Bexar tracks : the newsletter of the Bexar Audubon Society, Vol. 29, No. 01

• Main Author: Bexar Audubon Society
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: San Antonio, Tex. : Bexar Audubon Society 2013
• Subjects: Birds > Conservation > Texas > Periodicals.; Ornithology > Texas > Periodicals.; Nature conservation > Texas > Periodicals.; Clubs and Organizations; Science and Technology; Arctic; Corridor The; Corridor, The; Flint; Kendall; Lockhart; Marcos; Swann; The Corridor; Tive; Vance; Arctic birds; Climate change
• Online Access: http://digital.utsa.edu/cdm/ref/collection/p15125coll10/id/10668

Bexar Tracks began with Vol. 4, no. 1 (January 1986). It continues Newsletter (Bexar Audubon Society). For the latest news and updates, see www.bexaraudubon.org. Bexar Audubon Society is a chapter of the National Audubon Society. Its primary goals are to promote species and habitat conservation and environmental education in the community. Bexar Tracks Volume XXIX, No. 1 January-February 2013 BEXAR AUDUBON FEBRUARY PROGRAM & FIELD TRIP 6:30 PM, TriPoint Center (map on page 4) 3233 N. St. Mary's (corner of 281 & N. St. Mary's) February 21, 2013 Here a Sparrow, There a Sparrow Craig Hensley, Park Ranger/Naturalist Guadalupe River State Park Saturday, February 23 (follow-up bird walk at Honey Creek SNA) Winter is the perfect time of year to practice your sparrow identification skills. Whether you are an expert or don’t know one little brown bird from an-other, you are invited to join Craig for a presenta-tion on the basics of sparrow identification. Learn what you really need to know to tell one bird from another in a fun and infor-mative presentation. Fol-lowing, on Saturday the 23rd, is a field session at Honey Creek State Natu-ral Area (see below for reservations). Craig Hensley is a Naturalist/Educator with 30 years of experience working at nature centers from Minnesota to Texas and places in-between. A na-tive of Iowa, Craig has a B.S. in Fisheries & Wild-life Mgmt., an M.S. in Zoology, and is a licensed bird bander. Craig is the Park Interpreter, Volun-teer Coordinator and Resource Specialist at Gua-dalupe River State Park. FIELD TRIP: SPARROW ID at Honey Creek State Natural Area Saturday, February 23 — 8:30–11 AM Join Craig Hensley on a bird walk / sparrow identification session at Honey Creek State Natural Area. Limited to 20; $5 fee. Reservations required. Contact Patty L. Pasztor at 210.837.0577 or [e-mail] for reservations/details. White-Crowned Sparrow BEXAR AUDUBON JANUARY PROGRAM 6:30 PM, TriPoint Center (map on page 4) 3233 N. St. Mary's (corner of 281 & N. St. Mary's) January 17, 2013 Wildlife Conservation Issues in Texas What does the future hold? John M. Davis, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department Wildlife Diversity Program Director There are many issues today that threaten the great wildlife diversity of our state, but the conser-vation community has faced seemingly insur-mountable challenges before and rose to the challenge. We can rise to the challenge again. Texas is blessed with a vast array of habitats and species. In fact, when one compares all of the states, Texas is frequently in the top three. Texas boasts 213 species of reptiles and amphibians, 635 species of birds, 174 species of mammals, an estimated 5,200 species of plants and an estimated 30,000 species of invertebrates. However, complex and daunting issues like emerging diseases, climate change, urbanization, insuffi-cient land use planning, emerging energy production industries, declining conservation funding, etc. are putting intense pressures on our state’s wildlife populations. But the conservation community has faced seemingly insurmountable challenges and acted with conviction in the past. The conservation community rose to the challenge in the 1930s and again in the 1970s. With dedication, we can rise to the challenge again and secure a solid future for wildlife of our great state. John Davis has spent the last twenty-plus years in service to the cause of conservation in Texas. He has con-ducted field research, designed ecological semi-nars, worked as a TPWD Urban Biologist, Pro-gram Coordinator for the state's Conservation Outreach Program, and now directs the Wildlife Diversity Program. "While honoring and participating in traditional wildlife pursuits such as hunting and fishing, I am driven to connect the general pub-lic to all aspects of the outdoors and make wildlife a part of their everyday lives. I believe that it is a wildlife biologist’s