The document provides information from a training on urban ecology and sustainability. It discusses topics that will be covered in sessions on winter, spring, and summer, including migratory bird habitat, wetlands, prairies, invasive species management, and landscaping for wildlife. Specific sessions will focus on the ecology of the Great Trinity Forest and Blackland Prairie ecoregion, as well as management practices and considerations for different seasons. Reference materials are also listed.

1. Sustainability & Urban Ecology
Training
© National Audubon Society 2014-2015
Stuart Seeger, Flickr Creative Commons

2.  Ecoregional context of City of Dallas
 Habitat for fall migrant birds
 Reflecting the Great Trinity Forest in urban spaces
 Protecting and reconstructing habitat areas during con-
struction and maintenance projects
 Fall management and maintenance considerations
 Common Trees of the Great Trinity Forest & Blackland
Prairie Ecoregion
 Plant Lists for Dallas - Fort Worth Area & Blackland Prai-
rie Ecoregion
 Guide to Urban Habitat Conservation Planning - University
of Kentucky Extension Service
© National Audubon Society 2014

3. Texas Blackland Prairie Ecoregion
The Texas Blackland Prairie is a unique subset of the grasslands and prairies that once covered North Ameri-
ca’s interior. In general, eastern prairies are characterized by taller, denser-growing grasses and forbs
(herbaceous flowering plants) that gradually transition westward into mixed-grass and short-grass prairies as
average precipitation declines. Much of a prairie’s richness lies below the soil line, driven by complex relation-
ships between plant roots, mycorrhizal fungi,
and soil microbes. Above ground, prairies are
home to a diverse community of mammals,
reptiles, birds, and insects.
The Texas Blackland Prairie ecoregion covers
nearly 19,948 square miles in a band from San
Antonio, TX to the Oklahoma border north-
east of Dallas, TX. Most of the ecoregion was
covered in tallgrass prairie, dominated by
grasses such as Little bluestem (Schizachyrium
scoparium), Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii),
Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans), and
Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum). Local site con-
ditions such as soil type, slope, and moisture
strongly influence the species and composition
of Blackland prairies across the ecoregion.
The heavy clay soils associated with many of
these prairies create microhabitats as they
swell and contact, creating unique gilgai for-
mations. The Blackland prairie ecoregion is
host to more than 500 species of animals, in-
cluding over 300 species of birds.
Riparian areas in the ecoregion were dominat-
ed by deciduous bottomland hardwood forest;
constant disturbance by fire and bison grazing
were vital in suppressing the spread of woody
vegetation into the prairies. The disruption of these disturbance regimes and the conversion of this extremely
fertile soil into row-crop agriculture and pasture land were largely responsible for the disappearance of native
prairie ecosystems. By the 1920s, more than 80% of the native prairie plant cover had been converted to ag-
ricultural uses.
Today, less than 1% remains in its native cover, making it one of the most endangered ecosystems in North
America. These are primarily privately-owned, isolated parcels that face increasing pressure from urban de-
velopment.
© National Audubon Society 2014, 2015

4. Stopover Habitat for Migrating Birds
Texas is home to more than 625 spe-
cies of birds throughout the year. Of
those, 333 species are Neotropical
migrants, birds that breed in North
America and migrate to the tropics
for the winter. Migrating birds need
safe stopovers that allow them to
rest and “refuel” by rebuilding the fat
reserves that enable their long flights.
More than 98% of North America’s long-
distance migratory birds rely on habitats
inTexas to aid them on their journeys.
Urban spaces can provide critical stopover habitat for birds during their
spring and fall migrations.
 Larger unbroken, patches of natural areas are better, but even small urban parks can be
helpful to survival if they provide food, water, shelter, and safety
 During fall migration, ponds and wetlands with mud flats are important habitat for
shorebirds.
 Native plants—trees, shrubs, forbs, and grasses—have high food value to birds. Many
produce nuts, berries, and seeds in the fall, but many more are hosts for insects that mi-
grating birds feed on.
 Water sources are vital, from reservoirs to ponds to backyard birdbaths. Natural areas
with water are especially important in periods of large scale prolonged drought.
Migration for many birds is the energetic equivalent of
a human running 4-minute-miles for 80 hours straight.
Fat reserves are critical to the success of a bird’s migra-
tion; their metabolism is so efficient that some warblers
would get the equivalent of over 700,000 miles per gal-
lon if they burned gasoline rather than fat.William Majoros/Flickr Creative Commons
© National Audubon Society 2014, 2015

