Bexar tracks : the newsletter of the Bexar Audubon Society, Vol. 20, No. 01

• Main Author: Bexar Audubon Society
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: San Antonio, Tex. : Bexar Audubon Society, 2002
• Subjects: Birds > Conservation > Texas > Periodicals.; Ornithology > Texas > Periodicals.; Nature conservation > Texas > Periodicals; Clubs and Organizations; Science and Technology; Audrey; Austin; Eubanks; Holdsworth; Homestead; Hurley; Medina; Pulitzer; Toledo; Weaver; Point Barrow
• Online Access: http://digital.utsa.edu/cdm/ref/collection/p15125coll10/id/8036

Bexar Tracks began with Vol. 4, no. 1 (January 1986). It continues Newsletter (Bexar Audubon Society). Tuesday, February 5, 2002-San Antonio Environmental Network Does it feel warm out here to you? BEXAR AUDUBON SOCIETY First Place, 2000 National Audubon Society newsletter contest for large chapters Global Warming, is it real? Where does Texas stand? Should we act? More questions than answers. Full discussion at Feb. 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 each quarter, BAS hosts a meeting of the San Antonio Environmental Network. A report on global warming by the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission is scheduled for release just after Bexar Tracks ' deadline. That report will form the basis of discussion for the February BAS/SAEN meeting. BAS leadership is busily assembling a panel representing a broad spectrum of opinion on global warming, perhaps the most discussed environmental question of the new century. It is doubtful the issue will be settled at this meeting, but those attending should learn a great deal and have an opportunity to have many of their questions answered. Panel members will be announced on the BAS web site once the whole panel is assembled. In the meantime, there is no shortage of background information on the subject, including a long and, to this writer, fascinating, story of a lonely scientist spending years tracking the arrival time and nesting habits of an Alaskan seabird, the guillemot, which nests on bleak and (obviously) cold islands north of Point Barrow. The birds, whose life cycle is related in the story appearing in the Jan. 6, 2002, issue of the Sunday New York Times Magazine, have been appearing earlier and earlier as the snow melts off the island and the birds can nest with less fear of being obvious to predators. But guillemot numbers are declining because the thinning and shifting ice pack has reduced access to their marine food supplies. There are no guillemots in Texas, but many of our critters depend on nature's cycles for survival. Some can survive changes, some can' t. This and many other aspects of global warming will be explored at this meeting. For more information check out these sites: Union of Concerned Scientists: www.ucsusa.org/index.html. CoolTexas: www.Cooltexas.net. SEED Coalition (Sustainable Energy and Economic Development) www.seedcoalition.org/. Tuesday, March 5, 2002-Chapter Meeting Wild Utah: America's Redrock Wilderness What does it look like and can it be saved? Subjects of March Bexar Audubon 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 Don't get around much anymore? Well , here is your chance to take a 20 minute journey through southern Utah's spectacular canyon country courtesy of a multi-media (pictures, words and music) show presented by the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance at the March BAS meeting in the Witte Museum. Bob Brister will present the show and also discuss the current status of Utah wilderness protection efforts. The Alliance is spearheading an effort to protect more than 9 million acres of wilderness quality land now managed by the Bureau of Land Management in Utah. Brister is an Outreach Associate of the Alliance in Salt Lake City and a former National Wildlife Federation official in Austin. He will detail the ongoing effort to put these lands under the protection of the Wilderness status and inform audience members on how they can take part in this-endeavor by contacting their representatives in the Congress and asking them to support the needed legislation, entitled "America's Redrock Wilderness Act." One of the highlights of the presentation will be the playing of a recording of Pulitzer Prize winning author Wallace Stegner reading from his famous "Wilderness Letter." 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. OFFICERS President Susan Hughes . ([e-mail]) . 532-2332 Vice Pres. Harry Noyes . ([e-mail]) . 