Bexar tracks : the newsletter of the Bexar Audubon Society, Vol. 16, No. 09

• Main Author: Bexar Audubon Society
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: San Antonio, Tex. : Bexar Audubon Society, 1998
• Subjects: Birds > Conservation > Texas > Periodicals.; Ornithology > Texas > Periodicals.; Nature conservation > Texas > Periodicals; Clubs and Organizations; Science and Technology; Ajax; Arctic; Austin; Beck; Handle The; Hoskins; McKibben; North Star; Phoebe; Ripen; Rivera; San Miguel; Sullivan; Sumner; Watchers; Arctic tern; Atlantic puffin; Sabine's Gull; Sperm whale; Seal Island; Skrei
• Online Access: http://digital.utsa.edu/cdm/ref/collection/p15125coll10/id/8006

Bexar Tracks began with Vol. 4, no. 1 (January 1986). It continues Newsletter (Bexar Audubon Society). 1 ¥_C. C"bll fu\tu CQL \J)'64 ;rl.\ 0--\li BEXAR AUDUBON SOCIETY SAN ANTONIO TEXAS SAN ANTONIO ENVIRONMENTAL NETWORK PUBLIC ISSUES FORUM Environmental . Educatio 7 p.m., Tuesday, March 3, 19 Witte Museum, Prassel Auditori Calling All Te;:Jchers . For what: A look at environmental education programs available for teachers to e will start the evening off with a short presentation by Catriona Glazebrook, Executive Director of the exas Audubon Society who will detail her work on the TEKS standards and Environmental Education 2000. Education 2000 is a statewide whole committee working with the state legislature on incorporating environmental education into our schools. Catriona will also discuss how these programs can be used to prepare for TAAS. We will have a panel of users-educators who have utilized environmental education programs: Finally we will have a panel of providers, various governmental and non-profit groups who provide environmental education programs for the clas.sroom. These organizations, as well as others, will also have their wares on dispfa~,;' Groups invited include Bexar Audubon Society, San Antonio Water Systems, San Antonio Zoo, Texas Agricultural Extension Service, Master Gardeners, Friedrich Wilderness Park, and Mitchell Lake Wetlands Society, among others, Contact Bill Sain at 210-408-7731 for more information. Saturday, February 21, 1998 Chapter Outing Brush Country Birding This month's outing will be birding south of San Antonio. Joyce and Dick Pipes have generously offered to us a walking tour of their 850 acre ranch (no you don't have to walk the whole thing!) in the brush country of Pleasanton. They have three tanks­Leaky, Yellow-Belly, and Big Tank-that may provide us with waterfowl and waders. Lots of neat habitat and birds to see. Bring drinks for the walk. Our hosts will provide a light snack after we bird. We'll meet at the Ruble center on Saturday, February 21st, at 7:45a.m. to carpool or caravan and arrive at the ranch at 9:00. Should be back in San Antonio by 2:00 p.m. Contact Dawn Garcia at 210-226-3807 or drmel@ sprintmail.com to join the fun. See page 7: Next month's outing is earlier than usual, Sunday, March 8th. Thursc/ay, February 19, 1998 Chapter Meeting Purple Martins Meet One of San Antonio's Most Popular Birds 7 p.m. - 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 Phil Beckhelm, owner with wife Libby of The Wild Bird Center, 2211 Northwest Military Highway, will present a program on one of San Antonio's most anticipated and appreciated bird species-the Purple Martin. Phil will discuss-and illustrate his discussion with s'lides-what we know about martins, what we should know about martins and what we know about martins that ain't so. His topic will include basic martin biology, the feeding habits of these graceful flyers, predator problems, nest site competition and the diverse requirements of being a martin landlord. Phil and Libby have operated The Wild Bird Center in north San Antonio since May 1996. In addition to selling a full line of bird foods, feeders, shelters and related supplies, the Beckhelms lead birding safaris in San Antonio and the wilds of west Texas. They have helped sponsor Audubon Adventures, the BAS children's classroom program. A last-minute announcement: We will have some very special guests at this meeting: Mario Pedraza and Raul Rivera, members of Grupo Ecologico Sierra Gorda of Queretaro Mexico. See page 4 for more information about our visitors. BEXAR AUDUBON SOCIETY Chapter of the National Audubon Society P. 0. Box 6084, San Antonio, TX 78209 • 21 0-822-4503 . ·. , GOALS Tile_ Chapter's primary goajs are. . ·:: oi· .• ./ ·- January was a good ~onth for BAS fundraising. We received two grants • . Jrom the Margaret Cullinan Wray Trust. The first was in the amount of $1 ,500 and is designated for support of the general operations of our organization. Your board to promote species and ·habitat conservation and environmental education -will decide how these funds·are··to be spent: · The second grant fro'm·the Wray Trust was in the amount of $500 in support President Vice Pres. Treasurer Secretary Bd. Memb. Bd. Memb. Bd. Memb. Bd. Memb. Bd. Memb. Bd. Memb. Past Pres. in the commuriity. OFFICERS AND BOARD Bill Sain ([e-mail]) . 408·7731 Richard Pipes . [e-mail]) . . 281·2452 Betty Minyard . ([e-mail]) . :>:344:6128 Deborah Robinson (" BiO Sai~'s) . . 493·4663 Chris Dullnig . ([e-mail]) . 830·980·8156 Kim Hoskins . . . . . 