Bexar tracks : the newsletter of the Bexar Audubon Society, Vol. 13, No. 01

• Main Author: Bexar Audubon Society
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: San Antonio, Tex. : Bexar Audubon Society, 1995
• Subjects: Birds > Conservation > Texas > Periodicals.; Ornithology > Texas > Periodicals.; Nature conservation > Texas > Periodicals; Clubs and Organizations; Science and Technology; Archer; Arctic; Austin; Blair; Bonaparte; Douglass; Edith; Eubanks; Finn; Heer; Kathleen; Kay; Kum; Lanning; Laurie; Myers; North Star; Reeves; Saunders; Schumann; Sommers; South Pole; Tive; peregrine falcon; South pole
• Online Access: http://digital.utsa.edu/cdm/ref/collection/p15125coll10/id/7969

Bexar Tracks began with Vol. 4, no. 1 (January 1986). It continues Newsletter (Bexar Audubon Society). I ' l l Inside Tracks Beneath the Gavel . 2,3 Local News . 4,5 Environmental Issues . 6-9 Bird Tales . 10,11 Calendar . 12 January Outing Here are the details on our date with John J. Audubon in Houston, the weekend ofJanuary 21 and 22. Saturday, ]attuary 21 1:00/2:30 Houston Zoo, to learn about the Attwater Prairie . Chicken captive breeding program. ::\:00/5:00 JohnJ Audubon watercolor exhibit at the Houston Mu­seum of Fine Arts. 7:00/9:00 BBQ at Houston Audubon Edith Moore Sanctuary. Sunday, ]a11uary 22 7:00 am Edith Moore Sanctuary for continental breakfast, walk trails. 8:00am Guided tour of Katy Prai­rie, home to thousands of wintering geese and ducks. Noonish Head home or Houston ac­tivities on your own Package price $30 for Audubon members, $35 non. Includes a $12 dona­tion to the 501(c)3 Audubon Foundation of Texas. Call Bill Sain at 408-7731 to sign up, for information on hotels (the hotel res­ervations and bill are your responsibil­ity), and for car-pool and/or bus infor­mation. BEXAR AUDUBON SOCIElY CHAPTER OF THE NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY 210-822-4503 The Chapter's primary goals are to promote species and habitat conservation, and environmental education in the community. Volume XIII, No. 1 january 1995 Balancing the Equation In light of the dangers posed by the incoming Congress and the Texas Legis­lature to the gains in environmental protection over the last two decades, the first few months of this year are crucial if we are to mitigate the damage. It is becoming increasingly apparent that the ability to mediate polarized communities is a role Bexar Audubon Society can effectively fill. BAS has the means to find solutions to these problems that affect all of us regardless of our environment: city, suburban, farms and ranches, or city, state and national parks. Over the next several meetings we will try to establish an understat~ding that the law of conservation of matter and energy is a very broad sweeping Ia w of nature which cannot be violated. · What we displace or change on one side of an equation begets a consequence on the other side. It behooves us to understand the consequences of any ac­tions- societal, physical and biological. These three areas are so tied together that it is almost impossible to change one and not change the others. With thes,e ideas in mind, the programs starting January '95 will focus aware­ness on our actions as stewards of this planet, in solving the problems we face in balancing the environmental equation. january 19 Meetittg: Dr. Woody Saunders, Trinity University Urban Studies Department, will present a program that looks at the environmental and cultural forces influencing infrastructure development. This is especially relevant with the apparent (at this writing) breakdown of the pact to protect the aquifer. 1995 Electio11: Also at this meeting, we will elect our officers and at-large board members for 1995. The slate proposed by the nomination committee, along with biographical infonnation and a mail-in ballot, can be found on page 5. Meeting Specifics: Monthly meeting of Bexar Audubon Society, Thursday, January 19, 1995. Refreshments will be available at 7:00pm. Come early to socialize. Free and open to the public. Call822-4503 for more information. Location: Ruble Center, 419 East Magnolia Street, San Antonio. Nearest free­way exit is North St. Mary's, off High-way281. Public Tra11sportation: VIA Route 5 (St. Mary's-McCullough-North Star Mall) to Magnolia Street. February 17 Meeting: Peggy Prather.of Holistic Resource Manage­ment of Texas, Inc. will 'lead us through an understanding of the so­cial, cultural, biological and physical forces involved to bring together the producers (owners) of the land with the equations of the environment. I I I I I I I I I I I I I II I I II I II I I I II I II I I I II I I II II II I I Ill II I I I I I Ill I I I I I It's 1995! New year, new challenges, new frustrations, new friends and col­leagues, renewed alliances, new suc­cesses to celebrate, new commitments to the future. One again the topic for this letter has been chosen with difficulty. As I enjoyed the South Texas luxury of sit­ting on my back porch watching birds at the feeder and soaking up some win­ter sun the day after Chrishnas, I mulled over the changes h1 government and the challenges fach1g us next year, both here in Texas and in Washington. Some say we risk losing the grom~d won in twenty years of concentrated effort to put environmental regulations and protections in place to conserve the elements of our natural world for future generations and ourselves to appreciate and enjoy. Think Locally Stop with me for a moment. Look around you. • Listen to the birds; think about those here as migrants for the win-ter or en route elsewhere. · • Look at the city skyline. Is there a brown smudge on the horizon? • Turn on your tap and appreciate the dear, clean water we still enjoy. • Think about the amom1t of pesti­cides on your food today, and what it could be. And if there had been no reform, how a silent spring could have become a death knell for us all. Follow the Threads Spend an hour thinking about everything you have, everything you do, a·nd everything you enjoy and ap­preciate that you have-or have access to-in its present quality or quantity, directly because somebody cared enough to sound the alarm and do something to keep someone else from destroying or degrading it. Ask yourself how much conserva­tion or protection would have occurred were people simply encouraged to "do the right thing." Am I cynical? Perhaps. But some­times the average citizen or the average businessperson has no idea (as hard as this may be to imagine) of the impact of January 1995 BENEATH THE GAVEL his or her behavior on the environment or upon the rights of other citizens until somebody points it out. Then the choice to observe others' rightS is weighed against personal bene­fit. Do you have faith that most people will consistently and reliably choose their neighbor's health and safety over their own profit or convenience? Examine other countries and other cultures. What have been the results of their choices on environmental is­sues- good and bad? Evaluate the Arguments There are people in positions of power today who have the pote11tial to make significant changes that affect our lives, If we care about our future, how­ever, and the integrity of our ecosys­tems, we can, we must, and we will challenge them. Do you believe, as Congressman Henry Bonilla says he does, that the Endangered Species Act endangers hu­man beings? Do you believe that human beings are in danger of extinction? If they are, is it because of habitat destruction re­sulting from other species' successes? Or