Bexar tracks : the newsletter of the Bexar Audubon Society, Vol. 10, No. 06
Bexar Tracks began with Vol. 4, no. 1 (January 1986). It continues Newsletter (Bexar Audubon Society). 512-822-4503 JUNE 1992 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...
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San Antonio, Tex. : Bexar Audubon Society,
1992
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Birds--Conservation--Texas--Periodicals. Ornithology--Texas--Periodicals. Nature conservation--Texas--Periodicals Clubs and Organizations Science and Technology |
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Birds--Conservation--Texas--Periodicals. Ornithology--Texas--Periodicals. Nature conservation--Texas--Periodicals Clubs and Organizations Science and Technology Bexar Audubon Society Bexar tracks : the newsletter of the Bexar Audubon Society, Vol. 10, No. 06 |
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Birds--Conservation--Texas--Periodicals. Ornithology--Texas--Periodicals. Nature conservation--Texas--Periodicals Clubs and Organizations Science and Technology |
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Bexar Tracks began with Vol. 4, no. 1 (January 1986). It continues Newsletter (Bexar Audubon Society). 512-822-4503 JUNE 1992 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. Inside Tracks • Conservation Committee activities report • Endangered Species Act • BIRDATHON update • Don't Bag It! • Mountain laurel lore • Litter inventory form • Can I make a difference? •1-800-453-SMOG • Recycling center changes • BAS volunteers at it again • Washington address list • A busy summer calendar BAS Member Activities Mitchell Lake Headlines June Meeting At our regular monthly meeting on Thursday, June 18, at the Ruble Center, 419 E. Magnolia, the . -~- ~ ® speaker will be Ruth Lofgren, who has played a piv-otal role in the city's joint efforts with community organizatiqns to recognize Mitchell Lake not only as a prime spot for birding, but also as a valuable wetlands site worthy of significant enhancement and protection. Come for a half-hour of fellowship at 7 pm, fo ll owed by the program. Meetings conclude by 9 pm and are open to the public at no charge. Learn more about the Mitchell Lake enhancement plans -what's the schedule - and what lies in ::.~·-.~.; ·~ ,.~""::. . store for us at this interesting spot that is making its . ~. · comeback from years of misunderstanding and dis-repute. Come to the meeting, and bring a friend! Gunsight Mountain Outing President's Letter Our June outing will take us to Gunsight Mountain Ranch at Tarpley. We will meet at Jim's at Bandera and Loop 410 at 7:45 am, Saturday, June 20, and then caravan to the ranch. We will tour the ranch on a 31/2 mile walk and finish with a picnic lunch. (Please bring your own lunch and beverages.) The focus of the trip will be plant identification and communing with nature. For more information and to make reservations, contact Marge Flandermeyer, 684-2668. You may also sign up for the trip at our June meeting. Enjoy Nature. Get Out. One of Bexar Audubon's primary goals is to provide environmental education to the community. In this regard, May was a busy month. This year's BIRDATHON took place May 2nd, and the Bexar Audubon spotters did their count along the Texas coast near Rockport. I want to thank all the spotters who participated in this year's event, including Ellie and Mark Eakin, Marge Flandermeyer, Doris French, Patty Leslie, Les lie Linehan, Betty Minyard, Thelma Nungesser, and Susan Rust. The funds generated by these spotters and their contributors will help Bexar Audubon sponsor the Audubon Adventures classrooms for 1992-93. In 1991-92 Bexar Audubon sponsored 61 classrooms. Nationwide, Audubon Adventures reached 552,000 students, according to the National Audubon Society. If you would like to make a contribution to support our Audubon Adventures program or BIRDATHON, please contact Betty Minyard, 334-6128. This year Bexar Audubon developed our own version of BIRDATHON for elementary schools, the BIRDATHON ~ BEXAR TRACKS, June 1992 Page2 Bexar Facts A HAS Update President's Letter, continued Nature Walk. This program was generated by Betty Minyard and the very hard work of Susan Hughes. Susan organized the materials and resources and secured sponsors for printing expenses. The result has been a terrific success. These materials have reached 4,000 elementary school students with a bird identification sheet that is both fun and educational. We have received excellent publicity on this program from both local newspapers and excited responses from participating teachers. Thanks are also due to Barb DeLuca, Betty Minyard, and Anita Reeves for distributing these materials. Our main speaker for the May general meeting was unable to attend due to the inclement weather of May 21st [severe weather conditions existed between San Marcos and San Antonio]. Our program chair, Nathan Ratner. and Susan Rust developed a very interesting program for that evening, however, and with very short notice. Those who attended the meeting had a chance to review and comment on a new video from Conservation International concerning rainforest destruction and the many aspects surrounding this issue. Attendees' comments on