| Summary: | Bexar Tracks began with Vol. 4, no. 1 (January 1986). It continues Newsletter (Bexar Audubon Society). SP£G CDlL \ BEXAR AUDUBON SOCIETY Volume XIV, No. 5 May, 1996 BEXAR TR CK San Antonio Texas Bombing, Trapping And Politics -The New Mandate For National Wildlife Refuges? On Wednesday, April 24, the definition of refuge was bludgeoned as the US House of Representatives passed a measure that will make trapping and aerial bombardment priorities on National Wildlife Refuges. If enacted, HR167S, "The Wildlife Refuge Improvement Act" sponsored by Rep. Don Young (R-AK), will also mean the politicization of the National Wildlife Refuge System by usurping the US Fish and Wildlife Service's authority to designate new refuges. If this bill is enacted, Congress, not biologists, will decide what lands are most important for wildlife. The nation's first federal wildlife sanctuary, Pelican Island in Florida, was established in 1903 by Theodore Roosevelt in response to the devastation to bird po.pulat~ons by relentless hunting for the fashion market. Roosevelt could hardly have imagined that less than 100 years later Congress would affirm the necessity for · bombing on these very same lands. The National Wildlife Refuge System has grown to 508 refuges in all SO states, encompassing 92 million acres. National Wildlife Refuges are America's last bulwark against the decline of species and habitat diversity, and are vital havens for migratory birds. Unlike National Parks or Forests, wildlife refuges make wildlife conservation a priority over public use. HR1675 fundamentally changes the direction of the National Wildlife Refuge System by elevating trapping and other recreational uses to the same level ofimportance as wildlife conservation. Currently, the Refuge System accommodates a host of recreational uses · including hunting, fishing and wildlife observation where these activities are compatible with wildlife conservation objectives of individual refuges. HR 1675, however, elevates recreational uses to purposes of the Refuge System alongside wildlife conservation, thereby forcing refuge managers to .choose between one or the other in allocating scarce financial and staffing resources. Such a dramatic shift of resources could have a devastating impact on wildlife and habitat conservation goals. Beyond reducing available funds for wildlife, the shift will place . an even greater strain on limited refuge personnel who will need to spend even more time accommodating visitors. Rep. Young's bill will also pave the way for increased military activi-ties on refuges. That's right, under HR167S the President may waive the current requirement that military activities such as bombing and low-level fly- :~.;-~-~llll:i~ overs meet wild-life protection co mpa ti b ili ty objectives of individual refuges. At present there are more than 45 refuges around the country on which military activities occur. Already there is tremendous pressure from the Defense Department to expand operations on military reservations to adjacent refuge lands, particularly along the east coast where public lands are increasingly scarce. This bill could open the door to more bombing, low-level fly-overs and even tank maneuvers on National Wildlife Refuges. HR167S will politicize efforts to establish new refuges. Under current law, the FWS may establish a new refuge without needing a specific Congressional authorization. Requiring only an appropriation from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), the FWS may quickly acquire lands from willing sellers who otherwise might sell their land to commercial developers. HR1675 will require a Congressional authorization to establish new refuges over 500 acres, leaving vital habitat acquisition decisions in the hands of elected officials rather than FWS biologists. Furthermore, the additional hurdle could mean a prolonged waiting period for ~ buyers and result in lost op- portunities. The so-called Wildlife Refuge Improvement Act also opens the door to giving refuge lands to the states. A provision in the bill allows the Secretary of Interior to reach agreements with states whereby refuge lands, called "coordination areas," are given to states to manage. By permitting states to manage these ar- . eas, an increased burden is placed on continued on page 7 . BEXAR AUDUBON SOCIETY P. 0. Box 6084, San Antonio, TX 78209 210-822-4503 Chapter of the National Audubon Society The Chapter's primary goals are to promote species and habitat conservation, and environmental education in the community. OFFICERS AND BOARD President Vice President Treasurer Secretary Board Member. Board Member Board Member Board Member Board Member Board Me111ber Harriet Wiygul 534-7505; fax 534-7319 Katie Nava-Ragazzi 804-1 1:!6 Bill Sa in 408-77 31 Joyce Pipes 2 S 1-2 452 Claire Drenowatz 599-4168 Chris Dullnig 82 8-40 I 7 .Genevieve Kerr 82 4-62 41 John Langan 491-0692 Richard Pipes 2 81-2452 Bill Woller 696-31 86 COMMITTEE CHAIRS Adopt-a-Park Bill Woller 223-328 I 344-6128 