| Summary: | Bexar Tracks began with Vol. 4, no. 1 (January 1986). It continues Newsletter (Bexar Audubon Society). t BEXAR · AUDUBON SOCIETY First Place, 2000 National Audubon Society newsletter contest for large chapters Tuesday, June 5, 2001-San Antonio Environmental Network Meeting Water, growth costs, changing rural land ownership Topics for discussion at J one BAS/SAEN meeting 6:30p.m. - Social Time; 7:00p.m. - Program Free and open to the public-Extra parking across Broadway at /HOP Witte Museum, 3801 Broadway (Take Hildebrand exit off 281) For VIA public transportation: take Route 9 or 14 to the Broadway/ Pershing/ Toledo intersection Editor's note: As we do every quarter, BAS and the San Antonio Environmental Network share a meeting. Three engaging, interesting and important topics will be discussed at the June BAS/SAEN meeting. The topics and speakers are: "Update on San Antonio Water Issues"- Mary a. Kelly, former SAWS Board Member "Cost of Community Services- Hill Country Growth Costs"- Ellen Humphries, American Farmland Trust, San Marcos, TX "Fragmented Lands: Changing Rural Ownership in Texas"- Dr. Neal Wilkins, Extension Wildlife Specialist, Texas A & M University, College Station Mary a. Kelly is a San Antonio attorney and former SAWS board member and a former attorney for the (then) Edwards Underground Water District. Kelly will present a brief update and status report on the present and future major water issues facing residents of the greater San Antonio metropolitan area. Ellen Humphries is the Outreach and Development Coordinator for American Farmland Trust's (AFT) Texas office in San Marcos. AFT is the largest non-profit, private conservation organization dedicated to protecting our country's agricultural resources. Using Hays County (San Marcos) as the example, AFT studied the cost to county governments associated with the rapid, often poorly planned, urban expansion into former agricultural lands. Expansion from Austin into Hays County has been very heavy. An AFT publication describes data showing that "farms, ranches and open lands actually generate three times more dollars for the county than the county spends on them for public services. On the other hand, revenue from residential lands falls about 25% short of covering the costs of public services they receive. Ultimately, instead of expanding the tax base, residential development that is not balanced by business growth and maintenance of agricultural lands or open space will cause either increasing property taxes or declining levels of public services." Dr. Neal Wilkins is an assistant professor of Wildlife & Fisheries Sciences and an Extension Wildlife Specialist at Texas A & M University He co-directs the Land Information Systems Lab at TAMU. Dr. Wilkins will describe the results of a recent study documenting the division of rural lands into smaller parcels that shows that "ownership fragmentation may result in rural parcel sizes generally too small to maintain the economy-of-scale for traditional farming, ranching and forestry uses. Potential impacts of ownership fragmentation include loss of open space; a localized loss of farm, ranch, and forest production; higher demand for public services from rural areas; and a reduction in effective wildlife habitats." In addition, he will address buyer/seller motives and the future. Two Chapter Outings June 9th- Saturday-FIELD TRIP-Kerr Wildlife Management Area-Texas Parks & Wildlife Dept., near Mountain Home, TX. Meet ?am at Raymond Russell County Park on 1-1 OWest outside Loop 1604. Exit Camp Bullis/RR Park and stay on access road. Park is on right (east side of 1-1 0). We will park there and car pool to the Kerr WMA or caravan. Folks wanting to go up early to the Kerr WMA can be at their gate at daylight (about ?am) and it will be open to you. BAS tour starts at 9:00am and will end around 12:00 noon to 1:OOpm. Bring your water and lunch, we can have lunch on Kerr afterwards then head home or whereever. Dress appropriately for rough country. The Kerr WMA is a fine example of land and vegetation management using prescribed fire and livestock grazing as tools. The endangered black-capped vireo has greatly improved its numbers since the land management programs have restored the normal vegetation to the area. Typical Edwards Plateau vegetation and wildlife will be seen. July 21st - Saturday-FIELD TRIP-Mason Mountain Wildlife Management Area. Same agenda and meeting place as for KMA: Meet ?am at Raymond Russell County Park. We will park there and car pool to MMWMA. Will be touring a large ranch donated to the state with many types of African and Asian exotic wildlife species. Very different soils and somewhat different vegetation. Located in the Llano Uplift or Central Mineral Ecoregion near Mason, TX. Geology is igneous rather than sedimentary such as the rest of the surrounding Edwards region. We will hear what the state's plans are for the management of this new wildlife research area. Time frame will be similar to the KMA trip: 9:00am - 1:OOpm. Field Trips: Check BAS web site at www.BexarAudubon.org for info, maps. Call Mike Mecke for more info if needed and to sign up for the trips. Phone: 210/344-3737 evenings and weekends. 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 Past Pres. OFFICERS Mike Mecke (mikebmecke@prodigy.net) . . 344-3737 . . . Vacant Rita Banda (WaterHawk2@aol.com) . 830 606-1946 Susan Hughes (Susan@wordwright.com) . 532-2332 Bill Sain . . . Moved to New Mexico BOARD OF DIRECTORS Term Ending 2000: Bill Hurley . (billhurley@satx.rr.com) . . 341-2676 Janis Merrit . 698-1 095 Term Ending 2001: Bill Barker . (barker@texas.net) . . Harry Noyes . (harrynoyes@juno.com) . 490-3124 Tom Wilson . (twilsond@AOL.com) . 492-4799 COMMITTEE CHAIRS Aud. Adven. Betty Minyard . (mink@texas.net) . 344-6128 Birdathon . . . available Conserv. Harry Noyes . (harrynoyes@juno.com) . 490-3124 Education . available Hospitality . . . available Memb. . . available Natural lnit. Tom Wilson . (twilsond@AOL.com) . . 492-4799 Outings Programs Publicity SAEN Coord. Bexar Tracks Editors Mailing TxAS Bd. . available . available Harry Noyes . (harrynoyes@juno.com) . 490-3124 Mike Mecke (mikebmecke@prodigy.net) . 344-3737 . . available Tom Wilson . (twilsond@AOL.com) . . 492-4799 Jill Sandeen . 830-980-3277 (jsondeen@NetXPress.com) . Fax: 830-438-7393 . available . . available Bexar Tracks is your newsletter. We welcome your contributions. www San Antonio is served by a "Virtual Nature Center'' website Editors note: We introduced our new web site in the last issue of the newsletter. This is an update on the further evolution of the site. So your neighbor is watering his lawn with a fire hose in the middle of the state's worst drought. His truck smokes like Dickens's London. And he just brought home two deer out of season. You've had it. But who do you call? Now there is a local World Wide Website- the San Antonio Virtual Nature Center at http://www.sa-naturecenter.org- that can help you with all these issues and more. On the first page of the website a "hot button" leads to a list of phone numbers to which you can report environmental and wildlife emergencies or violations. The same button also gives you access to the latest environmental, conservation and communitydevelopment "alerts," which can range from important public meetings where your attendance can make a difference to short-notice crises in which a letter or e-mail from you might influence a government agency's policies or a company's development plans. Recently McDonald's saved a heritage tree at a new restaurant site because of just such an alert from local tree groups and the resulting outpouring of public messages. Enter the front door of the nature center and you find yourself in a hallway