John Bunker Sands Wetland Center Newsletter Summer 2019

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John Bunker Sands Wetland Center 972-474-9100

655 Martin Lane, Seagoville TX 75159 wetlandcenter.com

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Save the Date It’s a Western Hoedown! Wings Over the Wetland

Saturday, Oct. 26

June July August

Saturday, June 1 Center open 7 a.m. – 4 p.m. Walk & Talk Bird Tour 7 a.m. – 9 a.m. Free with $5 admission Members free Wednesday, June 12 Family Fun Days: Kids Surviv-al Basics 2.0 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. $6 per child; parents free Preregistration required Saturday, June 15 Center open 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Bunker’s Pond Trail Walk 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Free with $5 admission Members free Wednesday, June 26 Family Fun Days: Under the Water’s Surface—On the Hunt for Macros 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. $6 per child; parents free Preregistration required Thursday, June 27 Teachers: Project WET 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. $40 prepaid by June 21 Saturday, June 29 Mudbug Trail Run 8 a.m. – 11 a.m. $20 REI members, $25 non-members Get details and register here

Saturday, July 6 Center open 7 a.m. – 4 p.m. Walk & Talk Bird Tour 7 a.m. – 9 a.m. Free with $5 admission Members free Tuesday, July 9 Bat Walk & Stargazing 7:30 p.m. – 11 p.m. $20 with free admission Preregistration required Wednesday, July 10 Family Fun Days: Complex Leaves for a Complex World 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. $6 per child; parents free Preregistration required Thursday, July 11 Teachers: Project WILD 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. $40 prepaid by July 5 Saturday, July 20 Center open 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Bunker’s Pond Trail Walk 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Free with $5 admission Members free Wednesday, July 24 Family Fun Days: Cattails—More Than Just a Hydrophyte 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. $6 per child; parents free Preregistration required Thursday, July 25 Teachers: Project Learning Tree 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. $65 prepaid by July 19

Thursday, August 1 Teachers: Texas Aquatic Sci-ence 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. $20 prepaid by July 26 Saturday, August 3 Center open 7 a.m. – 4 p.m. Walk & Talk Bird Tour 7 a.m. – 9 a.m. Free with $5 admission Members free Wednesday, August 7 Family Fun Days: You “Bee” Dancing—Get Your Pollinator Groove On 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. $6 per child; parents free Preregistration required Saturday, August 17 Center open 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Bunker’s Pond Trail Walk 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Free with $5 admission Members free Wednesday, August 21 Family Fun Days: Where Is the Wetland in the Water Cycle? 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. $6 per child; parents free Preregistration required To Register

Call 972-474-9100 or email

ldunn@wetlandcenter.com

Scroll to your event

for details.

I t’s a chuck wagon hoedown! Dust off them thar boots and mosey on

down to the Wetland Center for our Wings Over the Wetland fall

fundraiser on Saturday, October 26. By John DeFillipo

Lasso up your favorite

Western wear and gallop on

over. We’ll serve you authen-

tic chuck wagon comfort food

cooked onsite, and you can

swing the night away with

The Western Flyers Band.

Our honorary chair this year is Lyda Hill, and

our co-chairs are Wilson and Laura Sands and

Terry Sam and Debra Anderson.

Like all good drovers, our planning committee

is rounding up a herd of interactive activities that

guarantee a genuine Western experience.

Our goal is to raise $250,000 to support

conservation literacy programs while increas-

ing awareness of the Wetland Center as we ap-

proach our 9th-year anniversary.

More details coming in July, including ticket

pricing as well as individual and corporate spon-

sorship opportunities.

So grab your partner and do-si-do to

Wings Over the Wetland on Saturday, Oct. 26!

Linda Dunn, our

education manager,

was chosen as the

state’s Environmen-

tal Educator of the

Year by the Texas

Commission on En-

vironmental Quality

as part of its Texas

Environmental Ex-

cellence Awards

program.

Many apply each

year for the prestig-

ious TCEQ awards,

but few are chosen.