490-3124 Treasurer Bill Barker . ([e-mail]) . 308-5862 Secretary Bill Hurley. ([e-mail]) . 341 ;2676 AT LARGE DIRECTORS Dean Bibles . ([e-mail]) . 698-9264 Tom Wilson . . ([e-mail]) .• 492-4799 Tony Wood . ([e-mail]) . 493-4684 COMMITTEE CHAIRS Aud. Adven. Betty Minyard . ([e-mail]) . 344-6128 Birdathon . . , available Conserv. Harry Noyes . ([e-mail]) . 490-3124 Education . . ,. . . available Memb. . . available Natural I nit. Tom-Wilson . ([e-mail]) . 492-4799 Programs .•. available Publicity Harry Noyes . ([e-mail]). 490-3124 SAEN Coord. Mike Mecke ([e-mail]) . 344-3737 Bexar Tracks Tom Wilson . ([e-mail]) . 492-4799 Editors Jill Sandeen ·····'"········· . 830-980-3277 ([e-mail]) . Fax: [phone] Mailing . . . . . . . available TxAS Bd. . . ([e-mail]) • . , 493-4684 Bexar Tracks is your newsletter. We welcome your contributions. 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. l.', 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 [e-mail] Spring 2002 South Texas Farm & Range Forum in Hondo, March 1-2 see insert January/ March 2002 BENEATH THE ~AVEL It is an importa~t time here in south central Texas. We are facing many of the same old challenges, some dressed up in new garb, mixed in with a few new problems. They all have some interesting twists to keep us thinking, planning, and responding. I am pleased to have been recycled into the presidency of Bexar Audubon after a four year hiatus. We have a lot to do, an exceptional board of directors to provide leadership, a valued constituency-you, our members-and a worthy goal: protecting birds, other wildlife, and their habitat for the benefit of all of us. Right now, we need each of you to be active in calling your City Councilperson and the Mayor to express your opinion about the Cibolo Canyon Conservation District, PGA Village, and the extension of Proposition 3. Ci~y Council members can be reached at210-207-7040 or by email at [e-mail] (where X is the number of your district); the Mayor at 207-7060 or [e-mail]. Copy the City Manager, Terry Brechtel, at [e-mail]. Whatever your personal opin­ion, your elected officials need to hear from you. Please call or email. Letters to the editor are also in order right now: [e-mail]. The board worked very hard to craft the statements printed in this newsletter re­garding the Cibolo Canyon District as well as the Texas Dep~rtment of Transportation issue on frontage roads. We hope we have expres,sed reasonable and rational opinions on your behalf. . We invite-no, urge-you to join us for the San Antonio Environmental Network meeting in February. Late breaking news about the TNRCC report on global warming is prompting us to put together a special program on this hot topic( apologies). We also need a little bit of your time. In April we have a number of community events coming up that you can volunteer to help with: Fiesta Earth Day, Viva Botanical, Palo Alto 's Earth Day event, and on,e for the local Girl Scouts. These require only a few hours of time and they're fun, to boot. We also are in need of volunteers to help us fulfill several areas of commitment: programs, membership recruitment, special events, publicity, handling phone messages, and newsletter mailing. Some tasks are as simple as writing our chapter code in pre-printed membership brochures. Others involve greater planning responsibility, but 'none requires more than a few hours a month. The impor­tant thing is to have someone say, I will take responsibility for making sure this task happens. The payback is working with a dedicated group of other volunteers with dedi­cation to our common interests and knowing that with just a few hours a month you can make a real difference to our regional future. Call or email me for more information on any of these volunteer opportunities: 210-532-2332 or [e-mail]. Finally, I hope you Will all look carefully at the enclosed brochure for our third annual South Texas Farm & Range Forum. It promises to be an excellent event and one that"is of genuine value to both urbanites and rural dwellers. If you have been to one before, we hope you'll attend this year and bring some friends. If you haven't, plan to attend this year, and I think you'll be pleased at the event and will be glad you came. Not only is the speaker line-up noteworthy, but the meals promise to be really good, too. This is proving to be a very successful outreach and education event that enables us to partner with many excellent organizations wit~ whom we share