The public is invited to attend a talk sponsored by the Hill Country Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalists in Kerrville Monday, June 24 at 7:00 p.m.
Mr. Rufas Stephens will explain how to evaluate land (all types – city lot to rural acreage) and determine the practical steps needed to preserve and enhance habitat for Hill Country birds.
The talk will cover some examples of the needs for cover, food, and water that our resident, migratory and over-wintering birds need to thrive and raise their young and will emphasize the ways to help shrinking bird populations recover in the face of ever- growing development in our Hill Country.
Mr. Rufas Stephens is a long-time and high impact champion of land stewardship in Texas. Mr. Stephens holds a B.S. in Wildlife Ecology from Texas A&M University.
He spent 23+ years with the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department and is one of the founders of the Texas Master Naturalists. With Jan Wrede he has co-written the Central Texas Naturalists’ go-to guide on land stewardship for birds, Land Stewardship for Birds: A Guide for Central Texas (published by Texas A&M University Press, 2023).
Mr. Stephens is a Certified Wildlife Biologist and currently operates his own consulting firm Rufus and Associates Wildlife and Natural Resources Consulting, LLC in Boerne where he assists landowners and communities in managing land for wildlife diversity, including attaining wildlife tax valuation status.
Land Stewardship for Girds: A Guide for Central Texas is an invaluable reference to assist in understanding specific habitat and bird types. You may have the prior version, “Attracting Birds in the Texas Hill Country.”
This new version includes a section on wildfire, improved bird census guidelines, updated plant lists, the latest standards for managing bird boxes, a more robust guide to managing brush species, and helpful apps and online resources.
There is no charge to attend. The talk will be held at the Guadalupe Basin Natural Resources Center, 125 Lehmann Drive, Suite 100 in Kerrville. Online attendance via Facebook livestream and Zoom are also available. If you wish to attend via Zoom, please pre-register using this link https://us02web.zoom. us/meeting/register/tZEsd- mtrj4jGtxFYzNkQoId-0FVA05cYJyEF# Doors will open at 6:00 p..m. with light refreshments served. Starting at 6:30 the Chapter will hold its monthly business meeting, with the presentation by Dr. Arvidsson to begin at 7:00 pm.
The Texas Master Naturalists are a volunteer organization sponsored by Texas Parks and Wildlife and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. The Hill County Chapter is one of 48 Chapters in Texas and covers ten counties: Bandera, Edwards, Gillespie, Kendall, Kerr, Kimbel, Mason, Menard, Real and San Saba.
The Chapter invites individuals interested in joining the Chapter to visit https:// txmn.org/hillcountry/for more information.
Members receive comprehensive training in natural resource management specific to the Hill County and volunteer in a wide variety of community projects.
.png)
