Greetings!

This is the July edition of the Bayou Foliage Volunteer Newsletter.

Volume 42 issue 7

Editors: Amanda Ashby, Polly Swerdlin

Proofreader: Vicki Atkins

Contributors: Tom Scarsella, Delmer Tejada, Heather Millar,

Mary Dobberstine, Hilary Gibbs, Jessica Lamb

Click here to view as Webpage

Click for Volunteer Board & Staff Contact List

All Weekend Guide & Demo shifts available in Homebase unless otherwise indicated.

There are no shifts to claim for Facility or Stewardship.

Upcoming July Schedule

Delmer Tejada

Treasurer

To reach Jessica,

e-mail or call:

[email protected] 

(713)-274-2664

Greetings. On Tuesday, May 30, we took a slightly different approach and broke into 3 teams to get detailed observations of our 3 main areas to determine when flashing starts after sunset and discover more flash patterns in each specific area. We had a total of 10 observers and our beetles did not disappoint. We started at 8 p.m. and wrapped up at about 10.

Below is a summary of the notes from each team:

1. Team Prairie observed from the prairie platform and immediate area. Bats and mosquitos were the first thing we noticed after sunset. Actual flashing activity started at 8:50, the latest of the three areas. The yellow green glows could be found in the grasses with bright and low glows. Generally, these are fast flying but long duration, much more than 5 seconds between flashes. Activity was sporadic but consistent during the entire time. At 9:11, activity started near the sugar cane. We noted that if there was a peak time – it was probably 9:15.  There was a special find near the standing circle of water at the end of the gravel road on the side near the prairie – a female. She was nestled in the middle of the grasses down on the ground, and we saw her timidly shine her light two or three times. The stars and moon on the water played tricks on us as we looked for more. 
2. Team ABNC, near Education Building/Pollinator Garden Area, observed in the recently mowed area. The areas of key activity are along the ditches on the road and tree line right outside the education building. Both had standing water. Bats and frogs started up around 8:37. At 8:40, flashing activity was noted in the tree clump by the road as well as in the tree line. It was yellow in color and had a quick or flicker flash.  There were 2 seconds between flashes. The team observed fast and higher-flying activity as well as in the grass and low flying. 9:14 was noted as the peak time; however, activity continued with more regular occurrence than what was observed in the prairie. Flashing continued from 9:17 until 10 with some dark/quiet time in between.
3. Team Forest observed from the short loop bend. 8:35 was the first sighting and was the earliest for the night. The first flashes were not bright and somewhat stationary. By 8:42 several were flying and the flashes were described as a flash bulb. Flying was then noticed 2 feet above ground, at ground level about 6-7 feet, and tree top canopy level, so basically all over.  As the evening progressed, the flashing pattern changed to a slow glow and could be seen in vertical lines. The slower glowing were also slower moving, while the flash bulb glowers were faster and covered more area.  Peak activity time was from 9-9:30. Glows were greenish-yellowish in color.   

Great night to record some detailed field observations and to get a chance to enjoy the views as well.  If you happen to be leading or supporting one of the general Saturday night hikes, remember that guests can still enjoy fireflies near the Education building from 9-9:15 and the forest from 9-9:30 this weekend.  

Have a good one and THANKS to everyone who came out.

Mary Dobberstine and the

ABNC Firefly Citizen Watch Team

Congratulations to Josie (in the black robe) and Anna (in the blue)!

Josie Behne graduated from Clear Springs High School with Honors, and is heading to University of North Texas in Denton to major in Ecology for Environmental Sciences and minor in Studio Art. In high school, she was President of the National Art Honor Society and a member of National Honor Society, National English Honor, and Tri-M (Music Honor Society). She is the recipient of CSHS’s Senior Leadership Award and was involved in the band and theatre programs.



Josie has been a teen volunteer here at ABNC all through high school and will be one of our camp counselors for EcoCamp this summer.

Anna Lyons volunteered 367 hours as part of our Armand Bayou Nature Center Volunteen program from 2020 to the present before graduating from Clear Lake High School, an academically rigorous school of character. Her intention is to pursue a degree in Nursing. During the pandemic of 2020+, we had to modify all of our programs for safety and to pivot quickly. Our volunteers and staff are amazing and flexible - that’s what it takes to be at a Nature Center! 