is it because we humans are rac­ing headlong toward an uncertain fu­ture, all the while fouling our own nests? Is the danger to the pocket books of the few, or the long-term health and welfare of the many? Quick Action Anticipated Accordh1g to Liz Raisbeck, VP in the NAS DC office, via an e-mail on 12/27, the word is that there will be quick ac­tion in Washington on a number of items: A budget rescission (read: repeal) bill. This could have devastating impact on programs we care about. It could contain a provision for no funds for un­authorized programs, such as the ESA, SuperFund, Clean Water Act, etc. Unfunded mandates bill. This is a top priority in both houses. The goal is to have it done by the end of January. Very difficult to stop, but NAS will lobby for a process bill, not a bill that actually requires "no money, no man­date." Rather it should require a cost l analysis and verification that it will not put an m1due burden on state or local governments. Also, it absolutely should not apply to the private sector, as some are pro­posing, and it must not be a vehicle to let the states off the hook on polluth1g. They must be subject to the "polluter pays" principle. The Administration is rewriting its FY '96 budget to include major reduc­tions h1 programs. What programs will the reductions affect? We don't know yet, but the subcommittee chair for In­terior Appropriations has been told his allocation will be reduced by $1 billion. - The Contract with America legisla­tion will be split up and sent to various committees. There is still negotiation over that. Judiciary and Government Operations will probably be very im­portant to environmental issues. Our concern is that the "Contract" not be allowed to undo twenty years of efforts for environmental protection in the U.S. Whaf s in Store? I have heard interesting reports from Washh1gton. Bonilla is reported to be chosen by the Republican leadership to spearhead a campaign to weaken the protections of the Endangered Species Act. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison is said to co-chair an effort to reduce regu­latory burdens. Other Texans-Phil Gramm, Dick Armey, Bill Archer, and Tom De­Lay- none of whom are noted for their environmental stewardship, are also h1 key positions in this Congress. Contract Violations What does NAS see as some of the elements and potential impacts of the Contract? Parts of it are a war against the en­vironment cleverly cloaked h1 happy platitudes. Rather than protecting the public, these elements will create a huge financial burden wrapped in red tape. Eliminating unfunded mandates means every state and local govern­ment that pollutes would not have to comply with our federal laws m1less the government paid 100 percent of the Bexar Tracks BENEATH THE GAVEL, continued cost. (And how do you measure exactly where those costs begin and end? Let your imagination wander. You'll be sur­prised.) Taxpayers would have to generate billions of dollars to pay both state and local governments and property own­, ers for obeying the law. The administra­tive burden would make it prohibitive to govern. Protecting wildlife, air, water, health, and public safety could be entirely out of the question. It would reverse the principle that the polluter pays. In this cynical new twist, unless the government pays pol­luters not to pollute, they can claim a "taking" of their private property. Winners and Losers Who benefits from the Contract? We understand that Title IX would cre­ate a massive new entitlement program for land developers and resource indus­tries. Powerful special interests who want to eliminate the barriers of envi­ronmental regulation would benefit. Several titles require elaborate gov­ernment analysis of the cost of regula­tion, and analysis of the effect of every regulation on property values, as well as an analysis of the cost of every regula­tion to a state or local government. In addition it would require the government to pay anyone whose property values are diminished by 10 percent or more by a government regu­lation. · This would include developers and · resource industries, yes-but could also include the property owner next door, who is now restricted from engaging in activities on his or her property that could negatively impact your life and your own investment. Who will be hurt? Children, the eld­erly, and those most vulnerable to pol­lution- caused illnesses, as well as the nation's wildlife and the habitat it de­pends upon. As alluded to above, millions of homeowners will have no recourse against the dangerous activities of their neighbors when the prohibition of un­funded mandates means the federal government cannot require states ana local govenunents to implement envi- Bexar Tracks ronmental standards, and the takings provisions require governments to pay property owners for obeying the law. What Must We Do? We ca1mot let our elected officials believe that we do not care or that we do not understand these implications. We have looked beyond the surface of these proposals. So, what must we do? The following recommendations are based on Raisbeck's communication: • Demand that the Clinton Admini­stration- the White House in par­ticular- defend the environment. • Lobby your senators and repre­sentative (yes, I know. we have Gramm and Hutchison, but they must know that they have a con­stituency that cares deeply about the environment) to think about what our country would be like to­day if the legislation and regulation they seek to unravel had not been in place over the past twenty years. It hasn't been perfect, b\[t there have been results that have meant positive protection for species, for ecosystems, and for air and water, health and safety. • Look closely and intelligently at propositions of the Contract andre­lated legislative initiatives. Study the financial and bureaucratic im­pacts of these initiatives. Dig below the surface and determine the long­term and residual impacts of.these proposals. • Let local media know of your con­cerns. Ask whether cutting govern­ment waste should not include cut­tingsubsidies to miners in the West, grazing on public lands, water de­velopment projects that also de­stroy the environment, subsidies to farmers to mine the land, sugar sub­sidies, fuel subsidies, and tax poli­cies that encourage the destruction of natural resources-to name a few. Act Wherever You Reasonably Can & Encourage Community It will not be easy to stem the cur­rent tide. Indeed, I believe that some of the most important work over the next several years will, of necessity, be done at the grassroots level in our own com­munities. We will be well served by spending effort here at home to demonstrate clearly that we care deeply about our environment and are willing not only to look to Washington or Austin.:lo )do something about it, but to invest our own sweat and elbow grease, our own creativity, and our own resources to im­proving and conserving our natural bounty. (That's one of the most wonderful things about our "Natural Initiatives" habitat project! It accomplishes exactly this result.) The Important Thing to Remember Remember why it matters. Ask what the results may be if you do noth­ing, then make that phone call, write that letter, and talk to your friends. Write to your Senators (Gramm and Hutchison) at: The Honorable __ , U.S. Senate, Washington, DC 20510, to your Congressman at: The Honorable __ , U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC 20515, or call any of them at the U.S. Capi­tol Switchboard