common concerns. Help your board guide Bexar Audubon to a year of excellence in conservation in south central Texas. Communicate with us. Come to our programs. Volunteer a little of your time. Share the pleasure and gratification of making a difference in this area we love. -Susan VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY Ride needed , Anybody going our :way? A BAS member living in Live Oak near the City Hall would love to come to BAS meetings but doesn't drive. Anyone in that area willing to pick her up and drive her to meeting:should contact Jill Sandeen at 21 0~722-7394 or email: jsondeen@ netxpress.com. 2 Bexar Tracks Many thanks to our outgoing President, MikeMecke CHAPTER NEWS BAS celebrates holidays., Elects, installs new Officers for the new year At ~ts December 4 meeting-whiCh doubles as a holiday party-members of the Bexar Audubon Society met to convivialize, exchange holiday gifts (which suspiciously resembled the white elephant presertts. they received last year) and to elect and install new officers for the year 2002. The new leadership is listed below. As you can see, all have bared their complete personas to the public and are anxiously available for consultation, information, suggestions and direction from any and all of the membership. (Ed. Note: Some of the party-goers and the leadership had pictures that turned out well- other pictures were such that peoJ!le would have paid to leave L--,.--~ --- ' them out ofth; newsletter-sounds like afundraising opportunity to me!) President Secretary Treasurer At Large Director Susan K. Hughes 825 E Guenther St. San Antonio 78210 210-532-2332 Bill Hurley o .Bill Barker Tony Wood 1819 Babcock Rd .#205B 121 Cas-Hills 12903 Vidorra Vista Dr. San Antonio 78229 210-341-2676 fax [phone] [e-mail] susan @wordwright.com Vice President Harry Noyes 3302 Sackville Dr. San Antonio 78247 210-490-3124 harrynoyes@ satx.rr.com At Large Director Tom Wilson 13227 Hunters Spring San Antonio 78230 210-492-4799 SATXWilsons@ aol.com Audubon Adventures Betty Minyard 150 Mink San Antonio 78213 210-344-6128 [e-mail] January/ March 2002 San Aritonio 78213 210-308-5862 [e-mail] San Anton.io 78216 210-492-4684 tmcawood ~ aol.com At Large Director Dean Bibles 19714 La Sierra Blvd. San Antonio 78256 210~698-9264 dbibles@ aol.com Newsletter Editors Tom Wilson (see left) & Jill Sondeen PO Box 310048 New Braunfels 78131 830-980-3277 jsondeen@ netxpress.com AUDUBON APP.LAUSE·· T~ all the officers, board and committee members, and all the volunteers for your help this past year.! 3 Betty Minyard, Marge Lumpe, and Audrey c;ooper Patty and Analise Pasztor Bexar Tracks January 9. 2002 BAS Board urges City Council to protect water supply, environment Deny permits for golf resort over sensitive aquifer recharge zone TO: Mayor Ed Garza, Members of the San Antonio City Council, City Manager Terry Brechtel, Assistant City Manager Christopher Brady, Bexar County Judge NelsoJJ Wolff, Bexar County Commissioners Court, Richard Garcia, TNRCC, Gregory Ellis, Edwards Aquifer Authority Bexar Audubon Society, Inc., is a chapter of the National Audubon Society, ' representing more than 1500 households in the greater San Antonio area. The Board of Directors offers this statement 'of posi­tion on their behalf, relative to the mission of the Society: "to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats for the benefit of humanity and the earth's biologi­cal diversity." The position of the Bexar Audubon Society, Inc., is that; while we know that undeveloped, unaltered land in the Edwards AquifeT Recharge Zone (EARZ) 'provides essential ecosystem services, and while we appreciate the aesthetic and wild­life habitat values of pristine Texas Hill Country, we also acknowledge the rights of private property owners. Land in Texas is more than 97 percent privately held, and much Df the important work in habitat con­servation in Texas is achieved by private landowners: In the case of the POA Village, how­ever, and its extraordinary prop,osal to rely on the taxing authority of a special Cibolo Canyon Conservation District to fund its infrastructure development, the interests of the public gain much larger importance. Furthermore, the long-term implications­financial, economic, growth, natural re­source, quality of life, and others-must be considered much more thoroughly and with unimpeachable objectivity. The pro­posal would postpone City annexation of the property for fifteen years and with that the City's ability to