696·3780 John Langan . (luby491 @aol.com) . . . 491·0692 Mike Mecke . ([e-mail]) . 520-6252., Katie Nava-Ragazzi . . . . . . . 804-1226 . " . . . (72703.411 @compuserve.com) Harry Noyes . . . . . 490-3124 Harriet Wiygul . ([e-mail]) . 534-7505 COMMITTEE CHAIRS Adopt-a-Park Bill Woller . . . . . . 223-3281 Aud. Adven. Betty Minyard . ([e-mail]) . . 344-6128 Birdathon Bill S'!in ([e-mail]) . 408-7731 Conserv. Richard Pipes . [e-mail]) . . . 281-2452 Education · Katie Nava-.Ragazzi . . (see above) . . . . 804-1226 Hospitality Nancy Johnson . . . . . . . 655-1338 Memb. Susan Hughes . . . . 532-2332 " . , . . . ([e-mail]) Naturallnit. Tom Wilson . ([e-mail]) . . 492-4799 Outings Dawn Garcia/Mel Richardson . . . . . 226-3807 " . . '. ([e-mail]) Programs Chris Dullnig . ([e-mail]) . 830-980-8156 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 . ([e-mail]) . 492-4799 Editors Jill Sondeen . [phone] [e-mail]) . Fax: [phone] Bexar Tracks is your newsletter. We welcome your contributions. Next deadline: Feb. 20, 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. February 1998 · ol the San Antonio Environmental Network (SAEN). Previously, several participating· organizations assisted BAS in funding SAEN. Now, all participating organizations can utilize their funding for other purposes. In addition, we will be expanding our publicity for the SAEN Issues 'Forums. We a!so received an anonymous donation of $2,500 in support of our . {ledgling Land Conservation 96mmlttee. Of tHis donati0\1, $2,000 will be added to an endowment we have recently established. The remaining $500 will be used for . additional fundraising :•We will -provide additional details on this committee in future : newsletters, but we have been q!Ji~ successful to date in our fundraising for this effort. The long-range goal is to create an endowment fund that will allow us to conserve land in the Hill Co1,1ntry area through land purchases or conservation :.easements. We wfl). not be able to do this alone, but intend to work with other groups with similar interests to identify environmentally-sensitive lands and attempt - to protect them from development. This donation brings the endowment total to over $34,000. If you are interested in working on our Land Conservation Committee, please call me at 210-408-7731. -Bill Sain CHAPTER NEWS Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Inc. Recovers Injured Pelican at Mitchell Lake As is typical, there is always some excitement at Mitchell Lake Wetlands (MLW). When Sumner and I are conducting our bird-banding, we make sure to do some birding along the way. This Saturday morning was no different and I was looking forward to another cool animal sighting or seeing some interesting bird behavior. And there it was, in the southern end of the East Polder. Oddly, an American white pelican was sitting there, alone, and in the middle of morning. Due to his posture we knew something was wrong, so we pulled out the binocs and the scope. The pelican moved, lifting up his head. His foot followed, seemingly attached to his lower mandible. Then, pulling his foot down, his head went under water, and he struggled to right himself to keep from drowning. This sequence occurred many more times when I was watchin~ . It was a tragic, pathetic scene. The pelican was dying, not of a natural cause, but of one obviously associated humans, fishing line perhaps. There was no way for us to get the to bird, sans a flat-bottom boat. Walking to him was out of the question, we all know the depth and content of the polder floors! · When I went home, I irT)mediately called Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation (WRR), a rehab facility in Boerne, that I had recently visited. They said they .woul.d attempt to do what they c·ould and keep me posted on their progress. I also talked to Harry Noyes, a volunteer for WRR and Bexar Audubon Board f\lember. He was concerned and very instrumental in propelling things forward. The next morning (SU[Jday) WRR went out with a flat-bottom boat and somehow managed to work the boat out to the pelican, when the boat would no longer float. Tim Ajax, the Director of Veterinary Services (and "captain" of the rescue boat!), said that the bird had one treble hook attached under his right eye, which was attached to another treble hook, caught in the webbing of the right foot. Normally, if the bird was in good health, the crew would have removed the hook and released the· bird on the spot. However the pelican had been in this situation Peftcan confmued on page 3 2 Bexar Tracks Pelican continued from page 2 foe at least four, days (we heard someone had seen him on Thursday), and was weak and emaciated. Three days after the rescue and medical care, the pelican, an adult male is still alive: When he is fit, WRR plans to retease him back. to Mitchell Lake. Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Inc. is a non-profit o:rganization run by Lynn Cuny and has been fn operation for 20 years. Lynn and a group of dedicated, employee and volunte,er st~ff, take care of injur'ed, sick, or unwanted an.imals. The goals of the organization ,are to rescue, rehabilitate, and release the indigel)ous animals that have b~en injured in some way, and provide perman'ent care for thos·e animals, indigenous or other, that cannot be released into their nat!Jral environment. If you are aware of an animal that needs aid, or want to beeome a member, or make a donation (monetary or other) call 698-1709. If you have time to volunteer­see the next article for more details. You can probably catch Harry Noyes at the next meeting for more information. Thanks to Harry, Tim, Lynn, and all of the staff, for your help with this pelican and other critters in need! -Dawn Garcia Upland Birc! Project at Mitchell Lake Wetlands Needs Your Help . , · The Upland Bird team with Mitchell Lake Wetlands (MLW) Science Committee, needs dedicated volunteers for several positions. We are looking for people to conduct seasonal point counts, assist with bi rd-banding, and to help with occasional trail and net-lane maintenance. February 1998 CHAPTER NEWS ., Point counts, conducted only four times a year, require individuals with excellent acoustical and visual bird identification skills. We also need one or two reliable people, with gentle hands, who can be available early mornings to early . afternoons, at least two Saturdays a month, to assist with bird-banding. · · Trail and net lane maintenance, needed only on occasion, is an important part of the project. It allows us to move easily from point to point during our point counts ar'ld keeps the mist-nets free of vegetation during banding. No experience required here, just a good attitude and a s~eat band! Interested? Sumner and I are happy to invite intere?ted persons to come along on a Saturday morning or to call and we'll discuss all the details. I can be reached at 210-226-3807 or [e-mail]. Cal( Sumner Dana at 21 0-490-6809 or email at [e-mail]. -Dawn Garcia Sea World Outing Report BAS Members Meet Resident Penguins ·up Close & Personal, See Development Of Habitat for Prairie Birds & Plants Twenty folks joined this outing and were led through the avian section of Sea World by aviculturist Susannah Corona. The weather cooperated fully; sunny and a . balmy 70 degrees. Ah, winter in Texas! Highlights were many. Susannah revealed the educational prairie, developed . by the bird crew, to show visitors the grasses and plants that would normally constitute ·prairie chicken habitat and a good portion of Texas,; We saw the large enclosures, secluded and heavily planted, that will house the Attwaters when they arrive. The free-flight aviary in the park was another treat. It housed quite a.mixture .of species ·. representing many· continents, some natives like roseate spoonbills · and hooded mergansers but also African hammercops, Chilean flamingos, scarlet ibis· from South ·America, Australian kookaburras and a variety of beautiful waterfoWl species. All along the tour we identified native species taking advantage of the habitat that Sea World has unintentionally created for these birds. There were great 3 egrets, cormorants, great blue 'herons, vultures, a red-shouldered hawk circling above, wood ducks, and a large group of breeding black-bellied whistling ducks. We then entered the penguin/ puffin exhibit where Susannah described the behaviors and plumages of the different species. She pointed out a decoy Atlantic puffin, created by the staff, sitting in the exhibit amongst the puffins and murres. Decoys are used to portray large populations in' reintroduction programs (like Seal Island) to encourage settlement and breeding in colonial nesters. · A tour behind the penguin exhibit was probably .the · most ·extraordinary experience for us. Carl Anglin, a long-time aviculturist with Sea World, talked about the aspects and benefits of parent-raised and hand-raised penguins. He has developed many of the hand-rearing protocols, especially for. penguin chicks, for the avian department. Both Susannah and Carl introduced us to several individual penguins. A three-foot-high king penguin proudly walked out of the exhibit, trumpeted, and then visited with each of us while we patted him and admired his beautiful colors. We also socialized with a chinstrap, and felt the smooth lines of the adult rockhopper "Simba," and ·the dense, warm, downiness of· a rockhopper chick . Certainly the little girl, Morgan, who joined our outing will have fun memories of her visits with the penguins . · So what is the avian crew· doing for conservation? For one, they are trying to encourage a more typical environment by suggesting and implementing natural wildscape within the park. A native bird checklist is in the works to oe distributed to visitors. Bat houses and purple martin homes are being installed in discrete areas around the park. The staff is helping to rear the endangered Aitwaters prairie chicken, in a naturaLsetting, for · eventual release. And they are sharing information, gained from experience incubat·ing eggs and rearing chicks, with important.studies done in a natural habitat, like the Puffin Project. Thanks Susannah and Carl! -Dawn Garcia Bexar Tracks CHAPTER NEWS Meet and See Mexico's Finest A Message and Invitation · From Sandra Skrei Ed. Note: Texas Audubon Society is hosting Mario Pedraza and Raul Rivera, of Grupo Ecologico Sierra Gorda, Queretaro Mexico, for two weeks of training in wildlife rehabilitation at a variety