E A S T T E X A S C H A P T E R M A S T E R N A T U R A L I S T S

December 2012 1

December 2012 Newsletter! Volume 8 - Issue 12

What Birds Eat In WinterPage 6

“Batty”October Meeting

Page11

Geocaching in State Parks

Page 4 & 5

13th Annual

State Meeting

Page 10

MiscActivities

Webinairs andAT - VHSEventsPage

8

4-H YesCamp

ETCMN Participation

Page 2

President’sCorner

Page 12

Wheel Bugspage 7

Mighty Bite:

Page 7

Jan 26, 2013Chapter Meeting

Endangered Species/

Ornithology - Dr. Jeff

Kopachena (3 hrs AT or

VSH)

2 December 2012

East Texas Naturalists Go To Camp.by Barbara Thompson

On Saturday, November 10th, Neal St i l ley, Mary Ann Nilson and Barb Thompson t raveled to Lakeview Methodis t Conference Center a t Palest ine, Texas to par t ic ipate in the Texas Agri lLife Distr ic t 5 4-H Yes Camp.

This was a 2-day adventure for Junior and Intermediate 4-Hers a t tending workshops that covered Cri t ter Tracks, Archery, Survival and Outdoor Recreat ion. The 100 plus 4-Hers were divided into groups and at tended the var ious workshop throughout the morning.

Neal displayed his “Scat” col lect ion and charmed the kids with his ta les and explanat ions of how he col lected his scat and then helped the groups understand what they were looking at in the “Scat” and how i t is

beneficial in determining what animals l ive on a property or region.

Coupl ing the “Cri t ter Tracks” with the “Scat” found in an area can provide a pret ty good idea of what kind of animals are present in a specif ic area and what they are eat ing.

Mary Ann and Barb worked with the kids helping them ident i fy animal t racks. The kids took turns using the molds to create t racks in the sand and then comparing the t racks to determine the animals that made the t racks. They also were able to determine i f the animals were walking or running.

Mary Ann, Neal and Barb were able to interact with the kids and had a great morning shar ing their information and also l is tening to some of the kids experiences.

Thanks Distr ic t 5 4-Hers for a fun morning and for being such Great Kids.

photo by Mary Ann Nilson

Neal and 4-Hers at Camp Yes in

photo by Mary Ann Nilsonphoto by Mary Ann Nilson

E A S T T E X A S C H A P T E R M A S T E R N A T U R A L I S T S

December 2012 3

E A S T T E X A S C H A P T E R M A S T E R N A T U R A L I S T S

PLANTING YOUR OWN WILDFLOWERSAre you enticed by the lavish meadows of wildflowers that appear each Spring along our highways? Why not create a meadow of your own in your backyard. Here are a few simple steps to ensure success in growing wildflower

• In the East Texas area, the best time to sow your seed is in the Autumn for flowers in early Spring. • Start with a clean seed-bed by clearing weeds and grasses that might compete with wildflowers. • Carefully scatter the seeds by hand onto your prepared soil. • Small seeds are easier to handle when you mix them with sand (one part seed to four parts sand). • Press the seeds into the soil with your footsteps; try not to bury them more than 1/8 inch deep. • Wait for the rain to sprout your seeds, or, if it doesn't rain, be sure to water them. • If you notice any plants growing much faster, they may be weeds that you need to pull out of the ground.

Come Spring you should have a colorful field of blooms that will attract birds, butterflies, and bees.

Sheri Bailey, Smith County Master GardenerTexas AgriLife Extension Service

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

SITE PREPARATION AND SEED SOWING FOR WILDFLOWER GARDENING

Wildflowers, or native flowers, as they are sometimes called, are becoming more and more popular. They appeal to our regional pride. Who doesn't love a Texas bluebonnet? And wildflowers exhibit enough beauty and diversity to satisfy many landscape situations.

If these flowers grow in the wild and are native to our area, they must be really easy to grow. Right? Well, yes and no. Yes, they are easy to grow under the right conditions, especially if the plants are available from a local plant nursery and are waiting to be put into just the right spot. Fortunately, many wildflowers are now available from nurseries and can easily be incorporated into traditional borders of perennials.

