| Summary: | Bexar Tracks began with Vol. 4, no. 1 (January 1986). It continues Newsletter (Bexar Audubon Society). spec. COL-. pok.to Q~ ~.,~ --- BEXAR AUDUBON SOCIETY Co'Y<-( ·l~ ' 6 'i( SAN ANTONIO ENVIRONMENTAL NE PUBLIC ISSUES FORUM "A Local Nature Preserve System?- Explorin~;di:l:::.:.,:_J 7:00pm, Tuesday, December 2, 1997 - Witte Museum Auditorium Moderator: ·Ray Johnson, The Nature Conservancy of Texas Round Table Respondents: Rebecca Cedillo, SA Water System Marge Lumpe, Mitctiell Lake Wetlands Society Bonnie Conner, Friends of Medina River Wade Oldham, Bexar County Parks Department Richard Hurd, SA Parks & Recreation Department Greg Pasztor, Friends of Friedrich Wilderness Park George Kegley, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department Dixie Watkins, Salado Creek Charrette Team Kyle Cunningham, Government Canyon Natural History Association Many cities, regions and states around the country have established systems of nature preserves to protect significant natural areas. These are areas of undeveloped land and/or water which represent natural ecosystems; have unique biological, geological, archeological, or scenic significance; or possess other qualities of special scientific or educational value. In essence, they are natural museums which both protect resources and increase public understanding of the natural and cultural heritage of an area. Several sites in and around San Antonio may have potential for forming the basis of a system of natural areas within the boundaries of Bexar County (Government Canyon, Friedrich Park, Mitchell Lake, Medina River, Salado Creek, and Carrizo Dunes). Challenges to establishing a coordinated regional preserve system might relate to the diversity of landowners (public and private),and to differing objectives and management strate(;Jies. However, potential benefits from the cost efficiency of centralized nature center facilities and from reducing impacts on sensitive natural areas might well justify taking the time to explore the possibilities. Please plan to join the discussion at the SAEN Environmental Issues Forum on Tuesday, December 2nd, in the Witte Museum auditorium at 7:00 p.m. The meeting will be cosponsored by the SA Open Space Advisory Board and the AlA-SA Committee on the Environment. Parking can be difficult, so try to arrive early. The meeting will begin on time. For further information call 210-826-469.8 or 21 0-828-8705. November 1997 Chapter Meeting Th~ Monarchs Are Coming-Where Are They Going? \ . Thursday, November 20, 1997-7:00 pm • Free and open to the public Ruble Center, 419 E. Magnolia (east of McCullough; take Mulberry exit off 281) For VIA public transportation, take Route 5 (St. Mary's/McCullough/North Star Mall) to Magnolia Surely one of the wonders of the natural world is. the winter roosting site of Monarch butterflies near Mexico City. In past weeks, millions of Monarchs from Canada and the Northwestern seaboard have passed through Texas, returning to their home in the Oyamel fir forest in the mountains. Here they blanket the forest, totally covering the trees, literally by the ton. Lepidopterist Joanne Wells presents slides and impressions of her trip last January to see the Monarchs in Mexico. Although Ms. Wells' primary interest is life stages and larval plant foods of local butterflies, her concern for loss of the habitat made her believe the trip should be taken as soon as possible or risk missing this phenomenon. The presentation at the Thursday evening meeting of the Bexar Audubon Society will focus on the decades-long search by entomologists in Canada and the United States, which culminated only twenty-one years ago in discovery of the elusive destination of the Monarchs long observed in their annual southward flight. Slides will give an intimate look at the village El Rosario on the walking approach to the 10,000 foot high site: butterflies roosting in trees, flying in the noon sun, and taking moisture at muddy streams. A pinned collection of local butterflies, including the Monarch, will be presented. · BEXAR AUDUBON SOCIETY Chapter of the National Audubon Society P. 0. Box 6084, San Antonio, TX 78209 21 0-822-4503 GOALS The Chapter's primary goals are to promote species and habitat conservation and environmental education in the community. President Vice Pres. Treasurer Secretary Bd. Memb. Bd. Memb. Bd. Memb. Bd. Memb. Bd. Memb. Bd. Memb. Past Pres. OFFICERS AND BOARD Bill Sain (71634.230@compuserve.com) . 408-7731 Richard Pipes . Opipes@tlash.net) . . . 281-2452 Betty Minyard . (mink@texas.net) . 344-6128 Deborah Robinson (=Bill Sain's) . . . 493-4663 Chris Dullnig . (cdullnig@juno.com) . . . 828-4017 Kim Hoskins . . . . . 696-3780 John Langan . (luby491 @aol.com) . 491-0692 Mike Mecke . (mmecke@saws.org) . . . 520-6252 Katie Nava-Ragazzi . . . . . 804-1226 " . . . . (72703.411 @compuserve.com) Harry Noyes . . . . . 490-3124 Harriet Wiygul . (hwiygul@digocean.com) . 534-7505 COMMITTEE CHAIRS Adopt-a-Pari< Bill Woller. . . . . . . . . . . 223-3281 Aud. Adven. Betty Minyard . (mink@texas.net) . 344-6128 Birdathon Bill Sain (71634.230@compuserve.com) . 408-7731 Conserv. Richard Pipes . Opipes@flash.net) . . 281-2452 Education Katie Nava-Ragazzi . (see above) . . . 804-1226 Hospitality Nancy Johnson . . . . . 655-1338 Memb. Susan Hughes . . 532-2332 " . . . . . . (wordwright@compuserve.com) Naturallnit. Tom Wilson . . (twilsond@AOL.com) . . . 492-4799 Outings Dawn Garcia/Mel Richardson . . . . . . 226-3807 " . . (drmel@sprintmail.com) Programs Chris Dullnig . (cdullnig@juno.com) . 828-4017 Publicity Rita Heck . . . . . 212-8031 SAEN Coord. Bill Sain . (see above) . 408-7721 Ways & Means Bill Sain . . . (see above) . 408-7721 Bexar Tracks Tom Wilson . . (twilsond@AOL.com) . . 