Newsletter (Bexar Audubon Society) Vol. 02, No. 05

• Main Author: Bexar Audubon Society
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: San Antonio, Tex. : Bexar Audubon Society, 1984
• Subjects: Birds > Conservation > Texas > Periodicals.; Ornithology > Texas > Periodicals.; Nature conservation > Texas > Periodicals; Clubs and Organizations; Science and Technology; Austin; Bandera; Burton; Dulu; Kay; Kerr; Lacey; Orleans; Sunda; Toledo; Utes; peregrine falcon
• Online Access: http://digital.utsa.edu/cdm/ref/collection/p15125coll10/id/8087

Newsletter began with Vol. 1, No. 1 (June 1983) and ceased with Vol. 3, No. 12 (December 1985). Continued by Bexar Tracks. BEXAR AUDUBON SOCIE1Y P.O. BOX 60H4 • SAN ANTONIO, TEXA'; 7H209 VOL.2 NO. 5 MAY 1984 ************************************************************* Thursday, May 24-6:00 p.m. @ the San Antonio Botanical Center NOTE TIME. DATE AND LOCATION CHANGE FOR MAY MEETING ONLY FOCUS ON FLORA AND FOOD Our meeting this month will be a real change of pace. Bexar Audubon and the San Antonio Botanical Center are co-sponsoring a covered dish picnic and casual guided tours of the native plant habitats at the Botanical Center, 555 Funston Street (just up the hill from the Garden Center). Plan to arrive between 6:00 and 6:30 and bring either a salad, vegetable, entree or dessert you'd like to share. Also bring a blanket or lawn chair on which to sit and enjoy supper amidst the floral beauty of the gardens. Following the picnic and nature walks, we'll stroll down the hill to the Garden Center for the general meeting and a program by Manuel Flores of Native Design Nursery. Manuel will discuss the use of native plants for attracting wildlife to your yard and beautifying your own surroundings. In addition, he'll be glad to answer some of your gardening questions. As always, the whole evening is open to the public and we hope you'll bring your friends. In order to defray some of the costs of renting the center, we are asking for a donation of $1.00/person. In case of rain we will move the picnic inside down at the Garden Center (corner of Funston and N. New Braunfels) at 6:30. Even if you can't make it for the picnic, please plan to come to the Garden Center at 8:00 for the program. ************************************************************* BAS VOTES FOR FREIDRICH The ballots have been cast and the winner of our Adopt-a-Park contest is Freidrich Park! "Our" park spans 232 acres NW of I-10 near Camp Bullis and is owned by the City of San Antonio. Freidrich Park's special features include vistas East and West, champion lacey oak, intermittant water and nature trials, with future plans for a regional nature center. A committee to plan Bexar A~dubon activities and involvement in the park will hold it's ~irst meeting Monday, June 25 and all interested persons are en~ouraged to attend. Look for more details in the June newsletter. I KAY CALENDAR I 6 ••• Marlin Prairie (Bexar ~udubon) Patty Leslie-824-1235 lO ••• SAAS General Meeting 7:30, Garden Center 12/13 •• Kerr Wildlife Managemet t Area (Bexar Audubon) Susan Rust-653-3105 20 ••• Nature Photography Outing (Bexar Audubon) Friedrich Park Nancy Kent-621-2130 1 24 ••• Bexar Audubon Society peneral Meeting "Focus on Food and Flora" (Bexar Audubon) Potluck Picniq/Nature Walks S.A. Botanical Center l Native Plantings for W[ldlife & You S.A. Garden Center ~ 26/28 •• Guadalupe Peaks Nation 1 Park (SAAS) Steve Hawkins-656-5813 JUNE CALENDAR I l-3 ••• Southwest Regional Conference 1984 (National Audubon) "Working Together for ~ildlife" Susan Rust-653-3105 6 ••• Conservation Committee Meeting (Bexar Audubon) Holly Moyan-492-2045 7 ••• Bexar Audubon Board Meeting Byron Stone-699-1971 I 9 ••• Herff Falls Outing (Native Plant Society) Patty Leslie-824-1235 16/17 •• Bandera Wilderness Camping (Bexar Audubon) Jon Johnson-822-4915 2l ••• Bexar Audubon General Meeting "Past, Present & Future of Texas Alligators" Working Together for Wildlife Come join us in Louisi;ma! The Southwest Regional Office and the Audubon chapter1 of Louisiana invite you to attend the 1984 Southwest