Greg Miller, author of the book titled The Big Year, will address the Williamson Audubon Group (WAG) about his birding experiences during the WAG’s regularly scheduled meeting. According to the meeting description:

Greg is a seasoned birder with over 50 years of experience. He has explored all 50 US states and parts of Canada, always seeking new bird species. In 1998, he participated in a "Big Year" challenge, traveling extensively to see as many birds as possible in one year.
His impressive achievement of over 700 species was documented in the book "The Big Year," which later became a popular movie. Miller even served as a consultant for the film. He remains active in the birding community and shares his knowledge and passion through his blog.

You can learn more about Greg Miller here, on Facebook.

In an online panel discussion moderated by Margaret Roach, a NY Times columnist, discussants Doug Tallamy, Rebecca McMackin and Benjamin Vogt will speak to the challenges and opportunities of ecological horticulture. The conversation will address practical tips, tackle common misconceptions, and explore the deeper philosophy behind creating vibrant landscapes that benefit both ecosystems and communities. Participants will have to opportunity to submit questions for the panel to address. The registration fee is $25/participant. Full details and the link to register are found here.

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.

Wildfires pose significant risks in drought-stricken areas. To learn more about ways to mitigate the risks, particularly if you reside in a wildland-urban interface or you/your structures intermix with vegetation, please sign up to attend one of these important workshops hosted by the Texas A&M Forest Service (you can choose to attend the morning session from 10 AM to 11:30 AM, or the afternoon session from 1:30 PM to 3 PM). The goal is to help participants make logical, well-informed decisions about wildfire hazard risk assessment and implement ways to reduce or contain the identified risks. If you plan to attend, please email Derek Marchio, the Burnet County Emergency Management Coordinator.

Gary Bower will guide this hike on a private tract of the BCNWF, for the purpose of introducing participants to some of the native plants located in the refuge. The walk will go at a relatively slow pace and may not cover the entire route. The maximum potential route is 3 miles along an old 2-track ranch road that has 377 feet of elevation gains. The loose rocks combined with short steep slopes render this mostly un-shaded trail moderately difficult. Please be prepared with water, good hiking shoes and, if possible, hiking poles. Also note that there are no restroom facilities, nor is drinking water available, at the trailhead. Participants are asked to arrive by 7:45 a.m. to gain access to the refuge’s parking lot and start the hike on time. Once the hike gets underway, there will no longer be someone at the gate to admit people into the parking lot.

Full details and the link to register (registration opens to the public on Wednesday, January 15, 2025) can be found here.

Our February speaker, Mary Kay Pope, will present an overview of past drought conditions in Central Texas and the long-term ramifications that those conditions may have on tree health. The environmental consequences of ecological drought can include losses in plant growth; increases in fire and insect outbreaks; altered rates of carbon, nutrient, and water cycling; and local species extinctions.

Mary Kay is an Horticulturist and Certified Arborist who has worked in her field continuously for five decades. She has been with Backbone Valley Nursery in Marble Falls since 2015 and regularly publishes articles on the nursery’s website.

Meeting room doors open at 9:30 a.m. for social time and light refreshments. A brief business meeting starts at 10:00 a.m., and Mary Kay Pope’s presentation begins immediately after the business meeting.

If the weather permits, there is a pre-meeting bird walk at 8:00 a.m. at Haley Nelson Park in Burnet.

Guest speakers W. Rufus Stephens and Jan Wrede will discuss some of the core content of their book, Land Stewardship for Birds. The meeting is open to the public. A business meeting will follow the presentation. See this page for more information about the Highland Lakes Master Naturalists.

At this online meeting, Jane Tillman will present “Gardening for Birds with Native Plants.” Her talk will touch on the importance of native plants in the landscape and what factors to consider when choosing native plants to install. These factors can include everything from plant height to blooming season to which birds are most drawn to various plants, whether for food, nesting materials, or other purposes. Registration will be required to attend this online event. Full details will be available here.

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.

Registration is open for the Native Plant Society of Texas (NPSOT) Spring Symposium, which will take place in person from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 8, 2025. Hours for the virtual option are 8:45 a.m. to 3 p.m. that same day. The registration fees for the in-person event are $65/non-member, $50/member, or $25/student. Fees are reduced for the virtual version of the symposium, at $50/non-member, $40/member, or $15/student. Presentations at the symposium will cover topics such as “Birding the Unexpected Places” and “Pollinators of Texas,” among several others. Please be aware that NPSOT does have specific cancellation and refund policies in place. The full agenda, details and link to register for the in-person event are available here. The analogous information for the virtual version of this event is here.