492-4799 Editors Jill Sandeen . . . . (830) 980-3277 Osondeen@NetXPress.com) . Fax: (830) 438-7393 Bexar Tracks is your newsletter. We welcome your contributions. Next deadlines: Paper (hard copy, fax): Nov. 18, 1997 Electronic (diskettes, email): Nov. 21, 1997 Please fax Jill or email Tom as above; diskettes and hard copy should be sent to Tom Wilson, 13227 Hunters Spring, San Antonio, TX 78230. Printed with soy ink on recycled paper. VICE PRESIDENT'S REPORT UPDATE ON THE TEXAS AUDUBON SOCIETY STATE OFFICE The rerganization of the National Audubon Society completed in 1995 called for the establishment of state offices to replace the then existing regional (multi-state) offices. These new state offices are expected to assist local Audubon chapters in identifying key state environmental issues, developing conservation plans, and implementing local grassroots actions on solutions. One of the first state priorities is the development and implementation of environmental education statewide in our public school system. (See Report of the Education Committee to theTAS-BOD Dated 1 0-11-97). The first step toward organizing the Texas Audubon Soci.ety (TAS) office began with a working group of chapter leaders and national staff who met and conferenced by telephone several times in late 1996. A State Office Director, Catriona Glazebrook, was selected and began working in January 1997. Working with chapter leaders and our National Board of Directors (NBD) member, Ted Eubanks from Texas, the TAS conducted its first business and organizational meeting on August 2, 1997. The initial Board of Directors (BOD) recommended by the working group was installed and will serve until October 1998, when the fi rst statewide election by the chapter membership will be conducted. TheTAS-BOD is comprised of one representative from each local chapter (19 at this time), an equal number of atlarge representatives from the public and private sector to assist as voting members of the board, and an advisory group of non-voting members. TheTAS-BOD meet again in Austin on October 11, 1997, with Chair Lynn Aldrich of the Houston Audubon Society presiding. Agenda items included the following actions and decisions: Quarterly Meeting Dates February 7, 1998 - Lubbock June 6, 1998- Austin September 12, 1998 - Houston November 7, 1998- Dallas Committee Chair Appointments Education - Richard Pipes, BAS Policy Co-Chair - Ron Dipprey Science Co-Chair - Jim Stewart - HAS Land Management - David Todd - Environmental Attorney Development and Fundraising - ?? Numerous other business items were discussed, but space doesn't permit their review. Copies of minutes of theTAS-BOD are available from TAS, 2525 Wallingwood, #301, Austin, Texas 78746. Tel. 512-306-0225. FAX 512-306-0235. -Richard Pipes Editor's Note: Visit theTAS website at: http://www.audubon-tx.org/ A Whooper of a Celebration Port Aransas/ Mustang Island, TX, invites BAS members to the 4th Annual Celebration of Whooping Cranes and Other Birds; Feb 26- Mar 1, 1998. Activities include: Whooping Crane Boat Tours to Aransas NWR; various types of birding boat trips, birding bus tours, shelling, seminars, demonstrations, workshops, exhibits, and a trade show. Host Hotel-The new Alister Square Inn, 1-888-7 49-3003. For more information call the Port Aransas Tourism Bureau at 1-800-45-COAST. November 1997 2 Bexar Tracks "One Is the Loneliest Number" October Outings One, that was it for the Leon Creek outing, moi! (see recap below). Since there were no sign-ups or inquires for either October event-Leoo Creek or Palmetto State Park-we canceled the Palmetto trip. Fortunately, you still have a chance to visit the park with the San Antonio Audubon group in December. Many thanks to Susan Rust for her generous offer to lead the Bexar Audubon trip to Palmetto. I hope we can enjoy her service~ again. We haven't scheduled any outings for the month of November but don't forget to take advantage of other · active group outings; SA Audubon, Sierra Club, Texas Parks and Wildlife, and the Friends of the Guadalupe River/ Honey Creek Inc. to name a few. . ' Remember, you can help clean-up Leon Creek on November the 15th and do a little birding on the side. Call me for more information at 210-226-3807 or email drmel@ sprintmail.com. Enjoy! · -Dawn Garcia Just Me, Myself, and a Bunch of Neat Birds Leon Creek Outing Recap On Saturday, October 26th, I took my own guided tour along a small part of the Leon Creek Greenbelt. The habitat . surprised me with its beauty, but saddened me with the extensive development that is evident from Bandera Road. I was displeased to see that there were a few significant tracts with no trees remaining . on either bank to control erosion and runoff into the creek. Fortunately the Leon Creek Greenway .Coalition has been able to preserve an -80-acre section of the riparian habitat, providing a healthy corridor for wildlife, and erosion and runoff protection that should be present along the length of any stream channeL The older cleared areas that have some vegetation do provide some habitat for various birds, howf!ver. As I exited my car, a pair of Red-tailed Hawks flapped lazily off to the south. I saw a really nice mixed flock of mostly sparrows, including Lark, Savannah, Vesper, Chipping, and November 1997 CHAPTER NEWS later a Lincoln's sparrow, Meadowlarks, Mourning Doves, an.d surprise, surprise a small flock of about 1 0 male and female Lark Buntings in winter plumage! What a joy! Walking along the edge, between bulldozed fields and the creek, I spotted another surpr'ise, a Pyrrhuloxia (must have been a first year bird; Pyrrhuloxia plumage bur no bright yellow bill) hanging around a pair of Northern Cardinals. Shortly a Winter Wren and Orange-crowned Warbler made an appearance . As I cut down into the creek bed I thoroughly enjoyed the solitude and beauty of it. A canopy of live oaks and cedar elm lined the wide creek channel and underneath floated about 30 monarchs. Unfortunately -due to a misinterpretation of directions, I missed the main event (a tour with the Coalition members) but can highly recommend the area for a birding;·hiking, and take-a-picnic kind of morning. -Dawn Garcia Upcoming Outings December/ January Winter Is for Whoopers! December Outing/Whooping Crane Watch with Captain Ted The fall's first