| Summary: | Bexar Tracks began with Vol. 4, no. 1 (January 1986). It continues Newsletter (Bexar Audubon Society). 1 Inside Tracks Beneath the Gavel . 2 Local News . 3 Bird Tales . 4 Environmental Issues . 5 Calendar . S June Outing Join us Saturday, June 17, to explore Colorado Bend State Park, a beautiful, undeveloped 5300-acre park near the northern edge of the Hill Country. The park, on the Colorado River northofLake Buchanan, is home to caves, wild turkeys, and white bass. The alluring Gorman Falls was almost loved to death, but plant and animal life are recovering, the result of TPWD restricting access to guided tours only. We will hike to the falls with a Parks & Wildlife guide. The walk is relatively easy. Conservation Passport is not required, but bring yours if you have one. Wear good shoes, bring water for the hike, and a brown bag lunch. Drive time is about 2.5 hours. We will carpool, leaving at 7:15 am SHARP. Meeting place will be determined. Call Patty Leslie Pasztorat824-1235 to reserve a place. BEXAR AUDUBON SOCIETY CHAPTER OF THE NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY 21 0-822-4503 The Chapter's primary goab are to promote species and habitat ronseiW.tion, and environmental education in the mmmunity. Volume XIII, No. 6 june1995 The Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail • Why do people travel to Texas? One reason is to see our many species of birds. Nature tourism has a significant financial impact on the Texas economy. Learn more at the June 15 BAS meeting, featuring Madge Lindsay. Lindsay has been developing and implementing a new marketing pro- ·oeeport gram at the Texas Parks & Wildlife Depart-ment. Known as the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail, this project will include more than 100 well-known and new birding sites along the coast. Madge Lindsay is a Program Leader in the Wildlife Divi- IIJhc;~onAra"""' sion' s Non-game and Urban Branch at Austin. She is a graduate COIJllls Chr•··of Texas A&M University in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Sciences. At T AMU she received the Senior Merit Award from the College of Agriculture and Life Science, and was recognized for academic excellence. Lindsay's accomplishments include development of a $1.5 million matchin'g grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation for the Texas Private Lands Initiative, a study identifying conservation partnership techniques with private landowners, and development of the State Park Hosts volunteer program. She is responsible for agency development and coordina-tion of the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail (a $1.5million IS TEA project) co-sponsored with the Texas Department of Transportation. She was project coordinator for the State Task Force on Texas Nature Tourism and supervises Non-game and Urban Program Development, Texas Partners in Flight, and the Hummingbird Round-up Backyard Survey. Her hobbies include wildlife gardening, bird watching, photography, and eco-travel. Who should attend? Those interested in birds and birding, resource conservation, travel, and economic development. Students are especially welcome. Conservation Committee: Come to the Ruble Center at 6:00pm, June 15, for a joint meeting of the Bexar Audubon Society and Sierra Club Conservation Committees. Specifics: Monthly meeting of Bexar Audubon Society, 7:30 pm, Thursday, June 15. Refreshments will be available at 7:00 pm. Come early to socialize. Free and open to the public. For more information call822-4503. Cm1servatio11 Committee: Come at 6:00pm for a joint meeting of Bexar Audubon Society and Sierra Club cm1servation committees. Location: Ruble Center, 419 East Magnolia. Nearest freeway exit isNorth St. Mary's, off Highway 281. Public Transportation: VIA Route 5 (St. Mary's-McCullough-North Star Mall) to Magnolia Street. Recently, in the course of the organization's strategic planning process, Ted Eubanks, NAS directorfrom the SW Region, posted these thoughts on the Audubon CompuServe Forum: "Let me offer my simple version of a vision for the National Audubon Society . I believe the most significant envi-. ronmental challenge for the conservation movement today is the preservation of biodiversity (intact, viable, selfsustaining ecosystems in their natural environment) in the face of relentless assault from mankind. A number of organizations share this concern, [and each adopts its own approach: legislative, regulatory, and litigatory; offering scientific and technological alternatives to existing practices that threaten natural systems and their biological constituencies; or even buying ecosystems and habitat on the open market]. "I believe that all of these approaches have their place and value, and I believe that all have their failings. We are entering an age of regulatory rejection, with people chaffing from what they perceive to be the undue and overhanded intervention by the government and the courts. Industry will be slow in accepting alternative