Friends of the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge

~ FONC MISSION STATEMENT ~

“To preserve, protect, and conserve in perpetuity the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge.”

Jan.—March 2014

I n 1964, the City of Fort Worth officially set aside parkland on the north end of Lake Worth as a wild-life refuge, and the Fort Worth Nature Center & Ref-uge (FWNC&R) was born. As we begin our 50th an-

niversary year, I’ve been reflecting on our early history, and reflections of gratitude seem appropriate in light of the en-during gift the Nature Center has given the citizens of Fort Worth:

Thank you to the City leaders who had the foresight in the early 1900s to purchase and set aside the land around the new Lake Worth to protect the watershed. You gave a gift to the future that would be very diffi-cult to replicate today.

Thank you to our founders who recognized the impor-tance of wild spaces close to home and who worked hard in the early 1960s to achieve the official declara-tion of a wildlife refuge. You set the example we are proud to follow.

Thank you to current and past staff members for your vision, your profound professionalism, and your dedi-

cation. For you, this isn’t simply a job; it’s a vocation and a lifestyle.

Thank you to the Friends of the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge, formed in 1974, and to the Nature Center Conservancy, formed in 2004 and merged with the Friends in 2011, for your unwavering devotion to the preservation and advancement of the FWNC&R. Your support and advocacy through the years have made an incredible difference.

Thank you to our Volunteer Corps for giving so gener-ously of your time and talents. You make it possible for our message to reach a much wider audience and bring us closer to achieving the goals of our mission.

Thank you to our current City leaders for your continu-ing recognition and understanding of the importance of the FWNC&R. You affirm that a great city like Fort Worth appreciates its heritage and embraces its sense of place.

Continued on page 5

Reflections on 50 Wild Years

Founders Jessie Maye Smith and Margaret Parker in 1972 with the Nature Center’s first professional naturalist, Harold Arnold, and Ted

Hofsiss from the FWISD Outdoor Learning Center

Photo Credit: Nature Center Archive

The Nature Center conserves historic Fort Worth landscapes like this view from the Hardwicke Interpretive Center sidewalk.

Photo Credit: Suzanne Tuttle

FRIENDS OF THE FORT WORTH NATURE CENTER & REFUGE

9601 Fossil Ridge Road

Fort Worth, Texas 76135 817-392-7410

www.naturecenterfriends.org

LOCATION:

Four miles west of loop I-820 on Jacksboro Highway

(Texas 199).

HOURS: HARDWICKE INTERPRETIVE CENTER:

Daily: 9 AM—4:30 PM

REFUGE:

Refuge hours Oct. 1st—April 30th.

Daily: 8:00 AM—5:00 PM

Please call 817-392-7410 with any additional questions.

GATE FEES:

Non-members: Adults (13-64) - $5

Seniors (65+) - $3 Children (3-12 yrs) - $2

Under 3 years—Free

Active/retired military with valid ID and their

families—$1 discount per person.

FONC BOARD Of DIRECTORS: Rick Shepherd, President

Marty Leonard, VP, President—Elect Pat Hyer, Recording Secretary

Dagmar Higgins, Corresponding Secretary Laura Harrison, Treasurer

Directors: Rusty Branch

Sandy Brunello Hon Lon Burnam

Michelle Clark

Sue Harvison Mickey Hooper Murray James

Kari Landry Bob O’Kennon Elaine Petrus

William R. Richerson Dale Roberts Chris Smith

Timothy Thomas

PACSD Advisory Board Rep.: Bernie Scheffler, ex officio

BLUESTEM NEWS:

Sharon McKone Editor-in-Chief

Rosemarie Hayward Layout & Graphics

FORT WORTH NATURE CENTER & REFUGE

STAFF:

Suzanne Tuttle FWNC&R Manager

HARDWICKE INTERPRETIVE CENTER STAFF

Laura Veloz Naturalist/Volunteer Coord.

Michael Perez Naturalist/Outreach Coord.