655-0543 281-2452 738-1342 804-1226 Aud. Adventures .Betty Minyard Birdathon Kim Fleutsch Conservation Richard Pipes Earth Day Dana Bohne Education Katie Nava-Ragazzi Hospitality Nancy Johnson Membership Dan & Kristy Davis 609-5678 Natural Initiatives Harriet Wiygul 5 34-7505 Outings Patty Leslie Pasztor 82 4·1 23 5 Programs Chris Dullnig 82 8-40 I 7 Publicity Susan K. Hughes 532-2332 SAEN Coordinator Jim Garriot 61 5-2 I 70 Ways S Means Bill Sain 408-7731 Bexar Tracks Editor Claire Drenowatz 599-4168: fax599-3545 seedy@txdirect.net Bexar Tracks is your newsletter. We welcome your contributions. Next paper (hard copy, fax) deadline 5/24, electronic {diskette, email) deadline 5/31. Please send fax or email to Claire Drenowatz, as above; diskettes and hard copy should be sent to Claire at P. 0. Box 63137, San Antonio, TX 78247. Bexar Audubon Society general meetings are held on 3rd Thursdays at 7:30 pm, at the Ruble Center, 419 East Magnolia; board meetings usually 2nd Thursdays at 7:00. Introductory memberships to NAS, including AUDUBON Magazine, cost only $20. Send check to BAS (payable to NAS) at address above. Note chapter code W19, and name, address, and phone number of new member. USEFUL NUMBERS: 800-659-2622 NAS Actionline 210-733-8306 Rare bird alert number. 210-227-6143 To report local water waste. 800-453-SMOG To report smoking vehicles (License#, date, time & location May 1996 May Meeting: Biological Control for Are Ants? Imported fire ants are a major pest in the southeast and south central US. At the UT-Austin Brackenridge Field Lab, Dr. Lloyd Morrison's team is evaluating the potential ofphorid flies as highly specific biologj: cal control agents. Hear about this promising research and learn how the phorid fly controls imported fire ant populations and affects their behaviors. Solenopsis invicta, the imported fire ant, was introduced to the US from South America in the 1940s. Its success here-much greater than in its native South America-is most likely due to the fact that it left all its natural enemies behind. In areas of the US it has infested, however, the imported fire ant has become a serious enemy to biodiversity, with impacts on mammal populations, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and more-including other ants. Seeking a natural predator for Solenopsis invicta, the Brackenridge Field Lab at UT Austin has imported phorid flies (genus Pseudacteon) from South America, and have tested the phorid flies for host-specificity to ensure that the species will not attack any ant species other than Solenopsis invicta. Morrison, a postdoctoral fellow at the Brackenridge Lab, earned a Ph.D. in population biology from the University of California at Davis. A paper he coauthored on this topic is in preparation for the journal Science. Who Should Attend? Those interested in or concerned with imported fire ants, biological controls, protection of wildlife, pesticide issues, and population dynamics in disturbed systems. Students are especially welcome. Meeting Specifics: Monthly meeting of Bexar Audubon Society, Thursday, May 16, 7:30pm. Free and open to the public. Refreshments available prior to the meeting, at 7:00. Come early to socialize. For more information, call 822-4503.' Conservation Committee: meeting at 6:00pm at the Ruble Center. Locqtion: Ruble Center, 419 E. Magnolia (between McCullough and !-37, Hwy 281). Nearest freeway exit is North St. Mary's, offHwy. 281. Public Transportation: VIA Route 5 (St. Mary's-McCullough-North Star Mall) to Magnolia Street. May Outing Destination: Little Palm Park Sunday, May 19 Join us for a leisurely day trip of birding, botanizing and ecologizing between San Antonio and Palmetto State Park. We may also add a special birding stop at a private ranch enroute. We'llleave around dawn and return by mid-afternoon, except for those who may want to stay on and camp or swim. Participation _will be limited to IS folks on a first call, first sign-up basis. To sign up or receive additional information, please call trip leader Susan Rust at 826-4698. 2 Bexar Tracks CHAPTER NEWS Perambulations The air is oppressive, the humidity landscape. One' April Monday we enis a living presence, and although the joyed soft rains, just enough water to leaves trembled as the breez~ slid , . make driving a treacherous game of through the limbs of the trees this morning, now they are still, hanging slack, since the energy started to leech out of the air. The background thrum of the insects is noticeable by its absence. Even the busy comrimnication of the neighborhood birds is silenced. We wait, hoping for, expecting, the miracle of the storm and the water it bring~. The city passed most of April' in Stage 2 of the Drought Management Plan. The lack of water moved from a water gaug~ graphic of the nightly television weather .report to a lead item, temporarily pushing murder and may' hem to lower positions on the play list. It was front page news- above the fold · -of the local major newspaper. At Mini Earth