be an opportunity next Spring!

A big thank you to Janet Rogal for this recap and these photos! 🐦

We celebrated the end of an amazing season with a

We celebrated the end of an amazing season with a holiday party and December chapter meeting at Paula's home!

A big thanks to everyone in our Texas Master Naturalist - Balcones Canyonlands Chapter community who contributes to being stewards of the land and endlessly curious about nature, and a big congratulations to our Fall '23 trainees for making it to their last class!

The journey is only beginning... 🍃
📸: Ruthann, Mary C

“So glad the secret is out about this special re

“So glad the secret is out about this special refuge in our backyards!" -Janet Rogal🫶

@travisaudubonsociety Master Birders Brad James and Julian Yates led Texas Master Naturalists and participants on a bird walk through the Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge in Marble Falls, TX.

Did you know that bird walks can count as "advanced training" hours for Master Naturalists? While our program is broad, our chapter hosts advanced training events for those who want to dive deep into a specific topic, like birding.

Our current Fall '23 training class is wrapping up in early December, but there's still several more classes and field trips to come... 🐦 Join us, won't you? 🌻

📧 Subscribe to our newsletter to stay updated on upcoming events using the website link in bio. Big thanks to Gene Janulis and Janet Rogal for these photos!

Did you know that our chapter's current curriculum

Did you know that our chapter's current curriculum of the Texas Master Naturalist program incorporates a class project? Some of this year's trainees (and already established Master Naturalists) are propogating native milkweed, one of several projects that we're shedding light on this season!

🤔 Why propogate milkweed? A few reasons:
- 🦋 Eastern Monarch butterfly populations have swindled over the last 40 years, with Central Texas being a major stop in spring northbound migration.
- 🏡 As the only host plant for monarch butterflies, native milkweed is vital to maintaining population!
- 🌱 That being said, milkweed can be tricky to cultivate, with several varietals with different types of taproots and methods of propogating.

Did you know that there are several types of milkweed that are native to Texas? There are several that you want to pay special attention to grow rather than others (IYKYK). A few varietals to watch out for:
- Perennis
- Green milkweed
- Antelope Horn milkweed
- Zizotes
- Texana

We're looking forward to next month's field trip to Papilionem Plant Nursery (@papilionemnatives) which specializes in the propogation of native milkweeds! Stay tuned for more to come.

📸:
1-3 - Zizotes seeds from @milkweed4monarchs and packaging them for germination tests - Shayla Fleshman
4 - Halloween milkweed seed bundles for passing out from @saveourmonarchs - Joanna Fried
5-6 - "How to grow native milkweed" zine in progress and seeds to be germ tested - Sharon Tan
7-9 - Germinated Perennis and Zizotes seeds - Erin Hollis

ICYMI: Our Balcones Canyonlands Chapter of the Tex

ICYMI: Our Balcones Canyonlands Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalist program (BCTXMN) won a @wholefoods grant to install a #pollinatorgarden at the legendary Hamilton Pool Preserve! 🌄

Our Master Naturalists and volunteers had a fabulous morning at our first workday this past weekend breaking ground at Hamilton Pool amending soil for our new pollinator garden there. The morning went by quick, followed by a short hike to the pool—with a butterfly blessing the garden with a seal of approval.

A big thank you to Shayla Fleshman for these photos and to our chapter-member Deborah Mack-Turner and the amazing Hamilton Pool staff for partnering on this project!

We have TWO remaining future workdays to install borders (November 18) and spread mulch (December 9) this fall - SIGN UP today at the second link in bio. Admission is free for these volunteer workdays.

P.S. We'll be adding pathways and planting the gardens next spring. We can't wait to see it come to life! 🦋👩‍🌾

A few fun photos from the @nationalwildlife's Mona

A few fun photos from the @nationalwildlife's Monarch workshop at @zilkerbotanicalgarden, where some of our Master Naturalists learned how to catch, test, and tag butterflies!

The first one was a beautiful double tailed swallowtail - then Robbie knew where to find a monarch, of course! 😉

We tested the young male Monarch for OE (Ophryocystis elektroscirrha, a deadly parasite) and were delighted that he was not infected. Then we tagged him, released him, and documented the process on paper. 🦋

Keep an eye out for future Monarch projects at our garden sites - we'd love to see you there!

📷: Janet Rogal (@jlrogal)

Banding Together for Bird Research by @mika.geiger

Banding Together for Bird Research by @mika.geigers

One of the many perks of being a regular volunteer with the Travis County Balcones Canyonland Preserve is that you occasionally get invited on unexpected adventure, such as helping experts band birds. We saw the scientists record information and band a painted bunting, a blue-gray gnatcatcher, a Carolina wren, a Carolina chickadee, and a black-crested titmouse.

While the BCP has been banding golden-cheeked warblers and black-capped vireos for years, this is the first summer that they banded and collected data from nearly all species of birds that end up in one of their 10 mist nets. The data they collect will be part of the MAPS (Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship) program, a North American research initiative that collects standardized data across the continent to help illuminate the patterns of life of our bird species.

As we watched one of the scientists smile as a newly banded bird flew off from his hands, I felt grateful for the diversity of birds around us – and for the opportunity to witness this important effort to understand and protect their colorful lives.
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#balconescanyonlands_txmn #bcp_traviscounty
#capitalareamasternaturalists #texasmasternaturalist #austin #austintexas #atx #natureintexas #austingardening #austinnature #traviscountyparks #bcp_traviscounty #texasnaturetrackers #ecologyactionatx #keepaustinbeautiful #friendsofbalcones #hillcountryconservancy #earthsaretexas #sierraclubatx #atx.natives #wildbasin

To protect our woodlands, chapter members regularl

To protect our woodlands, chapter members regularly monitor the moisture level in the preserve. This is an essential tool to predict the risk of fire and the level of potential destruction. It’s just one more way being a Texas Master Naturalist helps nature. (Photos thanks to member Janet Rogal).

