| Summary: | Bexar Tracks began with Vol. 4, no. 1 (January 1986). It continues Newsletter (Bexar Audubon Society). VOLUME IX, NO. 8 512·822-4503 AUGUST 1991 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. J!esident's Letter It is time for an update on TEDs and the shrimp boycott. It was November 1987 when we first included an illustration and explanation of a Turtle Excluder Device (now also called a less-inflammatory Trawling Efficiency Device). TEDs were made mandatory equipment for shrimp trawlers to save sea turtles from death by drowning. Every species of sea turtle is now endangered. In addition to saving turtles, TEDs provide a cleaner catch of shrimp by allowing the nearly ten-to-one bycatch of other marine life to escape. Our Southwest Region's newsletter reported that compliance with TED restrictions rose from 40 to 90 percent last year in the face of Coast Guard enforcement. When Congress failed to ratify a federal budget, however, and agencies had to cut back, compliance dropped again. In fact, some shrimping organizations publicized the fact that the Coast Guard was no longer patrolling around shrimping activities. In June of 1988 we joined with thousands of other Audubon members in a shrimp boycott to last until the use of TEDs was the accepted practice on the Texas coast. We apparently forgot to tell anyone outside our group that we were doing so. Two of our large local institutions, KLRN-TV and UTSA, have used shrimp as the featured food for their fund-raisers and celebrations. We On another note, in efforts to control the brown-headed cowbird, U.S. Fish & Wildlife has submitted a controversial plan that, if implemented, could eliminate millions of that species by means including shooting and poisoning. After several years of involvement with protecting our natural resources, it feels strange to me to be perceived as a misguided bird killer - as it seems in a July 18 article in the San Antonio Light relating to this plan. It is my position, and I trust that of most Auduboners, that management for an endangered species is appropriate. Since humans have interfered with nature and caused imbalances, it follows that humans are obligated to take corrective measures when the interference has caused near extinction of a species. The trapping and killing of cowbirds in areas where black-capped vireo colonies are known to exist seems reasonable. Wholesale slaughter of millions of cowbirds does not. Although I thought I had made my position clear to the reporter, that was obviously not the case. We will keep you informed as this issue develops. Marge Flandermeyer BAS Planning Meeting August 17 must accept some responsibility for failure to educate The third Saturday of August is our Annual Planning the community regarding this issue. Meeting - the meeting at which we set the course for Once again, I urge you to talk to your friends, grocers, our organization for the following year. We want your restaurants, and whomever else seems appropriate input and urge you to join this dynamic, exciting process. about this issue. Tell them of your concern. East-coast This year our meeting will be held at the McNay Art shrimpers have been using TEDs successfully for years. Institute, 6000 N. New Braunfels. The meeting will begin Open defiance of federal regulations designed to protect at 9:00am and last until 2:30 or 3:00 pm. our resources is intolerable. Since the government seems A light lunch will be available at a cost of $3.50 per perto have its hands full with enforcement problems, other son. Coffee and drinks will be provided. If you plan to methods must be used to send the message that we pre- attend, please phone Betty Minyard, 344-6128, or Marge fer to have no shrimp at all rather than have it at the Flandermeyer, 684-2668, by Thursday, August 15 to make expense of our other threatened natural resources. your reservation. Please plan to come and participate. ~j Printed on recycled paper. Please recycle in the interest of the present and the fa tare. fil BEXAR TRACKS, August 1991 More New Audubon Specials on PBS On Tuesday evenings in August, KLRN-TV (Channel 9/Cable 10) will air two more exciting Audubon Specials. Be sure to watch at 9 pm. • August 6, 'The New Range Wars." Ranchers and environmentalists differ on using public