Chad Etheridge Water Programs Coordinator

Troy Mullens Weekend Naturalist Sheila Johnson Education Naturalist

Tiffany Gorrell Education Intern

REFUGE/NATURAL RESOURCE STAFF

Rob Denkhaus Natural Resource Manager Michelle Villafranca Natural Resource Specialist

Russell Lasiter Natural Resource Technician

Nic Martinez Natural Resource Technician

CUSTOMER SERVICE/GATE STAFF

Anne Hamman Office Manager Cathy Elizondo Customer Service Rep.

Evelyn Calvert

Nina Francis Customer Service

Susie Harrison Assistants

Jeanette Pine

FORT WORTH NATURE CENTER:

www.fwnaturecenter.org

~ 2 ~

From the Board By Rick Shepherd

~ 3 ~

~HAPPY 50TH BIRTHDAY~ The Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge

T his coming year, 2014, will be filled with celebratory activities in and around the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge as it celebrates its

50th anniversary. Little could Margaret Parker and her Audubon Society member friends have begun to imagine what would ultimately evolve from their activist response to reduc-tion of bird habitat at what then was one of their favorite birding spots in the southern area of the Fort Worth Botanic Garden. They realized then that a dedicated nature refuge was needed for birding enthusiasts and all other nature-loving residents of Fort Worth to be able to appreciate and learn the lessons the natural world had to teach them. Fort Worth Audubon Society President John Wil-son and Field Trip Chair Margaret Parker brought their concerns initially to the park board in the spring of 1963. At a repeat pres-entation on January 8, 1964, to the Park-Recreation Department’s Board and Director Charles B. Campbell, Jr., the meeting being attended by many equally concerned Fort Worth residents representing a broad spec-trum of organizations, Audubon Conserva-tion Committee Co-Chair Mrs. Robert E. Hardwicke re-expressed concerns and made a request for “assistance of the park board in locating”…. “a plot of undeveloped land – say a minimum of 50 acres” to establish a “Community Nature Center.” In one of her last letters prior to her passing in November 2009, Margaret Parker wrote to Nature Center Manager Suzanne Tuttle the following: Continued on page 7

Early maps of Greer Island depict trails drawn by the late Warren Pulich (dated March 10, 1964) after Greer Island was set aside .

Photo Credit: Margaret Parker Historical File Documents / Newspaper map courtesy of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram,

November 19, 1965

~ 4 ~

Nature Center Solidly Represented at Recent State Conference

T he Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge (FWNC&R) was represented at the Texas Chapter of the So-ciety for Ecological Restoration conference in Junction, Texas, in November 2013. Nature Center Manager Suzanne Tuttle attended and helped organize the conference. She is one of the founding members of the state chapter and has been active in helping the organization accomplish its mission of

restoring the links between land, wildlife, and people by connecting those who repair the diverse ecosystems of Texas and fostering opportunities for sharing and learning.

The annual conference offers atten-dees the opportunity to share resto-ration experience and scientific find-ings. This year’s conference had am-ple representation by FWNC&R staff, past interns, and researchers who have gained considerable knowledge from working at our park. Blake Alldredge, a former in-tern who now works for Texas AgriLife, presented on hydrology in the Upper Trinity River watershed. Justin Fischer, also a former intern and current senior at the University of North Texas, presented on grass-land conservation efforts in both urban and landscape-scale environ-ments. Shannon Jones, who earned her master’s degree from Texas Christian University, presented her thesis on the unique hydrology of

the Fort Worth Prairie. Shannon won an award in the ‘Best Student Presentation’ category. I helped organize the conference and also presented on the recent and evolving collaborative pilot project between the FWNC&R, Stormwater Management Division, and other organizations. This project introduces native prairie vegetation in select drainages following reconstructive maintenance with the goal of reducing future maintenance needs while providing environmental and aesthetic benefits to the community. The conference was a success and provided a good opportunity to exchange ideas and methods of land manage-ment as well as boost the reputation of the Nature Center as an organization that trains future natural resource managers.

