Zach Ritchie, a conservation manager at the San Antonio Botanical Garden, will introduce participants to the early stages of Texas native plants. He will talk about how to recognize the morphological differences of select examples of seedlings. Participants will learn some new terms like “eudicots” and “monocots” and examine the contrasting cotyledons of these two classes of vascular plants after germination. NOTE: For those attending in person, doors will open at 6:30 p.m. for a plant exchange. Those who attending via the Zoom platform are required to register in advance, to be admitted to the online meeting.

The HLBWS Study Group meets at 11:00 a.m. on the third Monday of each month, from September through June. Topics of discussion and related readings are announced to members in advance of each meeting. Come join in the fun and camaraderie, and gain a greater appreciation of the topic at hand.

Everyone is welcome to enjoy a morning of bird watching from the wildlife viewing station at Blanco State Park. A park ranger will discuss the basics of birding and then help participants learn about the birds that call the park home. Coffee will be provided, but participants should bring their own breakfasts or snacks, water, and binoculars. (The park has a very limited supply of binoculars available to borrow.) People should dress appropriately for the weather conditions. Please note that the program is subject to cancellation in the event of inclement weather. Park admission is $5/person aged 13 and over, and admission is free for children aged 12 and younger. It is strongly recommended that people purchase their day passes, here, in advance of this event. There is no additional charge to participate in Coffee with the Birds.

David Sarkozi will talk about the 2-year project that culminated in the book, Birds of Texas. At 614 pages, the book still doesn’t tell the full story of birds found in this state. Some remaining parts of the story, such as which of the common ducks in Texas is mostly nocturnal, don’t fit in the guide. Mr. Sarkozi has been an active - and avid - birder for over 30 years, and has served in numerous leadership roles, such as having been the president of the Texas Ornithological Society.

There is no cost to attend this meeting. Full details are available in Travis Audubon’s free newsletter. You can sign up to receive the newsletter by completing a form found here.

This FREE meeting features speaker Kelly Tarla, the Burnet County AgriLife extension agent, discussing ways we can all be more “water wise.” This is the second part of a four-part water wise series that is open to the public.

Gentle reminder for all HLBWS members: If you have content that you would like to see in the next edition of the Great Blue Herald, the deadline is on the 15th of each month. Be sure to send in your articles, poems, and photos! Your submissions help to make this one of the best organization newsletters we’ve ever seen.

On the second Monday of each month, the Friends of Inks Dam National Fish Hatchery conducts a bird survey led by a team of experts. All HLBWS members are welcome to help with the survey. Be sure to dress for the weather and bring all that you will need for the morning (water, sunscreen, bug spray, binoculars, etc.). For more information about the bird surveys, please use the “Contact Us” form found here.

Per the NPSOT website, invited speaker Ben Pfeiffer will discuss the types of fireflies found in Texas and across the United States. He will present his research on Texas firefly taxa, including the species found in nearby river basins and riparian areas. He will show participants how to identify common firefly species and learn their flash patterns as a way to recognize them in the wild. Participants will learn why fireflies flash and how they use light to attract mates. Additionally, Mr. Pfeiffer will discuss specific threats that are causing fireflies to disappear in many areas of the United States. He will explain how people can obtain certification of their property as firefly habitat, suggest native plants that can be grown to help fireflies, and share other ways that people can help save these iconic insects.

Registration is required to attend the online meeting. A brief business meeting commences at 7:00 p.m., and the presentation follows immediately. Full details and the link to register for this meeting can be found here.

This FREE hike is a great opportunity to learn about wildflowers, and take a break from the busy pace of life. Participants will learn how to use wildflower guides and get to know some of the nature applications that can be used to identify plants and flowers, whenever and wherever a plant of interest is encountered.

This hiking tour takes place on a non-public tract of the refuge, providing a special opportunity to see areas that are set aside exclusively for native plants and animals. The hike will move at a moderate place, with stops along the way to discuss the birds, plants, history, geology and habitats of the Refuge. 

Full details and the link to register for the hike can be found here. Space is strictly limited so early registration is advised.

Each Sunday (except for any 5th Sunday in a given month), for $10/person, an expert guide leads a bird walk around the various habitats of Mitchell Lake Audubon Center. Participants may see as many as 30-50 different bird species. The bird walk can last up to 4 hours and is best suited for those aged 15 and up. For full information and the link to purchase tickets, please see the list of events on this page.

