| Summary: | Bexar Tracks began with Vol. 4, no. 1 (January 1986). It continues Newsletter (Bexar Audubon Society). BEXAR AUDUBON SOCIETY SAN ANTONIO, TX Volume XXIII, No. 3 April - May 2005 Killer Cats Did you know that an estimated 38 to 100 million or more songbirds are killed each year by roaming housecats? Join wildlife biologist Julie Jeter for a power point presentation and lively discussion of this topic. Extensive studies show that 20 to 30 percent of the wildlife that cats kill are birds, with most of the bird kills — especially nestlings and fledglings — occurring in spring and summer, although predation at winter bird feeders can be substantial. Even well-fed cats are predators apparently for the pure pleasure of hunting. In addition to our feline friends, she’ll discuss feral hogs and invasive plant species and the damage they do to habitats and the native flora, particularly in regard to the damage inflicted on valuable resources on military First Place, 2000 & 2002! National Audubon Society newsletter contest — large chapter division Thursday, April 14, 2005 — Chapter Meeting installations. Since the military is such a large land holder and must comply with federal law such as the Endangered Species Act and Clean Water Act, much of the best habitat remaining in the US is on military installations. Julie Jeter has an MS in Wildlife & Fisheries Science from Texas A&M and a BS in Biology from UTSA. She specializes in ornithology, endangered species, bird behavior and vocalizations, habitat assessment and restoration, and woody vegetation. Julie presently works as an environmental consultant providing natural resource support and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance and document writing for the U.S. Air Force. Julie is also an accomplished wildlife artist. 6:30 p.m. — Social Time; 6:45p.m. — Announcements; 7:00 p.m. — Program Free and open to the public — Moody Engineering Building - Room 103 - Trinity U., Corner of Hwy 281 & Stadium. Take Hildebrand exit from Hwy 281 N, Turn left onto Hildebrand, then left (south) at first light west of 281&Hildebrand. This SAEN program format will be a little different than our usual panel discussion. We will watch a documentary and a discussion will follow with Bexar Audubon member and transportation expert, Bill Barker. Since World War II North Americans have invested their newfound wealth in suburbia. It has promised a sense of space, affordability, family life and upward mobility. As we enter the 21st century, serious questions are beginning to emerge about the sustainability of this way of life. With brutal honesty and a touch of irony, The End of Suburbia explores the American Way of Life and its prospects as global demand for fossil fuels begins to outstrip supply. World Oil Peak and the inevitable decline of fossil fuels are upon us now, some scientists and policy The End of Suburbia: Oil Depletion and the Collapse of the American Dream makers argue in this documentary. The consequences of inaction in the face of this global crisis are enormous. What does Oil Peak mean for North America? As energy prices skyrocket in the coming years, how will the populations of suburbia react to the collapse of their dream? And what can be done NOW, individually and collectively, to avoid The End of Suburbia? For more information, visit the website at www.endofsuburbia.com. ADVISORY: one expert in this documentary uses strong language a couple of times during the 78 minute film. We feel that the importance of this subject and the educational value of the coverage justifies showing the film anyway. Those who might find this offensive are regretfully advised to avoid this program. Thursday, May 12, 2005, San Antonio Environmental Network-Room 149, Cowles Life Sci Bldg & Other Exotic Aliens Change in Meeting place for April- Moody Engineering Bldg 13, Trinity Univ., Room 103. Back to Cowles Life Sciences Bldg 11, Room 149 in May See map,back page. Same time as above. April - May 2005 2 Bexar Tracks BEXAR AUDUBON SOCIETY Chapter of the National Audubon Society P. O. Box 6084, San Antonio, TX 78209 210-822-4503 GOALS The Chapter’s primary goals are to promote species and habitat conservation and environmental education in the community. OFFICERS President Tony Wood . (tonywood@sbcglobal.net) 493-4684 Vice Pres. Harry Noyes . (harrynoyes@satx.rr.com) . 490-3124 Treasurer Betty Minyard . (mink@texas.net) . 344-6128 Secretary Caryl Swann . (cjswann1@earthlink.net) . 653-2860 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Dean Bibles . (dbibles@aol.com) . 698-9264 Susan Hughes . (susan@wordwright.com) . 532-2332 Joe Orr . (josephorr@aol.com) . 377-0621 COMMITTEE CHAIRS Aud. Adven. Betty Minyard . (mink@texas.net) . 