This Weekend's Prairie Discovery Tour Should be Great!

Last night my wife Katy and I counted frogs (for the North American Amphibian Monitoring Program) along FM-529 near KPC's Field Office and were blown away by both the numbers and abundance of species. These are the species we heard clicking, booming, popping, whistling, ratcheting calling last night:

• Bullfrog
  
• Western Chorus Frog
• Coastal Plain (Gulf Coast) Toad, by far the most abundant (we heard them at all 10 stops!)
• Cricket Frog
• Eastern Narrow-mouth Toad
• Squirrel Treefrog
• Green Treefrog

This remarkable night was made possible by the storms of last week; nearly every field was wet. It makes me think that this weekend's free Prairie Discovery Tour at the Mary Manor Preserve should be quite special. If you haven't yet signed up, give us a call at 713.523.6135 and we'll be happy to do so.

Jaime Gonzalez

Community Education Manager

Katy Prairie Conservancy

Open Trails Day at the KPC field office

Jaime asked me last week to post something here about Open Trails Day at the field office (every Friday, 10 AM to 2 PM) and I'm beginning to warm up to the idea - just like the weather. It's been very spring-like this week; it won't be long before the geese and other birds I've enjoyed watching this winter will begin their journeys home. At the same time, we'll begin to see an influx of the birds who migrated farther south passing through the Katy Prairie on their way home. The next six weeks should be a prime time for bird watching. And, I'll be here to see them at the field office - every Friday. I hope you'll join me. - Terri

2008-2009 Winter Grow Out Update

I had an opportunity to visit Tom Solomon's (Texas Master Naturalist/Master Gardener) grow out facility several weeks ago. It was an amazing place where Tom and others grew out more than 10, 000 prairie plugs just this year. It was a real inspiration to those of us trying to grow out grasses and seeds in our backyards.

I'd like to know how our volunteer seed growers are coming along with their seed grow out efforts. I have approximately 65 Rattlesnake master sprouts, about 45 Texas coneflower sprouts, and various other wildflowers. 

Unfortunately, I just had a few grasses springing up so far. Anyone having

 better luck with their grasses?

Jaime Gonzalez

Community Education Manager

The Bald Eagles are busy!

KPC hosted its first Prairie Discovery Tour of the year last Saturday and our visitors were well rewarded. As we hiked around Warren Lake we spotted three Bald Eagles (two mature eagles and one immature eagle), a flock of Sandhill Cranes feeding in a nearby field, and a Great-horned Owl perched in a hummock of trees.

Bald Eagles have been relatively easy to spot on the prairie this year. In fact, participants in the Christmas Bird Count reported observing over 30 Bald Eagles over the entire count circle just on January 1st. It's very likely that this number is a high estimate and is the result of some double counting, but it still is a good indication of how often these magnificent birds are spotted.

Can you join us for a Prairie Discovery Tour This Saturday, Jan. 10th at Warren Lake

Hi Folks,

We'll be hosting a Prairie Discovery Tour this Saturday at fabulous Warren Lake from 4 PM - 6 PM. If you'd like to join us please contact info@katyprairie.org or call 713.523.6135