But to have great sweeps of wildflowers in fields or hillsides or informal lawns, planting from seeds is the way to go. However, it is not quite as easy as just throwing a bunch seeds out in the yard or pasture and watching them pop up and bloom every spring. But if nature cooperates, it is possible, with a little effort and patience and wildflower knowledge, to have wildflowers that are just as spectacular as those pictured in the wildflower seed catalogs. After the site has been selected, the soil must be properly prepared by removing all existing vegetation, either with a herbicide or by hand. Rake or till the soil no more than an inch deep so that dormant weed seeds will not be released to compete with the wildflowers. Now you are ready to plant. In Zone 8, the recommended time is in the fall, from October 1 to December 1.

Now comes the easy part. Mix the seeds with a carrier such as masonry sand or potting soil with a ratio of one part seed to four parts carrier. This aids in even distribution over the site. Next, broadcast the seeds, one half in one direction and the other half in a direction perpendicular to the initial sowing. Then gently press the seed into the soil to a depth of about 1/16th of an inch, either by walking over the seeds or rolling over them. It is important that they not be any deeper than 1/16th of an inch. Some of the seeds will be visible.

Wildflowers, once established and with just a little bit of care, can return year after year and make us proud of our Texas natives.

Mary Wilkerson, Smith County Master GardenerTexas AgriLife Extension Service

E A S T T E X A S C H A P T E R M A S T E R N A T U R A L I S T S

4 December 2012

Geocaching at Texas State Parks!Geocaching is a type of treasure hunt using a GPS unit or an app on your smartphone to help you find hidden "caches" placed by people all over the world. Geocaches are everywhere - from just down the street to the most remote wilderness areas. They range from extremely small containers (35-mm film canister or smaller) to large ammo-style boxes and can contain many different things, including a log book to sign your name, tradable items for kids and adults, and more!

Don't know how to geocache but would like to try it out? We have special workshops hosted at our State parks to introduce you to this activity. Check out geocache events on our Calendar.

What is Geocaching?

Geocaching is the hunt for any of more than 3 million items worldwide that have been purposely hidden by geocachers just like you. The game, when played responsibly, has been embraced by Texas State Parks and Natural Areas because of the fun and health benefits the sport creates for its players. Geocaching is primarily based through the website geocaching.com and is free to participate in! Simply create a user name or "cache handle" and you will be on your way!

This "treasure hunt" takes its participants to a fun, creative, or beautiful hiding place in the outdoors to search for items of all different sizes and difficulty. Along the way, be sure to enjoy your travels, explore the contents of each container you find, and return back to geocaching.com to log your visit and tell the world about your adventure.

You might be wondering what is a Geocache? In its simplest terms "Geo" means earth, and "Cache" means hidden item. Most geocaches are camouflaged containers that range in size. Geocaches are never buried, so please leave your shovels at home!

How to Play

1. Visit Geocaching.com, or use a smartphone app, and find caches where you are.2. For your first geocache adventure, choose an easy cache based on the difficulty, size, and terrain ratings.3. When you've found a geocache that suites your trip and group, download the coordinates to your GPS or

begin navigating on your Smartphone.4. When you arrive at a cache, approach it safely. Some of the best hiding locations are also homes for

wildlife. It might take a few minutes to find the cache if it is hidden well!5. Open the container, sign the log, and trade a family friendly item with the "swag" that is already in the

cache.6. Replace the container exactly how you found it and return back to geocaching.com to log your find and tell

the world of your adventure! You will begin to collect "smiley" face symbols that signify your number of finds over the course of your lifetime.

7. Watch a video from geocaching.com to learn more!What to Bring:

• GPS or smartphone with coordinates• Pen or pencil• Water bottle• Hat, footwear appropriate for a hike, and rain gear, if needed - Plan ahead and check the weather!• Sunscreen and insect repellent• Park, or trail, map

E A S T T E X A S C H A P T E R M A S T E R N A T U R A L I S T S

December 2012 5

• Inexpensive small items to trade for cache "swag"• A sense of adventure!

How can I Leave No Trace During My Visit?