344-6128 Birdathon Marge Lumpe . (birdwatcher@msn.com) . 545-1822 Conserv. Harry Noyes . (harrynoyes@satx.rr.com) . 490-3124 Program Patty Pasztor . (pasztor@ix.netcom.com) . 824-1235 Memb. . available Publicity Harry Noyes . (harrynoyes@satx.rr.com) . 490-3124 SAEN Coord. . available Bexar Tracks Content editor . available Editors Jill Sondeen . (jls2003@gvtc.com) . 830-980-3277 Mailing Blair Richter.(barkisrichter@sbcglobal.net) . 832-0522 Bexar Tracks is your newsletter. We welcome your contributions. Printed with soy ink on recycled paper. Visit Bexar Audubon’s Web Site: http://www.BexarAudubon.org Up-to-date environmental events and calendar can be found here — check often for news! Visit San Antonio Environmental Network’s Web Site: http://www.sa-naturecenter.org Suggestions and contributions are welcome. Please contact Harry Noyes at harrynoyes@satx.rr.com “The World is moved along; not only by the mighty shoves of its heroes, but also by the aggregate of tiny pushes of each honest worker.” ~Helen Keller~ Birdathon is expanding CHAPTER NEWS Birdathon, the annual fund-raising event for funding Audubon Adventures is coming April 30. There have been a number of changes to the event this year, and the main one is that Mitchell Lake Audubon Center is using Birdathon for a fundraiser for the Center. A portion of the funds raised— namely the first $1500—will, however, continue to go to the funding of Audubon Adventures. Audubon Adventures is an educational program of the National Audubon Society (www.audubon.org/educate/aa/). It consists of a series of bi-monthly environmental newsletters that are provided to elementary grades 3 through 6, and these newsletters become part of the science curriculum. Audubon Adventures was developed by professional environmental educators and presents basic, scientifically accurate facts about birds, wildlife, and their habitats. Betty Minyard, Education Chair, has developed a list of about 35 teachers and classrooms to receive Audubon Adventures, and the program is always enthusiastically received. It comes packaged as a Classroom Kit (serving 32 students) and costs $35 per kit plus S&H. Your support is needed to continue this important program. Please contact Marge Lumpe (birdwatcher@msn.com, 210-545-1822) to let her know that you wish to make a per-species pledge or to contribute a flat amount. Pledges in any amount are welcome. 2005 AIR QUALITY HEALTH FAIR Saturday, April 9, 2005 — 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. San Pedro Park, 1315 San Pedro Blvd. across from San Antonio College—behind tennis courts by San Pedro Playhouse, entrance on W. Ashby • Education about maintaining good health and physical activity • Free Asthma Screening and asthma education • Car Care Alley - Learn how to do basic maintenance • Emissions Checks & Gas Cap Checks • VIA’s Classroom on Wheels (for kids!) • Free Bike Tune-Ups by Bike City Check the Web Calendars First for Up-to-the-Minute Information We are depending more and more on the World Wide Web to keep you informed in a timely way: PLEASE check regularly at www.bexaraudubon.org, www.sa-naturecenter.org (especially the conservation page), and www.localendar.com/public/SAenvironment. • Hybrid & Alternate Fuel Vehicles Display • CPS Free Tree Give Away • Activities for Kids (face painting, games, treats, and more!) Exhibitors and much more will be on hand! For more information, call Alison Young at 362-5213. Or visit the website at www.aacog.com/air/ 2005AQHF.htm Learn how we can clean-up San Antonio area’s air! April - May 2005 3 Bexar Tracks Science is not an ivory tower hobby. It is hard work with a direct impact on people’s lives. Anyone who attended the February 10th San Antonio Environmental Network program, “Scientific Data Collection and Interpretation: Developing a Foundation for the Habitat Conserva-tion Plan for Aquatic Species Depen-dent upon the Edwards Aquifer,” got an idea of just how hard the work is. They learned it from Rick Illgner, Edwards Aquifer Authority (EAA) program manager of groundwater management strategies, and Ed Oborny, senior fisheries biologist for EAA consultant BIO-WEST, Inc. Illgner described the practical, political and legal issues. In a nutshell, the EAA wants to publish a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) which will convince the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to issue the EAA an “incidental take permit.” The underlying principle is that the Endangered Species Act exists to ensure the preservation of species, not to prevent individual animal deaths. Killing an endangered species member is illegal in most cases because, and only because, it threatens the species’ survival. However, if