duty to pass on the passion that he/she has for wildlife to as many others as possible. Humans decide the fate of wildlife habitats and popula-tions. As a result, my career has focused on positioning our agency to be relevant to the vast urbanized public in the state of Texas." Wildlife diversity program's website: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/ huntwild/wild/wildlife_diversity/. YouTube channel: http://www.you tube.com/playlist?list=PL47868EA6F87650FA. Craig Hensley and friend John Davis Page 2 January-February 2013 Bexar Tracks Texas Natural Resources/ Environmental Literacy Summit January 25, 2013 8:30 AM—4 PM http://hosted.verticalresponse.com/ 284270/9820ec5b79/1389053735/b49a65e7ca/ Join education, environmental, and natural resource leaders in advancing natural resource/environmental literacy as the new Texas Natural Resource / Environmental Literacy Plan is presented at the Summit on January 25, 2013 in San Anto-nio, Texas. This is an exciting time for Texas and we hope you will be part of this effort in advancing natural resource/ environmental literacy. The purpose of the Natural Resource/ Environmental Literacy Summit is to present the plan to professionals from formal and informal education, natural resources, government, non-profit, and industry interested in natural resource/environmental edu-cation and outreach. Through this presentation, the participants of the summit will become familiar with the plan and identify next steps for implementation. The Natural Resource/Environmental Literacy Summit Com-mittee is proud Mrs. Laura Bush, Former First Lady, will serve as the keynote speaker for the Summit. Mrs. Bush recently founded Taking Care of Texas (www.takingcareoftexas.org), which aims to spur conservation efforts that benefit communi-ties, build on the success of others, and inspire all Texans to join in. The program will also feature special guest speakers Carter Smith, Executive Director of Texas Parks and Wildlife; Bora Simmons, Director for the National Project for Excellence in Environmental Education and Jose"Pepe" Marcos-Iga, North American Association for Environmental Education Board President. Where: TriPoint, 3233 N. St. Mary's, San Antonio, TX. Pre-registration $35, on-site $50. Agenda & Draft Plan at http://taee. org/upcoming-events/state-level-and-national-conferences. BAS Contributes to Cibolo Nature Center Bexar Audubon Society has gifted $25,000 to the Cibolo Nature Center (CNC) to help acquire land for conservation along the Cibolo Conservation Corridor. The Corridor ex-tends from just above the CNC at the Boerne City Park downstream to Hester Lake. In this short run of the Cibolo, which includes the confluence with Menger Creek, the water seeps underground, directly recharging the sensitive Ed-wards and Trinity Aquifers. The CNC has been working to acquire land and negotiate conservation buffer zones along this stretch, which has a direct impact on water quality for the San Antonio area. This watershed includes the Cibolo Preserve, the recently acquired Herff Farm (check out the Farmer's Market on Saturday mornings!), and other proper-ties including limestone bluffs that host one of the few wild populations of the Big Red Sage. Carolyn Chipman Evans, Executive Director of the CNC, in thanking Bexar Audubon, noted the lands importance: "Without land, safe from harm, we cannot teach or inspire conservation. This gift is at the core of what is critical and important to the Cibolo." More information on the Cibolo Nature Center and the Cibolo Conservation Corridor: www.cibolo.org. Abridged CODE OF BIRDING ETHICS From the American Birding Association (http://www.aba.org) Read the full version at http://www.aba.org/about/ethics.html Everyone who enjoys birds and birding must always respect wildlife, its environment, and the rights of others. In any conflict of interest between birds and birders, the welfare of the birds and their environment comes first. 1. Promote the welfare of birds and their environment. (a) Support the protection of important bird habitat. (b) To avoid stressing birds or exposing them to danger, exercise re-straint and caution during observation, photography, sound recording, or filming. 2. Respect the law, and the rights of others. (a) Do not enter private property without the owner's explicit permission. (b) Follow all laws, rules, and regulations govern-ing use of roads and public areas, both at home and abroad. (c) Practice common courtesy in contacts with other people. Your exemplary behavior will generate goodwill with birders and non-birders alike. 