| January |
- All-staff
Training & Maintenance
- Monday–Saturday
- January 8–13
-
- The Nature Center will be
closed as the staff attends a week-long retreat, focusing on
long-term planning, training, and maintenance.
|
- Earth
& Space Science Teachers Workshop for
4th–8th Grade Teachers
- Friday
- January 18
- 9 AM– 4 PM
- Fee: $50
- Limited to 10
-
- Designed to increase your
conceptual knowledge of Earth and Space Science, this workshop will
include lab activities and lesson ideas you can use in your
teaching. All Earth and Space Science TEKS covered on the 5th
and 8th grade Science TAKS will be discussed.
Upon successful completion of the workshop, you will receive six
hours of continuing education credits.
-
- We will provide lunch.
Please wear shoes appropriate for a short, outdoor walk. All
workshop materials are provided.
-
- Contact James Saunders at
432-364-2499 or jsaunders@cdri.org
for details.
|
- Texas
Mountains
- Robert
Conant Distinguished Lecturer Series
- Joe Nick Patoski
- Thursday
- January 24
- 7 PM
- Sul Ross State
University (SRSU),
Alpine
-
Lawrence Hall Rm. 300
-
- Joe Nick Patoski, senior
editor of Texas Monthly, will start our new year off with a
bang. In 2001, Patoski and free-lance photographer Laurence Parent
joined forces to produce the stunningly beautiful book Texas
Mountains. In this lecture, Patoski will share with us his
knowledge of the mountains of west Texas.
|
- Volunteer
Days
- Thursdays
- 9:30 AM
-
- In January, we will
continue focusing on juniper removal on the landsite, helping to
restore the historic landscape. Contact Jan Carpenter at 432-364-2499
or jcarpenter@cdri to
participate.
|
| February |
- Gardening
for Migratory Songbirds
- Robert
Conant Distinguished Lecturer Series
- Kay
Charter Thursday
- February 7
- 7 PM
- SRSU,
Alpine
- Lawrence Hall
- Rm. 300
-
- Kay Charter, Executive
Director of Saving Birds Thru Habitat, will speak about the
challenges faced by migrating bird populations and how each of us can
support songbird conservation by creating habitat with native plants in
our own backyard.
|
- CDRI's
Great Backyard Bird Count
- Saturday
- February 16
- 8 AM
-
- The Great Backyard Bird Count
is a national birding event sponsored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology
and the National Audubon Society. The event engages bird watchers of all
ages in counting birds to create a real-time snapshot of where birds are
across the continent. The Nature Center’s backyard is 500 acres of
grassland, canyons, and rugged outcrops. Come help us find out what’s
flying.
|
- Hummingbird
Distribution, Diversity & Conservation
- Robert
Conant Distinguished Lecturer Series
- Susan
Wethington
- Monday
- February 18
- 7 PM
- SRSU, Alpine
-
Lawrence Hall Rm. 309
-
- By monitoring hummingbird
populations from Canada through the western U.S. and Mexico, the
Hummingbird Monitoring Network is learning about seasonal movement
patterns; which areas support a high diversity and abundance of
hummingbirds; and which areas are important breeding sites. We are
joining the network in 2008. Come learn more about this exciting project
and how you can support hummingbird conservation.
|
- Biology
Teachers Workshop: 4th–8th
Grade Teachers
- Friday
- February 29
- 9 AM– 4 PM
-
- Registration: $50 per
person. Limited to 10 participants. Contact James Saunders at
432-364-2499 or jsaunders@cdri.org
for details.
|
-
Education
Docent Training
- Friday
- February 29
- 9 AM–5 PM
-
- More and more school groups
are coming to the Nature Center and the groups are getting larger. We
need your help!
-
- As an education docent, you’ll
receive occasional calls to help with school groups. To prepare you,
we’re offering this special training opportunity. You’ll learn to
lead interpretive hikes, handle live animals, and run an interpretive
station.
- Lunch provided. Contact Jan
Carpenter at 432-364-2499 or jcarpenter@cdri
to register.
|
-
Volunteer
Days
-
Thursdays
- 9:30 AM
-
- The greenhouse gets a
facelift; we'll focus on grounds improvement; and we'll offer cacti care
training. Contact Jan Carpenter at 432-364-2499 or jcarpenter@cdri
to participate.
|
| March |
- Kids'
Corner
- New
for 2008!