Whooping Cranes have arrived at Aransas National Wildlife Refu!;Je! ·an Saturday, December 20th we'll board the M. V. SkimmE!r skippered by Captain Ted to view the Whoopers and many other birds along the shores of the 3 Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. We leave port at 7:00 am and will be back to shore around 11:00 am. Complimentary tea, juice, coffee, and Danish pastries will be available to all passengers. · As Audubon members (and if there are 5 or more of us) we'll pay $28 per person, otherwise it'll be $33. Sign-up with Dawn Garci~ at 210- 226-3807 or email drmel@ sprintmail.com Also you can visit Captain Ted's website at www.sirius.com/-sarabei/Crane.html January Chapter Meeting and Outing Susannah Corona, an Aviculturist at Sea World, will be speaking at the January 15, 1998, Chapter Meeting concerning the Puffin Project. Susannah has also generously offered to lead us on a "behind the scenes" tour through the avian section at Sea World. Susannah will show us several bird exhibits, including Alcids (puffins and murres) and penguins, and explain how Sea World has been active in several conservation projects. This outing will be limited to 15 folks. You'll see more in the December newsletter . Stay tuned! To sign up, contact Dawn Garcia (210) 226-3807 or email drmel@sprintmail.com. SAWS Gets Award For Archeological Protection The Texas Historical Commission has given official recognition to the San Antonio · Water System for outstanding archeological protection efforts in researching and then protecting the Medina River Site, the proposed location of the now defunct Applewhite Reservoir. The award, signed by Governor George W. Bush, recognizes the ten year effort SAWS made to meet requirements of state and federal historical and environmental protection laws and regulations. Bill Martin, of the Texas Historical Commission, presented the award to SAWS Chairman, Juan Patlan, at the Novmber 4, 1997, SAWS Board Meeting. BAS has been a part of the ongoing efforts to preserve the outstanding environmental treasures located along the Medina River, an enterprise made possible by the groundwork laid by SAWS resear.ch. Bexar Tracks EDUCATION REPORT OF THE EDUCATION COMMITIEE OF THE TEXAS AUDUBON SOCIETY'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS Oct.11, 1997 Several formative steps have been taken since last January when the then newly appointed Texas State Director announced that education would be one of the highest priorities of the Texas Audubon State Office. The first of these steps involved the identification of a small group of chapter leaders with focused interests in environmental (conservation) education. Through a conference call planning session, an Advisory Panel of resource-oriented educators and scientists was identified and invited to attend the initial meeting of the Texas Junior Audubon Advisory Panel on June 9, 1997, in Austin. At this meeting the Panel approved a basic format for a Texas Junior Audubon Activity Manual that will educate children ages 9-12 about their state's and their area's unique natural heritage. The goal is to inculcate a personal understanding in our young people of how human life and wildlife can coexist and how ecological health and human well-being are linked. The program will incorporate the new Science Essential Knowledge and Skills (SEAS) developed for the state's public schools and the National Environmental Education Standards (NEED) to be piloted in Texas schools. With a recently approved grant from industry and the selection of an intern to work on the project the program is poised to go forward. The Director of TAS and the Chair of the TAS Education Committee are seeking qualified interested persons for membership on the TAS Education Committee that will be working with the Environmental Education Advisory Panel to greatly expand our efforts across the state to help Texas become a national environmental education model. Board members interested in serving on the Education Committee should contact the Director, catriona Glazebrook, at 512-306-0225. -Richard Pipes. November 1997 CONSERVATION NEWS ***ACTION ALERT*** Yoplait Containers Killing Wildlife A member of the Animal Protection Institute, who is also an animal control officer in California, recently reported a recurring problem she and other animal control officers have experienced in the field regarding wild animals getting their heads stuck in Yoplait yogurt containers and suffocating to death. She requested that we distribute this Action Alert and sample letter to the President of General Mills. Please write or fax a letter requesting that they address this problem as soon as possible. Wild animals do not appear to get their heads stuck in other yogurt containers, so the problem is most likely the actual shape of the Yoplait containers. A simple change in design could rectify this problem. Letters should be addressed to: Mr. Steve Sanger, President General Mills Incorporated P.O. Box.1113 Minneapolis, MN 55440 fax 612-540-4925 phone 1-800-967-5248 Email Yoplait@cis.compuserve.com Sample Letter Mr. Steve Sanger President General Mills Incorporated P.O. Box 1113 Minneapolis, MN 55440 Dear Mr. Sanger, I am writing to convey what many wildlife advocacy and rehabilitation organizations see as a serious problem with the shape of your Yoplait yogurt containers. Many animal control officers and wildlife rehabilitators have expressed concern regarding Yoplait yogurt containers' impact on wildlife. The current 4 design of Yoplait containers, with its narrow top and wide bottom, is such that certain species of wildlife get their heads stuck in the container and are suffocating to death as a result. This appears to happen primarily with juvenile skunks and raccoons and ostensibly as a result of these animals attempting to retrieve any uneaten yogurt at the bottom of the container. This problem is only occurring with Yoplait yogurt containers. Clearly the shape of the containers is such that it makes it impossible for a juvenile