Day, Viva Botanica, Earth Day, Children's Festival at the Institute of Texan Cultures, and Cibolo Wilderness Mostly Native Plant Sale, . Bexar Audubon volunteers visited with their urb~n neighbors. We found community in common concerns, and as the month' progressed, water became a frequently voiced concern. · We discussed its lack, and the toll it took-the death of grass, stu1;1ted vegetable gardens, and bu.rned yard plant~. - Our neighbors asked us about the birds in their yards, and BAS members suggested that a water source was inore important than food. Native plants, with their bright blooms and_ resl.liency, drew people to our display, and We shared the idea of saving water by landscaping their yards for wildlife. . The heat continued to climb throughout the month; some highs breaking temperature records of long standing. We cast our eyes up, searching for signs, portents, of moisture~ There were frustrating close calls, but it was as if a cosmic Do Not Disturb sign was posted, and the rain clouds rolled around us. · Through the month, the hot winds blew, exacerbating the moisture loss in the ground, and a persistent and perva" sive dust became a part of the ~rban Bexar Tracks bumper cars, but not eno'ugh to break the drought. The dust re'tu'rned, and primary · h~man discussion relJlained focused pn rain. · So, I wait with ihe birds, the trees, the insects, for the coming storm. It has · to come thi~ time. The air has gone somewhere,, and I prefer to thin.k it is being used to build a· rainstorm. The sun' is slowly obscured by clouds, stilt' too hjgh for rain, but they may be the precursors of the main event. Enervated by the insufferable stillness and humidity, the animals of my house move just enough to change positions. Sqddenly, the trees. are blasted by an energy wave of such ferocity, they groan and' lean over, in the' face of it. Doors slam' in the house as the air pressure seems to ~oom down, then up. The old house shudders in.the impact, while chinaberries ·slam with such force · against the tin roof of the porch that I think it's hailing. Howling around and again,st the urban structures, the wind sends garbage and dried grass swirling through the air. Every living thing hunkers down to walt out the storm · Thunder heralds the .storm, and lightening strobes the darkness. And then· it's here-rain! Big, fat water drops chase each other down the street. It's fierce, ferocious, dangero:u~, -and welcome. The primal force of the storm, . performs its ancient duty, releasing lifesustaining energy back to the Earth. My. animal companions apd I watch the sound and fury from an open window, · · awed by 'the events unfolding within our proscenium arch. The day o( oppressive stillness and humidity gives way to the bris~, clean air following the ~torm. The night sky is still vivid with lightening, a magnificent celestial display. The thunder still booms, but grows faint~r as the energy of the storm moves on~ I am lulled to sleep by the basso profunda of the storm's coda, an altogether satisfactory way' to complete a turn of.the Earth. - Hatriet Wiygul · ·' 3 Bill Sain Honored At the March Annual Meeting of BAS, I was proud to present Bill Sain with the BAS award for exceptional volunteer service, as voted by the BAS Board of Directors. Bill Sain began volunteering with BAS when we hosted the Southwest Regional Conference in the fall of 1993, and . he hasn't stopped since. At the organizational meeting for that conference, an unknown Bill Sain volunteered · to coordinate all the room. assignments, monitor scheduling, and any other "fire extinguishing" duties. I thought heaven had sent me an angel. Bill has participated in every facet of BAS a~tivities-usually working in the background to ensure that everything comes off without a hitch. He is now serving in his second term as BAS treasurer. He played a major role jn the · 1995 Earth Day event and coordinated BAS activities in this year's effort. ' Bill was an active member during the first year of the Kelly AFB Restoration Advisory Committee's existence, representing BAS. He is also a member of the Mitchell Lake Wetlands Society board. He is a vital rrtemoer of theN atural Initiatives steering committee and is taking an active role in our chapter's expanding education program. At the NAS Convention in Florida in 1994, Bill served as right-hand-person to Pat Waak, director of the N AS Population and Resource Use Program, for her segment of the conference, priving across Florida in hurricane weather to get the shqw mounted on time. Bill was elect~d a member at large of the Audubon Council ofTexas board in 1995, and I asked him to co-chair the ACT committee on the Texas Field Of-flee implementation. He is dedicated, practical, dependable, and a delight to work with. His quiet, dry sense of humor always helps us keep things in perspective. Along with his talented and witty wife, Deborah Robinson, also a BAS volunteer, Bill is a jewel to be treasured and appreciated. Thanks, Bill, for allyou do. - Susan