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Cedar Waxwings

January 2021
Migrating Cedar Waxwings can strip a large shrub of berries in minutes – an impressive if not a messy sight if it occurs in your yard or driveway, but a natural appearing phenomenon along the creek at this time of the year. These sleek and colorful birds, drawn to the creek by the sound of its running water, and shallow areas to bathe, also find abundant food sources. While a flock or swarm of these colorful birds is hard to miss, it can be difficult to see the details of an individual bird – these backyard photos show their distinctive masks, red wing highlights, and perhaps their acrobatic flight and feeding capabilities. Along the creek, Cedar Waxwings appear to rest in the afternoon sun, seemingly fortified for their travels.

Cedar Waxwing Mask

Cedar Waxwing Agility

Cedar Waxwing Speed
Nature is often not tidy, but many of the elements that threaten Joe’s Creek and almost all urban waterways can be mitigated by our choices and actions.Below are noted a few of the best practices which support the ecology of the Creek. We also welcome your ideas and suggestions. Voluntary compliance is the most powerful tool that we have; so in the New Year we hope that all NPNA neighbors will join us in these efforts to the extent possible.

Water Quality:

  • Avoid excess fertilizers, inorganic pesticides, weed killers and other yard and garden chemicals.
  • Here’s a New Year’s Resolution: Drive less and walk or cycle more. Chances are you’ll safely meet your neighbors in the process! (Automobile residues are washed into the creek through storm water drains.)
  • Do not discharge swimming pool water into alleys or streets if it contains chlorine levels above the low limit specified by the City of Dallas Stormwater Management. Note: fines can be levied.
  • No leaves or yard debris should be swept, thrown or blown into the storm drains with leaf blowers, or any other means.
  • Landscapes that include xeriscape are more beneficial since they will have less runoff, and thus carry less contaminants into the creek.

Erosion Control:

  • No cutting, digging, or interfering with any shrubs or trees on the banks of the creek.

Plastic trash: Move from refuse to recycle

  • Recycling appears to be a less effective option, as demand has declined, so that much plastic intended for recycle ends up in landfills. A number of companies are now offering ordinary household products such as detergents that are shipped as concentrates, without any plastic, or water, that also adds to the shipping weight.

To all our NPNA Neighbors and Visitors, on behalf of our Creek Leaders, A Happy and Healthy New Year, and Enjoy the Creek, Park and Greenbelt.

Vince Punaro, NPNA Creek Committee Leader

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It’s My Park Day

November 8, 2020.

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Disney Streets Halloween Parade

October 25, 2020.

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March Along the Creek

April 2020
While daily life changed for everyone in March, flowering trees signaled a normal spring’s arrival along the creek, and the absence of mowers left the impression of a natural meadow in places. Likely April will bring more days just right for walking along the creek, and perhaps broods of mallards in the waters.  Meanwhile sharp eyed kids of all ages can watch this brief video clip of a Mallard and her numerous brood, taken last year. Look sharp for the lone straggler! 

Besides waterfowl, the creek and greenbelt provide habitat for many bird species – the same birds that frequent our backyards, and will be the wildest creatures that we see on a daily basis. In this month of nest building, and in the months to come,these Woodpeckers, Jays, Cardinals, Titmice, Wrens, and Chickadees can bring a lively natural presence to your backyard. All will benefit from feeding stations offering suet, bird seed, or peanuts.

Click here for photos from March Along the Creek

For tips on creating a natural backyard, or front yard habitat, this article from Audubon contains a number of still timely ideas, a link to native plant databases, and practical advice.

Click here to see How To Create a Bird-Friendly Yard

Below: 1. Carolina Wren. 2. Titmouse. 3. Mallard Ducks   

Vince Punaro, Creek Leader and Author
For Creek Leaders Gary Barton, Doug Guiling, and Stu Pauley

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Mallard Ducklings

March 2020. 

Joe’s Creek hosts a returning population of Mallards – a springtime sighting of a tiny brood of ducklings scurrying to keep up with their mother will delight kids of all ages. These birds and other wildlife are drawn to the creek for its benefits as a natural habitat, and add their own elegant aspect to the Creek. 

Waterfowl represent a success story that contrasts with the long-term declining trend in North American Bird counts. Many species show a marked decline over the last 50 years, as noted in Scientific American last September. Waterfowl have made a resurgence since 1970, due in part to the efforts of conservationists in restoring wetlands. Whether we will continue to hear the sounds of Mallards in the Creek, and the call of wild birds in our own backyards depends upon sustained initiatives both large and small, local and regional, that will protect the environment, and hopefully avoid the “Silent Spring” that Rachel Carson wrote about 50 years ago.

Vince Punaro
For Creek Leaders Gary Barton, Doug Guiling, and Stu Pauley

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The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

January 2020.
As we start the new year, let’s remember that we are surrounded by caring neighbors, many developing into close friends, offering comfort and a sense of security in our little hamlet. We are very fortunate to live in one of the most desirable neighborhoods in the city of Dallas with the added bonus of a beautiful creek running through our happy and diverse community.

Recently, several areas of vulgar and anti-Semitic graffiti was discovered painted on the supporting walls outside and under the Alta Vista bridge at Joe’s Creek. Most of us are aware that hate and vandalism is a global concern, but seeing it happen in our neighborhood is alarming. We cannot allow this activity to continue.

Below: The Good. The Bad. The Ugly.

The Dallas Police Department is advising that if you witness individuals suspiciously carrying spray paint cans or actively defacing public property, call 911 immediately.

Related and more frequent is trash being dumped near or into the creek. Joe’s Creek flows into the Trinity River, carrying plastic waste and other pollutants to the gulf where fisheries, waterfowl and other aquatic wildlife are seriously impacted.

What we can do to help now:

  • Educate family, friends and others the importance of maintaining a clean environment where you live, work and travel.
  • Consider taking a single use (disposable) grocery or trash bag with you to pick up a few pieces of trash when you take your dog for a walk, visit the creek or are just out for a stroll and dispose it properly.

This year, let’s take pride in our neighborhood by protecting the environment and public spaces for everyone to enjoy.

Wishing you a healthy and Happy New Year!
Gary Barton, NPNA Creek Committee

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Membership Mailing

Nov 21, 2019. The NPNA board and volunteers gathered to assemble envelopes to mail renewal notices for 2020 memberships.

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It’s My Park Day

Nov 3, 2019. It was Sunday afternoon, and the weather was perfect. 28 adults & children and one dog spent a few hours to spruce up the flower beds and clean up trash in and around  Joe’s Creek.