Hundreds of appli-

cations are consid-

ered from individu-

als, businesses, communities

and groups that make positive

contributions to the Texas envi-

ronment.

Linda was nominated by sev-

eral JBS staff members who

know her well and work with

her daily. The application in-

cluded information about her

background in environmental

ed, public school experience and

leadership role at JBS. Her work

with adults and young people at

a variety of environmental ven-

ues spans some 35 years.

But the selection process

didn’t just rely on an applica-

tion. TCEQ reps also came to the

Center, watched Linda instruct,

and spoke with her about her

love of teaching environmental

science and mentoring young

people. Several staff members

were interviewed as well.

Ultimately, Gov. Greg Abbott

and the TCEQ commissioners

jointly selected the winners.

Linda received the award

May 15 at a banquet at the Aus-

tin Convention Center, along

with winners from nine other

categories. Accompanying her

were husband Doug, JBS Direc-

tor John DeFillipo, Denise Hick-

ey of the North Texas Municipal

Water District and several staff

members and personal friends.

The evening included a fan-

tastic video of Linda explaining

her commitment to creating a

positive learning atmosphere

for people of all ages so they can

develop and expand healthy at-

titudes and actions aimed at im-

proving the Texas environment.

Linda was presented a beau-

tifully framed certificate of

recognition as well as a check

for $2,500 donated by Waste

Management.

We are so thankful to have

Linda as one of our great admin-

istrators here at JBS. She’s our

bright star!

O n a May evening in Austin, someone near and dear to us became famous.

She rose as a shining star, representing JBS and the thousands of students

who have been through our doors. Many of us knew about her already, but for

those who didn’t, let me explain. By Edith Hilborn

TCEQ Chairman Jon Niermann and Commissioner Emily Lindley honor

Linda Dunn as the state’s top environmental educator.

Children from Mesquite’s Vernon Price Ele-

mentary School had the special experience of

participating in Connecting Schools and Birds, a

project that unites students and wetland centers

in celebration of World Migratory Bird Day.

Wetland Link International sponsors this

yearly project. We made the valuable connection

with this global network on our 2015 trip to

Russia. World Migratory Bird Day, observed in

May and October, raises awareness of the need

to conserve migratory birds and their habitats.

The Price students connected with kids from

five other schools

along the Central

Flyway Migration

Corridor, which ex-

tends from Canada

across Texas to

South America. Each

school researched

five bird species in

their area that migrate through the flyway. They

worked together to map the birds’ migration

path as they viewed them during visits to local

wetlands. The Price kids chose the great white

egret, cormorant, black-necked stilt, bald eagle

and turkey vulture.

In late April, the

Price kids visited JBS to

learn about the migrato-

ry birds our wetland

supports and how it acts

as important resting and

refueling habitat. Our

educators also helped

them gain awareness of

the dangers of plastic

pollution to bird health.

The children got to see a variety of migratory

birds, including bald eagles, red-winged black-

birds, black-necked stilts and barn swallows.

They left JBS

with a greater ap-

preciation of their

connection to

birds and to other

schoolkids across

the flyway.

Share in

Price’s experi-

ence at JBS and

enjoy the website the kids created as part of the

Connecting Schools and Birds project.

Connecting Schools and Birds

O ur birds and our school programs came together in a very special way

this spring in observance of one of the world’s most spectacular

events—bird migration. By Stephanie Weber; photos by Tom Fleming

Black-necked stilt

Cormorant

Great white egret

Q uick, what’s a group of eagles called? It’s a “convocation”! With our

adult pair, a subadult, a juvenile and two eaglets making appearances

this nesting season, we definitely had a convocation. But we’re more inclined

to think of them as a bounty or a blessing of eagles. By John DeFillipo.

We’re proud that the East

Fork Water Reuse Project con-

tinues to play a crucial role in

the flourishing of America’s

once-imperiled symbol. Since

we began monitoring our wet-

land eagles in 2012, a dozen

eaglets have hatched and

fledged.

