This news just in from the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center:
“UT’s Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is home to one of the University’s longest-running ecological research efforts. Over twenty years ago, with the aid of students and volunteers, the Center’s science and conservation staff began to study land management techniques, looking at the effects of prescribed fire and mowing on plant communities. This work has been published in peer-reviewed journals, and is beginning to be applied and adopted on our UT campuses, creating healthier landscapes and demonstrating best practices in ecological restoration and land management.
Help us conduct the vegetation survey for this research. Every experience level is welcome. This hands-on field work includes training in native plant identification and estimating species coverage. The surveys will be conducted in small teams, with staff members nearby at all times. New participants in the surveys need to watch the online orientation and attend one 2.5-hour training class, and commit to work at least two four-hour field sessions. Please come prepared for work in the field. Training is optional for those of you who have volunteered with the survey in the past.
Training sessions are available: Wednesday, Oct 11, Thursday, Oct 12, or Saturday, Oct 14, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Training sessions will meet downstairs beneath our Great Hall located on the Courtyard.
Survey sessions: Surveys will begin on Thursday, October 19 and continue Thursday through Oct 19, 20, 21 until completed, usually about 6 total days through October 26, 27, 28. Morning (9:00-1:00) and afternoon (2:00-6:30) shifts are available each day.
Meeting Place: Volunteer room in Administration building (building 8 on LBJWC center map).
We will provide: Water, snacks, plant ID manual, some kneeling pads, pencils, datasheets.
Please bring/wear: Water bottle, long pants, closed toed shoes.
Optional, but suggested: hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, kneeling pad or knee pads.
Activity: Volunteers and staff will work in small teams to identify many, many, plants. We’ll help you learn to recognize our plants, so don’t worry if you don’t know many, or any, plants now. We will be walking from plot to plot and spending a great deal of time kneeling down, often in tall grass. So, please come prepared for 4 hours spent outside on survey days.“
Register here online: https://www.volgistics.com/appform/1375791869
— end of LBJWC announcement —
(This is not a NPSOT event. Contact the LBJWC for information.)