exercise its full regu­latory authority to protect water quality, as well as, of course, the opportunity to ex­pand its tax base. Purchase and set-aside of the subject land by the public is the most obvious rem­edy to the controversy surrounding the pro­posed PGA Village in northern Bexar County within the EARZ. Citizen support for protection of the EARZ was strongly . validated by the passage of Proposition 3 January/ March 2002 Statement of Bexar Audubon Society, Inc., Regarding the Cibolo Canyon Conservation District, PGA Village, and Related Proposals in 2000. Indeed, the price of properties in the EARZ in Bexar County is high. But so is the value of ecosystem services provided by the Edwards Aquifer (EA) system­from the catchment area to the artesian zone. Neither of these valuesjs likely to be reduced in the foreseeable future. The Board of Bexar Audubon Society supports the extension of Proposition 3 or a similar city and/or county program. Willing sell­ers of land or easements should find a will­ing buyer in the people of this ·community. If it is possible for the subject properties owned by Lumbermen's Investment Corp. (LIC) to be purchased under a program such as Proposition 3, that would be the best solution, iri our opinion. Indeed, We believe that Proposition 3, or its successor program, should be of suf­ficient scope to aggressively set aside re­maining lands in Bexar County, but should also be used to purchase EARZ properties in counties to the west QfBexar, since these areas are of prime importance to protect­ing the qt,tality of San Antonio's drinking water. Furthermore, the property values in these areas are not yet as high as in north­ern Bexar County-but urban growth is in that direction. If a purchase of title or easement is not possible for the LIC properties, regulating authorities must require scientifically­founded measures that will ensure, to the best of our knowledge and ability, that any activity conducted over the EARZ will not jeopardize the water quality of the Edwards Aquifer. Considering the importance of the Edwards for the continued well being of the San Antonio re~ion, especially in light of inevitable growth, non-degradation must be the standard by which any land use re­strictions and pollution abatement plans are measured. Current data from the Edwards Aquifer Authority (2000 Hydrogeologic Data Report, www. edwardsaquifer.· org/ Pages/frames_aquifer.html) indicate that human activities have already had an ad­verse impact on the Aquifer in many areas. 4 The Bexar Audubon Society believes that any land use over the EARZ should: •be as benign as possible in terms of point- and non-point source pollutants; • include the installation of state-of-the­art surface water, vadose zone, and groundwater monitoring systems (up­stream and downstream surface collec­tion, network of monitoring wells, vacuum lysimeters, etc.), including the appropriate parameters, collection proce­dures, analytical protocols, and data re­porting procedures like those required in the federal RCRA or CERCLA programs; and in addition, •sampling frequency should be based upon Aquifer characteristics in relation to rainfall and drought conditions, as well as seasonal applications of constituents of concern. Before development may begin, the de­veloper must agree to best management practices (BMPs) that include a mainte­nance program, compliance monitoring program, agreed upon surface water and groundwater quality standards, and remediation requirements. All data should be submitted to the appropriate regulatory agency for review and placed in the public domain. Those who own and manage de­velopment over the EARZ should also re­quire insurance and bonding to ensure regu­latory compliance. Risk assessments should be required, and all proposals by the owners and devel­opers must be thoroughly reviewed and cri­tiqued by third-party experts in the field who are vetted by appropriate regulatory agencies and the City. Bexar Audubon is taking a strong po­sition on the issue not only for the protec­tion of "birds and bugs," although endan­gered species are known to live in the EARZ in Bexar County. We urge these ac­tions and/or restrictions .for the benefit of people and the quality of life of the region, and to ensure a sustainable economy . Continued on page 5 Bexar Tracks Continued from page 4 We must protect the Edwards Aquifer from contaminated runoff while simulta­neously encouraging the maximum re­charge of uncontaminated