| Summary: | Bexar Tracks began with Vol. 4, no. 1 (January 1986). It continues Newsletter (Bexar Audubon Society). !ftacRs VOLUME VI, NO. 10 OCTOBER, 1988 THE CHAPTER'S PRIMARY GOALS ARE TO PROMOTE SPECIES AND HABITAT CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL £DUCATION IN THE COMMUNITY. SUPPORT THESE GOALSI BAS GENERAL MEETING Wallace Swett, Director of Primarily Primates, Inc. October 20, 7:30 p.m. Ruble Center What is Primarily Primates all about? Join us on Thursday, October 20, to hear about the exciting and valuable work being carried out by this organization on its 9-acre facility in Leon Springs. The sanctuary houses over 200 primates, 100 birds, and various reptiles and mammals which have come from zoos, research laboratories and cruelty investigations. Many of the animals arrive with severe physical and psychological problems. Primarily Primates attempts to rehabilitate these animals and hopes to eventually return some to their native habitats. The organization also functions as part of a network which provides information on animal care, cruelty investigations and various animal welfare issues, in addition to working with zoos and wildlife authorities to protect threatened and endangered species. ACT FALL MEETING November 18-20, 1988 Corpus Christi, Texas Attention all Audubon members! You are cordially invited to attend the Audubon Council of Texas Fall Meeting to be held November 18-20 in Corpus Christi. Many of the events will be hosted by National Audubon Society Director Dr. James Teer at the beautiful facilities of the Welder Wildlife Foundation, a privately owned and operated refuge. As the area's most famous visitors, the whooping cranes, will have arrived by meeting time, an optional birding trip has been arranged for Sunday, November 20, at a special rate for attendees. You may enjoy a 4-hour boat trip on theM. V. Skimmer, getting as close to as many birds as possible without disturbing them. The ACT registration of $18.00 covers three snacks and a banquet; in addition, special lodging rates have been arranged at a local motel ($39.00 daily per unit, up to four people). For additional details, please call Pat Honsberger at 695-8254. 6TH ANNUAL SOUTH TEXAS TRIP November 11-13, 1988 Here is the perfect opportunity to experience the wonders of the Lower Rio Grande Valley at the perfect time of year! Participants will be st~ying in the rustic cabins of Camp Thicket near Weslaco again this year. Field trips will start on Saturday morning with an Introduction to Valley Birds and Brush given by a member of Frontera Audubon, then a visit to the Valley Nature Center to discuss the educational programs designed to introduce the public to the importance of the South Texas environment and a walk along their interpretive trail. In the afternoon; participants will convene at the Brownsville Zoo where former San Antonio "Birdman" David McKelvey will conduct a "behind the scenes" tour and do some "up close and personal" introductions to the Zoo's bird life. In the afternoon, participants are free to remain at the Zoo, drop by Audubon's Sabal Palm Grove Sanctuary, or just relax. Saturday night there will be the optional dutch treat dinner across the border. Sunday morning will be spent at Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge where Nita Fuller and Bob Schumacher will provide an update on this year's progress with the Rio Grande Corridor Project and guide a walk into the refuge to examine some of the effects of hurricane Gilbert. The trip officially ends at noon. Cost is $17.00 per person, assuming a minimum number of 15 people sign up, and must be paid no later than October 24 to confirm space. Space is limited to 24 and is on a first-come, first-served basis. The charge covers accommodations, set-up and entrance fees. Participants must provide their own bedding and food and make their own transportation arrangements. For further information, call Marge Flandermeyer, 684-2668, Bill Woller, 696-3186, or Susan Rust, 826-4698. · --- · THANKS to DAVID BAMBERGER for his fascinating insights and philosophy on wildlife conservation issues which he shared with BAS members at the September meeting. Unfortunately, due to the threat of Hurricane Gilbert, the field trip to his ranch was cancelled, but it will be rescheduled for the near future. Call Nettie Birnbaum at 695-2646. -.