• Do the responsible and safe thing and stay on the trails for as long as possible.• Leave what you find including those pretty wildflowers, unique rocks, and artifacts!• Being considerate of others by not parking in campsites and keeping voices low.• Trash your trash and consider CITO - "Cache in Trash Out" to help keep our spaces beautiful.• Respecting wildlife, you're in their backyard!

Glossary of Terms

• Size: On Geocaching.com the size of the geocache is posted so you know what you are looking for.• Terrain: A rating of a 1 star indicates that the geocache is considered to be accessible by wheelchair. A

geocache with a terrain rating of 5 stars will require some special equipment (boat, 4WD, etc) to find the container.

• Difficulty: A difficulty level of 1 star will indicate that the cache should be found very quickly. A 5 star cache is a big endeavor requiring toughness to find or open the container.

• FTF = First to Find, or the first person to find a geocache after it has originally been hidden.• TFTC = Thanks for the cache, or an abbreviation of thanks to the original hider of the cache.• Ground Zero or GZ = The area where the cache is supposed to be located.• TNLN = Took Nothing Left Nothing, meaning that the finder did not participate in trading of swag.• SL = Signed Log• Muggles = Someone not familiar with geocaching. Avoid muggles while geocaching, to ensure that caches

stay put and are not vandalized or "muggled".• Geocoin, Travelbug, or Pathtag = These items add flavor to the swag that can be traded. Using identification

numbers these items can be shared with friends and "tracked" as they are carried and logged from one cache to the next.

How can I learn more? Geocachers love their hobby and love getting others involved. Look for online resources like message boards, community geocache associations, and facebook groups dedicated to the game. More information on geocaching can be found by on geocaching.com by browsing their “Learn” section, to answer any questions that you may have. If you are still in need of assistance, check the TPWD events calendar for Geocaching 101 workshops where a Texas State Parks staff member or volunteer will further introduce you to the game. Sign up for TPWD e-mail updates about geocaching.

Consider trying the Texas State Parks Geocache Challenge

E A S T T E X A S C H A P T E R M A S T E R N A T U R A L I S T S

6 December 2012

What Birds Eat In Winterpresented by Barbara Thompson

”

Crabapples are a favorite winter food of cedar waxwings.

Anyone who has been birding in the winter quickly realizes that there are a lot of birds to be seen even in the coldest months. Those birds need adequate food sources to stay safe and warm through the long cold season, but when there are no buds, fruits or flowers available, plants are dormant and insects are scarce, what do winter birds eat?

Foods Winter Birds EatBirds are clever and resourceful, and winter birds can find abundant food sources even when the snow is deep and the temperatures are below freezing. The foods available for winter birds include…

• Seeds: Many plants and flowers keep their mature seed heads well into winter, and birds can cling to or perch on the plants to reach the seeds. Seeds that fall can also be found in leaf litter or under plants where the snow is not as deep.

• Nuts: Fallen nuts are a great food source for many woodland birds. Acorns, beechnuts and other nuts are popular food sources for jays, titmice and other species with sturdy bills to crack the nuts, and pine nuts are an important food source for winter finches.

• Insects: While there may not be flying insects in the winter, dormant insects and larvae are a critical food source for birds. Chickadees, nuthatches, creepers, woodpeckers and other birds will forage in tree bark for insects that provide valuable protein.

• Sap: Sweet tree sap is a tasty treat for woodpeckers, and they will drill deep into a tree's bark to reach whatever residual sap is not frozen in the winter. Other bird species may then sip from those same sap wells.

• Fruit: Fresh fruit may not be available in the winter, but leftovers from the fall harvest will remain on trees and bushes for birds to take advantage of. Robins, bluebirds and waxwings are especially fond of winter fruit.

• Grain: Even the most efficient fall harvest spills grain on the ground, and game birds, doves and blackbirds will take advantage of that bounty by foraging in agricultural fields. Wild grain is also a valuable source of food for many birds.

• Carrion: Winter is a harsh season and many animals don't survive. Opportunistic birds such as common ravens, bald eagles and American crows will take advantage of other animals' misfortunes to feast on their carcasses.

• Small Animals: Birds of prey are effective hunters in any season, and even in winter they will feed on mice, voles, small birds, fish and other prey. Prey can be more scarce, but the best raptors successfully find enough food all winter.