Michelle Villafranca Natural Resource Specialist

Suzanne Tuttle with other founding members of the Texas Chapter of Society for Eco-logical Restoration. Left to Right: David Mahler (Environmental Survey Consulting), Suzanne Tuttle (Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge), Jan Neiman (Native American Seed), Ken Steigman (Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area), and Bill Neiman

(Native American Seed) Photo Credit: Gwen Thomas

The FONC Board wishes to express its appreciation to Councilmember Dennis Shingleton, Parks & Community Services Department Director Richard Zavala, and the City Council for their respective work resulting in the sale of Certificates of Obligation for a variety of funding necessities, including the reconstruction of the Lotus Marsh Boardwalk at the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge, which is in need of urgent attention. Likewise, the Board greatly appreciates the Parks & Community Services Advisory Board's adoption on November 20th of and rec-ommendation to the City Council on December 3, 2013, that funding for reconstruction of the Nature Center's Cross Timbers levee receive high priority for addition to the list of Projects Proposed for Funding in the 2014 Bond Election.

Rick Shepherd President

~ 5 ~

And finally, thank you to all of our residents,

visitors, and supporters from all over the world who have ever been touched by the magic that is the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge. We are eager to move forward with you into the next 50 wild years!

Suzanne Tuttle,

Nature Center Manager

Reflections on 50 Wild Years continued from page 1

Volunteers Sue Bonham and Kathryn Schubert (with umbrella) help out with the Venus Transit viewing in 2012.

Photo Credit: Nature Center Archive Photo

2013 5th and 6th grade summer class participants took on the task of catching grasshoppers with enthusiasm.

Photo Credit: Troy Mullens

50th Anniversary Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge

2014 Events Calendar

March 22 Greer Island

Nature Center and Wildlife Refuge Founders Plaque Dedication

Morning Anniversary Bird Watching Hike

March 29 CCC Legacy Chapter

81st Anniversary Civilian Conservation Corps

April 26 Fort Worth Wild

50th Anniversary Celebration Dinner Nature Center’s Broadview Park

May 10 Buffalo Boogie

September 20 Lake Worth Centennial

Celebration Participation Casino Beach

October 4 Lake Worth Monster Bash

& FONC Chili Cook-Off

November 6 thru 23

Broadview: A Spectrum of Nature Art Exhibition and Sale

Fort Worth Community Arts Center

~ 6 ~

Survey Says

S urveying describes many activities around the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge (FWNC&R). We survey various animal and plant species to monitor their population

status. We survey to determine property lines, drainage routes, and new facility locations. Visitors and program participants are surveyed to assess how we are doing our jobs, and every once in a while, we stop at one of the trail overlooks and simply survey our surroundings. Regardless of its form, surveying provides useful infor-mation for managing the Nature Center. In October, Nature Center management staff com-pleted our annual white-tailed deer survey. This survey is conducted each fall before the rut to monitor trends of our deer population. According to the survey, we have an estimated 536 deer in the Nature Center. How-ever, this number is relatively meaningless because it is derived from a sample of 144 acres (4%) of the Nature Center’s 3,621 acres. The real value of the estimated number is in compari-son with past years. This comparison indicates that the deer population has dropped over the past few years, which makes sense given the drought conditions we have been experiencing. Last year, our fawn crop bot-

tomed out, which led to a decrease in the number of breeding does this year. Fawn production rebounded this year, compensating for last year’s decline. This cor-relates with other informal surveys we perform to check the use of preferred deer food plants such as rough-leaved dogwood. All in all, the survey says our

deer population is doing just fine. Nature Center staff also conducts trail camera surveys to monitor our wild pig population. Our surveys show

that we have not had significant pig activity in the Na-ture Center since January 2013 when we removed three sounders (family groups of pigs) from the Alice Ashley area. Texas Christian University graduate student Melissa Mills is conducting trail camera surveys throughout the Nature Center as a part of her master’s thesis. Melissa is using the trail cameras to monitor bobcat popula-tions in two areas of Tarrant County. The FWNC&R forms a large portion of her western study area and has already shown the presence of a number of bobcats as well as coyotes, raccoons, opossums, armadillos, deer, and fox squirrels. Because bobcats have individual markings, Melissa hopes to be able to provide an accu-rate bobcat population estimate for the Nature Center using this noninvasive surveying technique.