an entity has an HCP that incorporates reasonable measures to ensure survival of the species, it can get a permit that recognizes that a few members of the covered species may accidentally suffer harm or even death (incidental take) in the course of performing its otherwise lawful activities, but that the loss of these February 2005 SAEN Recap: Teeny fishes, irate turtles and gigantic alien Algae suckers: why real science is hard work CHAPTER NEWS individuals will not threaten the survival of the species in the wild. In the case of the EAA, those lawful activities are mainly decisions about how much water can be pumped and how low the aquifer and springs can be allowed to go in a drought. An Incidental Take permit would protect the Authority and aquifer users from the kind of restrictions imposed some years ago by a federal judge when pumping from the aquifer threatened fountain darters, salamanders and other rare species. But Incidental Take Permits aren’t granted by guess and by golly. An HCP must convince USFWS that it will ensure the continuation of the affected species and that they will be better off with the HCP than without it. And THAT means the EAA must present accurate, comprehensive scientific information on the current status of those species and their habitat requirements. That’s where Oborny comes in. He and his team did the most system-atic biological and hydro-geological work ever done on the aquifer: data collection, biologic modeling, and calculation of the implications for the Comal and San Marcos Springs and the Edwards Aquifer. It wasn’t easy. Oborny and his colleagues spent long hours waist-deep in chilly water, painstakingly sweeping up tiny organisms and counting them, over and over again. In the process, they sometimes encountered non-target species, such as three-foot-long alien slime eaters — giant plecostomas, imported aquarium algae eaters that escaped somehow (likely dumped by disinterested aquarium owners) and now live wild in Texas waters. Once, Oborny had to make a swift exit from the square-walled net barrier, used to isolate sections of stream for study, when he stepped on something and realized it was not a fish. An alligator snapping turtle with “a head bigger than my arm” was caught in the net. The work was done with unprece-dented thoroughness. How thorough? One principle of such research, Oborny said, is to never believe what people tell you. Check everything. As a result, they learned fountain darters live in deep-water areas that no one ever realized they would occupy. Their numbers are therefore much larger than once believed — though this doesn’t in itself change their endangerment. After all, a hundred fish or a hundred thousand, they all die if the water runs out. Trouble is, there is nothing the Authority can do to guarantee the water won’t run out. Good pumping management can reduce the number of times the springs run dry, but a repeat of the “drought of record” (the long dry spell of the 1950s) would surely shut down the springs again, especially given the area’s growth. Consequently, the HCP cannot be a painless document. The draft now almost ready for submission to the USFWS offers awkward but practical options, such as recycling water into the spring runs to provide limited survival habitats for the endangered species or even removing them temporarily to survive in artificial refuges such as fish hatcheries and Zoos when the springs run dry. All this is in the draft document available at www.edwardsaquifer.org/ Pages/theplans/habitat.html - Harry Noyes April - May 2005 4 Bexar Tracks CHAPTER NEWS March 10, 2005, Chapter Meeting recap: The Land Down Under: Deep and Punkin Cave Preserve For the Thursday, March 10th chapter meeting, the crowd was small (18), but they were well rewarded by a fascinating presentation. In addition to being the Chief Technical Officer of the Edwards Aquifer Authority, Geary Schindel is also the project manager of the 225-acre Deep and Punkin Cave Preserve in the Carta Valley in Edwards County. With Bexar Audubon Society’s contributing some financial help, the Texas Cave Management Association (www.tcmacaves.org) purchased the land in October 2004 for $124,900. The first slide showed a dirt two-track road looking over a green valley of typical Hill Country scrub. Interestingly, Geary said that as recently as the 1960s, the land was completely denuded — no cedar, no soil, no grass — due to overgrazing. The land was unused since then, and has grown back pretty densely. In addition to ashe juniper, there is fishhook cactus, pinyon pine, and mountain laurel. He was there once in October and was delighted by the monarch butterflies passing through as well as a kettle of migrating hawks. You’ll