E A S T T E X A S C H A P T E R M A S T E R N A T U R A L I S T S

December 2012 7

Wheel BugArticle compiled by Mary Ann Nilson

Have you see this big bug hanging around your door lately?

Photo by Janet Mahanay Stockard

Facebook contributions:

Arlene Hart points out, “He sure has interesting patterns on his back!”

Janet Mahanay Stockard tells us she believes this very large bug has not moved in two days.

Sandra Hudson Schumer recognized this “Wheel bug” and notes some may call it the Assassin Bug!

Eric Eaton explains, “This is actually a “she,” a female Wheel Bug, Arilus cristatus. They are a kind of assissin bug. Only the adults have this bizarre cogwheel crest.”

John Karges points out the side view of these are most remarkable with the ornamentation looking like a gear from a wind-up watch, the “stiletto-faced ones”, beware Lilliputians. And stiletto-faced fits this beast and its kin (Reduviidae).

Bill Gaither jokes, “They remind me of some folks I have known…armor plated, and stinky, with a viscious bite.

WILD THING: MIGHTY BITEThe wheel bug wields some intimidating weaponry

By Sheryl Smith-RodgersNot many intimidate me, but I know I’d better respect a wheel bug if we ever meet. That’s because the odd-looking insect — when handled or aggravated — can inflict a wound that’s worse than a bee sting.

Wheel bugs — gray in color and more than an inch long — get their name from the spiny, ear-shaped crest that protrudes from their backside. No one’s sure what purpose the crest serves, but among all North American insects, only wheel bugs have one.

Biologists classify Arilus cristatus in the assassin bug family Reduviidae, which includes kissing bugs and thread-legged bugs. Like all true bugs, wheel bugs have a long, tubular mouth called a proboscis. At the tip is a needle-sharp rostrum, the weapon that warrants my respect. However, unsuspecting caterpillars, bees, beetle larvae and other soft-bodied insects don’t stand a chance around a hungry wheel bug. One stab allows the predator to inject toxic enzymes that both kill a victim and liquefy its innards into a slurpy meal.

Note: If you’re bitten, wash the area and apply an antiseptic. Topical corticosteriods may reduce swelling. Seek medical attention for a more serious reaction.

(Watch out — wheel bugs can also release a foul smell when annoyed.)

Wheel bugs crawl slowly and make a loud buzzing sound when flying. After mating, a female deposits 40 to 200 barrel-shaped eggs in a honeycomb cluster on foliage. She dies, and the eggs overwinter. In the spring, tiny red-and-black nymphs hatch out and disperse in search of chow. By summer’s end, they morph into bizarre bugs that are worthy of your respect … and mine!  

Janet Mahanay Stockard teaches us, “it’s amazing how much more interesting a bug can become when you learn a little bit about it and can put a name to it rather than “yucky bug”!”

E A S T T E X A S C H A P T E R M A S T E R N A T U R A L I S T S

8 December 2012

Here are the upcoming Advanced Training opportunities:"The Path to Healthier, Happier,Smarter Kids: The Schoolyard Classroom"webinar - on Thursday, December 6th from 4:00 p.m. - 5:15 p.m. Central.<http://online.nwf.org/site/Calendar/1891847336?view=DayGrid&Day=12,06,2012>

Here are the upcoming and ongoing Volunteer Service Opportunities:Eisenhower State Park: This is an ongoing project in which volunteers are needed to spread native seed, gathered from the pocket prairie near the entrance to the park, along the ATV trails. The goal is to return the trails to prairie habitat. Contact Kay Jenkins, NPSOT president, for more information at 361-790-6092 or kay-jenkins@sbcglobal.net.

Neches River Rose Mallow Survey:Perform “boots on the ground” survey to find wild Neches River Rose Mallow plants and/or populations in the southern counties of the ETCMN region and report to TPWD botanists.Contact Lance Homeniuk for more information: 903-987-3410 Sabine River Boat Landing Clean-up:Contact Richard LeTourneau at richardoii@aol.com if you would like to help.

