| Summary: | Bexar Tracks began with Vol. 4, no. 1 (January 1986). It continues Newsletter (Bexar Audubon Society). !fracRs VOLUME VIII, No. 7 JULY 1990 BEXAR AUDUBON SOCIETY - CHAPTER OF THE NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY THE CHAPTER'S PRIMARY GOALS ARE TO PROMOTE SPECIES AND HABITAT CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION IN THE COMMUNITY. PRESIDENT'S LETTER Environmental news has been constant since last month. The fifth worst oil spill ever took place at the coast off of Galveston. We were extremely fortunate in that it could have done so much more damage. Perhaps with continued pressure from concerned citizens and the media, better regulations for the oil industry can be instituted, and more timely response to spills can be planned. Hope springs eternal. The other big news item was the declaration of the Spotted Owl as a threatened species. Nearly every periodical and newspaper has covered some aspect of the complex problem surrounding this listing. Washington Week on KLRN also included it in its show on June 22. While the logging industry in particular and business interests in general would like to pit the saving of the owl against the jobs, and therefore, the lives, of men, the issue is not that simple. The owl is only providing the pivotal point around which the destruction of the ancient forests is turning. "The Wall Street Journal" and subsequently the "Express News" published editorials firmly stating that when the choice came to jobs versus the saving of a species of owls, the choice should definitely go to the jobs. In fact, the "Wall Street Journal" stated that, "If this nation's land laws its courts, its federal agencies and Congress have arri;ed at the point that Americans have to leave their jobs and homes on behalf of 3,000 owls, then the political system is not functioning as it was intended to." The discussion should more appropriately focus on whether we should save the remaining ancient forests. Less than 20% of the old growth forest remains and none of it is on state or private lands. It is all part of our national forests. Did you think that national forests were protected from logging? I did, prior to my education on the Red-cockaded Woodpecker and the Spotted Owl. The old growth forests are a limited resource. Even if we opt against the owl and for continued logging, the resource will disappear within 10 years, and the industry will have only delay_ed the disruption in the communities that is foreseen 1f they must stop now. Of course it will be disruptive to lives and communities when this industry runs out of resource material, but this is not the first time nor the first industry to face this type of situation. The timber unions would do well to begin preparing their membership for retraining and relocation rather than vowing not to give up the fight. Environmentalists are not all necessarily against progress, but rather they are looking more at the long term and at the quality of life as it is affected by progress. Shall we be good stewards of the land in which we are so privileged to live; or shall we mow, plow and pave it all and ask what happened later? Do you believe we should attempt to live in harmony with our environment, or do you believe it is man's privilege to use and abuse the earth as he sees fit? Give it some thought because the issues are arising in Bexar County in regard to our two endangered birds, the Blackcapped Vireo and the newly listed Golden-cheeked Warbler. Meanwhile, get out and enjoy our great outdoors. ~? Marge Flandermeyer BUTTERFLY PROGRAM FOR JULY Raymond Neck of Texas Parks & Wildlife will be presenting our July program on butterflies. Included in his presentation will be suggestions for attracting butterflies to your yard or garden. We should also get familiar with some of the butterflies we will surely see at the Leslie Ranch the following Saturday. Our meeting will be held on July 19 at the Ruble Center, 419 E. Magnolia, beginning at 7:00p.m. with a half hour of information-sharing and socializing. The meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m. •-•·•·•·•·•·•·•·•·•·•·•·•·•·•·•·•·•·•·•·•·•·•·•·•·•·•·•·•·•·•·•·•·•·•··•·•·•·•·•·•·•·•-• AUGUST PLANNING MEETING On August 18, we will return to the lovely Bamberger Ranch for the Annual Planning Meeting. In addition to charting the course for 1991, we will visit one of the points of interest at the ranch. Watch next month for further details. "Whoever leaves alone whatever in nature