Prairie Notes #216 - 2024 In Retrospect
Prairie Notes are monthly photo/journal observations from Tandy Hills Natural Area by Founder/Director, Don Young. They include field reports, flora and fauna sightings, and more, mixed with a scoop of dry humor and a bit of philosophy.
They are available free to all who get on the FOTHNA email list.
2024 In Retrospect
Prairie Notes #216
December 1, 2024
1) In Retrospect: 2024
2) Field Report - November
3) New Species Report - November
4) Vandalism Report
5) Burn Prep Report
6) Newsworthy & Noteworthy
7) PrairieSky / StarParty Report
8) Manly Men Wild Women Hike - 16th Anniversary
9) Prairie Proverb - Kim Williams
1) 2024 In Retrospect
As I look back on the year 2024, I see that it was another year of milestones at Tandy Hills and for the Friends. Support from individuals, the City of FW and other organizations is helping insure future protection and appreciation of Tandy Hills. For all of that, we are grateful. So, let us now reflect on our 2024 successes, both large and small, with an eye on big things happening in 2025. And, don’t forget to come on in, anytime.
More than 100 people and a few dogs took part in the 15th Annual Manly Men & Wild Women Hike on a chilly New Year’s Day.
Tandy Hills had an unexpected visit from internationally famous artist and botanist, James Prosek. (He had an exhibition at the Carter Museum).
Prairie Notes also featured a new column celebrating the work of six local artists who frequent Tandy Hills.
About 50 players and coaches of the professional, Dallas Jackals Rugby Club, held a team-building hike at Tandy Hills on January 27th.
Amy Martin led a Ladies Only Full Moon Hike in February for about 25 ladies.
Major restoration and land management work was accomplished across Tandy Hills and Broadcast Hill, including eradication of invasive species such as, Hedge Parsley, Sweet Scabious, Prickly Lettuce and Johnson Grass.
With Sam Kieschnick out of the country, Suzanne Tuttle, led the 16th Annual Trout Lily Walk in for about 30 folks.
A local non-profit known as, The Boogie Brothers, hosted on a Solar Eclipse party at Tandy Hills and also made a generous donation to FOTHNA.
FOTHNA’s Kids on the Prairie program led field trips for several groups including, a group of Scouts, students from the Winston School of Dallas and others.
The Eastern Bluebird, occasionally seen and possibly nesting at Tandy Hills, was selected as the Official Bird of Fort Worth. FOTHNA board member, Jim Marshall is largely responsible.
Prairie Sky / Star Party, in association with Fort Worth Astronomical Society completed its 9th successful year at Tandy Hills.
12 issues of Prairie Notes were lovingly published with all 12 Prairie Proverbs by women.
A new group of Interns spent the summer at Tandy Hills, doing restoration work, documenting species and monitoring troublemakers.
FOTHNA, Native Prairies Association of Texas, Texas Parks & Wildlife and FW Park & Recreation, hosted another Mothing After Dark event with Sam Kieschnick. More than 120 people attended.
North Texas Giving Day netted $3,375 to help pay for our habitat restoration and environmental education programs.
Cross Timbers Master Naturalists and Native Prairies Association of Texas held several training sessions at Tandy Hills in 2024.
Prairie Posse volunteers and hired crews cleared invasive plant species from View Street meadows.
About 20 volunteer members of the Texas Conservation Alliance and the Fort Worth Audubon Society cleaned up 270 lbs. of trash at Tandy Hills on November 23rd.
More than 261 amazing new species were recorded at Tandy Hills in 2024 (as of Dec. 1), more than any previous year (See more below in #3)
More than 990 volunteer hours were logged by 33 volunteers from January 1 to December 1.
Friends of Tandy Hills celebrated its 21st year in volunteer stewardship of Tandy Hills.
As always, thanks for reading these Prairie Notes and supporting Friends of Tandy Hills Natural Area. Your donations are welcome HERE.
DY
2) Field Report - November
With winter knocking at the door and nature winding down, you will have to wait until next spring for the wildflower jewel box to reappear. As you can see below, the sky tends to be more colorful than the prairie in November. Blooming plants were rare although a few rogue late bloomers popped up after the much-needed rain in mid-November. I did see plenty of insects scurrying to prepare for the cold. Beetles, butterflies and birds. The reptiles are already hibernating.
There were probably more humans at Tandy Hills than any other species, in November. Burn preppers, photographers, iNatters, trash pickers, privet whackers, Prairie Keepers and Master Naturalists were all over the place. We also had several homeless camps to deal with and the usual troublemaking portrait photographers and ATV-ers.
But there were also days, when the wind was still, the sky was technicolored and I felt like I was the last person on Earth while hiking in a little bit of Heaven on Earth. Here are a few snapshots of what I saw.
November 8th: This striking cloud formation fooled some folks into thinking the prairie was on fire.
3) New Species - November
In early 2024, we passed the magic number, 2000 species. As of December 1st, 2024, we have added a whopping 262 new species in 2024.
In November, the species count increased from 2233 to 2262. Sam Kieschnick and several groups of Prairie Keepers, Master Naturalists and other independent observers, spent some time here in November helping boost the species count. New species include, two new fungi, a new Cicada, a lichen and more.
