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Texas Master Naturalists stay busy in the fall

This reddish egret was seen July 3 at Indian Point in Portland. The egret didn't seem to mind as Master Naturalist Mike Mauldin drove up right under his perch on a power pole. He posed for many photos.
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  • Originally published November 17, 2009 at midnight, updated November 18, 2009 at 3:10 p.m.

Autumn finds Texas Master Naturalists involved with many available volunteer service activities. For one, the time's ripe for projects like creating native grass or wildflower demonstration gardens, for establishing or maintaining wildlife habitats for butterflies, birds and other wildlife, migrating ones and year-round residents.

Outdoor projects abound.

Indoor service activities also abound. Texas Master Naturalists can work with written information about natural resources. Some Texas Master Naturalists scan Welder Wildlife Foundation's library materials to preserve them.

Others gather information about the refuge for guides' use when conducting tours.

Master Naturalists also conduct some tours. They prepare for or host groups from school-age on up.

Those groups may participate in workshops about, for example, native plant identification; or introductory birding, maybe including wildlife photography. Master Naturalists may help keep collections of birds, animal skins, shells or skeletons used for education ready to use.

We've worked with school-age youngsters using boxes with holes so youngsters can reach in to touch something inside, perhaps an antler.

They guess what it is; then we explore it with them. Master Naturalists sharing information with them about the animal who once carried the antler encourages learning and fun.

Texas Master Naturalists can help support other Master Naturalists.

We sample the water at Port O'Connor Fishing Pier every two weeks year-round for NOAA's Phytoplankton Monitoring Network. We draw the sample in about 30 minutes.

Analyzing it takes longer. Paul uses a microscope effectively; he counts the phytoplankton found in a drop from the sample.

Mary tallies the count and assists him with materials helping with identification of different phytoplankton.

The cause of red tide, karenia brevis, is one phytoplankton we're always watching for.

At Aransas National Wildlife Refuge Texas Master Naturalists help man the welcome desk. Others build and maintain trails and kiosks.

Still others conduct van tours and answer visitors' questions. Some assist with workshops and presentations held at Aransas refuge.

Becoming a Master Naturalist requires three things. First is learning about our area's ecosystems.

Texas Master Naturalists complete 40 hours of initial training from more than 50 hours offered during nine sessions, February through June.

The first 2010 session addresses Texas geology and ecological regions, Mid-coast indigenous peoples, plus how to take field notes. Two sessions are at Aransas refuge, one covering Mid-coast ecology: geologic history, flora and fauna of Black Jack Peninsula; and approved volunteer projects.

The other session covers technology and techniques for interpreting nature.

A session at Welder Wildlife Foundation covers upland ecology.

Fennessey Ranch hosts one covering riparian ecology.

Mad Island Marsh Preserve is the site for a session covering coastal prairie and wetland ecology.

Bay ecology is the subject of an on-the-water session, and barrier island ecology is covered in a session at Matagorda Island Nature Conservancy.

The last session includes native plant identification and habitat use; as well as invasive species.

In addition, one must complete eight hours of advanced training, and 40 hours of volunteer service, to become certified. Each person chooses which approved advanced training and which approved service projects to participate in.

Opportunities are available from introductory to expert levels.

Examples of both advanced training opportunities and volunteer service projects can be found on the chapter's Web site, midcoast.tamu.edu.

Texas Master Naturalists must continue to complete eight hours of advanced training and 40 hours of volunteer service every year.

Being part of the Texas Master Naturalists program is rewarding, and enjoyable.

We get to help preserve and restore our natural resources in many ways - while we enjoy those resources. See our Web site for more information.

Paul and Mary Meredith are master naturalists. Contact them at paulmary0211@sbcglobal.net.


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