lined with doors leading to a meeting room, with information on local environmental/conservation groups and their meeting schedules; to a library with reference information on ecology, ecosystems, natural history, natural resources, etc.; to an issues room, with postings about local, state, national, and global concerns; to a children's room with information and activities for young people; and to a classroom, where listings of environmental and natural-history educational resources in the San Antonio region are being added. The site is young and still growing, with additional material added every week. Citizen comments. and suggestions are welcomed and may be submitted through email links on the site. The goal is to make this website a true one-stop shopping center for everything anyone might want to know about the environment, natural history and related issues, from city leaders researching policy to students researching term papers, from activists seeking good ideas to ordinary citizens seeking to enhance their city and neighborhoods. Unlike other sites that offer similar fare, this one will focus tightly on local issues and the writings of local experts. The San Antonio Virtual Nature Center is a project of the San Antonio Environmental Network (SAEN), an umbrella for collaborative efforts among local environmental and conservation organizations. Bexar Audubon Society is currently acting as the executive agency for SAEN and the website. Please fax Jill or email Tom as above; diskettes Bilingual site and hard copy should be sent to Tom Wilson, N k.d ' b •t h h · h b d · 13227 Hunters Spring, san Antonio, TX 78230. ew I s we SI e s ows w y SCience as no oun aries Printed with soy ink on recycled paper. Visit Bexar Audubon's Web Site: http://www.BexarAudubon.org Visit San Antonio Environmental Network's Web Site: http://www.sa-naturecenter.org Suggestions and contributions are welcome. Please contact Bill Hurley at billhurley@satx.rr.com June I July 2001 Editors note: this story comes from the Agricultural Research Service of the USDA. WASHINGTON, May 4-Starting today, children around the country and the world can visit a new web site to see why science knows no boundaries. The site highlights work by USDA scientists who search overseas for natural controls to weed and insect pests, as alternatives to pesticides. "Global Science and Technology Week" (GSTW) will also highlight the importance of science education in preparing today's students for tomorrow's discoveries for helping resolve global issues such as poverty, disease, food supplies, environmental degradation, and sustainable use of natural resources. USDA's Agricultural Research Service developed the web site in recognition of GSTW, May 6-12. The "Science Knows No Boundaries" website is designed for children about 8 to 13 years old, but has links to more advanced material. Links to Spanish and English versions of the site can be found at: <www.ars.usda.gov/is>. The official home page for all GSTW outreach activities is: <www.ostp.gov/html/gstw.html>. The new ARS web offerings are parts of the agency's extensive, award-winning "Science for Kids" and "Ciencia Para Ninos" websites. The sites present dozens of stories and features showing kids how the agricultural sciences connect to everyday life. Included are sections on science careers and science fair projects. 2 Bexar Tracks Presidential viewpoint What do we have here? A Briarpatch Or a diverse habitat and water? Editor's note: This is the first presidential column for Mike Me eke, who became BAS president early this spring. Historically the drainage area of the Edwards Aquifer region was a grassland savannah, with mid and tall grasses interspersed with scattered stands of various brush and tree species. This was highly productive range for wildlife, livestock and for water issuing from the limestone, which maintained the thousands of springs, creeks and clear flowing rivers of this region. During the past 150 years the area has largely become an oak-juniper woodland with many dry springs and infrequently flowing streams. This has reduced natural recharge to the Edwards Aquifer and to other more shallow aquifers in the region such as the Trinity-Edwards. Diaries from the Spanish explorers confirm what 19th century early botanists also described-the present state of the vegetation on the Edwards Plateau (and many other regions) is not anywhere close to its natural pre-European condition. This can also. be confirmed by aerial photos going back only 20 to 60 years in areas where juniper or "cedar" has greatly increased. Several factors are thought to have brought about this rapid deterioration in rangeland habitat, such as over-grazing by livestock, old European grazing systems not suited for Southwestern ranges, the control of wildfires; crossfencing preventing natural grazing animal movements to fresh pastures, and the aggravating effects of several severe droughts in the 1900's. The lack of fire in this ecosystem has been especially kind to cedar and some other shrub species that are very fire sensitive. Brush management on watersheds to increase water yields is not a new idea. For over 30 years studies in Texas, Arizona, California, and other states have proven that carefully planned removal of certain brushy plant species not only improves rangelands for livestock grazing, but increases the water production in streams and in aquifers, while removing sediment and other pollutants. If properly planned and operated, such programs have also improved wildlife habitat and even increased certain endangered species such as the black-capped vireo at the Kerr Wildlife Management Area. While the application of this watershed management principle is a proven fact, June I July 2001 many of the controlling factors on certain types of watersheds in Texas are either unknown or in open question. Most of the prior studies regarding brush management in Texas have focused on the range management and livestock production benefits. In recent years research at Sonora, Seco Creek and Uvalde has shown that potential water yield can be greatly increased by selective brush removal, but studies were not on large-scale watersheds. Other studies or sources have provided results that have been clearly visible, but not scientifically based or quantified. Are these results applicable to larger watersheds such as that of our Edwards Aquifer? Yes, I feel that they are. It is in the interest of the region to encourage, support and promote the research needed to wisely manage the watersheds draining across the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone in order to facilitate increased recharge to the aquifer. A stable watershed yield would be beneficial in maintaining adequate steamflows in area creeks and rivers for wildlife, fisheries and downstream bay/ estuary needs. Remember a few years ago, when the Blanco River dried up? The people of Blanco do. In the drought of the 50's many area streams dried up, including the Medina River. The major drought which started in 1947 and extended until 1957 completely dried up the famous Co mal Springs in New Braunfels. And, that drought occurred prior to most irrigation well drilling into the Edwards Aquifer and before San Antonio became a city of one million plus! What would be the situation now in a similar longterm catastrophe? Would large, lush green lawns or golf courses still be a high priority? Or would the production of food and drinking water rule? Hmmmm? Agriculture is the #2 industry in Texas, and the overall economic health of the agricultural community is likewise critical to San Antonio's economy and future. Agriculture greatly benefits from improved watershed management accompanied by a strong range management system and proper