at [phone]. To write the President, address your letter to The Honorable Leon Panetta, Chief of Staff to the President, First Floor, West Wing, Executive Office of the President, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20500 Have a positive, fulfilling, whole­some, and balanced 1995. Rejoice in na­ture. Reinforce your· commihnent to a future of sharing the earth, for in this is love and health and life. - Susa11 Hughes It would reverse the principle that the polluter pays. In this cynical new twist, unless the government pays polluters not to pollute, they can claim a "tak­ing" of their private property. January 1995 Wildscape Gasses Texas Parks & Wildlife Department wants to offer opportunities to the pub­lic to learn more about wildscaping. Through their Urban Fish & Wild­life Program they are offering classes, through local school districts, on wildscaping and the critters it attracts. Some of the courses will be free, while others may have $2.00 fee to cover lSD costs associated with them. Almost all of the classes require reg­istration by the end ofJanuary, so don't delay. Call the schools for registration information. Here's a list: Northside ISD 522-8100 2/08 Wildscaping: The Basics 2/14 Bird Watching: Beginners 2/18 A Focus on Native Plants 3/08 Wildscaping: The Basics 3/18 Nestbox Design & Placement 4/05 Wildscaping: The Basics 4/13 Hummingbirds & Butterflies 5/03 Wildscaping: The Basics 5/09 Water & Pond Building South Salt A11to11io ISD 927-1160 2/21 Nestbox Design & Placement 3/14 A Focus on Native Plants 4/18 Wildscaping: The Basics 4/27 Water & Pond Building 5/16 Wildscaping: The Basics South West ISD 622-9908 3/28 Wildscaping: The Basics . Questions? Call Judit Gowen, TPWD Urban Biologist, 349-2174. Earth Day Calendar The San Antonio Earth Day Com­mittee has announced that attractive 1995 Earth Day Calendars can be pur­chased at the Witte Museum, the McNay Art Museum, Bookstop, Body Shop, Kathleen Sommers, Booksmiths, The Twig, and Whole Foods Market. The cost is $12.95. A portion of tl1e proceeds will benefit both Earth Day USA and the local Earth Day Celebra­tion (of which Bexar Audubon Society is a primary sponsor). January 1995 LOCAL NEWS Bike Trail Meeting Twenty years from now, what will our community be like for bicycling? Why isn't San Antonio more bike­friendly today? How can the Bicycle Mobility Plan make our town a great place for cyclists? The last public meeting for com­ments on the San Antonio/Bexar County Bicycle Mobility Plan will be held by the Metropolitan Planning Or­ganization on Tuesday, January 10, 1995, at 7pm, in the River Room, Valero Energy Building, 530 McCullough. CPB/NPR on Hit list High on the cut list of the 104th Congress are public TV and radio. Not content to target funding in future budgets, Newt's hatchetmen have promised to cut funding already ap­proved for this year. Considering the minimal amount of money involved, one has to suspect a vendetta. If you like KSTX and KPAC, your public radio stations, or KLRN, your public television station, call or write your Senators and Representatives (see Susan Hughes' article on page 3 for ad­dresses and phone numbers). BAS Video Library BAS maintains a library of video tapes (VHS) for loan to members, teach­ers, and community groups. We've added 20 or more titles this year, includ­ing National Geographic and World of Audubon programs. For a list of videos, or to arrange to borrow one, contact Betty Minyard, Education chair, at 344-6128. (PS: If you have borrowed one of our video tapes and failed to return it, what better time than now?) 4 I 04th Congress Directories of the 104th Congress, complete with photos (wow!), ad­dresses and phone numbers, names of key aides, committee assignments, etc., will be available to us for $10 each early in 1995. It will be a valuable aid in our letter­writing efforts throughout the year. If you'd like one, call Susan Hughes (532-2332) by January 20. Thanks Special thanks this month to Bill Sain, Walter Barfield, Anita Reeves, Claire Drenowatz, Tatjana Terauds, and Susan Hughes for their labeling and col­lating efforts in getting the December newsletter mailed. Bexar Tracks is mailed to more than 1,400 members each month, and this group of volunteers transfonned a task of several hours into two delightful hours of conversation and laughter and got the newsletter ready for mailing in the process. If you are interested in joining a convivial group for conversation, laughter, plus an introduction to the mysteries of bulk mailing, oill Harriet Wiygul. New faces are always welcome. Thanks also to Dan Davis, whom we don't mention nearly often enough, for managing a large mailing list (some­times with the additional complication of confusing information from NAS's contract data service) and getting the labels to us in time; and to Kristy Davjs, who makes sure they get from New Braunfels to San Antonio. And finally, thanks to those who contributed to the success of the holiday slide show and eating extravaganza. The slides were a special treat, rang­ing from Trinidad's exotic birds to na­tive plants to spectacular shots of cranes in flight to astonishing views of autum­nal Alaskan skies. The food was delicious and rich, just what you would expect from a bunch of decadent Americans. Thanks to all who contributed tasty treats. -Harriet Wiygul Bexar Tracks Cranefest 19 5 Recognized naturalist John Karges will be a featured guest during Big Spring's Third Annual Cranefest, scheduled for February 3 and 4. A presentation by West Texas bird­ing experts will be provided at the bail­quet on Friday night. Saturday you can take guided birdwatching tours of Big Spring State Park, Comanche Trail Park, and surrounding areas. There will be a program by Last . Chance Forever, the Birds of Prey Con­servancy of San Antonio. They special­ize in rehabilitating sick or il-l jured birds of prey and returning them to the wild. They will bring hawks, owls, falcons, eagles, and vultures (a couple species of each) and allow them to fly. For more information, contact the Big Spring Chamber of Commerce at 915-263-7641 or Pat Simmons, Event Co- · ordinator, at 915-263-4607. CON CAUSA On December 10, the United States signed a joh1t agreement with seven Central American counties (Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Belize), which establishes a fra1~nework to ad­dress environmental issues. Called CONCA USA, the agreement calls for cooperative actions aimed withh1 Central America to conserve and use sustah1ably Central America's biodi­versity. CONCAUSA's progress will be monitored annually. - E11viromrnmtal Policy Update (Compiled from the Daily E11viro11me11t Report, Bureau of · Natio11al Affairs, Washi11gtm!, DC) Bexar T n1cks . LOCAL NEWS A Note from a Friend Well, we had an air hwersion last week. Not a cloud in the sky, but you couldn't see the mountains. And what was the topic on the local radio talk show? "The nasty EPA wants us to -spend our good money on tests we don't need because there is nothing wrong with our air. Those idiots in Wasl~ngton don't know anything." Meanwhile, we have one of the highest incidents of cancer in the country. And , asthma is _extremely common. Ask anyone in Blair County, Pa., if he or she had a sums h1fection or bronchitis last winter. Most will answer yes. But that's nonnal. Never mind that a $25 test of car emissions is cheaper than one visit to the doctor. -Paula Ford 12/26/94 · Addenda from ye ed: Chicago also had a serious air inversion, carbon inonoxide detectors