WGNSS General Meeting
December 5, 2018, Wednesday 7:00 pm,
at the Webster Groves Library
301 E. Lockwood Avenue
Webster Groves, MO 63119
314-541-4199
Ed Spevak, curator of insects from the St. Louis Zoo,
will present "Native Foods, Native Peoples, Native Pollinators: A New Initiative of the St. Louis Zoo Wild Care Institute Centerfor Native Pollinator Conservation"
WGNSS 2019 Scholarships - Applications are being accepted
The Webster Groves Nature Study Society is pleased to announce that applications are being accepted for the following scholarship grants:
(click on the scholarship name for more information & application submission timeline)
Bo Koster Grant for Nature Study
Graduate and undergraduate students, with accredited college or universities in Missouri and Illinois, planning field work in such areas as ornithology, systematics of plants or animals, entomology, forestry, ecology, behavior, population genetics, conservation, biogeography, or those desiring to attend a field coursework in such areas, are invited to apply for the Bo Koster Grant for Nature Study.
Menke Scholarship to Improve Wildlife Habitat
The goal of the Menke Scholarship is to increase and improve wildlife habitat in Missouri by planting, protecting, managing, publicizing, and in various other ways demonstrating specific habitat improvements for fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals, plants or invertebrates. Applicants typically major in nature study (e.g., biology, ecology, botany, forestry, conservation). But meeting the scholarship’s goals is more important than the major field itself (e.g. applications from non-nature study fields are accepted). Recipients may work with or intern with conservation programs. The scholarship will not support projects that may harm or endanger wildlife, including attaching or implanting objects.
Mickey Scudder Scholarship in Field Biology
The Mickey Scudder scholarship supports the field biology research of a graduate student in natural history. This scholarship is eligible to graduate students at universities in the Greater St. Louis Metropolitan area, including: St. Louis University, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, University of Missouri – St. Louis, and Washington University in St. Louis.
2018 WGNSS Entomology Programs
December 17, Monday, 7:00 PM at the Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House
The Entomology Group will gather for a show and tell to recount entomological highlights from 2018. So bring a few slides, stories, or specimens to share with the group.
November 19, Monday, 7:00 PM at the Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House
Dayane Reis will present, “Habitat Management in Agro-ecosystems: Advances and Challenges to Preserve and Promote Natural Enemies and Reduce the Effect of Pests”. As part of a conservation biological control approach, habitat management is the intentional provisioning of flowering plants and plant communities in the landscape to enhance natural enemy efficacy. Dayane obtained her master’s degree in this area and she will cover some of the key mechanisms, constraints, and opportunities of this rapidly growing field of study. All are welcome!
WGNSS Entomology programs are held on the 3rd Monday of each month at the Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House in Faust Park, Chesterfield MO from September thru May, at 7:00 PM.
Contact Christopher Brown for more information!
December 17, Monday, 7:00 PM at the Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House
The Entomology Group will gather for a show and tell to recount entomological highlights from 2018. So bring a few slides, stories, or specimens to share with the group.
November 19, Monday, 7:00 PM at the Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House
Dayane Reis will present, “Habitat Management in Agro-ecosystems: Advances and Challenges to Preserve and Promote Natural Enemies and Reduce the Effect of Pests”. As part of a conservation biological control approach, habitat management is the intentional provisioning of flowering plants and plant communities in the landscape to enhance natural enemy efficacy. Dayane obtained her master’s degree in this area and she will cover some of the key mechanisms, constraints, and opportunities of this rapidly growing field of study. All are welcome!
WGNSS Entomology programs are held on the 3rd Monday of each month at the Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House in Faust Park, Chesterfield MO from September thru May, at 7:00 PM.
Contact Christopher Brown for more information!
Nature Photography Group:
December 15, 2018 Saturday – WGNSS Nature Photography Field Trip!
Swans and other birds at Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary, 7:30 A.M.
The Nature Photography Group will meet one Saturday a month for field trip activities in various locations in the surrounding St. Louis area.
Interested in participating in WGNSS Nature Photography Group activities?
Send your contact information to Bill Duncan. Visit the WGNSS Nature Photography Group website here,
check current Nature Notes, or the WGNSS Facebook page for details and updates!
December 15, 2018 Saturday – WGNSS Nature Photography Field Trip!
Swans and other birds at Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary, 7:30 A.M.
The Nature Photography Group will meet one Saturday a month for field trip activities in various locations in the surrounding St. Louis area.
Interested in participating in WGNSS Nature Photography Group activities?