this video may be added to lesson plans Bexar Audubon will send to teachers interested in using this material. This video is just one of many Bexar Audubon makes available to teachers or others wishing to borrow them for educational purposes. Our field trip to San Marcos Springs on May 23rd was a great success. We had 15 people in attendance, and Dr. Arsuffi pointed out some of the endangered species present in the San Marcos River, as well as some of the changes which have caused these species to become endangered. Our group also got to see (and in some cases pet) Ralph the Swimming Pig. Always a new adventure on an Audubon field trip. - Walter G. Barfield •JJ1~Jt~b;·~Jffw~Jffk·~fft~·~ba~c~%~·%e· ~ MQiiW! Conservation Committee Activities The BAS Conservation Committee meeting is now held at 6 pm at the Ruble Center- one hour in advance of the regular monthly meeting of BAS. Please come to learn more about the critical crucial issues facing us and to lend ~ hand. More subcommittee members are needed to share the load of tracking issues on a local, regional, national, and international level. To be specific, the Conservation Committee needs YOU. For more information contact Richard Pipes, BAS Conservation Committee chair, at 1-512-569-2452. Barfield Responds to TPWD Big Bend Ranch State Natural Area Plan Bexar Audubon has commended the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department for its efforts that culminated in the acquisition of the Big Bend Ranch property - a unique opportunity to restore a whole ecosystem to a natural state. BAS reviewed the TPWD plan for the area and made comments. Pipes Drafts Endangered Species Position Paper Richard Pipes has drafted a position paper for BAS on the Endangred Species Act (ESA) and its reauthorization. This paper is presently undergoing review by BAS Board members. BAS Expresses Outrage About "God Squad" Overruling of ESA Provisions in Northwest BAS board and conservation committee members were displeased at recent rulings by the "God Squad," which acted to override the ESA concerning the Spotted Owl, authorizing the cutting of oldgrowth forest acreage in the Northwest. The credibility of the U.S. at the Earth Summit is surely compromised by such an action that affects one of the final stands of temperate rain forest in our country. Endangered SpeciesBurning the Books and Removing Threads from the Tapestry? The Nature Conservancy met in San Antonio a couple of weeks ago at the Witte . The Nature Conservancy purchases and preserves critical habitat for wildlife and endangered species. Two prominent conservationists, John Sawhill, president of the organization, and Dr. Michael Robinson, director of the National Zoolo ical Park, were featured Auduben Convention, Washingbn, D.C. as speakers. Their themes centered on species and man's impact on the earth's environment. The loss of species (estimated by some as well over 100,000 annually, is proceeding at an unprecedented rate, largely due to the rapid destruction of tropical rain forests and other tropical areas, where 99 percent of the world's species exist. The earth's environments cannot be considered isolated entities, however. A prime example is the rapid recent decline in songbirds' numbers in the U.S., due to deforestation and loss of wintering habitat in the tropics. In addition, a wealth of untapped resources that many species offer is being lost forever. A tropical periwinkle has given us vincristine and binlastine, potent cancer-fighting drugs, and where would we be without aspirin, discovered in the tropical willow bark, or digoxin, a life-saving plant-produced cardiac I REDUCE • REUSE • RECYCLE • REDUCE • REUSE • RECYCLE • REDUCE • REUSE I Page3 glycoside, and a host of other plant- and animal-derived drugs and other products? The loss of so many species was likened to the burning of books without ever having read them. Sawhill compares species loss to the loss of threads from a beautiful tapestry, all of which are interconnected. You can get away for a while with removing threads here and there, but eventually the tapestry will lose its structure and begin to disintegrate. Of course, the Earth's threads are irreplaceable. But far-away tropical areas do not contain the world's only endangered species and habitat. The U.S. has about 620 species listed as endangered or threatened. In Texas, 45 species are listed as endangered, with many more pending listing, and more than 300 Texas species are considered threatened. Unfortunately, the list of extinct or exterminated Texas species is also considerable, and growing. We learned on our San Marcos Springs outing last month about some of the aquatic species dependent on the Springs. Dr. Tom Arsuffi informed us that the San Marcos gambusia is now considered extinct, after unsuccessful searches for a remaining population for several years. There is a massive campaign underway to weaken and perhaps destroy the only official tool to protect our endangered species, the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The ESA makes it possible to take some measures to protect endangered species, such as the Peregrine Falcon, Whooping Crane, and many others. Obviously it is not working perfectly, or we would not see species continue to "go down