Big Thicket Reporter - 2007/08/20

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BIG THICKET NATIONAL PRESERVE ANNOUNCES JUNE 16, 2007 KICK-OFF EVENT FOR THE ALL TAXA BIOLOGICAL INVENTORY

Big Thicket National Preserve scheduled a public kick-off event to officially launch the start of an All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory (ATBI) on Saturday June 16, 2007, 9:00 AM-5:00 PM at the Big Thicket National Preserve Visitor Center north of Kountze, Texas. Participants will learn all about the biodiversity of the Big Thicket with hand-on activities for the whole family. There will be guest speakers, photography exhibition, and trips into the Preserve with the scientists.

Dubbed the “Thicket of Diversity” project, the ATBI is a partnership between Big Thicket National Preserve and Big Thicket Association, and teams up leading scientific researchers with “citizen scientists” to help inventory different groups of organisms found within the Preserve. Researchers involved in this project come from Universities, museums, observatories, government agencies and other institutions throughout the country.

"We are honored to partner with so many well-known researchers in the region and all over the country. This project will help us to understand better the biodiversity of the Big Thicket," said Todd Brindle, Superintendent of Big Thicket National Preserve.

Some of the researchers will arrive a week early to conduct a “bio-blitz,” an intensive survey effort on a given area. The June 16th event will showcase the results of the blitz, as well as display the scientific equipment used to perform their inventory. Each group of researchers will be leading short collecting trips into the preserve on June 16th offering a chance for the public to see science in action and to be a part of it.

Want to learn about what kind of mushrooms are found in the woods of the Big Thicket or what kinds of freshwater mussels are found in the streams? Come learn about these as well as lesser known things like slime molds, pseudoscorpions, or tardigrades (also known as water bears). “There are lots of exciting things happening in the Big Thicket, and the All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory is at the top of the list,” stated Bruce Drury, President of Big Thicket Association. “It really opens your eyes to the amazing biodiversity that surrounds us.”

“Citizen Scientists” will play a large role in the project as it progresses. These volunteers will receive training in scientific collection methods and data management and will serve along side of the scientist to help inventory the Preserve. The project also needs web gurus, photographers, artists, public relations and outreach volunteers. A booth will be set up at the June 16th kick-off event to recruit volunteers for the Thicket of Diversity project.

"It is an ambitious project to say the least, but the information we gather from this project will ultimately help us better manage the preserve. The end goal for this project is knowing what organisms exist within the park, how are they distributed throughout the park, and how they interact with each other” stated Curtis Hoagland, the Preserve’s Chief of Resource Management.

PRESERVE OVERVIEW

By Ann Roberts

Bird banding: Curtis Hoagland reports that the summer Big Thicket Bird Banding Project starts May 16 and continues approximately every 10 days through early August. The banding is part of a national program by the Institute for Bird Populations called Monitoring Avian Productivity Survivorship (MAPS). In addition to capturing and banding the birds, this year we will collect feather mites to be sent to Dr. Barry O'Connor at the University of Michigan for identification as part of the ATBI effort.

As always Curtis is looking for some early risers to help with the project. The group usually meets at the Big Thicket HQ around 5:30 AM and bands until about noon. If you can help with the project please contact Curtis at 409-951-6820.

Butterfly Count: On May 5th: the Preserve hosted a butterfly count in the Hickory and Turkey Creek units, as well as the Watson Pinelands Preserve and Kirby State Forest. The group gathered at the Visitor Center at 9:30 AM and assembled at the Tree Restaurant and Grill in Hillister for the countdown.

Mussel Watch: The Texas Mussel Train-the-Trainer Workshop gets underway Saturday, May 19, 9:00-5:00, at the BTNP Field Research Station in Saratoga. Please pre-register for the workshop. Send your name, address, e-mail and phone number to Curtis Hoagland at 6044 FM 420, Kountze, TX 77625. Call Curtis Hoagland at 409-951-6820 for more information.

The Preserve in conjunction with the Thicket of Diversity Project and Texas Parks and Wildlife will host the Watch to train volunteers how to sample and to identify freshwater mussels. The class will contain both classroom and field portions. Data collected by volunteers will provide information for the Texas Mussel Watch Program as well as for the Big Thicket National Preserve’s All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory project. This data can help to determine: 1) the distribution and relative abundance of different freshwater mussel species; 2) changes in the distribution and abundance of mussel species over time; and 3) the presence of exotic mussels.

Hunting Permits: Hunters may register for hunting anytime between June 20 and the end of the hunting season on Feb. 28. Just ask between 9:30 AM and 4:00 PM (except holidays) at Preserve headquarters. Permits are free and allow hunters to take white-tailed deer, squirrel, rabbit, feral hog, and waterfowl from specific area of several units of the Preserve. Adults must have a driver's license or official identification. Minors may present birth certificates or school identification cards. Harvest reports for the 2007-08 season are due by April 7, 2008.

EAST TEXAS MISCELLANY

Pineywoods Experience

Pineywoods folks assembled in Lufkin May 2-3, and the Lufkin folks rolled out the red carpet. Ellen and Buddy Temple hosted lunch at the History Center. A bus tour made the rounds of Lufkin sights with stops at the Forestry Museum, Museum of East Texas, and the Ellen Trout Zoo. The Pineywoods Cultural Association held a cocktail reception. The dinner at Crown Colony Country Club was hosted by Temple-Inland.