of facilities in San Antonio, Houston, Oallas, Nemo, Waco and Austin, thanks to a grant from the Summerlee Foundation in Dallas. Sandra Skrei, former staffer at the NAS Southwest Regional Office, will be their escort! translator during their stay from February 19 to March 7. Mario and Raul will be visiting our February 19'h Chapter Meeting. Sandra explains who are they and what Grupo Ecologico is in this article: H I had the good fortune to meet several wonderful people doing incredible work to preserve their local habitat duriri'g the years I worked for Audubon. Nowhere is this more true than in Central Mexico, and with the people of Sociedad Audubon de Mexico (Mexico Audubon), EcoHacienda Aztlan and Grupo Ecologico Sierra Gorda (Grupo Ecologico). These groups are working in a country where volunteerism is rare, the few laws on the books to protect wildlife are rarely enforced, and there are few people actively involved in protecting the environment. Despite these hardships, they are succeeding. Mexico Audubon has taken on the daunting task of reforesting the banks of a denuded river, the Rio Laja, and working with young peer counselors to provide environmental education for the local people. They have been instrumental in creating a conservation network in Central Mexico, including the reserve for the wintering monarch butterflies, Aztlan, an environmental education and demonstration center based at a restored hacienda, and Grupo Ecologico. After ten years of providing environmental education programs in schools and communities and working on local development (introducing composting toilets, fuel-efficient wood burning stoves, vegetable gardening and food preservation techniques, reforestation programs where land owners are paid to "raise" trees), Grupo Ecologico was successful in having their homeland, which encompasses over 47% of the state of Queretaro, declared a February 1998 Biosphere Reserve by the Mexican government. Mario and his brother, Roberto are introducing birding to the communities and are compiling the first bird list for the Sierra Gordas. They are finding populations of wild birds, like the bearded wood partridge, once thought to be on the verge of extinction, a colony of military macaws roosts there, and jaguars still roam the forests. Grupo Ecologico is planting over a million trees a year with a 95% survival rate, introducing sustainable technologies to improve the local quality of life and touching thousands of children and their families with environmental education programs. Grupo Ecologico's community-based conservation work has been so effective that when people find injured wildlife, they bring them to Grupo Ecologico's office in downtown Jalpan de Serra. They have been successful in releasing a Harris Hawk, but need training to handle the variety of animals brought in. Grupo Ecologico is also involved in efforts to build nature tourism to the area. Now, for the first time, these groups are working with EVOS-New World Travel & Study Tours. EVOS is based in San Miguel de Allende (as is Mexico Audubon) and runs cultural study tours featuring music, missions, arts, gardens and festivals in Colonial Mexico. They are expanding to work with Mexico Audubon and other conservationists as their contribution to helping protect Central Mexico's environment. Not only are they supporting local ecotourism, they are also making a donation to Mexico Audubon for each person on the eco-tour. If you enjoy traveling, like to combine nature tours with other cultural aspects, and would feel good knowing that by participating in a trip, you are meeting and helping dedicated conservationists, please join me on Audubon Foundation of Texas' Nature of Colonial Mexico Tour, November 7-16, 199a. The cost, which includes airfare from Houston, all hotels, breakfasts and lunches, tours, land travel, guides, lectures and a donation to Mexico Audubon and Texas Audubon chapters is $1775. Potential birds to see include military macaw, elegant trogon, blue-crowned motmot, red warbler, squirrel cuckoo, emerald toucanette and more. Contact tour leader and former Audubon liaison for Latin American chapters Sandra Skrei (512-303-0165 or 888-258-4687) for information and reservations. 4 CONSERVATION NEWS Gardening Tips Safe, Successful Gardening Depends On Careful Use of Chemicals and Maybe a Short Beer As the spring gardening "bug" grabs you, be sure to be wise and cautious in any use of pesticides, herbicides, etc. If you choose to use such products, ALWAYS read the labels and use the products ONLY in accordance with the labeling. Do not think that just because 1 teaspoon will do the job, 1 tablespoon would do three times as well. A particular concern~ is snail, slug, and sowbug bait. The active ingredient (metaldehyde) is not only very toxic, but is also very attractive to household pets and wildlife. It can readily kill your beloved "Fluff" or "Fido"--but your pet will suffer first. Don't take that chance. And you may never know its impacts on neighborhood wildlife. If you are concerned abo'ut slugs, snails, and sowbugs, first try putting a board down in your garden area and in the morning, pick it up and dispoS?e of the critters lurking beneath. You might also pour a shallow