utilization of our stream riparian zones. Not only can ranchers on a healthy rangeland watershed carry more livestock, but also stock has a higher quality diet and the ease of moving and checking animals 3 is greatly improved. A high level of the Edwards Aquifer promotes a healthy irrigated agriculture that is key not only to regional economics, but to producing the food, fiber and other crops that we now buy so cheaply compared to other nations. Not to mention keeping regional towns and communities alive and thriving so that they can trade with neighbors in San Antonio or other cities. Riparian zones, essentially the green areas along streams, rivers or other water bodies, are very necessary to maintaining quality wildlife habitat, a healthy aquatic community and clean water in our rivers and lakes. Healthy riparian zones, vibrant with the native grasses, aquatic plants, shrubs and trees, are living filters to remove pollutants and sediments, which also helps keep reservoirs pure. Healthy, riparian areas act as sponges, absorbing and storing water that is later slowly released during drier periods, thus maintaining stream flows and aiding in drought management. Downstream urban interests gain by having a steady release of clean, pure water to aquifers, rivers, and lakes. Bays and estuaries are then provided a pure and more constant supply of water to nourish the valuable shellfish, shrimp and fishing resources of our state. Wildlife habitat that is healthy and diverse produces another crop for agricultural landowners, whether that be via a hunting lease, fishing fees or other forms of eco-tourism such as hiking, camping, birding, and wildlife viewing. Property values rise for the wise landowner and a healthy tax base is maintained for our society. So, it is easy to see that the bottom line is that a healthy watershed and riparian zone is a win-win proposition for all! Do your part-become involved or at least become a knowledgeable citizen voter! -Mike Mecke PS: Bexar Audubon is sponsoring a field trip to the above-mentioned Kerr Wildlife Management Area on June 9th where we will see firsthand the values gained by carefully planned use of prescribed burning and good livestock management in manipulating vegetation. See page 1 of this newsletter for details. Bexar Tracks CHAPTER NEWS April meetin2 recap Amphibian watchers unite, There's a lot we can learn Yearn for a frog or a frog pond to call your very own? You can have one. And with the blessings of Texas Parks and Wildlife. As BAS members who attended the ~ April meeting learned, the state is actively recruiting Texans who are willing to recognize an amphibian when they see one and make their sighting-s part of a vital scientific record. Lee Ann Linam, a Natural Resources Specialist in Texas Parks and Wildlife's Wildlife Diversity Program, explained to a small but very attentive audience how they can be part of a survey program to provide essential data on the status of Texas amphibians, principally frogs and toads. Lee Ann said that amphibian watchers noted an alarming decline in amphibian numbers at a conference in 1989. Shortly thereafter, Minnesota school kids noticed large numbers of malformations in the bodies of local frogs. Studies since then have confirmed the decline but have been unable to pinpoint a cause. Lee Ann suspects there is no single answer, but probably the result of interaction among several habitat and environmental changes and new substance introductions. She noted that amphibians, with their thin, permeable skin and their aquatic/terrestrial lifestyles, are very good indicatorS for the general environmental health of an area. But before anything can be done, Lee Ann said, we must have data to support a protection program. That's where nature loving Texans come in. Working with the Texas Amphibian Watch you can Adopt a Frog Pond or be an amphibian spotter or a Texas Frog and .~.,;;.=- Toad Surveyor. Becoming involved in these programs gives you a good excuse to get out in a natural setting and learn more of the wonderful mysteries of nature. It takes as much time as you can devote to it-the more the better-but does not require a rigid schedule. As you may have noticed, most frogs and toads are active in the evening hours so you can be a frog spotter without job interference. The Amphibian Watch program provides a variety of materials to assist the watcher, including illustrations of a wide variety of frogs and toads and taped recordings of their amazing calls. Equipment requirements are few-basically sturdy and waterproof boots-and detailed reporting instructions and forms are included in the Monitoring Packet. Meeting attendees were delighted in the variety of frog and toad calls Lee Ann played for them; a sample of the chorus created by Texas's 40 varieties of frogs and toads, including the eastern barking frog which can outdo Spot with ease. As the packet says, "Texas Amphibian Watch gives you a chance to help us understand what frogs, toads, and salamanders are telling us about the world around us." For more information call1-800- 792-1112x7011 or e-mail: lal(nam@wimberley-tx.com or visit www. tpwd .state. tx. u s/n atu re/tracker I amphibians/amphibian-index.htm -Tom Wilson BirdS await at Avenue A: Here's how to get there Editors note: directions to a map of Avenue A, one of San Antonio s best and most centrally located birding -areas, come courtesy of Georgina Schwartz and San Antonio Audubon. Have you ever wished you knew what location someone was telling you about at Avenue A in Brackenridge Park in San Antonio? Well, now a new grid map is available on the San Antonio Audubon Society's website at http://www.electrotex.com/saas/. Go to the birding sites on the menu. Choose Brackenridge Park. Forlow down to Avenue A where a link to the new gridded map is shown in two sizes. The system works like the Mitchell Lake grid. To locate a site, use a number, then a letter to locate the square as in 7 H. Further detail can be SEEN by using the numbers as in the micro-grid (located in the lower right of the map) to further define the location as "7 H 9." June I July 2001 4 Keep environmentally current South Texas Audubon Conservation Report - Available online Bexar Audubon members who want to read the monthly "Audubon Conservation Report for the South Texas Region" (locally produced by our chapter's conservation team) but who miss one because they cannot attend a monthly meeting now have two other options to obtain this news-filled publication. The first is to visit the San Antonio Virtuaf Nature Center site at http:www.sanaturecenter. org and click on the door to enter the hallway, then click on the "issues" door, and then click on the "conservation reports" note on the issues bulletin board. This will take you to both the current and past issues of the conservation report. All the websites and e-mails listed are converted to links on the website, so you can get additional information or send emails simply by clicking on the report. The other option is to contact the conservation report editor, Harry Noyes, at (21 0) 490-3124 or <harrynoyes @juno.com> and ask to receive the report by e-mail. We encourage you to keep up with this report because it describes many hot environmental/conservation issues on which you can take action, through active participation in projects or events or by sending letters, e-mails, phone messages, etc. , to political leaders , government agencies, · businesses, or non-profit organizations. Magnolia Trust Honors Lucie Wray Todd Bexar Audubon Society gratefully acknowledges two generous gifts in honor of Lucie Wray Todd from the Magnolia Charitable Trust: one in support of the South Texas Farm & Range Forum and another in support of a seminar on genetic engineering to be