Hughes May 1996 Earth Day 1996 A Success Who needs the Oyster Bake or the Taste of New Orleans? Real Fiesta aficianados know that the Earth Day Fiesta event at San Pedro Springs Park is the up-and-coming. Fiesta event. Their opinion was upheld by all who attended this year's festivities. Once again, 'the Earth Day Organizing Committee outdid themselves. The music was wonderful, the food (vegetarian only) and · drinks divine. The highlight of the day was the All-Species parade in which anyone and everyone was invited to join the crowd dressed as your favorite species of plant or animal. The kids, young and old, had a blast. Kudos to Dana Bohne and the rest ofthe crew for a job well done. Thanks to the following Bexar Audubon folks who rep~esented BAS at Earth Day: Bill , Sain, Deborah Robinson, Betty Minyard, Harriet Wiygul, Patti Leslie Pasztor, Kim a~d Dave Fleutsch. Special thanks to Katie Nava-Ragazzi, Deborah Robinson, and Bill Sain for , coordinating our exhibit. Viva Volunteers! A whole flock of Bexar Auduboners migrated to the Botanical Center for this year's Viva Botanica festival! Our booth was cheerfully run by Leta Bien, Joanne Campos and her husband, Susan Hughes, Nancy Johnson, John Langan, Betty Minyard, Joanne Strentsch, Doris Townsend, Sonia Urb; Harriet Wiygul, and Bill Woller. We recruited a record number of new volunteers, in a gorgeous setting under a tree and overlooking the lake. Folk music and tantalizing aromas drifted by all weekend long, as we reached out and had a good time doing it. Thanks again everyone for a supersuccessful event! -Katie Nava-Ragazzi · Education Chair LOCAL NEWS We Did It Up Right! Wow, was Bexar Audubon a smash hit at the April 20th San Antonio Children's Festival! In the festive Institute of Texan Cultures, our booth was bustling! Big .cheers go to outstanding volun- , teers Melissa St.John, Tracy Tiller, Peter Salinas, and Pa.ul Harper, who showed many, many eager kids how to make bird feeders out of recycled plastic bottles, how to plant butterfly bush seeds, and how to make bird puppets. Also, Paul graced our booth with his special talents on the guitar. We invited parents of the busy kids to join us for our lectures, outings, and Audubon Adventures. Do YOU know of any young families you can invite to our many programs? Spread the word to the people YOU know!. -Katie Nava-Ragazzi Education Chair Plants ~ Food ~ People At the Mostly Natural Plant Sale at Cibolo Nature Center in Boerne on April27, volunteers had trouble staying at the booth. There were so many wonderful plants on sale, and snakes to handle, and food to resist (well, try to resist). Thanks to Katy Nava-Ragazzi, Claire Drenowatz, Betty Minyard, Sheila, Patty Leslie-Pasztor for sticking . around most of the time, anyway. TX Legislative Contacts Here are e-mail addresses for all Texas legislators, federal and state, for on-line activists. US House of Reps: http://cs.org/cc/sc/congress.htmi US Senate: http://cc.org/cc/sc/senate.html - Both Texas Hous~s: http://rampages.onramp.net/ -rampage/austin.htm June SAEN Meeting Charrette to Be Featured The American Institute of Architects/ San Antonio Environmental Design Charrette has made newspaper headlines for the past several months. While the re~ults have been presented in several forums., each has taken a slightly diffe-rent approach to studying the exercise. . At the June quarterly meeting of the San Antonio Environmental Network (S AEN), Tom Robey of Sprinkle Robey Architects will lead a presentation and discussion focusing on the natural resource management aspects ofthe charrette designs. We will examine at least one of the five sites in the charrette in greater detail. The meeting will be held at 7pm at the studios of Sprinkle Robey Architects, 454 Soledad. It is free and open to the public. Please note the change oflocation for this meeting only. We are moving from our regular Witte ·Museum site because ofthe difficult logistics associated with transporting and displaying all the drawings generated by the charrette activities. Sprinkle Robey's studios are in the red brick'building with green awnings ' one block south of the new San Antonio Public Library. There is ample parking available. The San Antoniq Environmental Network welcomes participation by concerned individuals, interested organizations, governmental agencies, and the like. Opportunities are provided for environmentally-oriented organizations to make announcements regarding non-partisan issues and efforts following the programs, and informal networking is encouraged. For information on SAENineetings or programs, contact Susan Hughes at 532-2332 or Russell Smith at 734-7184 x115. Look for a profile of San Antonio's Natural Initiatives program in the Audubon Notes section of the July/August issue ofAUDUBON Magazine! Remember that Bird-a-thon isn't over until the money is collected. It's a pain, but now you need to go round up all those pledges and se.nd them in. · May 1996 4 Bexar Tracks PlANTS & WILDLIFE Invasion of the