saucer of beer as a trap for slugs and snails. Remember, too, that getting the help of beneficial insects in your garden means that you have to have some prey to attract them. And the beneficials are susceptible to effects of pesticides, just as the "undesirable" bugs are. You can wipe out your best key to a healthy garden with one injudicious application of pesticide. Aim for a healthy balance in your garden. Plant plenty of native flowers, shrubs, vines, and trees to provide nectar for birds and butterflies. Know and nurture your caterpillars. Learn to recognize beneficial insects and learn what they eat or parasitize. Appreciate the life cycles that nature engineered. Reject a sanitized version of spring without the chirps and buzzes that a chemical soup can produce. This spring is a wonderful time to begin or continue to convert your yard to a wildscape. You will save water and eliminate time and fuel used in mowing, qualify for a rebate if you are in the SAWS service area, and enrich your life . just for a start. For more information on wildscaping, contact the Natural Initiatives program, c/o Rufus Stephens or Judit Gowan, Texas Parks & Wildlife, 210-348-6350. -Susan Hughes Bexar Tracks CONSERVATION NEWS It's For the Birds Purveyors of Fine Coffee, Join National Effort to Save Winter Habitats . Constant reade.rs of Bexar Tracks will remember stories in recent issues touting shade-grown coffee as a simple and tasteful way to help sustain our neotropical birds-those that grace our woods, fields ahd backyards in the summer and spend their winters in Central America . . Old-fashioned, and usualry organic, these beans grow in the shade of small trees disbursed across the fields. The trees provide the shade necessary for the finest variety of beans to slowly mature to perfection. While standing there, providing shade, they also provide winter housing and food for a variety of neotr.opical birds including warblers, orioles, tanagers, flycatchers, thrushes,. vireos and their manv other friends. The problem is thal new, more profitable, varieties of coffee have been developed which grow in the full sun ·and ripen in a shorter per,iod of time. They do require less labor but need much more chemical fertilizer and the fields are much more vulnerable to erosion. Obviously,, the loss of the shade trees in areas where rainforests are also being clearcut denies neotropical birds both shelter and food. No one knows how far individual populations must-drop before the species cannot be sustained. · Enter our crusadr? for shade­grown coffee. There is an international effort to increase the demand for shade-grown coffee as a practical and effective way to maintain the habitat for nj'lotropicals. Many conservation organizations have joined ·in this effort as has the Smithsonian Institution. Standards have been developed so that coffee labeled as shade-grown is such. Some organizations also provide standards for organic wowing and conscientious labor practices. Residents of the San Antonio area can join the crusade with very little effort and a very large rew·ard. Shade-grown coffees have appeared in local stores. These are high quality arabi cas bean · coffees of rich and robust flavor well worth drinking in any circumstance. They are not cheap but you can be secure in knowledge that, while catering to your good taste in coffee, you are benefiting some of our most attractive birds. February 1998 We will provide our readers with the names of local shade-grown coffee purveyors as th'ey become known to us and ask Bexar Tracks readers to phone in additional sightings of shade-grown coffee markets to Tom Wilson, 210-492-4799. Shade-Grown Coffee Is Available at: Wild Bird Center, 221·1 Northwest . Military Highway, San Antonio , Telephone [phone]. Three varieties, one decaffeinated. Whole Foods Market, Quarry Market, 255 E. Basse, #130, San · Antonio. "T:elephone 21 0-826-4676. At least a dozen varieties from three producers, including several decaffeinated and one brand blended with toasted hemp seeds for additional vitamins and reduced acidity. . Wild Birds Unlimited, 14602 Heubner Road, Suite 114, San Antonio, Telephone [phone]. Sixvarieties,.inc/uding decaffeinated, . hazelnut and expresso. Book Expiores Water Connection To Culture, Power & Development John M. Donahue and Barbara Rose Johnston have edited a new book entitled Water, Culture and Power. · Donahue is professor and chair of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Trinity University in San Antonio. Johnston is senior research fellow at the . Center for Political Ecology in Santa Cruz, California. Water, Culture and Power presents a series of case studies from around the world that examine the complex culture 'and power dimensions of water resources and management. The book is organized into three sections. The first section explores varied 5 cultural meanings of water and water resources by examining the impact of water resource development on indigenous peoples. The second set of case studies focuses on the political process of funding and building water resource projects; and the last section examines the cause and ' effect of culture and power conflicts on water issues. Donahue examines water issues with the