5. What Makes Good Bird Stopover Habitat?
Even though they are using stopovers for short durations, migrating birds still require ade-
quate food, water, and safe shelter.
 Native plants (plants that grow in a region without human introduction) are the best
source of food for native bird species, providing a diversity seasonally available seeds, nuts,
berries. Moreover, native plants host a far greater number of native insects than non-
natives, further provisioning migrating birds with high-quality foods.
 Wetland areas with exposed mud flats pro-
vide important foraging habitat for migrating
shorebirds. Ponds that host a healthy aquatic
ecosystem make good stopovers for migrat-
ing waterfowl.
 Natural spaces with good structural diversity
of plants offer shelter from the elements and
predators to migrating birds.
Migrating birds need food, water, and safe shelter in the places they use as stopovers. Be-
cause these migrants are passing through, they can take advantage of urban habitat spaces
that would not be of high enough quality for winter and summer residents.
Food, Water, & Shelter
Bigger and More Connected is Better
Larger, rounder spaces have better quality interior habitat that is not subject to edge disturb-
ances and can support more sensitive species. Closer and more connected habitat patches
have better functionality and generally support more species.
Edge
Interior
Big & Compact Shape
Too Narrow for Interior Habitat
Too Small for
Interior Habitat
© Sean Fitzgerald
© National Audubon Society 2014, 2015

6. Protecting Habitat Areas During Construction & Maintenance Work
Triple Bottom Line
Proper protection of habitat areas in pro-
ject work zones begins in the planning
phase by assessing the ecosystem services
provisioned by the area.The gold standard
is to meet all needs of the triple bottom
line. It is important to remember that eco-
system services have economic value.
Socially Equitable
Environmentally
Sound
Economically Feasible
Best Practices and Considerations
 Know the site and its assets well. Inventory natural resources in the project area, identify
any that intersect with permitting requirements, and consider seasonal variation and
project timing.
 Wetlands are protected under the Clean Water Act and require Section 404 per-
mits from the US Army Corps of Engineers and state-level 401 permits from the
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.All other “waters of the US” are
also protected and require permitting.
 Habitat that supports threatened or endangered species is protected under the
Endangered Species Act.
 Native bird species, their eggs, and active nests are protected by the Migratory
Bird Treaty Act of 1918
 Follow the Precautionary Principle—don’t wait for proof of harm from design, activities,
or management.
 Aim for the highest benefit from the project. If there is a choice between siting a project
on a degraded site or an intact habitat area, preference should be given to working on
the degraded/disturbed site to maintain the integrity and ecosystem services of the in-
tact habitat. If possible, think about how to restore better functionality to the site (ex.
Re-vegetating a project site covered with invasive plants with native plants post-
construction).
 Think regionally. Consider how the project site connects to and contributes to the
health of the larger regional ecosystem.
© National Audubon Society 2014, 2015

7. Resources
NativeTexas Plants and Blackland Prairie Ecoregion
Griffith, G, S Bryce, J Omernik, and A Rogers. 2007. Ecoregions of Texas. Texas Commission on Environ-
mental Quality. Available online: http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/assets/public/comm_exec/pubs/as/199.pdf
Detailed background on Texas Blackland Prairie ecoregion.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. 2014. Blackland Prairie Ecological Region. URL: http://
www.tpwd.state.tx.us/landwater/land/habitats/cross_timbers/ecoregions/blackland.phtml
Brief overview of Texas Blackland Prairies.
Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center. 2014. Native Plant Database. URL: http://www.wildflower.org/
explore.php
Excellent source for information on native plants, including suitability for site conditions.
Burghardt, KT, DW Tallamy, WG Shriver. 2008. Impact of native okants in bird and butterfly biodiversity in
suburban landscapes. Conservation Biology 23: 219-224.
Scientific paper discussing how native plants attract more native insects and native birds in landscape settings.
NativeWildlife
Cornell Lab of Ornithology. 2014. All About Birds. URL: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/
Life history and ID information for hundreds of bird species
Texas Natural Science Center. 2014. Herps of Texas. URL: http://www.herpsoftexas.org/
Life history and ID information for Texas amphibians and reptiles
The Xerces Society. 2014. Pollinator Conservation. http://www.xerces.org/pollinator-conservation/
Information on native pollinators.
Ecosystem Services
Casey Trees & Davey Tree Expert Co. 2014. National Tree Benefit Calculator. http://treebenefits.com/
calculator/index.cfm
Calculate the ecosystem services provided by different tree species of different ages.
US Forest Service. 2014. Ecosystem Services. http://www.fs.fed.us/ecosystemservices/
Overview of ecosystem services delivered by forests
Sustainable SITES Initiative. 2014. Why Sustainable Sites? http://www.sustainablesites.org/benefits
Discusses ecosystem services and economic benefits to sustainable site development.
© National Audubon Society 2014, 2015