They are a testament to the

admirable parenting of our

breeding pair, the abundance of

food and habitat our wetland

provides, and the partnership

that constructed a safe, perma-

nent nesting site.

The 2018-2019 breeding

season was noteworthy in sev-

eral respects.

While our adult breeding

pair arrived later than in some

years, appearing separately on

Oct. 3 and Oct. 6, they wasted

no time in sprucing up their

nest and breeding.

Egg-laying occurred on Dec.

16 and Dec. 19, far earlier than

in past years.

That moved everything up

by a good month or more.

Hatching of the two eaglets

occurred about Jan. 20 and Jan.

23, with fledging on April 18.

Never before had we seen

so many other eagles—a 4th-

year subadult and 3rd-year

juvenile were frequently

around—or such aggression

from the breeding pair, espe-

cially the male, toward any

large bird, be it eagles, hawks

or vultures, that ventured too

close to the precious nest.

Enjoy the full story of this

breeding season, as told by

Steward Tom Fleming’s photos

and observations.

We never lose our appreci-

ation for these magnificent

creatures and wish them God-

speed while they’re away for

the summer.

Wetland Steward Tom Fleming brings us incalculable riches. He has a singular ability to see the exquisite intricacy of nature and capture it in picture and word. He also brings an un-common body of knowledge and unflagging curiosity. It is our good fortune that Tom has chosen to grace JBS with his time and dedication. Tom, our sincerest grati-tude for all you do to tell the story of our wetland and its life, especially our eagles.

Bats are fascinating crea-

tures and make up about 25% of

all mammal species. They’re the

only mammals naturally capable

of true sustained flight—how

neat is that? Whether you are

into bats or not (and I hope you

are), they need your awareness

and support.

BCI, which is dedicated to

conserving the world’s bats and

their ecosystems, is a great

source of accurate information.

At my workshop, I learned that

bats disperse seeds, pollinate

plants and act as a form of pest

control. I also learned that they

are vital to the health of the

planet. Of the world’s nearly

1,400 bat species, 47 live in the

United States and 32 are pre-

sent in Texas. To quote BCI, bats

are important, threatened, mis-

understood, everywhere—and

cool!

And they need your help.

What can you do to safe-

guard our bat populations? I’m

so glad you asked. It starts with

education and spreading aware-

ness. And we’ve got a fun way to

begin: Join us the night of July 9

for our first-ever bat walk, along

with stargazing!

Our educators will use a nif-

ty acoustic-monitoring device to

detect soundwaves produced

when bats are echolocating.

Echolocating is how many bat

species navigate and detect in-

sect prey. Echolocation calls are

usually ultrasonic, ranging in

frequency from 20 to 200 kilo-

hertz, making them difficult to

detect with human ears. Our

monitoring device will enable

you to visually see and hear the

soundwaves produced during

echolocation.

With ample food, water and

shelter, our wetland is an ideal

habitat for bats. Without tall

buildings and bright lights, it’s

also an ideal location for excel-

lent bat viewing opportunities.

Do we have bats in the wet-

land? Join our bat walk, and let’s

find out together!

W hen I first learned about the opportunity to participate in a Bat Conservation Interna-

tional workshop all about bats—their history, biology and ecological importance—I

knew I had to be a part of it. By Alicia Moreau

True or false? It’s a bat quiz!

1. Bats are blind (as a bat).

2. Bats are flying mice.

3. Bats get tangled in your hair.

4. Bats are bloodsuckers.

5. Bats are all rabid.

Answers: 1. Forget it; bats see

well. 2. Nope, they’re not ro-

dents. 3. No way; they’re too

smart and agile. 4. Only 3 species

are true vampires. 5. Not even

close (but don’t handle any wild-

life). Learn the full story about these myths from BCI.

First, about that mistaken identity business.