wild animal to remove its head before suffocating to death. One animal control officer in California in a recent letter to the Animal Protection Institute wrote, "I have worked in dispatch communications for animal control since 1992, and have had numerous calls about young wildlife getting their heads stuck inside Yoplait containers since they are so narrow at the top. These are the only containers we have found causing problems. Last week, we had three juvenile skunks that officers had to rescue. It is quite a tug to get the container off; many have suffocated this way. We have seen as many as five in one week in the San Mateo County California area. Our previous Captain had written to Yoplait years ago, but nothing was changed." When a staff member at the Animal Protection Institute recently contacted your company, she was told that your company has "known about the problem for years" but has refused to do anything about it. I urge you, as P.resident of General Mills, to take this issue seriously and to respond to the public's concerns with concrete action. A slight change in the Yoplait container design could easily rectify this problem without jeopardizing the brand recognition of the product. As a national corporation, General Mills has a responsibility to respond to the public's concerns about the safety and environmental impacts of your products. Please ensure that this problem is addressed as soon as possible. Thank you for taking my concerns into consideration. I look forward to receiving a response from you about this important issue. Sincerely, [Your Name] Editor's note: this story was provided by the Animal Protection Institute. Bexar Tracks Goshawk Gets Review After six years, the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has decided that a petition to list the species filed by environmental organizations has merit and has ordered an official Status Review of the Northern Goshawk. Due to extensive logging of Ponderosa pine forests of the American West the goshawk has become endangered. "Despite the well known plight of the goshawk, federal agencies continue to offer new projects that will clearcut and build roads further imperiling the species," said Shane Jimmerfield of the Southwest Center for Biological Diversity. -Sierra Club Researcher Seeks Sites Of Chimney Swift Colonies On Sept. 24th at about 7:45 PM a large Chimney Swift colony of about 200 birds was spotted at Edison High School. I am in the beginning stages of a registry of Chimney Swift roosts such as this one. If you know of a roosting site, please send me an e-mail with as much information as possible (number of birds, address of the site, type of construction, etc.). Thanks in advance. · Visit our Web Site at: http:// www.concentric.net/-dwa/page6.html or see how many swifts we've seen: http://www. co nee nt ric . net/- dwa/ page9.html -Paul D. Kyle North American Chimney Swift Nest Site Research Project, Driftwood Wildlife Association, 1206 West 38th Street, Suite 1105, Austin, Texas 78705 New Nest for Young Dove, Rescue Effort Pays Off July 24, 1997 The other morning as Ron returned from a morning walk, he yelled at me to come help him. He said there was a young bird on the ground. A cat was raiding the nest of Mourning Doves; the parents were November 1997 BIRD TALES in the street, one of them-1 presume the female-was putting on the injured act. I didn't know a Mourning Dove would display that behavior. I have always given them very little credit for being responsible. The cat came down the tree with the sibling, but we were faced with the dilemma of what to do with the bird that had obviously fa llen to the ground. Ron got a ladder, and we decided to put the bird back in the nest if possible. I cl imbed as high as my fear would allow and didn't spy a nest. We discussed the possibility that the most humane thing to do would be to end the bird's life right then rather than leaving it to the cats or to starvation, but neither of us could seriously consider it. A friend had given me a decorative nest with an egg in it, and so I removed the egg and put the fledgling in it, knowing fu ll well that it was not likely that the bird would stay in the nest or that the mother would find it. I placed the nest in a redbud tree and went on to work. On the way, however, I began to think about what the mother might do if she tried to approach this makeshift home and decided the location was not good. Once again, my thoughts were mainly negative about the prospects of that young bird seeing another day of life no matter what we did. This was just an exercise to make me feel better. Ron agreed to move the bird to a better spot in a cedar tree. The bird, by the way, refused to hunker down in the nest out of sight. Instead, it grasped the edge of the rim and stood there like a sentry absolutely not moving a muscle-even as Ron moved him (we have now named the bird "Herman") from one tree to the other. We both dreaded to come home to face what we though was certain failure, but much to our surprise, when we drove in o~r driveway about 7:30p.m., Ron said, "Look, the mother found him and is on the nest." And indeed, there she was. That was Tuesday, and the family "seems to be doing fine. I believe they are doing more singing or calling since that day, but perhaps we are just more aware of it. The whole experience gave us a rea lly warm, fuzzy feel ing and a new awareness of the seeming intel ligence of bird life. Editor's note: This story was written by Marge Lumpe, former President of Bexar Audubon and now President of the Mitchell Lake Wetlands Society. 