Texas Nature Trackers

More than ever, people are interested in being outdoors and in watching and learning about Texas wildlife. Now, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, along with other partners, is offering Texans the opportunity to do just that while making valuable contributions to the conservation of plant and animal species in the state. The Texas Nature Trackers projects listed below involve general skills of observation and note taking -- you don't have to be a scientist to do them. Through Texas Nature Trackers projects, Texans learn how to gather data about various species found on public lands or on their own property. Then, the data is sent to biologists who use the information to give us a better understanding about the trends and management needs of various species in the state.

Texas Nature Trackers, associated with the Texas Master Naturalist Program, is a citizen science monitoring effort designed to involve volunteers of all ages and interest levels in gathering scientific data on species of concern in Texas through experiential learning. The goal of the program is to enable long-term conservation of these species and appreciation among Texas citizens.

Do you want to learn how to gather data about various species found on public lands or on your own property? Have you wanted to help biologists use that data to give us a better understanding about the trends and management needs of various species our state? If so, Texas Nature Trackers offers a variety of nature monitoring projects that you can help with.

Workshops:

May 19 and 20, 2011. Texas Amphibian and Mussel Watch Train the Trainer Workshops. Lake Livingston State Park, 300 Park Road 65, Livingston, TX. Learn how to identify amphibian and freshwater mussel species and participate in scientific research. Sponsored by the Piney Wood Lakes Master Naturalist Chapter. Texas Amphibian Watch will be held on Thursday, May 19, 3:30 PM to 9:30 PM; and Texas Mussel Watch will be held on Friday, May 20, 10 AM until 5 PM. Texas Master Naturalist Approved Advanced Training. CPE and TEEAC credit available for educators. Registration required. Fee $20 per workshop or sign up for both Workshops for $38 (includes a meal each day). Contact Priss Nelson at APNelson@ag.tamu.edu or (936)327-6828 for information and registration.

June 17 and 18, 2011, Texas Amphibian and Mussel Watch Train the Trainer Workshops. Trinity River Audubon Center, 6500 South Loop 12, Dallas, TX. Learn how to identify amphibian and freshwater mussel species and participate in scientific research. Sponsored by the Trinity River Audubon Center. Texas Amphibian Watch will be held on June 17, 5 PM to 10 PM; and Texas Mussel Watch will be held on June 18, 10 AM until 5 PM. Texas Master Naturalist Approved Advanced Training. CPE and TEEAC credit available for educators. Registration required. Fee $10 for materials per workshop. Registration required. Contact Stephanie Timko at stimko@audubon.org or (214) 309-5813 for information and registration.

June 24 and 25, 2011. Texas Amphibian and Mussel Watch Train the Trainer Workshops. Spring Creek Greenway Nature Center, 1300 Riley Fuzzel Road, Spring, TX. Learn how to identify amphibian and freshwater mussel species and participate in scientific research. Sponsored by the Spring Creek Greenway Nature Center. Texas Amphibian Watch will be held on June 24, 4 PM to 10 PM; and Texas Mussel Watch will be held on June 25, 10 AM until 5 PM. Texas Master Naturalist Approved Advanced Training. CPE and TEEAC credit available for educators. Registration required. Fee $10 for materials per workshop. Registration required. Contact Laurie Frazier at laurie.frazier@mctx.org or (281) 364-4225) for information and registration.

July 9, 2011. Texas Mussel Watch Workshop. The PCA Building in the 3100 block of Clarksville Street, Paris, TX. Learn how to identify freshwater mussel species and participate in scientific research. Sponsored by the Red River Master Naturalist Chapter. This workshop will be held on Saturday, July 9, 9AM until 2PM. Texas Master Naturalist Approved Advanced Training. CPE and TEEAC credit available for educators. Registration required. Fee $10 for materials. Contact J. W. Smith, Jr. at greenwoodonthered@gmail.com for information and registration.