Edwards Aquifer in the tenth case study of the book entitled: . "Water' Wars in South Texas: Managing the Edwards Aquifer." The chapter focuses on the debate and defeat of two referendums to build a surface reservoir as an alternative source of water to an e>dsting underground aquifer. An analysis follows of how proponents and opponents engaged in the construction of a cultural reality to support their competing agendas. For information on ordering Water, Culture and Power [ISBN: 1-55963-521-5 (cloth) or 1-55963-522:3 (paper)], contact Island Press at Box 7, Dept. 2PR, Covelo, CA ~5428 or 800- '828-1302. Editor's note: This review provided by BAS Board member Mike Mecke who terms it "a new book on a vety important topic, with an Edwards 'flavor"'. Wild EARTH Magazine Explores Population, Conservation Connection WildEARTH, the quarterly publication of the Wildlands Project, has published a special issue (winter 1997- 1998) dedicated to human overpopulation, especially as it relates to the environment and wildlife in particular. The issue is aimed at forging new ties between the population and conservation communities. The special issue contains a!1icles by Dave Forman, Bill McKibben, Gretchen Daily and Paul Ehrlich, Stephanie Mills, Sandy Irvine, William Catton, Virginia Abernathy, Kelpie Wilson, Roy Beck, Kirkpatrick Sale, Kevin Crooks, Phoebe Wray, Steve Gatewood and others . Copies may be ordered for $5.95 per copy (includes shipping) from WildEARTH, P.O. Box 455, Richmond, VT 05477, or call802-434-4077. Editor's note: this article sent to us by the U.S. Sustainable Population Policy Project (USS3P) which BAS has endorsed as a cosponsor. Bexar Tracks BIRD TALES Birds to Bytes: BirdSource's "Great ;98 Backy~rd Bird Count" Invites Families to Make History Count sponsored by Audubon & Cornell takes place Weekend of February 20-22 tool that just wasn't available before the creation of BirdSource-will revolutionize o'ur ability to keep track of birds." · To learn more about the Great '98 Backyard Bird Count, readers and viewers can visit the BirdSource web site. Media can see the Backyard Bird Count pages ITHACA, NY, January 20th-People as they develop at <http:// all acr<?SS the continent can help ~ birdsource2.ornith.cornell.edu/ make bird-watching history 9nJhe birdsource.>. People ihterested weekend of February 20th, 21st, and in counting can also call Cornell 22nd by participating in the first-ever at 1-800-843-2473 or write: BirdSource Backyard l;lird Count, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, 159 co-sponsored by the Cornell Laboratory of SapsLicker Woods Road, Ithaca, NY Qrnithology and t.he National Audubon 14850. Society. "It has become increasingly apparent that weather phenomena like El Nino may influence the winter movements of birds," says Frank Gill, Audubon senior vice president for science, "We need people to help us. If every one of the approximately 60-million bird watchers in the United States could participate, they would add significantly to our knowledge of how weather has impacted birds before they begin their journeys north." The BirdSourCf Great '98 Backyard Bird Count will ta~ place when birds are at the southern-mosl point in their migrations, just before thay begin their spring return trips. J Now, everyone can help by beirlf} part of th~ BirdSource Great '98 Backyard Bird Count. On the weekend of February 20-22, parents, children and gn;mdparents-any<;>ne with an interest in birds and access to the Internet-should watch 'their bird feeders and count the maximum number of the different bird species they see. For those without feeders, counts can be made in backyards, neighborhoods or local parks. Participants cah spend as little or as much time as they want counting birds during the three-day period. They are invited to submit their counts v1a BirdSource. <http:// birdsource.cornell.edu/>-which also offers assistance in bird identification-on an easy-to-use form. ' · ' Forms will be interpreted bY Audubon and Cornell ·scientists for instant display on the web. "BirqSource allows virtually up-to-the-minute analysis of important data," says Cornell's Fftzpatrick. "Watching the count results will be like watching election returns from all across the country, right on your own compute.r screen. This exciting and engaging technology-a February 1998 The Drought Is Broken Birder Reports Renewed Activity At Backyard ·Feeder In San Antonio Until today my backyard feeders have been relatively devoid of birdlife. I have been getting the normal · golden-fronted woodpeckers, a pair of cardinals, a pair of titmice, four to five house , finches, and one or two ruby-crowned · kinglets. The occasional great-tailed grackle, starling, blue jay, mockingbird, house sparrow and white-winged dove round out the lot. I just looked out back, however, and we have a beehive of activity. I counted at least 15 house finches, five American goldfinches '(I had only seen 1 before today), two orange-crowned warblers, and a golden-fronted woodpecker flitting · about the trees. The ruby-crowned kinglet was there earlier. I saw two Carolina chickadees yesterday for the first time in a while. I sure hope the feeder drought is over. ·Now I am·only missing my Carolina