Send your contact information to Bill Duncan. Visit the WGNSS Nature Photography Group website here,
check current Nature Notes, or the WGNSS Facebook page for details and updates!
WGNSS ORNITHOLOGY GROUP
Thursday Bird Walks!
Starting Thursday, November 1, 2018, we will meet at 8:30 a.m.
The meeting place remains the same: at Des Peres Park, the parking lot at Ballas and Manchester Road -- the northeast corner behind Des Peres City Hall. Everyone is welcome! Bring a lunch and water as we usually have lunch in the field, unless you plan to leave early. Binoculars, bug repellent, sun block and a hat or cap are suggested. We will normally return by 3:00 or 3:30 PM. Click here for complete WGNSS calendar.
Last minute changes due to weather will be posted on MOBirds.
Contact Debbie Trowbridge at shorebird22@charter.net for details.
Saturday Bird Walks!
We will meet at 8:00 a.m. at Des Peres Park (northeast corner of Ballas and Manchester Roads, behind Des Peres City Hall), We'll carpool to where the birds are! Everyone is welcome! Bring binoculars & lunch.
Lead by David Becher, contact David at DavidBecher@msn.com for details
Thursday Bird Walks!
Starting Thursday, November 1, 2018, we will meet at 8:30 a.m.
The meeting place remains the same: at Des Peres Park, the parking lot at Ballas and Manchester Road -- the northeast corner behind Des Peres City Hall. Everyone is welcome! Bring a lunch and water as we usually have lunch in the field, unless you plan to leave early. Binoculars, bug repellent, sun block and a hat or cap are suggested. We will normally return by 3:00 or 3:30 PM. Click here for complete WGNSS calendar.
Last minute changes due to weather will be posted on MOBirds.
Contact Debbie Trowbridge at shorebird22@charter.net for details.
Saturday Bird Walks!
We will meet at 8:00 a.m. at Des Peres Park (northeast corner of Ballas and Manchester Roads, behind Des Peres City Hall), We'll carpool to where the birds are! Everyone is welcome! Bring binoculars & lunch.
Lead by David Becher, contact David at DavidBecher@msn.com for details
2019 Natural History Photography Contest !
Submissions for the 2019 WGNSS Natural History Photography Contest will begin on January 1st. A bonus category will be included in addition to our four usual categories:
1) Vertebrates
2) Invertebrates
3) Vascular and Nonvascular Plants, Lichens, and Fungi
4) Habitats and Landscapes
5) Travel Photography; for this bonus category, all the general rules of the photo contest will apply except photos do not need to be taken in Missouri & contiguous states. Best of luck getting an amazing photo of that exotic subject!
A great way to get inspiration & ideas for eligible photographs for this contest is by joining the WGNSS Nature Photography Group on a monthly field trip. Look for updates from the group in each issue of Nature Notes, on the WGNSS website and Facebook page!
Friendly reminder of WGNSS DUES RENEWAL -- August is the time to renew your WGNSS membership dues. Annual membership is just $15 to receive Nature Notes by email (or $25 to receive Nature Notes by USPS mail). You can use the membership form at on the back of Nature Notes, also available at the bottom of this webpage. Please note any changes to your email, phone, etc., and mail with your payment to:
Webster Groves Nature Study Society
PO Box 190065
St. Louis, MO 63119
If you have already renewed, THANK YOU!
Webster Groves Nature Study Society
PO Box 190065
St. Louis, MO 63119
If you have already renewed, THANK YOU!
"Nature Notes" is our Newsletter - join WGNSS to receive the latest issues! Nature Notes features spectacular photographs and articles about botany, birding, entomology, and conservation by expert authors. Nature Notes is available by regular post or e-mail.
There are significant advantages to receiving Nature Notes by e-mail:
Past issues from the last few years are available to download from the Nature Note archive page.
Submit articles, photographs, or events to Ted MacRae, the Editor of Nature Notes.
Annual WGNSS membership is just $15 (for Nature Notes by email) or $25 (for Nature Notes by USPS mail). Webster Groves Nature Study Society
PO Box 190065
St. Louis, MO 63119
wgnss_membership_form.png
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There are significant advantages to receiving Nature Notes by e-mail:
- Eliminate mailing costs and printing waste, reducing your subscription cost and environmental impact!
- The ability to view Nature Notes in full color!
- Embedded hyperlinks allow instant navigation to e-mail addresses and websites!
Past issues from the last few years are available to download from the Nature Note archive page.