3. Ensure that feeders, nest structures, and other artificial bird environments are safe. (a) Keep dispensers, water, and food clean, and free of decay or disease. It is important to feed birds continually during harsh weather. (b) Maintain and clean nest structures regularly. (c) If you are attracting birds to an area, ensure the birds are not exposed to predation from cats and other domestic animals, or dangers posed by artificial hazards. 4. Group birding, whether organized or impromptu, requires special care. Each individual in the group, in addition to the obligations spelled out in Items #1 and #2, has responsibilities as a Group Member. Please Follow this Code and Distribute and Teach it to Others Page 3 January-February 2013 Bexar Tracks Conservation, Birds, & Texas Heritage Greg Pasztor, President, Bexar Audubon Society Anyone driving north on I-10 or 281 out of San Antonio can watch the progression of the city. Hilltops are 'shaved', roads paved, trees cut to make way for houses and businesses. This seemingly unstoppable march has its victims. Wildlife is one of the first to go; followed in short order by quiet, clean air, and hill country views. If we're not careful we will also lose clean wa-ter as the recharge and contributing zones are contaminated. These are the issues most conservationists talk about, but there is another loss occurring that is equally tragic—the loss of Texas' landowner heritage. What were once ranch roads (Jones- Maltsberger divided the Jones and Maltsberger ranches, Vance Jackson, the same, and many more) are now fully enveloped by the city, the ranches and their way of life long gone. There are still some folks on the City's edges that are trying to hang on, and preserving their heritage and way of life is every bit as much a conservation issue. The Maverick Ranch in Northwest Bexar County has been operating over 150 years. The Fenstermaker sisters who manage the ranch have been "doing right by the environment" in their stewardship. They're proud of their Golden-cheek Warbler nest-ing habitat, Longhorn cattle, farm, archeology and the clean water their land management practices provide to nearby creeks and the aquifer. Enter the City of San Antonio, who recently 'Recommended for Approval' a plan to develop a subdivision on a piece of land surrounded on 3 sides by the Maverick Ranch. The developer withdrew the plan at the last minute (apparently both the city and the developer were unaware of the Warblers). It will likely come up again for approval in 2013. Following are the remarks I prepared for the December Planning Commission hearing (and will deliver if & when this development comes up again). We know the Maverick Ranch well. Beginning in Spring of 2011 we raised funding and employed three independent biolo-gists to begin surveying and documenting the populations of Golden-cheeked warblers on the Maverick Ranch and several other areas in Northwest Bexar County, including both state and city natural areas. This area, designated the Southernmost Edwards Plateau, is the southernmost extent of the breeding grounds for this bird which nests exclusively in Texas. The birds chose Texas as their home long before the city or county existed, and their choice of habitat unfortunately coincides with the desire of many folks to live an urban lifestyle in a rural hill country setting. The surveys of the Maverick Ranch documented that the Golden-cheeks were indeed reproducing Native Texas birds within the ranch's boundaries, but also that the property was a resting and feeding stop for migrating passerine species such as the American Redstart, Black-throated Green Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, and others. Bexar County, Kendall County, all of the Southern Edwards Plateau are part of the Central Flyway. Think of it as an aerial highway that channels the migration of hundreds of species of birds, hundreds-of-thousands of birds who travel thousands of miles each fall and spring, from South & Central America to as far north as the Arctic Circle. This cycle of migration on the Central Flyway is one of nature's wonders, and a priority for protection by the National Audubon Society. Because of Bexar Audubon Society's scientific documentation, the Southernmost Edwards Plateau, including the Maverick Ranch, was officially designated an Internationally Important Bird Area by National Audubon Society and the United States IBA Committee in June of this year. This