Regional Conference to be held in Many, Louisiana, May 31 through june 5,1984. There will be t"'o days of workshops on wildlife topics, chapter committee training as well as two official delegate meetings. In addition, for those of you who can stay longer, there will be two days of pre- and post-conference field trips. Other highlights include: a wildlife art exhibit, premier showings of two new TV programs produced by Audubon, entertainment by Bill Oliver and the Saturday evening program of Captain Bruce McCandless, astronaut, birder Audubon member and first human to walk untethered in space. The Conference Headquarters will be the T oro Hills Hotel across the highway from Hodges Gardens. These two beautiful facilities are located in the rolling pinelands of west-central Louisiana. In addition to conference facilities Toro Hills has two gorgeo~ 9-hole golf courses (which are also great for birding), tennis ~ourts Audubon. Wildlife Art Exhibit Wildlife artists hllve been invited to enter the Southwest Regional Conference Wildlife Art Exhibit to be held on Saturday and Sunday ' in the Toro Hills Conference Center. The juried art show is for two dimensional artwork depicting the flora and fauna indigenous to the Southwest ·Region. Anyone may enter up to five pieces of art but no more thlln two wnl be selected for the exhibit. Deadline for entries is May 1. Artists will be notified by May 11 of the judging panel's selections for the exhibit. Awards of ribbons will be made during the Saturday evening program. for. complete information and entry form call the Southwest Rt­aional Office: [phone]. World's Fair A bonus attrxtion for vacationing conferees is the Louisiana World's Fair which is being held in New Orleans. If you wish to make thin part of your family's vacation plans and want more information, contact: 1984 World's Fair P.O. Box 1984 New Orleans, LA 70158 (504) 525-324 7 ~ two swimming pools in which to cool off after sessions. Plan to bring your whole family and make a vacation of it. REGISTRATION for the Conference is $20 per person for adults, and $5 for children ages 4-16. Check-in time is 2-5 p.m. on Friday and 7:30-8:45 Saturday morning. Those arriving early for pre-confer­ence field trips should check the bulletin board for informnion. Featured Speaker: Bruce McCandless We are pleased to announce that Captain Bruce McCandless, iiiStronaut, birder, and fonner president of Houston Audubon Society, wnl be the Saturday after-dinner speaker at the 1984 Southwest Reaional Conference. McCandless made history when he became the first human to fly freely in space with "no strings attached." There have been many jokes made regarding this free-flyer's connections to Audubon and his ornithological hobby, but his experience is unique and his accomplishments inspiring. He is one of only a smJII few to have seen our planet Earth as the fragile spaceship It is. While his extra-vehicular space travel may have been un­lethered, Bruce understands better than most, that there are indeed strings anached to our existence here on Earth. Join us in welcoming Bruce to our Regional Conference and listen as he tells us how being a birder, an astronaut and an Audubon leader have come together in his life. Program Conferee\ arrivlna by Friday will be treated to an opening evening of aood food, aood entertainment and a beautiful photographic wei· come to Louisiana. Oulska Chitto Audubon members will be the cooks for an old rash· loned cookout, Friday evening at 5:30. The menu includn barbequed chicken, pouto s.alad, baked beans and all the trimmings. Y'all come and brina your appetites. Bill 011-, sinaer and songwriter, from Austin, Texas will entertain us with his compositions of and for the environment. Bill is well· known in the Southwest Region for his aood music, c:onc:em for the environment, and a wonderful sense of humor. We know you will enjoy Hstenlna and sinaina alona with Bill. Copies of Bill's album, "Texas Oasis: Environmental Songs for Texas and the World" will be available for s.ale on the weekend. In addition, Bill will join us for workshops and a