8. Who UsesThisTree?
People: Native Americans used the wood for making
the hoops for the Hoop and Pole Game, racks for
drying meat, the oval frame for cradleboards, pipe
stems, bow and arrows, construction and firewood.
An infusion from the inner bark was used to treat
depression and fatigue. Settlers used the wood for
fences, lumber, firewood, and butter paddles.
Birds: Wood Duck, Northern Bobwhite, Wild Turkey,
Northern Cardinal, Evening Grosbeak, Pine Gros-
beak, Red-winged Blackbird, Rusty Blackbird, grackles.
It is also used by the Mourning Dove for nesting.
Butterflies and Moths: Eastern Tiger Swallowtail,
Mourning Cloak, Orange Sulphur, Giant Sulphur
Mammals: White-tailed Deer, Rabbits
The Green Ash is the most wide-spread of Ashes is
also one of the first trees to change in the fall. Green
Ash grows rapidly, up to 26 feet in 10 years. Ash is a
member of the Olive family.
Ash (Green & Texas): Fraxinus spp.
Height: 30-50 feet
Longevity: 50-100 years
Field Marks: Ashes have compound
leaves and opposite branching.
Ash flowers are subject to the Ash flower gall mite. It is
also at risk from the invasive Emerald Ash Borer, an
introduced beetle whose boring behavior kills the tree. It
leaves tell-tale D-shaped holes along the tree’s trunk.
T Homayoun
T Homayoun
Benny Mazur/Flickr Creative Commons
T Homayoun
© National Audubon Society 2014, 2015

9. Urban Ecology Awareness Training
Winter Session
 Introduction to Wetlands
 Wetland plants & wildlife
 Ecosystem services provided by wetlands
 Lower Chain of Wetlands, Dallas,TX

Wetlands as bird habitat
Aquatic plant list for Dallas - Fort Worth Area &
Blackland Prairie Ecoregion






Texas as winter habitat for migratory birds
Winter habitat for migratory birds & wildlife
Identifying and controlling invasive plants in winter
Winter management and maintenance considerations
CommonWinter Birds of the GreatTrinity Forest &
Blackland Prairie Ecoregion
Lower Chain ofWetlands Management Activity
© National Audubon Society 2015

10. Urban Ecology Awareness Training
Spring Session
 Supporting migrating birds
 Creating safe stopovers for migrating birds
 Park landscaping for birds & pollinators
 Bird Safe Buildings and structures
 Dark-skies lighting
 Overview of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act
 Responding to common bird-human conflicts
 “Urban adaptable” birds of North Texas
 Spring management and maintenance considerations
 Wildflowers in urban parks
 Common Blackland Prairie wildflowers
 How to make a wildflower meadow
© National Audubon Society 2015

11. Urban Ecology Awareness Training
Summer Session
 Introduction to Prairie Ecology
 Ecosystem services provided by prairies
 Texas Blackland Prairie
 Grassland & prairie wildlife
 Prairie & Grassland Birds of North Texas
 Common Blackland Prairie grasses
 Blackland Prairie restoration & management
 TPWD: Guidelines for Native Grassland Restoration
Projects
 Identifying and controlling summer invasive plants
 Summer management and maintenance considerations
 Activity Page: Blackland Prairie Seedballs
© National Audubon Society 2015

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