Prairie Notes #171 - Chilly Scenes of Winter
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.
Chilly Scenes of Winter
Prairie Notes #171
March 1, 2021
01) Chilly Scenes of Winter
02) Your Membership STILL Matters (Last Call)
03) Field Report - February
04) New Species - February
05) Virtual Trout Lily Walk Report & VIDEO
06) PrairieSky / StarParty News
07) Prairie Proverb - Simon & Garfunkel
01) Chilly Scenes of Winter
We all knew it was coming but, the Valentine's Day extreme and sudden temp drop was still shocking. Despite the freezing cold, I know that, with a few exceptions, the prairie plants and wildlfie will be OK. Some early sprouts of Indian Paintbrush were pinched back by the freeze but should recover. On the plus side, the Privet seems to have ben severely frost-bitten. Spring will tell.
The great number of Cottontail Rabbit tracks in the snow was reassuring as were the Armadillo and Pelican sightings. And of course, the vast numbers of Waxwings, Robins and other migrants were and are a pleasure to see.
Despite the freeze, the Vernal Equinox will surely come on March 20, and with it, a prairie full of wildflowers and pollinators. Come on in.
DY
2) Your Membership STILL Matters (Last Call)
We only ask you a couple of times a year to invest in Tandy Hills. We think it's worthy of your support and make it EZ for you to donate HERE: https://www.tandyhills.org/donate
3) Field Report - February
Before and after the big freeze, there a a few signs of spring popping up. The freeze will probably have an impact on a few species spring blooms. The wildlife report for February included, a pair of American White Pelicans, a healthy young Nine-banded Armadillo and about a million American Robins. On the Homo Sapien side, a crew form S&S Trails spent a week here designing an entirely new trail system that will implemented by Spetember. Also, FW Park & Rec crews finally completed the limestone boulder barrier on View Street, now running the entire length.
4) New Species - February
There were only two new species ID'd in February. A new species of Dyeball (Pisolithus arenarius) and a new species of Fragrant Sumac (Rhus aromatica var. serotina), bringing the new species total to 1426. See them all HERE:
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/tandy-hills-natural-area-stratford-...
Fragrant Sumac (Rhus aromatica var. serotina), Photo and ID by, Bob O'Kennon
5) Virtual Trout Lily Walk Report & VIDEO
Sam Kieschnick led the VIRTUAL Trout Lily Walk on a soggy and overcast, February 27th. His wife, Elizabeth joined him as the videographer. You can view the entire 35 minute video HERE:
https://www.facebook.com/DFWUrbanWildlife/videos/947269982745360
While Sam would have much preferred a LIVE event, the virtual walk was a big success. It was shared on the main Texas Parks & Wildlife Dept. Facebook page which has 600K followers. At least 29,446 folks got the video, 1171 folks clicked on it and there were 432 Likes, Shares, or Comments. The most people watching at one time was 144. It steadily had around 100 people watching throughout the 35 minute walk. HUGE thanks to Sam and Elizabeth for helping spread the good word about one of the Tandy Hills iconic species.
06) PrairieSky / StarParty News
The 2021 schedule has been set and can be found HERE. However, in-person telescope viewings at Tandy Hills remain on hiatus until further notice. But, as usual, FW Astronomical Society rep, Pam Kloepfer, has the March sky watch report for your home use.:
"The stars of winter will still be very visible as they head west in March. The return of the Big Dipper will be in the north, standing on its handle! As the spring progresses, you will see it turn upside down. Keep your eye on Mars. Early in the month, Mars can be seen near the beautiful star cluster, the Pleiades. It will continue past the Hyades star cluster in Taurus the Bull and by March 18, a crescent Moon will join the party. Mark your calendar for March 19! The glowing star Aldebaran, the bull’s reddish eye, will form a triangle with the Red Planet and the crescent Moon. The winter constellations will set earlier each night as spring approaches. Orion the Hunter and Sirius, the brightest star in the sky, will begin to sink below the horizon as Castor and Pollux, the Gemini twins, ride high in the southwest. In the east, the spring stars will be rising! The Full Worm Moon, named so for the earthworms that appear as the soil warms up in spring, will be March 28."
6) Prairie Proverb - Simon & Garfunkel
“Look around,
Leaves are brown,
And the sky is a hazy shade of winter.
Look around,
Leaves are brown,
There’s a patch of snow on the ground.”
Photo by, Richard Avedon
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.