wrens. -Bill Sain Editor's note: There is nothing like this going on around my feeders. Same old · ctowd of sparrows, doves, with an occasional cardinal, a mystery warbler and my resident Carolina wren and black­chi'nhed'hummer. Upcoming Chapter Meetings: Mar 19 - Brian Sullivan: Snow Geese Population Problem · Apr 19- Christina McCain: Hummingbird Round-Up 6 UPCOMING EVENTS Master Naturalists to Hold Spring Awards Banquet The Master Naturalists will hold the first "Master Naturalist March Into Spring Awards Banquet" at 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 4, at the Leon Springs Dancehall, 24135 W IH 10, to "recognize outstanding initiative to protect our natural environment". Banquet chairpersons Mayor Howard Peak and County Judge Cyndi Krier will present awards to San Antonio area individuals or organizations in four categories: conservation, preservation, r~storation and education. The Master Naturalist program trains volunteers in a · variety of environmental sciences so that they can be effective aides to local park staff in many educational and recreational programs. The Master Naturalist program was developed by Natural Initiatives, a consortium of San Antonio environmental organizations brought together by Bexar Audubon Society. Entertainment at the catered buffet dinner will be provided by Jay Eric and the Blieders Creek Band. A silent auction will be held in addition to the award ceremony. · Tickets for the banquet, at $50 each, may be obtained from Vickie Silvas at Friedrich Wilderness Park, 21395 Milsa, San Antonio, Texas, 78256, telephone [phone]. In addition to individual tickets, corporate-sponsored tables may be purchased for $1,000. The group is also seeking donations of items for the silent auction. Master Naturalist volunteers are dedicated "to the conservation, preservation and restoration of our natural resources and the promotion of ecological education for all ages". The program has been so successful locally that it may be adopted throughout Texas. Earthwise Living Day Set For Feb. 28 The 9th annual Earthwise Living Day will be held Saturday, Feb. 28, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Leon Valley Community Center, Evers Rd. (2 miles outside IH 41 0). Bob Lilienfeld, editor of the national "Use Less Stuff" newsletter will be featured speaker. Free, but bring your own cup. Bexar Tracks UPCOMING EVENTS Gulf Trips Provide Unique Chance, To See $ea 13irds and Whales The 1998 Gulf of Mexico pelagic birding season is rapidly approaching . Three of the most promising trips are being organized through the Houston Audubon Society. The trips will depart from Freeport, TX at 9 p.m. on a Sunday evening and return on Tuesday morning. The daylight hours Monday will be spent birding and whale watching 80-100 nautical miles offshore in waters 200 to 1400 meters deep beyond the Continental Shelf edge. These trips will be on a 100 foot boat with observation deck, excellent air conditioning, full service galley, and sleeping quarters. A photo of the boat is on the Rinn Boats, Inc. web site at <http:// rinn.scubamaster.com/> The cost will be $180.00 per person and includes two nights lodging on board, four meals, crew tip, and a $15.00 non-refundable donation to HAS (If the trip is canceled, you will not have to include the donation again if you go on another one of these trips within the next year). These trips will be the first birding trips ever to be in the prime Texas pelagic birding areas during the prime birding times of early morning and late afternoon . . Expected bird species include Cory's and Audubon's shearwaters, band-rumped and leach's storm -petrels , magnificent frigatebird, masked booby, and bridled and scioty terns. Many others are possible. In addition to the four state review species listed above but seen regularly on most trips, 40% of previous trips to the destination of these trips have produced exceptional state list rarities, including black-capped petrel, greater shearwater, sooty shearwater, red-billed tropicbird, Sabine's gull, and Arctic tern. Other marine fauna is also seen including Atlantic spotted, pantropical spotted, clymene, and spinner dolphins, onshore and offshore varieties of bottle -nosed dolphins , short-finned pilot whale , sperm whale, pygmy spe(m whale, and Cuvier's beaked whale , whale- shark, leather-backed seaturtle, and others. TheJ:lates for these 1998 trips are June 21 -23, July 19-21 , and Sept 20~ 22 . The trip scheduled for last year · filled within one week, so if you are interested in these trips, please act quickly! Send checks payable to Houston Audubon Society at Houston Audubon Society, February 1998- Pelagic trip, 440 Wilchester Blvd., Houston, TX 77079-7329 . Spaces will be guaranteed only upon recefpt of payment Trips may be canceled if seas are too rough or if too few people' sign-up. For more information, contact: Dwight Peake, 30 Lebrun Court, Galveston, TX 77551, 409- 740-4621, email <[e-mail]>. BAS Members are invited: LWV-TX Workshop -on · Growth, Development, and County Authority The Coma! Area League of Women Voters is hosting a Workshop on Growth, Development, and County Authority sponsored by the Texas LWV non-profit Education Fund. It will be held Saturday, March 