One notable species in November was, a Cattail Toothpick Grasshopper (Leptysma marginicollis). Another, was a very uncommon fungi known as, Beaked Earthstar (Geastrum pectinatum). See these and a few other notable species below or, see them all at the Tandy Hills iNat Project Page HERE.
4) Vandalism Report
This is an unpleasant task but must be recorded. There are two distinct users of Tandy Hills: Nature lovers and nature abusers. The holidays tend to bring out the latter, even more than spring wildflowers. In November the natural area endured three homeless camp, rampaging 4-wheelers, bicyclists, motorcyclists, trash dumpers and horseback riders. And so it goes. Official Park Rangers are badly needed. All that’s lacking is willpower from certain elected officials.
5) Burn Prep Report
Preparations for the upcoming burn were completed in November. Jared Hall, the Certified Prescribed Burn Manager, for the City of Fort Worth has been very busy prepping. Friends of Tandy Hills supplied him with two paid assistants to get the firebreaks mowed and ready. I expect we are only a few weeks away from Phase 1.
6) Newsworthy & Noteworthy
>>>>>>> On November 3rd, Don Young gave a talk about the wonders and history of Tandy Hills to the LOGOS Sunday School class at University Christian Church.
>>>>>>> On December 12th at 6:30 PM, the Fort Worth Audubon Society will host a new conservation film documentary titled, Purple Haze. Check the FWAS website for details.
>>>>>>> On November 14th and 16th, two groups of Cross Timber’s Master Naturalists attended training sessions at Tandy Hills. They were led by Suzanne Tuttle and Kate Morgan. They were also briefed on the upcoming burn by, Jared Hall, of FW Park & Rec Dept. These folks will soon be doing scheduled volunteer projects at Tandy Hills. Don & Debora Young gave a brief introduction about the history of Tandy Hills and its current needs.
>>>>>>> On November 23rd, about 20 members of the Texas Conservation Alliance and The Fort Worth Audubon Society, collaborated on a trash clean-up at Tandy Hills. Don Young gave a brief introduction. We are EXTREMELY grateful for their help and support.
>>>>>>> Here, we have a newly discovered photo from 1970, probably taken on or near Broadcast Hill. Tandy Hills would be on the left. The recently completed, FW Convention Center, is visible in the distance. No other details are known. (Courtesy of the Fort Worth History Center, FW Public Library.)
7) Prairie Sky / Star Party report
The 2024 season has ended. About 60 people gathered around 12 scopes to view the night sky and chat with members of the Fort Worth Astronomical Society (FWAS).
FWAS will be back in March 2025, for the 10th straight year at Tandy Hills. Until then, I will post sky-watching commentary every month from FWAS rep, John McCrea, for home use. (See below)
“During December our nights will be getting longer and colder. The Milky Way stretches from east to west instead of arching overhead as it did in the summer. We will have our familiar winter constellations. Among the fall/winter constellations visible will be, Orion (the Hunter) and Gemini (the Twins) rising in the east. Cassiopeia (Queen of Ethiopia). Pegasus (the Winged Horse) and Andromeda (daughter of Cassiopeia and Cepheus) will be high in the sky. Perseus (Rescuer of Andromeda), Pisces (the Fish), Taurus (the Bull) and our friend the Pleiades (the seven sisters). The summer triangle (Vega (25 LY), Deneb (1,411 LY), and Altair (17 LY)) will still be visible, but low in the west. Our circumpolar friend Ursa Major (the Great Bear) will be low over the northern horizon.”
8) Manly Men - Wild Women 16th Anniversary Hike
People get ready. It’s time once again to gird your loins for the 16th annual, Manly Men Wild Women New Year’s Day Hike. The hike was originally envisioned as a way to increase public awareness of Tandy Hills as a pushback to the fracking industry that was eyeing our beloved natural area.
This will be a group hike with an official start time of 10 AM on Wednesday, January 1, 2025. The trail will be marked in PINK ribbons. The hike starts just north of the sidewalk circle at the main trailhead. Look for the MMWW sign on your left just past the trees.
We will NOT include the Broadcast Hill section this year since the trails have not yet been completed. Instead, we will take advantage of the relatively new trail system, at Tandy Hills proper, wherever it follows close to the park perimeter.
Be prepared with water, sturdy shoes/boots and dress for the weather. (In case of mud, it might be a good idea to bring an extra pair of shoes for after the hike.) All ages welcome. Leashed dogs are welcome. Certificates of Completion will be awarded to all who complete the hike. (It’s OK if you prefer to hike at a different time or day. Send me a photo of yourself hiking with name[s].)
<Rain and/or icy streets will cancel the event.> Check this LINK for updates as we get closer to the day: https://www.tandyhills.org/manly-men-and-wild-women-hike-hills
9) Prairie Proverb - Kim Williams
“I’m very serious about the fact we have to change our way of, living in order to live a more gentle way with the earth.”
Kim Williams had a distinctive radio voice during a 10.5 year run on All Things Considered. Her folksy tales about wild foods, wildflowers and nature in general from her home in Missoula, Montana, were a joy for her millions of listeners. She also published, Kim Williams' Book of Uncommon Sense: A Practical Guide With 10 Rules for Nearly Everything.
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Prairie Notes© is the official newsletter of Friends of Tandy Hills Natural Area, a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization. All content by Don Young except where otherwise noted.