the tubes." In its nineteen year history, it has not, as some would claim, "hindered development and interfered with private property rights in favor of worthless species." (There are known examples of landowners destroying endangered plant or animal populations without penalty.) It has, however, made it necessary to consider the impact on such species prior to proceeding with some projects. And it has made it a federal offense to interfere with or destroy listed species. The ESA will need our help to survive as a viable tool. Educate others about the value and realities of the ESA. Write letters to your representatives, government committees, and federal departments to support the ESA. Ask your representatives to cosponsor and support H.R. 4045, "The Endangered Species Act Amendments of 1992," (Rep. Gerry Studds, 0-MA), a bill to reauthorize and strengthen the ESA. If we lose this battle, Texas birding, the richest in the country, will lose some of its excitement; endangered species recovery programs will lapse; and many more species will be lost. Shall we continue to burn the books before they are read . and how long will the tapestry stay intact? -Jim Garriott B1RDATHON Nets 127 Species in Corpus Christi Count BIRDATHON was held the weekend of May 2nd. Six members birded the Rockport-Corpus Christi area from 9 am t Saturday through 9 am Sunday (minus a very few hours t of shut-eye Saturday night). Several other members . conducted individual counts in the San Antonio area. t. The coastal outing netted a group total of 127 species, with individual members of the group each spotting 95 to 99 percent of the total. While some loca- BEXAR TRACKS, June 1992 ~ tions gave far fewer species than expected, others were real "hot spots," especially Packery Channel Park in Corpus. Here we caught a "fall-out" of migrants, including several vireo species, warblers, thrushes, yellow-headed blackbirds, orioles, and rosebreasted grosbeaks. I think all of us saw at least one "life" bird on the count, which added to the enthusiasm of the spotters. Thanks are due to Rex Wahl, manager of the Audubon Texas Coastal Island Sanctuaries, and to the local birders he recruited to guide us through their areas. Our species count would not have been nearly so high without their assistance. Special thanks to Rex for the side trip he provided to Marge Flandermeyer and Leslie Linehan on Sunday. We toured several of the nesting islands in Corpus Christi Bay by boat. What a truly astonishing spectacle we witnessed, with hundreds of brown pelicans, egrets, herons, gulls, and terns courting and raising young only feet from the boat. It was like being in the middle of an Audubon TV special. These islands are a resource to be treasured and protected. Pledges from BIRDATHON are still being collected, but without your help we may fall short of our goal. To make your donation of whatever size is comfortable for you, contact Leslie Linehan, BIRDATHON Chairperson, 558-6594, or Betty Minyard, Treasurer, 344-6128 - or send your contribu-t. 78209. tion to Bexar Audubon, PO Box 6084, San Antonio, TX t Our education programs are supported by the BIRDATHON fund-raiser. Help us support t Audubon Adventures for even more classrooms · next year- or remain at least even- by sending your tax-deductible BIRDATHON donation today. Many children will be helped to appreciate nature and will learn how to protect and cherish the world around them through your generosity. -Leslie Linehan National Audubon Society Chapter Membership Application 0 Yes, I'd like to join. Please enroll me as a member of the National Audubon Society and of my local chapter, Bexar Audubon Society. Please send Audubon magazine, Bexar Tracks, and my membership card to the address below. 0 A $20 check for my introductory membership is enclosed. 0 I think an Audubon Society membership is a great gift. Send gift memberships to my friends and family listed separately ($20 each). NAME __________________________ ~ --- ADDRESS --- CITY/STATE/ZIP ________________________ _ PHONE ______________________________ _ Make all checks payable to the National Audubon Society. Send this form and your check to: Bexar Audubon Society P.O.Box 6084, San Antonio, TX 78209 ~ --- wrg --- 1 i Local Chapter j L __ 5:~:_!_~-~---J fij BEXAR TRACKS, June 1992 Education Report - Another Addition to Our Video Collection We have received a new video, The Rain Forest Imperative, produced by Conservation International. Along with the 25-minute tape is a discussion and activity guide. It is felt that it should be viewed and discussed by high school and college students and interested adults. Contact Betty Minyard, Education Chair, 344-6128, for information about any of our education programs. Remember that the BAS video library is available to teachers or other groups for educational purposes. There is no charge to use the videos, and we deliver and pick up. A free list of videos will be sent on request. Can I Make a Difference? The next time you wonder whether your letter or telegram to your elected official makes a difference, remember these figures. Washington ?taffers say 8 to 12 letters - especially personal ones, although form letters, petitions, and postcards are also read -are enough to alert the staff that the