Join the Texas Master Naturalist Coastal Prairie Chapter for a free public program titled "Living Dinosaurs on the Prairie" presented by Jaide Cooper on Thursday, April 2, 2026 at 7 PM at the Rosenberg Civic Center.

Birds are more than distant relatives of dinosaurs—they are the only surviving branch of the theropod lineage that once dominated Earth. This talk explores the extraordinary evolutionary journey from giant predatory dinosaurs to the diverse birds of today, highlighting key innovations such as feathers, air-sac breathing systems, and flight adaptations.

The program then brings the story closer to home, focusing on the Texas coastal prairie and one of North America’s most endangered birds, the Attwater’s prairie-chicken. Each spring, this species performs courtship displays rooted in behaviors that stretch back tens of millions of years, earning it the nickname "living dinosaur of the grasslands." The presentation explores how understanding this deep past helps guide current conservation efforts.

Presenter Jaide Cooper is a Wildlife Refuge Specialist at the Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge. She coordinates volunteers and educational programs supporting prairie conservation and assists with field research, including radio-tagging and monitoring prairie-chickens. She holds a B.S. in Conservation Biology from Arizona State University, studied desert ecology in the Southwest, interned with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service on Kaua‘i, and now works to help recover the fragile Attwater’s prairie-chicken population.

Coastal Prairie Chapter programs are free and open to the public. A virtual option is available, and chapter members and the public may attend via Zoom. A Zoom link will be provided after registration.