5 For Your Christmas List? New Book Details National Park Service Struggles to Preserve and Protect Parks Our national park system contains some of the most recognizable natural features on this continent. Such sublime places as the Grand Canyon, the Yosemite Valley, Old Faithful, and the Teton Mountains, are part of the celebrated ·geography of high mountains and vast open spaces which has long enhanced America's national park movement. In the new book, PRESERVING NATURE IN THE NATIONAL PARKS: A History (October 27; Yale University Press; $35), Richard West Sellars, National Park Service historian, traces the epic clash of values between traditional scenery ("facade") management for tourists and environmental concerns in the national parks. Spanning the period from the creation of Yellowstone National Park in 1872 to the present, Sellars analyzes the management of fires, predators, elk, bear, and other natural phenomena in our . park service. Because Sellars bases his research largely on original documents, PRESERVING NATURE IN THE NATIONAL PARKS is the most comprehensive history of the parks ever written. Focusing on the decades after the National Park Service was established in 1916, Sellars reveals the dynamics of pol icy formulation and change, as landscape architects, foresters, Wildlife biologists, and other Park Service professionals contended for dominance and shaped the attitudes and culture of the Service. The book provides a fresh look at the national parks and an analysis of why the Service has not responded in full faith to the environmental concerns of recent times. Richard West Sellars is uniquely familiar with the history, culture, and dynamics of the Service-including its biases, internal alliances and rivalries, self-image, folklore, and rhetoric. This is sure to be a controversial and important book for environmentalists, policy makers, and the general reader. The book is all the · more timely because Yellowstone is celebrating its 125th Anniversary this fall. Bexar Tracks HUMMINGBIRDS STILL NEED FEEDERS IN WINTER AUSTIN-With fall migration well under way, hummingbird enthusiasts have been asking, "Is it true that I have to take my feeder down in order to encourage the hummingbirds to migrate?" The answer, according to Christina McCain, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's (TPWD) Texas Hummingbird Roundup Coordinator, is "no." It is a common and deeply-rooted misconception that if feeders are left out after Oct. 1, the hummers won't leave and may starve and die in the coming cold. However, there is no scientific evidence to support this belief. Hummingbird migration is timed by a combination of many cues, such as a genetically-inherited migration clock and changes in weather patterns, daylight and ambient temperature. This complex system will not be altered by the presence of your feeder. Whether a bird stays or goes will not be determined by your feeder, but that precious food source might mean life or death to a straggling hummingbird who braves the winter months north of the tropics. If you decide to feed winter hummers, McCain suggests keeping the feeder clean and replacing the nectar solution every 2-3 days. A source of food that is contaminated or unreliable can be worse than no feeding at all. Overwintering hummingbirds are not uncommon in Texas. TPWD has found that as many as 10 different species of hummers overwinter in Texas, a greater diversity of species than most states report all year. Eighteen species of hummers in all have been recorded in Texas. Ten of these species are more common and we refer to them as the Texas Ten. The other eight are rare and include the elusive Green Violet-ear and, the most recent discovery, a Berylline hummingbird, which was documented in the Davis Mountains this year. Many of the rare hummingbird species that visit Texas do so during the fall migration season. TPWD's Texas Hummingbird Roundup is interested in learning more about overwintering hummingbirds. If a hummer visits your yard this winter, the Roundup would love to hear from you. Please contact them at the address below. November 1997 BIRD TALES Texas Hummingbird Roundup is an ongoing survey currently in its fourth year. Thus far, the study has resulted in the compilation of one of the largest databases_ on backyard hummingbird observations. Since the Roundup's inception, thousands of backyard birders have participated. If you are a hummingbird watcher and would . like to join the Texas Hummingbird Roundup Survey, send $6.00 to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Hummingbird Roundup, 4200 Smith School Rd., Austin TX 78744. You will receive a_1998 survey packet including survey form, scarlet sage seeds, and a reference guide for Texas hummingbirds. Also, a full-color hummingbird identification wheel can be ordered for an additional $11.95. For more information, check the TPWD web site at: www.tpwd.state.tx.us. TEXAS WILDSCAPES CREATES WILDLIFE-FRIENDLY BACKYARDS AUSTIN-If you don't think "habitat" when you look out at your backyard, you'd better start now-it's the new buzzword in gardening. And, while most of us are spurred to gardening action by spring's first blush in April, now is actually the time to plant if you want to see native color sprouting next year. Enter Texas Wildscapes, a project of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department which encourages property owners and caretakers to establish and maintain habitat for Texas wildlife in their own backyards, schoolyards, and corporate grounds. Put simply, it means landscaping your yard so that it works with nature as much as possible, rather than fighting against it. It means using plants and landscape designs that benefit desirable wildlife by providing food, water, and shelter. In exchange for this effort, urban "wildlife managers" will attract a variety of songbirds, hummingbirds, butterflies, and other species. Although they probably won't 6 notice it right away, it will improve the ecology of yards so much that-hopefully -pesticides will no longer be necessary. The beneficial insects the yard attracts will take care of most pest insects. Best of all, the plants most often recommended for backyard habitats are plants that, once established in the proper location, should not require much water or care. And fall is the best time to plant them, so the roots can become well-established before the plant is expected to produce flowers, nuts, or berries