- Saturdays
- March 1, 15, 29
- Drop-in
- 9 AM–12 noon
- Fee: $5 per child,
per activity
-
- Looking for something to
engage your kids? Drop in to the Kids' Corner on Saturday mornings for
a fun, guided, make-and-explore activity for you and your favorite
young person, ages 4 to 10. Topics are: Tremendous
Tracks on March 1st; Budding
Botanists on March 15th; and Go
Fly a Kite on March 29th. Kids' Corner will be
continued in April.
-
|
- Cactus
& Succulent Festival
- Saturday–Saturday
- March 8–22
-
- Each spring, our
cacti collection becomes a riot of color, scent, and texture. To
celebrate this glorious event, we’re inviting you to the Fourth
Annual Cactus & Succulent Festival. Come tour the greenhouse,
browse special exhibits, participate in special events and workshops, and enjoy the
desert in bloom!
|
- Cactus
& Succulent Sale
- Begins March 8th at 9
AM; runs through March 22
-
- The CDRI's
annual sale offers over 50 species of plants native to the Chihuahuan
Desert region. Whether you’re starting a cactus collection, adding
that special plant to your existing collection, or just looking for
something for your garden, you’re sure to find it here. The majority
of our cacti are seed-grown in the CDRI’s cactus greenhouse or from
SRSU’s Native Plant Propagation Program in Alpine. Check back here
after March 1 for a preliminary list of plants. Sale takes place at
the Visitors' Center. 2008
Species List.
|
- Tips for
Successful Cacti Growing
- Marc
Goff
- Saturday
- March 15
- 10 AM–12 noon
- Fee: $15 members,
- $20 nonmembers Pre-registration
required
- Limited to 20
-
- Learn all the secrets to
successful cacti propagation. Marc Goff will reveal his techniques for
sowing, grafting, proper soil mixing, watering, fertilizing, and
generally keeping cacti happy and healthy at this workshop in the
greenhouse.
|
- Cacti as
Art: Photography Workshop
- Crystal
Albright Saturday
- March 15
- 1–4 PM
-
Fee: $40 members
- $50 nonmembers Pre-registration
required
- Limited to 10
-
- Crystal’s photographs are
easily recognized by their unique angle, slight twist of perspective,
and humorous outlook. In this workshop, Crystal will share her insight
into getting that one-of-a-kind photograph. The workshop will be held in
the cactus and succulent greenhouse.
|
- Cactus
Camp: Spring Break Day Camp for Children
- New for
2008! Thursday–Saturday
- March 20–22
- 9
AM–12 noon
- 3-day Cost:
- $55 members,
- $65 nonmembers
- Pre-registration
required
- Limited to 10
-
- The theme of this
three-day, activity-rich day camp is cacti! As Cactus Sleuths,
children in the 1st through 5th grade will explore the world of desert
plants through games, activities, and crafts. They’ll discover how a
cactus survives in the desert, which parts of the cactus are edible,
how to repot a cactus without getting a handful of spines, and
much more.
|
| April |
- Kids'
Corner
- New
for 2008!
- Saturdays
- April 12 & 26
- Drop-in
- 9 AM–12 noon
- Fee: $5 per child,
per activity
-
- Looking for something to
engage your kids? Drop in to the Kids' Corner on Saturday mornings for
a fun, guided, make-and- explore activity for you and your favorite
young person, age 4 to 10. Topics are: Trees
are Terrific on April 12th and Nature
Detectives on April 26th.
|
- Fort
Davis Spring Butterfly Count
- Saturday
- April 12
- 10 AM
- Fee: $3 per adult
-
- The Fort Davis Butterfly
Count Circle is focused on the Jeff Davis County Courthouse and
extends from the CDRI’s Nature Center to the McDonald Observatory.
Join fellow butterfly enthusiasts to conduct these seasonal counts of
our butterflies. We’ll focus on the Nature Center, but if there are
enough participants, we’ll cover the entire count circle. All ages
and skill levels are encouraged to participate.