Rob Denkhaus Natural Resource Manager

The future of the Nature Center’s deer herd. Photo Credit: Nature Center Staff

A Nature Center bobcat on the prowl. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Melissa Mills

~ 7 ~

“August 21, 2009

Dear Suzanne,

After we, Hallie Read & I especially had complained to Charles Campbell about the tree trimming so severe & to [sic] far up (Doves like to nest lower than most birds) Charles had said ‘you (speaking to several of us) can go out to Lake Worth & pick out what could be used as a N.C.’ We did that & Lo & behold Charles came to the same spot where we were – he said about 50 ac – a lot of it water & swampy.

Later I with husband Bill invited about 30 active members of Audubon to my home to discuss the area & what steps we should take next. This is almost the same as I had given you before except Betty Crabtree should be in the car instead of ….

Hallie Read Hardwick (sic) Jessie Maye Smith Margaret Parker Evelyn Edens Betty Crabtree

Love and Best Wishes, Margaret”

The geographic area for the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge’s ancestral entity, the Greer Island Nature Center and Wildlife Refuge, was designated by resolu-tion of the park board on February 17, 1964, as “a wildlife sanctuary and nature preserve.” The area con-sisted of “Greer Island, some 55 acres plus the sur-rounding water and shoreline, making about 380 acres in all,” as reflected by Mrs. Parker in 1994. A great Fort Worth fire, albeit so very important to the life cycle of prairies, was one of the driving forces which resulted in the impoundment of Lake Worth in 1914. Designed not only to serve as a source of drink-ing water to the thirsty town, it was also to be a re-source for better control of potentially devastating fires in a town whose buildings were then constructed largely of combustible wood. Who then would have guessed that 50 years later the high ground which be-came closely related sister islands as the new Lake Worth filled to its capacity would become the Greer Island Nature Center and Wildlife Refuge, Fort Worth’s “Community Nature Center.” Now nearly an-other 50 years later, after many thousands of excited, bright-eyed school children and their equally enthralled parents have learned many of the lessons nature has to

teach us by visiting our Na-ture Center, we prepare to celebrate the golden anniver-sary of what is arguably one of the best, earliest, and larg-est urban nature centers in the United States. Much of what makes the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge special is its serendipitous geographic relationship to upper Lake Worth, which is nearly completely contained within the Nature Center. Therefore, in 2014, we celebrate not only the 50th anni-versary of the Fort Worth Nature Center but also the 40th anniversary of the Friends of the Fort Worth Na-ture Center & Refuge, Inc. during the centennial year of the impoundment of Lake Worth.

SPECIAL 2014 EVENTS

March 22 – Founders Plaque Dedication at Greer Island

April 26 – Fort Worth Wild Evening 50th Anniversary Dinner Celebration Broadview Park-Fort Worth Nature Center November 6-23 – Broadview: A Spectrum of Nature Art Show & Sale (See complete listing for FONC and FWNC&R activities during 2014 on page 5)

Thank you Fort Worth Audubon Society, the Park-Recreation Board [now the Parks & Community Ser-vices Department Advisory Board], the Children’s Mu-seum [now the Fort Worth Museum of Science & His-tory], the Junior League of Fort Worth, the Fort Worth City Council, the Fort Worth Nature Center Staff now and then, and the many dedicated people and other farsighted organizations not mentioned which have been so instrumental in the founding and early devel-opment of the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge.