next summer. Anyone can order the Texas Wildscapes package for $15. In return, they will receive a substantial packet of information including booklets on butterfly and hummingbird gardening, The Backyard Naturalist by Craig Tufts of the National Wildlife Federation, a list of native plant and seed sources in Texas, a booklet describing how to provide the basics for a backyard habitat, and a recommended native plant list specific to their ecological region of Texas. Also included in the packet is an application to certify the yard as an official Texas Wildscape Backyard Habitat. Once the habitat is certified, they will receive a personalized certificate and weatherproof backyard sign which proclaim the habitat as an official Texas Wildscape. The Wildscapes program has proven popular, attracting more than 6,000 participants since its beginning in 1994. Over 900 of those participants have applied for and received the official "Texas Wildscape" designation. To order an information packet, send a $15 check made out to Texas Parks and Wildlife Depar~ment to Texas Wildscapes, Nongame and Urban Wildlife Program, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, Texas, 78744, or call Texas Parks and Wildlife Headquarters toll-free at 1-800-792-1112, ext. 4974. Editor's note: Wildscape Packets can be purchased directly from the San Antonio Office of the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, 134 Braniff, San Antonio. Please call ahead (348-6350) to make sure that Rufus Stephens or Judit Gowen will be there to handle the transaction. BAS is one of the founding members of Natural Initiatives, an area environmental consortium which, among other things, promotes Wildscaping. Bexar Tracks BIRD TALES A Day to Remember Incredible Streams of Hawks Set Records In South Texas Having had a whole day to' reflect on the record breaking day, I fit)d it very hard to find the words to accurately relate the experience to you. I would like to tell everyone how fortunate I feel to have been present at Hazel Bazemore this Monc;lay to see and be a part of such a tremendous show of nature. I can't tell you why it happened. I can't even guess if it will ever happen again -1 sure hope it does. I can tell you that we missed quite a few birds. With a cloudless sky, it is very hard to pick up the really high birds. Several times we didn't see the front of some "streams" as they went overhead (once they passed overhead, they were blocked from view by the trees behind us). No one knows how many we missed from those kettles or how many entire kettles were missed completely. I guess I'm trying to say, as incredible as it may seem, that the count should have been larger-! just have no way of knowing how much larger. There seemed to be Broad-wings all over the sky. Counters had to split up to count two, three or four large kettles at a time with still others counting single birds going through at the same time. And during all of this, several non-watchers had to make sure that each counting group was counting different birds. A great deal of care was taken to ensure that the counts were as accurate as could be. All involved did a wonderful job. It was very tiring. It was very exhilarating. We saw kettles of hawks that looked like monstrous tornadoes weaving back and forth as they stretched to the heavens. We saw rivers of hawks that reached across the sky from almost one horizon to another. Several times I had to give in to the fatigue in my shoulders, arms and neck and drop my binocs. I was frustrated at having to rest physically while there were still thousands of hawks overhead. I could not even take time out to watch a Pregrine streak by as a "naked eye bird" because I was trying my hardest to identify each bird in a group of accips high overhead. My wonderful wife will testify that this was a tremendous sacrifice on my part because Peregrine Falcons are, and have always been, my favorites. November 1997 The people sounds were amazing! Shouts of "kettle" and "they're streaming" were almost a constant. As far as kettles go, there were: "small" kettles, "large" kettles, "super•'• kettles, "mega" kettles, "get off your butt, it's huge" kettles, "ball of gnats" kettles, "swirling/swarming" , kettles, "Oh my God" kettles, "you won't believe this" kettles, and "oh . oh . oh" kettles. "Sharpie across the front of 'em." "There's an Osprey in there with them!' "Anhingas in the middle." "There's more streaming in from below." "They're streaming out of the top." "They go back as far as I can see." "They're coming out of the bottom of that cloud." "Keep on this group, there;s another kettle to the east." I sincerely hope that each and every one of you can experience a day like this. I will never forget it. -Bill Beasley Texas State Aquarium, Corpus Christi, Texas. bbeas/ey@electrotex.com 'Hot Topics' Provide Straight Talk About Water, E"vironment People needing· "straight talk" about commonly asked questions on water and environmental issues may want to take a look at the "Hot Topics" web site, developed by a joint project of the Texas Water Resources Institute (TWRI} and the TAMU Environment and Natural Resources Program (ENRP). "Hot Topics" is available on the ENRP WWW site at http://cnrit.tamu.edu/enrp/: Other links can be found on the TWRI WWW site at http:// twri.tamu.edu. "Our reason for developing the 'Hot Topics' is that we know many Texans are asking questions and need answers about complex environmental issues," says TWRI Director Wayne Jordan. · Some of the topics that were developed focus on wetlands and endangered species, microbiological contaminq.tion of water supplies, water availability, the Edwards Aquifer, and water rights. "Hot Topics" also contain links to many other related pages, numerous photographs and illustrations, and quizzes that readers can take before and after they have gone through the home pages. "This could make them a great resource for public school teachers and students," Jordan says. -New Waves, August 1997 7 New Source of Environmental Information Now on Internet Five great information resources are now available on the homepage of the Committee for the National! nstitute for the Environment at http://www.cnie.org. Includes: hundreds of environmental reports from the Library of Congress on most environmental topics; over 120 environmental programs in the Directory of Higher Education Environmental Program, a collaboration with the Center for Conservation Biology Network at Rice University; information on all aspects of Population and Environment Linkages; Environmental Laws and Treaties section; and the Virtual Library of Biodiversity, Ecology and Environment maintained by the Rice University Center for Conservation Biology Network. · November '97 Calendar November 12th . SA Parks Dept.