Lake Palestine water quality monitor:The project takes about 2 hrs/month with all training and equipment provided by the Angelina/Neches River Authority.  If anyone is interested in monitoring please email Gene Gordon at genedgordon@embarqmail.com  or

Patrick Bowles at phbowles1@aol.com.National Phenology Network:Collect observations of plants and animals that interest you and report them to a national database. Choose your target plants and/or animals from provided lists. Learn the features and behaviors to be observed as well as how to record and report them. Upload reports to the database where you will be able to view maps and data collected by other observers. Data are used by researchers in climate change and cyclical environmental studies. Contact Lance Homeniuk at 903-987-3410 for more information.

Herbarium:Collect, identify, and press plants for inclusion in the Herbaria at the Tyler Nature Center or Old Sabine Wildlife Management Area in Lindale. Herbarium Workshops ordinarily meet the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month. Contact Gloria Rognlie at grognlie@aol.com for more information and directions, specifying TMN Herbarium in the subject line.

Tyler Nature Center:Contact Mike Price at mhp1947@embarqmail.com to find out about the next Wildscape Workday. Work will involve weeding, planting, and maintenance of the wildscape garden.

Camp Tyler Prairie Land Restoration:Volunteers are needed on an ongoing basis to identify current inventory of plants in the Prairie land, assist in the prescribed burn, remove non-native invasives, and reseed or replant native grasses. Contact Cindi McCullough at 903-839-4541 for more information.

Jarvis Christian College:Trail maintenance and signage along the boardwalk nature trail. Contact Helen Mar Parkin for more information at 903-343-4991.

Check the calendar on our website txmn.org/etwd/ or sign up for the TMN list serve to find out about other opportunities outside of the Tyler area. you’ve noticed the numbers of migrating Monarchs are more diminished than in years past.

16TH INTERNATIONAL BAT RESEARCH CONFERENCE

EV ENT DAT ES 1 1 — 1 5 AUGUST 2 0 1 3

The Program for Conservation of Costa Rican Bat (PCMCR), University of Costa Rica (UCR) and Asociación Theria are pleased to jointly organize the 16th International Bat Research Conference (IBRC) and the 43rd  North American Symposium on Bat Research (NASBR).

After Merida, Mexico (2007), this is the second time that the IBRC and NASBR will be joined making this event the largest meeting of bat researchers in the world.

The event will held at the Hotel Herradura, San Jose, Costa Rica from Monday August 12th to Friday August 16th 2013. With the assistance of colleagues and students throughout the country, we will welcome bat delegates from the entire world.

E A S T T E X A S C H A P T E R M A S T E R N A T U R A L I S T S

December 2012 9

Welcome to the 4th Annual State of the Prairie Conference!

We have a wonderful set of presentations and field experiences planned and we want you to be part of this year's activities.

Please go to http://prairiepartner.org/page/2012-conference to learn more about the

conference, sponsorships and poster session.

For more information please contact Cheryl Sedivec at cheryl_sedivec@comcast.net

December Management Tip of the Month

by: Billy Higginbotham, Professor and Extension Wildlife and Fisheries Specialist, Texas A&M

AgriLife Extension ServiceTurkeys may benefit from having supplemental feed durng the fall and winter. To build a turkey feeder, erect a 5-foot x 8-foot platorm 5 1/2 feet above the ground. Attach a 2-foot wide skirt of aluminum flashing around the outer edge of the platform to keep out racoons. Place a barrel-type or wooden box feeder on the platform. Turkey feeders should be in open areas away from brush where predator could hide. Feed ofered to turkeys should be free of aflatoxin.

E A S T T E X A S C H A P T E R M A S T E R N A T U R A L I S T S

10 December 2012

A Great Weekend ... 13th Annual State Convention.

by Barbara Thompson

The end of October, 26 -28, found Mary Ann Nilson, Barbara Thompson and Lance Homeniuk at Camp Allen in Navasota Texas attending the 13th Annual Master Naturalists State Convention. What a great time they had and boy did they learn a lot.

The three days were jammed full of good information covering just about any area of interest you might have. Because of the numerous subject available the three each attended different lectures so they could cover more topics.

During our meal time and between lectures we were all able to mingle with our fellow Naturalists from all over the state, and this was a great way to learn what the different Chapters were working on and what is important to their area of Texas.