lands for livestock grazing. • August 27, "Wolves." Efforts to revive populations of several wolf species in the lower 48 states. New NAS Manhattan Headquarters to Cut Energy Use by 50 Percent According to an article in the May 8 Wall Street Journal, the National Audubon Society claims its new headquarters will be "the most environmentally sound office building in the world." Renovation of the 100-year-old Schermerhorn Building at 700 Broadway is designed to cut energy use by 50 percent. The plan calls for extra insulation, special window glass, and automatically dimming lights near windows. The energy systems have an expected payback time of three to five years. Not only will environmentally clean and recycled materials be emphasized in the construction, but four chutes will channel tenants' recyclable materials to a basement recycling center. Compost will be used in the building's rooftop garden. Recycled & Recyclable More and more businesses are using recycled papers and less toxic vegetable-based inks for their printing. Recycled copier papers are also available, as are recyclable window envelopes that use glassine rather than plastic windows. Encourage businesses you deal with to adopt these standards and to recycle their paper waste. NOTE: Be aware. Paper and packaging that are labeled "recyclable" are not necessarily "recycled." They are very different things. Also, the percentage of recycled material in a "recycled" paper stock does not have to be very large for the paper to display a "recycled" label. Read carefully. Thanks are expressed to a local company that has made an important statement about conserving resources. The recently published Your Guide to USM Services has the following message on the front of its mailing cover: This edition of Your Guide to Services is printed entirely on recycled (and recyclable) paper from cover to cover. That means approximately 3,800 trees are still growing instead of heading to the paper mill and the critical landfill situation has been reduced by 740 cubic yards. In addition, the Guide is printed with soy-based inks which have proven to be significantly less toxic than traditional petroleum based inks. This environmentally friendly issue of Your Guide to USAA Services is a step in the right direction. All of us here at USM encourage you to take your own steps toward a better environment. Page2 Choose Natural over Chemical As you plan your lawn and garden activities for late summer and fall, remember it is possible to "do it naturally, not chemically." Mow your lawn high to produce more drought-tolerant roots and insect and disease resistance. "Don't bag it" - use grass clippings for mulch or compost - and don't send all those soil nutrients to a landfill! If you purchase a new mower, select a mulching mower. Conserve water and comply with local water-use ordinances. Plant native species wherever possible. Consider xeriscape. Create a habitat for birds, butterflies, and other creatures in your yard. Interplant to deter pests, and use biological controls like ladybugs and praying mantises. Learn the difference between beneficial insects and pests. Pull weeds by hand; avoid herbicides. Use compost to add soil nutrients. If you feel you must use chemicals, choose slow-release fertilizers or soil treatments over fast-release varieties to minimize chemicals in water run-off. If you use a lawn-care company, find out what chemicals or other materials they use. State your preference for organics and that you expect them to follow (or immediately enact) responsible environmental policies. Recess Meetings Are Effective Lobbying Tools- Next Opportunity: August 5 to September 10 In the July/August 1991 issue of Audubon Activist, Connie Mahan presents a "Recess Meeting Checklist" you may find useful: 0 Call your representative's (or senator's) district office to find out when she or he will be in the area. Request a face-to-face meeting. Tell the assistant who answers your call what issue(s) or legislation you would like to discuss. Focus on no more than one or two items. 0 You may prefer to visit your lawmaker on your own, but consider putting together a small group of Audubon members or representatives from other local groups. This can give you more clout. 