-
- Fees are submitted to the
North American Butterfly Association to support maintenance of their
website and production of reports.
-
|
- Know
Your Local Trees: How to Identify Native & Cultivated Trees of the Davis
Mountains
- Oscar Mestas
- Saturday
- April 19
- 10 AM–12 noon
- Fee: $10
members, $15 nonmembers Pre-registration required
- Limited to 15
-
- In this hands-on workshop
and guided walk through the botanical gardens, Oscar Mestas will
introduce you to the most common native and cultivated trees of the
Davis Mountains. Each participant will receive a reference set of
information about the characteristics of the trees and their
horticultural requirements. Oscar is a Mountain West Region Urban
Forester with the Texas Forest Service in El Paso.
|
- 23rd
Annual Native Plant Sale:
- Friday & Saturday
- April 25 & 26
-
- Each year, we bring you the
very best of plants native to the Chihuahuan Desert region. Already
adapted to local growing conditions, these plants are
drought-resistant, easy to maintain, and beautiful! At our native
plant sale, you’ll find a wide variety of trees, shrubs, vines,
perennials, cacti and succulents suited to our climate. Make a New
Year’s resolution to go native in 2008!
-
- Preliminary
Species List
|
- Members'
Night
- Friday
- April 25
- 4–7 PM
-
- As a member, you are
invited to choose from the very best selection of plants during our
special Member’s Night event on Friday. There will be plant experts
on hand to answer all your questions and light refreshments to enjoy
as you shop.
-
- Not a
member? You can join Friday night, shop, and pay for your membership
all at this very special event.
|
- 23rd
Annual Native Plant Sale
- Saturday
- April 26
- 9 AM–5 PM
-
- The plant sale continues
Saturday morning with plenty of plants to choose from. Our plant
experts and volunteers will be on hand to help you select plants and
answer any questions that you may have. Be
sure to check here in early April for a preliminary list of plants
that will be available during the sale.
|
- Don't
Mess with Texas: Trash Off Day
- Sunday
- April 6
- 9–11 AM
-
- Our spring Adopt-a-highway
trash-pickup day occurs the weekend of National Trash Off Day. In 2007, over
48,000 Texans volunteered to clean Texas roadsides Trash Off Day,
picking up more than 3 million pounds of litter. How’s that for
improving the health of our watersheds and landscapes? This is a
quarterly volunteer opportunity. Contact Jan Carpenter at 432-364-2499
or jcarpenter@cdri.org.
|
| May |
- Lichens
of the Davis Mountains: Lecture
- Dr.
Wayne McAlister
- Thursday
- May 1
- 7:30 PM
-
- Dr. Wayne McAlister has
been fascinated by lichens for many years. On this Thursday, Dr.
McAlister will present a slide show introducing you to the amazing
world of the lichen, what lichens are, their biology, and their
importance as environmental indicators in the desert. A Lichen Walk
will follow on Saturday morning.
|
- Birding
101: Learning How to Identify Spring Migrants
- Carol
Edwards
- Thursday & Saturday
- May 8 & 10
- Fee: $20
members,
- $25 nonmembers Pre-registration
required
- Limited to 15
-
- Birding
101 Class Thursday
- May 8
- 6:30–8:30
PM
-
- Birding
101 Field Trip
- Saturday
- May 10
- Time TBA
-
- Join us for another one of
our popular birding classes. Taught by local birding expert, Carol
Edwards, this two-day class will focus on our resident birds and the
spring migrants that are moving through the area in May. On Thursday,
Carol will use slides and field guides to introduce you to the birds,
their markings, and their characteristic habits. On Saturday, you’re
invited to return to the Nature Center to participate in a bird survey
taking place as part of International Migratory Bird Day. You’ll
have the opportunity to sharpen your skills by working alongside
expert birders. This is a great class for novice and intermediate
birders.