Kindest regards, Rick Shepherd

From The Board…...continued from page 3

~ 8 ~

SAVE THE DATE

22ND ANNUAL

Saturday, May 10, 2014

We need VOLUNTEERS to HELP plan this annual event!!!

What can you do to help?

• Design advertising brochure and t-shirt logo • Contact entertainers and logistics

• Mailings to sponsors and previous attendees • Assist Vendor/Exhibitor chair • Pass out flyers at other events • Place brochures at stores, etc.

• Set up and maintain registrant database • Work registration May 8 & 9

• Work setup Friday, May 9 • Help onsite Saturday, May 10

• Many more short-term commitments

For more info: 817-392-7410 / 817-320-6383

~ 9 ~

E mployees of Miller-Coors have generously volunteered at the Nature Center for the past three years. As part of the company’s

Water Stewardship community volunteer program, volunteers seek projects that have a direct impact on improving water quality. On Saturday, September 21, employees braved the mud after a day of rain to slog through the creek in the south pasture of the bison range. They scoured from bank to bank picking up trash and heavy tires that have floated into the creek from elsewhere. They also cleaned up an old building site and separated recyclable metal from refuse. By the end of the day, volunteers had col-lected and hauled a full-size dumpster full of trash as well as two large piles of recycla-ble metal. The company also donated $4,000 to the Friends of the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge. Thank you em-ployees of Miller-Coors for your corporate

stewardship! We would also like to thank our Natural Guard volunteers (Lani Aker, Carla Cassa-nova, Greg Hudgins, Manuela Villareal, and Jonathan Winnett) for assisting us as crew leaders on the project. Staff leaders included Randi Baldwin, Russell Lasiter, and Michelle Villafranca.

Michelle Villafranca Natural Resource Specialist

Miller-Coors Corporate Volunteers Donate Time and Funds for

Annual Water Stewardship Program

A Miller-Coors volunteer team works at an old building site to recover metal, which was loaded into a dump bed to be hauled out of the pasture.

Photo Credit: Michelle Villafranca

Some of the material that will be recycled. Photo Credit: Michelle Villafranca

~ 10 ~

Y ou may have noticed that portions of the Demon-stration Prairie were mowed during the fall. Since the Friends of the Nature Center donated a hay baler and related equipment in 2011, Nature Center

manage-ment staff has been making hay off of select prairie sites to feed the bison herd. So far this fall, we have taken 58 bales from a small portion of the prairies available to us. This should feed the bison well through the winter. Prior to being able to cut our own hay, I searched far and wide (all the way to Nebraska!) to find quality prairie hay to feed the bison. The drought has made hay a highly valuable commodity in this area, and gas prices raise the overall price even more if it must be shipped from any distance. Having our own equipment saves the Nature Center money and guarantees quality hay for our animals.

Rob Denkhaus Natural Resource Manager

Making Hay!

Natural Guard volunteers (from left) Dan Nation, Carla Cassa-nova, and Wayne Duke push a hay bale out to feed the hungry

bison. Photo Credit: Michelle Villafranca

A load of hay bales heading to storage at the hay barn. Photo Credit: Michelle Villafranca

Members Warm Up at the

9th Annual Chili Cook-Off

A lthough the sun was shining, attendees of the Friends’ 9th Annual Chili Cook-Off were lucky enough to have had a

light cold front move through the area just in time to enjoy delicious hot chili.

The tradition was kept alive with various forms of crock-pot and homemade chili, side snacks, and desserts. Members voted for their favorite chili, and first prize this year went to Dale Roberts, who also held a fun, money-raising raffle with handmade nature items.

One of the event highlights was guest speaker Ann Mayo, a UTA doctoral candi-date who made the subject of ants abso-lutely fascinating. Her research focuses on the Comanche Harvester Ant that lives in abundance – more than 900 colonies – at the Nature Center.

Why study ants? Because, according to Mayo, ants are ecologically important since they affect ecosystems according to where they nest and how they forage. Ex-amples she gave in support included seed dispersion and ground aeration. As well, ants can be good bio-indicators of how healthy an ecosystem is.