0 Cover your key points early in the meeting and be sure to ask for specifi~ action. Stick to your agenda and complete it in the allotted time. 0 Prepare a brief fact sheet to give to your official, highlighting the actions you would like him or her to take. List the name and address of each person in your group. 0 Follow up with a thank-you letter and a few supplementary materials on the issue, such as recent editorials from local newspapers. Restate your requested action in your letter. 0 Tell your Audubon regional office about your visit, or drop a line to Audubon's grassroots coordinator in Washington, DC. The information you gather is valuable for Audubon's lobbying efforts. Page3 Your Elected Representatives and How to Contact Them Your representatives at all levels of government care about your opinion. Write or call on issues of interest and importance to you. President George Bush (R) 202-456-1414 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., Washington, DC 20500 United States Senators Phil Gramm (R) .202-224-2934 370 Russell Senate Office Bldg., Washington, DC 205104302 Lloyd Bentsen (D) 202-224-5922 703 Russell Hart Office Bldg., Washington, DC 205104301 United States Representatives District 20 Henry B. Gonzalez (D) 202-225-3236 2413 Rayburn House Office Bldg., Washington, DC 20515 21 Lamar Smith (R) 202-225-4236 509 Cannon House Office Bldg., Washington, DC 20515 23 Albert Bustamante (D) 202-225-4511 1116 Longworth House Bldg., Washington, DC 20515 Governor Ann Richards (D) Lt. Governor Bob Bullock (D) State Senators 512-463-2000 512-463-0005 State Senate, POBox 12068Capitol Station, Austin, TX 78711 District Austin San Antonio 19 Frank Tejeda (D) 463-0119 924-7383 21 Judith Zaffirini (D) 463-0121 [Laredo] 722-2293 26 Cyndi Krier (R) 463-0126 270-4535 State Representatives Texas House of Representatives, POBox 2910, Austin, TX 78768-2910 District 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 Leticia Van de Putte (D) Gregory Luna (D) Frank Madia (D) Ciro Rodriguez (D) Robert Puente (D) Karyne Conley (D) Alan Schoolcraft (R) George Pierce (R) Jeff Wentworth (R) Christine Hernandez (D) San Antonio Officials Austin 463-0532 463-0616 463-0618 463-0714 463-0452 463-0708 463-0686 463-0658 463-0646 463-0634 San Antonio 733-6604 431-0277 675-3400 921-0605 532-8899 228-0122 658-0768 340-5454 525-9988 270-4597 Mayor Nelson Wolff 299-7060 City Manager Alex Briseno 299-7080 cip Those Plastic Six-Pack Rings Don't forget, whether at home, at the lake, on the beach, or in the office, always clip apart plastic six-pack rings before you dispose of them. They present major hazards for marine and other animals. BEXAR TRACKS, August 1991 ~ Lstant Update Available For a recorded update on environmental legislation, you can phone this number 24 hours a day: 202-547-9017 T,.;nity River Wildlife Refuge Funding to establish the Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge, approximately 50 miles northeast of Houston, was deleted from the recently passed House version of the FY92 appropriations bill, even though the Bush administration and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service had earmarked $2 million for initial acquisition. Please contact Senators Bentsen and Gramm and request their assistance in restoring these funds when the Senate considers this issue. These are 20,000 acres of mature bottomland hardwood forests and wetland with the highest concentration of wintering waterfowl in the lower Trinity River Basin, as well as bald eagles and America alligators. Hazardous Waste Disposal Melinda Taylor in Audubon Activist asks you to "write to your senators and representative and urge them to support stricter regulation of waste disposal by the oil and gas industry. Ask them to support legislation that would eliminate the loophole in the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act that allows for the unregulated disposal of oilfield wastes." The exemption of this toxic waste from the hazardous waste law was through a statutory provision in 1980 supported by the industry and sponsored by Senator Bentsen. National Audubon Society Chapter Membership Application Yes, I'd like to join. Please enroll me a s 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 $20 check for the introductory membership is enclosed. NAME __________________________ __ ADDRESS ___________ __ CITY/STATE/ZIP __________ _ Make all checks payable to the National Audubon Society. Send this application and your check to: Bexar Audubon Society P.O.Box 6084 W19 San Antonio, TX 78209 Local Chapter Code 7XCHA ~ BEXAR TRACKS, July 1991 Bnl to Protect Arctic Wildlife Refuge from Drilling Write your senators and ask them to support S.39, which would protect the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge as a wilderness. This bill was referred to the Subcommittee on Environmental Protection on April 19 and hearings have been held. For more information contact Brian Vincent at Audubon's Capitol Hill office, 202-54 7-9009, or Richard Pipes, Conservation Committee Chair, at 1-512-569-2452. Audubon Emphasizes Link between Population and Environment "Overpopulation and its handmaiden, overconsumption of the Earth's resources, are causing rapid worldwide deforestation, soil erosion, groundwater depletion, loss of species, and a host of other environmental ills," writes Audubon's Steve Cusick in the July/Aug. Audubon Activist. The world's population is increasing faster than expected. Family planning - toward population stability and sustainable growth - is imperative internationally. The U.S. is not playing a role in this initiative, however. "Write your senators and representative and ask them to support 1) reversal of the Mexico City policy, 2) a $570 million U.S. allocation to international family planning programs, and 3) renewed funding for the United Nations Population Fund. Also urge your representative to cosponsor H.R. 1179 [referred to the Subcommittee on International Operations on June 4] and H.R. 1110 [referred to the Foreign Affairs Committee- no action]." Biological Diversity Bill Urge your representative and senators to support and cosponsor the National Biological Diversity and Environmental Research Act - H.R. 585, H.R. 2082, and S. 58. There have been committee hearings on all these bills - in the House in May, reporting out in July; and in the Senate in July. Biological diversity is being lost at an alarming rate all over the world. We must not only protect species already threatened or endangered, but also those which are still "healthy," to prevent their reduction or destruction. News Notes Susan Rust reports that former Conservation Chairman, Ann Schnapf, is working part time as assistant warden at an Audubon sanctuary in Florida. The islands she patrols are rookeries for over sixteen species of breeding birds, from pelicans through egrets to oyster catchers. Hello from Chicago from last year's Birdathon Chairman, Bruce Aird, and his family, including two-and-a-half-yearoldAmanda, who knows all the birds by family, Susan says. Page4 Mxico City Birding and Conservation Club Seeks Assistance Numerous species of migratory birds are legal to capture in Mexico, including Swainson's thrush, eastern bluebird, loggerhead shrike, orchard oriole, rose-breasted grosbeak, and painted bunting. The club is pressuring Mexican officials to stop illegal bird trafficking and to revise the list of species available for legal capture. If you plan to travel in Mexico and are willing to report caged birds you see, send exact addresses and other pertinent information to CCOA Hotline, Apdo. Postal 22-146, 14000 Mexico, OF. They will pass the information to the appropriate Mexican authorities who have been helping to resolve this problem. Brush Clearing & Water Resources The San Antonio Environmental Coalition (SAEC) will host an Environmental Issues Forum - "Brush Clearing for Water Enhancement on the Edwards Plateau: A Balancing Act" -Tuesday, September lOth at 7:00 pm at the Witte Museum Auditorium. It is free, and the public is welcome and urged to attend. The imperative to protect the quality and quantity of this region's only major water supply- the Edwards Aquifer - is unanimously supported, regardless of arguments over alternative water sources, conservation, and reuse. One suggested method to augment the quality and quantity of Edwards water is vegetation (brush) clearing. The Seco Creek watershed project to the west of San Antonio is designed to answer questions such as these: Is this type of land management appropriate for the San Antonio watershed? Are the economic benefits of such a water enhancement