---. --- - CONSERVATION UPDATES - Texas wildlife is progressing through the dry summer with minimal losses, according to TPWD. Quail production has varied widely from area to area because of the spotty nature of spring and summer rains. Turkeys generally are having a poor production year because of the dry spring, but statewide populations remain fairly high because of holdovers from the good 1987 nesting season, while deer hunters can expect little if any dropoff from the excellent hunting season of 1987. -- Opponents of Applewhite Reservoir fell short of the 38,000 signatures needed on a petition to force a referendum on the issue. The Association to Stop the Applewhite Project may next pursue the issue in the courts. The recent Long Island beach closures alerted us all again to the urgent need to solve the problem of ocean pollution. Pollution endangers not only a source of pleasure and recreation but an enormous food supply and economic resource. Fully one-third of American shellfish beds are closed because of pollution. Much of ocean pollution results from our throw-away lifestyle, in which we generate more than twice the waste, per person, as other Western nations. We can all help by disposing less and recycling more! -- There has been concern expressed by both the Sierra Club and National Audubon Soceity over the recent push to supply electricity through Big Bend National Park to Boquillas Del Carmen, Mexico. Mexico and the Rio Grande Electric Cooperative are asking the National Park Service to issue a "special use permit" needed to stretch the line across the Rio Grande. The Sierra Club and NAS have asked the Park Superintendent to refrain from approving the permit until the impacts of the proposed line are reviewed. Also of concern are reported plans by Mexico to develop Boquillas into a tourist attraction complete with bridge, motels and hotels. -- Non-hunting access to TPWD's Type II land is available by permit for $10.00 at any time of the year except hunting season. For further information, call 1-389-4800. *********************** EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL NATURE LOVERS! Courtesy of Betty Minyard, BAS's Education Chairman, the following educational opportunities might be of interest to our readers: OUTWARD BOUND USA: free catalog listing over 600 adventure trips. Write to 384 Field Point Road, Greenwich, CT 06830. AMERICAN BIRDING ASSN.: no chapters, but stages 6 or 7 birding weekends each year and a biannual convention; also has a mail order service. Write Box 6599, Colorado Springs, CO 80934. (con't.) PROJECT FEEDER WATCH: take notes from your backyard and share them with the Cornell Lab; program will continue for 1988-89 (cost is $9.00 per participant). Write Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Room 38, 159 Sapsucker Woods Road, Ithaca, NY 14850. NATURE SLIDES: over 4,000 are available for educational purposes by Sea and Sage Audubon of Santa Ana (they want a wider audience); for catalog of slides, write to their librarian, Lois Loughran, 822 East Park Lane, Santa Ana, CA 92701. Slide copies are loaned or sold for cost only. WORLD: excellent magazine for children aged 8 and above; published by National Geographic Society for $10.95 annual rate; articles on many subjects but special emphasis on animals; adults enjoy this as much as children. Write to National Geographic Society, P.O. Box 2330, Washington, DC 20077-9955. VIEW FROM THE ZOO: valuable publication from the Texas Zoo at Victoria; wide variety of articles; excellent for children. Write to the Texas Zoo, P.O. Box 69, Victoria, TX 77902. CONNECTIONS: detailed list of trips, expeditions and activities published by the San Antonio Museums; they offer a wide variety of things to do and places to go that are of interest to all ages. If interested,just join the Witte or the Art Museums, and you will recieve this publication (call 225-3278). LEARNING ADVENTURES: this organization offers all kinds of trips, lessons, activities, something for everyone, and reasonable prices. Many of their activities are nature related; write or call 309 Gladiola Lane, SA 78213 (366-2008). NATURE TOURS/TRIPS: (1) NAS's Audubon Ecology Camps and Workshops for 1989; watch for announcement in your Audubon magazine in early 1989. (2) Field Guides, Inc., P.O. Box 160723-F, Austin, TX 78746. (3) Victor Emanuel Nature Tours, P.O. Box 33008, Austin, TX 78764. (4) Questers Worldwide Nature Tours, 257 Park