GOLDTHWAITE — The Texas Botanical Gardens & Native American Interpretive Center, Inc. is pleased to announce an engaging educational presentation by Jessie Burnham, Director of Education at Bat World Sanctuary, titled Winged Night Voyagers – Bat Migration and Conservation in Central Texas. This insightful program will focus on Coexisting with Bats: Myths, Facts, and Conservation, revealing how these mysterious night fliers are vital to both the environment and our local economy. The event is taking place at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 8, 2025, in the Goldthwaite Pavilion at Legacy Plaza. Admission is free for members, $5 for nonmembers.

Burnham’s passion for bats began in 2019 when her sons discovered a grounded Eastern Red Bat and her pups in their backyard. “After reaching out to Bat World Sanctuary for help, my passion for these remarkable animals took root,” Burnham recalls. She soon completed Bat World Sanctuary’s bat rehabilitation class and has spent the past six years educating the public about the vital ecological role bats play—especially in agricultural communities like Mills County.

Bats are some of the most beneficial animals living in Central Texas. A single bat can eat thousands of insects in one night, helping farmers and ranchers naturally control pests without chemicals. They also pollinate native plants and contribute to the health of ecosystems that sustain rural communities.

Mills County’s open skies, abundant pecan orchards, and native prairies make it prime habitat for several bat species, including Mexican free-tailed bats, big brown bats, and Eastern red bats. These winged night voyagers migrate through the Hill Country each year, following seasonal insect populations and roosting in tree canopies, bridges, and barns across the region. Burnham’s presentation will shed light on how residents can help protect these important species and coexist with them safely and respectfully.

Through real-world stories and practical conservation insights, Winged Night Voyagers will help audiences separate myth from fact and discover how everyday actions—like preserving native trees and minimizing pesticide use—can make a meaningful difference.

“We are privileged to have Jessie Burnham share her knowledge with our members,” says Courtenay Smith, Executive Director of the Texas Botanical Gardens & Native American Interpretive Center. “Her talk supports our mission to foster lifelong learning and promote stewardship of Central Texas’ natural heritage.”

iNaturalist

Following the event, Texas Master Naturalist Theresa Strickler will be on hand to demonstrate the iNaturalist app. Available for both iOS and Android devices, the app allows citizen scientists to identify, record, and share their personal observations of plants, animals, and other organisms while generating valuable data for science and conservation. Users connect with a community of millions of scientists and naturalists who can help them learn more about nature. By recording and sharing their own observations, users contribute data to a global scientific database that helps working scientists better understand and protect nature.

Coming soon:

• Dance Arena Sponsor, Austin Powwow 2025

Saturday, November 22, Travis County Expo Center, 7311 Decker Lane, Austin

• Kendra Gives Back, special in-store and online event benefitting the educational programs of the Texas Botanical Gardens & Native American Interpretive Center, Inc.

Saturday, December 13, 3:00 – 5:00 p.m., Kendra Scott – South Congress Flagship, Austin

• A Time Before Texas, exhibition created by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and presented in partnership with Humanities Texas, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Hosted by the City of Goldthwaite and the Texas Botanical Gardens & Native American Interpretive Center, Inc. at Legacy Plaza

December 1 – 29, Mon. – Fri., 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. / Sat. – Sun., 10:00 – 3:00 p.m. Goldthwaite Welcome Center at Legacy Plaza

• Lights and Luminarias

Garden lights and luminarias in honor and memory of loved ones

December 1 – 31, Fridays and Saturdays, 5:00 – 9:00 p.m.

Texas Botanical Gardens & Native American Interpretive Center, Inc. at Legacy Plaza