Central Texas Chapter Texas Master Naturalists

05/31/2026

We love this time of year!! Our trainees have explored watersheds, tromped through prairies, memorized bird songs, identified our many native plants and trees and are now ready to become Certified Texas Master Naturalists. If you know one, congratulate them for their hard work and their work to come in our ecosystem. We are very proud of their commitment!

05/17/2026

Have you noticed a DUCK in your trees? The Black-bellied Whistling-Duck is a boisterous duck with a brilliant pink bill and an unusual, long-legged silhouette. In Texas and Louisiana, watch for noisy flocks of these gaudy ducks dropping into fields to forage on seeds, or loafing on golf course ponds. Listen for them, too—they really do have a whistle for their call. Common south of the U.S., Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks occur in several southern states and are expanding northward. Photos by our member Guy Fowler on his property in Morgan's Point Resort.

05/08/2026

The Gault Site is an amazing historical resource here in Central Texas and has played an important role in the archeological training of our members. If you haven’t been, put it on your Must Do List! You can sign up for a tour through the partnership with Bell County Museum. We welcome Ms. King and Ms. Goodwin!!

05/06/2026

Y'all, go to Merlin Tuttle's Bat Conservation page and check out the top post about a free talk that Dr. Merlin Tuttle is doing in Austin this Saturday about "The Secret Lives of Bats" at Huston-Tillotson University at 1:00 p.m. Merlin is a world-renowned bat conservationist and also a friend of mine. He's a legend. Merlin is the man most responsible for convincing the City of Austin not to eradicate the bat colony under the Congress Ave. bridge and has stories for days about the crazy, sometimes scary stuff he's gone through in remote areas of the world to photograph and research bats. Joe Rogan had Merlin in for a podcast last year to talk about bats and was blown away. This would be super educational for kids, too. Merlin's website has the most incredible archive of bat photos on planet earth. This one is one of thousands. Merlin took this, of course.

© 2026 Merlin Tuttle’s Bat Conservation

05/05/2026

We are happy to host Dr. Katie Harris, NRCS Partner Biologist and Pollinator Conservation Specialist from The Xerces Society at our next Chapter Meeting May 12th. Our educational programs are open to the public and we really want you to come and learn alongside our members!

04/28/2026

TOMORROW, April 29th, Dr Sarah Fritts will be presenting on her acoustic bat research throughout Texas as part of TPWD's Wildlife Diversity Webinar series! You can register at the link below. 🦇🦇

https://tpwdevents.webex.com/webappng/sites/tpwdevents/webinar/webinarSeries/register/fea2a88081134b42a8ed32c44b84655a

04/27/2026

🏁 The worldwide ! 🏁 Today is the last day to get your entries in on iNaturalist! Post in the comments some of your amazing finds!

*How to Play*
🌱 Snap pics of nearby plants and wildlife.
📱 Upload to iNaturalist.org.
✅ iNat will identify what you see!
😎 You help document Texas’ incredible plant and animal life.
Find out more 👉🏽 tpwd.texas.gov/NatureChallenge and Texas Nature Trackers

04/24/2026

Wow - Many Central Texans know we are in the Central flyway for bird migrations, enjoying hundreds of species of birds that live or pass through our great state. Last night, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, estimated 400 million birds (give or take a few) were in the air!

Last night was a big night for bird migration, with an estimated 400 million birds in the air around midnight!

Now is a great time to get outside and see what birds are passing through near you, so if you're looking for something to do this weekend, grab your binoculars and head outside in the morning to see what birds reached your area overnight!

BirdCast, from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, is a great resource this time of year. By visiting their website, linked in the comments, you can view migration forecasts for your county or state, giving you an idea of what birds are moving through your area.

04/23/2026

Happy Earth Day from the Central Texas Master Naturalists! 🌎🌿
Today is a reminder that the natural beauty we enjoy, from our winding Hill Country trails to our vibrant wildflower blooms, depends on all of us. Every small action matters: planting native species, conserving water, reducing waste, and protecting wildlife habitats right here in Central Texas.
As stewards of the land, we’re proud to support education, conservation, and community science efforts that make a lasting impact. Whether you’re restoring a prairie, observing pollinators, or simply taking a mindful walk outdoors, you’re part of the solution.
Let’s continue to learn, volunteer, and care for the places we call home,not just today, but every day.
🌼 Get involved. Stay curious. Protect what you love.

04/20/2026

As responsible as they usually are, please use your judgement in the recommendation from Bat Conservation International below. I guess it's fair for them to be a bit batty on occasion. Be a bat lover!! 🦇🦇🦇

❌ "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?" Overused, trite.
✅ "Shall I compare thee to a bat in flight?" Unique, sure to win over any prospective lover.