technologies unless they are well tested and economically advantageous. And [even the deepest] pockets will never be able to buy enough land to preserve the ecological heritage of this country, never mind Latin America. "However there is another approach . What about cultivating what I call a 'culture of conservation'? At times I've mentioned the need for a conservation ethic in this country, but I am now suggesting that this ethic be integrated into the culture of the country itself. In our lifetime we have seen many cultural evolutions. Smoking in public with no regard to those around you was once socially and culturally acceptable. Now, few would enter a friend's home and light up without asking permission. A few decades ago few would have thought twice about driving after a few beers. Strong legislation and a cultural change have made such behavior unacceptable. The culture has changed. June 1995 BENEATH THE GAVEL "NAS can facilitate, cultivate, and nurture the evolution of a culture of conservation promoting conservation of our irreplaceable natural resources through cooperation, education, and acculturation. "I want to arrive at a desth1ation where my fellow citizens and leaders make the right decisions the first thne. I want to live in a world where environmental enlightenment and sensitivity are intrinsic and innate, not forced. "Finally, I am willing to commit the thne and resources to bring such an evolution about. Forget about two to five years. Start thinking decades. I'm patient." Cannen Santasania of Pennsylvania, responded: "More of the general population [must] understand some basic concepts of biology, e.g., everythh1g h1 the environment affects everything else; it is no longer 'socially, ethically, or culturally' acceptable to take our environment for granted. [We must teach people that] filling a wetland will cause their drinking water to be contaminated or their fishing area to lose fish population or their home to be flooded in a heavy rain, etc. I think a culture changes because people 'learn' that something will affect them directly in terms of health, their wallets, or their families. How do people learn to change their culture? In my view it comes about by education, peer and societal pressure (in a positive way-endless pressure endlessly applied), and repetition. I totally endorse your concept of a culture of conservation, and I will work to change as many mh1ds about the value of our environment, including habitat, birds, and wildlife, as I can." Arthur Feinstein of California writes Ted:" Your vision of a 'culture of conservation' cannot help but appeal to all of us seeking to preserve what is left of our natural world. We have been working toward it since Aldo Leopold expressed a similar goal40 years ago." Ted concludes: "I am not suggesthlg that Audubon discard its legislative, regulatory, or litigation efforts. I agree that in the immediate future we will conthme stickh1g fingers h1to dikes. Ultimately, however, I would like to live in a world where conservation, in the broadest sense of the word, is intrinsic to decision making. My hope for my children and grandchildren is that they enjoy a world where environmental sensitivity is not a rare att~bute, and where conservation is a common, not a special interest." I believe in the polls that affirm that Americans care about their environment and expect their leadership to be responsible in the administration of systems that affect and protect ecosystems and the birds and other wildlife and plants that depend upon them. We must work to convert this concern into a new culture.(As the ESA begins traversing the reauthorization process this month, we much voice this commitment loudly and clearly.) Can we count on you to embrace this vision? Let me know what you think about NAS fostering a "culture of conservation." How do we approach this task? How will you help? Thanks to our volunteers-there are so many volunteers to thank for all their efforts during recent events: Viva! Botanica, Earth-Wise Living Day, Earth Day, Parade of Homes, Cibolo Plant Sale, the "takings" forum, and other events at which BAS has been ably represented by dedicated board members and other volunteers. I hope we can list everybody next issue. Until then, you know who you are, and so do we, and your board thanks you most sincerely. · Katie Nava-Ragazzi will appear on Amparo Ortiz's show at 6am (that's right) June 20, on KWEX-TV discussing BAS programs. Tune in. And we must say good-bye to two valued volunteers. Barb DeLuca, coordinator of the Natural Initiatives program, is heading for a few years on the open road with husband Nick. We'll get post cards from wonderful places, I know. And Valerie Camilli, also on the Natural Initiatives task force, is moving to Boise, Idaho, to pursue her Ph.D. We will miss these two wonderful women whom we count as dear friends as well as dependable contributors. "Don't forget us! We will not forget you." - Susa11 Hughes Bexar Tracks LOCAL NEWS . Preliminary