were goh1g off all over town, thousands of them, and people were calling the fire deparhnent, which, of course, was going nuts. So the officialdom issued a plea not to call the fire deparhnent about carbon monoxide. And they castigated the makers of the most popular CO detector because, "they were too sensitive." That's right, blame the canary. ·Bexar Audubon Election lime Below is the slate of officers pre­sented by the BAS Nomiitating Com­mittee. The election will occur at the BAS General Meeting, Thursday, Janu-. ary 19, at 7:30 pm. Please be there to make your interest~ and teoncerns known, and to take an active role in the future of BAS. If you cannot attend the meeting, but wish to vote by mail ballo~, please mark and cut out the ballot' and mail it in time to be received by January 18. You are encouraged to write h1 your own candidates for any position. Write­in candidates must be current members of BAS. Ballots with write-ins must be accompanied by a statement signed by the candidate indicating willingness to serve if elected. Your name and address as it ap­pears on your newsletter label must be clearly marked on the outside of your mailing envelope in order to validate your vote. However, to protect your pri­vacy, it does not have to appear on the ballot itself. If you wish, you may en­close your ballot Jn another envelope inside your mailing envelope. (Editor's note: My apologies to the can­didates I hounded for their bios, and who turned them in. Since I did not receive all of them, 1 felt it best not to print any. ) Mail Ballot to: BAS Teller, PO Box 6084, San Antonio, TX 78209 President < Vice President Secretary Treasurer Board Member Board Member Board Member Board Member 5 Circle proposed candidates or write in y011r own: Susan Hughes (write in) --- , --- ­Harriet Wiygul (write in) --- ' --- '' --- ­Anita Reeves (write in) --- ­Bill Sain (write iJ1) --- ­Patty L. Pasztor (write in) --- ­Richard L. Pipes (write in)---' --- ' --- ­Bill Woller (write in) --- ,--­Claire Drenowatz (write in) January 1995 "Contract with America" Takings Provision Threatens Taxpayers, Homeowners, and Public Safety and Health In September, Republican repre­sentatives and candidates led by Newt Gingrich (R-GA) issued the Contract with America, a 10-point program out­lining their goals for the 104th Congress. One element of, this program, the deceptively-titled "Job Creation and Wage Enhancement Act," includes a proposal-Title IX. Private Property Rights Protections and Compensa­tion- which would radically redefine traditional American property rights. Leaders of the 104th Congress have vowed to have a vote on this and other elements of the Contract within 100 days of the opening day of the new Congress on January 4th. Title IX is a budget ,buster which would add tens-if not hundreds-of billions of dollars in expenses to the fed­eral budget. Title IX would create a massive new entitlement program for the benefit of big business interests, at the expense of the average Americans, including the 65 million homeowners whose property values would go down, and whose taxes would go up, if it were adopted. Title IX would destroy well-estab­lished, widely-supported public health, safety, and environmental protections that benefit all Americans, and would cause serious new health and environ­mental problems for millions of citizens. The Proposed Bill Title IX would grant some property owners the right to public payments" for . this type of legislation would "write into law the dubious prin­ciple that the government must pay polluters not to pollute, pay property owners not to harm their neighbors or the public, and pqy companies not to dam-age the health, safety, or welfare of others." January 1995 ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES any reduction in the value of property" arising from a limitation on an other­wise lawful use of property which is "measurable but not negligible." The bill defines any "reduction" in value of 10 percent or more as "not negligible." Stated differently, the bill would re­quire taxpayers to pay whenever a public health or safety law meant that a com­pany's profits would be 10 percent less than they would be if the company could simply ignore the law. The proposed bill would allow a property owner to file an administrative claim for payment from the federal gov­ernment. If a property owner rejected a federal agency's offer of payment, he could demand binding arbitration. In addition, upon receipt of a re­quest for payment, an agency would be required to suspend its regulatory ac­tion. In other words, for the cost of 29- cent stamp, any company or individual that objected to a regulation could block its enforcement by filing a claim under tl1e Act. Analysis !itle IX represents a radical depar­ture from the compensation standard for actual "takings" of private property under the Fifth Amendment to the Con­stitution. The Fiftl1 Amendment guar­antees that private property shall not be "taken" for public use without "just compensation." The courts have ruled that a "tak­ing'' claim must be decided based on a careful evaluation of a regulation's eco­nomic impact on the property owner, the character of the regulation, the owner's reasonable expectations at time of purchase, and whether the regula­tion helps protect neighboring property owners and the community as a whole. Under these standards, even some regulations witl1 modest economic ef­fects can result in a constitutional tak­ing; on the other hand, very stringent restrictions will not result in a taking if the regulation protects other important private or public values. In contrast to the careful, balanced analysis required under the Constitu­tion, Title IX would focus solely on the 6 regulation's economic impact and re­quire the public to pay in a great many circumstances when no "just compen­sation" is due under the Constitution. On its face, Title IX would impose an enormous new burden on the fed­eral taxpayer. Businesses subject to pub­lic regulation would receive a massive windfall at the expense of every other American. The Congressional Budget Office estimated that a "property rights" bill defeated in the last Congress-which would have redefined property inter­ests regulated under the Clean Water Act-would have cost upwards of $10 billion. Conservatively, it is fair to con­clude that the Contract bill would im­pose hundreds of billions of new costs on Federal taxpayers. Title IX is based on the extreme phi­losophy that citizens and their elected representatives have no role in regulat­ing private property to protect neigh­boring property owners, the conunu­nity, the natural environment, or future generations. As a group of State Attorneys Gen­eral recently wrote in a letter to Con­gress, this type of legislation would "write into law the dubious principle that the govemmentmustpaypolluters not to pollute, pay property owners not to harm their neighbors or the public, and pay companies not to damage the health, safety, or welfare of others." Contrary to the label attached to it, tl1is bill would actually undermine the property rights of most Americans. Zoning laws, environmental regula­tions, and restrictions on the siting of new industry protect the property val­ues of the 65 million American home­owners. The value of a family's home is largely dependent on the health and attractiveness of the surrounding com­munity. If the enforcement of basic laws that homeowners rely on to protect their property values were saddled with enormous new