runoff. Consider the following: •contaminants introduced to the land will have the capacity to reach the underlying Aquifer through the porous and fractured rock that characterizes the EARZ. Con­struction of buildings, roads, parking ar­eas, and wastewater treatment systems will reduce the natural recharge capacity of the surface land and will concentrate the runoff onto a smaller surface area. The end result will tend toward a greater po­tential for flooding, more contaminants in the runoff, and a general upset of the natural equilibrium of this karst ecosys­tem; • use of treated wastewater effluent, while commendable in theory, poses serious long-term or non-remediable contamina­tion of the EA with dangerous pathogens (viruses, cryptosporidium), pharmaceuti­cals (antibiotics, hormones), nutrients (ni­, trates), and pesticides; • "if you build it, they will come" -en­couraging northward growth patterns will require enormous additional investments in infrastructure, continuing a pattern of existing central-city taxpayers financing far-northside development, while the cen­tral city streets and drainage continue to decline; • depletion of the Trinity Aquifer, which is a San Antonio Water System water source and will supply water needed for early establishments of landscape plantings and golf course turf, negatively impacts existing landowners who depend upon the Trinity for their daily essential water, and may have as yet unquantified impacts upon Edwards Aquifer recharge; • increasing traffic over the EARZ, draw­ing new residents who wish to be close to their workplace or recreation, and ac­companying infrastructure development. We also ask the following questions: • if this project is such a great idea, why is tax money required to make it "do"­able and profitable? • if the City approves this development, will the developers, tenants, the PGA, and any other partners be required to post cash January/ March 2002 LOCAL EVENTS bonds in a publicly approved and secure manner to cover both the potential loss of City money if the development fails or if there is pollution remediation required? • has the cost of the 1,100 acres of open space promised to the City by the devel­opers been worked out to determine ex­actly how much the property is costing in terms of revenue lost or deferred? Is this a good deal for the City of San Anto­nio and its residents and taxpayers? If the goal of the developers is, as we believe it is, to establish a model for re­sponsible development over the EARZ, they must be wiling and able to answer these questions-and more-definitively. It is our opinion that a comprehen- January 8. 2002 sively regulated, monitored, and enforced land use, such as the proposed golf courses should be; would be preferable develop­ment to the same area covered with single­and multi-family dwellings. However, it has not escaped our observation that the pro­posed PGA Village also includes a signifi­cant number of dwellings that would be effectively non-regulatable-a situation that continues to be of serious concern. Geological sensitivity maps of the EARZ indicate that the subject area is "ex­tremely vulnerable." That being the case, so are we-the people and businesses that depend upon the Edwards Aquifer as the cornerstone of our water supply strategy now and in the future. -Susan K. Hughes, President BAS supports policy curtailing access roads To create more friendly neighborhoods Statement of Bexar Audubon Society, Inc. Regarding the Texas Department of Transportation Proposal to Curtail Frontage Road Construction To: Ken Bohuslav, Director, Design Division Texas Department of Transportation 125 E. 11th Street Austin, TX 78701-2483 Bexar Audubon Society, Inc., is a chapter of the National Audubon Society, representing more than 1500 households in the greater San Antonio area. The Board of Directors offers this statement of position on their behalf, relative to the mission of the Society: "to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats for the benefit of humanity and the earth's biological diversity." Bexar Audubon Society, Inc., supports the Texas Department of Transportation Commission recommendations to curtail the building of access or frontage roads along Texas highways. In particular, we oppose the building of frontage roads in the U.S. 281 corridor as it passes through the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone. Vulnerability maps indicate that this is an extremely sensitive area-one that should be