Schedule and Program
Tentative agenda for the 2025 Annual Meeting
More information about the schedule and program will be available soon!
Workshops for the past 2024 Meeting
Workshop Contact: Activities@tctws.org
Description:
OFF SITE, NEARBY EVENT
Since 2011, Houston’s Memorial Park and embedded Houston Arboretum & Nature Center have been extensively restored to a vibrant mix of prairies, savannas, wetlands, and riparian forests. This has reinvented one of Houston’s signature parks and has served as national model for planning, engineering, and ecological restoration. Attendees will visit keystone features in the park including restored ecosystems and visitor’s center at the Houston Arboretum and the landmark Memorial Park Land Bridge and Prairie Project and Eastern Glades.
*This workshop and meeting will be hosted at the beautiful Houston Arboretum located approximately 2.2 miles offsite from the TCTWS host hotel. You will be responsible for transportation to and from the workshop. Parking is available at the Arboretum, and carpooling is encouraged and appreciated. Additionally, there will be a $7 pay-to-park fee when traveling from the arboretum to memorial park
Date: 2/21/2024
Schedule: 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Number of participants: 30
Prerequisite: none
Cost: $10
Workshop Contact: Activities@tctws.org
Description:
The topic of regulated trapping can be among the most contentious and least understood subjects within wildlife management programs. Many wildlife professionals are unfamiliar with trapping and may not feel comfortable engaging in trapping-related discussions with their peers and the public because of their lack of knowledge. Yet, it is essential that wildlife professionals understand the diverse ways that trapping provides environmental, wildlife management, social, and economic benefits. This workshop helps participants understand and better communicate the benefits of regulated trapping and the many ways in which it contributes to wildlife management programs. The primary tools and techniques of trapping will be presented with hands-on demonstrations. We will also discuss the development of trapping Best Management Practices (the largest scientific study of trapping ever conducted), review public opinion data, and focus group and human dimensions studies on the topic of trapping. We will also teach effective communication measures to use when discussing this topic among varied audiences. Participants will leave with a basic knowledge of trapping, scientifically sound information on trapping, and be trained in skills that will make them effective communicators on this subject.
Lunch will be provided.
Date: 2/21/2024
Schedule: 8:30 AM – 3:00 PM
Number of participants: 45
Prerequisite: none
Cost: $5
Workshop Contact: Activities@tctws.org
Description:
This workshop will teach attendees the steps to create their own Survey123 forms, collect data on the app, and QA/QC results. Course will consist of lectures and hands-on exercises, including collecting data on the conference grounds. Attendees will be required to bring a laptop and to have a phone with the Survey123 app (free to download) already installed. No software is required, everything we will cover can be done via the ArcGIS Online portal with web maps and online data. TeachMeGIS will provide the required software license and a workbook. All techniques shown will be possible to do under an ArcGIS for Personal Use license or higher. Course is suitable for beginners and up.
Date: 2/21/2024
Schedule: 9:00 AM -12:00 PM
Number of participants: 15
Prerequisite: none
Cost: $5
Workshop Contact: Activities@tctws.org
Description:
OFF SITE, NEARBY EVENT
Fire for Feathers- The Art of Prescribed Burning for At-Risk Avian Species* (Wednesday February 21st from 8:00 AM-11:30 AM) & Texas Prescribed Fire Council Annual Membership Meeting* (Wednesday February 21st,11:30 AM-12:30 PM)
This ½ day workshop will blend available science and management for targeted prescribed fire application for a variety of Texas habitats targeting management for the Aplomado Falcon, Attwater’s Prairie Chicken, Eastern Black Rail, Whooping Crane, and Golden-cheeked Warbler. We have a talented line-up of fire and science practitioners who will set your world a-blaze and guide attendees through how to make planning and logistical decisions such as: how to choose areas for application of prescribed fire activity, timing and conditions to apply fire for the most benefit, and what to expect post-fire application.
Following the Rx Fire Workshop, the Texas Prescribed Fire Council (consisting of private landowners, researchers, government and NGO employees, and fire enthusiasts) will be having their annual membership meeting. The meeting will consist of Board Member elections; updates on the various Rx fire E&O efforts, trainings, hurdles/limitations, and success stories in the state; as well as discussions on how the Council can be most additive to the safe and successful implementation of more Rx Fire across our state. No special membership is required to attend this meeting, just a passion and interest in visiting with like-minded individuals working on promoting and increasing the amount of Rx fire across our great state. There will be ample time at the end of the workshop and meeting for attendees to visit with habitat and fire experts, Texas Prescribed Fire Council Members, and land stewardship experts.
