Check out this excellent radio interview with The Louisiana Master Naturalists. Join Red River Radio's Rebecca Triche in a superb Conserving Earth chat program with LMNA President Bette Kauffman, Katherine Gividen LMNA Vice President, and Janell Simpson, Greater New Orleans MN President. The discussion covers all aspects of becoming and being a Master Naturalist in Louisiana, why it is so worthwhile and the sort of activities that we do in a lively and informative dialogue!

​This is recommended listening for anyone interested in the Louisiana Master Naturalists!

Earth Day means different things to different people. How did you celebrate it this year? What does Earth Day mean to you?

​Click here for some uplifting writing Earth Day’s Promise – Louisiana Master Naturalists – Northeast (louisianamasternaturalistsnortheast.com)

Yesterday Saturday May 7th, at a public Weather and Climate event in Monroe, Louisiana where Meteorologist Tom Pearson taught me much more about weather and climate than I thought I knew (Thanks, Tom), Dr. Anne Fazer, LMNA member, told me "Earth Day is every day now for me."

I had to agree, it really has to be, for us all, don't you think?

​My thanks to Anne for the following material and Kimmie Paxton for the photos.

Earth Day was celebrated as a Herp day in Monroe, Louisiana, in 2022. The Louisiana Master Naturalists Northeast and Friends of Black Bayou organized a joint events schedule that focused on our cold-blooded friends, the reptiles and amphibians. With 1 in 5 reptiles now threatened with extinction according to a study published in Nature (Source BBC News) there has never been a greater need to focus on these creatures.

The day kicked off at 10:00 with a guided walk to look for frogs, turtles and crocodilians. It was blustery around the lake so the alligators kept their heads down as did the turtles. In the swamp by the boardwalks it was a different story. We saw some turtles, frogs, many Broad-banded Watersnakes, a Rough Green Snake, and lizards.

Please see Herp Success! – Louisiana Master Naturalists – Northeast (louisianamasternaturalistsnortheast.com)
and
Swamp Night – Louisiana Master Naturalists – Northeast (louisianamasternaturalistsnortheast.com)

The local TV station (KNOE) turned out to interview two of the organizers and film the walkers setting off front detailed account please see LMNE blog. In the evening there was a presentation on frogs and their calls before we set out and what's the boardwalks again. It was a very different place at night. We heard a riot of frog calls and everyone was excited to see a medium sized alligator near the boardwalk in the lake. For me probably the star of the show was a big old bullfrog that was just sitting on the bottom of the lake with huge eardrums, placid, immobile, solid, with ancient lineage.

A team of 8 people prepared for the events remotely using digital remote collaboration tools, Zoom and Mural.

Earth Day’s Promise – Louisiana Master Naturalists – Northeast (louisianamasternaturalistsnortheast.com)

Please find below the Ppt presentation on Frogs and their calls made by K.Paxton and J. Wright with media sourced from Loyola University New Orleans Dept. of Environmental Communications and The Frog Log that we used to mark species observations.
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Click here to download the 121MB Ppt file.

,Our thanks to all who submitted their fine images to our 2022 LMNA Photo Contest. As last year, there were five categories with a sub-division of professional and amateur class in each category. Rendezvous members could vote for their favorites on our Facebook page.

There were 27 entries altogether, 17 amateur and 10 professional. It was another fantastic offering for the Master Naturalists' image bank. Thank you!
​

 Jim volunteers his time as a research scientist (zooarchaeologist) in the Anthropology Program, Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Child and Family Services at the University of Louisiana, Lafayette.

​He identifies bone fragments excavated from prehistoric Native American midden sites. Jim analyses vertebrate faunal remains (from fish, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and birds) that represent parts of the material record recovered during archeological excavation.

Particularly in Louisiana, invertebrate animal remains (like mollusks, crustaceans, and snails) also are associated with ancient human sites.

​Faunal analyses require knowledge of faunal anatomy and taxonomy, but careful study of environmental and archeological contexts is required. Bone and shell remains also may show how past humans fashioned tools and artifacts used for everyday tasks and ritual occasions. He first determines if the bone fragment belonged to a bird, fish, amphibian, reptile, or mammal.
​He next determines what bone the fragment came from. 

Public invited to opening session
 
March 22, 2022, Alexandria/Pineville – Louisiana Master Naturalist Association will convene its annual statewide meeting called “Rendezvous” Friday, April 1. The public is invited to their opening session 7 – 8:30 p.m. at the Pineville Convention Center.
 
Area residents interested in the natural world and how to conserve it are especially invited to learn about LMNA and how to activate a local chapter. LMNA president Bob Thomas will introduce the organization, talk about its mission and goals, and provide information about how to get involved. LMNA president-elect Bette Kauffman will present information about nearby Camp Hardtner, a rich natural area and resource that is enrolled in the Louisiana Natural Heritage Program.
 
Thomas is a professor of biology at Loyola University and a herpetologist. His research in Belize led to a newly described species of snake being named after him. He is the founder of LMNA and its first president. Kauffman is a professor emerita of communication at the University of Louisiana Monroe. The material she will present is based on her Master Naturalist certification project, which was conducted as part of the process of enrolling Camp Hardtner in the LNH Program.
 
Day two of Rendezvous will be devoted to workshops and field trips, culminating Saturday evening with announcement of the 2022 recipient of LMNA’s Caroline Dormon Outstanding Louisiana Naturalist award. A press release naming the recipient and providing additional information about the award will be provided a few days in advance.
 
Notes to editors:

1. The Louisiana Master Naturalist Association (LMNA) is a 501(3)c umbrella organization that serves seven regional groups or chapters, throughout the state of Louisiana that are tasked with developing a corps of well-informed volunteers to provide education, outreach, and service dedicated to the beneficial management of natural resources and natural areas within our communities.

      These Chapters are: Northwest, Northeast, Central, Greater Baton Rouge, Southwest, Acadiana and Greater New Orleans.   
For more information about the organization, please see our website https://www.louisianamasternaturalist.org

​2. Every year the LMNA members convene annually for a rendezvous weekend of environmental education and fellowship activities. Please see https://www.louisianamasternaturalist.org/rendezvous-2022.html for this year’s itinerary.
 
For more information and related photos please contact:

Charles Paxton
Communications Officer
Louisiana Master Naturalist Association
1-318-3311531
https://www.louisianamasternaturalist.org
​

Please note that even if a nominee doesn't win this year, their name and information will be carried forward and reconsidered in future years.

We appreciate your help.  All nominations must be received by February 28, 2022.

Please don't hesitate to contact Raymond or myself if you have any questions or concerns and we'll be happy to help.

Best wishes,

            Charles

Charles Paxton
Communications Officer
​318-331-1531
[email protected]

Board Member in Charge of Caroline Dormon Awards Committee
 Larry Raymond 
[email protected] 
 6675 North Park Circle, Shreveport, LA 71107.  
Questions can be directed to Larry at 318-347-3134.

By Aimée K. Thomas, Ph.D. Director of Environment Program Department of Biological Sciences & Environment Program Loyola University New Orleans.