notice that although we suggested that a field trip would be organized soon, it hasn’t happened yet. The next slide showed a cabin, sleeps eight people, which the previous owners had built on the site, and it does have electricity. But it doesn’t have running water. The previous owners installed a toilet and had what appeared to be plumbing, but the next slide showed a white drain pipe hanging over an open pit about 50 feet from the house. The TCMA didn’t think that was such a great idea, so they removed the toilet and in its stead there is a pickle bucket (“comes with a pretty strong smell which masks any, uh, additions,” Geary mentioned) with a toilet seat and some bags. “Very nice accommodations … for a caver,” Geary informed us. They are debating whether to put in a composting toilet or a low pressure system. Also, they’ll have to get some source of water and are considering putting in a rain water collection system or going in with a neighbor to drill a well. Meanwhile, they have started to clean the property of all the “yard art” that was dumped as well as removing the old deer stands. They are working with the Natural Resources Conserva-tion Service to come up with a man-agement plan to manage for wildlife and cavers (recreational and scientific study). Ideally, they’ll qualify for a wildlife exemption and reduce their hefty property taxes. Currently they are working on mapping the two caves. They surveyed the property’s boundaries but still have to put in permanent markers. A PhD student biologist is performing a biological survey and has already discovered a new species of whip-tailed scorpion. They will eventually get around to doing a geological survey, but no hurry, “the formations don’t move much.” Punkin Cave is a big collapse cave. There is a fifty foot drop to a huge, 20 x 30-foot room. From March through October, the cave is home to over 500,000 Mexican free-tail bats and caving is off limits. There was a great horned owl that made its home just inside the entrance of the cave, close to its dinner! Cavers have to rappel down to get inside. Fortunately, the air freshens rapidly after the bats leave. Walking through the four- to eight-inch deep guano “is like walking through snow,” Geary answered when asked what it was like. The guano is made up mostly of insect exoskeletons. The beetles which live in the guano burrow down deep to stay warm for the winter, waiting for the return of “dinner” — any bats losing their grip and falling to the ground usually don’t have to worry about having to figure out how to take off from the ground, so quickly do the beetles dispatch the clumsy bat. Linda Palit, Texas Cave Managment Asssociation president in Deep Cave. Photo by Allan Cobb From the surface, Deep Cave looks like a slit in the ground. This cave is more than a mile long and most of it has never been explored. It has some unusual formations and appears to have been formed by ascending acidic water with hydrogen sulfide, like Sonora and Carlsbad caverns. (To find out how these kinds of caves are formed, see the NOVA show, “Mysterious Life of Caves.” <www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/ transcripts/2910_caves.html>) There are gypsum helectites—gravity defying formations that “flow” up—like the famous formation in the Sonora Caverns. In conjunction with the Witte Museum’s “World of Water” exhibit, a laser camera was used to do a 3-D rendering of the cave. Geary played a short clip and we felt like we were walking in the cave. -Jill Sondeen Caver entering Punkin Cave (circle). Photo by Allan Cobb and Travis Scott April - May 2005 5 Bexar Tracks LOCAL EVENTS SAMMinistries Hosts 3rd Annual Birdhouse Contest Build a Better Birdhouse — Help Birds and People! SAN ANTONIO – Young and old alike are invited to decorate or build their own birdhouse and enter it into the SAMMinistries 3rd Annual Birdhouse Contest which offers an array of prizes. The entries become the property of SAMMinistries and will be sold or auctioned on Saturday, May 21st from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at 5922 Blanco Road. All funds raised will be used by the worthwhile agency to provide services for the homeless. “The birdhouse contest is a way for us to celebrate hope and home, and to bring awareness to the problem of homelessness in San Antonio,” says Bob Martindale, President and CEO of SAMMinistries. In 2004 there were approximately 350 entries. The birdhouses can be made of wood, clay, ceramic or metal, and can be classified functional or ornamental. The base must measure no more than 12 inches across, but there is no height limit. A panel of local dignitaries will judge the entries, and prizes will be awarded in three age divisions in