costs, homeowners would see property values go down. By contrast, the handful of wealthy corporations and individuals who own - cotttittued next page Bexar Tracks the bill would require taxpayers to pay whenever a public health · or safety law meant that a com­pany's profits would be 10 per­cent less than they would be .if the company could simply ig-nore the law. - CWA, continued the lion's share of undeveloped land in this country would benefit handsomely from the Act. The Practical Implications Title IX would destroy or impair a wide variety of protections which Americans now enjoy. For example: • A developer could claim a right to payment if he were required to avoid developing 15 acres of wet­lands out of a parcel of 100 acres, even when the wetland filling would contribute to flooding of downstream properties. • An agribusiness operator co~ld de­mand payment if it were banned from using a dangerous pesticide and its crop yield declined. • A timber company would have to be paid not to destroy critical habi~ tat for an· endangered species, re­gardless of whether it could still earn a reasonable return from tim­bering other portions of the land. It is imperative that you let your congressional representatives know that you find this bill unacceptable.(See Susan Hughes' article on pages 2 and 3 for addresses and phone numbers.) For further information on this and other takings is~ues, contact me or Sharon Dennis at [phone]. .:John Echeverria NAS Geueral CoultSel Oimate Note Earth relies on the sun for all its heat and light. As a matter of fact, if the amount of sunlight that reaches the e~rth was cut by 10%, the earth would become so cold its oceans would be­come ice and all life would die. Bexar Tracks ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES , Confused by "Wise Use" Movement Rhetoric? ' Here•s a Handy Decoder What They Say What They Really Mea11 Wise use of our natural resources Lockup of our natural re­sources Decadent, over-n_1ature forest Healthy and thrifty forest The range lands of the West are in better condi­tion today than in my grandpa's time. The war against the West Easterners Socialists/communists Environmental terrorism Those people who think animals are more impor­tant than people Hippies on food stainps who don't know what it means to work , Playgrou~d for Eastern­ers Enviro~1mental terrorism A working river Maybe, like the dino­saurs, it's a species that just can't adapt. Species that can adapt They're trying to take my property. 7 Any 'extractive use of natural products, especially if · the extraction makes lots of noise, uses motors, or goes "tnoo" Reliance on nature's ways. Use of the natural environ­ment without obvious human modification or degra­dation. An an~ient forest (old-growth) with a balance of young, old and dead trees A tree farm Things are better than duringtl1e dust bowl days. The battle within the west over reform Of public land use. Anyone, anywhere, i(l the United States who lives in a town with more than a couple thousand people People who want to reduce government subsidies to western mining,logging'and grazing Lawful appeal of a timber sale or filing a lawsuit Those who think that people who like animals other than livestock should have their wishes considered too. Environmentalists Any place in the Western United States used for · recreation by folks from outside the county. Lawful appeal of a timber sale, or filing of any lawsuit to enforce environmental regulations A river with its entire flow committed to irrigation, or alternatively, a stream that has been rendered fishless due to pollution , - Tom Gray, Mo11ta11a (from I11ternet) The species in question can't leap over dams, thrive on freeways, or make a living in a cow pasture. Livestock I have a scheme that will h!lnn you/your property and I don't want any government regulations tostop me. - Adde11da by Richard Luehrs, De11ver January 1995 [ ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES Needed: A New Messenger Rush Was Wrong Many of the international and na- If so, where do we go from here? New satellite data provide condu-tional environmental organiza~ions One way is to reflect on our begin- sive evidence that annual ozone holes shellshocked by the recent elections, nings and to return to our roots. In over the South Pole are caused by chlo- ;; which appear to deprive the environ- those days, we believed-and sub- rine from industrial chemicalsJ not from mental movement of its once-consider- sequent successes proved-that effec- naturally-occurring sources, NASA sci-able political clout, must now analyze tive campaigns can be waged and won entists said on December 19. the new political landscape and chart a from the hinterlands of America. Previous measurements have con-new and probably very different course Through local and regional con.fed- vinced most scientists that the ozone from the past. erations of common-interests groups, destruction is caused by chain chemical As a movement, it is time to look we can collectively resist-by a number reactions involving chlorine. But the back in order to discern our right turns of legal means-the expected legisla- source of the culprit, chlorine, has re-from our wrong turns in the last two tive offensive against existing environ- mained somewhat controversial. decades, and to use the past to gain new mental laws and regulations. A treaty was ratified in 1987 to perspective on where we go from here. The most crucial element of any gradually eliminate worldwide produc- The overall map of the environ- progressive movement is a local press tion of chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs, mental movement can be deceiving in that passionately supports concepts the chemicals believed responsible for that there are the big green outfits (Si- such as environmental equity and jus- the destruction of the ozone layer. erra Club, Audubon, Wilderness Sod- tice, sustainable development, and bio- But some scientists and political ety, National Wildlife Federation, etc.), logical diversity and is not afraid to do conservatives have argued that chlorine sustained by a membership of largely- some radical reporting. in the stratosphere might come from inactive white-middle-class types, and The local press must be convinced volcanoes. flanked by neo-liberallitigation-driven that it is in the interests of the conunu- Talk-show host Rush Limbaugh (lawyer types) organizations like the nity for the media to name local corpo- has said that talk of ozone depletion by Environmental Defense Fund, Legal rate environmental sinners, call the CFCs is a "hoax." Defense Fund, and the Natural Re- bluff of political figures on environ- But NASA scientist Mark Schoeberl sources Defense Council, with no sig- mental sellouts, and provide concise and others said that the latest data col-nificant popular support base. analysis of controversial issues for local lected by satellite convince them that Then there are the "out-there" consumption. about five-sixths of the ozone-destroy-grass- rqots and militant groups ranging Another str<!tegy involves the use ing chlorine in the stratosphere comes from Earth Firsters to Save America's of litigation or'the threat of litigation from CFCs. Forests inside the Beltway. The "out where health, safety, and discrin1ina- The conclusive finding, they said, there" group may seem diminutive tion (environmental justice) are signifi- was the presence of fluorine, the compared to the enviro nationals and cant elements of an issue. It may even "fluoro" part