*This workshop and meeting will be hosted at the beautiful Houston Arboretum located approximately 2.2 miles offsite from the TCTWS host hotel. You will be responsible for transportation to and from the workshop. Parking is available at the Arboretum, and carpooling is encouraged and appreciated.
Workshop and meeting address: 4501 Woodway Dr, Houston, TX 77024
Fire for Feathers Workshop Contact: Sam Brodley (samantha_brodley@fws.gov)
Texas Prescribed Fire Council Meeting Contact: Thomas Janke (tjanke@pheasantsforever.org)
For more information on Houston Arboretum: https://houstonarboretum.org/
Date: 2/21/2024
Schedule: 8:00 AM‒12:00 PM
Number of participants: 40
Prerequisite: none
Cost: $10
Workshop Contact: Activities@tctws.org
Description:
This workshop is specifically designed for members who do not deal with Chronic Wasting Disease (or CWD) on a regular basis. As biologists, we are often asked about topics that are outside of our area of expertise, so we have developed this workshop to help bridge that gap. During this workshop Alan Cain with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will discuss what causes CWD, current distribution of positive cases in the state of Texas, and current regulations to manage and monitor the disease. Importantly, we will also cover answers to some of the more common questions received and have time for audience questions at the end of the session.
Date: 2/21/2024
Schedule: 9:00 AM-11:00 AM
Number of participants: 40
Prerequisite: None
Cost: $5
Workshop Contact: Activities@tctws.org
Description:
As you progress in your wildlife career, you will witness incredible encounters with wildlife in the field and the essence of wild places. Carrying a camera, documenting your observations, and capturing your story can lead to increased enjoyment and engagement in the wildlife field. Outdoor photography can serve as a vital tool for wildlife communicators and professionals. Wildlife photographers engage in a focused craft and are expected to exercise a level of creativity. In this workshop, Dave and Joseph Richards will discuss the ingredients for composing photography images, how to increase the scientific value of your photographs, and techniques for improving the quality of your images. This course requires no previous experience with photographing wildlife, and all experience levels are encouraged to participate. We hope this course will enhance your skillset and enthusiasm for carrying a camera afield.
Date: 2/21/2024
Schedule: 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Number of participants: 40
Prerequisite: none
Cost: $5
Workshop Contact: Activities@tctws.org
Description:
The Wildlife Wisdom Exchange Workshop focuses on fostering collaborative learning and professional development in wildlife management. This workshop uniquely caters to varying expertise levels—professionals, graduate, and undergraduate students—by incorporating individuals from each level into our leadership teams. These leadership teams, comprising five already invited members, have developed lessons that merge practical skills with theoretical knowledge, thereby teaching unique capabilities to workshop participants. As part of the team learning process, participant experiences will also contribute to the group’s learned lessons. Finally, the workshop seeks to serve as dynamic platform for networking, skill exchange, and professional growth for 20 audience workshop participants (members of all experience levels can sign up to be a participant). Audience members will not create any lessons but are asked to bring a positive attitude for a great workshop.
Date: 2/21/2024
Schedule: 8:00 AM-12:00 PM
Number of participants: 20
Prerequisite: none
Cost: $25
Workshop Contact: Activities@tctws.org
Description:
Sound analysis is becoming an increasingly valuable tool for biologists, environmental scientists, and land managers to survey and monitor wildlife populations. It is currently used for resource management, habitat health assessment, regulatory compliance goals, animal behavior studies, and documenting the effects of climate change worldwide. Wildlife audio recorders provide a reliable, noninvasive, cost-effective, and unbiased means to meet these objectives. At this one-hour hands-on workshop, learn how to set up and use a Song Meter Micro passive acoustic recorder to gain critical insights into your area of focus. By the end, you’ll see why biologists have deployed 150,000 Song Meter recorders in over 90 countries.
Date: 2/21/2024
Schedule: 9:00 AM-10:30 AM
Number of participants: 40
Prerequisite: none
Cost: Free
Past meeting information
2015 Techniques and Technology Workshop Agenda & Abstracts
2014 Schedule of Events (updated 2/7/14)