the general category. The categories are youth (6-12), teen (13- 18) and adult (19 and over). Winners will be selected for a first, second and third prize in each age category. Contest entries must be delivered to SAMMinistries, 5922 Blanco Road, on one of the following days: Thursday, May 12 and Friday, May 13 from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., and on Saturday, May 14 from 10:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. Prizes have been graciously donated by: Boudro’s On the River, Pacific Moon Restaurant, Starbucks Coffee, Six Flags Fiesta Texas Theme Park, Malibu Grand Prix, IMAX Theater, SeaWorld San Antonio, Chuck E Cheese’s, Boardwalk Bistro and others. For information, visit www.samm.org or call 340-0302. Birds and Critters out West Report Note: Mike Mecke, former BAS member and officer, sent in this recount of his recent work travels and observations. An Extension Water Specialist, he now lives in Fort Stockton, but keeps in touch. Dick and Joyce Pipes are BAS members. I visited the Nature Conservancy’s Oasis Ranch Springs on Independence Creek recently where I gave a water talk and boy, was that a treat. Great place! Beautiful springs set between high bluffs in the rugged countryside of the lower Pecos River basin of Terrell County. The Pipes were able to visit with me there and we all saw a lot of neat birds — vermillion flycatchers everywhere, lots of ducks, herons and many more species of grassland/upland birds. TNC biologist John Karges led a walk at daylight the next morning and we saw a lot more and heard a lot more about the wildlife — beaver are back in the creek, porcupines too and nutria — which the new ranch owner described as “delicous on the BBQ.” He told us how a large horned owl dive-bombed his head while cooking a nutria the week before and flew into the window — ending up with a giant headache and stomping around on the ground in a very sour mood. He was joined by two other owls which protested and watched till he could manage to fly off. Quite a night! A few days later I took off for Albuquerque and the Pipes left for Apache Refuge near Socorro and to Colorado. I saw some antelope on the prairies, like the ones out here near Alpine or Marfa. Later, in driving around Albuquerque’s Old River road — a neat area — I saw some sandhill cranes myself, grazing on small grain pastures. I saw quite a few big crows downtown, which surprised me, thought they were more rural. Coming back I saw a lot of mule deer and a flock of wild turkey between Lincoln and Roswell along the creek flowing down from Ruidoso. Pretty country, but abused and severely eroded in many, many places along the drainages and creeks. Using too much water for irrigation out of those small creeks it seems. Way too much unplanned development taking place in my opinion — that’s often the fate of “pretty country”.everyone wants 5 acres and horses on land that probably needs 150 acres to support a horse — more during severe droughts. Returning after the Austin Environmental Defense water conference this week, I saw a lot of hungry little whitetail deer on the trip through the Hill Country and many exotics outside of Fredricksburg. So many people still do not recognize that a clean, smoothly grazed pasture, with all the shrubs gone and the trees trimmed up by browsing — are signs of overstocking and poor range management. Many were high fenced, so animals cannot get out to go find good chow — stay there and eat themselves out of house and home. Too many non-resident landowners there who know nothing of land resource management and do not even think to ask or learn. Would they start a new business in the city without any background knowledge? Doubt it. Some even have their ranches cleared of all brush, or mowed, to get that smooth parkland appearance. This not only takes out bird and wildlife habitat, but most of the high protein feed that browsing animals require. Sad for the wildlife and the resources .poor land management affects our streams, rivers and aquifers too, as water runs off instead of soaking into the soil. That’s about it for now folks, come on out west — the Big Bend bluebonnets are beautiful now. April - May 2005 6 Bexar Tracks WATER FOR OUR FUTURE Proposition 1: The Aquifer Protection Initiative Election Day May 7, 2005. Early Voting April 20-May 3, 2005 Ever wished that you could leave a legacy for the future? Here’s the perfect opportunity. You can help protect the Edwards Aquifer — our sole source of drinking water and the key to our community’s health and economic vitality — by supporting Proposition 1, the Aquifer Protection Initiative. According to the Texas Water Development Board, the San Antonio region’s population is