issue is one of concern and interest to the constituency and that the representative had best come up to speed on it. So, keep those cards and letters pouring in on the issues that make a difference to our world. For some more numbers, a recent study by the Capital Research Center of Washington, DC, indicates that the top 10 environmental organizations have a combined membership of over 7.5 million people. Thanks to Our Volunteers This month's reports are full of thanks to BAS volunteers. Here are more. Anita Reeves, Tatjana Terauds, Walter Barfield, and Betty Minyard helped get out the May newsletter, as well as the BIRDATHON Nature Walk materials, delivered the next day by Barb DeLuca and Betty Minyard. Thanks to Dick Pipes for bringing chocolate-chip cookies to the May meeting. Page4 Keeping Track Walter Barfield manned a table at the Neighbors for '90s Conference June 6 - inside -while Betty Minyard and Susan Hughes tried to support a table at the San Antonio Zoo Conservation Day outdoors. They were rained out. Thanks anyway. 1-800-453-SMOG-The Chance We've Been Waiting For Choking on the freeway from some noxious blue fumes? Disgusted by the load of particulates some vehicle or other is spewing into the air? Feel helpless to do anything about it? Well, no longer. Call 1-800-453-SMOG and report the offending vehicle by providing its license number, as weil as the time and location at which you saw it. The state will then write the owner a letter suggesting that their vehicle may be in violation of safety and operational standards. J' .I ]'hooping Cranes W'f' Suffered from Drought The fall 1991 issue of the Endangered Species Technical Bulletin reported that "a second year of drought in the Northwest Territories, Canada, has taken its toll on whooping crane ch'ick numbers, discouraging nesting even by experienced pairs and making eggs and hatchlings more accessible to predators." Master Plan Meetings Concluded The Citizen Workshops on the Master Plan for San Antonio have been concluded. If you need additional information about the plan or the process, please contact the San Antonio Planning Department at 299- 7941. The draft plan is expected in early September, and will undergo review, revision, and comment during the fall. Don't Bag It! Every day when I walk in my neighborhood - and especially on the weekends - I see why the statistic indicating the amount of solid waste that is attributable to lawn waste is so high. Total solid waste in the Fort Worth area typically increases 20 to 25 percent from May to September - primarily because of bagged grass clippings. San Antonio is believed to be similar. The "Dont't Bag It Program" is "a system of lawncare which requires slightly more frequent mowing and a prescribed schedule of water and fertilizer. Results of a survey of demonstrators revealed that total mowing time was reduced by 30 percent, even though they mowed more frequently (an average of five tmes a month, rather than four) simply because of not bagging the clippings . 184 demonstrators saved the space of approximately 25,000 bags of grass clippings which did not go into the landfill during the summer." If you don't want to use the "Don't Bag It" program for some reason, at least consider a compost pile. Composting is quick and easy and provides really rich soil nutrients. For more information on "Don't Bag It," contact the San Antonio Men's Garden Club (337-6428) or Bexar County Agricultural Extension Service office (220-2774). As for watering your lawn, water as seldom as necessary to keep your grass healthy. If your grass is wilted in the morning, it's probably time to water. Do not water in the evenings. Use only as much water as is required to thoroughly soak however much topsoil you have. And, give serious thought to a xeriscape conversion. •.• ~;};;~ii"iti!~ AUDUBON COLLECTION JOHN J. AU[>lJBON l7S~- l~ l SEfl.AND FAl.(;QN AUDUBON BLANC CALIFORNIA WHITE WINE f>f( ()(>U<:f.tl &/. SOTI1.Ef• BY AU( >UBON •:fl.lARS. BERKE.I.EY. CA ALCOHOL 12.4'!1. HY VOLUME • CO NTAJNS SULFITE$ Page5 'fMTant to Protect 1'1' Antarctica? You or your child can draw a small poster with the caption, "Make Antarctica a World Park.," and send it to President George Bush. l"'fommunitg Recycling ~Center Changes Name, Management After 20 years, the Community Recycling Center - the most complete recycling collection center in San Antonio - has gone on its own. It's in the same place, but it's now known as the Recycling Collection Center of San Antonio. Thanks to St. Margaret Mary's School, Wood Industries, Beautify San Antonio Association, and Keep San Antonio Beautiful, who sponsored or co-sponsored the center in the years prior to this news. The purposes of the center are to operate recycling center(s); conserve energy, natural resources, and landfill space; to provide service opportunities for students and adults; provide employment opportunities; and establish scholarships for student volunteers. The Center is located at Fair and Goliad. Did You Know? Did you know that one of the many misnomers in nature is the name we give to the Texas Mountain Laurel? The Texas Mountain Laurel is a member of the legume (or bean) family, and not the lau rel family. Its binomial or scientific name is Sophora secundiflora. Many of