Williamson County’s River Ranch County Park is having a “Nature Social” on Saturday, April 5, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event is put on by “Friends of River Ranch County Park”.  See more information at their website: www.friendsofriverranch.org. Volunteer opportunities may be available and inquiries should be made to friendsofriverranch@gmail.com. Attendees will have to pay for day passes to enter the park ($4/adult, $2/adult age 65 and older, FREE for children age 12 and younger).

SAVE THE DATE!! Members of HLBWS will meet up at the Canyon of the Eagles store at 8:00 a.m. sharp. Our access fee will be $5/person and car tags will be distributed at that point. An e-mail was sent to all members on March 14, 2025, with more specifics. We hope to see a good variety of migratory birds, water and shore birds, and raptors! This is a popular destination for our field trips due to the available amenities and ease of access.

[This meeting was rescheduled from January, due to inclement weather.] Featured speaker Ed Sones will treat us to an engaging presentation featuring live raptors led by dedicated wildlife rehabilitators. This interactive session offers a unique opportunity to learn about the behaviors and habitats of raptors native to Central Texas while witnessing these majestic birds up close.

Ed is a very unusual bird watcher who is known for watching birds and other wildlife with them inside his home. He has been a wildlife rehabber for over 30 years, starting with nurturing two infant squirrels brought to him by his dog. Ed has personally rehabbed well over 4,000 birds of more than 120 species. Foster parenting, voracious fledglings, hissing vultures, and heartbreak are a part of his everyday world. He is on the board of Austin Area Wildlife Rehabilitation and a member of Austin Wildlife Rescue.

Other handlers assisting in this presentation include Desiree Lavigne, who has been rehabbing and training raptors for twelve years, and Gerrie McCall, who has been volunteering as a raptor rehabber with Ed for three years.

The meeting will be held on Thursday, April 3, 2025, at the Burnet County Agri-Life Extension, 607 N. Vanderveer, Burnet. Doors will open at 9:30 a.m. for social time and light refreshments; the business meeting begins at 10:00 a.m.; and Ed Sones’s presentation follows at about 10:30 a.m. Visitors are always welcome!

If the weather permits, there will be a pre-meeting bird walk at Haley Nelson Park, 200 Garden Trail in Burnet, beginning at 8:00 a.m.

There are FOUR Welcome Back Warblers Walks scheduled at Warbler Vista: two on April 2 (one starts at 8 a.m. and one starts at 10:30 a.m.), and two on April 5 (one at 8 a.m. and one at 10:30 a.m.). See the full range of events at the Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge locations on the Friends of Balcones website.

This event is suitable for all levels of birders. The meeting point will be the Warbler Vista Parking Lot in the refuge (the next parking lot after the Quarry Canyon Trailhead). The entrance to Warbler Vista Trails is on FM 1431, roughly 25 miles east of the intersection of Hwy 281 and FM 1431. Participants are encouraged to wear sunscreen and appropriate shoes, and bring binoculars, water, insect repellent, and hiking poles. Group size on this FREE hike is strictly limited so early registration is strongly recommended.

Almost every Wednesday morning, Emily Grant and her colleagues host a Facebook live stream event that features one or more invited speakers, who talk about birds, birdwatching, and so much more. It’s FREE and no registration is required. You can find links to all of the past Cup Chats here, on YouTube. And here is where you can find their Facebook page to view the live events. They really have some wonderful speakers, and it’s a great way to start “Hump Day!”

George Cates of Native American Seed will give a talk on “Design for Success with Native Seed.” He will explain the complete cycle for a native planting project, from initial planning, site preparation, implementation, to maintenance and management. He will describe how participants can learn and work with the cycles of nature to ensure beautiful diversity and an ecological legacy with every project. Mr. Cates is a restoration specialist with Native American Seed. For full details and information about how to access the online meeting, please visit this NPSOT page.

Registration for Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Great Texas Birding Classic (GTBC) opened back in mid-February. Today, April 1, 2025, is the DEADLINE to register for the GTBC. The data collection “window” spans from April 15 - May 15, 2025. Full details about the GBTC, rules, checklists, etc., are available on the GBTC website.

This family-friendly event features a whole host of activities, all in celebration of the blooming of our official state wildflower. Caution: Due to drought conditions, it is hard to know how bountiful the display of bluebonnets will be. General admission tickets cost $20/participant, ages 4 and older. There is a park entry fee of $5/adult for those who merely accompany the event participants. (In other words, if a parent, guardian or grandparent is supervising younger people but not taking part in any of the activities, it will only cost them $5 each to get into the event.) For full details and the link to purchase tickets, visit this page.