little more sinain& on Saturday. After our sinain& and cookout we wUI 10 down the hill to the con· ference c:enter for a multi·projection color slide show, "Welcome to Louimna." Richard Martyr, National Audubon Society's Senior Vice President for Procrams and Chapter Relations, will join Dede Armentrout, Realonll Vlc:e President, in aivlna us our openina rem11ks to set the theme of our Conference. Dick wHI be available all weekend to talk with members and answer any of your questions. In keeplna with our conference theme, WORKING TOGETHER FOR WILDUFE, procram sessions will study the question, "How can we be more effective in workina tottther for the betterment of our wildlife resources." Session1 will Include: BACKYARD SANCTUARIES: This proanm will tell you how you can make your yard and prden a more attractive place for wildlife. Emphasis will be placed on use of native plantinp. SHARING COMMON GROUND: A panel workshop of members whose chapters have esublished s,nctuaries or nature centers in their communities. AUDUBON'S SANCTUARIES: Will be presenled by NAS Sanctuary Direcklr, Frosty Anclenon, who will uke you on a photoaraphic visit of our s,nctuarill and aive you some history 11 well as the sc:ope and purpose of the National Audubon s,nctuary 1ystem. NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTEM: Will be presented by Fish and Wildlife Service penonnel and A11101 Eno, NAS Director of Wildlife Pr01rams. This session will disc:uss ways in which we can become better advocate~ for our National Wildlife Refuge System. T opia will Include refuse m~ter plannlna. the appropriations pro­cess in Conress, and Audubon's Adopt a RrfuJC proJram. Other itsue topics wnl include: THE ATCHAFALAYA: Hard to pronounce but worth fi&htina for. This workshop will brine you up to date on this important Issue as well as disc:uss ways In which "tizens can work toaether to save unique wikllife habiUL · WHEN DO YOU SUE? Litiption Is costly but sometimes It Is the . only way to resolve an environmental issue. Attorneys Karl Bayer and Doris Falkenheiner will help you decide ,.hen and how to 110 about seekinaleaalsolutions to your environmental problems. GETTING THROUGH TO CONGRESS: Conducted by Audubon staff, this proaram will &ive you some helpful advice in making your views known to your elected representatives and aettin& resulu. In order for chapters to work effectively for wPdlife causes, they lnust have willinc leaden who direct the chapter's business. To ~tiP chapter leaden accomplish their v11ied wks, the followin& leadership workshops are beina offered: MAKING THINGS HAPPEN: National Audubon Society's Board of Directors member and author, Joan Wolfe will shire with us some of her tested methods for rnaklnc thinp happen with special empha· sis on how to keep from "burning out" in the process. Joan will ~so be available to autocraph her book, Mt1lrlng Things HtlpfHn: TM Guide for Membm of Volunteer OrgonlzatlotU. I TOWARDS MORE EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION: Ruth Norris, associate editor of Audubon, will present two "how·to" sessions on "makinc your newloletter more effective" and "workin& with media" to &et your mtsYge to the ~C. ~EMBERSHIP: A membership department suff person will lead ~his two part workshop which will explore ways of recruitina mem­bers. We will look 11 "who are Audubon members and why do they join" as well as "how do we keep them after they join." The second ~our will be a Neodau update for membership chairpersons. AUDUBON YOUTH PROGRAM: Will outline some of the future plans for the new youth prosram to be launched in June. We will ~lso ulk with chapters who are already conductinasuccessful educa· ~ion proarams in their communities. GETTING YOUR MESSAGE ACROSS WITH MUSIC: B.lll Oliver, entertainer, sona·writer and environmentalist will disc:uss, and probably sing, ideas for using music to educate children and ~dulu and to he I p promote your en,·ironmental cause. CHAPTER EXHIBITS: Vic Brown, president of Centrill New \Mexico Audubon Society, is an expert ilt communicating ideas. He ,.ill share with us one