of the CFC molecule, in internationals, but it is where the near be possible to eventually gain a legal amounts that correspond to chlorine in and mid-term future of environmental- status for such concepts as biological the atmosphere. ism in America will be determined. diversity, resource-lin1its analysis, eco- "There is no natural source of fluo- For the last three decades main- system protection, and environmental rine," Schoeberl said. stream environmentalism has been equity. Anne Douglass, deputy project sci-closely allied with the Democratic Party. "Overall, the core strategy for local entist of NASA's Upper Atmosphere Re- While this has produced a mixed bag of and regional common-interest groups search Satellite program says "This nails successes and failures, the grass-roots is to provide a practical plan that can it. There is no other possibility." membership of the large green organi- utilize the pent-up sense of alienation Schoeberl said that the amount of zations has felt increasingly left out of and powerless1ess that many people CFCs in the atmosphere has stopped the process of national policy planning feel." (The Nation, December 19, 1994) increasing, but that the chemical has a and decision making (e.g. Audubon's This whole story can be summed long lifetime. recent problems at the national level). up in the findings of a recent poll con- As a result, he said, the global ozone Recent capitulations by the Clinton ducted by American Forests magazine, layer will continue to be affected until administration on a number of environ- which showed that "timber interest sci- at least 2020, ·when the CFCs are ex-mental issues, combined with the shock entists" are now more trusted by people pected to return to 1979 levels. of the November elections, make many in the Northwest than environmental- The ozone problem will correct it-environmentalists wonder if we've ists. But 48% of the same people also self, said Schoeberl,"''if we stick to what reached the limits of the legislative sys- support an end to all logging in the we plan" in the world-wide reduction tem in tepns of protecting the environ- public forests. of CFC use and production. \ ment in the near future. -Richard L Pipes -Austill America11 Statesma11, 12/20 January 199$ s Bexar Tracks ' ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES NAS Strategic Planning As we approach the year's end, I would like to report on both the status of NAS and the strategic planning proc- · ess in which we are presently engaged. On 14 November 1994, the NAS Board of Directors met in Ft. Myers, FL. The meeting included a report on the finances of the organization, and a brief­ing on the strategic planning process. The membership of NAS has recov­ered to approximately 550,000, but I question whether the most recent cam­paigns ($20 and a backpack) are to be credited with this membership rise. Have we replaced long-term $35 members with $20 magazine subscrib­ers who will be seduced away by the next glossy publication to hit the racks? Encouragingly, the projected budget deficit has diminished from $1.8 million to $500,000, mainly due to the recovery of memberships. However, we still face a shortfall next year, and fur­ther scaling back may be necessary without additional revenue increases. Chairman Donal O'Brien intro­duced the consultants who have been chosen to direct the strategic planning process-McKinsey & Company. Jack Dempsey of the finn presented a de­tailed discussion of the proposed proc­ess. McKinsey will oversee the process through completion, and have offered their services pro bono. The planning process will proceed in phases, with NAS presently in the initial phase zero. During phase zero, members, chapters, councils and all in­terested parties are being asked to com­municate concerns, suggestions~ or is­sues that need to be considered to the following: In the NY office, Vicky Shaw, (NAS), or Martha Blue (McKinsey), 700 Broadway, NY, NY 10003; phone [phone], fax [phone], Internet p lanning@aud ubon.org). Chairman O'Brien and Cindy Dunn will co-chair the strategic plan­ning process on behalf of tl1e Board. Phase zero may well be the most important step in the planning process; it will enable the organization and con- Bexar Tracks sultants to summarize lhe major issues and problems that need to be ad­dressed. If you wish to contribute to this critically important proceeding, then please forward your comments and rec­ommendations as soon as possible. If you wish, please send me a copy ofyourcommentsso that I may develop a feel for how the region would like to see Audubon transfom1ed. In addition to compiling comments and recommendations, McKinsey will be conducting interviews and focus­group discussiohs throughout the country. NAS and McKinsey also conducted a strategic planning session at the con­vention. The following questions were considered by six break-out groups, and the recommendations were compiled and distributed by the end of the con­vention. I would like everyone in the region to have the opportunity to respond to these same questions, so please reply to the following and send your recom­mendations to me as soon as possible: 1. What is NAS's "Unique Value" proposition? What does Audubon do best? How does that differ from other national or local organizations? 2. What should be Audubon's ma­jor roles and priorities? The three most important roles; three least important? 3. What is the realistic develop­ment/ fund-raising outlook for Audubon and its chapters? Can we raise significantly more money? If so, from whom and how? 4. What are the four or five major activities by which Audubon should carry out its mission? How do they work today? How can they be im­proved? 5. What services can/should the na­tional organization supply to the·chap­ters/ regions? What role(s) should there­gions play and what services should they provide to chapters? 6. How can cooperation and team­work be improved between the chap­ters and the national organization (list five or six specific ideas)? 9 War Against the Greens Death threats, dog killings, shoot­ings, arsons, rape, bombings and as­saults have become the price many en­vironnl. entalists are having to pay for speaking out in defense of the earth, according to a newbook, The War Against the Greens (512 pp. Sierra. $25). In The War Against the Greens author David Helvarg, an award-winningjour­. nalist and private investigator, travels across America to document how anti­environmental violence, designed to si­lence or intimidate" tree-huggers" in ru­ral and low-income communities, is one of a range of tactics being used by a small but militant cadre of anti- envi­ronmental organizers who call them­selves' either "Wise Use" or "Property Rights" activists. "These extremists have projected fear into the political process," the book quotes Chuck Clarke, former director of Washington State's Department of Ecology, now a regional director for EPA. "A few hundred people with a canned speech and canned concerns can have an impact." "Helvarg demolishes the fiction that anti-environmentalism is a grass­roots movement by demonstrating its massive corporate underpinnings. This powerful investigative reporting should find wide readership," says Pub­lishers Weekly. Kirkus Review agrees: "His investi­gation reveals that Wise Use/Property Rights activists are few in number and need to resort to intimidation and vio­lence to be effective in local confronta­tions . A thought-provoking and timely expose." . Before the next NAS Board meeting in March, we should have ample time and opportunity to discuss these mat­ters. I thank each of you for your con­tinued interest and support. - Ted lee Eubanks Regionally-elected Director, Southwest Regio11 3400 Bissomtet, Suite 268 Houston, TX 77005 . 