Submit articles, photographs, or events to Ted MacRae, the Editor of Nature Notes.
Annual WGNSS membership is just $15 (for Nature Notes by email) or $25 (for Nature Notes by USPS mail). Webster Groves Nature Study Society
PO Box 190065
St. Louis, MO 63119
wgnss_membership_form.png
Download File
photo by Gwyn Wahlmann
WGNSS Photo Contest 2017
The WGNSS third digital photo contest was held at the Kirkwood Community Center on April 6. Judging took place in four natural history categories (Plants and Fungi, Invertebrates, Vertebrates, and Landscapes) with a first, second, third and honorary mention for each category. In addition, the 2017 contest included a new 'Photo Blog' category. Each blog that was submitted for judging included photos and a natural history essay. For the natural history categories, judging took place in “American Idol” style where each judge described the features of photos they thought were great, from a photographer’s point of view as well as from the subject and natural history perspective. The Photo Blog category was judged by the WGNSS Nature Book Club. The Photo Contest was a wonderful opportunity for the participates to learn how to take great natural history photos! From the top three photos in each category a Grand Prize photo was chosen by everyone in attendance. Congratulations to the photo winners.
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Events page photo slideshow credits:
Tower Rock in Misssissippi River by Casey Galvin - 1st place in Habitat category, 2013 WGNSS Photo Contest
Honey Bee on Bloodroot flowers by Abby Lee-Fairbanks - 1st place in Botany category, 2013 WGNSS Photo Contest
Waterfall, by Ryan Fairbanks - 3rd place in Habitat category, 2013 WGNSS Photo Contest
Peregrine Falcon, by Casey Galvin - 1st place in Birding category, 2013 WGNSS Photo Contest
Ice on LaBarque Creek, by Nels Holmberg - 1st place in Habitat category, 2013 WGNSS Photo Contest
Bronze Tiger Beetle by Ted MacRae - Grand Prize 2013 WGNSS Photo Contest
Summer Tanager by Mike Thelen - 2nd place in Birding category, 2013 WGNSS Photo Contest
Beach Wolf Spider by Ted MacRae - 1st place in Entomology category, 2013 WGNSS Photo Contest
Least Sandpiper by Casey Galvin - Honorary Mention in Birding category, 2013 WGNSS Photo Contest
Missouri Evening Primrose by Anne McCormack
Victoria Glade with Fremont's Leather Flower and Indian Paintbrush by Anne McCormack
Ruby-throated Hummingbird male by Casey Galvin
Wild Hydrangea with Harvestman by Anne McCormack
Red-spotted Purple Butterfly on Paw Paw by Anne McCormack
Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly on Eastern Blazing-Star by Anne McCormack
Duck Creek by Casey Galvin
Join WGNSS!
Webster Groves Nature Study Society
PO Box 190065
Saint Louis MO 63119-6065
Tower Rock in Misssissippi River by Casey Galvin - 1st place in Habitat category, 2013 WGNSS Photo Contest
Honey Bee on Bloodroot flowers by Abby Lee-Fairbanks - 1st place in Botany category, 2013 WGNSS Photo Contest
Waterfall, by Ryan Fairbanks - 3rd place in Habitat category, 2013 WGNSS Photo Contest
Peregrine Falcon, by Casey Galvin - 1st place in Birding category, 2013 WGNSS Photo Contest
Ice on LaBarque Creek, by Nels Holmberg - 1st place in Habitat category, 2013 WGNSS Photo Contest
Bronze Tiger Beetle by Ted MacRae - Grand Prize 2013 WGNSS Photo Contest
Summer Tanager by Mike Thelen - 2nd place in Birding category, 2013 WGNSS Photo Contest
Beach Wolf Spider by Ted MacRae - 1st place in Entomology category, 2013 WGNSS Photo Contest
Least Sandpiper by Casey Galvin - Honorary Mention in Birding category, 2013 WGNSS Photo Contest
Missouri Evening Primrose by Anne McCormack
Victoria Glade with Fremont's Leather Flower and Indian Paintbrush by Anne McCormack
Ruby-throated Hummingbird male by Casey Galvin
Wild Hydrangea with Harvestman by Anne McCormack
Red-spotted Purple Butterfly on Paw Paw by Anne McCormack
Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly on Eastern Blazing-Star by Anne McCormack
Duck Creek by Casey Galvin
Join WGNSS!
Webster Groves Nature Study Society
PO Box 190065
Saint Louis MO 63119-6065