SAVE THE DATE! SparrowFest is back at BCNWF. Participants will spend the entire day with a team of expert birders in a workshop that will focus on field identification of the native sparrow species that are regularly seen each winter in Central Texas. Team leaders will take participants to various refuge tracts, beyond the usual trails, to go where the 'little brown birds' play. Participants will learn how to identify the subtle differences and behavior of Texas’ many wintering sparrows. Registration is $150/person and space is strictly limited, so early registration is advised. The fee includes a light breakfast, lunch, an afternoon snack and a hot drink. Participants are encouraged to bring their own reusable beverage containers and to dress appropriately for both the weather and walking through brush (waterproof hiking boots are recommended). Find complete information and the link to register here.

In this online event, a team of three experts will discuss the status of Whooping Crane populations along the middle Texas coast and their expanding range along the central Texas coast. Then they will unveil a new decision support tool to help private landowners, land trusts and other organizations identify high-value habitats and potential conservation actions on working lands. The goal is to foster a better balance between protecting Whooping Cranes and supporting landowners’ livelihoods. To register for this online event, please visit this site.

This hybrid meeting can be attended in person or online. Guest speaker Michael Nentwich will talk about the stresses on the urban forest in San Antonio. Which stressors are affecting the trees: the extreme heat during the summer, the extended heat waves, the severe cold events, the extended drought, or all of the above? Once the stressors are identified, discussion will turn to what can be done to maintain tree health and diversity in Bexar County. Registration is required, here, to access the online version of this meeting.

Natasia Moore, an Urban Wildlife Biologist with Texas Parks and Wildlife, will talk about the importance of birds, how they’re affected by urbanization, and ways in which residents can provide habitat for birds in their own backyards. She will identify some common urban and suburban birds and native plants that are beneficial to them. Ms. Moore also will discuss key considerations when providing birds with supplemental resources, such as food, water, and shelter. This meeting will be held in person and be accessible on line. Full details are available here.

Ms. Moore received her Bachelor’s degree in Natural Resources Management and a Master’s degree in Wildlife, Aquatics, and Wildland Science and Management from Texas Tech University. Her research interests include ecological effects of urban development, specifically as it relates to raptors and other avian species. [HLBWS members may recall having enjoyed a presentation by Ms. Moore, last spring, about what urban biologists do in the course of their work.]

Texas Nature Trackers wildlife biologist Craig Hensley will use the technique of owl pellet dissection to discern what some Burrowing Owls have been feeding on this winter. Owl pellets are the regurgitated, undigested remnants of an owl’s food. Watch this FREE, Facebook live event to see what this delicate dissection reveals! Shown below are some of Mr. Hensley’s photographs of these endearing small owls from the Facebook announcement of this event. If you look carefully at the first photograph, you can see a fresh pellet on the rock, by the owl’s feet.

Registration is now open for the Native Plant Society of Texas (NPSOT) Spring Symposium, which will take place in person from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 8, 2025. Hours for the virtual option are 8:45 a.m. to 3 p.m. that same day. The registration fees for the in-person event are $65/non-member, $50/member, or $25/student. Fees are reduced for the virtual version of the symposium, at $50/non-member, $40/member, or $15/student. Presentations at the symposium will cover topics such as “Birding the Unexpected Places” and “Pollinators of Texas,” among several others. Please be aware that NPSOT does have specific cancellation and refund policies in place. The full agenda, details and link to register for the in-person event are available here. The analogous information for the virtual version of this event is here.

This webinar will help participants learn why phenology is important, examples of current phenology research, and how anyone who uses iNaturalist can support such research by adding annotations to their plant observations. Here is where you can find more information about this online event, and the form to register for it.

Master Gardener, Master Naturalist, and NPSOT Trainer Janet Smith will help participants learn how to create a garden full of blooms using native perennials, without the hassle of planting seasonal color. This strategy is not only a way to save time, effort and water: native plants help attract and sustain a wide array of wildlife seeking food, shelter, and habitat. Here is where you can find full details and information about how to access the meeting.

The January 20, 2025 meeting of the HLBWS Study Group has been cancelled due to the extreme cold weather conditions, with the potential for precipitation Monday into Tuesday. Ordinarily, 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.