Although many chapters had more members present our East Texas Chapter received some recognization. Nancy

and Jay Dickson were recognized for achieving certification, Mary Ann Nilson and Barbara Thompson, were recognized as certified and double certified ( There were 6 men recognized -- our East Texas gals were the only women recognized as double certified) and Lance Homeniuk was one of only 2 people who identified the most weeds/plants in a plant identification contest.

Camp Allen was a lovely retreat, with nice accommodations and very good food. The 13th Annual Convention was a truly enriching experience, and hopefully our Chapter will have a much larger group next year. So Mark your calendar for the 14th Annual State Convention - October 25-27, 2013 --T Bar M Ranch, New Braunfels, TX.

Presentation of Newsletter at

State ConventionLance Honeniuk helping

out at the Store during

the State Convention

Photos entered at the State

Convention. East Texas

Chapter submitted

12 photos.

Lance Homeniuk receiving

award from Michelle Haggarty

E A S T T E X A S C H A P T E R M A S T E R N A T U R A L I S T S

December 2012 11

Three of our East Texas Chapter Master Naturalists. Helen Mar Parkin, Janet Cook and Cindi McCullough shared with us the importance of Bats. Never would you suspect that the Bat could be one of the most important creatures to just about every aspect of our daily lives. Researchers are using advanced infrared and Doppler radar-imaging to model the population density and foraging behavior of Brazilian free-tailed bats. Bats from Texas caves provide pest-control services for crops such as cotton and corn. One local cave may host more than 20 million bats. In fact, bats from two caves protect the cotton crop to the tune of $258 million annually, a benefit previously without a price-tag. This same species consumes enormous numbers of insects all summer long across the southern United States. Such linkages between ecology and economics show how biocomplexity's integrative approach comes full circle – revealing the web of relationships that sustains both natural and human activities."

And if this wasn't enough, how about the uses of bat guano? This is a highly-valued fertilizer, but did you know it was actually used during the Civil War to make ammunition? WOW !

Texas happens to be the battiest state in the country. It is home to 31 of the 47 species of bats found in the United States. Not only does it hold the distinction of having the most kinds of bats, it also boasts the largest known bat colony in the world (Bracken Cave near San Antonio), and the largest urban bat colony (Congress Street Bridge in Austin). Visitors from around the world flock to Texas to enjoy public bat-viewing at several

locations throughout the state.

In 1995, Mexican free-tailed bat joined the longhorn and the armadillo as official state symbols. The Texas State Legislature named the Mexican

free-tailed bat as the "state flying mammal."

New Website on Endangered Species The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service Endangered Species Program has launched a new, web-based interactive map with information about endangered species success in every state: stories of species making strides towards recovery, audio interviews and podcasts with Service biologists about on-the-ground endangered species conservation, and videos that highlight the Service’s partners.

The interactive map can be found online at http://www.fws.gov/endangered/ and also has links for the Endangered Species Program’s new weekly e-newsletter and ways to connect via social media.

The Endangered Species Act provides a safety net for America’s native fish, wildlife and plants. The Service is actively engaged with conservation partners and the public in the search for improved and innovative ways to conserve and recover imperiled species.

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service.

For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov. Connect with our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/usfws, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/usfwshq, watch our YouTube Channel

at http://www.youtube.com/usfws  and download photos from our Flickr page at http://www.flickr.com/photos/usfwshq. -FWS- 4th Annual State of the Prairie Conferencesimple and affordable nature play spaces in domestic outdoor spaces. Download it at http://www.nwf.org/Home/Get-Outside/Be-Out-There/Why-Be-Out-There/Policy/Natural-Play-Areas.aspx

A Great “Batty” Meetingwritten by Barbara Thompson

Jay Dickinson

Barbara Thompson

Bat Invasion

What’s For Lunch?

E A S T T E X A S C H A P T E R M A S T E R

12 December 2012

President’s Corner

Neal Stilley , Chapter President

Greetings:Most of us have heard the phrase “I’ll track you down” in old westerns or adventure movies. It literally means one will physically track a person down and in the not too distant past folks tracked people and animals down as a part of life.

Tracking wildlife for food and clothing was an important of the daily routine in our past history.

Tracking is an art and a science and requires varying levels of skill in observation.