developed for the San Antonio Environmental Network. Bexar Tracks CHAPTER NEWS May meeting recap BAS members learn ways to help hummingbirds prosper Following a welcome by Witte Museum president Dr. James McNutt, hailing the partnership developed between Bexar Audubon and the Witte, president Mike Mecke introduced Mark Klym of Texas Parks & Wildlife. Klym is the organizer of TPWD's "Hummingbird Roundup"-a year-round monitoring program for hummers in Texas. Among other data, the hummingbird roundup report asks participants to report any pests at their feeders, including flying insects, such as bees, wasps, and yellow jackets, and ants. Containing these pests means controlling their access to food. Birds feed by sight, bugs by smell. Controlling spillage is, therefore, a major objective. Klym advised closely examining a feeder before purchasing it to evaluate its ability to deter spillage. A 4 to1 solution of water to sugar is the recommended hummer food. Boil the water and add the sugar, stirring until it goes into solution. NO RED DYE. While red dye has not been proven harmful to hummers, there is absolutely no benefit and it is better to avoid any potential harm. To deter pests at the hummingbird feeder place a sweeter sugar solution (e.g., 2 to 1) away from the feeder, or plant something like Mexican heather, which hummers don't use, but bees LOVE! To <;~.void ants, hang your feeders from house eaves or use a free-standing structure, not a tree. You can also use an ant trap, which can be something as simple as a spray can cap with a hole drilled in it positioned on your feeder hanger upside down, secured with a sealant and filled with water. Pesticides should never be used around feeders, since hummingbirds also eat some insects. An otherwise beneficial insect, the praying mantis, can take juvenile hummers. You will see them waiting perfectly still for hours near a feeder. If you observe this, move the mantis to a place away from your feeder, in another part of your garden. To avoid snake predation , eliminate access with a baffle or by using a smooth pole. Reduce potential snake shelters near your feeders. Hawks, road runners, shrikes, cactus wrens, and other predatory birds can also June I July 2001 be a problem. Allow easy access to the open sky for your hummers. Avoid providing perches that can easily be approached without notice. When hummers take off from a perch they are traveling at top speed, so unimpeded retreat paths are very important. Important non-native predators include cats, dogs and other mammals. Keep feeders out of their reach and don't provide any ambush points they can use. Cats kill millions of hummers and songbirds, as well as other wildlife, each year and should be kept indoors. One of the biggest threats to hummers can be your viewing window, since it may be mistaken for unimpeded open sky by an alarmed retreating hummer. Take steps to visually break up the window area to avoid this problem. Non-hummer avian visitors to your feeders may include woodpeckers, house finches, and orioles. They are not a threat, but just stopping by for a sweet drink and some extra calories. Change your feeder water every 2 to 4 days in serious heat. Fermented feeder water is attractive to hummers, but it is not good for them. If you don't want to waste it, use it in a shallow bowl with a sponge in it to attract butterflies. After October or so, you can go 4 to 6 days. Don't ever take your feeders down. They will be used either by migratory hummers passing through or hummers who may overwinter in the warmth of Texas. If you are not getting much action at your feeders in the winter, simply reduce the amount of food solution placed out at any one time. An interesting phenomenon, sometimes seen in cool weather, is hummingbird torpor. In times with cooler nights, overcast sky, and a slight wind, you might see a hummer at a feeder that is seemingly asleep. It may have gone into a state called torpor, a dormant or inactive state similar to a brief hibernation. This can happen very suddenly and can be alarming, but they can be "jolted" out of it. In this state, of course, they can be especially vulnerable to predators. If you have garden area, plant hummingbird food sources such as salvia, 5 turkscap, coral honeysuckle, and hibiscus, with an emphasis on native plants. One good non-native is winter honeysuckle, but it is hard to find in area nurseries. (Japanese honeysuckle is discouraged, since it is nonnative and invasive.) Having patches of red, yellow, blue, and white flowers in your garden will attract hummers. Plant large solid arrays of these colors for maximum attraction. This works for butterflies, too. You can even tie brightly colored ribbons around other plants to attract hummers. If you don't have hummers by mid-May, try red and yellow attractants such as these. Typically the first males migrating through come in February, the first males to nest in the area come in March, the first nesting females will come in April. One will usually see more hummers in fall when they are migrating back south. Fall territoriality among hummers is about food, not nesting. If you are looking for hummingbird nests, they will be within a half-mile of their feeding territory. Black-chins tend to nest 5 to 10 feet off the ground. Ruby-throats, which usually nest east of 1-35, nest 15 to 40 feet off the ground. Klym said if you really want to see a diversity of hummers, Fort Davis, in far West Texas, is the place to go. In August you might see as many as ten species in that area, as contrasted with Rockport, on the Gulf, where 99 percent of the hummers are ruby-throated. -Susan Hughes Wildflowers greeted on Second Saturday walk Editor's note: this report on BAS' Second Saturday program comes from Mary Kennedy, BAS member and former Education Chair. There were 28 enthusiastic participants in the April Wildflower Walk. Sherry Whitmore led an great hike through the park looking for wildflowers and then demonstrated pressing and mounting techniques. Donations this month came to $57. Since August we have received $243 in donations for the programs and paid $300 in honoraria. Sherry plans to donate her honorarium to a memorial fund for Lottie Milsap's son. -Mary Bishop Kennedy Bexar Tracks CHAPTER NEWS Recap of May12 Farm and Ran~:e Forum How many of you eat? Then you are involved in agriculture Kudos to Susan Hughes BAS and the planning mittee along with the c:nr>ncnrc (too numerous to here) for a very successSpring 2001 South Texas and Range Forum entitled "Managihg to Make a Living: Working Together to Sustain Natural Resources." We've all heard how the relentless growth in this state is challengingour water supplies- the speakers made it abundantly clear that this growth is also encroaching on our ability to produce food and maintain healthy habitats for wildlife. Experts from Texas A & M (Dr. James · Teer-also Texas Audubon Board Chair, Dr. Ronald Lacewell) , Texas Agricultural Extension Service (Helen Holdsworth, Charles Stichler), Texas Dept. of Agriculture (Mike McMurry), American Farmland Trust (Ellen Humphries), and the Audubon Society (Dr. Bill Branan, Terry Austin) discussed what was meant by sustainable agriculture and how those practices are leading to better protection of natural resources and wildlife habitat. Sustainable activities must meet the needs of the present in such a way that future genera~ tions will be able to meet their needs. Sustainable agriculture is an integrated system of plant and animal production practices having site-specific application that over the long term will ;;atisfy human food and fiber needs, enhance environmental quality and the natural resource base upon which the agricultural economy depends, make the most efficient use of re~.~.