expected to increase from 1.5 million to 2.6 million by 2030. Rapid development in northern Bexar County not only reduces the amount of land available for aquifer protection and increases the cost of securing this land, but it also escalates threats to aquifer water quality. Proposition 1 provides $90 million to protect the Edwards Aquifer and increase its ability to provide clean, safe drinking water for years to come by dedicating a 1/8-cent sales tax to permanently protect significant portions of the watersheds that contribute to the aquifer. Proposition 1 is an extension and expansion of a successful aquifer-protection measure approved by voters in 2000, which raised $45 million for the city to buy nearly 6,500 acres in the Edwards Aquifer recharge and contributing zones. But Proposition 1 is much more flexible, with provisions that ensure your dollars will go much further and protect even more acres of recharge and contributing zone land. In addition to outright purchase, protection of these sensitive lands can be accomplished by the acquisition, from willing sellers, of perpetual conservation agreements, and can include land outside Bexar County — an important provision because most of the recharge zone lies to the west of Bexar County and the cost of that land lags behind that of properties in the San Antonio metropolitan area. To ensure your tax dollars are wisely spent, Proposition 1 will have a citizens’ oversight committee and will employ science-based criteria and an acquisition and management process that is transparent to the public. Protecting our water now enhances our future health, economy, and quality of life. Protecting land for the aquifer also preserves habitat for wildlife and honors our Hill Country heritage. No matter what part of town you live in, voting for Proposition 1 on May 7 will send a clear message that all San Antonians take responsibility to protect our water for tomorrow and conserve our options for a prosperous future. Early voting runs from April 20 through May 3. For more information or to volunteer to help, contact: Aquifer Protection Initiative P.O. Box 328 San Antonio TX 78292-0328 Phone: (210) 845-4593 Fax: (210) 493-7909 aquiferprotection.com UPCOMING EVENTS Conservation ‘Groups of a Feather Flock Together’ for 2005 Great Texas Birding Classic, April 16-24 AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) has partnered with the Gulf Coast Bird Observatory (GCBO) to host the April 16-24, 2005, ‘Great Texas Birding Classic,’ with each group bringing complementary resources to the world’s longest birding competition. The Great Texas Birding Classic (GTBC) raises money and awareness to protect critical habitat needed by millions of birds that migrate between the Americas. The week-long tournament is the longest competitive birding event in the United States, with an impact that reaches far beyond Texas. This is because the Texas coast is important stopover habitat for birds that continue up the Central, Mississippi and Atlantic flyways. Species include many neotropical migratory songbirds, among the nation’s most colorful and popular species, which migrate huge distances between South and Central America (the neotropics) and North America. For more information call the Tournament Coordinator, Carol Jones, at 1-866-482-2527. You can also visit the GCBO Website www.gcbo.org or visit the TPWD website http:// www.tpwd.state.tx.us/gtbc/. April - May 2005 7 Bexar Tracks Birds 'n Brushes 'n Bugs APRIL 9, 2005—10 am-12 pm EISENHOWER PARK Presented by Local Artist Juli Koroly LOCAL EVENTS SECOND SATURDAY PROGRAM by Peggy Spring FIRST SATURDAYS INTERPRETIVE NATURE HIKES February Program recap: Fins, Flippers, Flukes and Fur FUTURE HIKES Look at Nature in a new way! Juli’s interactive program will appeal to adults or families with elementary children and older. (Young children are welcome, however.) After an opening presentation of techniques for observing and recording characteristics, behavior, and habitat of birds and bugs (or any natural object), participants will explore the park with Juli and practice their new drawing and journaling skills. Although her desire is to get the whole family involved in nature appreciation and journaling, her tips can help any observer to quickly capture important details about birds, bugs and more that can aid in their identification and your enjoyment of them. Please bring pencils and a journal, notebook or sketchpad for each participant. Reservations are recommended for this event. Please call Natural Areas at 210-698-1057. This will insure your spot at this event. Walk-ins will be accepted on a limited basis. There is a suggested donation of $3.00 per individual or $5.00 per family. Limit 