SAVE THE DATE! Members of the Highland Lakes Birding and Wildflower Society traditionally have had a booth at the Hill Country Lawn & Garden Show, with informative displays, activities for the family, and even free packets of wildflower seeds for anyone who stops by the booth. More details will be posted here when they become available.

The business portion of this meeting will start at 7 p.m. The featured speaker is Dr. Jane Duke, who will discuss soil ecology. Registration will be required to access the Zoom meeting. Full details will be available here.

This is a FREE, family-friendly community event that celebrates spring migration. [Please note that participants may still need to pay for general admission to the center.] The festival will feature some live birds and animals, games, crafts, 20+ vendors, a native plant sale, a nature book sale, food trucks, nature walks and golf cart tours of the wetlands. Visit the Center’s website for full details about the Migratory Bird Festival.

This FREE meeting features speaker Kelly Tarla, the Burnet County AgriLife extension agent, discussing ways we can all be more “water wise.” This is the first of a four-part water wise series that is open to the public.

The Highland Lakes Birding and Wildflower Society and Highland Lakes chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas are holding a joint field trip to the San Antonio Botanical Garden. Space is strictly limited to 20 participants. Members should have received a Groups.io email with details and how to reserve a space. Plans are for an 8 a.m. departure from Marble Falls, a guided tour by renowned plant expert Michael Eason from approximately 10 a.m. to about noon, and an optional lunch. Some may opt to visit additional destinations after the field trip.

The HLBWS Study Group meets at 11:00 a.m. on the third Monday of each month, from September through June. Topics of discussion and related readings are announced to members in advance of each meeting. Come join in the fun and camaraderie, and gain a greater appreciation of the topic at hand.

The NPSOT and H-E-B collaboration that celebrates Texas Native Plants officially begins March 17, 2025. Over 200 H-E-B stores will be selling NPSOT-recommended native plants at a special “yellow coupon” price – 2 quart-sized plants for $12. The plants will be arriving at the stores in two shipments between March 10 and March 17. These plants tend to sell out very quickly, so be sure to go early to have the best selection! Some stores, including the H-E-B in Marble Falls in Lakeway (RM 620), will have local NPSOT volunteers set up at tables on March 22 (11 a.m. - 3 p.m.) and March 23 (Noon - 4 p.m.), 2025. They will assist with questions you may have about the Texas native plants available for purchase. For more specifics, including the list of plants for sale, please visit this NPSOT page.

This meeting of the Highland Lakes Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas is FREE and open to the public. Featured speaker Jess Divin, an ISA Master Arborist, will be joined by certified arborists Talia Freeman, Kyle White, and William Johnston to present "Improving the Cultural Practices of Tree Care."

Jess will address some of the questions and qualms of the common tree admirer, such as:
- Improving conditions in our harsh climate
- Common tree care faux pas
- Common pests of Central Texas
- How to mitigate tree stressors

Jess is an International Society of Arboriculture Board Certified Master Arborist, Texas ISA Oak Wilt Qualified, and Tree Risk Assessor Qualified. He is currently a District Manager at the East San Antonio Davey Tree, which spans from Rockport to Blanco. Throughout the years, Jess has arboricultural experience from entry level technician to District Manager at Davey Tree. He was also a wildland firefighter in Colorado, the Park Ranger Superintendent and Urban Forester for the city of New Braunfels, TX.

Gentle reminder for all HLBWS members: If you have content that you would like to see in the next edition of the Great Blue Herald, the deadline is on the 15th of each month. Be sure to send in your articles, poems, and photos! Your submissions help to make this one of the best organization newsletters we’ve ever seen.

On the second Monday of each month, the Friends of Inks Dam National Fish Hatchery conducts a bird survey led by a team of experts. All HLBWS members are welcome to help with the survey. Be sure to dress for the weather and bring all that you will need for the morning (water, sunscreen, bug spray, binoculars, etc.). For more information about the bird surveys, please use the “Contact Us” form found here.

The Native Plant Society of Texas (NPSOT) will hold its annual Spring Symposium at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. There is an option to attend the event online. The day-long symposium will feature several speakers and topics of broad interest, including edgelands, grasslands, birding, pollinators, living memorials and more. More information about the in-person event is here, and about the virtual version, here.