us appreciate this hardy native evergreen with its showy clusters of usually lavender and occasionally white flowers. It can be a natural and attractive ornamental as part of a xeriscape. The lovely spring flowers are very aromatic, reminiscent of grape KoolAid, and are attractive to bees. The Texas Mountain Laurel has other colorful, common names, such as mescal bean, coral bean, frijollito, and big drunk bean. Although lovely, it can be deadly. The hard red seeds ground into a powder and mixed with mescal liquor were used by ancient native Texans supposedly to induce visions in ritual ceremonies, as far back as about 8,000 BC. Later, the much milder peyote cactus replaced the mescal bean in native religious ceremonies. The red seeds were used as trade items by native Americans and were worn as amulets with supposed magical properties. It is said that the leader of the Native American Church wears a "coral bean" necklace as a symbol of his authority. -Allen Perry BEXAR TRACKS, June 1992 fij lliere to write or call? President George W. Bush • 202-456-1414 The White House• Washington, DC 20500 The Honorable Lloyd Bentsen • 202-224-5922 730 Hart Senate Bldg. • Washington, DC 20510 The Honorable Phil Gramm • 202-224-2934 370 Russell Senate Bldg. • Washington, DC 20510 The Honorable Albert Bustamante, District 23 202-225-4511 • FAX 202-225-3849 1116 Longworth House Bldg.•Washington, DC 20515 727 E. Durango • San Antonio, TX 78206 • 229-6191 The Honorable Kika De La Garza, District IS 202-225-2531 • FAX 202-225-2533 1401 Longworth House Bldg.•Washington, DC 20515 The Honorable Henry B. Gonzalez, District 20 202-225-3236 • FAX 202-225-1915 2413 Rayburn House Bldg.•Washington, DC 20515 727 E. Durango • San Antonio, TX 78206 • 229-6195 The Honorable Greg Laughlin, District 14 202-225-2831 1033 Longworth House Bldg.•Washington, DC 20515 The Honorable Lamar Smith, District 21 202-225-4236 • FAX 202-225-8628 509 Cannon House Office Bldg.•Washington, DC 20515 10010 San Pedro • San Antonio, TX 78216 • 229-5880 Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121 -r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r When you contact your national elected officials, send a copy to NAS headquarters, 950 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10022. Let BAS know when you act on local issues. The association monitors member concern and support and "reminds" officials about their constituents' opinions. Collector: LITTER INVENTORY Location: Mail your inventory forms to Walter Barfield, Bexar Audubon Society, PO Box 6084 San Antonio, TX 78209. An · questions? Call Walter at 736-0355. Soft Drink Soft Drink! Plastic Fast DATE Beer Can Beer Bottle Can Juice Bottle Bottle Cup Food Bag Other ~ BEXAR TRACKS, June 1992 Calendar- June 11 BAS Board Meeting. 7:30pm. Call Betty Minyard for location. 344-6128. 12 UN Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, comes to a close. 13-19 Act for Wildlife in '92: Endangered Species Need You!- NASconvention in Washington, DC. 13-19 Quadripartite conference on migratory birds. Middlebury College, Vermont. 14 *Canyonland songbird hike, Hill Country State Natural Area near Bandera. 512-796-4413 14 *Bird-watching tour focusing on the black-capped vireo and other endangered species, Colorado Bend State Park near Bend. 915-628-3240. 15 Summer WILD! Week Ecology Camps continue at Friedrich Wilderness Park. Call 698-1057 for more information. 15 Design an Exhibit - youth program. San Antonio Zoo. 1:30-3:30 pm. Ages 7- 11. Members $8, non -members $11. Call 734-7184, ext. 168 or 113. 18 BAS Conservation Committee Meeting. Ruble Center, 419 E. Magnolia, 6 pm. Call Dick Pipes, 1-512-569-2452. All members & interested people invited. 18 BAS General Meeting- Ruth Lofgren on Mitchell Lake. At the Ruble Center, 419 E. Magnolia, 7 pm. Call Nathan Ratner, 826- 4462. Free & open to the public 19-21 Carrying Capacity Network National Issues Conference. Washington, DC. 20 Outing toCunsight Mountain Ranch in Tarpley. Meet at 7:45am. See page 1 for details. 20 *Bat emergence tour, Old Tunnel WMA near Fredericksburg, 512-896-2500. 21 *Native plants tour, Hill Country State Natural Area near Bandera, 512-796-4413. 22 Get Crafty at the Zoo -youth program. 1:30- 3:30. Ages 10-13. Members $10, non-members $15. Call 734-7184, ext. 168 or 113. 23 Native Plant Society. Lions Field Clubhouse. 7-9 pm. Betty Hughes, 821-5143. 27 *Texas tortise and Texas horned lizard tour, Chaparral WMA, Dimmit and LaSalle Counties, 512-676-3413. 27 "Gardens by Moonlight." Botanical Center. 7-10 pm. Call Betty Hughes, 821-5143. 27 Developing Effective Electoral Skills - A Workshop for Concerned Citizens . Americans for the Environment. South Austin Multi-Purpose Center. $15 ($30 for political candidates and staffs). Call Mary Ann Neely, 512-474-0605. 27-28 Aransas Shoreline Protection Project. Call512-991-1443. 30 Xeriscape. Holmes High School. 7-9 pm. $5. Call Kathy, 228-0417. July 19-24 NAS Population Lobby Week. Washington, DC. Tanya Thomas, 202-547-9009. 9 BAS Board Meeting. 11 "Co Batty- Amazing Mammals of the Night." Second Saturday. Friedrich Wilderness Park. 9 pm. 698-1057. 16 BAS Conservation Committee Meeting. Ruble Center, 419 E. Magnolia, 6 pm. Call Dick Pipes, 1-512"569 ~2452. All members & interested people invited. 