Monday, January 22, 2018

Description

BONUS ADVANCED TRAINING Cradle of Texas Chapter members who presented our program "It's a Wild, Wild Life on the Mid-Texas Coast" at the recent State Meeting in Corpus Cristi will present the same program for our membership on Saturday, January 20, at the AgriLife Building in Angleton.   You'll be able to accrue up to six hours of Advanced Training.

So here's your chance to jumpstart your learning and your AT hours for re-certification by attending this special Bonus Advanced Training Event.   The day will offer up to six hours of advanced training and includes a free catered lunch and snacks.

TEXAS MASTER NATURALIST PROGRAM
CRADLE OF TEXAS CHAPTER
BONUS ADVANCED TRAINING
JANUARY 20, 2018
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

It's a Wild, Wild Life on the Mid-Texas Coast 1em;">

SCHEDULE

Ecology of the Coastline 

Speakers: Peggy Romfh and Dr. Russell J. Miget, Environmental Quality Specialist, Texas A&M University Corpus Christi.

This session will take an in-depth look at the unique coastline environment of our Mid-Texas Coast, from the tides and wrack line, to the function of the dunes, and the importance of the estuaries and bays. It will also include a review of some of the plants and vegetation of the coastal shoreline and dunes, and a discussion about beach finds — items deposited on the beach by storm surges and flooding, as well as man-made trash and pollution. Participants will have the opportunity to examine vegetation samples firsthand in break-out groups, and will also learn about specific volunteer opportunities related to the topics discussed.

Shorebirds

Speaker: Kristine Rivers, Professional Birding Guide / Master Naturalist, Cradle of Texas Chapter

Not every bird found at the shore is a shorebird, and not every shorebird is found at the shore! This session will review lifestyle, behavior, and identification techniques of common Mid-Texas Coast species within the avian taxonomical group known as shorebirds, which can often present a challenge in identification even for experienced birders. Participants will have the opportunity to practice their newly-learned identification skills using their own field guides, as well as comparing them with those used by other participants. In addition, participants wll learn about specific volunteer opportunities related to the topic.

Beach Invertebrates

Speakers: Pete Romfh and Peggy Romfh, Master Naturalist, Cradle of Texas Chapter,

This session will cover the amazing variety of fascinating invertebrates that live along our Mid-Texas Coast beaches, including crustaceans (hermit crabs, fiddler crabs, barnacles, and shrimp); gastropods (Atlantic moon snails, our official State Shell the lightning whelk, pearwhelks, and lettered olives); bivalves (angelwings, disk dosinia, coquina, and oysters); and many others (jellyfish, plumed worms, Portuguese Man O' War, anemones, and sand dollars.) Participants will have the opportunity to examine samples firsthand in break-out groups, and will also learn about specific volunteer opportunities related to the topics discussed.
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Sea Turtles, Snakes & Alligators

Speakers: Kristine Rivers, Phil Huxford, and Ruby Lewis, Cradle of Texas Chapter, Texas Master Naturalists.

This session will discuss some of the special reptiles that can be found along the Mid-Texas Coast, with an emphasis on the various species of snakes that live in our dunes, and the many alligators which are present in our area. Participants will have the opportunity to handle live animals, including non-venomous snakes and alligators, and will also learn about specific volunteer opportunities related to the topics discussed.








Photos by Neal McLain



Herb Myers visits the snake exhibit


The class assenbkes


Exhibit to accompany presentations by Peggy Romfh about Invertebrates, Beach Finds, Dunes, and Plant Life


Dave Brandes, Bill Ahlstrom, Peggy Romfh


Chip Sweet, Bob Whitmarsh


Herb Myers inspects the invertebrates exhibit


Lisa Myers, Pam West, Phyllis Gerdes


Russ Miget speaks on Ecology of the Coastline


Venomous Snake exhibit


Alligator exhibit


Larry Peterson the Tech Guy


Cindy Goodrum, Carole Wenny


Texas Turtles exhibit


Herb Myers, Don Sabathier


Snacks
Snacks


C.J. McDaniel (Coastal Prairie Chapter) with Roy Morgan



Pam West


Mary Holler, Rainbo Johnson, Carolyn May-Monie


Lisa Myers, Caylie Harris


Ellen Lasseter, Mike Lasseter


Leo Novak, Candace Novak



Judy Green


Snake Exhibit


Layna Lewis


Christina Hartman


Sunday, January 21, 2018

Photos by Dave Brandes



Peggy Romfh


Russell J. Miget



Ruby Lewis demonstrates measuring the length of an alligator



Ruby Lewis


Ruby Lewis


Ruby Lewis


Phil Huxford discusses snakes






Christina Hartman


Layna Lewis, Christina Hartman

Photos by Pete Romfh




Photos by Susan Conaty



Christina Hartman


Christina Hartman