How well do you know these dedicated HCMN leaders? Read on to get to know each of them and find out how they embody the heart of our chapter membership.

HCMN welcomes new chapter advisor Savannah Bushkuhl, who joins veteran advisors Archis Grubh and Blake Hendon. See how each of their backgrounds and experience reflect the Hill Country landscape we care for.

Meet the Hays County Master Naturalist whose Hays Humm article inspired a 28-year old Texas native seed company to include it in their newly released Spring 2026 catalog.

Updated: More Bee Buzz In May 2022, Christine Middleton submitted her first HELM article. Since then, she has authored 21 HELM articles. See what’s new in this updated piece.

Once considered a South Texas/coastal species, the presence of this duck in local ponds, wetlands, and neighborhoods is a reminder of how adaptable some species can be when suitable habitat is available.

A Model of Service-Learning in Action
Beneath the charm of two beloved mascots lies a powerful partnership—reimagining nature outreach in the Texas Hill Country.

Part 1- What do birds need? Discover how to make your little piece of the Texas Hill Country more inviting for our feathery friends.

10th Annual Christmas Bird Count “Though the weather was less than ideal, we still ended up with 116 species.” Take a virtual walk with the Zone 1 Team to see a sample of the birds they documented.

When you’ve stood at the edge of Jacob’s Well, you can empathize with Macfarlane. “I dream often of rain; we all do,” he writes about a devastatingly dry summer.

Elusive, playful, and now more visible along our local waterways, these semi-aquatic mammals are a hopeful reminder that conservation efforts and habitat restoration can allow native species to rebound.

A night of fellowship, gratitude, and glowing achievements—see highlights of our Annual Gala, where members, partners, and Spring Class graduates were recognized for a remarkable year.

Take a joyful look at this year’s Fall Training Class and the adventures, mentors, and moments that helped our newest naturalists take flight.

Naturescapes returned to the Walkers’ Gallery with another impressive juried exhibition celebrating the beauty of the natural world. Discover the award winners and learn more about this year’s contest.

This month’s cover highlights the lively Snowy Egret, along with a companion feature on the rare sight of both Snowy and Great Egrets together at Plum Creek. Learn what sets these look-alikes apart.

A visit to Native American Seed revealed the rhythms of restoration—from blooming fields to the delicate timing of harvest.

HCMNs traded work gloves and loppers for paddles and picnic plates. It was a day to relax, laugh, and celebrate the people who give so much to our natural spaces.

Costumes, games, native plants, and fluttering wings—this year’s Monarch Fest was a joyful celebration of pollinators and the people who care for them.

Support vital research on winter bird populations. Grab your binoculars and help count the colorful visitors at bird blinds across Hays County.

At the 2025 Annual TMN Meeting, Hays County Master Naturalists helped showcase the knowledge, talent, and spirit that define our chapter.

Hearing the whistling wings of a flock of Teal overhead keeps me waking up before sunrise, putting on waders, and waiting patiently for the ducks.