legislative Wrapup Good Bills That Passed HB 1358. The conservation exemption bill. Land owners with an ag exemption will be able to manage for wildlife and keep their ag exemption. HB2085. Landowner liability cap. Important to promoting nature tourism on private lands. SB97. Anti-canned-hunt bill. Not as strong as we wanted, but it's a start. Bad Bills that Died SB 298. The water degradation act, lowering DO standards from 5.0 to 3.0. HB 389. Would have strippe& the federal tax deduction for conservation easements. HB 390. Would have prevented TPWD from acquirh1g any more property until all lands fully accessible to all people, and met ADA standards. HB 448. Cost/benefit analysis for new environmental regs; didn't take benefits into consideration. All bills related to unfunded mandates and state sovereignty died. HB 560. Repealh1g ad valorem tax exemption of the Nature Conservancy. HB 1060. Eliminating consideration of environmental externalities (the total cost of us~ng a highly polluthlg energy source) in utility plannh1g. HB 2712. Thank you Senator Truan for the last filibuster that killed this bill to strip cities' and coun-ties' ability to enter into a Habitat Conservation Plan with the USFWS. TI1e people will live on. HB 3060. Construct a resort hotel h1 Palo D~,tro Canyon State Park. HCR 12. Urged Congress to amend Clean Air Act. HCR 13. Urged Congress to end funding for Endangered Species Act. SB 1106. Make it' legal to kill black bears and other carnivorous mammals on the State Endangered or Threatened species list if someone would vouch for you that the animal was killing your livestock. . SB 1237. Masqueraded as a state anti-smokmg bill, but was designed to kill local ordinances that made it illegal to smoke in restaurants. SCR 61. Urging Congress to amend Water Pollution Control Act. Bad Bills Passed SB 14. The Takings Bill. Thi'l will be an interesth1g two years where we'd love to be proved wrong about our predictions of cost and hamstringing the goverment, or start yelling "I told you when what we predicted happens. HB 2473. The Audit Privilege Bill, I polluted, but I told on myself, so you can't fine me cleanup charges. SB 19/178. Delays vellicle emissions inspection and maintainance programs in 4 most polluted cities. SB1125/1126. Changclean air permitting, apparently making it easier to pollute. - Sa11dra Skrei NASSWRO TI1e learning and blundering people will live on. They will be tricked and sold and again sold And go back to the nourishing earth for rootholds. Bexar Tracks - Carl Sa11dburg The People, Yes (1936) 3 SAEN Focus on Air Quality The San Antonio Environmental Network (SAEN) met at the Witte Museum on Tuesday, June 6, to exchange information about ongoing issues and projects. Dr. Neil Carman, Clean Air Program Director for the Lone Star Chapter of Sierra Club, presented the program on grassroots approaches to maintaining good air quality. As San Antonio heads toward summer and has already had its first ozone alert days, air quality is an increasingly familiar topic of discussion. The public, the environmental community, businesses, and regulators need to learn more about this growing problem, so we can determine-and implement-realistic solutions. Dr. Carman has worked with many communities across Texas which have been threatened by dirty air. He has dealt with sugarcane burning, chemical company pollution, cement kilns, and the Austin tank farm. He has worked with groups from Mothers Organized to Stop Environmental Sins (MOSES) to disadvantaged communities. Loretta Van Coppenolle, with San Antonio Trees, spoke briefly about the benefits of trees in maintaining good air quality as well as the prospects for a tree ordinance in San Antonio. SAEN's quarterly (first Tuesday of June, September, December, and March) meetings are free and the public is encouraged to attend. For more information on the programs, or for information on individual and group memberships h1 SAEN, call532-2332. NPS Focus on Grasses Floyd Waller will share his knowledge of the many native grasses of the area at the June meeting of the Native Plant Society of Texas, San Antonio 01apter. You are invited to bring samples of grasses for identification to the meeting at Lion's Field Clubhouse, 2809 Broadway at Mulberry, at 7pm on June 27. For more information call Peggy McCray at 641-6543. June 1995 BIRD TALES Burning Birding Questions My parents have been feedi~tg birds all winter ill their backyard a11d have really enjoyed watchi11g their visitors. My father is housebou11d due to ill11ess so they plan to co1tti11ue feedi~tg because he e11joys the view. Recently they've bee~ disturbed by a grackle (or pair of grackles) who attacks sparrows. In the last week, my mom has found 6 dead birds and has wit11essed several other attacks. Why does this happen? Why do they always attack the same type of bird even though it's twt the most prevalent at the feeder? Is there a11y deterrent? I have a sharp-shinned hawk that eats sparrows at my feeder, and I consider