You are invited to attend a Playa Field Day presented by Ogallala Commons on Tuesday, November 14, from 9:30am to 1:30pm in Canyon, Texas. The event will be held in the Cole Community Center at 300 16th Street. Doors open at 9:00am for registration and refreshments.
The field day will cover information about playa ecosystems, possibilities for restoration through the Texas Playa Conservation Initiative (TXPCI), and an overview of migratory waterfowl arriving in the region for the fall and winter seasons. After lunch, a tour will be taken to view waterfowl at Stewart Dyke in Buffalo Lake National Wildlife Refuge, just south of Umbarger, TX.
The opening presentation will discuss playa ecosystems and the TxPCI program by Heather Johnson, Migratory Game Bird Specialist: Region I, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, Littlefield, TX. Next up will be Jim Steiert, outdoor writer and playa enthusiast, Hereford, TX, and Kevin Kraai, Waterfowl Program Leader, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, Canyon, TX—to offer a survey of waterfowl that are currently migrating to the Panhandle-South Plains.
Playas are shallow, rain-fed wetlands throughout the Great Plains. When containing surface water, playas provide crucial habitat for many wildlife that depend on water to survive. When dry, playas also support several other Great Plains wildlife species because they are often the only natural lands in a region dominated by agricultural production. Playas also recharge water to the underlying aquifer, filter nutrients and chemicals from the surrounding watershed, and add recreational value to the region.
Registration for the event is $25 per person (which includes the cost of lunch, drinks and snacks). Space is limited. To register, please email or call Darryl Birkenfeld, Ogallala Commons Deputy Director (darryl@ogallalacommons.org or by phone at 806-945-2255).
The Field Day is sponsored by partners of Ogallala Commons including the High Plains Underground Water Conservation District and the Dixon Water Foundation.