~ oLao;,i~ sources, and integrate where appropriate natural biological cycles (check out the website <SUstainable .tamu.edu> for more information). More and more, natural resource protection is moving taken over from government to non-government and private organizations. Community- based conservation projects are June I July 2001 · major innovators, but there are underlying economic rather than heritage and social values driving conservation- wildlife is now a economic resource : Wildlife watching has become the number one outdoor activity, . surpassing consumptive use (ie, hunting), and flexible ranchers can use this to their advantage. George Ozuna, US Geological Survey, gave the results of a study on the quality of surface and groundwater completed in 1998. The highest concentrations of nitrates and pesticide and herbicide residues were found in urban streams, not rural. s a small but detectable amount of these constituents in the grouhdwater, which presumably derived from the surface water. There was a higher concentration of these substances in the urban Edwards Aquifer than the rural Trinity Aquifer: This leads to the conclusion that urban effluent from wastewater treatment plants and application of large amounts of pesticides and herbicides by homeowners (some is good and more is better), is a greater threat than agricultural sources. Fragmentation of the land is a common cause for the degradation of both agricultural lands and wildlife habitaL Generally, what is good for ranching is good for wildlife: According to Dean Bibles, board member of the Texas Audubon Society (and a consultant developing innovative means of converting large private land holdings into public ownership for conservation of biological diversity while maintaining viable economtc productivity), estate taxes are the greatest contributor to fragmentation. Dr. Neal Wilkins, Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, Texas A&M, described how the increased demand for recreational land by urbanites looking for weekend .:::a.a.JJ~.~.,~;u getaways drives up the market value for rural land ($519/ acre) way beyond the value a rancher/ farmer can expect to produce from the land ($83/ acre). As the aged landowners die, the families are forced to sell the 500 to 2000 acre family ranch to pay the estate taxes. Rural land 6 acreage sh'ows a dichotomy of use: the fastest growing segments are either less than 500 acres or greater than 2000 acres. According to Dr. Jose Pena, TAES Economist, although 75 percent in the US are small, they produce only 1 0 percent of the food. Twentyfive percent of landowners own large farms but produce 90 percent of the food because of economy of scale. Less than 2 percent of the population in the US are producers. Because of their productivity, only 11 percent of our income Is spent on food. The small farmers fulfil a unique need. Some have said that our nation has become a nation of "picky eaters." These small farmers provide organic food or speciality items. However, as ,.,.,.t Denny Bolton of Pure Luck Texas Grade A Dairy and Certified Organic Farm told us, innovative marketing and internet skills are required for success of his operation, and this leads to a change in life style from traditional farming. Three ranchers, Hazel Graff, ?A Ranch of Hondo; Dan Dierschke, Austin; and Stan Meador, X Bar Ranch Nature Retreat, Eldorado, described how they had to diversify their activities from traditional ranching chores. 7 A Ranch has partnered with a tour company to provide a South Texas barbecue with music and ehtertainment with a hayride tour of a real working ranch. The ~=====~ X Bar Ranch has a combination recreational ranch with a bed and breakfast with nature-based and cultural heritage tourism thrown in. People living off the land are livihg on the edge. Ninety l.i.Y.iil.ii.oii.,.l.iil percent of income from a farm household comes from non-farm income. At the conclusion of the conference, remarks were made as to how alliances bestween agreicultural and conservationist communities will be mutually beneficial, and both sides committed to continue the work toward that end. -Jill Sandeen Bexar Tracks BIRD TALES Study underway to determine status of Cagle's map turtles Editor's note: this article was written by Rick Jensen, a Texas A & M information specialist. The Guadalupe River ecosystem is home to many diverse threatened and or endangered aquatic organisms, including the Texas Blind Salamander, the San Marcos Salamander, and the Fountain Darter. Unfortunately, there may be a need to add a species to this list, based on results of an on-going assessment of the Guadalupe River being conducted by a West Texas A&M University biologist . Flavius Killebrew, a researcher in the WTAMU Life, Earth, and Environmental Sciences Department and the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at the university, is leading efforts to study the population of the Cagle's Map Turtle (Graptemys.caglei) in the Guadalupe River watershed. Researchers Joel Babitzke and Jim Rogers are also working on the project. First discovered in 1974, Cagle's Map Turtles are thought to exist only in the Guadalupe River system. "Cagle's Map A cup for the birds Turtles usually occur only in the river, and they are rarely ever found on the bank," Killebrew said. "They don't wander too far from the river."Killebrew said that one of the problems facing continued survival of the turtle is the presence of dams along the. Guadalupe River. Male Cagle's turtles eat insect larvae which are usually abundant in pools and on rocks in areas with riffles. Femal_e Cagle's turtles eat clams and snails. When dams are present, the water quality in the river is altered. Silt covers rocks and decreases the number of riffles in the ecosystem, thus reducing the foodstuff for male turtles. The last assessment of the range and population of Cagle's turtles in the Guadalupe River basin was done in the early 1990s. This new assessment will be focused on abundance, habitat characteristics, and instream flow requirements of the turtles. By determining the flows the turtles need, scientists can identify the volume and timing of flows that will allow the best chance for the turtle to ·survive. Similarly, learning more about habitat characteristics (for example, the kind and size of rocks the turtles utilize most) will help biologists and planners identify which reaches along the river may need to be preserved. Preliminary results suggest that the areas in which the turtle is now found are more limited than the range identified in previous studies. As a result, Killebrew says the turtle may potentially be threatened or endangered unless critical habitats are protected. Note: This study was funded by the Edwards Aquifer Authority and will be completed in 2001. Information from the study will be used by the Authority to make informed decisions about how the Guadalupe River system could be managed to let turtle populations flourish. Killebrew can be contacted at (806) 651-2044 or fkillebrew@mail.wtamu.edu. International Migratory Bird Day hails coffee consumption for birds Editor's note: International Migratory Bird Day (May 12) is a little behind us but, as this item from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service points out, we can enjoy good coffee and serendipitiously help the birds. lnternationa~Migratory Bird Day (IMBD) 2001 highlights a fact that's easy to swallow: shade-grown coffee helps protect habitat for migratory birds. Hundreds of IMBD events celebrated the annual return of millions of birds from wintering habitats in Latin America and emphasized that the continued enjoyment of these birds depends upon our actions as consumers and citizens. Though it's not widely known, the way coffee is grown can have a