matters. It's not just about birds. This breeding ground for our native Texas birds, this rest stop for long-distance travelers also provides an abundance of free services to the people of Bexar County including clean air, clean water, aquifer recharge. These services directly impact the quality of life for San Antonio's citizens. Enter the Maverick Ranch. Here we have private landowners with historical ties to their land, seeking to conserve not only a historical way of life in Texas, but to conserve the land and species that are bound to that history. This ethic of stewardship and conservation benefits all of society. The proposed dense development of the land surrounded on three sides by the Mav-erick Ranch disrespects the ranching heritage of Texas and the conservation importance of this Internationally Important Bird Area. The political failure of the Habitat Conservation Plan for the Southern Edwards Plateau (of which Bexar County was a par-ticipant) means that the proposed development of this land falls in the lap of the San Antonio Planning Commission with little overall direction or consensus among all those who benefit from the conservation of these lands. The Commission on its own must take a stand for conservation by rejecting the proposed development. Election of Officers for 2013 Bexar Audubon Society Board Nominees: Greg Pasztor — President Anita Anderson — Vice President Anne Parrish — Secretary Caryl Swann — Treasurer Voting will take place at our meeting January 17th. For information about upcoming programs/events for BAS and throughout the San Antonio and surrounding area, log on to www.bexaraudubon.org. Signs of the US Drought Are Underground A deep and persistent drought struck vast portions of the continental United States in 2012. Though there was some relief in the late summer, a pair of satellites operated by NASA shows that the drought lingers in the underground water supplies that are often tapped for drinking water and farming. Maps and more information: http://earthobservatory. nasa.gov:80/IOTD/view.php?id=79228. Back to Nature First Saturday Nature Walks and Second Saturday Programs (Co-sponsored by City of San Antonio and Bexar Audubon Society) Reservations suggested; walks occasionally change. Donations suggested. More info: 210.207.5320 or [e-mail]. Weather & Woods, Eisenhower Park — Jan. 5, 10 AM–Noon Enjoy the woods in their winter rest and learn about our changeable weather! Get the Point, Eisenhower Park — Jan. 12, 10 AM–Noon Do you have an interest in arrow points and other stone artifacts? Join local flint knappers in demonstrations, examining displays and trying your hand at making an arrow point. Changes in the Landscape, Crownridge Canyon — Feb. 2, 10 AM–Noon Learn about some of the changes in the local landscape in the past century. Diverse plants, animals and geology will remind us how important it is to save our natural heritage! Animal Headgear, Eisenhower Park — Feb. 9, 10 AM–Noon What is the difference between antlers & horns? San Antonio Natural Areas, www.sanaturalareas.org Page 4 January-February 2013 Bexar Tracks Check the Nature Calendar at bexaraudubon.org for more listings. Cibolo Nature Center Classes Reservations required, call 830.249.4616 or sign up online at http://www.cibolo.org/calendar; CNC in Boerne, TX. Heron Rookery Monitor Training Jan. 15, 9 AM–12 Noon Class covers research on great blue heron rookeries and explains how the Cibolo Preserve project adds to this body of knowledge . Wildlife Tax Valuation (3 Sections) Jan. 19 & 26, Feb. 2, 9 AM–1 PM Flying Wild: Educator Workshop at Lockhart State Park Jan. 26, 9 AM–4 PM Birdbox Monitor Training Feb. 7, 10 AM–12 Noon Free Citizen Science training to monitor bird boxes. Also good for Wildlife Tax Valuation reporting. Coming in March: First ever SPRING BREAK CAMP at CNC—nature camp and art camp COMBINED! Come to the Cibolo Nature Center and get outside and play! March 13 through 15, 9 AM–3 PM, ages 5-12 years. Government Canyon State Natural Area (GCSNA) 12861 Galm Road, San Antonio Lots of great programs at GCSNA! For info/reservations, [e-mail] or call 210.688.9055 x289. GCSNA has more than 40 miles of hik-ing and biking trails that range from re-mote rugged canyon lands to gently roll-ing grasslands. Natural Area visitors may enjoy a variety of outdoor activities in-cluding, picnicking, hiking, biking, trail running, geochaching, regularly sched-uled guided hikes, and ranger programs. Overnight camping Fridays/Saturdays. Regular walk-in campsites, and two group walk-in campsites More informa-tion at http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/state-parks/ government-canyon. January & February BAS Programs at TriPoint, 3233 N. St. Mary’s St. Corner of 281 & N. St. Mary’s TriPoint N. St. Mary’s St. WANTED: Seeking new editor for Bexar Tracks. Desktop publishing experience preferred. Contact editor@bexar audubon.org. Mitchell Lake Audubon Center 10750 Pleasanton Rd., San Antonio TX 210.628.1639 www.mitchelllakeaudubon.org Connecting People with Nature MLAC Monthly Birding Tours No reservation necessary. 