myself fortunate rather than disturbed. Food webs don't end with granivores; the Tennysonian couplet about Nature being red in tooth and claw may not be appreciated in Disneyland, but it is valid. I think this is happening because the grackles are hungry. Grackles eat nestling birds; it seems from your mother's observation that adult sparrows are acceptable prey as well. I don't know why the grackles are not eating other birds; perhaps cardinals are too quick and perhaps mourning doves are too big and perhaps blue jays are too belligerent. If you really want to deter this activity, you must go to the source. To keep the grackles from killing the sparrows that eat the grain that Jack provides; get rid of Jack (or alternatively, ask Jack to stop provisioning the feeder). A raven has been vandalizi11g parked cars in a school parki11g lot in New Bru11swick, Canada; to date about 10 cars have been hit. The culprit lands on parked cars a11d rips the rubber off the windshield wipers. The vice-principal has been hit 3 times, other staff victimized at random. The school contacted the Departmeltt of Natural Resources to see if a11ythi11g could be done, but since ravens are protected, 110 action can be taken. Why would a raven do this? What can be do11e to deter it from further attacks? A latter-day Poe described a situation similar to this in Bodega Bay, California about twenty years ago. I suggest you get out of town while you still can. I really ~annat provide an ultimate cause for this behavior since you don't tell us what happens next. If the raven carries the wiper blades away, I suspect it is using them in its nest (out in the arid southwest Chihuahuan ravens typically use barbed wire in their nests). So you want to deter attacks too? (Seems this is the month to dump on the birds; but please remember, they were here first!) OK, take out the inserts in the windshield wipers and put them in the trunk of the car immediately after setting the parking brake. From the 6/95 Prairie Falco11 Northem Flint Hills AS Dave Rintoul, Editor Pesticides and Birds A recent study in the Rio Grande Valley suggested that exposure to organophosphate pesticides may be linked to decreases in the population of white-winged doves in the region. Researchers speculated that the exposure occurred when the doves drank contaminated water from irrigated cotton fields. In 1991, 71 per cent of the doves sampled showed evidence of pesticide exposure, with 21 per cent showing levels sufficient to affect behavior and/or survival. Incidence was lower in 1992, with 39 per cent of doves indicative of exposure, and 6 per cent with levels sufficient to alter behavior/survival. The researchers call for additional studies of irrigation water in cotton fields in that region. June 1995 - 011 the Wild Side, December 1994 Bulletin of the Texas Agricultural Extension Service 4 Neighbors One big problem with neighbors is something many have experienced, busybodies. For some, it's neighbors who don't like wildflowers or weeds or whatever you want to call them. But I've got a particularly aggresEive one who keeps trying to educate me on the dangers of having wasps' nest under my eaves (I have an abundance of same, thank you). How people die from stings, all that silliness. She's volunteered several times to "help me get rid of them" if "I don't have the energy. I don't want to hurt your feelings or anything, but I know you're a lot older than me, and I'd be willing to try to help." Told her she'd see how feeble I am if she makes a move toward my wasps! For a couple of years, it was like living next to a toxic waste dump, the amount of stuff they put on their lawn to keep it green. Then one day, the hubby asked me what I put on my lawn, which is as green as his (at least, when it's been raining.) Nothing, sez I, I just don't rake or bag. Leaves, grass clippings, whatever, it just gets shredded and left. Oh, sez he. Didn't quite convince him. What DID convince him was the skin rashes his Yorkies kept getting. The vet asked, do they go outsid'e much? Yeah, all the time. Well, do you use . ? Oh, sez he. And finally stopped using poison. NOW he's cdnvinced that leaves and grass clippings and . One result was a boom in the toad population. I used to see one or two around, way back in my yard under a mesquite tree, in a hole they enlarged by the railroad-tie retaining wall. Now they're in the front yard-tunneled under the driveway. Pretty big hole, but nothing to worry about. I sat out one night at dusk and saw half a dozen of the little critters coming out of the hole by the mesquite. I don't know what kind they are (the only one I can identify on sight is Bufo canadensis, from my days in Alaska) but they do their toad thing and I'm glad they're around. - Claire Dre11owatz Bexar Tracks ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES A Little Paranoia? Extreme paranoia, my old dad used to say, is the price of liberty. Vigilance is no longer enough. - Bernard Sampson in Berlin Game, by Len Deighton. JJ.Ist