Bombycillids The Elusive Madrone Big news around my neighborhood for the last month has been the Arbutus xalapensi~ . invasion of the cedar waxwings (Bombycilla cedrornm ). Not unusual is their stripping of every type of berry-inchiding, in ' my yard, the shriveled The madrone, also known as madrona or remains of hawthorn, Chinese tallow, and a few pitiful grapes and bram- manzanita, is a small evergreen tree or multibleberries. , · . trunked.'shrub as tall as 30 feet, although usu- What has amazed me is the bombycillid version. of the old question, ' ally smaller. · Its reddish brown bark "How many angels can stand on the head of a pin?" In this case, it's "How . peels off to reveal a hard; many waxwings can fit into the birdbath at once?" ' smooth, tan to coppery red · It's an avian version ,of the old game of king of the mountain . My underbariC. This leq to birdbath is too deep, so there's a rock in the middle, and several times a th~ tree's other common day it's filled with birds flappi~g and splashing-birds perched around - names, naked Indian . the rim, birds splashing in the deep water, birds edging one anot_her off and la.dy's legs. the rock, and in a few minutes ALL the water is gone. · , Branches tend to To be replaced by bird poop. Honestly, these guys are the messiest I've · · be crooked, spreading to form ever seen. Red streaks all over the 'outside of the bath, all over the.rock, a distit~;ct crown. Leaves are and the seeds frotn the whatever they've been eating-cover the bottom of ovate, medium-sized (1 to 4 inches long), and the bath. Yesterday I refilled the birdbath six tim'es.J wonder what kind red-tinged on the undersides and edges. New of berries will now start growing at the base from all those se17ds! · leaves are reddish and pale green. Clusters of I saw one invasion start just as. to/O white-~ing doves were taking a creamy white to pale pink flowers bloom in drink. The doves stood their ground for a few minutes, but eventually early spring, creating dark red to golden were overwhelmed. No hostile actions on the part bf the waxwings, but fleshy berries that are consumed by birds and 'just general rambunctiousness, and the doves finally give _ other wildlife. up. Pretty amazing, considerjng that they'll stic~ around for The madrone's range · in Texas has been the same behavior (just not so many birds) when starlings decli~ing for many years, although the trees join them at the bath. . ' can occasionally be seen on woody, rocky My. Chinese tallow is· starting. to produce limestop.e or igneous soil in canyons or open berries, the hawthorn is in bloom and heading plains in th~ Edwards Plateau. Germination for berries, and, the paper mulberry actually rate of seeds is not high, and, in the wild, has berries. The grapevine is starting to seedlings survive best under an ashe juniper make new grapes, arid the bnimbleberry is or · other . "nurse" tree which protects from blooming again. I hope there's enough · grazing ~nd helps maintain moisture. to eat in my neighborhood to keep Established madrones require little fertil-these beautiful rowdies around. izer or water. Several native plant nurseries Peeping Toms Invited You can see snapshots of a ·live Peregrine . Falcon nest, updated once a minute, at: . http:/ /www.transar.c.coin Natasha and Boris, the peregrine falcons- . made famous by their selection of Pittsburgh's Gulf Tower as their nesting site for the past six years, are anticipating the arrival of three chicks , in late April or early May. . · They are the only falcon pair in Pennsylva. nia to choose an urban building for lJ nest ·s~te. The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, which monitors the peregrine program, and the Gulf Tower, this year mounted a video camera at the nest site to ·'enable falcon fans to get a first-hand look at the birds from a television set in the Gulf.Tower lobby-and on the World Wide Web! · Bexar Tracks . -Claire D~enowcltz are -now succes'sfully propagating madrones for sale. Reprinted w,ith permission from the May 1994 San Antonio Gardener. Illustration ' · adapted with pennission from a drawing by Kathy Brown in; Jill Nokes's How to Grow Native Plants of Texas and the Southwest. Text 'adapted from Nokes, Texas Monthly Press" 198o, and Paul W. Cox & Patty Leslie, Texas Trees: A Friendly Guide, Corona, 1988.) Internet Exchange A male ring-necked pheasant visited Stuyvesant Oval in Manhattan this morning. He joins our community's growing population of birds which includes a resident red-tail hawk. -Emil Novelo, NAS, New York, NY So what's the big deal? We'have lots of pheasants and red-tails here in Manh,attan. -Dave Rintoul, Northern Flint Hills AS, Manhattan, KS ,r, .,._ 5 May 1996 r MISCELLANY Celebrity Birding Tours Anti-Environment Riders Defeated Go birdwatching with Texas' best birders by signing up with one of the National Audubon Society's new Texas Celebrity Bird Tours. · Join Chuck Sexton May 18th on a special visit to the Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge to see the Golden-cheeked Warbler and the Black-capped Vireo. Chuck will share his expertise on the unique interactions of the plants and animals with their physical environment that make the Hill Country special. The 235,000-acre Kene<:fy ~anch will be the destination June 1-2, with NAS's Sandra Skrei and Cecilia Riley, Texas State Coordinator for the Partners in Flight Program. The Kenedy Ranch's long history of managing for wildlife has resulted in beautiful habitat for birds and other wildlik. The ranch is known for its Ferruginous Pygmy Owl population, as well as the Green Jay, Tropical Parula, Couch's Kingbird, White-tailed Hawk, 'Green Kingfisher, Buff-bellied Hummingbird and other South Texas specialties. The Texas Celebrity Bird Tours support Audubon programs in Texas to protect birds, other wildlife and their habitat. The cost includes a tax deductible donation to theNational Audubon Society. For information on these and other tours, call Audubon at 512-327-1943; or write 2525 Wallingwood, Suite #301, Austin, Texas 78746; or e-mail 71634.20@ compuserve.com The National Audubon Society congratulated President Clinton for his steadfast defense of the environment in the budget battle concluded last week. The Administration succeeded in defeating most of the proposed riders to the FY 1996 Omnibus Appropriations bill. These anti-environmental riders would have eliminated the ability of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'to protect the nation's wetlands, the Department of Interior's ability to list endangered species, and would have extended the threat to valuable forest resources. "The defeat of these wetlands and endangered species riders represents a stunning come from behind victory for the environment," stated Audubon President John Flicker. "President Clinton's stubborn resolve to preserve our nation's water quality, wetlands, wildlife and forests was the factor that produced this important victory." "Members of Congress, out of step with the wishes of the American people, have paid the price for trying roll back environmental protections," noted Flicker. "From here on out, Congress must be responsive to the American public's concern for the integrity of " our natural resources, and the health and quality of our wetlands, wildlife and forests." As part of the final negotiations over the FY 1996 appropriations bill, Republican lawmakers gave in to Administration demands that wetiands -lime For Campaign-Financ~ Reform The most serious problem facing the environment these days is the corruption of Congress by special-interest money from the polluting industries. Why else would Congress push so much destructive legislation when the people support strong environmental protection? Bipartisan bills in Congress now (S 1219-Senate, HR 2566-House) would ban or limit PAC donations to candidates, end soft money donations to political parties, and establish voluntary spending limits for candidates, in exchange for free and low-cost TV and radio time. The mood in the country is turning against special-interest money in campaigns. If we make a big push now, in concert with other environmental groups and other nonprofits, we can turn the tide. And if we can win this fight, all our others will be easier. Call your Representative and Senators at 202-224-3.121, or call their local offices (in the phone book blue pages). - Mary-Powel Thomas May 1996 6 and endangered species riders be eliminated. The proposed wetlands rider would have stripped EPA of its existing authority to block the Army Corps of Engineers from permitting the filling of fragile wetlands. Congress also provided authority to the President to waive the ESA listing moratorium, adding back significant new funding for the endangered species program. Audubon and many other conservation groups opposed the riders because they woul.d have significantly weakeped protection for our nation's wetlands, wildlife and forests. In addition, the wetlands rider was an assault on the ability of EPA to acl;lieve the goals of the Clean Water Act. The debate over the riders is a potential warm-up, possibly later this year, for a debate in Congress ovet; reauthorizations of the Clean Water and Endangered Species Acts. "The defeat of these riders demonstrates that reauthorization legislation that would weaken protection for natural resources and endangered species will ultimately go down to defeat this year," Flicker stated. John Flicker specifically praised EPA Administrator Carol Browner for her hard work in defense of the nation's wetlands. "Carol Browner has demonstrated outstanding leadership by dedicating enormous amounts of time and energy to the defeat of this destructive rider," stated Flicker. National Audubon Society expressed disappointment that the final bill still included a rider that could potentially authorize the construction of a telescope on Arizona's Mt. Graham, in violation of federal law. Audubon chapters and activists leaders in the Southwest have waged a long battle to