16 BAS General Meeting- San Antonio's Solid Wastes. At the Ruble Center, 419 E. Magnolia, 7 pm. Call Nathan Ratner, 826-4462. Free & open to the public. August 8 "Stargazing." Second Saturday. Friedrich Wilderness Park. 9 pm. 698-1057. 20 NO BAS General Meeting in August. See the July newsletter for information on date, place, and time of the annual BAS planning meeting. Page6 September BAS General Meeting. Tom Arsuffiis res<: bedul¢d to talk about Endangered ··· .·si)fillgs Ecosystems. 19 7th Annual Texas Coastal Cleanup. October 4 Ornithology Croup of Houston pelagic trip out of Port Aransas on the 80-foot Scat-Cat. Departs 5:30 am and returns 6:30 pm. For birders only. $40 per person. Call Brandford at 713-855-2615. 8-9 "Ethics in Environmental Communication." National Association of Professional Environmental Communicators Conference. Chicago. 312-661-1721. Ongoing *The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department offers nature activities too numerous to list here. Buy your annual Texas Conservation Passport for $25 to invest in Texas and its natural resources, and get free entrance to parks, a discount on overnight facilities, and naturalist-guided tours on wildlife management ar eas and state parks - some not regularly open to the public. Also receive a quarterly calendar of activities and a discount on Texas Parks & Wildlife Magazine. In Texas, call 1-800- 937-9393. Every Thursday, 1 pm, San Antonio City Council meetings, City Hall. Fourth Tuesdays, 5-6 pm, Open Space Advisory Board meets, City Hall (call to confirm location). San Antonio Light CreenLine offers environmental tips & event reminders 24 hours a day at 512-554-0500, category 7220. National Audubon Society's Actionline -a weekly update of environmental news. Dial 202-547-9009 and ask for the Actionline; after hours, press 4 when the line answers. For status of federal bills, call Legislative Information & Bill Status, 202-225-1772. OFFICERS AND BOARD Walter Barfield Marge Flandenueyer Betty Minyard President Vice President 736-0355 684-2668 344-6128 653-2860 651-6054 226-6808 696-6868 824-8199 BEXAR AUDUBON SOCIETY P.O. BOX 6084 NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID Caryl Swann Audrey Cooper Ronald "Rusty" Guyer Susan K. Hughes Thelma Nungesser Richard Pipes Treasurer Secretary Board Member Board Member Board Member Board Member Board Member 1-512-569-2452 COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS Conservation Richard Pipes l-512-569-2452 Education Betty Minyard 344-6128 Finance Membership Thelma Nungesser 824-8199 Outings Marge Flandermeyer 684-2668 Programs Nathan Ratner 826-4462 Publicity Christina O'Connell 308-0959 Bexar Tracks Editor Susan K. Hughes 696-6868 PO flox 690028, San Antonio, TX 78269-0028•FAX G9G-S053 The eclil or beli ev es the information in this publictltion to be ., Hccurate a:-> of Jun e ~- We welcome contributions of interest lo (X}(\ \.1 members. Any submission may be edited. ~0 Printed on acid-free SO percent recycled paper (2.1 0 pe rcent post-consumer wast e). using soy-based ink. SAN ANTONIO, TX 78209 Address Correction Requested SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS Permit No. 590 |
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Bexar Audubon Society |
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Bexar Audubon Society |
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Bexar Audubon Society |
title |
Bexar tracks : the newsletter of the Bexar Audubon Society, Vol. 10, No. 06 |
title_short |
Bexar tracks : the newsletter of the Bexar Audubon Society, Vol. 10, No. 06 |
title_full |
Bexar tracks : the newsletter of the Bexar Audubon Society, Vol. 10, No. 06 |
title_fullStr |
Bexar tracks : the newsletter of the Bexar Audubon Society, Vol. 10, No. 06 |
title_full_unstemmed |
Bexar tracks : the newsletter of the Bexar Audubon Society, Vol. 10, No. 06 |
title_sort |
bexar tracks : the newsletter of the bexar audubon society, vol. 10, no. 06 |
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San Antonio, Tex. : Bexar Audubon Society, |
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1992 |
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Audrey Austin Bandera Canada Gonzalez Marcos Northwest Territories Reeves Swann |
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Audrey Austin Bandera Canada Gonzalez Marcos Northwest Territories Reeves Swann |
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Antarc* Antarctica Northwest Territories peregrine falcon |
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Antarc* Antarctica Northwest Territories peregrine falcon |