because you're paranoid doesn't mean they ain't out to getcha. - Folk wisdom. Maybe conspiracy theory is catching. Item: For twelve years, the Republicans ruled the White House. Which means the administrative agencies, including the EPA, USFWS, OSHA, ar\d all those agencies which have become so oppressive. Item: In 1992, the voters elected a Democrat, one with a wife who dared to show some signs of intelligence and purpose. And a running mate who made noises about being friendly to the environment, and not friendly toward extractive and grazing interests' almostfree ride on the taxpayers' nickels. Item: About a year ago, less than two years into the Democratic administration, the drumbeat starts about how oppressiv:e is our gummint. How oppressive could it have gotten, in those two years? Why didn't any of these militias feel , threatened by the same gummint during the previous twelve years? Or, put it another way, who hired the hall, hired the 'musicians, and paid the disk jockeys to get the message out? Item: The drumbeat includes cutting waste by welfare queens, the elderly, and kids. It doesn't say much about cutting waste by the timber, grazing, farming, and mining industries. Or the other sacred cow, defense. Item: Those same industries are the big contributors to the senators and reps ' who are leading the fight to kill clean air, water, ESA, etc. Question: Has anyone done a thorough job of following the money? It worked in Watergate investigations. Whynotnow? Where are Woodward and Bernstein when we need them? - Claire Drmowatz Bexar Tracks Washington Contacts , Capitol Switchboard President Bill Clinton The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Washington, DC 20500 202-456-2168 internet:president@whitehouse.gov Vice President AI Gore, Jr. The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Washington, DC 20500 202-456-6606 internet:vicepresident@whitehouse. gov Secr~tary Bruce Babbitt Department of Interior C St. between 18th S 19th, NW Washington, DC 20240 202-456-6606 All Senators S Representatives 202-224-3121 Senate Addresses United States Senate Washington, DC 205 I 0 House Addresses House of Representatives Washington, DC 205 15 Texas Senators Hon. Phil Gramm Hon. Kay Bailey Hutchison San Antonio Are.a Repres~ntatives Hon. Henry Bonilla Hon. Henry B. Gonzalez Hon. Lamar Smith Hon. Frank Tejeda When you contact national elected officials, send a copy to NAS headquarters, 950 Third Avenue, New York, NY I 0022. Let BAS know when you act on local issues. The association monitors member concern and support and reminds officials about constituents' opinions. More Rush Rction Global warming is another topic about which Rush Limbaugh attempts to mislead the readers of his books, despite the international scientific consensus on many aspects of this issue. Rush Fictio11: "A fact you never hear the environmentalist wacko crowd acknowledge is that 96% of the so-called 'greenhouse' gases are not created by man, but by nature." Scie11tijic Fact: It is true that the greenhouse effect is mostly a natural phenomenon, produced by gases and water vapor in the atmosphere, that have warmed the Earth for eons. Without these gases, Earth wou,ld be 40 to 60 degrees colder. In nature, however, these gases balance, leading to a stable climate. But the greenhouse gases added by humans over the last 200 it won't be long now it won't be long man is making deserts of the earth years have accumulated to the point that the amount of C02 in the atmosphere is now 25% above what it had been for the previous 10,000 years. The scientific consensus is that the accumulation of C02 and other manmade gases will alter the climate substantially, warming the globe by 3 to 8 degrees F. over the next century. The new EDF report, The Way Thi11gs Really Are: Debunking Rush Limbaugh 011 the E11vironment, and a highly acclaimed book, Dead Heat: The Race Against the Greenhouse Effect, by Dr. Michael Oppenheimer and Robert Boyle are available FREE to members in thanks for a special contribution of $25 to EDF. Send check payable to "EDF" to: EDF Publications, 257 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10010. ,, it won't be long now before man will have used it up so that nothing but ants and centipedes and scorpions can find a living on it. 5 DotJ Marquis what the ants are saying from archy's life of mehitabel June 1995 ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES Gingrich Going Green? ESA Today #48, Monday, May 29 A GREEN GINGRICH? Reuters reports that property rights advocates "got a boost" from Speaker Newt Gingrich's testimony before the House ESA Task Force last week, "but Gingrich insisted on the importance of preserving a broad range of species." "I have . been consistent in my support of property rights," Gingrich said. "On the other hand I have deep concem for the biological diversity of the pfanet." Gingrich said new legislation should focus not on protecting individual species but on biological systems: "We need to