Odds and Ends

I am not blogging about a specific topic today--more just a series of notices about various things.

May 2, 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM: Trail Appreciation Day. Sponsored by the City of Wichita Falls. This is an opportunity to see sections of the trail you may not have discovered yet. I'll post more details closer to the date, but put the date on your calendar now.

There is a new interest group on Facebook that may be of interest to some readers: WF Urban Homesteaders. This is a closed group. This group will also meet on the first Friday of each month at noon. The first meeting last month was at Luby's but there hasn't been a decision yet on the meeting location for the April meeting. More to follow.

Wild Bird Rescue is continuing their education programs at their facility on the second weekend of the month. This upcoming weekend your family can enjoy seeing hawks and/or owls up close on Saturday at 10:00 AM or Sunday at 1:00 PM. The handler determines which birds are shown. These programs are free, although donations are always appreciated. The organization's annual Baby Bird Shower will be Saturday, March 28, 11:00 - 1:30. This is the only day each year that the facility is open to the public for tours.

Sustainable Small Farmers Online Event next week. Although focused on small farmers, there are some sessions many many be interested in. I want to watch the mushroom growing session myself. The event is free and the sessions are in the evening. The sessions will be available for a couple of days online for those who may not be able to attend at the time the session is scheduled.

Don't forget River Bend's Science Saturdays.

The Wichita Falls Museum of Art has the Andrea Rich, An Abundance of Riches, woodcuts on display now through April 4. This is a free exhibit.

The Rolling Plains Texas Master Naturalist training class "made" and is underway. I'll be doing the class on birds Thursday night.

If you know about events, products, groups, etc. that may interest readers, please send them to me at green.wichitafalls@gmail.com. We can't support what we don't know about. Earth Day is coming up in April. That's not normally a big deal in our community, but if you are aware of events, please let me know! I checked the Choose Wichita Falls website and nothing pops up....bummer!

Some Upcoming Events of Interest

I am consolidating several things into one post, just to be sure I get them all.

May 12, 6:00 - 8:30 PM, Well Water Owner Network, Red River Authority, 3000 Hammon Rd. If you have a water well or are thinking about drilling a well, you should attend this meeting. People have the impression that all water is good water, and that isn't 100% true in our area. Subjects to be covered include:

• Seymour Aquifer
• Well construction and protection
• Limitations of using poor quality well water
• Defining parameters for well water use for plants/livestock
• Evaluating well water quality
• Determining steps to take to achieve acceptable water quality
• Alternative water sources

Someone take good notes for me--I am going to be in Florida when this program is presented.

May 17, Heritage Days at Lake Arrowhead State Park. Although many children will be attending this even on the Friday with their schools, the Park is out of space, so many will not be able to go. However, the event will be repeated on Saturday, May 17 for the public. A $3 per person admission to the park (free if you have a Texas Parks Pass) will give you 12 stations about a number of topics relating to Texas history. I find the station on old time medical treatment fascinating (and I am sooooo glad to have other options). The event opens at 9:00 AM and will only stay open as long as there is a good crowd.

May 25, 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM. Lake Arrowhead State Park. Drought Days program. Free admission to the park for this educational opportunity. A program on the impact of the drought on the park and on local flora and fauna.

June 7, National Trail Day. 8:00 AM - Noon. Hike the trails at Lake Arrowhead State Park. The Rolling Plains Texas Master Naturalist chapter will have stations set up along the 0.5 mile nature trail to talk about the various items of interest. For those more hardy, the park interpreter will be leading a hike along the 5.5 mile Onion Creek Trail, beginning at 8.

June 28, Great American Backyard Campout. A great opportunity to camp out with the family in your backyard or perhaps Lake Arrowhead State Park.  The Rolling Plains Texas Master Naturalist chapter will host a special event that evening at the park beginning at 7:00 PM.  Meet at the Group Pavilion for nature activities, s'mores, and owl calling. Wild Bird Rescue will be on hand with a live owl program. You don't have to camp to attend this event, but why not make your reservation to spend the night? $3 per person entry fee to the park (camping fees apply if you camp.)

There's a lot going on, so there is no excuse not to get outside! (Other than the heat, of course. I really don't care for summer in this area.....)

Wild Bird Rescue Garage Sale

Wild Bird Rescue will be holding a garage sale fundraiser, Saturday, September 12 at the National Association of Letter Carriers building at 5310 Southwest Parkway (next to Wichita Valley Nursery.) This is a fundraiser for the organization. Already this year, the organization has taken in over 900 wild birds--the heat and drought have not been kind to our area's wildlife.

If you have items to sell (no clothing please), please price them before dropping them off. For information on days/times to drop off donations, call Wild Bird Rescue at 940-691-0828.