21, 1998 at the Tree Tops Resaurant, 444 East San Antonio St, New Braunfels, TX, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This workshop is open to the public and admission is free, but lunch will be $10. The program details were not available at press-time, but will consist of a panel of experts discussing the problems (environment, development, education, safety) that rapi.dly growing Texan metropolitan areas like ours are experiencing and the new tools given to counties by recent legislatioo. Come and learn what we can do about growth! Contact Rose Marie Eash, at 830-980- 3188 or email: <[e-mail]> to register or for more information. Registration deadline is March 16. -~ill Sandeen, Program VP, CALWV Basura Bash Needs You To Help Clean Our River Basura is Spanish for trash, and that's what many volunteers will collect during the "Basura Bash" set for March 14. This is the fourth year for the successful pickup effort . Last year 1,100 people collected more than 25 tons of trash. Litter will be collected along 10 miles of the river from the Alamo St. bridge to Mission Esp'ada. A free lunch will fo,llow. · Volunteers should show · up between 8 and 9 a.m. at the deployt:nent site-Mission County Park at the c.orner of White Avenue and Padre Dr. The drive should be completed by noon. More information is available at 21 0·823-3078. Bash sponsors include the SAWS, the San Antonio River Authority, H.E.B., Sea World and Waste Management, Inc. 7 ,., March Outing Attwater's Prairie Chicken National Wildlife ~efuge San Antonio Audubon President and expert birder, Bob Doe, will be leading us around the Attwater's Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge and neighboring area, at Eagle Lake, for our March outing. The refuge is home to the very endangered Attwater's prairie chicken. We're hoping to get a glimpse of these elusive grouse but it is not highly likely . We have a better chance of hearing them boom (males attracting mates), provided we get to the refuge in good time. OK, so what if we miss the chickens? Bob says there are plenty of waterfowl; several species of ducks and geese, lots of sparrows, Sprague's pipits, and a healthy population of raptors, including white-tailed hawks. There is also a resident bison herd. We'll be joining San Antonio Auduboners on this one so we'll have plenty of experienced eyes and 'ears for the makings of a grand daylist We will meet at the refuge at 8:00a.m. on Sunday, March 8th. Bring lunch, water, a comfy pair of shoes, and all the birding tools you need . I encourage carpooling since this is - a two and a half hour trip. Should be back home at about 6:00 p.m. Call Dawn Garcia at 210-226-3807 or email: <drmel@ sprintmail.com>. Important Land Acquisition Program A brown bag briefing about the objectives and selection criteria for the SAWS Land Acquisition Program for the Recharge Zone has been set up for noon, February 18th, in the SAWS conference room, 1001 E. Market St. Anyone interested is encouraged to attend. Some of you may know that SAWS has budgeted some funds for acquiring sensitive land over the recharge zone. They are encouraging citizens and organizations to submit proposals for targets and cooperatives. If you have any questions, please call Susan Rust (21 0-826-4698) or Suzanne Weedman (210-704-7526). Bexar Tracks Bexar Audubon Society, Inc. P. 0. Box 6084 San Antonio, TX 78209 Address Service Requested r --- "1 11ntroductory Membership 1 1 National Audubon Society 1 I Bexar AudubonSociety I I (Chapter Code W19) I I New memberships tol I National Audubon Society, including I I a subscription to Audubon magazine, I lare $20 ($15 for seniors or full-timel I students). This includes membership I I in Bexar Audubon and a subscription Ito Bexar Tracks,as well. I Makes a great gift! 1Name I Address I city I state Zip I IPhone: ( ) . :Mail this coupon and your check - payable to "National Audubon I society" to: I Bexar Audubon Society I P. 0. Box 6084 I San Antonio, TX 78209 . ___________ . February 1998 ' Non-profit Organization U.S. Postage Paid San Antonio Permit #590 RECURRING EVENTS Second Thursday of Each Bexar Audubon Society Board Meetings. Month. Ca11408-7731 for more info. Members welcome Third Thursday of Each Month Bexar Audubon Society General Meetings, Open (except Aug) Call 822-4503 for info. to the public, Ruble Center, 419 E. Magnolia,? pm First Saturday,of Each Month. Friedrich Wild~rness Park offers a free guided Call698-1057 for more info. general natural history hike Second Saturday of Each Month. Bexar Audubon sponsors the "Second For information and reservations, Saturday'' program at Friedrich Park call 698-1 057 $2 donation requested Fourth ~aturday of Each Month. Birding morning at Mitchell Lake - meet at 8 am Call 308-6788 for more information Led by Ernie Roney (656-4239; San Antonio Audubon Soc.) First Tuesday of Each Quarter San Antonio Environmental Network meets at March, June, September, December. the Witte Museum auditorium, 7 pm. Free and Call 822-4503 for more info open to the public Visit Bexar Audubon's New Web Site: http://www.audubon.org/chapter/tx/bexar/ Suggestions and contributions are welcome. Please contact Jill Sondeen at jsondeen@ netxpress.com 8 Bexar Tracks ~-