Community Notes 11-17-2010

1. Amphibian Watch Trainings at Spring Creek Greenway Nature Center. On the second Tuesday of each month from 6:30 pm to about 8:00 pm, Scott Kiester will hold Amphibian Watch training and other activities related to monitoring the populations of local frogs and toads of our region. Amphibians are indicator species to keep track of environmental health, and the program is sponsored by Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Learn facts about local amphibians, how to identify their calls, and become participants in monitoring populations – right in your own back yard! This is a free program of the new Spring Creek Greenway Nature Center (opening date TBA), located at 1300 Riley Fuzzel Road, Spring 77386. To register for the next Amphibian Watch training event on Tuesday, December 14, 2010, call 281-364-4225 or e-mail terri.macarthur@mctx.org. More at http://www.springcreekgreenway.org/the_latest.htm.
2. Film: Cool It. A film released on November 12 follows Bjorn Lomborg, a lecturer and controversial author of The Skeptical Environmentalist. The film covers solutions to the world’s energy needs, carbon emissions, and other problems in the world. The film’s purpose is to cause the audience to rethink the approach to climate change. COOL IT will be released in Houston on November 19, 2010. To read more about Cool It, visit http://www.avclub.com/articles/cool-it,47584/.
3. National Crayon Recycle Program. The National Crayon Recycle Porgram stops over 57,000 pounds of unwanted crayons from oing into the landfills. To participate, collect crayons instead of throwing them away and send them to the Crayon Recycle Program. For the mailing addresses, visit http://www.crazycrayons.com/recycle_program.html.
4. Texas Sea Grant. Registration has opened for the inaugural Ocean Education: Diversity in Videos (OEDIV) contest. Students in grades 6-12 are encouraged to film and submit videos that educate the public about the ocean. Al applications should be received by December 1st. To learn more about the contest, visit http://texas-sea-grant.tamu.edu/education/video.html.
5. Project FeederWatch. This is a backyard citizen science program of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Bird Studies Canada. Participants can sign up at any time. FeederWatchers track the numbers and kinds of birds seen at feeders each week and then send the information to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. The information they provide helps generate the world’s largest database on feeder-bird populations. The extensive website resources include bird id help, participants’ photos, webcams, and a free science module for homeschoolers. Data Entry is now open for the 2010-1011 season. Counting starts November 13.
6. Air Quality Forecast. http://www.ghasp.org/air-quality-aqi/ or http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/compliance/monitoring/air/monops/forecast_today.html

• November 18: Green–Good. Moderate winds and low background levels should help to keep air quality in the “Good” range statewide.
• Novermber 19: Green–Good. Moderate winds and low background levels should help to keep air quality in the “Good” range statewide. 
• Novermber 20: Green–Good. Moderate winds and low background levels should help to keep air quality in the “Good” range.