-
|
- International
Migratory Bird Day: Count & Walk
- Tundra
to Tropics: Connecting Birds, Habitats, and People
- Saturday
- May 10
- Time TBA
-
- In conjunction with
Environment for the Americas, a nonprofit organization working to
increase awareness of birds and their conservation throughout the
Western Hemisphere, the CDRI will host a bird count and walk on
International Migratory Bird Day. This event focuses attention on one
of the most important and spectacular events in the life of a
migratory bird—its journey between its summer and winter homes. Join
us on the walk and count to learn the difference between our resident
birds and those that are just passing through.
|
- Nature
Journaling
- Petei
Guth Saturday
- May 17
- 9 AM–12 noon
- Fee: $30 members
- $35 nonmembers Pre-registration
required
- Limited to 15
-
- Nature journaling is the
perfect way to step aside from your busy life, slow down, and
appreciate the wonders of the natural world around you. Local
naturalist, Petei Guth, will show you how to observe nature and
document your experiences in a new and creative way. During the
workshop, you’ll begin your own nature journal and will experiment
with nature printing, observation, writing, and sketching. You do not
have to be an artist to enjoy nature journaling. Your registration fee
pays for supplies and your first journal.
-
|
- Desert
Bighorn Sheep: A Conservation Success Story
- Robert
Conant Distinguished Lecturer Series
- David
Wetzel
- Thursday
- May 29
- 7 PM
- SRSU, Alpine
- Rm. TBA
-
- By 1960, the Texas population
of desert bighorn sheep had dwindled to less than 50 animals. Concerned
about the plight of the desert bighorn, a small group of individuals
formed the Texas Bighorn Society to insure the survival of this majestic
animal. The result? A conservation success story! David Wetzel,
President of the Texas Bighorn Society, will share this inspiring story
with us.
|
- Lichen
Walk
- Dr. Wayne McAlister
- Saturday
- May 3
- 9–11 AM
- Fee: $5
members,
- $7.50 nonmembers
- Pre-registration
required
- Limited to 15
-
- Following Dr. McAlister's
lecture on Thursday, we’ll head for the rocks and discover the
diversity of lichens at the Nature Center on Saturday morning.
|
- Fieldtrip
is Full!
- Destination:
Desert Bighorn Sheep
- Saturday
- May 31
- 8 AM–4 PM
- Elephant Mountain
Wildlife Management Area
- Fee: $20
members, $25 nonmembers Pre-registration required
- Limited to 15
-
- Elephant Mountain WMA was
donated to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in 1985 for
conservation of desert bighorn sheep and other large game animals.
During this field trip, we’ll take a 3-hour, 4-wheel-drive tour of
the management area in search of desert bighorn sheep. Even though we
can’t guarantee a bighorn sighting, we can guarantee spectacular
scenery and an exhilarating day in the desert. Bring a lunch, water,
and your binoculars.
|
| June |
- Nocturnal
Blooms & Nighttime Pollinators
- Cynthia McAlister
- Thursday
- June 12
- 8–10 PM
- Fee: $10
members, $15 nonmembers
- Pre-registration
required
- Limited to 15
-
- Have you ever wondered what
is buzzing, zooming, and flitting through your gardens at night? Many
of our desert pollinators do their day’s work at dusk or in the
dark. Cynthia McAlister will introduce you to these nighttime
pollinators and then take you on a short walk to look for bats and
moths attracted to the night- blooming plants of the pollinator
garden. Weather permitting, Cynthia will also set up a black-light
station to attract nocturnal insects of all types.
|
- Critter
Club: Summer Day Camp for Preschoolers
- Monday–Friday
- June 16–20
- 9 AM–12 noon
- Fee: $75
members, $85 nonmembers
- Pre-registration
required
- Limited to 10
-
- Do you know a young and
curious mind just waiting for the opportunity to absorb more about the
world around us? This preschool day camp was a huge hit in 2007. The
enrichment program continues in 2008 with all new activities, walks,
crafts, and books that follow a different nature theme each day. All
children must be potty-trained.
|
- Teachers
Workshop: Introduction to Earth Systems Science
- (Tentative dates)
- Monday–Friday
- June 23–27
- Fee: TBA
-
- This weeklong course is
designed to familiarize high school science teachers to the curriculum
of the new 4th year Geology, Meteorology, and Oceanography science
class. Emphasis will be placed on earth systems concepts. The class
will include field trips to various geological formations in the Big
Bend region. Contact James Saunders at
432-364-2499 or jsaunders@cdri.org
for details.