1st, 2nd, 3rd Sundays at 8 AM; 2nd Tuesdays at 8 AM Bird count/survey: 4th Saturdays, 8 AM $5 for non-members, $3 for members, no reservations nec-essary. Information: [e-mail] or 210.628.1639. San Antonio Botanical Garden Programs Third Saturday Bird Walks, 9 AM, Jan. 19 & Feb. 16 Free to SA Botanical Society members, $8 non-members. Wildscaping: Landscaping for Wildlife, 9 AM, Feb. 11 WaterSaver Walks sponsored by SAWS. 1st Fridays & 3rd Saturdays of each month, 10 AM. Looking for ideas about how to have a beautiful landscape at your home AND conserve water? Wondering what plants grow best in San Antonio soils and are the most efficient water users? Get answers! Register for SABOT programs: [e-mail] or contact Sasha Kodet at [e-mail] or 210.207.3270. www.sabot.org Native Plant Society of Texas Tuesday, Jan. 22, Lions Field Adult Center, 2809 Broadway Native plant and seed exchange at 6:30 PM, followed by speaker at 7 PM. Lottie Millsaps will provide instruction on how to recognize different plant families, using photographs of native plants to illustrate structures and characteris-tics. Free and open to the public; www.npsot.org/sanantonio. Page 5 January-February 2013 Bexar Tracks Earth Share of Texas raises money for environmental and conservation or-ganizations through workplace giving. If your employer participates in such programs, please ask them to add Earth Share to your giving options. By des-ignating the Audubon Foundation of Texas (AFT), Bexar Audubon Society can benefit. BAS receives credit for our support and receives funding annually form AFT. For more information, call, email or log on: 800.GREENTX, [e-mail], or www.earthshare-texas.org. Bexar Audubon Society Contacts President: Greg Pasztor—210.824.1235, [e-mail] Vice President: Anita Anderson—210.533.8726; [e-mail] Treasurer: Caryl Swann—210.653.2860; [e-mail] Secretary: Susan Hughes—210.532.2032; [e-mail] At-Large: Anne Parrish—[e-mail] At-Large: Jessica Leslie—[e-mail] Webmaster: Greg Pasztor—210.824.1235, [e-mail] Programs/Outings: Patty Pasztor—210.824.1235; [e-mail] Education Chairperson: Mary Kennedy—[e-mail] Editor: Michele Wood—[e-mail] Bird-feeding Basics More than 100 North American bird species supple-ment their natural diets with birdseed, suet, fruit, and nectar obtained from feeders. Feeding birds can benefit them and also provides great birdwatching opportunities in your own backyard. Often, people think of feeding birds in the winter when their natural food supplies are scarce. But many birds also visit feeders during their spring and fall mi-grations and during summer while they are nesting, so you may enjoy keeping feeders up all through the year, offering different types of foods during different seasons. To keep birds coming back to your feeders in any season, provide them with these three essential ele-ments:  A variety of quality seed and other foods.  Fresh water for drinking and bathing.  Ample cover, preferably provided by native plants. Native plants also provide potential nesting sites and a source of natural food. Keep in mind that birdfeeders also present potential risks to birds, including window collisions, predation, and exposure to disease. Explore the pages below for more information about how to attract birds and keep them safe. More information on Bird-feeding Basics at http:// getintobirds.audubon.org/bird-feeding-basics: Choos-ing a Feeder; Feeder Location; Selecting Seeds; Hummingbirds & Nectar Feeders; Feeder Mainte-nance; and Anti-Squirrel Safeguards. Audubon Texas: Great Things Happen When We Work Together! With your help, Audubon Texas accomplished great things across Texas in 2012. Centers: At our three Audubon Centers in San Antonio, Dallas, and Ceder Hill, we educated nearly 30,000 children from 45 Texas school districts, and engaged more than 60,000 Texans and visitors through our programs. Conservation: We are protecting a network of 177 wa-terbird colonies — 70% of the colonial waterbird islands on the Texas Coast — and developing a major bird population database which will further focus our management efforts. Impact: With Audubon's new strategic plan, we are bringing unprecedented focus to our work as we look at how it affects birds and wildlife across the Central Flyway. 