30 people. Eisenhower Park, Harris (Mass Pavilion), 19399 NW Military Hwy. Take FM 1535/Military Hwy/Shavano Park exit off Loop 1604 on the city’s northwest side. Go north on FM 1535/Militry Hwy about 2 miles. Park entrance is on the left, just before Camp Bullis. The Pavilion is the gated one to the right. Gates open at 9:30am. May 7, 2005 - Eisenhower Park June 4, 2005 - Friedrich Wilderness Park April 2, 2005 - 9:00am - 11:00am Walker Ranch Historic Park 12603 West Ave, San Antonio Everything has turned to green and the wildflowers should be blooming profusely. Come enjoy a walk through this historic site and learn something about our local flora and fauna. Appealing to adults and older children. Reservations are highly recommended, as the hike will not be conducted if there are no pre-registered participants. Call 210/698-1057. Meet at the restrooms near the parking lot. A donation of $2 per person is suggested. Participants are limited to 15 per hike. For groups of 8 or more please call to schedule a separate hike. sanaturalareas.org A cool misty Second Saturday in February set the stage for the Fins, Flippers, Flukes and Fur presentation by Darling Cetaceans, a local marine mammal not-for-profit group. Joel and Jennifer Darling presented a very engaging program about marine mammals to 9 children and 9 adults. Along with the information about the life habits of whales, manatees, walruses, and sea otters, several hands on materials and child-oriented activities enlivened the program. Who among us had had a chance to hold the long tooth-tusk of a narwhal? What a sensation! At one point, children were instructed to find a special rock, then lie down on their backs and use their rock to break open the covering of their ‘food’ (goldfish, no less — you know, the eating kind in the bag). This was an imitation of the way sea otters break open the clams that they eat. And the learning fun was just beginning. What, you may ask, did this program have to do with the Natural Areas? Well, you know the water we are trying to care for here goes right down to those marine mammals’ habitats and then gets back to the Hill Country eventually. And, Joel and Jennifer are very committed to resource conservation and recycling right here at home. They shared several tips with the audience like gathering fishing line you find along lakes and streams for recycling — helps the wildlife, makes things cleaner and contributes to a reduction in resource consumption. A great program for all ages. April - May 2005 8 Bexar Tracks Membership Form Chapter Donation Form National Audubon Society Bexar AudubonSociety 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. O. Box 6084 San Antonio, TX 78209 W19, 7XCH Opt out for other mailings By using this form, 100 percent of your first year’s dues will benefit the chapter. For Contributions to BAS: $______ Make your check payable to Bexar Audubon Society Bexar Audubon Society, Inc. P. O. Box 6084 San Antonio, TX 78209 Non-profit Organization U.S. Postage Paid San Antonio Permit #590 Saturday,April 16, 2005 — BEXAR AUDUBON OUTING Rhorer's Ranch - Wildflowers, Wild Plants, and Wild Birds! Join us on a field trip to Grover and Mary Rhorer’s 100- acre ranch south of town near Big Foot, TX. We’ll walk around the property and identify south Texas vegetation including some interesting brush and cactus species. Wildflowers should be near their peak. We’ll also do some birdwatching and keep an eye out for butterflies. They’ve had Green Jays at their feeders recently. We’ll carpool from the International Conference Center at Incarnate Word University (turn north into the first driveway west of the intersection of 281 and Hildebrand) at 7:30 am. Bring a picnic lunch. Contact Patty Leslie Pasztor for reservations and details (pasztor @ix.netcom.com; (210) 824-1235). Call the Mitchell Lake Audubon Center at 210-628-1639 for informa-tion for birding and other events. MITCHELL LAKE ACCESS San Antonio Audubon Society’s Beginners’ Birdwalk is held at 8 a.m. on the second Saturday of each month. Visitors are welcome. There are binoculars to lend. Meet at the Judson Nature Trail next to the Alamo Heights Swimming Pool on Viesca St. From the 5900 block of Broadway, turn west on Ogden to Greeley St., turn left one block, then right again to the parking lot on the left. More information at 210-342-2073. RECURRING EVENTS Earth Share of Texas rep-resents the Audubon Foundation of Texas and the National Audubon So-ciety in payroll deduction plans for charitable giving. For information, call 1-800-GREENTX or email <estx@earthshare-texas.org>. Trinity U. Map of Chapter & SAEN Meeting places. See P. 1 for program info.
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