|
- Hummingbird
Banding at Magnificent Canyon
- Kelly
Bryan
- Saturday
- June 28
- 9 AM–1 PM
- Fee: $25
members, $30 nonmembers
- Pre-registration
required
- Limited to 10
-
- Located in a box canyon at
6,200 to 6,500 ft. elevation, the Magnificent Canyon Research Station
was established to study the hummingbirds that are attracted to its
mountain habitat. As a participant in this field trip, you will have
the opportunity to observe and interact with professional hummingbird
banders as they capture birds, record data, and place tiny metal
identification bands on the legs of the hummingbirds. The research
station is named after the Magnificent hummingbirds that are
frequently seen there, but you’re also likely to encounter
Broad-tailed, Black-chinned, Rufous, and Calliope hummingbirds. You
may also be lucky enough to see Blue-throated, White-eared, Lucifer,
Allen’s, Ruby-throated, Anna’s, Broad-billed, and Berylline
hummingbirds. Meeting place TBA.
-
- This fieldtrip will also be offered twice in August.
|
- Celebrate
National Pollinator Week
- Sunday–Saturday
- June 22–28
-
- Did you know that a
pollinator is responsible for every third bite of food that we eat? Or
that there are over 500 species of native bees in Texas? Or that
animal pollinators such as insects, bats, and hummingbirds are
especially important pollinators in the desert where plants are widely
spaced?
-
- When you select native
plants for your garden, you’re also contributing to the conservation
of our native pollinators. During National Pollinator Week, take a
moment to learn more about beeflies; begin collecting information
about what type of hummingbirds visit which flowers; take an afternoon
to visit the Nature Center & Botanical Garden and learn more about
the pollinators of our region. Every step you take helps conserve our
native pollinators! Visit www.pollinator.org/pollinator_week_2008.htm
for more information.
|
| July |
- Fort
Davis Summer Butterfly Count
- Thursday
- July 3
- 10 AM
- Fee: $3 per adult
-
- The Fort Davis Butterfly
Count Circle is focused on the Jeff Davis County Courthouse and
extends from the CDRI’s Nature Center to the McDonald Observatory.
Join fellow butterfly enthusiasts to conduct these seasonal counts of
our butterflies. We’ll focus on the Nature Center, but if there are
enough participants, we’ll cover the entire count circle. All ages
and skill levels are encouraged to participate.
-
- Fees are submitted to the
North American Butterfly Association to support maintenance of their
website and production of reports.
|
- Desert
Rat Club: Summer Day Camp for Elementary-age Children
- New
for 2008!
- Monday–Friday
- July 14–18
- 9 AM–12
noon
- Fee: $75
members, $80 nonmembers
- Pre-registration
required
- Limited to 12
-
- You asked for it and we
listened! In 2008 we’re offering a week-long day camp for children 6
through 11. Children will learn to think like scientists as they
explore the flora, fauna, and geology of the Nature Center through
nature journaling, scientific experiments, and other hands-on
activities.
|
- Grand
Opening of the Pollinator Garden
- Saturday
- July 25
- 5 PM
- Dinner: $25 per
plate
- Reservations required
-
- To wrap up our What's
the Buzz? grant from the Institute of Museum & Library
Services, we are celebrating pollinators. Join us for the grand
opening of our new pollinator garden and a special garden party. A
catered meal will be served.
|
| August |
- Extended
Open Hours at the Nature Center
- New
for 2008!
- Thursday Evenings
- August 7, 14, 21, 28
- Open until 9 PM
-
- The Nature Center is a
special place during summer evenings. To give you the opportunity to
experience the Nature Center at dusk, we’ll be open until 9:00 PM
every Thursday in August and September. The Visitors' Center will be
staffed and the Leapin' Lizards Nature Shop will be open.
|
- The
Desert After Dark: Guided Evening Walks
- New
for 2008!
- Thursdays
- August 7, 14, 21, 28
- 9 PM
- Fee: $5
members, $7.50 nonmembers Limited to 10
-
- The desert comes alive
after dark. Join CDRI staff and volunteers on this guided discovery
walk to see what goes on when the sun goes down. Your guide will help
you find your night vision and encourage you to use all your senses to
enjoy the desert in a whole new light.