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#balconescanyonlands_txmn #bcp_traviscounty
#capitalareamasternaturalists #texasmasternaturalist #austin #austintexas #atx #natureintexas #austingardening #austinnature #traviscountyparks #bcp_traviscounty #texasnaturetrackers #ecologyactionatx #keepaustinbeautiful #friendsofbalcones #hillcountryconservancy #earthsaretexas #sierraclubatx #atx.natives #wildbasin

Inspiration for a Halloween costume? Nature is ful

Inspiration for a Halloween costume? Nature is full of ideas. Photo credit to member Andrea Lent.

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#balconescanyonlands_txmn #bcp_traviscounty
#capitalareamasternaturalists #texasmasternaturalist #austin #austintexas #atx #natureintexas #austingardening #austinnature #traviscountyparks #bcp_traviscounty #texasnaturetrackers #ecologyactionatx #keepaustinbeautiful #friendsofbalcones #hillcountryconservancy #earthsaretexas #sierraclubatx #atx.natives #wildbasin

Our monthly field trip was to Aquarena Springs. It

Our monthly field trip was to Aquarena Springs. It wasn't just a tour; it was a journey through time, ecology, and human interaction. It highlighted the importance of understanding and conserving these delicate ecosystems, ensuring that generations can appreciate life's intricate dance beneath Spring Lake's waters.

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#balconescanyonlands_txmn #bcp_traviscounty
#texasmasternaturalist #austin #austintexas #atx #natureintexas #austingardening #austinnature #traviscountyparks #texasnaturetrackers #ecologyactionatx #keepaustinbeautiful #friendsofbalcones #hillcountryconservancy #earthsaretexas #sierraclubatx #atx.natives #wildbasin

Applications for the chapter are now closed. We wi

Applications for the chapter are now closed. We will open again in June 2024 for memberships. We are excited to have over 75 new members who are joining our chapter.
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#balconescanyonlands_txmn #bcp_traviscounty
#texasmasternaturalist #austin #austintexas #atx #natureintexas #austingardening #austinnature #traviscountyparks #bcp_traviscounty #texasnaturetrackers #ecologyactionatx #keepaustinbeautiful #friendsofbalcones #wildbasin

We love Wild Basin! Texas Master Naturalists volun

We love Wild Basin! Texas Master Naturalists volunteer at Wild Basin as hike leaders and staffing the volunteer center. It’s a special place. Sign up for their guided walks and see a special, unspoiled part of Austin. (Special thanks to Robbie Sherfe for sharing photos).

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#balconescanyonlands_txmn #wildbasin #bcp_traviscounty
#capitalareamasternaturalists #texasmasternaturalist #natureintexas #austinnature #traviscountyparks #bcp_traviscounty #texasnaturetrackers #ecologyactionatx #keepaustinbeautiful #friendsofbalcones #hillcountryconservancy #earthsaretexas #sierraclubatx

Happy Summer Solstice! Volunteers worked hard at

Happy Summer Solstice!

Volunteers worked hard at Snowden, #bcp_traviscounty, taking on the green briar and mustang grape vines that were smothering trees. Then we enjoyed a Summer themed pot luck! (special thanks to Janet Rogal for sharing photos).

Applications are now open to join the Balcones Canyonlands Texas Master
Naturalist chapter, based in North Austin. Learn more: https://bctxmn.org/join-our-chapter/
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#balconescanyonlands_txmn #bcp_traviscounty #capitalareamasternaturalists #texasmasternaturalist #austin #austintexas #atx #natureintexas #austingardening #austinnature #traviscountyparks #bcp_traviscounty #texasnaturetrackers #ecologyactionatx #keepaustinbeautiful #friendsofbalcones #hillcountryconservancy #earthsaretexas #sierraclubatx #atx.natives #wildbasin

On a hot and humid Saturday morning on June 17, ab

On a hot and humid Saturday morning on June 17, about 20 intrepid native plant enthusiasts gathered at Concordia University for a nature walk led by Dr. Mary Kay Johnston, an Associate Professor at Concordia University and co-chair of its Biology & Environmental Science & Conservation Program.
But first: “Into the classroom!” This professor knows her flowers, and this group better know them too, so we first settled in for a lesson on flower anatomy. After a warm-up exercise drafting personal haikus about nature at dawn, we grabbed flasks of wildflowers and gathered in groups, setting out to identify them using a dichotomous key. Dr. Johnston moved among the tables to goad and inspire each group. Which flower has petiolate leaves simple or twice pinnatifid, and which one has leaves pinnately divided into linear lobes? What about the one with spatulate to oblanceolate leaves with a cuneate base?
And we better know the family and species name too, because on the outdoor walk that followed, each discovered plant necessitated a guess as to its common name and its scientific one too. Dozens of native plants and trees lie only steps from the buildings on the Concordia campus, including Toxicodendron radicans (poison ivy), Yucca rupicola (twistleaf yucca), Achillea millefolium (common yarrow), and Solanum elaegnifolium (silverleaf nightshade).
With such an erudite guide as Dr. Johnston, everyone certainly left knowing much more than when they arrived. But that’s the lot of being a Master Naturalist; the more you know, the more you want to learn. (write-up and photos from Judy Osborn)

#balconescanyonlands_txmn #capitalareamasternaturalists #texasmasternaturalist #austin #austintexas #atx #natureintexas #austingardening #austinnature #traviscountyparks #bcp_traviscounty #texasnaturetrackers #ecologyactionatx #keepaustinbeautiful #friendsofbalcones #hillcountryconservancy #earthsaretexas #sierraclubatx #atx.natives #wildbasin

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