direct effect on many of the birds we see in our neighborhoods each spring. Coffee farms or plantations that leave a canopy of shading trees benefit migratory birds by providing habitat on their wintering grounds in Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean. The Wilson's warbler, scarlet tanager, northern oriole, indigo bunting, and wood thrush are among the dozens of migratory birds that spend part of their lives in the U.S. ,and that winter in the coffee-growing regions of Latin America. Studies have shown that coffee plantations June I July 2001 · that are shaded by multiple tree species harbor a variety of birds second only to that found in undisturbeq forests. The desire for higher yields led many Latin American producers in the 1970s to clear forest land and plant dense groves of coffee trees that could grow in full sunlight and Were more disease-resistant. Although "sun coffee" farms produce high yields, they require more chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and lierbicides. They are also more vulnerable to drought and soil erosion and contribute to toxic runoff and soil acidification. The loss of the shade canopy also proves devastating for the many species of migratory birds that require layers of vegetation for shelter and feeding. Fullsun coffee plantations host a fraction of the bird species found on nearby shade farms. Homeowners can also make a difference for bird conservation by reducing and carefully monitoring the pesticides they apply to lawns and shrubs, by planting trees and bushes that provide habitat and natural 7 food, by keeping cats indoors whenever possible, and by supporting community land-use decisions that consider the needs of wildlife. By creating or preserving birdfriendly habitat in their backyards and communities, citizens can make their own environment more livable and benefit declining bird species. IMBD is the hallmark event of Partners in Flight, an international coalition created in 1990 that includes the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, other federal and state wildlife agencies, conservation groups, academic institutions, corporations, and private citizens dedicated to reversing these declines in migratory bird populations. In its nine years, IMBD has grown to become the premier celebration of birds and their habitat in our hemisphere. Additional information on migratory bird management issues, including shade-grown coffee, can be found via the Service's home page at www.fws.gov. Bexar Tracks r - - Me~be7ship-F~r;' - - "'I Bexar Audubon Society, Inc. National Audubon Society P. 0. Box 6.084 Bexar AudubonSociety San Antomo, TX 78209 (Chapter Code W19) Membership rates are: Student/Senior $15 Introductory 1-year $20 (2-year: $30) Basic $35 Lifetime Individual Dual $1000 $1500 Name __________ ~ --- Add~' --- Address Service Requested Non-profit Organization U.S. Postage Paid San Antonio Permit #590 City _____ State __ Zip. ______ _ Phone: ) ____________ ___ Email:. ____________________ _ For a new membership, mail this coupon and your check-payable to "National Audubon Society, Chapter W19" to: Bexar Audubon Society P. 0. Box 6084 San Antonio, TX 78209 W19, 7XCH . ____________ . Thanks to Harry Noyes, Harriet Kutscher, and Susan Hughes for getting out the Farm & Range Forum mailing. . Thanks to Bill Hurley, Harry Noyes, Shiyan Cheng, Tom Manzo, and Susan Hughes for staffing the Earth Day booth at Woodlawn Lake. Thanks to Harry Noyes, Tatjana Walker, Betty Minyard, Patty & Greg AUDOBON APPLAUSE Pasztor, Tom Wilson, Harriet Wiygu l, and Susan Hughes for staffing the BAS table at Viva Botanica. During the two days we collected 305 postcards to President Bush urging him to protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Appreciation to Betty Minyard and her friends who mailed the newsletter in April. RECURRING EVENTS San Antonio Audubon Society's Beginners' Birdwalk. Meet at the Judson Nature Trail in Alamo Heights at 8:00AM. (except in the summer, June through August, when it is 7:30) Visitors are welcome. Membership is not required and they have a few binoculars to lend. For more information, call at 342-2073. · SECOND SATURDAY PROGRAM Second Saturdays are co-sponsored by the San Antonio Parks and Recreation Def')artment and the Bexar Audubon Society. Eisenhower Park is located at 19399 N .W. Military Hwy., about 2 miles outside of Loop 1604 on the city's northwest side. Take the FM1535/ MilitaryHwy/Shavano Park exit, go north on FM1535, and the park wi ll be on the left, just before you reach Camp Bullis. Reservations are requ ired. For more information or to make reservations please call 210-698-1057. A $2 donation is requested. MITCHELL LAKE ACCESS Dates will be available on the San Antonio Audubon Society website at http:// etex.electrotex.com/saas/. Additional access can be arranged by calling in advance to Georgina Schwartz at 210-342-2073. June I July 2001 8 Special thanks to the Range and Forum planning committee: Larry Allen, Janet Black, Peter Bowman, Helen Holdsworth, Susan Hughes, Ellen Humphries, Mike Mecke, Mike Petter, Jorge Ramirez, Phillip Wright, and Eloisa Clack. Mark your Calendars *June 5: Joint meeting with the San Antonio Environmental Network (SAEN). See story on page 1 *July: no program meeting *August: no program meeting *September 4: Joint SAEN meeting, topic to be announced. *October 2: Angela Langs of the San Antonio Zoo staff on raising whoopers for the future. *November 6: Patty Leslie Pasztor, BAS member and noted naturalist/author. Texas Trees and their stories-a little ethnobotany and other interesting tidbits about our huggable friends. *December 4: holiday party-location to be determined Bexar Tracks NAME/ADDRESS AS APPEARS ON MAILING LABEL PLEASE NOTE Bexar Audubon Society By-Laws Election P0Box6084 San Antonio TX 78209 PLACE STAMP HERE ENCLOSED ARE REVISIONS TO THE BEXAR AUDUBON SOCIETY, INC. BY-LAWS RECOMMENDED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. THE PURPOSE OF THESE REVISIONS IS TO UPDATE THE BY-LAWS TO CONFORM TO CURRENT PRACTICE AND CIRCUMSTANCES AND TO SIMPLIFY THE OPERATIONS OF THE SOCIETY TO HELP US BE MORE EFFECTIVE. THE CHANGES ARE INDICATED BY STRIKEOUTS OF DELETED TEXT AND UNDERLINING OF NEW TEXT. WE HOPE YOU WILL REVIEW THESE CHANGES AND MARK AND RETURN THIS BALLOT ACCORDING TO THE INSTRUCTIONS BELOW. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE CONTACT MIKE MECKE, PRESIDENT, OR SUSAN HUGHES, SECRETARY, AT THE NUMBERS OR E-MAIL LISTED IN THE NEWSLETTER. BALLOT: __ For the By-Laws amendments proposed by the Board of Directors in May 2001. ___ .Against these By-Laws amendments. Please mark, fold, seal, include your return address information, and mail by june 15, 2001. Thank you. I Proposed Revisions to Bexar Audubon Society, Inc. By-Laws 5/16/2001 p.l BY-LAWS of Bexar Audubon Society, Inc. As revised 1994 ARTICLE I MEMBERSHIP Section I. Any person or family interested in the purposes and objectives of this CHAPTER is eligible to apply for membership. Section 2. Membership in this CHAPTER shall be limited to those persons or families who, being members of the NATIONAL SOCIETY, shall declare their affiliation with this CHAPTER or who shall be designated as members of this CHAPTER by the NATIONAL SOCIETY. Section 3. The classes of membership in this CHAPTER shall be the same as the membership classes maintained by the NATIONAL SOCIETY. Section 4. The membership dues shall be established by the NATIONAL SOCIETY. Section 5. All members of this CHAPTER shall enjoy all the rights and privileges accorded to the members of both this CHAPTER and the NATIONAL SOCIETY, except as otherwise provided hereinafter. Section 6. Membership dues in any category, except Life Membership, shall be paid at the time of applicat