Prairie Notes #204 - Taking Stock: 2023
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.
Taking Stock: 2023
Prairie Notes #204
December 1, 2023
1) Taking Stock: 2023
2) Field Report - November
3) New Species Report - November
4) Vandalism Report
5) Moonwalking w/Amy Martin_New Date
6) Stewardship In Action
7) PrairieSky / StarParty Report
8) Manly Men Wild Women 15th Anniversary Hike
9) Prairie Proverb - Andy Warhol
The year, 2023, was another milestone year for Friends of Tandy Hills.
1) Taking Stock: 2023
As I look back on the year 2023, I recall that it was a year of milestones. This was our 20th year as an organization and was possibly the most productive year ever for the Friends of Tandy Hills. The 200th issue of Prairie Notes was published. The 2000th species is at hand. Regarding land management, the initiation of the giant privet mulching project and the first ever, student internship were also major milestones. The release of Amy Martins new book, DFW Wild, which featured a chapter on Tandy Hills, has brought us a huge new audience. There were many other milestones in 2023 for which we are grateful. So, let us now reflect on our 2023 successes, both large and small.
More than 75 people participated in the 14th annual Manly Men Wild Women Hike on a pleasant New Years Day
About 50 acres of Privet were mulched across Tandy Hills in 2023 with a $150K Conservation & Environmental Fund grant from NTX Community Foundation. (See report by Green Source DFW)
Three interns spent the summer working at Tandy Hills funded with the same grant and reported on by GreenSource DFW
Friends of Tandy Hills gratefully received significant grants from the David L. Tandy Foundation, N. Central Chapter of Native Plant Society of Texas and the FASH Foundation
The 8th annual PrairieSky / StarParty, with experts from, FW Astronomical Society, drew big crowds of sky watchers
North Texas Giving Day donations from 45 generous donors totaled $3,165
The 15th annual Trout Lily Walk w/Sam Kieschnick drew a live and virtual crowd of all ages
Sam Kieschnick also began the first ever microbe documentation at Tandy Hills
Suzanne Tuttle led a training hike for Cross Timbers Master Naturalists at Tandy Hills
Don Young unveiled his new Black Series of photographs
Tandy Hills helped Tarrant County lead DFW in the City Nature Challenge observations: #1 in the USA / #3 in the world
12 issues of Prairie Notes were published including, the milestone, 200th issue
The City of Fort Worth website updated their website page for Tandy Hills
Debora Young’s, Tandy Hills Bird Project was featured on the CBS-11 news, reaching a new audience for Tandy Hills
Tandy Hills was a featured chapter in Amy Martins new book, DFW Wild. Amy also co-hosted a book signing event and two hikes here
Hired crews cleared large sections of invasive species in key locations
Prairie Posse volunteers cleared invasive plants from View Street meadows
We enjoyed a prolific wildflower show in 2023, especially Indian Blankets
Tandy Hills was featured in several news reports from Fort Worth Report
More than 200 amazing new species were recorded at Tandy Hills in 2023 (as of Dec. 1), more than any previous year (See more below in #3)
More than 990 volunteer hours by 30 volunteers were logged from January 1 to December 1
Friends of Tandy Hills celebrated its 20th year!
As always, thanks for reading these Prairie Notes and supporting Friends of Tandy Hills Natural Area.
DY
2) Field Report - November
The natural area is slowly starting to look more fall-ish. The various Oak tree species are starting to show their fall colors. The Great Plains Ladies Tresses Orchids finally showed up the first week of November. So did a Murder of Crows. Of special note, we had a surprise visit from, Leslie Boorhem-Stephenson, the Media/Marketing Director for Native American Seed. She filmed a nice little video you can watch below. Also, a member of the Texas Conservation Alliance, released a rescued Lincoln’s Sparrow, at Tandy Hills. There were a few nice days when I was able to hike. Here are a few snapshots of what I saw.
3) New Species - November
As 2023 evolved, we watched excitedly as the species count passed the 1800 mark in January, the 1900 mark in June and, with just a few weeks to go in 2023, we are nearing the magic number, 2000 species. For the year, so far, we have added a whopping 216 new species.
In November, the species count increased from 1971 - 1981. Sam Kieschnick spent some time here finding several species living under logs and rocks. New species include, two new fungi, a spider, a butterfly and an ant.
A special observation was the, Western Pygmy Blue-Butterfly, which, at 1/2” long, is the smallest butterfly in North America. See it a few others below and see them all at the Tandy Hills iNat Project Page HERE.
4) Vandalism Report
This is an unpleasant task but it 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 a homeless camp, 4-wheelers, bicyclists, motorcyclists, trash dumpers and horseback riders. And so it goes. I hope to address the FW Parks Board soon in my continuing quest to get Tandy Hills better protected. All that’s lacking is willpower from certain elected officials.
5) Moonwalking with Amy Martin_NEW Date
The moonwalking with Amy Martin planned for last month had to be rescheduled due to weather. It is now scheduled for December 20th, just in time for the Winter Solstice.
Amy Martin, the author of Wild DFW, is also known as the Moonlady. She just can’t get enough of Tandy Hills, so . . . On Sunday, December 20th, starting at 5:30 PM, she will talk about the culture and science of the Moon, and read her popular essay Moonstruck. Then she and Don Young will lead participants in a moonlight hike. Moon song singing, Moon shadow dancing, and howling at the Moon are guaranteed. Before, during, and after the walk, Chris Emory will offer viewing of the Moon through his Moon telescope and talk about how he as a photographer captures the night sky.
Check out the Facebook Event Page, HERE.
6) Stewardship In Action
In case you missed it, here is a video presentation that Don & Debora Young delivered to the North Central Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas on November 2nd, 2023. It covers recent activities with a bit of history for context.
https://youtu.be/6iDntqDB09c?si=RiFFSEvVy-ZW3gBH
7) Prairie Sky / Star Party report
The last star party of the 2023 season was on November 18th. About 20 people gathered round the scopes to see views of night sky and chat with members of the Fort Worth Astronomical Society (FWAS).
FWAS will be back in March 2024, for the 9th 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 15th Anniversary Hike
Has it been a year already? Or 15 years? It’s time once again to gear up for the 15th annual, Manly Men Wild Women New Years 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 year will be a group hike with an official start time of 10 AM on Monday, January 1, 2024. The trail will be marked in PINK ribbons. The hike starts at the same place as always, just north of the playground off the main trail. Look for the MMWW sign on your left just past the trees.
We will NOT include the Broadcast Hill section this year. Instead, we will take advantage of the new trail system whenever it follows close to the park perimeter.
Be prepared with water, sturdy shoes/boots and dress for the weather. All ages welcome. Leashed dogs are welcome. Certificates of Completion will be awarded to all who complete the hike. <Rain and/or icy streets are the only things that 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
“I think having land and not ruining it, is the most beautiful art that anyone could ever want.”
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.