effective method, that of building your own chapter exhibit. Children's Program Orleans Audubon Society members will be directing this year's pro­groam for youngsters ;ages 5·14. We hope this sepci;al feature will help you make the 1984 Regional Conference a f01mily event. The two-day session will run from 8:30 until 5:00 on Saturday and 8:30 until 12 noon on Sunday. Activities will include nature study, singin&, hiking and a special field trip to the red·cockaded wood· peeker nesting area. There will be a minimum number of five (S) children in order to justify having this program. As in other yean, we will help organize ;a child care cooperative ;among pa.rents with pre-school ased children. The only requirement is that each pa.rent donate some time to the child care program throughout the weekend. Chapter Exhibits and Sales See what chapters are doin& around the Southwest Region. Each chapter has been invited to bring a poster exhibit depicting their activities, newsleners, etc. In addition, there will be a limited amount . of chapter sales such as T -shirts, p;atches and books on local natural history. Audubon on 'IV We are fortunate and very excited to be prer.enting premier showinp of two new Audubon television proarams. ''The World of Audubon" is a one hour magazine format prosram which will be aired to the OUISKA CHITTO CANOE TRIP: This is an all day Friday, lei· surely canoe trip alona the scenic Ouiska (Whisky) Chitto Creek, near Mittie, LA. At sandbar stops the leader, Charles Sugg, will discuss the hydrology of this stream that meanders through ter· riU lands of southwestern Louisiana. See birds and plants endemic to this area. Lunch included. Moaximum number, 40. Cost: $25. HODGES GARDENS: Yout ticket will allow you to visit the beauti· ful Hodges Gardens anytime on Friday, Saturday or Sunday. join us Sunday afternoon for a special trip led by one of the Hodges Garden staff. Cost: $6. BRI.AR WOOD: This is another garden about an hour and a half away, near Saline, La. Home site of naturoalist, author and artist, Caroline Dorman, this 200 acre preserve is an excellent example of a "backyard sanctuary" devoted to native plants. Fee includes lunch and admission. Maximum number, 1 S. Cost: $15. ATCHAFALAYA CANOE TRIP: join Charlie Frylin1 on this all day Monday canoe trip on the moagnificent Atchafalaya, this noation's laraest and most pristine river swamp. Fee includes lunch but does not include dinner or Monday night motel accommoduions. M;axi­mum number, 24. Cost: $2S. PAUL J. RAINEY SANCTUARY: The Roainey was the first sane· . tuary in the Audubon system. Although it is not usually accessible to the public, Lonnie Lege will take you through the backwaters of this 26,800 acre bayou and br;ackish water swoamp sanctuary and talk about the marsh like no one else can. Fee includes lunch and a cajun-style fish fry supper but not motel accommodations. This trip is offered both Monday and Tuesday to a limited number of 12 uch day. Cost: $3S. public this fall. Produced for Turner Broadcastin& by the National --- ­Audubon Society, every episode of this new series delivers 60 min· utes of breathtaking photoaraphy, along with probing insights into current environmental issues and moving accounts of people who've fought to save our vanishing wildlife-lind won. The second, even more recent production Is OWL{TV produced in conjunction with the Younc Naturalist Foundation for children ased 7·14. The proarams are based on OWL M01pzine and designed to educate children and their families about nature, science and the environmenL Field Trips A wide variety of pre· and post-conference field trips are bein1 planned for your enjoyment and education: In most cases, a mini· mum number of participants will be needed in order to make a trip feasible. Because there is also a maximum number, field trip reserva· lions will be accepted on a first come, first served basis. You will be notified If you need to make chanses In your field trip plans. LOUISIANA BOG: This half-day trip is bein& offered Thursday p.m. and Friday a.m. and p.m. See rare bog plants and other