preserve and protect this critical habitat for the endangered Mt. Graham red squirrel. Audubon urges President Clinton to use the administrative avenues now Dpen to him to eliminate the timber salvage rider. -John Echeverria NAS General Counsel - Kathleen Rogers Audubon Public Affairs Bexar Tracks . I ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES Bombing, Trapping . - continued from page 1 refuge personnel who mu~t not only ensure that activities on refuge lands are not harmful to wildlife, but also monitor and enforce wildlife protection measures on state-managed lands. The US Senate now has an opportunity to correct the damage this bill would cause. In the 103rd Congress, Senator Bob Graham crafted legislation designed to help refuge managers establish priorities and stick to them, and to ensure that wildlife conservation remains the top priority for these publicly owned lands. If the Senate follows Young's lead, however, it will only confirm the impression that protection of our wildlife for future generations is unimportant to the 1 04th Congress. National Wildlife Refuges account for just 4% of federal lands in the lower 48 states, and 1% of lands overall. If that last 1% can't be free of aerial bombing, trapping and other activities harmful to wildlife, it can hardly be said that we have faithfully and staunchly upheld Teddy Roosevelt's vision. For more information, contact Evan Hirsche at NAS-DC, 202-547-9009. [Editor's note: The San Antonio delegation voted as follows. For: Bonilla, de la Garza, Smith, Tejeda. Against: Gonzalez. The bill may come up for reconsideration, and will end up in conference if the Senate passes a different version. Call your Representative or Sen.ator thru the Capitol Switchboard, 202-224-3121, or the local office (in the phone book's blue pages).] Texas Delegation Voting Records This month's voting record report is on Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison. While she is not up for re-election for another four years, we think it's important for concerned environmentalists to keep abreast of the doings of all oftheir representatives. Hutchison's record according to the League of Conservation Voters is zero (0%) on votes affec~ing the environment. Physicians for Social Responsibility, in their 1995 scorecard, rated her an R She's rated at 100%, however, by the Competitive Enterprise Institute, League of Private Property Voters, Business-Industry Political Action Committee, and U. S. Chamber of Commerce. The information below comes from Project Vote Smart, which notes that, concerning candidates, they "check their resumes, references, backgrounds, and then interview them with a series of 'no wiggle room' questions on the issues they will most likely have to deal with . " Senator Hutchison refused to take PVS's 1994 National Political Awareness Test. We don't have data past 12/31/94, but at that time Hutchison's PAC support came from (just the top 5): Finance, insu1.1nce & real estate 462,291 Energy & natural resources 377,863 Miscellaneous business 309,418 Agriculture 268,370 Transportation 202,149. During Senate floor debate in March 1995 on HR 889 (the Defense Supplemental Appropriations/Rescissions Bill), Hutchison offered an amendment to eliminate $1.5 million remaining in the Fish & Wildlife Service's 1995 budget for listing new endangered species. More than 100 species of plants and animals slated to be listed in 1995 remain unprotected. [That amendment has now been killed. See article on page 6.] Recent votes include YES to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas exploration; NO to the red wolf reintroduction program; NO to banning giveaway mining patents; NO to killing the logging without laws rider; NO to killing an amendment to cut funds for ESA listings; NO to designate wilderness and national park lands in California; YES to keep welfare ranching- low grazing fees on federal lands. Audubon's America: Promoting a Culture of Conservation The National Audubon Convention 1996, June 8-11 in Washington, DC, will give Audubon members and activists the opportunity to discuss our nation's environment with wildlife, wetland, forest, ornithological and natural resource specialists. Attendees will also have an opportunity to meet with their Congressional representatives in our nation's Capitol. The theme of the convention is Audubon's America, and conference attendees will focus on strategies for strengthening grassroots environmental activism. By promoting a culture of conservation, Audubon's goal is to create an environmental ethic that Bexar Tracks will ensure the sustainability of the natural world. "Individually and as a society, Americans must make it clear that it is reprehensible to exploit the natural world unsustainably. Now is a critical time for citizens to make an impact on environmental policies at the local, state and federal levelS," notes Audubon's President John Flicker. National Audubon Convention 1996 features Congressional visits, activist training, and