A basic level of knowledge can be the general geography and the wildlife that inhabits the landscape. A basic understanding of plant life will give a tracker information about inhabitants of a certain landscape. Along with keen observation skills a tracker can draw in their mind a

sketch of what has happened at a particular site.

Reading animal signs such as scat is a science in its self. Scat tells stories of things over night to as long ago as a year or more. In areas with little rain fall scat samples can be found spanning three and a half seasons, one years’ time. Usually in good condition, this means readable. Readable is when there are recognizable components in the scat. Examples range from rodent feet, rodent skull parts, rabbit skull parts, to aquatic insects, and plant seeds

The art of tracking is acquired over time and is not only a very useful skill to woodsmen, but to farmers and to most anyone who enjoys being outdoors.

Happy tracking,

Neal

The scholarship I received from the EastTexas Chapter was greatly appreciated. The money you provided was used to purchase the gas on the way there and the way back.I had a wonderful time, meeting many fellow Naturalists from all over the state, and attending some outstanding seminars that were full of really great and useful information.Thank you again, and I hope next year more of our East Texas Chapter members can attend.

Mary Ann Nilson

!ank Y"!

E A S T T E X A S C H A P T E R M A S T E R N A T U R A L I S T S

Seed Grants: Fall is a great time to plant a wildflower meadow!

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in partnership with Native American Seed awards grants of seed (Seed Grants) to Texas schools (K-12) that support the Wildflower Center’s mission to increase the sustainable use and conservation of native wildflowers, plants and landscapes. Seed grants can be used to establish wildflower demonstration areas, to enhance existing wildflower sites, or in other educationally directed projects. Seed

Grant recipients will receive a gift certificate of “Seed Money” to purchase seed from Native American Seed valued at $50.00. For more information visit http://www.wildflower.org/wildflowers/

Nature Play at Home guide NWF and the Natural Learning Initiative at North Carolina State University are pleased to announce the release of their Nature Play at Home guide.

This free publication shows families how to create simple and affordable.

E A S T T E X A S C H A P T E R M A S T E R N A T U R A L I S T S

December 2012 13

www.tpwd.state.tx.us/

The Nature Center, 11942 FM 848, Tyler, Texas 75707-5234

Send $20.00 Annual Chapter dues

to: ETCMN attn: Treasurer

Box 131184 Tyler, TX 75713-1184

Monthly MeetingsWe meet the

Fourth Thursday at 6:45pm, at

The Nature Center 11942 FM 848,

Tyler, Texas 75707-5234

Join us at 6:30 PM for socializing and let's get to know each other before our 6:45 PM meeting.

Bring a friend, invite a guest,

everyone is welcomed.

Directions to the East Texas Chapter Master Naturalists (ETCMN)Meeting Facility:

The Nature Center11942 FM 848Tyler,Texas 75707-5234

Turning off Loop 323, turn south onto North State Highway 248, (Also called University Boulevard).

Turning right onto FM 848 (Also called Bascom Road), The Nature Center is located on the right,(westside). 

Officers & Committee ChairsNeal Stilley - President

Mike Price - VSH & Vice President Janet Cook - Secretary

Laura Wilson - Treasurer Richard LeTourneau - AT

Cindi McCullough - VHS & Database Records Helen Mar Parkin - Membership

Laura Wilson/Janet Cook - AT & CurriculumJay Dickson - Public Relations & Outreach

Brenda McWilliams - Trails Maintenance-TylerBarbara Thompson - Newsletter Editor Mary Ann Nilson - Newsletter Editor

Kevin Herriman - TPWD AdvisorChad Gulley - Texas A&M AgriLife Extension

Advisor

Your news, stories, comments, photos, and ideas are needed.

Deadline is 15th of every month!

Please send items to Barbara Thompson and Mary Ann Nilson at tmn.editor@gmail.com

Visit us onFacebook

http://www.txmn.org/etwd

East Texas Chapter Master Naturalists do not recommend or endorse items of

interest published in The Woodduck Whistler.

Items of interest are for information only.

You can read past issues of ETCMN, The Woodduck Whistler Newsletter by

visiting the website at http://txmn.org/etwd and clicking on "Newsletter".

Now click the month you want to view.

Agrilife

E T C M N W e b p a g e