protected to the greatest extent possible. Frontage roads tncrease the amount of impervious cover, offer more opportunities 5 for accidents and hydrocarbon spills, and attract additional development that will contribute to watershed degradation and non-point source pollution. Frontage roads invite local residential and retail development, but are hostile environments for use of public transit. This means they encourage the proliferation of personal vehicles; more traffic; increased sprawl; and vistas cluttered with signS, parking lots, and strip centers. They are not compatible with current philosophies of managed growth and community-centered development. In a time when San Antonio seriously needs to improve its public transit system, we should be seeking ways to make use of public transit easier rather than more difficult. Freeway corridors with one-way access roads inhibit the provision of convenient, safe public-transit options. We urge the Texas Department of Transportation to not automatically build frontage/access roads in the state and to aggressively protect the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone in its planning and imple­mentation of transportation infrastructure. -Susan K. Hughes, President PS. The comment period is open ntil February 4th Bexar Tracks BIRD TALES Feb. 15-18. 2002 Great Backyard Bird Count: Help take a snapshot of America's winter birds In the wintertime America's birds seek warmth, shelter and food where they can find it. But how many birds are there, who are they and where are they? These are the questions that will be answered at the Great Backyard Bird Count, an annual avian inventory sponsored by the National Audubon Society, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Wild Birds Unlimited. You can help! On the weekend of Feb. 15-18 anyone with an interest in birds and access to the Internet should watch their bird feeders and backyards and count the number of different bird species he or she sees. Last year 442 species were observed for a total of 4.5 million birds. Those without feeders can count in their local neighborhoods and parks. Counters can spend as little or as much time as they want counting birds. Neither the number of birds counted or species seen matters. What the participating scientists want is a idea of numbers and locations. For complete details on how to make accurate counts, how to submit count data and descriptions of birds you may see, log on Audubon's site www.birdsouce.org and click on Backyard Bird Count. San Antonio Audubon Society Issues birding challenge Editor's note: The San Antonio Audubon Society, not to be confused with BAS, concentrates on birding activities. It has issued the following challenge. The San Antonio Audubon Society announces the First Annual Bexar County Birding Challenge. The objective of the challenge is to identify 212 species or more out of the 426 species previously recorded in Bexar County. Interested participants should contact Scott Gruwell, BCBC Chairperson, by leaving a message at the association's Rare Bird Alert number, 308-6788, or by email [e-mail]. More information regarding the club, its activities, and various parks and birding "hotspots" in the county can be obtained by visiting the San Antonio Audubon Society's website at www.saaudubon.org. VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY A ringie ding ding ,Our telephone rings, but who's to answer For many years Bexar Audubon has had a telephone number (listed at left) which members and the general public use to find information on our meetings and other activities. However, the person now answering that telephone (our President) finds that time constraints make it difficult to be immediately responsive. We are seeking someone with: 1) a telephone in their home with an answering machine; 2) availability to answer that phone in timely fashion; and 3. the willingness to earn the eternal gratitude of members and the board by performing a valuable service. This person would not have to sit by the phone· waiting for it to ring but should have the time to respond to calls in a timely fashion. This person would not have to know the answers to telephone inquiries but merely the numbers of the BAS resource person to whom the caller should be referred. Does this sound like you? Call Susan at 532-2332 for information. PS, If you don't have an answering -machine we have one for you. January/ March 2002 6 Master Naturalists seeking Applicants for spring class