Spring is just around the corner, which means Golden-cheeked Warblers will soon be making their annual migration from their wintering grounds in the tropics to their breeding habitat in Central Texas. To coincide with their arrival this year, Wild Basin will soon have new educational booklets that contain information on the Golden-cheeked Warbler.
These booklets, which are targeted for young visitors ranging from school ages K-12, emphasize the importance of conservation and a healthy, thriving environment. Brandy Shigemoto, a recipient of the Dr. Allan W. Hook Endowed Wild Basin Creative Research Fund, decided to create this field guide after realizing there was a lack of informational materials on species important to Wild Basin. The grant provided by the Hook Endowed Wild Basin Creative Research Fund allowed for Shigemoto to purchase a metallic gold Risograph drum to create 275 informational booklets for Wild Basin visitors. According to Shigemoto, “The purchase of the metallic gold allowed for experimental printing techniques that are not possible with any printer other than the Risograph, and the use of this technique allowed for vivid color and imagery to entice the reader to learn more about our environment and the species of Wild Basin”.
The creative process for Brandy’s project included field research at Wild Basin as well as research on effective textbook design to ensure full reader engagement. She faced several challenges throughout this project, including preparing her file for imposition prior to printing and aligning the registration of colors as closely as possible. Shigemoto said, “The Risograph can often be a tricky machine, so my advisor, Professor Jimmy Luu, and I had to be patient with printing speeds and feed settings.”
The fellowship opportunity provided by Hook Research Fund is available to both undergraduate and graduate students of all disciplines who wish to conduct scholarly, independent research at Wild Basin or elsewhere on the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve. The fellowship is meant to cover costs associated with the research project up to $3000 (typical award amount is 1,000). The fund honors the life work of Dr. Allan W. Hook as well as his dedication to providing students with educational opportunities both in and outside of the classroom. His philosophy is that “one can learn more from the natural world than from the human-made world.” The goal of this fellowship is to promote a greater understanding of and appreciation for the Wild Basin Preserve and the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve system.