project similar for rural and urban areas? How are brush-dependent wildlife - endangered species, in particular- affected by brush clearing? What does such landscape change mean for the esthetics of an area? How are ecosystem processes affected by such manipulation? How much does large-scale brush management cost and who pays? Speakers will be Dr. David Diamond, Community Ecologist, Texas Parks & Wildlife, Natural Heritage Program, and Dr. Larry White, Range Scientist, Texas A&M Research & Extension Center, Uvalde. Sponsors are the Texas Forest Service, Bexar Grotto, and Bexar Audubon Society. SAEC is a non-political information-sharing network of forty organizations in the San Antonio area. For more information, call 826-4698. State Park Volunteers Needed Texas Parks & Wildlife needs volunteers to provide birding tours or other interpretive services to park visitors. Contact Kevin Good, Texas Parks & Wildlife, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, TX 78744, and indicate both your areas of expertise (birding, wildflowers, geology, history, etc.) and any park preference. Page5 Go "Batty" in Austin at the Southwest Regional Conference September 19-22 Auduboners from Louisiana, New Mexico, Texas, Mexico, and Central America will gather in Austin to attend an Audubon Population Conference - A Vision for 2020: Population and the Environment. Session topics include wildlife, wetnds, water, forests, free trade, and recycling. Stay at The Crest, adja-cent to the largest urban bat population in the world. Start each day with a bird walk, learn what other chapters are doing, enjoy field trips to the Texas Hill Country, then end each day sitting around the pool at The Crest, watching the bats on their evening flight. Re gister today using the form at right. Call Irene Pickhardt, 1-512-327-1943 (FAX 1-512-327-1264) for more information. For room reservations, contact The Crest Hotel on Town Lake, Austin, TX, phone: 1-512-478-9611 or 1-800-225-5843. Ask for special Audubon Conference Rates. Rangelands Symposium Set Sept. 20 The Texas Section of the Society for Range Management will sponsor a symposium - "Managing Rangelands and Endangered Species: Compassion, Compatibility, and Compromise," September 20, 1991, at the Hyatt Regency Austin on Town Lake. (Reception on September 19, 6-9 pm at the Hyatt.) Rangelands make up more than 50 percent of the land mass in Texas, and the Texas Section of this society promotes proper stewardship of these lands. In Texas, as elsewhere, endangered species have become embroiled in controversy among conservation groups, landowners, and land managers. Because rangelands sustain a wide variety of animals and habitats and numerous human uses, it is timely to focus attention on rangeland management techniques and issues related to endangered species: 1) Why should we care? 2) What are the conflicts? 3) Are there ways to improve endangered ---'"' species habitat using rangeland management techniques? The symposium program features thirteen speakers from across Texas, including National Audubon Society's Dr. Dede Armentrout. For more information, contact Dr. Charles A. Taylor, Jr., 915-387-3168. Register using the form at right: BEXAR TRACKS, August 1991 ~ r7t\7iS1oii-for2o2o:-P"ojiiiiaiion-aiicfffie-fiivfr-omnentl I AUDUBON POPULATION CONFERENCE: I 2525 Wallingwood, Ste 1505: Austin, TX 787461 Enclosed is my1 registration fee: of $42, payable to: NAS Population Conference·: NAME.~ --- ADDRESS ______________________________ _ CITY/STATE/ZIP --- AREA CODE & TELEPHONE (___) ______ _ --- ~ Hummer/Bird Celebration Nearing Described as a "must-do" for birders, the Rockport/ Fulton, Texas Hummer/Bird Celebration will be held , September 12-15, during the fall 3 ' / migration of hummingbirds. - Programs and workshops runL__--==-~ --- __j Thursday evening through Sunday afternoon. The fifteen topics include hummingbirds, getting started in birdwatching, conservation, owls, shorebirds, coastal birds, dwindling duck populations, plants, and more. There are bus trips to see "swarming" hummers and other birds, boat trips to coastal waters, and many other events. Call Kimberly, Teri, or Christine at 1-800-242-0071 for a schedule of events, information on lodging, etc. :r -M--a-n-a-g-~m-g-- R--a-n-g-e-l-a-n-d--s- a-n--d- -E-n-d-a--n-g-e-r-e-d- -S-p-e-c-i-e-s-: , : Compassion, Compatibility, and Compromise I I I :Enclosed is my registration fee of $35. :Fee covers participation, abstracts, and lunch buffet for those iregistering by September 6. Lunch is extra for those register- 1ing after this date. Maximum registration is 400 participants. NAME _________________ __ ADDRESS.