wishes not be be disturbed, he or she will seem like a God, so unlike a human being, even to a snake." Marvin Bell Recycled Paper CONSERVATION CORNER OIL SPILLS STILL ENDANGER AMERICAN COASTS More than a year after the tragic Exxon Valdez oil spill, Congress has still not acted to protect Ame_rican shores from a repeated disaster. And the result ts the inadequate response to the Mega Bar~ oil. tan~er rupture. A shipboard fire burned a lot of oil; mtcrobtal treatment and evaporation removed m?re, a~d fortuitous winds and currents did not depostt the oily pollutant upon Teias shores. However, the lack of a coordinated plan and sufficient equipment to properly deal with such a calamity is inexcusable. *Between 1980 and 1986, more than 80 million gallons of oil spilled in U.S. waters. . . . *Typically, less than 15 percent of sptlled ml 1s recovered, due to primitive clean-up technology. *U.S. tankers were involved in 468 groundings, 371 collisions, 97 rammings, 55 fires and explosions, and 95 deaths between 1980 and 1988. The House of Representatives passed HR 1465last November; the Senate's version (S 686) passed in August. The Audubon Society would like these bills to include: -a comprehensive audit of the Alaskan oil delivery system, including the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, the Prudhoe Bay oilfields, and the tanker fleet in Prince William Sound. -all new tankers should be built with double hulls; existing vessels should be retrofitted with double hulls. -the owner of the oil being shipped should assume equal responsibility with the shipper when liability limits are exceeded. -damages to natural resources will be thoroughly assessed and destroyed resources replaced. -immediate rescue and rehabilitation of injured wildlife and habitat involved in an oil spill. -plan key mechanisms to protect the environment from future spills. Please contact your Congressmen concerning the future protection of our national waters and shores from oil spill pollution. A GROWING CONCERN ' "If a tree dies, plant another in its place." - Linnaeus, 1750 "Only one tree is being planted for every four being lost." -U.S. Forest Service, 1990 Trees are environmental miracle workers. They: *filter air pollution and store carbon dioxide, opposing the Greenhouse Effect. An average tree consumes about 26 pounds of carbon dioxide per year. *prevent erosion. Loose sediment contributes to air and water pollution. *retain water. By capturing water, trees reduce runoff. *produce oxygen. The average tree produces enough oxygen to keep a family of four breathing for a year. *control climate. Trees provide shade in the summer and break cold winds in the winter. Scientists estimate · that if 100 million trees were planted in cities throughout the nation, the country would realize a $4 billion saving in energy costs each year. *minimize noise pollution by muffling sounds. Planted along highways, trees reduce disruptions to adjacent neighborhoods. *furnish habitat and food for birds, mammals, insects, and reptiles. *provide aesthetic value because trees are simply beautiful. When you plant a tree, choose a native species which will be more resistant than an exotic species to drought, disease, and insect damage. Natives generally also provide superior wildlife habitat. Do not plant sod under your tree, but leave an open area for the leaves to collect. The mulch will retain moisture and fertilize the tree as the leaves naturally recycle. Trees make excellent gifts. They are attractive, enhance nature, and improve property values. Solving most ecological problems requires more than just digging a hole and plunking in a tree. But not every action taken on behalf of the Earth must be complex and expensive. The simplicity of tree planting does not diminish its immense value. Contact Mark Peterson (202 East Nueva, San Antonio, 78204, 222-9963) concerning the "Trees for Texas" Campaign which aspires to plant 17 million trees this year in Texas! , ! TEXAS IS A WINNER AGAIN! a A study by the Center for Marine Conservation states that more plastic waste and international garbage washes up on Texas shores than any other state in the Union. Trash from 33 foreign countries and 11,406 sixpack rings, a television set, a mattress and a hubcap were included in the garbage collected during the Beach Clean-Up last year. Marine animals by the thousands die annually from eating plastic bags and pieces of plastic and from becoming entangled in ropes and nets. Millions of dollars are