Avenue, NY 10010. Check your NAS magazine for many more! AUDUBON ADVENTURES: we have already placed the Audubon Adventures program in 75 elementary classrooms so far this fall. We are still working on more, so if you know of any 4th or 5th grade teacher who would like to have this program, please contact Betty Minyard, 344-6128. We want to have 25 more classrooms. If you would like to help with this project by contributing money, you can do so by sending $25 (the cost for a one-year subscription for one classroom) to BAS. We want to go as far over 100 as possible. If you have any suggestions for educational materials, projects, or whatever, please contact Betty Minyard. We want to expand and broaden this important part of our chapter's goals! CALENDAR OCTOBER 8 2nd Saturday, "A Naturalist's View of Friedrich Park", 9:00 a.m. 12 BAS Conservation Committee meeting; everyone welcome; BYO picnic, 7:00 p.m., 168 Chevy Chase (826-4698). 13 I 20 I 27 Botanical Society lecture series; call 821-5115 for information. 13 San Antonio Audubon general meeting, 7:30 p.m., Ruble Center. 13 BAS board meeting, 7:30 p.m., 2922 Oakleaf. 18 Sierra Club general meeting, 7:30 p.m., Unitarian Church. 18 "Safe Ways to Control Pests", what the homeowner can do to garden naturally; Steve Stauffer, San Antonio Botanical Center, and John Fardal, San Antonio College. Free and open to the public; for more information, call Susan Rust, 826-4698. 20 BAS general meeting, 7:30 p.m., Ruble Center. 21-23 Texas Nature Conservancy annual meeting; call Ann Schnapt, 224-8774. 24 Bexar Grotto meeting, "World of Bats"; call Linda Palit, 699-1388. 24-25 Texas Fire Ant Conference; call1-472-2267 for information. NOVEMBER 10 BAS Arts and Crafts Auction, Read Stremmel Gallery. 11-13 6th Annual South Texas trip; call Marge Flandermeyer, 684-2668. 18-20 ACT meeting, Corpus Christi; call695-8254 for information. 19 Legislative Workshop; call 826-4698 for information. 23-27 Big Bend trip sponsored by Sierra Club; trip includes transportation and four nights lodging, with hiking or bus tour of National Park. For further information, call Carol Johnson at 654-8371 or Lamar Scott at 737- 3335. 24 HAPPY THANKSGIVING! ••••••••••••••••••••••••••• BEACH CLEAN-UP A number of BAS members and guests turned out to help with the beach clean-up held on Saturday, September 24. Due to Hurrican Gilbert, high tide surges resulted in some dune erosion, and a great amount of trash was deposited at the base of the dune line. As usual, the amount of trash the "Beach Buddies" collected was awesome. We know that our small contribution of picking up trash will not make for permanently clean beaches, but we worked hard toward adding to the data collection that will continue to bring awareness to the general public, governments and industries who pollute the oceans. After the clean-up, several BAS members continued on to Bird Island Basin, Packery Channel County Park and along the fish-cut at Mustang Island State Park. The main entrance to Mustang Island State Park was closed for major repairs due to Hurrican Gilbert, and, after entering the fish-cut area, we were startled to see the great amount of trash washed into the dunes area. Although we did not see any animals washed up or caught in plastic sheeting (and there was plenty of that!), a few weeks ago I did help an immature herring gull that was caught up in fishing line. Unfortunately, only heavy equipment will ever clean up all the manmade trash along our beaches. Do you part; join us and support legislation to stop pollution of our waters! Nancy Kent ••••••••••••••••••••••••••• BAS AUCTION November 10, 1988 Bring your Christmas shopping list to our First Annual Nature Arts and Crafts Auction --and don't forget to include yourself on that list! We will be offering a wide variety of art, bird paraphernalia, and outdoor equipment from local artists and merchants. Some exciting items have already been donated, including a lovely original oil painting by Mrs. Pat Deitz, and an anonymous donation of wildlife photographs. The auction will be held Thursday evening, November 10, at the Read Stremmel Gallery at the corner of Olmos and McCullough. In addition to the auction, you will have an opportunity to browse through an extensive collection of art and visit with friends over some wine and cheese. We also encourage our members to donate items. If you have items you wish to