The Alamo Area Chapter of Texas Master Naturalists is currently accepting applications for its 2002 ·Spring Class. Classes will be held at the Friedrich Wilderness Park from 4:30 to 9:00p.m. each day. Class dates are Thursdays from March 14th through May 16'h with a May 18'h final class/graduation. The course tuition including materials is $75.00 per person. Applications will be accepted through early February. Participants receive training by experts in ecology, wildlife management, archaeology, native plants, how to protect our natural resources, and other topics. This training can benefit everyone from professionals wanting to increase their knowledge to the general public who has an interest in conserving our natural resources. To be a Certified, Master Naturalist, Volunteers are required to provide 40 hours of volunteer service to the community each year by participating in a variety of projects, including outdoor classrooms, special events, demonstration wildscape gardens, birding, hiking activities, and many others. Eight hours of continuing education during the year are also required. Applications are available via the Master Naturalist web site, www. AlamoMasterNaturalist.org or the office of Texas Parks and Wildlife (134 Braniff). You can also leave a message with your name and address at the Alamo Area Chapter at 698-2397 option #1, and an application will be sent to you. Farewell Address To the members of Bexar Audubon SoCiety, it's officers and board: I want to thank you all for the opportunity to serve you as President during 2001 and as VP and a board member for several years previous. It has been an honor and a pleasure. I step down now to leave BAS' leadership in the capable hands of Susan Hughes and will continue as your SAEN chair. The beauty of the cardinal, the antics of the chickadee and the c~ll of the bobwhite are all linked to what we call the environment- become a practicing "environmentalist"- whether in your back yard, your farm or ranch, or when involved in an Audubon community project. -Mike Bexar Tracks LOCAL .EVENTS Great Texas Birding Classic Undergoes major changes- The Great Texas Birding Tiw b!ggt~t,!<;ngwt and wildest Ntdwncbkf& M>.~trtament ln th1l U.S, This . January/ March 2002 8 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 rto l-end-. F-or -info-: 2-10--34-2-2-073-. --., Membership Form National Audubon Society Bexar AudubonSociety (Chapter Code W19) Membership rates are: Student/Senior $15 Basic $35 Introductory 1-year $20 (2-year: $30) Name ____________________ _ Address. _________________ _ 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 · --- 1 Bexar Tracks The Spring 2002 South Texas Farm & Range Forum Managing to Make a living: Ownership = Stewardship March 1-2, 2002 • Hondo, Texas Friday, March 1, Workshop - 1 - 5pm; Dinner & Campfire- 5 - 9pm • meet at Medina County Fairgrounds at 1 pm for orientation session • convoy to the 7 A Ranch for a tour and discussion of land manage­ment practices led by Philip Wright, NRCS- 2:00 -4:30pm This workshop is ideal for new or prospective landowners who want to learn how to be good stewards: how to define management objectives, how to develop and implement appropriate practices for their property, how to measure results. It's useful for experienced owners, too, and those who are just interested in land management issues and want to see and understand some good management results first-hand. • dinner at 5pm at 7 A Ranch • 'round the campfire discussion after dinner moderated by Joseph Fitzsimons, Texas Parks & Wildlife Commissioner & Owner, San Pedro Ranch, featuring award-winning land steward Harold Schmidt Walking Cane Ranch; C{eorge Cofer, Annandale Ranch; Frank Jones IlL Bear Creek Ranch. Saturday, March 2, Forum - Bam - 5pm - Medina County Fairgrounds 7:30am Check-in, coffee, tea, juice, pastries, etc. 8:00am Welcome, introductions, & announcements 8:15 am Keynote: John P. Burt, State Conservationist VS Dept. of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service 8:40am Fundamental Stewardship Practices • tie-in with Friday's workshop - Phillip Wright NRCS • new/small landowners-what should you knowl - Lynn Post NRCS (retired) • assistance program overview -Rick Cantu, NRCS 10:00 am Break 10:30 am 12:00 noon 1:00pm 1:20pm 2:10pm 2:30pm 3:45pm 4:00pm 4:40pm The Sustainable Homestead • developments in on-site treatment -Rick Weaver, Texas A&M Vniv., Soil & Crop Sciences • minimizing nutrient loss -Dr. Sam Feagley, T