Registration ends Oct. 5, so please visit the link above to sign up.
EVENTS
Dixon Water Foundation – Guided Hikes, October 2021
We wanted to inform you of a couple opportunities that we are offering soon to hike on Dixon properties. These will be casual, free, guided hikes with limited attendance. The terrain may be rocky and the hikes will last a few hours, so please be prepared.
The first date we will be offering is Sunday October 10, 2021 at our Alamito Creek Preserve, about 30 miles south of Marfa, Texas. Guests will meet at the entrance to the ranch and hike along the creek with local birding experts during this fall migration. We’re offering two time slots: 8:00 AM and 8:30 AM.
Please visit these links to register:
Alamito Creek Preserve 8:00 AM
Alamito Creek Preserve 8:30 AM
The second date (sold out) is Tuesday October 12, 2021 at our Mimms Unit ranch just outside of Marfa, Texas. This hike departs at 9:00 AM. Guests will hike with Dixon staff and a local ecological site expert to discuss the grasslands.
Please visit this link to register:
Mimms Unit – Marfa Grasslands 9:00 AM (sold out)
An email will be sent with further information after registration.
Hikes may be canceled due to weather or if pandemic conditions worsen.
Borderlands Birding Bonanza events scheduled Nov. 14 & Nov. 15 in West Texas
Originally posted by Borderland Research Institute here.
ALPINE TX – Birding enthusiasts of all skill levels are invited to attend Borderlands Birding Bonanza events in West Texas on Nov. 14 and Nov. 15. The birding field trips will take place at the Dixon Water Foundation’s Mimms Ranch near Marfa. Registration is required and participants can sign up at https://bri.sulross.edu/events/.
The Borderlands Research Institute (BRI) at Sul Ross State University launched the new series of outreach activities in October to connect people with birds through its Bird Conservation Program. The first event, held Oct. 24-25 at Alamito Creek Preserve in Presidio County, attracted 40 birders from El Paso to East Texas.
“A good time was had by all and it was great to see people connecting with birds and nature,” said Dr. Louis Harveson, who is the Dan Allen Hughes, Jr., BRI Endowed Director and Regents’ Professor of Wildlife Management at Sul Ross State University. “We are excited about these new outreach opportunities, and we are extremely grateful to the Dixon Water Foundation and the Shield-Ayres Foundation for making these events possible.”
The October events were led by knowledgeable birders, including BRI graduate students Alex Chavez and Emily Card, local birding experts, and staff of the Dixon Water Foundation.
“We saw a lot of cool birds, including an American kestrel, western bluebirds and Lincoln’s sparrows,” said BRI graduate student Emily Card. “We all got very excited when we spotted an eastern sub-species of the northern flicker, because that’s a rare sighting around here.”
The goal of BRI’s Bird Conservation Program is to advance the awareness, appreciation, and conservation of birds in West Texas. With over 500 bird species in the region, it is no wonder that West Texas is a favorite destination among birders. Birding is also one of the main outdoor recreational activities from which landowners can derive substantial income, and BRI is working with private landowners to learn more about the bird species in West Texas.
Besides the field trips associated with the Borderlands Birding Bonanza, BRI’s Bird Conservation Program will be implementing a number of new initiatives to engage citizens in bird conservation. Upcoming activities will include bird photography workshops and educational seminars. In addition, a citizen science project will be developed that will document bird populations on private ranches through long-term monitoring efforts.
Register for the Nov. 14 and Nov. 15 birding field trips at https://bri.sulross.edu/events/
For more than a decade, the Borderlands Research Institute has encouraged effective land stewardship of the Chihuahuan Desert. Housed at Sul Ross State University, the Borderlands Research Institute builds on a long-lasting partnership with private landowners, the university’s Range and Wildlife Program, and cooperating state, federal, and non-governmental organizations. Through research, education, and outreach, the Borderlands Research Institute is helping to conserve the last frontier of Texas and the Southwest.
Fall Birding Events on Dixon’s West Texas ranches
Dixon Water Foundation is teaming up with the Borderlands Research Institute and opening the gates to our West Texas ranches for a few upcoming birding events. Please click this link to learn more about these events and how to register.
REGENERATIVE GRAZING FOR RESTORATION
Time & Location
Feb 19, 8:00 AM CST – Feb 20, 4:00 PM CST Tenroc Ranch, 5471 Thomas Arnold Rd, Salado, TX 76571
Soil Regen, LLC, is happy to announce this special event with leaders in the regenerative grazing movement! Learn about the principles of grazing for the restoration of ecosystems, soil health, profitability, and carbon storage.
For more information and registration, click HERE
January 10-11, 2020 – For the Love of Soil
Strategies to Regenerate our Food Production Systems
You will learn how to take a future-focused approach to land management, growing healthy food, and creating robust ecosystems!
About this Event
In partnership with NCAT, Soil for Water and the Hill Country Alliance, ROAM Ranch is excited to host this 2-day workshop with Nicole Masters, agroecologist, soil expert and Director at Integrity Soils. This workshop is geared towards land managers, ranchers, farmers, gardeners, environmentalists, and anyone else interested in improving the health of Texas soil and making our lands more resilient to the dynamic and sometimes unforgiving climates of Texas.
Nicole will address the following topics:
– Building soil structure and improving water and mineral cycles
– The role of soil microbes on pasture quality and resiliency
– What weeds are telling you about your soils
– How to manage for weeds, disease and insects
– How to shift from invasive grasses to native grasses
– Adaptive multi-paddock grazing
– Monitoring strategies to ensure you are meeting your goals
– Reducing the need for chemical inputs without reducing yields
You will learn how to take a future-focused approach to land management, growing healthy food, and creating robust ecosystems!
This event will also include other experienced local farmers, ranchers and producers and will be an opportunity to network and learn from others in the field.
Tickets include 2 days of lecture and outdoor field study is $130 and includes lunch and refreshments both days. NO REFUNDS AVAILABLE 2 WEEKS PRIOR TO THE EVENT (AFTER DECEMBER 27TH).
The 2020 Texas Land Conservation Conference will be held in Austin on February 26-28.
This conference is the preeminent statewide meeting for anyone working in the field of land and water conservation, private landowners interested in conserving their land, government, business and NGO agency partners, and any person interested in learning more about these important issues in Texas.
Save the Date Landowner Workshop
Saving Working Lands: Preparing
Landowners for Energy Development
November 14th, 2019
10:30am-2:00pm
Espino Conference Center
Sul Ross State University, Alpine, Texas.
The Greater Big Bend region is projected to face new impacts from energy development in the upcoming years. Texas Agricultural Land Trust and Borderlands Research Institute host this seminar will provide information, strategies and tools for landowners who hope to minimize the impact of that development.
Holistic Management® Workshop at the Leo Ranch, October 2019
This two-day workshop will be filled with interactive sessions led by experienced graziers and educators. It is designed for those who already have some experience with holistic planned grazing and want to be inspired and prepared to take their management to a higher level.
Planned Grazing Workshop
On October 18, 2018, Dixon Water Foundation held a workshop featuring Walt Davis & Dr. Richard Teague, experts in the benefits of planned grazing and the science behind it.
The workshop covered biological capital, planned grazing, relationships between forage and grazing animals, and how to plan for drought recovery.
Click here to view the workshop flyer with more information on the speakers.