rethink the focus away from a species by species model to a biologically sophisticated model." Gingrich also said that somethnes commercial development should be allowed in an area if only one species is going to be affected: "There has to be some element of rationalism about economic h1vestment." ESA TODAY #49, Tuesday May 30 Gingrich to Intervene on ESA? A front page article in Sunday's Bosto11 Globe says that House Speaker Newt Gingrich's testimony before the House ESA Task Force marks his intention to intervene in the ESA debate. "Sounding more like a wildlife biologist than the leader of a conservative upheaval, the Speaker last week stood up for saving plants and annuals from exth1ction," wrote Scott Allen of the Globe. Allen says that the House ESA Task Force roadshow earlier this year laid the foundation for quick action in the House to cripple the ESA. "But last week, Gingrich urged task force members to slow down and view the hearmgs as the beginning of the debate," Allen says. "Rather than write a new bill by next month, as the panel had planned, Gh1grich called for a meeth1g of hlterested parties during the August recess to work out changes in the law." Committee markup of an ESA bill is still scheduled for June 28. ESA Today #50, Wednesday May 31 Sounds More Like It A letter-to-the-editor in today' s Bosto11 Globe questions the idea that House Speaker Newt Gingrich's involvement with the ESA will be a plus for the environment. "Gingrich has repeatedly declared himself a friend of the environment, even as he works with polluters to make it hnpossible to enforce laws that prevent environmental assault," writes John Andrews of Lexh1gton, MA. Andrews cited the "salvage loggh1g" rider passed by the House that would suspend the ESA and other environmental laws for federal thuber sales. From the E11da11gered Species Coalitio11 For more i11[o call (202)547-9009 Lost Jobs: Nothing To Do with Being Green As the battle between jobs and the environment rages, . one economist says . call a truce. Eban S. Goodstein of . Economic Policy Institute iil Washh1gton, DC, recently published his study tracking the number of jobs lost because of environmental legislation. Ush1g Departtnent of Labor statistics from 1987 through 1990, Goodstein found that an average of only 0.1 per cent of all larger-scale layoffs nationwide were the result of environmental regulations, accordh1g to the employ- -ers' own estimates. Changes in a com- June 1995 pany's ownership, in contrast, accounted for ahuost 35 times the number of jobs being termh1ated. The top six causes for loss of jobs, by percentage: Seasonal work 29.5 Falling product demand 20.5 Other (incl. reorganization) 12.5 Contract completion 8.0 Business ownership change 4.5 Bankruptcy 4.0 - Sasha Nemecek Scie~ttific America11, June 1995 6 MARI4.P OF SLACl: GOOO'f ESA EXlltCll~ACfiS OClBUEDTOSTARf~ Jl.J'E24.1f YOJOOI'OlllltG asE THIS YEAR. CA.L Y<LR ~AllVESJWTB.L THEft'\ YOJ tofT v.mf Jtff REtu:n~ IN THE PROlEC110'60F THE EI'VJI'Gm)SPEOES ACf. Family Planning Attacked On Tuesday, May 24, the House began consideration of another deceptively- named bill, HR 1561, the American Overseas Interest Act of 1995. This bill would reduce authorized funding levels for intemational family plannh1g and development aid by more than 30 percent. Development assistance suffered a 20% cut last year. Additional cuts would devastate efforts to stabilize world population and protect the environment worldwide. HR 1561 would also elhnh1ate the US Agency for h1temational Development, which administers U.S. development assistance. Programs such as family planning, sustainable agriculture and natural resource management would be transferred to tl1e State Department, which is ill-equipped to manage them and lacks the teclmical expertise which has made US AID so effective. Activists should call their Representatives and URGE THEM TO OPPOSE HR 1561. Remind them that cutting preventative programs is pennywise and pound foolish-reducing the federal budget by less than V10 of a percent while paving tl1e way for expensive disasters in the future. It is expected that durh1g the debate, amendments to restrict intemational family planning programs will be offered. Urge your Representative to vote against these amendments as well. - Lismme Nelso11 NAS Govemme11t Affairs Office Bexar Tracks ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES With the 25th Anniversary of Earth Day just past, it is critical to remember something that our elected representatives in Washington seem to have forgotten: Every American has the right to a safe and healthy environment. But this right is threatened by those we have elected to serve us, and the special interests who shovel dollars into their campaign coffers, and write bills that would take away our right to clean air, safe water, and thriving wilderness. Since Earth Day 1970, we have woven an environmental safety net to protect us from smog, acid rain, toxic emissions, water pollution and other poisons that threaten health and safety. This safety net has improved our lives. Our air is cleaner. Rivers no longer catch fire. The bald eagle has returned. Act Now! As Obie Wan Kanobi said to Luke Skywalker "Let the Force Be With You." This force is within you now, but you have to use it. You must make the politicians-our employees-hear the noise and feel the heat. There are many ways to do this. 1) Sign the Environmental Bill of Rights petition. We'll have a copy of it at the next BAS meeting. 