Mayo indicated that one of the “pitfalls” of setting up “pitfall” traps to study ants is that raccoons like to destroy them at night. Other interesting facts:

More than 30 species of ants can be found at the Nature Center

Ants can dig deeper than earth worms

Most ants are girls Ants are wingless, unless they

are alates, destined to reproduce Predators include the eastern

black widow spider, bee assassin, ant lions, and funnel web spider.

Chris Smith

Board Member

~ 11 ~

Spring Break Reminder…

S ince it’s only January, it seems odd to talk about spring. However, a change of seasons is just around the corner, so now is a good time to be proactive and

plan ahead for spring, particularly Spring Break (March 10 -14). The Nature Center will have plenty of choices for those who want to provide outdoor family activities for their children. Our offerings will include bison feeding hayrides, canoeing, guided hikes, and interactive encoun-ters with our Wild Ambassadors. Please go online to www.fwnaturecenter.org to view our week of special programming or pick up the January – March edition of the Phenology to see how we can meet your outdoor needs during Spring Break. See you in March!

Michael Perez Natural Scientist

Natural Scientist Michael Perez hosts a

Spring Break Bison Feeding Hayride in March 2012. Photo Credit: Judy Keown

Facebook for Nature Nerds

H ave you ever visited the Nature Cen-ter and seen a cool bird or flower but didn’t know who to tell about it? Now you can report your observations on

the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge project page on iNaturalist, a website that has been de-scribed as Facebook for nature nerds. Refuge staff members are collecting observations of all kinds – plants, vertebrates, and invertebrates – to help monitor populations and guide land management activities. To participate, simply visit www.inaturalist.org and follow the instructions to sign up. Then join the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge project. Any observation that you report that occurred within the bounds of the Nature Center will then auto-matically be added to the project. Observations can include photos and recordings, so you don’t have to know what you saw or heard. Other iNaturalist members can provide identifications. So far, we have 15 members who have reported observing 73 different species in the Nature Center.

Rob Denkhaus Natural Resource Manager

A screenshot of the Nature Center Project page. Photo Credit: Rob Denkhaus

~ 12 ~

W e are moving…the Volunteer Recognition Banquet Hands & Hearts is changing months. Over the past decade, the celebration honoring volunteers who have graciously donated thousands of hours to the

Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge has been taking place in the month of April. We will continue this annual festivity, but it will be moved to the month of February beginning in 2014. Hands & Hearts was originally held in the month of February to coincide with the theme of love and friendship celebrated on Val-entine’s Day…hence its name, Hands and Hearts, to signify the many dedicated volunteer hands and hearts involved in taking care of the Nature Center. Please join us this February 22, 2014, from 4-6 pm at the Hard-wicke Interpretive Center as the staff of the FWNC&R bestows thanks and accolades upon our wonderful supporters. We hope to see you there.

Laura Veloz, Natural Scientist/Volunteer Coordinator

2014 Hands & Hearts on the Move

The annual Hands & Hearts Banquet is moving to February beginning in 2014. This year’s ban-

quet will be held February 22 from 4-6 pm in the Hardwicke Interpretive Center.

Photo Credit: Laura Veloz,

Congratulations Cross Timbers Master Naturalist Class of 2013!

A nother successful Cross Tim-bers Master Naturalist class has been completed at the Fort Worth Nature Center &

Refuge. Beginning in late August, adults from many varied professional back-grounds assembled on NINE consecu-tive Tuesday evenings to participate in the classes as well as take four Saturday field trips to obtain a better understand-ing of our native ecosystems. With their Texas Master Naturalist certification, these volunteers will help create aware-ness and offer know-how to citizens who will then become better nature stewards in their communities. Congratulations to the 2013 CTMN Class!