-
- This is a great activity
for the entire family, but children must be closely supervised by
adults. Wear appropriate footwear and dress for the cooler night air.
Offered August through September.
|
- Hummingbird
Banding at Magnificent Canyon
- Kelly
Bryan
- Saturdays
- August 2 & 16
- 9 AM–1 PM
- Fee: $25
members, $30 nonmembers, per trip
- Pre-registration
required
- Limited to 10
-
- Located in a box canyon at
6,200 to 6,500 ft. elevation, the Magnificent Canyon Research Station
was established to study the hummingbirds that are attracted to its
mountain habitat. As a participant in this field trip, you will have
the opportunity to observe and interact with professional hummingbird
banders as they capture birds, record data, and place tiny metal
identification bands on the legs of the hummingbirds. The research
station is named after the Magnificent hummingbirds that are
frequently seen there, but you’re also likely to encounter
Broad-tailed, Black-chinned, Rufous, and Calliope hummingbirds. You
may also be lucky enough to see Blue-throated, White-eared, Lucifer,
Allen’s, Ruby-throated, Anna’s, Broad-billed, and Berylline
hummingbirds. Meeting place TBA.
|
- Reptilian
World of the Nature Center
- Mileniusz
Spanowicz
- Saturday
- August 30
- 9 AM–12 noon
- Fee: $10
members, $15 nonmembers
- Pre-registration
required
- Limited to 15
-
- They’re fast, they’re
secretive, and they’re all around us. In this workshop,
herpetologist Mileniusz Spanowicz will introduce you to the
fascinating snakes and lizards of the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center
and surrounding region through an engaging lecture and interaction
with living animals. Participants will then go on a discovery walk to
learn more about reptile habitats and behavior.
|
| September |
- Extended
Open Hours at the Nature Center
- New
for 2008!
- Thursday Evenings
- September 4, 11, 18, 25
- Open until 9 PM
-
- The Nature Center is a
special place during summer evenings. To give you the opportunity to
experience the Nature Center at dusk, we’ll be open until 9:00 PM
every Thursday in August and September. The Visitors' Center will be
staffed and the Leapin' Lizards Nature Shop will be open.
|
- Annual
Members' Appreciation BBQ & Fundraising Auction
- Saturday
- September 20
- 4 PM
- Suggested donation:
$10 per plate
-
- Join friends and CDRI
family for our annual Member’s Appreciation BBQ and fundraising
auction. Expect good food, one-of-a-kind auction items, and fellowship
as we gather to acknowledge the support of our members and to raise
money for our educational programs and operating expenses.
|
- Fort
Davis Fall Butterfly Count
- Saturday
- September 27
- 10 AM
- Fee: $3 per adult
-
- The Fort Davis Butterfly
Count Circle is focused on the Jeff Davis County Courthouse and
extends from the CDRI’s Nature Center to the McDonald Observatory.
Join fellow butterfly enthusiasts to conduct these seasonal counts of
our butterflies. We’ll focus on the Nature Center, but if there are
enough participants, we’ll cover the entire count circle. All ages
and skill levels are encouraged to participate.
-
- Fees are submitted to the
North American Butterfly Association to support maintenance of their
website and production of reports.
|
| October |
- The
Earth Rocks 3!!! A Celebration of Earth Science Week
- Thursday
- October 16
- 9 AM–2 PM
- Pre-registration of
school or youth groups required
- Fee: $5 per child
-
- The earth will rock once
more with our third annual Earth Rocks!!! science field day for
students. Hands-on activities, exhibits, and guided tours introduce
and reinforce important basic concepts concerning geology, minerals,
weather, and water. Each child will go home with their own goody bag
of fossils, minerals, and other earth science treasures.
-
- Contact James Saunders at
432-364-2499 or jsaunders@cdri.org.
