Arlington to tackle privet in parks with help of federal fund
By HALEY SAMSEL, FORT WORTH REPORT
Sept. 25, 2023
Nature and Wildlife
Prairie preserve is centerpiece of new Dallas park
Dallas's new Judge Charles R. Rose Community Park centers on blackland prairie restoration with over 100 volunteers planting native species. Part of the Five Mile Creek Greenbelt Plan, the park aims to enhance access to green space in underserved areas, featuring trails, parks, and an outdoor classroom.
Downtown Fort Worth buildings are deadly for migrating birds
By HALEY SAMSEL AND CRISTIAN ARGUETASOTO, Fort Worth Report
Sept. 17, 2023
Before the sun rises above the downtown Fort Worth skyline, a group outfitted in reflective safety vests emerges from the Tarrant County College parking lot. Armed with flashlights and headlamps, they walk toward their first stop: the Wells Fargo tower on Main Street.
For nature to survive, we all must practice stewardship at home, says Doug Tallamy
Doug Tallamy, on the Texas Green Report podcast, emphasizes individual responsibility for maintaining ecosystems, highlighting the need for properties to support pollinators, food webs, carbon sequestration, and water management. He advocates planting native species, reducing lawn areas, and coexisting with nature to combat biodiversity and climate crises.
Denton group working to save jackrabbits on 'habitat island'
A group in Denton, including a UNT instructor and her students, works to relocate black-tailed jackrabbits. As the city expands, these hares face habitat loss. They aim to transport the jackrabbits to a more suitable area, preventing their decline due to urbanization and increasing genetic diversity.
Big trees rolled to new home in Addison park
Four 60-year-old live oaks were relocated to an Addison park by AMLI, a developer building a mixed-use community aiming for LEED Silver certification. Environmental Design executed the move using ArborLift technology to preserve the trees, part of a sustainability effort that includes planting 350 new trees.
Mosquito-eating dragonflies seen hotdogging at local pond
On a hot day at Sheri Capehart Nature Preserve in Arlington, dragonflies performed acrobatics, highlighting their role as natural pest control, consuming hundreds of mosquitos daily. Despite being resilient, habitat destruction, climate change, and pollutants threaten their survival, emphasizing the need for wetland preservation.
Swifts to put on night show at Dallas nature center
The Trinity River Audubon Center is hosting a free "Swift Night Out" on September 7, offering birdwatching of chimney swifts and others to aid scientists in counting bird populations. The event highlights chimney swifts' decline due to habitat loss and their valuable role in consuming insects. Registration is required.
College students brave heat for summer internship on the prairie
During a scorching summer, college students Kimberly Villarreal, Jacob Estes, and Paige Priddy interned at Tandy Hills Natural Area, supported by the North Texas Community Foundation's Conservation and Environment Fund. They gained hands-on skills in natural resources management and addressed challenges like invasive species and park mismanagement.
Summertime blues? North Texans struggle to cope with extreme heat
North Texans face extreme heat, with consecutive days over 100 degrees and a high heat index. This relentless heat impacts daily life, mental health, and the environment, leading to anxiety, grief, and health risks. Coping strategies include mindfulness, self-expression, and seeking climate-aware therapy to address these challenges.