Our Blog

Butterflies in Bloom

Wednesday, Apr 18, 2012

    We were going through some old email messages and found this gem of a link and thought it was appropriate for this time of year.  This great site has a gallery of photographs to help with butterfly identification as well as list of butterflies by butterfly type and preferred flower.  Check out the site then go outside and see how many you can spot today!

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/plantanswers/butterflies/index.html

Building a fence to protect our prairie dog colony!

Wednesday, Feb 01, 2012

    Over the past weekend several board members, staff, and friends of NPAT made the long drive from the Houston area and Central Texas to Mitchell County to finish an electric fence protecting a rescued prairie dog colony that was established on the Maddin Prairie Preserve in 2006.  Initially, the colony was relocated from Abilene and was situated within a 4 acre fenced area.  An electric fence is used to keep out predators such as coyotes and badgers which helps promote the growth of the colony.  The old fence was struck by lightening sometime in 2010 disabling the fence’s electrical box and leaving the colony vulnerable to predatory activity.  The construction of the new fence enclosing 8 acres began on a preserve work day in the summer of 2011 and was wrapped up last weekend.  Check out a few photos from the weekend below!

The beginning stages of the electric fence

Volunteer Lenn Archer wrapping up wire from the old fence.

Volunteer Glen Merkord collecting old fencing material left behind from the old electric fence.

NPAT Outreach Coordinator Phillip Quast and Vice President Kirsti Harms walking across the prairie dog town after putting the final touches on the eastern edge of the new fence line.

An unprotected entrance to the maze of tunnels the prairie dogs call home.  Note the recent tracks on the right edge of the hole indicating recent use of the entrance.

A protected prairie dog entrance. The fencing keeps large predators out but allows the prairie dogs to enter and exit freely.

Two Opportunities To Share Prairie Research

Thursday, Jan 12, 2012

Southeastern Prairies Symposium: Remnants, Conservation & Working Grasslands 
Abstracts Due 30 January 2012
May 15 – 17, 2012, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS

    The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks partnered with Mississippi State University and Wildlife Mississippi will co-host a symposium for natural resources professionals and scientists involved in the ecology, management, and restoration of southeastern prairie habitats.  This symposium will unite researchers and managers from across the southern United States (AL, AR, FL, GA, LA, MS, OK, TN, TX) who study and manage flora and fauna in Southeastern prairies.

    The primary goal of this symposium is to synthesize effective approaches to prairie restoration and enhancement throughout the region by identifying broad-scale generalities in management practices and biota while recognizing differences at the specific ecosystem level.  Concurrent sessions focusing on management, the natural biota, as well as working grasslands will unite researchers, biologists, and managers from across the southern United States and increase communication among state, federal, and non-governmental partners in prairie habitat management. Symposium participates may be invited to contribute to a book, special issues of scientific journals and/or other publications.

Plenary speakers

Dr. Reed Noss, Provost’s Distinguished Research Professor at the University of Central Florida and President of the Florida Institute for Conservation Science.
Dr. L. Wes Burger, Jr., Associate Director of Mississippi Agricultural & Forestry Experiment Station and the Forest and Wildlife Research Center
Dr. Pat Keyser, Director of the Center for Native Grasslands Management at the University of Tennessee

For abstract format information and other details of the symposium including agenda and hotel accommodations CLICK HERE! 

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Land Trust Alliance Rally 2012 - Call For Presentations

Are you an expert instructor on land conservation issues? Do you have a unique land trust experience you’d like to share?

If so, we’re looking for experts in conservation who are interested in serving as faculty for our Rally seminars and workshops!

Submit a presentation proposal today for Rally 2012: The National Land Conservation Conference, being held on September 29 - October 2, 2012, at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, UT.

All Proposals Are Due: February 27, 2012

Rally participants tell us that the number one reason they attend Rally is for the educational courses. At Rally 2011 in Milwaukee, expert faculty presented more than 325 educational hours over a four-day period.  Without the generous help from our faculty, Rally would not be the success it is, year after year. We thank them for generously giving their time to strengthen the work of land trusts throughout America.

When planning your proposal, keep in mind that Rally trainings consist of several different formats and cover a variety of land conservation topics:

Seminars
  These are intensive trainings that delve deeper into important issues in land conservation taught by the top leaders in their field. Seminars consist of day-long sessions that are six to eight hours in length and half-day sessions that are four hours long. Seminars are scheduled for Saturday, September 29 and Sunday, September 30.

Workshops
  Diverse topics taught by the experts! Workshops run concurrently within 17 specialized tracks and are scheduled for Monday, October 1 and Tuesday, October 2. These trainings are 90 minutes in length and can have 10 – 200 people in attendance.

CLICK HERE to view the selection of workshop tracks!

To submit a proposal, visit the Land Trust Alliance website for an online form.

Happy Holidays!

Thursday, Dec 22, 2011

Chesapeake Energy Relocates Prairie Dogs at Planned Drilling Site

Thursday, Dec 22, 2011

Check out this interesting article from Fort Worth Star-Telegram.  We’re glad to hear these little friends found a new home!

Click HERE to read more!

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