wild· flowen. Maximum number, 15. Cost: $10. RED.COCKADED WOODPECKER NESTING AREA: TroiYel to Kisatchie National Forest with Robert Murry to sec nestina red· cockaded woodpeckers and other fauna ;and flora of the area. A photo-blind ,.ill be set up for those wantin& pictures of adult birds feeding young. Offered Thursd;ay p.m. ;and Fridily a.m. and p.m. Maximum number, 15. Cost: $10. The following are CHAPTER SPONSORED FIELD TRIPS. Both are offered on Tuesday and are in the New Orleans area: TANGIPAHOA RIVER TRIP: This boat ride takes you down the Tan&ipoahoa River from Pontchatoula, Louisiana to the mouth of the river at Lake Ponchartrain. Winding through a cypress-tupelo swamp, palmettos and mixed hardwoods, this leisurely trip requires no pad· dlin&- Fee includes lunch. M;aximum number, 20. Cost: $25. · GRAND TERRE ISLAND: Not usually accessible to the public, this area is the horne of thousands of waterbirds includinathe en· danaered brown pelican. Leam of the efforts to restore the Louisiana population of this rmanificent bird. Fee includes lunch and tour of a seafood ~search lab. Maximum number, 12. Cost: $25. $0 .,Wt4AT .DID Y041 THJf'U( OF 1/0&.Ut FI~ST "asrr TO Lo.&151ANA'S 'SVJA"""fl'$ , M~. 1!'.-.t<Eit? ·•• ••• S:H1 Mit.!lo . CER! ••• M<!.IMI<ER 1 •••. Accommodations The follow in& housin& has been arranaed for our conferets: TORO HILLS HOTEL: . One person $39.00 per day Two persons 52.00 per day Extra adult 6.00 per day Children Free For reser\'ations, call toll free: In Louisiana 1·800.282·8560 Other sutes 1·800.551-8536 DORMITORY LODGE AT HODGES GARDENS: $1 S per person per da~·. A IIQI/abl~ only on Friday, Siltur· day, tmd Sunda>·· Thm facilities consist of one large room for men and another for women. Eath holds appro,.imately 20. Each room hiS showers, toilets and sinks. There is a kitchen area for simple meal preparation. CAMPING: Conferees v.·ishin& to tamp at neuby Kiutchie National Forest or Toledo Bend-Sabine Piltish, must make their own arranaements. For informuion contact: Klsuchie Nationil F omt Sabine Parish Tourist Comm. 2500 Shreveport HiJhway or 920 Fisher Road Pineville, LA 71360 Many, LA 71449 (318) 256·5880 MEALS: The followin& meals will be a1·ailable durin& the Con· ference. All other muls, unless indicued as part of a field trip, will be on your own: Friday e~enlnc cookout Saturday breakfast Saturday lunch Saturday Seafood Buffet Oi nner Sunday breakfast TOTALS meals Transportation $ 6.00 s.so 7.00 16.00 .2JQ $40.00 Automobne: Toro Hills is euily accessible by automobile. It is lotated juttsouth of Many, Louisiana on U.S. Highway 171 approxi· . m;ately half-~o·ay between Shre~epon and Lake Charles. Air: While it is not easy to flyto the Conference, it is not impossible. Those wish inc to come by air should arranae to fly into the Shreve· port airpon. This airport is serviced by Delta Airlines with direct tri&hts from Dallas, Baton Roup, New Orleans, Atlanta and Memphk; Arneritan Airlines with direct flishts from Dallu; and Royale Air· lines with direct fli&hts from Houston. Air travelers should either rtr.t a tar for the remaining 90 miles to Toro Hills or arrive by 4 p.m. for a ride in our van. There will be a charae for this sel"'ite based upon the number of riders. Only two pick-ups are scheduled, ucll for 4 p.m. on Thursday and Friday. You may return to Shreveport by van on Sunday aiternoon or Monday morn ina. Since thert will b~ 11 limlttd number of sats 11voilablt, l~t us know of your a!r tr1111t1l plans as soon as possible. · New Mexico Bus: Amngemenu have been made for a chartered bus to brin& our New Mexico and some Texas membersto the Conference. I The bus will depart from Rosv.