SPORTS
OUTDOORS: Scientists seek help tracking monarch butterflies
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department biologists are asking for the public’s help in monitoring monarch butterflies.
Since monitoring of wintering monarch butterfly populations in the Mexican states of Michoacan and Mexico began in 1993, the World Wildlife Fund has documented a decline in such activity – reaching an all-time low last winter.
Monarch decline has been attributed to factors including illegal logging, extreme weather conditions in wintering and breeding grounds and a decline in milkweed abundance here in Texas.
Biologists from the TPWD Wildlife Diversity Program recently launched a project to explore Texas milkweed – determining where it is, how much is out there and are monarchs using it.
The project arose from concerns that herbicide-resistant crops are resulting in an increased use of herbicide to control weeds and a loss of milkweed in that region.
Loss of milkweed is significant since it is the only plant monarch caterpillars can eat.
The project is housed on the Internet application iNaturalist.org, a platform researchers are using who ask for citizen assistance in supporting their work.
When people see milkweed in their travels, they can take a photograph, add it to the project and answer four questions stemming from your observation.
They do not even have to know any of the more than 40 species of milkweed found in Texas.
Through the project, the Wildlife Diversity Program hopes to produce a map showing where milkweed is found in Texas, what species of milkweed people are finding, whether it is natural or cultivated, and if monarchs are using it. Patterns in agricultural areas and urban communities will be examined.
For information, see the Texas Milkweeds and Monarchs project website on iNaturalist.org.
Monarch butterfly. (Courtesy photo by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department)
Nearly 600 youngsters signed up for this season of youth baseball sports through the BSA. The group celebrated with awards this past week and introduction of all its teams. See all the awards and photos from the night in the mid-week Bowie News. (Photos by Barbara Green)
The 2024 Summer Olympics is just a few weeks away taking place in Paris. The opening ceremonies will be July 26 and are planned to be unique as they take place along the Seine River that flows through Paris. Thomas Bach prepared this op-ed to welcome the world to Paris.
By Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee
The Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 is only days away. The excitement gripping this nation is palpable.
As this unique festival of sport draws closer, we all are feeling that France and the French people are ready to welcome the world’s best athletes with the hospitality and passion for sport for which they are famous all around the world.
Already millions of people have greeted the Olympic flame on its journey around France with a huge wave of enthusiasm. All of us are looking forward to an unforgettable celebration of Olympic sport and French culture in the coming weeks.
Read the full story in the mid-week sports in your Bowie News.
Saint Jo’s Firecracker 5K welcomed 100 runners for its 16th year on July 4th.
According to runsignup.com, Old Jo’s Firecracker 5K saw 100 runners of all ages register to kick off in downtown Saint Jo.
Brayden Willett, 14, Nocona, was the top male finisher with a time of 19:02.6. Sarah Rainey, 35, Saint Jo, was the top female finisher with 21:47.1.
In the male nine and under division, I. Miller, nine, Muenster, repeated his first place win from 2023 with at time of 34:52.8. E. Thomas, eight, no town listed, also repeated her win with a time of 31:58.5.
Emry Raney-Cavnar, 14, Ardmore, OK, won the male 10-14 group and E. Christensen, 11, Decatur, took the female race. In the male 15-19 division Luke Gehrig, 17, Muenster, won, while Sophia Christensen, 15, Decatur, took the ladies’ title.
See all the results and more photos in the weekend Bowie News.
Special appreciation to Jennifer Gaston Panther Photography for use of her photos.
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