The sale will be from 8 AM - 2 PM on the 12th. In addition to the sale, there will be live music and food. Please donate your unwanted items and come out on the 12th to find low cost items you need. Help yourself and Wild Bird Rescue.

If you cannot attend the event, the organization is in need of cash donations to purchase needed food and supplies. You can mail donations to 4611 Lake Shore Dr, Wichita Falls, TX 76310 or donate at the website.

Earth Day Events

The Sierra Club walk on Friday evening got rained out--a severe thunderstorm with hail and lightening forced those that showed to cancel. Safety first. It was very hard to be upset when we need the rain so badly.

Photo left: Terry McKee, Rolling Plains Texas Master Naturalists president explains how long various types of trash can persist in the environment.

Today the Texas Master Naturalists worked with a group of kids from the Boys and Girls Club Torch Club (a leadership organization) to pick up litter at Plum Lake. It was great to see young people getting involved in making their community better.

Photo left: Kids cool down with some cold water after dropping off their trash. Several more bags were collected after this photo was taken.

After the Plum Lake cleanup, I headed out to River Bend Nature Center for their Earth Day celebration. There were plenty of children's activities and the $3 entry included entrance into the conservatory and to the trail.

Earth Day participants help Extension Agent Fred Hall mix compost.

The landscaping at River Bend is always a treat.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Inland Fisheries biologist Mark Howell talks about our local fish with the public.





Left: The Rolling Plains Texas Master Naturalists explained the rainwater harvesting system they installed at River Bend.

Left: Tad Gose, Lake Arrowhead State Park, shows many specimens and helps visitors learn more about the area wildlife.








Left: Rehabilitator Lila Arnold with Wild Bird Rescue shows a small visitor an eastern screech owl.







I had some budding ornithologists walk the trail at River Bend. We had some decent luck, with house sparrow, house finch, cardinal, common grackle, Carolina chickadee, red-bellied woodpecker, great crested flycatcher, tufted titmouse, blue jay and cedar waxwing were seen during our mid afternoon walk. We saw/heard a few other birds but were unable to make a positive ID.

Book Review: Attracting Native Pollinators

On January 17, I announced a presale on Attracting Native Pollinators from the Xerces Society. I ordered a copy and received it a little over a week ago. I finally took some time to take a good look at it and all I can say is, "You gotta get a copy!"

The first thing that catches your attention is the pretty pictures. I'm perfectly capable of reading a non-illustrated book, but hey, I am not above becoming absorbed in beautiful pictures of flowers, butterflies, and bees. After all, it works for Birds and Blooms, doesn't it?

The book discusses why pollinators are important and why they're struggling. Then the authors' provide strategies for helping preserve and improve habitat from urban landscapes to parks and farms/ranches. The book also describes how to make a number of low cost pollinator shelters and suggests appropriate plants for your garden. If you don't feel ready to make the leap to design your own garden, they have plans for several layouts with regional lists of appropriate plants (to include ours.)

You can't go wrong with this book. For everyone trying to make our community a more liveable and sustainable place for both people and other living things, I highly recommend getting and using a copy. I bought mine from the Xerces Society since I am a member and support the organization, but I found the book on Amazon.com for cheaper, so feel free to go that route--just get one. Remember, if you purchase from Amazon consider accessing through Wild Bird Rescue's website, and they will receive a portion of the proceeds. I know that and seem to rarely remember.

Save the Date: Free-a-Bird Volksmarch and Festival

Wild Bird Rescue will be having a sanctioned volksmarch and festival to raise funds for the organization on March 26, 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM at their location at 4611 Lake Shore Dr, Wichita Falls. For more information, see the Volksmarch registration tab on their website or call 940-691-0828.

This is a great way to get the family outside, get some exercise and to enjoy the nature along the trail through Lake Wichita Park and across the dam to the spillway.

PETS Food Pantry Event Saturday

Saturday, November 13, PETS will be holding a community pet food drive to help people who have pets and due to unforeseen circumstances need help feeding them.

The event will be held from 10 AM - 2 PM at Berend's Landing, 500 Wichita St. There is no admission fee--just bring donations of dog and cat food. There will be several organizations with booths at the event, to include Wild Bird Rescue, which will have Missi, their avian mascot there until she gets tired of the attention. They will also have small gift items for sale so you can get a start on your Christmas shopping. There will be other pet-related groups there as well.

Stop by, donate food and learn more about helping our community pets.

Raffle to Support Wild Bird Rescue

Wild Bird Rescue is raffling a 2009 Honda Rebel motorcycle (MSRP $3999) to raise money. Tickets are $10 and only 500 will be sold. The drawing will be at United Market Street on June 5 in conjunction with the baby shower (you do not have to be present to win.)