2013 Laredo Birding Festival February 6-9 (Trips may be modified depending on weather and water conditions.) Birders at the 2013 Laredo Birding Festival will have a chance to select from among 10 full-day trips. Escorted by professional field guides and members of the Monte Mucho Audubon Society, birders will have an opportunity to explore areas along Laredo’s river front, creek systems, nature trails and scenic private ranchland. More information at laredobirdingfestival@ rgisc.org or call Tricia Cortez, Exec. Director, RGISC, 956.718.1063. www.laredobirdingfestival.com Mitchell Lake Audubon Center Herb Society Presentation the Herb of the Year for 2013—Elder Thursday, January 10, 6:30–8:30 PM SA Garden Center, 3310 N. New Braunfels Learn from people who know the most about herb gardening, cooking, sniffing, crafting and infus-ing. anything and everything is herbal for this meet-ing! More information at www.sanantonioherbs.org. Free and open to the public. www.bexaraudubon.org For the latest information on environmental events and happenings throughout the San Anto-nio community and surrounding areas, check out www.bexaraudubon.org. Non-Profit Organization US Postage Paid San Antonio TX Permit #167 Bexar Audubon Society PO Box 6084 San Antonio TX 78209-0084 Bexar Tracks Bexar Tracks is the official newsletter of the Bexar Audubon Society, a Chapter of the National Audu-bon Society. The Chapter’s primary goals are to promote species and habitat conservation and environmental education in the community. Your membership includes National Audubon and Bexar Audubon and subscriptions to both Audubon and Bexar Tracks. January-February 2013 Membership and Support for Your Environmental Voice in Our Community Bexar Audubon welcomes new members to join Audubon through the chapter. This brings 100 percent of the first year’s dues directly back to support local work. The same applies to gift memberships placed through the chapter. Your additional tax deductible donation is greatly appreciated. Bexar Audubon receives only a few thousand dollars each year from National Audubon Society as dues share. The rest we must raise ourselves. Your help is needed, and your donations will be put to good use right here in South Central Texas to provide environ-mental news and education to the community, including the newsletter, programs, San Antonio Environmental Network Issues Forum, Sec-ond Saturday programs, and other activities you may or may not hear about. Individual introductory memberships are $20; seniors and stu-dents join for $15. Please provide the following information for each personal subscription or gift: Name: ___________________________________________________________________________________________ Mailing Address with Zip Code: _______________________________________________________________________ Phone w/Area Code: _________________________________ e-mail ________________________________________ Do you wish to opt out of other mailings by Audubon or those with whom it shares lists? ____ yes ____ no Make checks payable to “Bexar Audubon Society” and mail to the address at the top of this page. Enclosed: $__________ for subscription(s) $_________ additional donation NOTE: Renewals should be sent directly to National Audubon Society. NOTE: If you change address or cancel membership, you do NOT need to contact Bexar Audubon but MUST contact National Audubon (and we will automatically get that change when we download labels). Save time and energy by mailing your change of address information to National Audubon Soci-ety Membership Data Center, PO Box 52529, Boulder CO 80322-2529; phoning 800.274.4201; or e-mailing [e-mail]. 10 Under 10,000—Birds on the Brink From Audubon Wingspan, Dec. 20, 2012 Pollution, habitat destruction, and now global climate change are shoving more and more birds into the ecological red zone. Audubon has identified 10 bird species whose populations have fallen below 10,000 individuals. We call them the '10 Under 10,000.' From the Bahamas to the Arctic, birds like the Piping Plover, Black Oystercatcher, and Florida Scrub-Jay are declining in number. Their plight underscores the urgency of our conservation efforts. Read more at http://birds.audubon.org/10- under-10000.