donate, phone either Mary Anne Moses at 826-6562 or Marge Flandermeyer at 684-2668. Items will also be accepted at our general meeting on October 20. Watch November's "Bexar Tracks" for more details. **MARK YOUR CALENDAR** NOTICES In p~:.eparation for the Christmas Bird Count, the San Antonio Audubon Society is sponsoring a series of classes for adults in Beginning Bird Identification. The classes are scheduled from 6:45 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at St. Mary's Hall Lecture Hall on October 11, 18,25 and November 1. Cost will be $3.00 for each class at the door, or $5.00 for the entire series. For further information, contact Linda Blodgett at 656-2553 or 658-2490. -- A nominating committee for next year's BAS board members has been selected. The committee consists of Bill Woller, Walter Barfield and Thelma Nungesser. --~- A number of BAS members from the New Braunfels area have expressed interest in arranging carpooling to BAS meetings and outings. Doris French has graciously agreed to coordinate this effort. Doris can be reached at 557-5994, so please call her should you be interested in attending any upcoming activities. And - BAS members in Boerne might consider a similar arrangement. Please let us hear from you if .vou would be willing to coordinate this activity. LEGISLATIVE WORKSHOP" Austin, November 19, 1988 This may be the most important meeting you ever attend! If you have been wondering just wka~ goes· on up there on Capitol Hill every other year, what are the best ways to make sure your-.Goncerns are considered, and what are some of the environmental bills which will be introduced in 1989-, 'this is an event you can't afford to miss. This "primer" on the Texas Legislature is held each year by the Sierra -Club for the benefit of ALL interested people and organizations. It's an event many of us wouldn't miss no matter how many times we've attended because it is so helpful. Registration is $25.00, which includes the sessions, written materials, lunch, dinner and snacks. Bexar Audubon will arrange for carpooling from San Antonio for interested folks. For further information, call Susan Rust at 826-4698. Registration deadline is November 14. BEXAR AUDUBON SOCIETY P.O. BOX 6084 • SAN ANTONIO, TX 78209 LECTURES EXTRAORDINARE! The San Antonio Botanical Center Society is sponsoring a series of free lectures at the San Antonio Little Theater in San Pedro Park at 8:00 p.m. Dates and topics are as follows: October 13: Dr. Linda McMahan, Director of the Botanical Garden Center for Plant Conservation in Boston, will speak on the "Role of Botanical Gardens and Plant Conservation". October 20: Dr. Michael Balick, Acting Director of the New York Botanical Garden for the Institute of Economic Botany, wil speak on "Endangered Tropical Rain Forests and the Search for Modern Medicine". October 27: Dr. Merlin Tuttle, Director and Founder of Bat Conservation International and world authority on bats, will speak on "Important Relationships between Bats and Plants". . ········································••m~ BEXAR AUDUBON SOCIETY OFFICERS AND BOARD Thelma Nungesser, President . . . . . . . . . . 824-8199 Betty Minyard, Vice President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 344-6128 Betty Hughes, Secretary . . . . . . . . 824-5375 Marge Flandermeyer, Treasurer . . . . 684-2668 Russell Smith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 734-7184 Manuel Flores . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 599-1110 Pat Honsberger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 695-8254 Nancy Kent . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 824-8199 Rick Mudd . . . . . . . . . . . 496-5795 Committee Chairmen Cdnservation, Susan Rust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 826-4698 Education, Betty Minyard . . . . . . 344-6128 Finance, Mary Anne Moses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 826-6562 Membership, Russell Smith . . . . . . . . 734-7184 Newsletter Editor, Pat Honsberger . . . . . . . 695-8254 Outings, Margaret Souby . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 673-2964 Programs, Stu and Nettie Birnbaum . . 695-2646 Publicity, Nancy Kent . . . . 824-8199 NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U. S. POST AGE PAID SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS Permit No. 590
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