Last year Wild Bird Rescue cared for over 1000 injured and orphaned wild birds and provided educational programs about birds to a host of audiences. Like al lnon-profits, Wild Bird Rescue is operating on a very tight budget, and this is another attempt to raise money to continue to provide for our local birds, like the four baby mockingbirds in the photo (courtesy of Wild Bird Rescue.).

If you would like to purchase a ticket, call Wild Bird Rescue at 940-691-0828 or stop by at 4611 Lake Shore Drive, Wichita Falls, TX.

Spring Plant Sale at River Bend this Saturday

I plan to visit the plant sale on Saturday at River Bend for some herbs and butterfly host plants in between Wild Bird Rescue and a Texas Master Naturalist project at Lake Arrowhead State Park.

Who says there's nothing to do in Wichita Falls?

Hope to see you there.

Lots of Fun Events Coming Up!

Usually I try to post individual announcements about various events, but there are so many things happening in the near future, I am going to post several items.

- Home and Garden Show at the MPEC this weekend. A schedule of speakers and demonstrations is posted to the Kemp Center's website. There are several presentations about nature-related topics. They will have 2 tracks going most of the day, so it will be hard to fit everything in. Birds, amphibians, rainwater harvesting, gardening--it's all there, so come by. In addition, Wild Bird Rescue, the Texas Master Naturalists, and River Bend Nature Center will all have booths. Stop in to see them. Tickets are only $4 in advance; $6 at the door. I still have a few tickets left if you need one or two. Email me at green.wichtiafalls@gmail.com.

- River Bend is still running Science Saturdays. Currently free to everyone, these programs are a great way to introduce children to the fascination of science.

- River Bend is registering now for Spring Break camps. I included the flyer in this post.

- Duckie and Grackle event to support Wild Bird Rescue. Thursday at the Kemp Center from 6 - 8 PM. Free, although there will be opportunity to donate to suppport Wild Bird Rescue's efforts. I posted details on this event in A Charm of Finches blog last week.

- Wild Bird Rescue celebrity roast of David Farabee, March 26, 6:30 PM at the MPEC. Tickets are $25 and include dinner, silent and live auction and of course, a roast of David Farabee. It promises to be a great evening. For tickets, call Wild Bird Rescue at 940-867-9761.

- Texas Master Naturalist Spring Training Class starts in March. If you are interested in the outdoors, this is the place for you. More information about the local chapter is available at their website. They have posted the training schedule and application. The local chapter is very active and involved in many projects in the area.

Hope to see you at one or more of these upcoming events.

Big Sit October 11

The annual Wichita Falls Big Sit will be held Sunday, October 11, from sunrise until we get tired and go home (usually by noon.) We gather behind Wild Bird Rescue on what we optimistically call "the peninsula."

The Big Sit is a nationwide event (although some international groups are now taking part)--so groups all sit on the same day. This is a lazy birder event as the rules require that participants have to sit inside a 17-ft circle and count birds from inside that area. Groups compete for having the birdiest site. Most groups are a little more competitive than we are and start in the dark; end in the dark. We are out for the portion of the day that yields the most birds.

This event is sponsored by the North Texas Bird and Wildlife Club. It is free and open to the public. You don't have to know anything about birds to take part--there are plenty of experienced birders on hand. This is a come and go, so if you are not inclined to be up and functional at sunrise, come a little later in the morning (although you will miss some great sights.)

Dress appropriately (there is almost always a breeze off the water.) I advise layers as you will likely shed them as the morning warms. Also bring a lawn chair, your binoculars, a field guide, bug spray if you need it, and whatever you want to drink.We have had some excellent birding mornings in the past, so come on down! By the way, check out the video on the BirdWatchers' Digest website about the event.

Good birding!

Like Butterflies?

Like butterflies? If so, come to the Butterfly Count tomorrow, June 27, 8:00 AM at Lake Arrowhead State Park.

You don't have to know anything about butterflies--this is a good chance to learn some of the more common species. Hosted by the Rolling Plains chapter of the Texas Master Naturalists, the count helps supply information concerning the health of butterfly populations in the United States.

You will be able to enter the park for free if you indicate you are with the Master Naturalists. The group, headed by Terry McKee, will be meeting just inside the main gate. There is a charge of $3 per person to support the North American Butterfly Association in compiling and maintaining the data. Bring water, bug spray and if you have them, a butterfly net and butterfly field guide.

While you're on the NABA website, look around for great information on planting for butterflies.

I have attended these counts in the past, and they are fun. Unfortunately, I can't be there tomorrow. A person can only do so many things in a weekend and Saturday is my day at Wild Bird Rescue.