spent each year to clean up beaches. Texas Land Commissioner Gary Mauro whose "Adopt-A-Beach" Program complements the Beach Clean-Up says, "The people of Texas want clean beaches and clean coasts. They want a Gulf of Mexico that doesn't endanger marine life and wildlife with floating plastic debris." Designation by the International Maritime Organization, this fall, of the Gulf of Mexico as a special area under the MARPOL Act, Annex V would prevent ocean dumping of any type in the Gulf except for finely ground food waste. This action has been recommended by the U.S. Senate. Write to James A. Baker, III, Secretary of State, 2201 C Street N.W., Washington, D.C. 20520-2001 and AdmiralJ. William Kime, Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, 2100 Second Street, Washington, D.C. 20593-0001 to urge such designation. CALENDAR OF EVENTS JULY 5 San Antonio Audubon general meeting, presentation by Carolyn Chipman-Evans of the Friends of Cibolo Wilderness Park in Boerne, Ruble Center, 419 E. Magnolia, 7:30p.m. 7 First Sat., Friedrich Wilderness Park, 21395 Milsa, guided nature walk, 10:00 a.m. 12 BAS Board Meeting, 16546 Hunting Glen, 7:30 p.m.; call Caryl Swann for directions, 653-2860. 14 Second Sat., "Young Naturalists' Day", ecological games & activities for children, ages 6-14. Leaders: Mary Kennedy & Ann Schnapf. 9:00-10:30 a.m. Friedrich Wilderness Park. Dress comfortably. 14 Beautify San Antonio Association; cleanup at Bandera and Grissom, 8:00-10:00 a.m. 17 Sierra Club general meeting, First Unitarian Church, 807 Beryl, 7:30 p.m.; call 222-8195 for program information. 19 BAS general meeting, "Butterflies", Raymond Neck of TX Parks & Wildlife, Ruble Center, 419 E. Magnolia; 7:00 p.m. 21 "Bats & Botanizing", Leslie Ranch. Call Caryl Swann, 653-2860. AUGUST 4 First Sat., Friedrich Wilderness park, 21395 Milsa, guided nature walk, 10:00 a.m. 9 BAS Board Meeting, place to be announced. 11 Second Sat.; overnight campout beneath the Perseid meteor shower; picnic at 8 p.m.; astronomy presentation by Floyd Thorn at 9 p.m.; bring telescopes and / or binoculars. Friedrich Wilderness Park, 21395 Milsa. Call 698-1057. 18 Annual Planning Meeting, Bamberger Ranch, details available later. Everyone wel~ome! TWO SAN ANTONIO COMPANIES OFFER CLOTH DIAPERS Diaper Service of San Antonio is joined by Diapers Unlimited in offering an environmental choice to mothers of infants and toddlers. Cloth diapers benefit both the baby and the environment, since babies are five times more likely to develop diaper rash with disposables. One-time use disposables may require up to 500 years to decompose, while multiple-time use cloth diapers decompose in 1-6 months. Production of disposable diapers consumes 1,265,000 metric tons of wood pulp and 75,000 metric tons of plastic per year in America, an incredible resource consumption. And, each year, millions of tons of soiled, potentially disease-infected diapers are discarded into "sanitary" landfills, amounting to 3 million tons of untreated feces and urine, endangering groundwater supplies with contamination. In addition, Velcro fasteners now replace diaper pins. Diaper service runs about $11 I week for 90 cloth diapers, versus approximately $16 to purchase 90 disposables. What a deal! PAST OUTING On June 23, we were privileged to tour the Wassenberg-Maverick Ranch. Bebe and Mary F_enste~maker _led us o!l a nature walk through areas displaym!? a diverse mixture ?f native plants. Fol~ow~ng t~e walk, we sat m the shade on the patio of their histone stone house and discussed the current issues of development threatening to alter the natural beauty and diversity and native ecosystems in this area. The primary concern of local landowners is the proposed extension of H wy 211, which would divide large plots of ranch land and further facilitate residential and business development. We plan to revisit the ranch next spring to view the migration of the Golden-cheeked Warbler. Thanks, Bebe and Mary, for a perfect summer morning! JULY OUTING On July 21, Patty Leslie will host our annual "Bat and Botanizing" outing at her family's ranch near Comfort. We will spend the afternoon walking the hills and creek, viewing native plants and butterflies. After a picnic supper, we will witness the awesome evening departure of millions of bats from their nearby roosting spot. Meet at Penn Foods at Callaghan and 1- 10 approximately I p.m. Call Caryl Swann, 653-2860. "" ~ . ~ . ~ . ~ RECYCLING COMMITTEE RECOGNIZED The . three chief members of the Recycling Committee, ,Walter Barfield, Chairman, Ann Schnapf, and Betty Mmyard, were presented with Certificates of Appreciation at our June general meeting. Through many meetings and dedicated efforts this Com~itte~ has done '!