713-666-2669 fax [phone] January 1995 BIRD TALES Murphy Was a Birder "Whatever can go wrong, will." Murphy's Law. As profound as Ein­stein's equations, as fundamental a shaper of our personal lives as the laws of the physics are of the universe. Immutable, unshakeable, undeni­able, incontrovertible. Ask anyone who has ever tried to plan a yacation, re­model a house, fix plumbing, grow a garden, raise a child, find a life bird . "Find a life bird?" Murphy's law appies to birding? Of course it does, as surely as grav­ity keeps your boots on the ground. And, like gravity, you take it for granted, rarely think about it. But Mur­phy's is always there affecting your ac­tions, confounding your plans, a per-petual monkey on your back. . In our combined experience of over 60 years of birding, the authors have deduced some of the many implications and corollaries of Murphy's Law as they apply to those who pursue the feath­ered folk with binocular and camera. What follows cannot purport to be a complete enumeration of all the glitches and nuances inherent in such a powerful principle, but it is a start. . Like all such universal truths, Mur­phy's Laws of Birding are things you knew already, but just did not think about-or tried not to think about. We are sure all birders, whether novices or hardened veterans, can add their own insights to these natural and exasperat­ing phenomena. Herewith, then are Murphy's Laws of Birding and Bird Photography. They are as binding on the participants in the sport as the laws of relativity are bind­ing on space, time, matter, energy--Or standing knee-deep in a swamp, for that matter. January 1995 Murphy's First Law of Optics Birds always disappear in that split second when you take your eyes off them to raise your binoculars. Corollary #1 (The Diver Dilemma). Loons, grebes, and alcids always dive when it's your turn at the scope. They surface beyond the scope's range. Murphy's Law of Motio11 A moving bird tends to remain in motion in a straight and predictable line~until you try to focus your binocu­lars on it. Murphy's Law of Attractio11 When you squeak or pish to bring in an unknown bird, all other birds in the neighborhood come to the call-but the object of your attention splits. Corollary #1: (Like Begets Like). When the life owl you need finally responds to your tape, it's another birder with the same tape. Murphy's Law of Listi11g That "staked" bird that everyone says you can't miss-you will. Pri11ciple of Photographic Frustratio11 A bird will wait patiently for you to set up your camera and tripod, attach the lens, and get focused-then leave just as you take "fhe picture. Murphy's Law of Prepared11ess Birds are the most cooperative ~hen you have left your camera and long lens in the car. Addendum #1: The degree of the bird's coopera­tion increases in direct proportion to the distance you are from the car. Prillciple of Delayed Cooperatio11 A bird will strike its best pose just after you have run out of film. Murphy's Law of Lighti11g The sun always goes behind a clouds just when you are ready to trip the shutter. Murphy's Law of Daylight The most photogenic birds assem­ble in front of your camera just as the light level falls below the ASA rating of your film. -Eric V. ]oht~so11, Laurie vo11 He11dy, Martha ]a11e Arnold, a11d Gary Guliasi, from WildBird, March 1989 10 Flamingo Watch In an unprecedented World of Audubon special, millions of flamingos will soar through the African skies and across your television screen live, when National Audubon Society Produc­tions, TBS Superstation and the BBC Natural History Unit join forces to bring you a unique, real-time broadcast of the world's most beautiful, fascinating and graceful airborne wildlife spectacle. Using satellite technology, Audubon, TBS and the BBC will trans­mit one of the world's most resplendent African wildlife spectacles to classrooms and homes throughout the US and Great Britain. As three million flamin­gos converge at their feeding grounds, World of Audubon will be there. Nineteen cameras will cover the fifty miles of Kenya's Great Rift Valley to photograph the three feeding grounds of the flamingos, Lake Bogoria, Lake Nakuru, and Lake Elementeita. Flami11goWatch, airing Sunday, February 5 at lOpm (ET) on TBS Super­station, will enable millions of viewers to witness this phenomenal natural event live, as it's happening. Before the premiere of Flamill­goWatch, from February 1-3, Turner Educational Services, Inc., in conjunc­tion with Audubon Adventures, offers a live, interactive tluee-day electronic field trip for schoolchildren as part of the Turner Adventure Learning series. As live flamingo images are trans­mitted into classrooms across the coun­try, students will be able to conduct an Internet dialogue with a team of wild­life experts assembled by the National Audubon Society. This Internet exchange will provide students with an opportunity to learn about birds and wildlife in the region, as well as about the history and culture of Kenya, the unique geologicalfeatures of the East African Rift Valley and conser­vation efforts in the National Park. Schools interested in the Flamilt­goWatch electronic field trip and In­ternet dialogue are encouraged to call 800-344-6219 to involve their schools in this unique wildlife event. Bexar Trades ~ l l BIRD TALES A Fable for the Gull-ible Haiku I had the opportunity to buy into a Western Japanese market downtown along the Gullf. Profits were Lesser, they were no longer in the Black, debts were Backed up, and they were anGray Headed for bank­rupcy. I felt Greater sales ~-.;,_:'"~"' could put it Backed in the Black and keep it from going Bellied up. ~;;:=;~ I had been Sabine ~ up and finally had al- ~-"" most enough Silver. My • A Hartlaub-ered at the thought of becom­ing a moGull in business, and I was all a Glau-cous of the possibility, although­! had a lump in my Gull-et. I was sure this was a Domain-l-ean succeed at and I had to RingBill to ask for his Kelp. Although he can be Gullible, was I-vory concerned that he cRoss's each bridge as he comes to it? You bet. He's a Relict and a Little deaf so I had to Yellow ver and over that I Footed the bill for the call, and loud enough to make the Kittiwake and Mew. When he answered I had to Thay"er you hard of Herring? Can't you Heer- Falcon Update Effective October 5, 1994, the US Fish and Wildlife Service has removed the Arctic peregrine falcon from the en­dangered species list. The species has shown evidence of recovery, due to a decr~ase in levels of certain pesticides in the environment. The population will continue to be monitored for at least five years follow­ing the delisting, to ensure that species populations remain_ stable. Bexar Tracks man? Franklin, why don't you stop Laughing and Kum-lien the couch, drink a Scoursby's (Common in my re­frigerator), and we'll shoot the Buller something? I had to Cal-if-ornia to get your opinion, but I don't want to haGull. Ande-an Simeon are both interested, but Ol'Rog couldn't clear his Slat-y backed out feeling \"HJP. #A. Gullty, and I would ,~ Lava have you. You -~ ~don't want Temminck­ing on the dotted line without you." I could picture Hempriching up his ears. In my iMagellanation it sounded like he Gullped and was about to Bel­cher something. Then