Laura Veloz Natural Scientist/Volunteer Coordinator

Members of the Cross Timbers Master Naturalist Class of 2013. Photo Credit: Phyl Baloga

~ 13 ~

T his year’s Trails and Treats Halloween al-ternative event proved to be a huge suc-cess. Many families enjoyed a pleasant early evening walk along the Limestone

Ledge Trail to collect treats, get faces painted, play games, make a craft, and learn about nocturnal ani-mals with a live striped skunk and Virginia opossum. Judging by the smiles on children’s faces and the amount of candy loot found, everyone had a great time. Several families shared that Trails and Treats would be on their circuit of fall activities in the fu-ture.

We are thankful to our volunteers who helped make this year a success. Their tireless efforts help keep the Nature Center important and relevant to our community.

In conjunction with our events at Trails and Treats, we held a costume contest. All children were given the opportunity to have their photo taken by our volunteer photographers Daryl and Brandon Marling. Nature Center staff reviewed the photos and determined the three winners of the costume contest: Jake (King Co-bra), Ava and Addy (Owls), and Mason (Panhandler). Each of these winners received a family pass for his or her family to enjoy a day looking for other treats on our trails –migrating birds and budding wildflowers – or celebrate just being outside.

Thank you to everyone who came and made this a great event! Michael Perez

Natural Scientist

Trails and Treats 2013

Children and adults alike enjoyed 2013’s Trails and Treats event at the Nature Center.

Photo Credit: Brandon Marling

M eet the recent graduates of the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge 2013 fall docent training. This group of nature enthusiasts met for seven consecutive

Saturdays to enhance their knowledge of local natural history and hone interpretive skills to become great docents. They will join the ranks of dedicated volun-teers who participated last year in leading over a thou-sand children and adults on guided hikes. The Nature Center is grateful to the new docents for their partici-pation and readiness to share their knowledge of the great outdoors to audiences of all ages. Interested in becoming a docent at the Fort Worth Na-ture Center? Please register to attend the next docent training beginning on February 8th by contacting Vol-unteer Coordinator Laura Veloz at 817-392-7413.

Laura Veloz Natural Scientist/Volunteer Coordinator

Fall 2013 Docent Graduates

Fall 2013 docent graduates, left to right: Susan Marchbanks, Gregory Anderson, Allyson Adame, & Mary Turner.

Photo Credit: Laura Veloz.

~ 14 ~

Glenn Baird Claudia Blalock Bonita Bowman William Brackett Linda Brender

Sandra Brunello Dr. Brooke Byerley

Scott Callnin Tobin Clark

Andrew Cordell Robert Crow

Teresa DeCastro Janet & Dave Douglass

Donna Dutkofski Donna Elton Walter Fuchs

Scott & Lisa Gabriel Sarah Geer

Kakki Gemmell Laura Harrison Sue Harvison

Michael Holder Shannon Hollis

Dr. Timothy Hubbard Patricia Hyer Murray James

Eva Key Marty Leonard Suzie Martin

Marsha McLaughlin Laura Miller

Lorenzo Moctezuma

Dr. Scott Morris Carol Murray Karen Nash Lisa Nash

Dr. Amanda Stone Norton

Dr. Bob O'Kennon Jodelle Owens Elaine Petrus

Shayna Reasoner Carol Reynolds

William R. Richerson Dale Roberts Hilliary Schatz

Dr. Dick & Sharon Schoech

William Shaw William & Margaret

Shaw Rick & Karen Shepherd

Kathleen Shumate Chris Smith Mack Stacy

Dr. Gordon Stone Theresa Thomas

Rev. Timothy Thomas Ann Trenton

Barbara Varley Michelle Villafranca

Kathy Weber Laura Wood Gail Wright

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!!

A grateful Board of the Friends of the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge is pleased to express its appre-ciation to all who either responded to our request for donations or independently contributed during this year's DonorBridge Texas Giving Day on September 19th. All donations made that day, whether for capital improvements, Todd Island (levee) bridge, Buffalo Boogie, canoe programs, or membership, were matched in part by the Communities Foundation of North Texas, bringing our grand total for the day to $24,319.52.