-nd continues to do a great deal to assist this commumty in the area of waste management. We thank you and applaud you! r --- , National Audubon Society : Chapter Membership Application I Yes, I'd like to join. Please enroll me as a member of the National Audubon Society and of my local chapter. Please send AUDUBON magazine and my membership card to the address below. . 0 My check for •the $20 introductory membership is enclosed . NAME --- ADD~S --- I 'I J I I I I I ,CITY STATE ZIP I Please make all checks payable to the National Audubon Society. f f ~ Send this application and_ your check to: 1 I Bexar Audubon Society I I P.O. Box 6084 W-19 I I San Antonio, TX 78209 LocoJChlll>l••~ .1 7XCHA L~ --- ~ BIRDATHON RESULTS Thanks to all who participated in the spnng Birdathon! Bruce Aird and Leslie Linehan spotted the most birds with 159 species, five more than last year's record. Marge Flandermeyer's Birdathon team, consisting of Betty Minyard, Kathy Oliver, Ann Schnapf, Fred Adams, Steve Hawkins, and Susie Monday, collected the largest amount of donations, totalling $1148.31. The total Birdathon proceeds are $2700. One-half has been sent to our state office for their use in projects in education, conservation, and habitat preservation. The other half was designated to be used to put "Audubon Adventures" in as many 4th and 5th grade classrooms as possible. We have sent offthe orderfor 45 classrooms, which at $30 each, uses that half of the Birdathon money. This total is a bit less than last year. Many reasons can be stated, but probably the one uppermost is that we had so MUCH going on in Audubon around that time. At any rate, we can make up for this with outright donations to "Audubon Adventures". · If you did not have the opportunity to spon~or a spotter in the Birdathon event, you still can contn~ute to this worthy project. Just send $30 to Walter Barfield and it will be used only for" Audubon Adventures" in one school. If you know a school that you would like to have this program, then let me know. Call Betty Minyard, 344-6128. USFWS THREATENS RED-COCKADED WOODPECKER The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has written an inappropriate biological opinion concerning the seriously imperilled Red-cockaded Woodpecker. I_n fact biologists and naturalists alike feel that th1s biol~gical opinion would spell extinction for these rare birds. Write to Mike Spear, Regional Director, U.S.F.W.S., P.O. Box 1306, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87103 asking him to withdraw this opinion. BEXAR AUDUBON SOCIETY P.O. BOX 6084 • SAN ANTONIO, TX 78209 ADDRESS CORRRECTION REQUESTED BALLOON LITTER DANGEROUS Although helium-filled balloons may provide entertainment when large numbers are released simultaneously, when they fall to the ground, they are just litter. Balloon pieces, turning white or translucent when aged, are lethal upon ingestion to endangered marine animals, like whales and sea turtles. The City of Louisville, Kentucky, the U.S. Parks Service, and the State of Florida have banned balloon releases. We need to ban balloon releases here in Texas. Write Representative Robert Saunders, P.O. Box 2910, Austin, Texas and ask him to sponsor such a bill. ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• BEXAR AUDUBON SOCIETY OFFICERS AND BOARD Marge Flandermeyer, President . 684-2668 Betty Minyard, Vice President . 344-6128 Nathan Ratner, Secretary . 732-3580 Walter Barfield, Treasurer . 736-0355 Russell Smith . 734-7184 Caryl Swann . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 653-2860 Mary Anne Moses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 826-6562 Ann Schnapf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 699-1224 Peggy Carnahan . 690-2061 Committee Chairmen Conservation, Ann Schnapf . 699-1224 Education, Betty Minyard . 344-6128 Finance, Mary Anne Moses . 826-6562 Membership, Thelma Nungesser . 824-8199 Newsletter Editor, Kathy Newman . 523-6631 Outings, Caryl Swann . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 653-2860 Programs, . . Publicity, Art O'Connell . 224-8511 NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U. S. POSTAGE PAID SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS Permit No. 590
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