Please join us in exploring, restoring, enjoying, conserving, and learning about our local prairies!

The Native Prairies Association of Texas (NPAT) is a non-profit land trust dedicated to the conservation, restoration, and appreciation of native prairies, savannas, and other grasslands in Texas. In the Houston area, HNPAT is responsible for the management, conservation and educational uses of the Lawther – Deer Park Prairie Preserve in Deer Park, Texas.  All are invited to join our activities, including monthly programs on the 4th Wednesday evening of every month.

Dragonflies of the Texas Prairie!

Bob Honig from the Katy Prairie Conservancy will be teaching us about the beautiful dragonflies we see around us.  These raptors of the insect world are important in both terrestrial and aquatic food webs, and food for a number of bird species. The adults’ beautiful colors and easily observable habits have spawned an increasing interest among naturalists. In his talk, Bob will talk about how dragonflies and damselflies make their livings. You’ll learn intimate details of Odonate sex, including how an individual male best ensures that he is the father of the progeny of the female with which he mates. And you’ll find out answers to such questions as:  Is it possible to breathe and poop via the same orifice?  Can dragonflies prey on birds?  And what is the killer lip?

Bob is a founding board member of the Katy Prairie Conservancy, serving on the Board of Directors from 1992-2016, then moving to the Advisory Board starting in 2017. He also is a past Chairman of the Ornithology Group of Houston’s Outdoor Nature Club and a former Compiler of the Buffalo Bayou and Brazos Bend, Texas, Christmas Bird Counts. Professionally, he is an environmental consultant addressing such diverse issues as endangered species, wetlands, archaeology, recycling, and sustainable development. His work has taken him throughout North America and has included environmental surveys in Bolivia and the Algerian Sahara. His natural history pursuits have focused particularly on birds and dragonflies and damselflies.

Wednesday, May 24, 2017, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Location: Cherie Flores Pavilion at Hermann Park, 1500 Hermann Dr. Houston, TX

Directions and parking