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ftutexasanantodc:oai:digital.utsa.edu:p15125coll10/8152 2023-05-15T13:53:08+02:00 Bexar tracks : the newsletter of the Bexar Audubon Society, Vol. 10, No. 06 Bexar Audubon Society 2012-07-02 1992-06 pdf Periodicals http://digital.utsa.edu/cdm/ref/collection/p15125coll10/id/8152 eng eng San Antonio, Tex. : Bexar Audubon Society, University of Texas at San Antonio https://utsa.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/fulldisplay?docid=alma9926776313904621&context=L&vid=01UTXSANT_INST:DEFAULT&search_scope=MyInstitution&tab=LibraryCatalog&lang=en Newsletter (Bexar Audubon Society) QL684.T4 B49 http://digital.utsa.edu/cdm/ref/collection/p15125coll10/id/8152 https://lib.utsa.edu/specialcollections/reproductions/copyright Birds--Conservation--Texas--Periodicals. Ornithology--Texas--Periodicals. Nature conservation--Texas--Periodicals Clubs and Organizations Science and Technology text 1992 ftutexasanantodc 2019-02-19T18:10:25Z Bexar Tracks began with Vol. 4, no. 1 (January 1986). It continues Newsletter (Bexar Audubon Society). 512-822-4503 JUNE 1992 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. Inside Tracks • Conservation Committee activities report • Endangered Species Act • BIRDATHON update • Don't Bag It! • Mountain laurel lore • Litter inventory form • Can I make a difference? •1-800-453-SMOG • Recycling center changes • BAS volunteers at it again • Washington address list • A busy summer calendar BAS Member Activities Mitchell Lake Headlines June Meeting At our regular monthly meeting on Thursday, June 18, at the Ruble Center, 419 E. Magnolia, the . -~- ~ ® speaker will be Ruth Lofgren, who has played a piv-otal role in the city's joint efforts with community organizatiqns to recognize Mitchell Lake not only as a prime spot for birding, but also as a valuable wetlands site worthy of significant enhancement and protection. Come for a half-hour of fellowship at 7 pm, fo ll owed by the program. Meetings conclude by 9 pm and are open to the public at no charge. Learn more about the Mitchell Lake enhancement plans -what's the schedule - and what lies in ::.~·-.~.; ·~ ,.~""::. . store for us at this interesting spot that is making its . ~. · comeback from years of misunderstanding and dis-repute. Come to the meeting, and bring a friend! Gunsight Mountain Outing President's Letter Our June outing will take us to Gunsight Mountain Ranch at Tarpley. We will meet at Jim's at Bandera and Loop 410 at 7:45 am, Saturday, June 20, and then caravan to the ranch. We will tour the ranch on a 31/2 mile walk and finish with a picnic lunch. (Please bring your own lunch and beverages.) The focus of the trip will be plant identification and communing with nature. For more information and to make reservations, contact Marge Flandermeyer, 684-2668. You may also sign up for the trip at our June meeting. Enjoy Nature. Get Out. One of Bexar Audubon's primary goals is to provide environmental education to the community. In this regard, May was a busy month. This year's BIRDATHON took place May 2nd, and the Bexar Audubon spotters did their count along the Texas coast near Rockport. I want to thank all the spotters who participated in this year's event, including Ellie and Mark Eakin, Marge Flandermeyer, Doris French, Patty Leslie, Les lie Linehan, Betty Minyard, Thelma Nungesser, and Susan Rust. The funds generated by these spotters and their contributors will help Bexar Audubon sponsor the Audubon Adventures classrooms for 1992-93. In 1991-92 Bexar Audubon sponsored 61 classrooms. Nationwide, Audubon Adventures reached 552,000 students, according to the National Audubon Society. If you would like to make a contribution to support our Audubon Adventures program or BIRDATHON, please contact Betty Minyard, 334-6128. This year Bexar Audubon developed our own version of BIRDATHON for elementary schools, the BIRDATHON ~ BEXAR TRACKS, June 1992 Page2 Bexar Facts A HAS Update President's Letter, continued Nature Walk. This program was generated by Betty Minyard and the very hard work of Susan Hughes. Susan organized the materials and resources and secured sponsors for printing expenses. The result has been a terrific success. These materials have reached 4,000 elementary school students with a bird identification sheet that is both fun and educational. We have received excellent publicity on this program from both local newspapers and excited responses from participating teachers. Thanks are also due to Barb DeLuca, Betty Minyard, and Anita Reeves for distributing these materials. Our main speaker for the May general meeting was unable to attend due to the inclement weather of May 21st [severe weather conditions existed between San Marcos and San Antonio]. Our program chair, Nathan Ratner. and Susan Rust developed a very interesting program for that evening, however, and with very short notice. Those who attended the meeting had a chance to review and comment on a new video from Conservation International concerning rainforest destruction and the many aspects surrounding this issue. Attendees' comments on this video may be added to lesson plans Bexar Audubon will send to teachers interested in using this material. This video is just one of many Bexar Audubon makes available to teachers or others wishing to borrow them for educational purposes. Our field trip to San Marcos Springs on May 23rd was a great success. We had 15 people in attendance, and Dr. Arsuffi pointed out some of the endangered species present in the San Marcos River, as well as some of the changes which have caused these species to become endangered. Our group also got to see (and in some cases pet) Ralph the Swimming Pig. Always a new adventure on an Audubon field trip. - Walter G. Barfield •JJ1~Jt~b;·~Jffw~Jffk·~fft~·~ba~c~%~·%e· ~ MQiiW! Conservation Committee Activities The BAS Conservation Committee