The Friends of the Nature Center could not carry out its mission without your generous support.

Rick Shepherd President

2013 Donor Bridge Texas Giving Day Contributors

General Donations Douglas Clark

Donald Petrecca Sindy Semmens

Native Plant Society of TX

Corporate Donations

2013 Hunt Cares Employee Campaign

(matching Pete Reincke) Miller-Coors

IN-KIND

DONATIONS Russell Feed #1

Richard L. Shepherd Designated Donations

2014 Gala Michelle and Robert Clark

Charitable Fund The Junior League of Fort

Worth, Inc. Lena Pope Home

Todd Island (Levee) Bridge

Murray James Nina Francis

Birds of Prey

JoeBites Online Auction Cameron Carver Ann Christian Sharon Dooley Kirkham Family Julie Loeffelholz

Marsha McLaughlin Audrey Metroka Shellie Metroka

Donna Mills Jane Rector

Rosalie Rogers Hillary Sullivan Suzanne Tuttle

Michelle Villafranca

~ 15 ~

Kids’ Page……..

WINTER HAVENS

F rom prairie dog burrows to galls to beehives, many animals build incredible homes to protect themselves from predators or the unforgiving weather. They use materials that are available or what they can produce, such as branches, grasses, mud, silk, or wax. During cold months, many

of these creatures seek shelter in their fantastic creations either to hibernate or just to keep warm. Foxes, rabbits, prairie dogs, and other creatures keep warm during the winter months by creating or us-ing underground homes. It takes longer for these well-insulated subterranean dwellings to be affected by the quickly falling temperatures above ground, plus they are often packed with leaves, grass clippings, and fur to keep them warm as they hibernate, nap, or just seek shelter. Nature’s master builders, the beavers, make lodges out of mud and sticks to keep them warm and to keep out predators. Their underwater entrance makes it harder for uninvited guests to enter, and the elevated interior room keeps them dry when water levels rise. Beaver lodges even have an open vent at the top to allow fresh air in. Some animals do not even build homes but instead take advantage of the warmth and protection that human homes provide. Fox squirrels normally build their nests in trees but often take up residence in our attics. The only native marsupial of North America, the Virginia opossum, typically seeks the shelter of hollow trees or logs, but as an alternative, they may stay in our garages. Mice and rats also find shelter in human houses, not only from the chilling temperatures of winter but also to have easy access to food when rations grow scarce outside. Use your animal knowledge to complete the following puzzle. All the creatures in each row and column have something in common. Can you match each row and column by placing the letter to the correct fact below?

D E F

A Beavers Squirrels Blue Jays

B Bees House Spiders Wasps

C Bats Opossums Great Horned Owls

___ 1. All can fly. ___ 4. All make their own home materials.

___ 2. All are nocturnal. ___ 5. All start with the same letter.

___ 3. All are frequently living in people’s houses. ___ 6. All use sticks to make their homes.

Answers: 1.F; 2.C; 3.E; 4.B; 5.D; 6. A

FRIENDS OF THE FORT WORTH NATURE CENTER & REFUGE

9601 Fossil Ridge Road Fort Worth, Texas 76135

817-392-7410

Reminders from F.O.N.C.

NEWS FLASH!!! A way to save money!

Remember, your donation to the Friends of the

Fort Worth Nature Center is completely tax deductible. Please send your tax-free donation

to: “FONC” 9601 Fossil Ridge Road, Fort Worth, TX 76135

Help us earn money at

Tom Thumb and Kroger

These two grocery stores give us a percentage of what our members spend there.

The next time you're shopping at Tom Thumb, pick up a Reward Card application at the courtesy booth, fill it out, then link the card to our Friends Reward Account (#10930, Friends of Nature Center).

For Kroger, go on-line to www.KrogerCommunityRewards.com and sign up for an account. Then link your account to the Friends (#83215).