2) Get your friends and family to sign it, too. 3) Call your Senators and Representatives to tell them to vote against the regulatory refonn bills and other efforts to chain saw environmental laws. Call them at 202-224-3121, and ask for them by name. 4) Call President Clinton and urge him to make good on his promise to veto the logging-without-laws bill that puts timber companies above the law. 5) Educate your neighbors by writing to your local newspaper to oppose efforts to tatter the environmental safety net. Write about the threat to a favorite stream, or forest, or park. The Beastie Boys once sang "You Cotta Fight For Your Right To Party." They were right. You gotta fight for your right to breathe clean air, drink safe water, and walk in uncontaminated fields." Unless we fight back in our comm unities, churches and synagogues, public streets, and newspapers, we will lose our right to a clean, safe environment. So promise yourself this. You will help unleash the public .roar that will drown out the polluters' dirty money, and stop these efforts to poison our But now the special interests want home in the name of corporate greed. to shred the environmental safety net, and gut the gains of the last 25 years. Their latest weapon is jargon and Another Underhanded Move techno-babble to disguise their sneak State officials met with agriculture attack on the environment. and timber interests critical of the ESA • They weaken the Clean Air Act by to devise proposals for changing it, but putting it in a "rescissions package." environmental groups were not invited. • They stop future controls on acid Environmental leaders, who rain by calling for "risk assessment." learned recently about the talks, are un- • They prevent reductions in mer- happy about being excluded from the cury, lead, and benzene by calling "ESA Reauthorization Working Group" for" cost-benefit" analysis. and many of its draft recommendations. • They stop wetlands protection in Private groups engaged in the talks legi~lation called "takings." ' . include Texas Farm Bureau; Champion They are using words as a smoke . International, a timber company; Texas screen to hide their efforts to rip apart Logging Council; Texas Wildlife Assn., the environmental safety net. representing major landowners; Texas The new congressional leadership & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Assn; and their special interest allies from and Texas Sheep and Goat Raisers. Exxon, General Motors, and the Chemi- Larry McKinney, resource proteccal Manufacturers Association are tion director for TPWD, said the draft spending millions of dollars to shred the recommendations embody "middle-ofenvironmental safety net. the-road, common-sense" reforms, be- They have a lot of money in this , cause "ESA is not working in Texas." fight. Fortunately, we have the best peo- But Scott Royder, the Lone Star Si-ple money CAN'T buy: YOU! erra Club's state conservation director, For all their millions of dollars of called the discussions "a sham." Recomfalse advertising and campaign contri- mendations produced so far would butions, their efforts can wither before "gut" the law, which most Texans supthe force of public opinion. But our port, according to polls, he said . elected officials must feel the full gale An official of the wildlife agency force of your voices before they have the said a superior told staff scientists that courage to ignore big polluters. environmentalists have been excluded Bexar Tracks 7 because they" compromised their credibility with the department." Staff experts on endangered species, who have not been involved in the talks, also were discouraged from making written comments on the proposals. Mike McMurry, an Agriculture Dept. official, said the talks were "not meant to exclude anyone" or "disembowel the act," but to "create more comfort level for landowners to get them more cooperative." Bob Currie, of the Texas Logging Council, said he successfully objected to having environmentalists, because they have "created problems" for landowners and businesses and should not "dictate the solution." The day after the Chro11icle asked TPWD officials about the talks, they sent the proposals to three environmental groups-Sierra Club, National Audubon Society and Texas Nature Conservancy-for written comments. Dede Armentrout, NAS regional vice president, said a TPWD official told her it was unlikely that environmentalists' comments would alter the proposals significantly. - From an article by Bill Dawson Housto11 Chro11icle 5/3/95 June 1995 SPRING/SUMMER PlANNING CALENDAR * Bexar Audubon Event 24 Honey Creek SNA. 9-1 I am. Eth- § More Information Inside nobotany walk along Honey Creek TCP Texas Conservation Passport or fee Canyon. 