AMV, Soil & Crop Sciences Dept. • trees in the rural landscape - Mark A. Peterson, Texas Forest Service Lunch Fostering stewardship in agriculture- Dr. Edward A. Hiler, Vice Chancellor & Dean, Texas A&M University Agricultre Program Determining habitat health -Dr. D. Lynn Drawe, Director, Welder Wildlife Foundation Break • Important Bird Areas Program -Terry Austin & Jesse C{rantham, Audubon Texas • birding trails & nature tourism - Linda Campbell, TPWD; Ted Eubanks, Fermata, Inc. • habitat for butterflies & other small watchable wildlife - Mike Quinn, TPWD Break "Wildlife exemption" - Qualification of Agricultural Land in Wildlife Management Use Bernie Little, State Comptroller's Office, & Kirby Brown, Texas Wildlife Association Wrap-up, Q&A, moderated by Orlan lhms, Chairman of the Board, Audubon Texas Attire: Country casual-some activities outside; layers may be in order. A project of Bexar Audubon Society and its cooperating agencies and organizations. Planning committee: Larry Allen, Dr. Janet Black, Dr. Peter Bowman, Helen Holdsworth, Susan Hughes, Mike Mecke, Mike Petter, & Phillip Wright. For sponsorship, partnership, and exhibitor opportunities contact Helen Holdsworth, 210-467-6578, [e-mail], or any member of the planning committee. Area Lodging: Hondo: Whitetail Lodge (830-426-3031) & Executive Inn (830-426-2535); D'Hanis: Koch Hotel (830-363-7500)1 Castroville: Alsatian Inn (830-538-2262) & Landmark Inn (512-389-8900) The Spring 2002 South Texas Farm & Range Forum Managing to Make a Living: Ownership = Stewardship March 1-2, 2002 • Hondo, Texas This is the third in a series of farm and range forums that build on the common interests of the agricultural and conser­vation communities. Previous forums have fostered under­standing, communication, and cooperation. Please join us for this opportunity to continue and expand the dialogue and broaden our mutual horizons. We'll have a field work­shop, food and fellowship, and plenty of good information. Wildlife need habitat. Humans need ecosystem services. In Texas, about 97 percent of land is held privately, so pri­vate landowners must engage in conservation, and urban conservationists must work with and support the efforts of private landowners. We believe the preservation of Texas family farms and ranches is key to developing and maintaining sustainable agriculture. Cjood stewardship ensures healthy habitats and ecosystems, which are essential for a biologically and eco­nomically healthy Texas now and in the future. But, making a living off the land is hard to do. By com­bining hunting, tourism, agriculture, and assistance from government and private programs, the land-owning family can diversify, optimize its management practices, and improve the chances of holding on to a family legacy. With 80+ percent of Texans now living in cities, we think urban conservationists must make an effort to understand rural issues and urban-rural connections. Vrban dwellers must direct their political will to help rural communities retain and manage land sustainably and support nature's ability to provide important services for people and wildlife. We have a lot in common. --- RE(jiSTRATION FORM early registration encouraged by February 18 For more information contact Susan Hughes, .210-8.2.2-4503 or .210-86.2-1150, [e-mail]. MAIL TO: Bexar Audubon Society, PO Box 6084, San Antonio, TX 78209-0084 Please print- NAME(S): --- ADDRESS/CITY/ST/ZIP: ______________________ _ FARM/RANCH NAME (if applicable) and/or ORQANIZATION: _________________ _ AREA CODE/PHONE: FAX: E-MAIL: --- Both days: __ @ $75 (Audubon members) __ @ $85 (non-members*) Friday only: __ @ $35 (member or non-member) Saturday only: __ @ $45 (Audubon members) __ @ $55 (non-members*) [* includes introductory one-year membership in Bexar & National Audubon Societies, a $.20 value] TOTAL$ _ Please enclose check or money order payable to: "Bexar Audubon Society." Check area(s) of business/interest? 0 farming 0 ranching 0 nature tourism 0 wildlife management 0 hunting 0 wildlife viewing 0 ag-related industry 0 conservancy 0 education 0 sustainable living 0 government 0 other --- .,. --- --- Please briefly describe your farming/ranching operation: Have you attended previous South Texas Farm & Range Forums? .2000 .2001 NO How did you learn about this year's Farm & Range Forum? What are your reasons for attending this forum? What are your expectations? ________ ___ _ Do you want to receive CEVs for Pesticide Applicator's License? YES NO