ion and yearly.QI multi-yearly, by renewal, thereafter. Life Membership dues shall be paid in full in one sum, except as may be provided otherwise in the By-Laws of the NATIONAL SOCIETY. Section 7. Should renewal of membership dues not be paid within three months after due date, a member so in default shall be dropped from the rolls. ARTICLE II MEETINGS Section I. R8gwlar IIU8tiRgs sf 11!811!Q8FS sll.all b8 ll.8hl s11 tll.8 til. ira Tll.wrsdar sf 8aoll. II!SI!tll., 8l[o8pt 'fsr tll.8 a11Rwal plallllillg ll!utiRg R.11gwlar 11!88tiRgs gf llliiii!Q8rs sll.aiiThe Board of Directors shall schedule regular meetings of members to be held not fewer than ~four times in any calendar year -100r more frequently than once each month. Tll.11 aat11 fgr tll.8 aRI!wallt is not reguired that business of the chapter be transacted at such meetings; they may be program or social meetings. The Board shall determine the date(s) for the CHAPTER planning meeting sll.all bi dilirlllillir.l bj' tll.i JlgarrJ gf DiuotQH and/or any other member or special meeting. Section 2. The iiiRYal ll!ntiii!!Annual Meeting of the CHAPTER shall be held once each year at a time to be determined by the Board of Directors. An annual CHAPTER activities report, an annual financial report, and the proposed budget for the following year shall either be presented at this meeting or be published in the next available CHAPTER newsletter. Section 3. Special meetings of the CHAPTER may be called at any time by the President~ upon the request of a simple majority of the Board~ or upon written request of~IO percent of the members of the CHAPTER. Section 4. Notice of any CHAPTER meeting at which CHAPTER business is to be transacted (such notice to include time, placeL and purpose) shall be given to each CHAPTER member not less than 10 nor more than-4060 days prior to the meeting. ARTICLE Ill VOTING Section I. Each member of the CHAPTER may cast one vote on any motion that is properly brought before an authorized meeting of the CHAPTER. Hill!birs iR tll.i •lass valllilj' HIIII!QiiHRip gr srilatilr ll!aj' •ast I"'Q l!QiiS Section 2. "gUs ll!aj' b11 oastMembers may cast votes in person, by II! ail QF bj' pr9l[j'• mail, by proxy, or by any other method that ensures the integrity of the vote. Section 3. T"'IIRtj' W"8Fifteen members or~one - tenth of all members (whichever ~are fewer) shall constitute a quorum of the CHAPTER. 0Ri ll.alfplus QRiA majority of the members of the Board (or one-half of the Board members plus one) shall constitute a quorum of the Board. ~w•ll. 'jYQFYII!sA guorum shall be required to properly transact CHAPTER business. Section 4. Election to office or tll.i Jlgardas a Director at Large shall be by plurality of the votes cast. Section 5. Passage of any motion properly brought before the membership and amendments of the By-Laws shall require a simple majority of the votes cast. Section 6. Discontinuance of status as a CHAPTER of the NATIONAL SOCIETY, dissolution of the CHAPTER, and passage of constitutional amendments shall require a Jf.Jtwo-thirds majority vote of the membership. ARTICLE IV BOARD OF DIRECTORS Section I. The Board of Directors shall consist of four QffiEHS, tll.11 II!Sst Fiollllt a"ailablll Past Pr8sid8Rt a11>i siKOfficers and three Directors at Large. Election of Board members shall occur at;o. CW • PTI!R ll!utiRg Rst l8ss tll.aR gu II!SRtll., RSr II!Qril tll.aR I' ·g II!SRtll.s, b8fgu the Annual Meeting of the CHAPTER. If deemed necessary, additional Officers or Directors at Large may be appointed by a majority vote of the Board. (See Article V, Section 1.) Appointed members, except those appo inted to fill a vacancy ill_ an otherwise elected position, may not comprise a majority of the Board. Section 2. Tll.i iRitial iliotlld OfWoiH sll.all bi iiii!PQ"'iUQ tg siP'il as iRo9rpgratgrs witll. IRi awtll.gritj' IQ Hl9pt S'loR • rtiolis sf IRo9rpgratigR as RlloiiSSaFj' tg iRo;grpsrau YRQ8r tll.8laws gf IR8 ~tat8 sf T8Kas, as "'811 as tg gbtaiR fild8ral taK iil[illl!pt statws wRaH ~8o;ti9R ~01 (o;) {i) gftll.iliRtilrRal Rll"ilRYii Csa11 gf l\l~4 as alll8RQilQ Officers shall serve a term of two years. Directors at Large will serve four-year terms. Each terms of office shall end as of the Annual Meeting or when an eligible successor is elected and installed. I Proposed Revisions to Bexar Audubon Society, Inc. By-Laws- 5/16/2001 - p.Z Section 3. OU".ioiH dull siP'i a lirlll gf Qlli )'iif DirioiQH at Lars1 "'ill SiP'i a lirlll gft· 'Q )'iUS Tirllls gf gl£i6i sl!all iRQ as gftl!i aRRualllliiliRg All Board members may be reelected to the same or any other position on the Board. Section 4. AllllgarQ lllilllbirs lllay bii u ihotill IQ tali Ulllli Qf aRy gtl!ir p9siti9R QR tali llgara; RQWi"llr, RQ OU".iwir sllall s11rui iR tl!i saAt& capacity {.gr ~gru tAaA duao GQAfiliiwtiug UrAu aad RQ IJgard b4aA1btr at I.arg1 dull rarzra f41r Al8Fi tAaa twg GQAf&Gwtiua tar~c lixcepti8AG tg tbic UF;:A limitati8A ~=Ray ba awtAgriaad by a Atajgrity (i 11, 9} "QIII 9ftllllll9ara The Board shall meet within one month after the Annual Meeting and at least four times per year. Meetings may be called either by the President or by a majority of the Board. All Board members must be given notice of the Board's meetings by publishing a regular schedule or other means of notification. Members of the CHAPTER may attend Board meetings, although only Board members may vote. Section 5. The Board GRall Aiiit witbiA QAQ fR:QAtA after tlli JAAWal JR&itiAg aRd at laatt ~ . ~ tiAt&G par yaar )4&atiAgr ~Ray b& called by iitR.ar du Pnu:idult gr a JRajgrity gf tA& ieanl 0 11 iJgard :At&J:Rbir£ J:RWGt Qg SiHiR R8tiGi gftbi 11oard'r AliitiASG )(&A1bin: gfd~i Clvl 4 PTliR ~=Ray att&Ad ilgard A1&atiAgr, altllgngR. 8Aly :S8ard lllilllbiu lllay ugt11 may conduct business or emergency or timesensitive nature via electronic mail, fax, teleconference, postal mail, or polling of members of the Board by the President or the President's designee. Such actions of the Board shall be summarized at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the board and reported in the minutes. Section 6. The position held by any Board member who misses three consecutive Board meetings may be declared vacant by a majority vote of the Board. Any Board member may be removed from office by a two-thirds vote of the members of the CHAPTER voting at any CHAPTER meeting that wQRSists gfcomprises a quorum. Any vacancies shall be filled by a majority vote of the remaining directors, except that if the office of the President becomes vacant, the Vice Presiden~ shall become President and a majority of the Board shall elect a new ~ruia11Rt ah>t Vice President. Section 7. The Board of Directors shall be responsible for carrying out the goals of this CHAPTER, and for maintaining its status as a CHAPTER of the NATIONAL ~OCiaTY, a111l iRSOCIETY. In order to do so, the Board shall have the authority to accumulate, administer, and convey the property and funds of this CHAPTER., and to supervise its business. ARTICLE V OFFICERS Section I. The Officers of the CHAPTER shall be a President, a ~rlltia1111t ali>t, Vice President, a Secretary,.a.RJ. a Treasurer, and such other~ Officers as may be determined by the Board of Directors. Section 2. The President shall direct and administer the affairs of the CHAPTER as its executive~head; supervise all phases of its activities, subject to instructions by the~Board; be an at large member of all oQIIllllittus,Action Teams; preside at all membership and Board lllliiliRgs,meetings; be empowered to speak on behalf of the CHAPTER or .fi!OI.)'!.Q. designate a sp9kllsl!laRone or more spokespersons from the membership as rllljUifllil aHa required; present an annual CHAPTER activities report to the membership; .