I was interrupted by my Dusky Gray cat1 all Sooty and 'Black­headed from playing in Aden, tearing my dog's Bonaparte with its pAu douin the damage, and my dog running in circles trying to Swallow his Tail. My drink spilled with lceland-ing on the floor and my baGull ending on my lap. -Rich Armstro11g, Austitt Via l11temet Ghost geese calling out, Unseen in white and blurred blue; Sound without substance. -Richard Luehrs Dettver Audubo11er Wanted Contributors of stories about bird­ing trips, or the birds in your yard, or poetry, or . I'm sure we have many chapter members who have had experiences others would enjoy reading about. . It's easy to get a story to us. Mail it to the BAS post office box, or fax it to me at 599-3545, or email it to me via Com­puServe 73232,506. A Place to Start Beginners Bird Walk by San Antonio Audubon Society at the Judson Nature Trails area next to Alamo Heights swimming pool, on the second Saturday of every month, at 8 am, is the place to get started in birding. It is useful to have a little skill at using binoculars, but many local birds can be identified without them. Geo~gina Schwartz (342-2073) and others from SAAS offer this outing to anyone interested. You don't have to be a member. The different habitats represented ill the nearby Ohnos Basin area offer an opportunity to find up to thit:ty species in an atmosphere of relaxed learning and instant verification, which makes it fun. It usually takes around three hours to cover the territory, if we find enough birds, but you can leave whenever you wish. Come and get ready for next year's Christmas Bird Count. Other outings are open, too. Call the SAAS tape at 733-8306 for more information. - Georgi11a Schwartz, SAAS (Editor's note: Yes, there is another Audubon group in San Antonio. SAAS is the elder, but is not a chapter of National Audubon-it's an associate, which would take too much space to explain here. Suffic~ to say we'r~ glad to have their invitation! My thanks to Georgina for letting us know we'd let this opportunity slip off the calendar.) (Second editor's note: There was a nice write-up of SAAS's Chrishnas Bird Count in The Northeast Sun, one of the San Antonio Express-News' area newspapers, on December 28. If you haven't given your paper to the. recyclers yet, you might want to look it up.) II January 1995 WINTER PlANNING CALENDAR * Bexar Audubon Event § More Information Inside TCP Texas Conservation Passport or fee JANUARY 7 First Saturday, 9-1 I. General guided history hike in Friedrich Wilderness Park, free. 698-1057 for reserva­tions. 7/28 Every Saturday, lower Edwards Pla­teau Ecosystem Tour, 9- I I, Honey Creek SNA (fCP). leisurely 2-mile walk: interpretation of cultural and environmental history of the hill coun­try, and a little geology and botany. I 0§ last public meeting for comments on the San Antonio/Bexar County Bicy­cle Mobility Plan, Metropolitan Plan­ning Organization, 7:00pm, River . Room, Valero Energy Building, 530 McCullough. Avenue 12:j: BAS Board Meeting, 7pm. 14:j: Second Saturday, 9- I I. Walk with ur­ban forester Mark Peterson of Texas Forest Service and explore Friedrich Park in its winter splendor. Free. 698-105 7 for reservations. I 4 Guadalupe River SP. Flintknapping workshop for interested beginners, l- 4pm, at Amphitheater, weather per­mitting. Call210-935-4012, enter. I 5 on voicemail to find out. Instruc­tor Allan Bettis. I 4§ Second Saturday Beginners Bird . Walk, San Antonio .Xudubon Society, Judson Nature Trails, next to Alamo Heights swimming pool. Free, open to anyone. 8-1 I . Georgina Schwartz, 342-2073 for more info. 19:j: BAS General Meeting. Dr. Woody Saunders, Trinity University Urban Studies Department. 2 I §:j: Audubon Weekend, Houston OFFICERS AND BOARD 24 Native Plant Society of Texas; speaker Elizabeth Hughes, Education Coordinator, SA Botanical Gardens. Choosing, growing, and propagating ferns in South Texas. lions Field Club­house, 2809 Broadway. 21 0-6~ 1- 6543 for info. 26/27 Water for Texas: Research leads the Way, a conference focusing on the contributions research plays in solv­ing complex water problems facing Texas. Driskill Hotel, Austin. For more information, call Texas Water Resources Institute, 409-845-1 851, fax [phone] Texas Endangered Species Sympo­sium, Glen Rose. 817-897-2960 for more information. FEBRUARY 3/4§ Third Annual Cranefest, Big Spring. Chamber of Commerce, 915-263- 7641, or Pat Simmons, 915-263- 4607 for more info. 4 First Saturday, 9- I I. Guided general natural history hike at Friedrich Park. Free: 698- I 05 7 for reservations. 4/25 Every Saturday, lower Edwards Pla­teau Ecosystem Tour, 9-1 I , Honey Creek SNA (fCP). 2-mile walk with interpretation of the cultural and envi­ronmental history of the hill country, and a little geology and botany. 9:j: BAS Board Meeting, 7pm I I :j: Sec~md Saturday, 9-1 I. Hike with ge­ologist Dr. Robert Garza of SAC; ex­amine the geology of Friedrich Park. Free, 698-1 05 7 for reservations. I I Second Saturday Beginners Bird Walk, San Antonio Audubon Society, Judson Nature Trails, next to Alamo Heights swimming pool. Free, open to anyone. 8-1 I. Georgina Schwartz, 34 2-2073 for more info. Susan K. Hughes President 532-2332; fax [phone] Marge Lumpe Vice President 657-1665 Betty Minyard Treasurer 344-612 8 Anita L. Reeves Secretary 308-92.54 Patty Leslie Pasztor Board Member 82 4-12 3 5 Richard Pipes Board Member 2 81-2452 Bill Woller Board Member 696-3186 Jim Garriott Board Member 695-9520 Bill Sain Board Member 408-7731 Backyard Habitat Conservation Earth Day Liaison Education Hospitality Membership Outings Programs Publicity COMMITTEE CHAIRS Barb Deluca Richard Pipes Harriet Wiygul Betty Minyard Harriet Wiygul Dan & Kristy Davis Patty Leslie Pasztor Chris Dullnig Susan K. Hughes Bill Sain 492-4291 281-2452 647-5356 344-6128 647-5356 609-5678 824-1235 828-4017 532-2332 Ways & Means 408-7731 Bexar Tracks Editor Claire Drenowatz 599-4168 fax[phone] We wdcome contributions. Submissions may be edited. 1 We bdieve info herein is acctM"ate at January 2. = o.adlin• is the Saturday after th• g . al meeting. SOY INK Printed on acid-fr . , 50% post-conso.n<r waote paper. Bexar Audubon Society P. 0. Box 6084 San Antonio, TX 7 8209 Address Correction Requested 16:j: BAS General Meeting, Peggy Prather, Holistic Resource Manage­ment of Texas 25 Honey Creek SNA, 9-11:30. Preda- • tor-Prey Relationships and the Food Chain, 2-mile hike. Walt Schumann will guide, and afterwards introduce a couple of reptile friends at the Rust House. 25 New Braunfels Old Town Cemetery, · 2:30pm. Necrogeography: regional­ity of burial practices. Join Penny So­lis to spend a few hours looking back at the culture and history of our fore­fathers. 210-935-4012 for more in­formation. ONGOING ACTIVITIES Bexar Audubon Society general meetings are held on 3rd Thursdays at 7:30pm, at the Ruble Center, 419 East Magnolia. BAS board meet­ings are generally held on 2nd Thursdays at 7:00. Outings are usually the Saturday follow­ing general meetings. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department offers many nature activities for annual Texas Con­servation Passport Holders ($25 per year). Call for event listings: 800-937-9393. San Antonio City Council Meetings, I :00 Thursdays. National Audubon Society's Actionline. Dial 202·547-9009, ask for Actionline. After · hours, press 4 on a touch-tone phone. 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. Non-profit Organization U.S. Postage Paid San Antonio, TX Permit #590 Personal information redacted