The Spring Creek Preservation Society has announced its spring schedule. Read on to see what’s happening and how you can help.
Have spare time?
In March the society elects new executive committee members, the society board. The board usually meets once a month. Each member finds a niche to help further the goals of the society – help organize activities such as workdays, nature walks, guest speakers, newsletter, website and others. In addition, we need backup from people that have used MailChimp and WordPress. Enthusiasm is the main requirement. (Society membership is also required.). Email David Parrish, okcanoe@tx.rr.com, if you’d like to participate.
Monthly Work Sessions – April 10, May 8
Participants usually meet at 1770 Holford – 9 – 11 a.m. – For last-minute information, check FB or the website for updates, including dates and locations which may change. If the weather is questionable, check the website or FB. No one should work if there is a chance of lightning.
Safety materials: Work sessions begin with a safety briefing. BRING WATER. Wear heavy work gloves, long pants, protective eyewear and sturdy shoes (no sandals) for protection from poison ivy and thorns. If you can, bring loppers and/or small tree saws. All participants and the parents of minors must sign a liability waiver. Minors, 16 and younger must be accompanied by an adult.
Service projects
Need a project for an organization, Gold Award or Eagle Scout rank? Email: dparrish1953@yahoo.com.
4th Sunday Nature Walks
2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. – The locations of 4th-Sunday Nature Walks will vary depending on the subject of the walk. Check the latest announcements.
- Sunday, March 28. Leader: Terry Comingore – Weather and Climate
- Sunday, April 25. Leader Kevin Rudy
- Sunday, May 23. Leader: Judy Aschner – Insects in our Preserve
For a fun walk on your own, try the Self-Guided Interpretive Trail at 1787 Holford Road, Follow the trail markers, and read about the area’s significance on an iPhone or downloadable flyer. https://springcreekforest.org/interpretive-1787-holford-rd/
Monthly Public Speaker Series
The meeting is usually the first Tuesday of the month – September to April. Interesting speakers are scheduled this year.
Tuesday, April 6: Kevin Rudy – Texas Snakes
- Meeting Time: 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
- Location: Zoom call
Coming in May – A new Citizen Science Special Event – Bioblitz at the Preserve
Location: 1770 Holford
Date: May 1 and 2
Time: 10 a.m. to 12 noon if you need help.
To celebrate City Nature Challenge, the Society is hosting a “BioBlitz” at Spring Creek Forest Preserve on May 1 and 2. Come join us and bring the family!
A BioBlitz is an event that focuses on finding and identifying as many plant, insect and animal species as possible in a specific area during a set timeframe. We invite you to participate at the Preserve and help catalog our flora and fauna that weekend. This Citizen Science activity helps us identify not only organisms which are essential to our ecosystem but also invasive species which present potential harm. The goal is to record a large variety of species, so find organisms that look interesting to you, take several photos and turn the photos into iNaturalist. It is best to take at least two pictures from different angles if possible. Make sure your pictures are in focus!
Don’t know one plant from another? Aren’t sure whether you are looking at a butterfly or a moth? The iNaturalist app will help you identify plants, animals and much more almost instantly. Identifications can be made on your own, anywhere in the Preserve. If you want help setting up the iNaturalist app, or need information, a society representative will be available at the pavilion at 1770 North Holford between 10 a.m. and noon on both Saturday, May 1, and Sunday, May 2.
Citizen Science is the practice of public participation and collaboration in scientific research to increase scientific knowledge. Through citizen science, volunteers and enthusiasts contribute information to data monitoring and collection programs. iNaturalist is a joint initiative of the California Academy of Sciences and the National Geographic Society. Information sent by thousands of volunteers like you can be accumulated and analyzed.
This Citizen Science project, City Nature Challenge 2021, is a global project. More information can be found at https://citynaturechallenge.org/. Last year, San Francisco had the most participants with 1,947, and Cape Town, South Africa recorded the most species with a whopping 4,588 species.
Download the INaturalist app from the Apple App Store for iPhone, or Google Play for Android phones, or create an account at www.iNaturalist.org and use your laptop/desktop computer to upload your observations. You must be 13 or older to have an account.
Join us and help increase the biodiversity count, have fun and learn about the Preserve.
Become a member
The society’s only means of financial support is memberships. Benefits include member-only nature hikes and exclusive Spring Creek Forest Notecards. Join or give a gift membership to someone you love. Download form: https://springcreekforest.org/join/
Make a donation
Your donation helps the volunteer society offer public lectures, conduct habitat management workdays and offer nature walks. Mail tax-deductible remittance to Preservation Society for Spring Creek Forest, Attn: Treasurer, P.O. Box 450176, Garland, Texas 75045-0176.