What's beating the heat in the vegetable garden? Eggplant, okra, squash, and hot peppers! The insects have the tomatoes, alas.

On Thursday, May 25, six volunteers from Totalenergies in La Porte put in a hard, hot, half-day digging and spreading compost in the sugar cane field. The pile at the south end of the field was constructed of 804 bags of leaves in December of 2020 by myself and Gene Fissler. The cane field had never been fertilized and the consensus was that it would benefit from a top dressing of compost. The resulting pile was enormous and took the better part of two years to thoroughly break down. We spread about half of the pile and got pretty good coverage with it. A nice little bit of habitat had formed on and in the pile that we had to disturb. We saw hundreds of worms, many pill bugs, a few centipedes, and skinks. Our best sighting was three of a Coral snake (there may have been two)! Our friends from Totalenergies left with bragging rights.

A group of Scouts from troop 848 replaced the tops of some worn railings around the Kanaka Building on June 10.

A service group of five from B&L Pipelines came out to help clear invasive plants along our boardwalk on June 27. Three very hot hours were put in and we pulled several hundred woody invasives. Many thanks to our friends from B&L. They were a hard working group and we hope they come back.



Tom Scarsella

We are saddened to announce the passing of a valuable Volunteer who made a difference for all who met him. This picture was taken at the 2018 Appreciation Dinner.

John Hendricks

1939 – 2023

From being born at home on a farm in Douglasville, Texas to serving his country in the United States Marine Corps for almost thirty years, John ended his life's journey on March 9, 2023.

He is survived by Pat, his wife of sixty-one years, his son Christopher and his wife Elsa, his granddaughter Carrie and husband William Helm, his grandson James and wife Haley and great grandsons, Liam, John, Jack and Cole. He is also survived by his sisters Mary, Martha, Suzanne and Sara and numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased in death by his parents Noah Hendricks and Rena Johnson Hendricks and son Stephen Patrick who passed away in 2011.

John graduated from Kirwin High School in Galveston in 1957 and Texas A & M in 1962. He later earned his master's degree at Redlands University. John was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the USMC and attended Officer's Basic School in Quantico, Virginia immediately after graduation from A&M. Two tours in Vietnam were among his many tours of duty. He also fought in the Mayaguez Incident in 1975 in Cambodia.

After leaving the service, he became Vice President of Finance and Administration at Texas A&M Galveston for six years. He was recruited to be the Executive Director of the Texas State Aquarium in 1991 and moved to Corpus Christi for six years. He then accepted a position as Executive Director of the Akaska Sealife Center in Seward, Alaska. He returned to Texas and worked for the Harris County Medical Society, retiring in 2008.

After retirement, he volunteered at the Armand Bayou Center and Meals on Wheels. He also played tennis several days a week with friends of almost thirty years. He enjoyed cooking and gardening. Most of all he enjoyed spending time with his great grandsons.

There will be a memorial at a later date for family and friends.

Published by Legacy on Mar. 17, 2023.

Birding News

Little Blue Heron - Egretta caerulea

Photo by Etienne Artigau, 06 Mar 2017 at Merritt Island NWR--Black Point Wildlife Drive, Brevard, Florida, United States

Observed 17 June 2023 at ABNC by Kathy Snyder

See what birds are being observed at ABNC:

https://ebird.org/hotspot/L128880?yr=all&m=&sortBy=cl 

Contact Andrew Hamlett at [email protected] for more information about joining our bird count walks on the second Saturday of the month.

Easy and continuous ways to help ABNC are to go shopping, friend us, and tweet. Help us get the word out!

Kroger Community Rewards

Randall's Good Neighbor Program

Active volunteers are welcome to attend our volunteer board meetings

Contact Tom Scarsella if you wish to attend.

Physical Location: 8500 Bay Area Blvd. Pasadena, TX 77507

Mailing Address: PO Box 58828, Houston, TX 77258

Phone: (281) 474-2551

Center Website: abnc.org

Volunteer Website: vols.abnc.org

Help Spread the news!

Email [email protected] to reach the Editor with happenings and photos you would like to share with the wider volunteer community.

Volunteer meeting is 2nd Thursday (except June and July) 

Newsletter deadline is 3rd Thursday 

so we can publish by the 4th Thursday

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