workshops on birds, wildlife, natural resource and habitat protection. There will be a diverse array of field trips offering opportunities to experience the rich natural history of 7 the Washington area. Scheduled speakers include EPA Administrator Carol Browner, Cornell biology professor Dr. Tom Eisner and Audubon president John Flicker. Following the convention, mobile learning labs Gune 12- 15) to Pennsylvania and Maryland will enable attendees to see important bird areas throughout the Chesapeake Bay Ecosystem. These field trips to environmentally sensitive areas will be led by Audubon's leading wildlife experts. For registration information about National Audubon Convention 1996, please contact Audubon's Convention office at 303-499-3622. May 1996 SPRING/SUMMER PLANNING CALENDAR f Bexar Audubon Event § More Information Inside CONTACTS FOR RECURRING EVENTS First Saturday at Friedrich Park. guided general natural history hike. free. 698-1 05 7 for reservations. Second Saturday at Friedrich Park sponsored by Bexar Audubon. $2 donation requested. 698-1 05 7 for reservations. Second Saturday: Beginners Bird Walk at Alamo Heights Nature Trail. Georgina Schwartz of SA Audubon Society 342-2073. Fourth Saturday: Birding morning at Mitchell Lake with Ernie Roney. SMS. Meet at ML at 8 am. 733-8306 for more info. Brown Bag Seminars: Schultze House, Hemisfair Park. TX Master Gardeners. 229-9161. MAY 9 Noon brown bag seminar, Co/or attd Texture in the Shade, 'Mary Hagan •. or buy lunch & drink for $2. I I f 9am-noon, Friedrich Wilderness Park, Special Fun Day. Preview expanded wheelchair-accessible trail, special guest the Snake Lady. No reservation required. I I International Migratory Bird Day 16§f BAS General Meeting, 7:30 Pill· Ruble Center. Fire Ants. 17 Wilderness Walk. Trees of the Trail, Noon- I :30pm. $2. Cibolo Nature Center. I 8 I Oam-noon. San Antonio Botanical Gardens. Attract Butter~ies to Your Garden, $ I 0, 82 1-514 3 to register. '!' JUNE I Pelagic birding trip. from South Padre Island. Dwight Peake. 409-740- 462 I evenings. May Meeting: Fire Ants . 2 May Outing: Palmetto SP . 2 Chapter & local. . 3&4 Plants & Birds . 5 Environment & Miscellany. 6& 7 0 Printed on acid-free, 50% post-consumer waste paper. 9am-l I am. First Saturday Hike at Friedrich. 698-105 7 for reservations. Sf 9-1 I am, 2nd Saturday at Friedrich, Trees of Texas with Paul Cox, author and supervisor of S. A. Bo-tanical Gardens. • 8-12§ Audubon's America, NAS Convention 1996. Washington DC. 13 Noon brown bag seminar. Bexar County Master Gardeners, Good Bugs itl the Garden, Christina O'Connell. or buy lunch & drink for $2. IH BAS Board Meeting, 7 pm. 20f BAS General Meeting. Ruble Center, 7:30pm. 25 Native Plant Society. Show-off Night. Members and guests are invited to bring prints or up to I 0 slides of their yards. travels. or favorite plants or landscapes to share with the group. Lion's Field Clubhouse. 2809 Broadway at Mulberry. 7 pm. Peggy McCray 64 1- 654 3 for more info. 29 Pelagic birding trip. from Port O'Connor. Dwight Peake. 409-740-462 I evenings. JULY 27 Pelagic birding trip. from Port O'Connor, Dwight Peake. 409-740-4621 evenings. Other conservation organizations: please add Bexar Audubon to your mailing list if we're not already on it. and we 'II be glad to include your events in our calendar each month. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department offers many nature activities for annual Texas Conservation Passport Holders ($50 per year). Call for event listings: 800-937-9393. Bexar Audubon Society. Inc. P. 0. Box 6084 San Antonio. TX 78209 Address Correction Requested AUDUBON CAMPS The magic has been working now for more than SO years, ever since the founding of. the first Audubon program in Maine. Today the Audubon workshops continue this celebration of life. Here, in superb natural settings, in the company of distinguished naturalists and fellow participants who share your interest in nature, you'll search a pond for whirligig beetles and damselfly nymphs. Or follow paths blazed by mountain sheep. You'll take home a new awareness of how nature works, how all life is interdependent, and how you can protect it. Come join us for a wild adventure in on the Maine coast, or in the Wind River Mountains ofWyoming, or at the sanctuary in Greenwich. Awaken to the call of a loon, hear the sea waves lapping against a rocky coast, stalk screech owls at night, and sing by a campfire far away from everyday pressures and distractions. You'll learn to better understand and protect the wild creatures and wild places that we love. As it has done for so many others, this Audubon experience will enrich the rest of your life. Audubon also has camps for youths, in Maine and Vermont. Call Audubon Ecology Workshops at 203-869-2017, or fax 203-869-4437, or write 613 Riversville Road, Greenwich, CT 06831 for a brochure and registration form. Non-profit Organization U. S. Postage Paid San Antonio, TX Permit #590 1
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