-+ensure that the CHAPTER's programs reflect the Essential Elements of a Chapter in the Chapter Policy of the NATIONAL SOCIETY; and file the annual ~Recertification Report as required. Section 3. The President Elect shall assist the President in carrying out~ his duties and, in the absence of the President, assume the duties of the President. Section 4. The Secretary shall keep a record of all proceedings of the CHAPTER and of the Board of Dirii>IQrt, tiRa Directors; provide notice of all speciallllutiRSt,meetings; conduct all the correspondence of the CHAPTER, except such correspondence as, by instructions of the Board or at the discretion of the President, shall be conducted by another member of the CW: • ~TaR ,CHAPTER; and preserve all correspondence of the CHAPTER. Section 5. The Treasurer shall have the custody of the CHAPTER's ~funds; disburse such funds as may be ordered by the ~Board; report to the Board at its regular meetings or as fll\j'IUIIIa,reguested; and prepare an annual report on the financial condition of the CHAPTER, along with a proposed budget for the coming year, for presentation to the members at 11!11 aRRuallllutiRS aHa fQpuara a w9p)' gf n•ll r~pgrt 19 11!11 ~ •TIO~I • L ~OCIIIT¥. Section 6. All checks and drafts of the CHAPTER may be signed by the Treasurer, the ~flltialllll Qf IRII ~fllSiaiiRI ahwt President, or another officer designated by the Board. Two signatures are required, except as otherwise authorized by the Board. ARTICLE VI NOMINATING COMMITTEE The Board shall~at least biennially appoint a committee consisting of no fewer than three members (at least one of whom must be exclusive of the Board) to canvass the membership and receive petitions or nominations for Officers and Directors at large. Tlu ti~Ri fralili fgr aFp8iRtiRg tAu bQiilAtitt&i, itG ~llljUiflllllllRIS 5 aRildliibilliliRgprgo~wiJibi~i!llatlllilmtlig;lld~ flllklwill@ lRi iiPAUal Hllllllins ARTICLE VII OTHER COMMITTEES Section I. The President, with the approval of the Board of Directors, sllall app9iRt wllairlllllll gf tll11 ~taRaiR!! CQI!llllittus 1"1111 C:Rair~RaA dull itif"i tbi t&rAl gf QRi yaar, gr WAtil tAair £'1Gbt££8FE ara app8iRtiQ, llut RQ AUUillur rA.all rarua ac CAairAUA gf tl:u fiJ;ti bQAURittgg £Qr Ai8£9 tbaa tAraa Ei8R£tcntiHg yaan;, Yalau awtluaia1d by IRi llgara gfDirllwiQH and in order to manage each defined area of continuing responsibility, concern, or interest for the CHAPTER, shall at least biennially define a portfolio of responsibility for each member of the Board. Each Board member so assigned may himself perform the necessary duties or may recruit and oversee a Team Leader and/or an Action Team to accomplish relevant tasks. Section 2. Tll11 CQIIllllittllll CluirlllaR,Team Leaders, with the I Proposed Revjsjons to Bexar Audubon Society, Inc. By-Laws- 5/16/2001 - p.3 approval of the Board, shall ditiriOiiRii tAli liQIUtitntiga gf RiG oQIOIIOiittee assemble and manage Action Teams as required to carry out the relevant objectives of the CHAPTER. Each Team Leader who is not a member of the Board shall serve until a successor is appointed or until otherwise determined by the Board. Section 3. The President, with the approval of the Board, may appoint ad hoc liQIOIIOiittliliGTeam Leaders and/or Action Teams whose terms of ~service shall be determined by the nature of the aGGi!!RIOIIiRt, liKiilipt "'AIIR aa aGGi!jRIOIIiRt 'G Qllratiga liKiililiQG tArii yaarG ia "'AilOR liaGii tAli llgard IOIIIGt apprQHii aa liKtliaGiQR gftAii oQIOIIOiittili 'G Ur101 assignment and who shall report to the Board through the President. Section 4. The ~taaaiag (QIOIIOiitteeG au aG folliQ"'G·CHAPTER' s areas of continuing interest, concern, and/or responsibility in our community include, but are not limited to, the following: • • H A .Wbll}JC (QW~ITT.Ii.li~ (QN~.I!R" A TIQN Tlu C9A&iruati9A C9RURittii r:R.all kaap i:R:~r~Radt QA iHi:R:Hh iG&UiG, aJa1sQ][i£AIRi1Hal pglirsiar a:R:d eHiitiQR£ ailirstiAS tb& aat~o~ralliR"iFQRIOIIiRt, aatnral FliGQIIFiili IOiaRa!jliiOIIiRt aad fiiQIUJQp•atiQ:R:; iiHi iAQFg}' fiGQ'lHii' Qguglgp~iii:R:t a:R:.J 11tiliutiga It GRall draft a ad FlioQIOIIOIIiRQ tAli Gl A .I'H:R 'G liR"irQRIOIIiRtal pgliii)' tQ tAli IJgard It GAalliiarry QHt tAli liQRGiP'atiQR pgJio)' aG apprgu@Q B)' IAi llgara aaa iRQii"QF IQ oQQrJiaate tAil aotiQRG gftl!e OI*PT.I!R "'itA tile pgli•y aaJ aGti"itieG gf tl!e ~JA TIQ.W AJ, ~QCI.I!TY iaGQ~r aG oQRGif"atiga IOiiiGIHiG aaJ pgli•ieG gf aatigaal GGQpi are GQRoirRiiQ It GRall l>eep tl!e .W ATJQ~I A J. ~QCI.I!TY iafolriOiiQ gf GIIGA aGtiQRG .I!P!ICHIQ.W Natural resource conservation and management, through direct action (e.g., habitat protection), advocacy, and/or education; TAli lidlliiatiga (QIOIIOiittlili GRall101aiataia iilQGii liQRtalit "'itA tAli lia"irQRIOIIiatal Iafolr!Oiatiga aaJ liduiiatiQR PiuiGiQa gf tAli }J A TJQ}J A J. ~QCI.I!TY It GRall >QRQIIIit, gr liRiiQnrasli gtAiFG tg oQRQIIGt, "'QrkGAQpG iaEnvironmental, natural history, ecology, aaQ/gr oQRGiiP'atiga folr IOiiiOIBirG gf tAli OP PTiiR aaJ QtAiiFG, aaJ GRall, ia uariQIIG Wij'EJ iafolr101 aaJ iiQIIGatil tAll pwbliG abgwt tAli aatwral eauirQRIOiiiRt and conservation education for CHAPTER members and for the community, through outings, programs, outreach activities, and coordination with educational institutions; TAli HliiOiblirGAip (QIOIIOiittu GRall101aiataia iilQGii oQata>t witl! tAli HliiOibliFGAip DlipartiOIIiRt gf tAli :bl HIQ.W AJ. ~QCIIiTY It GRall klilip tAli (J;l. A .I'H:R 'G IOIIiiOibliFGAip FlioQrQG aad GRall liQRQIIot IOIIiiOIBilrGAip oaiOipaigaG tQ iiRrQll Ril"' IOiiiOibiiFG It sR.alli:Ad.tta"gr ts n~gaiA tAgrg HlifR:birc wQg Aaug bi68iili QiliR'jii@Rt ia IAi pa)'IOiiiRI 8f QlliiG PTTilJ.ICITY Tl!i Pwblioity (QIOIIOiittee GRall pwbli•i~e, tArQwgl! ae'J'spapiFG, tlilli"iGiQa, radi8 a ad 8tAii£ p11bliliity IOIIitAQQG, tAil p11rpQGiiG, • • • Tile OwtiH§G (QIOIIOiitteil Gil all plaH, QrgaHi~i aHQ arraHgil folr tAil GQHQIIGt 8ft:i81J tripE f8r tlli IOiiiOIBilrG 8f tlli (J;l. A.I 'TiiR aHJ 8tllilrG iHtiFiGteJ iH tlli pwrp8GiG aHJ ai101G 8ftllil 01 APT.I!R TAli .l'rQeraiOIG (QIOIIOiitliHi sllall101ak11 all plaas aHd arraH!!IiiOiiiRtG folr tAli risnlar IOIIiitiass, n>iipt f8r FHattiiH rlilatiHS tQ C.W A PTiiR BIIGiRiiGG til at FHay b11 traHGaGtiiQ at Gil oR FHililtiH!jG It sllall FHakil arraH!jliiOiiiHtG f8r lliiitllrliG, Jis>nssi8HG, iHQ Glloll 8tlliF i"iHIG aG lOis)' pr8FHQii iHtilriGI iH iHQ appu•iati8H 8f GQHGiP'ati8H1 io818g)' aHQ HatwralllistQr)' VUilJ.IC ATJQ:bl~ Tile hbliGati8HG (QIOIIOiittee Gllall pwblisll, at lust six tiFHiiG uol! j'Ur, a bwlllitiH Qr Hi"'Ghttir f8r tlli IOiiFHBirG 8f tl!e (J;l. A .I'T.I!R aHQ Gil all priiparii aH)' gtlllir pllbliGatiQRG HilliQiiQ IQ oQIOIFHIIRioalli tllii (J;l. A .I'TJ;R' G aGti"itiliG Tllli ~iaaalili (QIOIFHittliil sllall plaa tAli aHHIIal BIIQ!!it 8ftll11 C.W A PT.I!R, assist tile Triaswrer iH tile priparatiQH 8f t:iHaHGial ri!p8rtG 1 aHQ 101ake r@GQIOIIOiiHQitiQHG iHQ GiH)' Qllt pJaHG f8r QBtaiHiHg t:iHaHoial swpp8rt f8r tile C.W A PTiiR Membership recruitment, retention, and members' services; Active communication with members, the media, and the community, through print, electronic, and/or other media; and Financial and programmatic stability and growth, including fundraising, strategic planning, and responsible management, in order to achieve the CHAPTER's goals and provide conservation leadership in the local and regional area. ARTICLE VIII COMMITMENTS Neither this CHAPTER nor the NATIONAL SOCIETY shall obligate ~the other without prior consent and/or written authorization. ARTICLE IX PARLIAMENTARY A UTH 0 RITY In procedural matters not covered by these By-Laws,~ ~Robert's Rules of Order (revised version) shall govern. ARTICLE X CONSTRUCTION The masculine pronoun, as used herein, shall mean the masculine or feminine wherever applicable.
|
|---|