·ell, New Mexico on Wednesday mom· . in&. May 30. It will stop ilon& the route to pick up Texu pusen· cen and for meals. We w111 be spendinc Wednesday ni&ht in Fort Worth, pitkin& up additional riders there the next morning. The bus will arrive at Tore Hills on Thul'!'day afternoon. Departure at the end of the Con· ference will be Monday morn ina. Approximate cost will be $190, from Roswell, which includes trans­portation to and from the Conference and two nighu lodging in transit, double occupancy (add $30 for a single). You will be respon· slble for your own meals 11 well as for your Conferenc~ and Field Trip expense$. Price will be pro~ted for our Texas pusengers. A minimum of 25 riders is !lffded ~o make the trip feasible. Maxi· mum number is 42. Confirmations and a tentative schedule wm be sent to those persons whose reaistrations are received by May 18, 1984. FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL: (512) 327·1943. or for registration forms and carpooling information call S. P. Rust, 653-3105 ******* BEXAR AUDUBON WELCOMES ALL IT'S NEW MEMBERS!!!!!!!!!! Jim Colvin, R.E. Klinginsmith, Robert w. Small, David c. Blakey, Mary Caves, Pauline Chrupcala, F.J. Corte, Joann M. Faulconer, Gary Frank, Harvey D. Grant, Elaine Petkus, Joann Sievers, Ruth Ward and Karl D. Woods. We're glad to have you!!! ******* BEXAR AUDUBON OUTINGS KERR WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA (May 12, Susan Rust 653-3105) Not only is this outing a follow-up to the subject of the April general meeting, but it is a chance to visit one of the most beautiful sections of the Hill Country. It will provide the chance to see first-hand some of the results of many years of research with fire in the Hill Country, genetic and nutritional studies on white-tailed deer, and experiments to determine the effects of exotic game on native species. Eagles and wild turkey are usually abundant and the chance to photograph deer and some exotic game is assured. If requested, this trip may include an overnight campout and perhaps some Hill Country history tales courtesy of Bob Guthrie. NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY in "OUR PARK" (May 20, Nancy Kent 621-2130) A most beautiful time of year to get intimately acquainted with Freidrich Park, selected by the membership, to adopt~ Pho­always provides "new eyes" for old familiar images. If there is time for development, the results of participants handiwork will act as a vehicle to introduce the rest of the membership to "our park" dhring the general meeting at the Garden Center on May 24 (see details on front page). BANDERA WILDERNESS CAMPING (June 16-17, Jon Johnson 822-4915) Join us for an overnight camp-out at this Hill Country State Natural Area west of Bandera. Hiking, nature study and primitive camping on 4500 acres of newly acquired recreational area. CONSERVATION NEWS FALCON NO LONGER ENDANGERED The Artie peregrine falcon, on the endangered species list since 1970, has been removed from that category by the Fish and Wildlife Service and reclassified as "threatened". There are now 3,000 breeding pairs, and the bird "is no longer in danger of extinction," the service says. The falcon had fallen victim to the pesticide DDT, but DDT levels have declined in tissue samples. DDT is banned in the USA, but still poses a threat because of its use in Central and South America. THANKS!!! to Mr. W.E. Armstrong for an interesting and infor­mative program at our April general meeting. BEXAR BULLETIN BOARD ******************* Congratulations!!! Judi Lipsett, former BAS Secretary, on the birth of her daughter, -Mary Burton, BAS Publicity Chair, who has been appointed to vacant at-large BAS board position, -Holly Moyan, who will replace Bill McKee as BAS Conservation Chair, -Susan Rust, who took best of show in a wildlife photo contest. ******************* ***************** Acclaimed nature photographer * BEXAR AUDUBON * NOW HAS A PHONE * NUMBER: 822-4503 *******************~** ******************* BEAUTIFUL Bexar Audubon bumper stickers are ready! Get several @ our May meeting, or call 621-2130. ******************* and environmentalist Ansel Adams died Easter Sunday @ the age of 82. * Birdathon prize winners will be * * announced at our May meeting! * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * BEXAR AUDUBON rJ<=<< c'-.p I SCX:IE1Y •~n nox (lf»W. SAN ANIUNK>. n.:xA.'i lK-"09 NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U. S. POSTAGE PAID SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS Permit No.- 590