210-935-4012 voicemail. 24 Honey Creek SNA. 1-3 pm. Hydrol- JUNE ogy of Guadalupe River G Snorkeling. 10 Honey Creek SNA, 9-1 I am. Lower Begin with a discussion of hydrology Edwards Plateau ecosystem walk and jump in for hands-on experience. along Honey Creek Canyon. Bring bathing suit G mask for great 10 Guadalupe River SP Amphitheater, 7- wet activity. 8 pm. Herbal medicine, folk cures, 27§ Native Plant Society of Texas. Native and curanderos. Cindi Gonzales, Texas Grasses. See Inside. UTSA-ITC. 10 Second Saturday, Friedrich Park. Ori- JULY enteerin,-learn the basics of orien- I Honey Creek SNA. 9-1 I am. Lower teering learn to use a compass. Edwards Plateau ecosystem walk. Work with a real surveyor. Free, 698- Guadalupe River SP amphitheater, 7 · I 05 7 for reservations. 8pm. The Snake Lady, Diane Surick, 10 Second Saturday Beginners Bird will introduce snakes to the audience. Walk, SA Audubon, Judson Nature 8 Honey Creek SNA 9-1 I am. Beetles Trails, next to Alamo Heights pool. and Other Insects. walk along Honey Free, open to all. 8-11. Georgina Schwartz, 34 2-207 3 for more info. Creek Canyon with Dan Sunburg, the Bug Man. 15 BAS General Meeting, Ruble Center. 13* BAS Board Meeting. 17§* BAS Outing to Colorado Bend State 15 Honey Creek SNA, 9-1 I am. Chil- Park. See front page. dren's nature walk. 17 Honey Creek SNA, 9-11 am. Chil- 15 Guadalupe River SP Amphitheater, 2- dren's nature walk, with emphasis on 4 pm. Woody plant identification. $6 flowers and insects along the way. fee and reservations required 2 I 0- Wade in creek for collection and 935-4012. Identify common woody study of aquatic insects. plants using an easy key that you 17 New Braunfels Old Town Cemetery, will keep. 2:30pm. Necrogeogrthhy: rjlional- 20* BAS General MeetinJ.' ity of burial practices. e tra itional 22 Honey Creek SNA, -II :30 am. Pre-cemeteries of Texas provide one of historic Cultures of Central Texas. Ar-the best insights into the cultural di- chaeologist Herb Uecker will lead versity of the state. trail walk and discuss prehistoric peo- 17 SE New Mexico AS. Tour of pro- pies, culture, and resources used. ~osed Fort Stanton Area of Critical 29 Honey Creek SNA. 9-1 I am. Eth-nvironmental Concern. Dotti Russell nobotany walk. at 505-622-2354 for info. 29 Honey Creek SNA, 2-4 pm. Woody 24 Houston Audubon Society, first an- plant ID, same as 7/15. nual Brazos Bend 4th of July Butter-fly Count. P.D. Hulce at 713-863- 1142 for info. OFFICERS AND BOARD Susan K. Hughes President 532-2332; fax 532-2023 Bexar Audubon Society, Inc. Harriet Wiygul Vice President 534-7505 P. 0. Box 6084 Bill Sain Treasurer 408-7731 Anita l. Reeves Secretary 308-9254 Walter Barfield Board Member 736.0355 Claire Drenowatz Board Member 5994168 Jim Garriott Board Member 695-9520 Patty leslie Pasztor Board Member 824-1235 Katie Nava-Ragazzi Board Member 804-1226 Richard Pipes Board Member 2 81-2452 Bill Woller Board Member 696-31 86 COMMITTEE CHAIRS Birdathon Conservation Education Hospitality Membership Outings Programs Publicity Ways S Means Bexar Tracks Editor Marge lumpe Richard Pipes Betty Minyard Harriet Wiygul Dan S Kristy Davis Patty leslie Pasztor Chris Dullnig Susan K. Hughes Bill Sain 545-1822 281-2452 344-6128 534-7505 609-5678 824-1235 8284017 532-2332 408-7731 Claire Drenowatz 5994168; fax599-3545 CompuServe 73232,506 San Antonio, TX 78209 Address Correction Requested AUGUST 5812 Honey Creek SNA, 9-1 I . Lower Ed- 19 wards Plateau ecosystem walk. SE New Mexico AS. Trip to the Lin-coin National Forest to view moun-tain wildflowers. Dotti Russell at 505-622-2354 for info. ONGOING ACTIVITIES Bexar Audubon Society general meetings are held on 3rd Thursdays at 7:30pm, at the Ruble Center, 4 I 9 East Magnolia. BAS board meet-ings are generally held on 2nd Thursdays at 7:00. Outings are ua~ally the Saturday follow-ing general meetings. lntroductoi'!J memberships to NAS, including Audubon Magazine. cost only $20. Great gift. Send check to BAS (payable to NAS) at P. 0. below. Note chapter code W 19, and name address, and phone number of new member. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department offers many nature activities for annual Texas Con-servation Passport Holders ($25 per year). Call for event listings: 800-9 3 7-9 3 9 3. National Audubon Society's Actionline 800- 659-2622. Other conservation organizations: please add Bexar Audubon to your mailing list if we're not already on it, and we'll be glad to include your events in our calendar each month. We welcome submissions for Bexar Tracks. Next paper deadline 5/20, electronic deadline 5/26 (see article inside). 0 Printed on acid-free, 50% post-consumer waste paper. Non-profit Orgmization U. S. Post"'!e Paid San Antonio, TX Permit #5 90
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