- Public Meeting- "New Parks Plan," 6:30-8:30 p.m. Dawson Community Center, 2500 E. Commerce. (Info. 207-7245) November 13th : . Bexar County Ext. - Workshop - "Pond Construction & Management," $5.00 fee, San Antonio, TX. (info.930-3086) November 15th . Sierra Club -Workshop &. Training Course - "Texas Water Resources," 8:00am-4:30pm, sm. fee, LCRA offices, Austin . (info. 512/4 77 -1729) November 18th . Alamo Sierra Club - "Costa Rica: Turtles & Tourists," given by Andy Balinsky, 7:30pm, Unitarian Church, free. (info. 828-0919} November 18th . SA Parks Dept. - Public Meeting - "New Parks Plan," 6:30-8:30 p.m., Normoyle Community Center, 700 Culberson Ave. (Info. 207-7245) November 19th . SA Parks Dept. - Public Meeting - "New Parks · Plan," 6:30-8:30 p.m., Lou Hamilton Center, 10700 Nacogdoches. (Info. 207-7245) November 25th . Native Plant Society - "Landscape Design" given by David Will, 7:00pm, [,.ion's Field, free. (info. 828-5956} Bexar Tracks Bexar Audubon Society, Inc. P. 0. Box 6084 San Antonio, TX 78209 Address Correction Requested Non-profit Organization U.S. Postage Paid San Antonio Permit #590 __., . r --- . 11ntroductory Membership 1 RECURRING EVENTS 1 National Audubon Society 1 I Bexar AudubonSociety I Second Thursday of Each Month. Bexar Audubon Society Board Meetings. I (Chapter Code W19) I Call408-7731 for more info. Members welcome I New memberships tal Third Thursday of Each Month Bexar Audubon Society General Meetings, Open I National Audubon Society, including I (except Aug) Call 822-4503 for info. to the public, Ruble Center, 419 E. Magnolia, 7 pm I a subscription to Audubon magazine, I First Saturday of Each Month. Friedrich Wilderness Park offers a free guided lare $20 ($15 for seniors or full-timel Call 698-1 057 for more info. general natural history hike I students). This includes membership I 1in Bexar Audubon and a subscription Second Saturday of Each Month. Bexar Audubon sponsors the "Second Ito Bexar Tracks,as well. For Information and Reservations, Saturday" program at Friedrich Park I Makes a great gift! call 698-1 057 $2 donation requested. 1Name Fourth Saturday of Each Month. Birding morning at Mitchell Lake - meet at 8 am I Address Call 308-6788 for more information Led by Ernie Roney (656-4239; I city San Antonio Audubon Soc.) I state Zip First Tuesday of Each Quarter .San Antonio Environmental Network meets at I March, June, September, December. the Witte Museum auditorium, 7 pm. Free and IPhone: ( ) Call 822-4503 for more info open to the public :Mail this coupon and your check- Visit Bexar Audubon's New Household Hazardous Waste payable to "National Audubon Web Site: The city of San Antonio's 11th Household I Society" to: http://www.audubon.org/chapter/tx/bexar/ Waste Collection will be held Saturday, I Bexar Audubon Society Suggestions and contributions are welcome. November 15, 1997 at Memorial Stadium, I P. 0 . Box 6084 Please contact Jill Sondeen at 4002 Roosevelt. Collection hours are 8:00 I San Antonio, TX 78209 jsondeen@ netxpress.com am to 1 :00 pm . . ___________ . November 1997 8 Bexar Tracks COMPARISON OF KEY ELEMENTS OF ESA BILLS - CURRENT AND PROPOSED -ACTION EXPECTED VERY SOON Call your U.S. Senators and Congressperson today • Support H.R. 2351 • Congressional switchboard (202)224-3121 PREVENT SPECIES DECLINE LIST IMPERILED SPECIES PROTECT HABITAT FEDERAL DUTIES CURRENT ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT No mandatory protection for candidate species or proposed species. No final deadline for determination of endangered and threatened candidate species. Listing decisions made "solely on the basis of the best scientific and commercial data available." Requires critical habitat designation at time of listing, with exceptions. Protects critical habitat from federal actions that cause "destruction or adverse modification." Federal agencies have a duty to reduce impacts of actions on, and not jeopardize the continued existence of. endangered and threatened species, by consulting with wildlife experts at Fish & Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service. HOUSE ENDANGERED SPECIES RECOVERY ACT (H.R. 2351) Encourages ecosystem approach by federal agencies, incorporating protections for candidate and proposed species. § 1 05( 1) Provides tax incentives for private landowners conserving proposed and candidate spe~ies. §20 1 Encourages multi-species habitat conservation plans to cover proposed and candidate species if actions are consistent with their recovery. §lOS( a) Requires the Services to decide whether to list each candidate species within four years of being placed on the candidate list. § 103 . Sets content requirements for listing petitions. § l 04 Closes loophole excluding protection for last remaining U.S. populations of invertebrates and plants. §101(16) Requires interim essential habitat to be designated at time of listing, based on what is knownabout the habitat requirements and location of the species. Finalizes and refines it with the final recovery plan (30 month deadlines). §102 Limits widely abused exceptions. § 102 Clarifies that critical habitat is protected from federal actions reducing the likelihood of recovery. §102 Addresses abuse of consultations by requiring documentation and public access to records