The nonvenomous diamondback water snake is

often confused with the venomous water moc-

casin, a pit viper also called a cottonmouth. As

young snakes, both can be brown or olive with

darker splotches, or bands. Both darken with

age and often become almost black. Scores of

nonvenomous diamondbacks are killed out of

misplaced fear. To be sure, the diamondback is

something of a diamond in the

rough. Normally shy and harmless,

it will defend itself as a last resort

with painful, repeated bites. The

best advice is always to leave wild

snakes alone, but here’s how to tell

the difference between the two.

North America’s largest water

snake. Spread across the U.S., dia-

mondbacks are most common in the Midwest

and South. Adults are typically about 5 feet long,

but one record-setter reached 8.2 feet. Females

grow faster and are larger and heavier than

males. Diamondbacks like to bask in or hang

from trees and prowl along waterways.

Catfish, please. Diamondbacks will eat almost

any animal that crosses their path but especially

relish catfish. They live mainly on fish, frogs and

toads. But mice, young snakes, turtles, leeches,

insects and crawfish are fair game.

So who eats them? Despite their

size, they’re not apex predators,

and adults are preyed on by snap-

ping turtles, opossums, raccoons,

foxes and other snakes. Baby dia-

mondbacks provide

dinner for frogs, fish, other

snakes, mammals and raptors.

Life matters. Diamondbacks

breed during the spring and give

birth in late summer or early fall,

typically to about 50 young. New-

borns are about 8 to 10 inches

long. Like their parents, they’re

aggressive if threatened. Maybe their irascible

attitude is understandable considering that

they’re abandoned at birth. Diamondbacks’

lifespan in the wild is unknown, but they have

lived up to 10 years in captivity.

Thanks to Animal Spot for help with this story.

WetlandWild :

n the beauty of the lily pads approaches a lovely creature that is often the

victim of mistaken identity. Get to know JBS’s diamond in the rough, the

diamondback water snake. By Patricia Nichols. Photos by Bill Nance

Did you know?

Diamondback snakes are ovoviviparous. Females produce eggs that hatch inside their bodies. The young remain within her, nourished by the yolk sac, until they are born alive.

A Night to Remember

Join us July 9 from 7:30-11 p.m. for a night to

remember exploring bats and cosmic wonders.

Learn about the bat spe-

cies of North Texas as well as

their environmental im-

portance and current conser-

vation efforts. Then walk

through the wetland with sci-

entific equipment to deter-

mine the presence of bats.

You might even see one in

flight!

Back inside, make your own s’mores

(ingredients provided!) before the next part of

the evening begins.

As it gets darker, Steward Tom Fleming will

guide you on a walk through the night sky. After a

presentation, we’ll look at the

constellations and the plan-

ets Jupiter and Saturn as they

appear on the horizon.

This event is for those 10

years old and up. The cost is

$20 per person, which in-

cludes admission. Registra-

tion is required, and space is

limited.

To register or for more information, contact

ldunn@wetlandcenter.com or call 972-474-9100.

Register Now for This Special Evening

Summer Programs Just for Teachers

Project WET will have you exploring the fascinating world of water systems using fun, hands-on educational activities. Find out more here. June 27, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. $40, prepaid by June 21

Project WILD will have you exploring the fascinating world of wildlife and ecosystems using fun, hands-on educational activities. Find out more here. July 11, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. $40, prepaid by July 5

Project Learning Tree is an award-winning environmental education program that uses the for-est as a window to the world to understand our complex environment, to stimulate critical thinking and to make informed decisions. Find out more here. July 25, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. $65, prepaid by July 19

Texas Aquatic Science is a comprehensive aquatic science curriculum from molecules to ecosys-tems and headwaters to ocean for middle school and high school students. This workshop is de-signed to introduce the curriculum and how to best use the activities and supplemental material that enhance the curriculum. Find out more here. Aug. 1, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. $20, prepaid by July 26

To register or for more information, email ldunn@wetlandcenter.com or call 972-474-9100.

E njoy professional development in an incomparable classroom setting here at

the JBS Wetland Center.