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)
Nocona’s volleyball team headed to Bowie for a three-team scrimmage with the host team and Ponder Aug. 7.
Each team played the other two for 30 minutes in the Lady Rabbit gym. Lady Indian Coach Sandy Langford said she thought things went well for a first scrimmage.
“Just like any young team that is trying to find itself in a first scrimmage, We looked really good at times and at others not so much,” Langford said. “We’re forming a new team after losing a lot of seniors.”
Langford said the squad would have one thing go wrong and it would explode into several things. That will need to stop for a successful year in Langford’s mind.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
Bowie’s tennis team is now 3-3 for the non-district campaign with a 1-2 week.
In the Rabbits’ home opener Aug. 5 against Graham, Bowie posted a 13-6 match win with the girls completing a 9-0 sweep.
Jessi Mayfield and Angeles Alvarez won 9-8 (7-4) while Payton Goodwin and Maddie Schwarz were 8-1 winners as were Avery DeWeber and Avery Bonham.
In girl’s singles Willow Seibert won 8-2 in No.1 1 singles. Goodwin and Mayfield were each 8-5 winners. Alvarez posted an 8-1 win. Schwarz won 9-8 (8-5) with Deweber taking an 8-2 decision.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
Two major portions of Nocona’s 2023 bond issue are very close to being completed.
The new high school gym should be complete in time for the volleyball team to begin practice there Aug. 1, according to Superintendent Dr. David Waters. Ground on the 22,000 square foot facility was broken on Oct. 18, 2024.
Waters said a punch list meeting with the construction manager was scheduled for earlier this week with final touchups expected shortly afterwards. Fans should be able to enjoy the facility for the volleyball team’s season opener Aug. 11.
Fans will enjoy the new gym from entering the facility which has glass walls, enabling fans to watch the game from the foyer. Once inside the gym itself, there is stadium, chair back seating on the home side allowing for a much more comfortable experience.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
-
NEWS3 years agoSuspect indicted, jailed in Tia Hutson murder
-
NEWS4 years ago2 hurt, 1 jailed after shooting incident north of Nocona
-
NEWS3 years agoSO investigating possible murder/suicide
-
NEWS4 years agoWreck takes the life of BHS teen, 16
-
NEWS3 years agoMurder unsolved – 1 year later Tia Hutson’s family angry, frustrated with no arrest
-
Show us something good9 years agoCountry music star children perform in Bowie
-
100th Birthday4 years agoLooking back at the 1958 Centennial edition of The Bowie News
-
NEWS3 years ago
Sheriff’s office called out to infant’s death