Ask about the availability of partial scholarships.
|
- Grand
Opening of the Interpretive Geological Exhibit
- Saturday
- October 18
- 10:00 AM
- Free
-
- Set on the highest point of
the Nature Center property, the Interpretive Geological Exhibit
encourages visitors to learn to read the geological, cultural, and
historic landscape. Join us for the official ribbon cutting and guided
tours to view the exhibit.
|
- Fall in
the Mountains: Mount Livermore Hike
- Saturday
- October 25
- 8 AM–4 PM
- Davis Mountains Preserve
- Fee: $15
members, $25 nonmembers Pre-registration required
- Limited to 15
-
- Nature Conservancy staff
Colin Shackelford and John Karges will be our interpretive guides as
we head to the summit of Mount Livermore. At 8,378 ft., the peak of
Mount Livermore is an elevational gain of about 1000 ft. from our
starting point. The four-mile hike offers exceptional views—on a
clear day you can see all the way to the Sierra del Carmen in Mexico
and north to the Guadalupe Mountains—and a firsthand introduction to
sky-island ecosystems. Wear hiking shoes and bring water and your
lunch.
|
- Celebrate
Earth Science Week
- Sunday–Saturday
- October 12–18
-
- 2008 will mark the 11th
year that the American Geological Institute has sponsored this
international event to promote understanding and appreciation of the
value of earth science research and its applications and relevance to
our daily lives. Their objectives are to engage students in
discovering the earth sciences; remind people that earth science is
all around us; encourage Earth stewardship through understanding; and
motivate geoscientists to share their knowledge and enthusiasm about
the Earth. Learn more by visiting www.earthsciweek.org.
|
| November |
- Fall
Birds at the Nature Center
- Saturday
- November 1
- 8 AM
- Free
-
- Join us for the last of our
seasonal bird counts at the Nature Center. By November, our winter
migrants have arrived and our old favorites have settled in. The fall
count is a great time to brush up on your sparrow identification
skills.
|
- Thanksgiving
Open House & Invitation to Membership
- Friday & Saturday
- November 28 & 29
- 9
AM–5 PM
- Admission-free for all
visitors
-
- As with many non-profit
organizations, the CDRI relies on the support of its membership for
valuable funds and an interested public. If you are a member, you
already know all of the once-in-a-lifetime experiences you can enjoy
by belonging to the CDRI. This special weekend, bring your friends and
family to the Nature Center to share some of those opportunities and
to encourage them to become members. If you are not a member, come
check us out and think about joining. Take a brisk walk through the
canyon or find that perfect gift in the Leapin’ Lizards Nature Shop.
Guided hikes are planned for 1:00 PM on Friday and 10:00 AM on
Saturday. Stop by the Visitors’ Center for maps, cookies, and hot
chocolate. Admission is free for everyone!
|
| December |
- Introduction
to Winter Birds
- Carol
Edwards
- Thursday & Saturday
- December 11 & 13
- Fee: $20
members, $25 nonmembers
- Pre-registration
required
- Limited to 15
-
- Winter
Birds Class
- Thursday
- December 11; 6:30–8:30
PM
-
- Winter
Birds Field Trip
- Saturday
- December 13; Time TBA
-
- Over 100 species of birds
spend the winter in the Davis Mountains. This workshop is designed to
introduce you to our winter residents and help you hone your
identification skills in time for the Christmas Bird Count on December
20 and 21st. The workshop consists of a 2-hour lecture on Thursday
night and a field trip on Saturday morning. We encourage birders of
all levels to take the course and can even loan you a pair of
binoculars for the field trip if you need them.
|
- Fort
Davis & Balmorhea Christmas Bird Counts
- Saturday & Sunday
- December 20 & 21
- Time TBA
- Fee: $5 per each field
observer aged 18 and over
- Pre-registration
required
-
- Be a part of the National
Audubon Society’s Christmas Bird Count! Each year, local volunteers
collect data in the Davis Mountains and in Balmorhea during this
international birding event (now in its 109th year!). You’ll help
monitor the status of resident and migratory birds across the Western
Hemisphere. Everyone is invited, and birders of all skill levels are
encouraged to participate. Please contact Marty Hansen at marty@birdsinflight.net
for details and registration information.
-
- Fees help the Audubon
Society generate materials for compilers, produce the annual CBC
summary issue, and maintain the CBC website and database.
|