At the dinner, Andy Jones, The Conservation Foundation, reported on impacts of forest land loss of habitat for rare plans and animals, as well as ecological impacts. He cited staggering data from the Texas Forest Service that "the forest sector employs 79,500 workers and paid $2.9 billion in wages" in 23 of 43 East Texas counties. TCF is formulating a strategy to conserve the best of Temple-Inland forests, working with federal, state and private partners to identify conservation priorities.

The second day included discussion of gateway communities, reports on thematic structure and "Branding." The luncheon was provided by the First Bank and Trust of East Texas.

Leadership Southeast Texas

Wendy Ledbetter, Big Thicket Project Director, has put together a challenging and intriguing program for the LSET class of 2007 to be held at the BTNP Visitor Center on May 17 beginning at 7:30. The class involves at least 65 participants.

The schedule includes registration and continental breakfast, an introductory session, ecology of the Big Thicket, the Preserve's Big Thicket video, Big Thicket's past and present (Ellen Buchanan), Big Thicket-Big Connection (Julie Shackelford), Pineywoods Experience (Ted Eubanks).

At noon the group travels to Indian Springs Campground for lunch with the Dean of Texas Folklore "Ab" Abernethy performing. Then breakout sessions will consider various Big Thicket scenarios) with facilitators (Elaine Allums, Jan Ruppel, Kathryn Walker, Cathy Johnston, and Ellen Buchanan).

A visit to the Sundew Trail in the Hickory Creek Savannah Unit begins at 12:45 and returns to the Visitor Center at 2:20. The day will conclude with presentations involving breakout sessions and a "test" and evaluation. Kim McMurray does the wrap-up and the class graduates at 3:30.

Lamar Honors Program

Professor Donna Birdwell, Director Lamar University's Honors Program, and BTA President Bruce Drury have put together a challenging program for honors student, May 9-29, The schedule includes visits to the Big Thicket with cameras and notebooks, historical geology and ecology, geography and hydrologic features, field visits to the Rosier Unit, and Larsen Sanctuary, a classroom presentation and plants and animals, a resources overview, a bus tour of the Thicket area, and an oral history session. A survey of history, politics, culture and ecotourism concludes instruction, but the students will camp at Village Creek May 25-27. Final reports are due May 29.

Each student will submit a PowerPoint presentation suitable for use during the "Partners in the Parks" visit by other Honors students. Students who enroll in this course will agree to participate in a "Partners in the Parks" program with visiting Honors students from other universities.

Wilderness Pow Wow / Fritz Award

The 28th Wilderness Pow Wow, April 27-29, explored Sam Houston National Forest enjoying splendid weather and woody hikes with Heinz Gaylord, David Lewis, David Bezanson, Brandt Mannchen and others. Gina Donovan presented "An Inconvenient Truth" at the evening program, and Troubadour Bill Oliver performed at the campfire.

Richard Donovan and Brandt Mannchen measure giant magnolia in Big Sandy Creek Unit, BTNP

Ancient Maxine now holds the record for attending every Pow Wow, but would rather have had the company of Ned and Genie Fritz, previous record holders.

TCONR eecently changed its name to Texas Conservation Alliance and continues their conservation leadership.

The board established an award honoring Ned and Genie Fritz announced by Richard LeTourneau who sketched their extraordinary achievements. The board conferred the 2007 award to the Ancient One, who once again receives an award for "holding the hats" of real leaders.

TEMPLE-Inland Tour

On May 5 Temple-Inland conservation foresters Robert Wilson and Keith Stephens led a BTA/GT Sierra group on a tour of several distinctive sites. The first stop was a shelterwood cut, where longleaf pine is recovering. Stephens pointed out several Arkansas oaks. Then we stopped at the proposed fish hatchery site.

The next two stops were the waterfalls on Beef Creek, and the camera-equipped folks crossed the creek to get the best angles. The final stop was a pitcher plant bog on a pipeline where the last of the rose pogonia orchid (Pogonia ophioglossoides) and the first bearded grass-pink orchids (Calopogon barbatus) were in bloom as well as terrestrial bladderworts.

HARCOMBE RETIRES

Dr. Paul Harcombe and son William

Dr. Paul Harcombe was honored by his Rice University colleagues with a reception May 3. A lot of friends showed up to pay tribute to the "Dean of Big Thicket Science," whose 30+ years of Big Thicket research has provided critical baseline data for resource management, as well as developing an outstanding group of young scholars who contributed to the efforts.

Paul has begun tending sheep in Corvallis, Oregon, but promises to return to Big Thicket frequently.

One of his students, Sandi Elsik, worked with him on inventories and data management for many years. She too is retiring and was honored May 3 at a luncheon hosted by Paul.

BIG THICKET EVENTS

May 17, Leadership Southeast Texas, Big Thicket Program and Graduation

May 19, Mussel Watch Workshop, 9:00-5:00, Field Research Station. Call Curtis Hoagland 409-951-6820

May 26-28, Sabine River canoe Trip, Memorial Day weekend, 3 days / 2 nights.

June 2, 9:00-11:00, Trinity River NWR's Friends group hosts a Free Family Fishing Day at Champion Lake south of Dayton

June 9-19, Thicket of Diversity, Bio-Blitz (see articles)

June 16, Thicket of Diversity Kickoff Event, 9:00-4:00, Visitor Center, Reports from TWIGS, family activities and programs.