This month’s discussion topic, insects, is a follow up to Wizzie Brown’s presentation about helping beneficial insects thrive and ways to manage those that may not be quite so welcome. We will take up a discussion of dragonflies and other insects at our next Study Group meeting in February.

Come join in the fun and camaraderie, and gain a greater appreciation of the topic at hand!

Colleen Dieter is the featured speaker at this meeting of the Highland Lakes Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas. She will discuss drought-tolerant plants that are “tried and true” survivors native to our area. She also will share some tips on how to maintain these plants for best results over time. Ms. Dieter is a certified arborist and the founder of Central Texas Seed Savers. She developed the guide, “Let’s Care for Texas Plants.” The HLNPSOT meeting is free and 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.

This hybrid meeting is taking place both in person and online. Guest speaker Adam Lawrence will begin his discussion at 7:00 p.m. He will explore the incorporation of native plants — particularly native grasses — into home landscapes. Little Bluestem and Bushy Bluestem are the speaker’s favorite plants. Participants will learn about the ecological benefits, aesthetic appeal, and practical steps that must be taken to create a sustainable, nature-friendly garden inspired by the beauty of coastal prairies. Mr. Lawrence is the Habitat and Stewardship Manager at Artist Boat, where he oversees the Coastal Heritage Preserve, a nearly 1,100-acre expanse of coastal prairie and wetlands on the west side of Galveston Island.

Registration is required to access the online version of the meeting.

Please note the 7:30 a.m. start time for the survey!

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 appropriately 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.

Vanishing Texas River Cruises (VTRC) has partnered with Last Chance Forever Bird of Prey Conservancy since the 1990's to release rehabilitated birds of prey back to the wild. These “Freedom Flight” cruises are extremely popular: It is exhilarating to witness the return of now-healthy birds to natural habitat. Cruise participants have opportunities to see birds of prey at close range, and limited seating creates more opportunities for learning about how birds of prey are rehabilitated. Representatives with Last Chance Forever are on board each Freedom Flight cruise to explain each bird’s story prior to its release. Also provided are some exclusive up-close photo opportunities. Tickets cost $75/person, and a portion of each sale goes toward raptor rehabilitation efforts. Be advised that there are strict cancellation policies for these cruises. The cruise is from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., but participants are asked to check in 30 minutes before departure time, that is, by 10:30 a.m.

For full details and to purchase tickets, please visit the Vanishing Texas River Cruise website.

If this cruise is already fully booked or the date doesn’t work for your calendar, there will be another Freedom Flight cruise on February 16, 2025.

Craig Bruska will discuss how to create a native seed library within your community. The talk will include ideas about how to: create some local buzz, get your library to partner on the project, establish scientific and common name indexes, and create needed documents. Craig also will identify benefits and challenges of undertaking the creation of a native seed library.

Craig has had a lifelong love of nature. He had oversight responsibility for the maintenance and construction of over 100 miles of multi-use county wide trails in a 35,000 acre preserve system in Illinois. He oversaw the restoration over 1,000 acres of wetlands by removing field tiles. His crews battled invasive species from European Buckthorn to Purple Loosestrife.

Since moving to Texas in 2019, Craig has worked to learn the plants of the Blackland Prairie and Edwards Plateau. He has completed the Native Plant Society of Texas – Native Landscaping Certification Program and is a Texas Master Naturalist. Craig has helped create native seed libraries in Comal, Hays, and Guadalupe counties and is working on adding two more. He is also the NPSOT State Chair of the Native Seed Committee.

For full details and the link to register for the online version of this meeting, please see the event page on the NPSOT website.

DUE TO ONGOING CONCERNS ABOUT WEATHER AND ROAD CONDITIONS, THIS MEETING HAS BEEN CANCELLED. The safety of our members, guests and speakers is a top priority, and we appreciate your patience and understanding. We apologize for any inconvenience that this decision may have caused. We hope to reschedule Ed Sones’ presentation to another meeting date later this spring.

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!”

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.

January 5 of each year is National Bird Day. If the weather permits, why not go out and do some bird watching? Members are invited to share their photos via the Great Blue Herald newsletter, on Facebook in the Highland Lakes Birding and Wildflower Society Photos group, or via the web site administrator for posting to our Members’ Photo Gallery. And don’t forget to report what you see in eBird, if you have an account there - every bit of data is helpful to scientists around the world.

Why not start the New Year off with a great day spent in the outdoors? Bring the family out to enjoy the Mitchell Lake Audubon Center with no entry fee today! For more information and to reserve tickets, please visit the Center’s website.