of consultations. § l07(b) Requires consultation on U.S. actions ove~Sro.S. § 107(d) Clarifies that recovery is the standard by which to judge impacts of federal actions. § 1 07(b) Streamlines consultation process by allowing consolidation o.f many projects in same area. §l07(r) Reduces consultation delay by allowing consultations for proposed species. §l07(a) SENATE ENDANGERED SPECIES RECOVERY ACT (S. 1180) Allows long-term, multi-species habitat conservation plans to set unchangeable management measures for candi~ate and proposed species prior to listing if the plans are "likely to eliminate the need to list the species." §S(c) Authorizes unchangeable "candidate conservation agreements" for proposed and candidate species that automatically convert into Habitat Conservation Plans if a species is listed. §S(d) Further delays and politicizes listing decisions by: • switchingscientific burden of proof to the public §2(c); • excluding the use of scientific models for population dynamic es~imates §2(b); · • requiring notification and hearings in up to five states with resident species §2(c); and · • requiring peer review of every listing decision, even if non-controversial §2(c). · Requires critical habitat designation concurrent with final recovery plan (30 months) but with lio interim protection. §3(n) Rolls back the dock on critical ~abitat by reestablishing old exceptions to critical habitat designation requirement. §3(n) Allows federal agencies, as well as industries on federal lands, to be fully exempted from the ESA if actions are part of a "recovery implementation agreement," even if those actions will ultimately harm species. §3(1) Gives Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management 15- month window to ignore cumulative impacts of management plans on newly listed species and new critical habitat. §4(e) Allows consolidation of projects in same area. §4(f) Requires inventory of species on federal lands. §4(b) Gives industries preferential treatment by allowing closeddoor negotiations with Fish and Wildlife Service biologists. §4(h) COMPARISON OF KEY ELEMENTS OF ESA BILLS - CURRENT AND PROPOSED -ACTION EXPECTED vERY SOON. Information provided by the Endangered Species Coalition • 1101 14th St., NW, Ste 1400 • Washington, DC 20005-5601• 202-682-9400 CONSERVE HABITAT ON PRIVATE LANDS RECOVERY PLANNING ECONOMIC INCENTIVE CURRENT ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT Exemptions for non-federal landowners, called incidental take permits or Habitat Conservation Plans, available if landowner mitigates impact on species and its habitat. Administration policy ("No Surprises") prohibits any changes to HCPs unless taxpayers pay for them. Recovery plans are developed by independent scientists from universities, as well as federal and state agencies. No deadline for recovery plans. None HOUSE ENDANGERED SPECIES RECOVERY ACT (H.R. 2351) Permits HCPs if they are consistent with overall recovery of covered species and permit holder adopts "adaptive management" provisions for reasonably foreseeable circumstances. Allows permit holder to cover costs of adaptive management with surety bonds, adjustable bonds, and phased bonds. Mitigation from unforeseeable circumstances paid by federal HCP fund. §108(a) SENATE ENDANGERED SPECIES RECOVERY ACT (S. 1180) Allows long-term, multi-species habitat conservation plans and candidate conservation agreements to set in stone unchangeable management measures for listed and unlisted species. Requires taxpayers to pay for additional mitigation in "extraordinary circumstances." §5(c) Gives exemption to conservation plans having ''low effect" on species survival, with only "appropriaf.e" mitigation. §5(c) Establishes standards for mitigation, monitoring, Establishes fund to loan states money to develop plans. §5(h) and increased opportunity for early public review of HCPs. §108(a) · Allows Secretary to exempt corporations, landowners, I . . . and states from ESA under a "No Take Agreement" with Stream rnes perm1ttmg process for small landowners . . . . . . . . . ' with "low effects," considering cumulative impacts. &lOO(a) no cntena, pubhc nottflcat!On, or mltigatton. §9(c) Sets two-step recovery planning process. Establishes 30-month deadline for recovery plan completion and sets objective benchmarks for recovery and delisting. Requires plans to prioritize actions that will have greatest potential to recover species. § 1 05(1) · Requires federal agencies to develop their own implementation plans and encourages state and local agencies to implement recovery plans. §105(2) Fo-rlancrsu5Ject to an approvea en species conservation agreement: • gives estate tax deferral §202; • gives state aJid local real estate tax deductions for property §203; • gives tax credits for costs of compliance with endangered species conservation agre.ements §204. New Community Assistance Office. § 108 Sets two-step recovery planning process. Establishes 30- month deadline for recovery plan completion and sets benchmarks for de listing. Requires plans _to prioritize actions that will have least economic impact. §3(b) Requires federal agencies to develop their own implementation agreements; authorizes delegation of recovery authority to states, tribes, COUI1ties, private companies. § 1 0(1) Requires tmrlewith ~mnmic ~on recovery teams. §3(d) Allows HCPs, MOUs, and Forest Plans to substitute for recovery plans with no review of suitability. §3(b) Requires speculative and burdensome analysis of "economic costs" of recovery plan implementation. §3(e) Allows Secretary to bypass recovery team and/or transfer recovery planning to unqualified state agency. §3(b) Requires final recovery plans for 250 already listed species within 36 months of vassa2e. &3(e) Establishes Property Owners Education and Technical Assistance Program. §7 Authorizes taxpayer subsidies of habitat destruction ($10,000 per agreement).§5(f) For more info. contact the Endangered Species CoCllition • 202-682-9400
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