~ --- CITY/STATE/ZIP _____________ _ AREA CODE & TELEPHONE L_) ______ _ I Mail to: Managing Rangelamis : I 1 : and Endangered Species : : c/o Dr. Charles A. Taylor, Jr. : i POBox918 : 1 Sonora, Texas 76950 : L --- ~ ~ BEXAR TRACKS, August 1991 Calendar August-Conservation Committee Meeting, San Antonio Botanical Center (N. New Braunfels at Funston). Contact Richard Pipes, Committee Chair, at 1-512-569-2452, for more information. 5 August-"Water," a meeting of the Regional Clean Air and Water Association of San Antonio, Ruble Center, Room 800, 419 E. Magnolia, 7:30pm. Speakers: Hans Helland & Carol Patterson of the Edwards Underground Water District and Kay Turner of H.T.A. 5 Aug-10 Sept- Congressional recess. 6 August-"New Range Wars" on KLRN, 9 pm. 11 August-"Audubon in Texas" on KLRN, 8 am. Three biologists retrace the footsteps of John James Audubon when he travelled to Texas in 1837 while researching "The Birds of America." 15 August -No BAS General Meeting in August. 17 August-BAS Annual Planning Meeting, McNay Art Institute, 9 am. For information, see article, page 1. 22 August-Third hearing on Friedrich Wilderness Park. 27 August-"Wolves" on KLRN, 9 pm. 1 Sept-Texas Parks & Wildlife "Conservation Passports" go on sale at state parks and other TP&W facilities. 10 Sept-SAEC Environmental Issues Forum, Witte Museum Auditorium, 3801 Broadway (limited parking), 7 pm. See information on page 4 of this issue. 11 Sept-6th Annual Ground Water Protection Seminar. Fiesta Rooms of the San Antonio Convention Center. For a brochure call 512-371-6319 or write the Texas Water Commission, POBox 13087, Capitol Station, Austin, TX 78711-3087. 12-15 Sept-Hummer/Bird Celebration, Rockport/ Fulton. For more information, call 800-242-0071. 15-21 Sept-"Lobby Week," Audubon Population Program, Washington, DC. Learn the nuts-and-bolts BEXAR AUDUBON SOCIElY P .0. BOX 6084 SAN ANTONIO, TX 78209 Address Correction Requested OffiCERS AND BOARD Marge Flandenneyer, President . . . . . 684-2668 Betty Minyard, Vice President . . . . . 344-6128 Walter Barfield, Treasurer . . . . 736-0355 Caryl Swann, Secretary . . . 653-2860 Audrey Cooper, Board Member. . 651-6054 Ronald "Rusty" Guyer, Board Member . . . . . . 226-6808 Nathan Ratner, Board Member . . . . . . 826-4462 Thelma Nungesser, Board Member. . . . 824-8199 Blair Richter, Board Member . . . . 824-8251 COMMITIEE CHAIRMEN Conservation, Richard Pipes . . 1-512-569-2452 Education, Betty Minyard . . 344-6128 Finance . . . . . . . . Membership, Thelma Nungesser . . . . . . . 824-8199 News letter Editor, Susan K. Hughes . . . . 696-6868 Outings, Caryl Swami . . . . . . . . . . . 653-2860 Programs, Nathan Ratner . . . . 826-4462 Publicity, Blair Richter . . . . . 824-8251 Page& of grassroots lobbying on population. Contact Tanya Thomas (202-547-9009) for more information. 18-22 Sept-A Vision for 2020: Population and the Environment, Southwest Regional Audubon Population Conference, Crest Hotel, Austin. Registration information on page 5. (Social and check-in, 7 pm, September 18.) 19-20 Sept-Symposium on Managing Rangelands and Endangered Species, Hyatt Regency Austin on Town Lake. See registration information on page 5. (Reception, 6-9 pm, September 19.) 21 Sept-6th Annual Texas Coastal Cleanup, 9 to noon, Call the Center for Marine Conservation, 512-4 79- 0206, or Adopt-a-Beach, at 1-800-85-BEACH. 23-25 Sept-Environmental Regulation Course, Houston. For a brochure, calll-800-831-8333. 29 Oct-2 Nov-Giobescope Americas conference, Miami. Sponsored by Global Tomorrow Coalition. Can modern industrial societies achieve a sustainable balance between the environment and the economy? Contact John McKain, 202-6284016. tUHNJ AUDU!tON 1 71\- 1 ~ PINNAT WCJtOUS.f. AUDUBON ROUGE CALIFORNIA RED WINE MAUt AI'ID llt.lTIU O • Y AVDUION OU.AIU, JU,KILl~,C.A ALCt.>HOl ll ~- JYVOLUMt • Cl:ll'fr"AIN5 SULFITU NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS Permit No. 590
|
|---|