meeting is now held at 6 pm at the Ruble Center- one hour in advance of the regular monthly meeting of BAS. Please come to learn more about the critical crucial issues facing us and to lend ~ hand. More subcommittee members are needed to share the load of tracking issues on a local, regional, national, and international level. To be specific, the Conservation Committee needs YOU. For more information contact Richard Pipes, BAS Conservation Committee chair, at 1-512-569-2452. Barfield Responds to TPWD Big Bend Ranch State Natural Area Plan Bexar Audubon has commended the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department for its efforts that culminated in the acquisition of the Big Bend Ranch property - a unique opportunity to restore a whole ecosystem to a natural state. BAS reviewed the TPWD plan for the area and made comments. Pipes Drafts Endangered Species Position Paper Richard Pipes has drafted a position paper for BAS on the Endangred Species Act (ESA) and its reauthorization. This paper is presently undergoing review by BAS Board members. BAS Expresses Outrage About "God Squad" Overruling of ESA Provisions in Northwest BAS board and conservation committee members were displeased at recent rulings by the "God Squad," which acted to override the ESA concerning the Spotted Owl, authorizing the cutting of oldgrowth forest acreage in the Northwest. The credibility of the U.S. at the Earth Summit is surely compromised by such an action that affects one of the final stands of temperate rain forest in our country. Endangered SpeciesBurning the Books and Removing Threads from the Tapestry? The Nature Conservancy met in San Antonio a couple of weeks ago at the Witte . The Nature Conservancy purchases and preserves critical habitat for wildlife and endangered species. Two prominent conservationists, John Sawhill, president of the organization, and Dr. Michael Robinson, director of the National Zoolo ical Park, were featured Auduben Convention, Washingbn, D.C. as speakers. Their themes centered on species and man's impact on the earth's environment. The loss of species (estimated by some as well over 100,000 annually, is proceeding at an unprecedented rate, largely due to the rapid destruction of tropical rain forests and other tropical areas, where 99 percent of the world's species exist. The earth's environments cannot be considered isolated entities, however. A prime example is the rapid recent decline in songbirds' numbers in the U.S., due to deforestation and loss of wintering habitat in the tropics. In addition, a wealth of untapped resources that many species offer is being lost forever. A tropical periwinkle has given us vincristine and binlastine, potent cancer-fighting drugs, and where would we be without aspirin, discovered in the tropical willow bark, or digoxin, a life-saving plant-produced cardiac I REDUCE • REUSE • RECYCLE • REDUCE • REUSE • RECYCLE • REDUCE • REUSE I Page3 glycoside, and a host of other plant- and animal-derived drugs and other products? The loss of so many species was likened to the burning of books without ever having read them. Sawhill compares species loss to the loss of threads from a beautiful tapestry, all of which are interconnected. You can get away for a while with removing threads here and there, but eventually the tapestry will lose its structure and begin to disintegrate. Of course, the Earth's threads are irreplaceable. But far-away tropical areas do not contain the world's only endangered species and habitat. The U.S. has about 620 species listed as endangered or threatened. In Texas, 45 species are listed as endangered, with many more pending listing, and more than 300 Texas species are considered threatened. Unfortunately, the list of extinct or exterminated Texas species is also considerable, and growing. We learned on our San Marcos Springs outing last month about some of the aquatic species dependent on the Springs. Dr. Tom Arsuffi informed us that the San Marcos gambusia is now considered extinct, after unsuccessful searches for a remaining population for several years. There is a massive campaign underway to weaken and perhaps destroy the only official tool to protect our endangered species, the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The ESA makes it possible to take some measures to protect endangered species, such as the Peregrine Falcon, Whooping Crane, and many others. Obviously it is not working perfectly, or we would not see species continue to "go down the tubes." In its nineteen year history, it has not, as some would claim, "hindered development and interfered with private property rights in favor of worthless species." (There are known examples of landowners destroying endangered plant or animal populations without penalty.) It has, however, made it necessary to consider the impact on such species prior to proceeding with some projects. And it has made it a federal offense to interfere with or destroy listed species. The ESA will need our help to survive as a viable tool. Educate others about the value and realities of the ESA. Write letters to your representatives, government committees, and federal departments to support the ESA. Ask your representatives to cosponsor and support H.R. 4045, "The Endangered Species Act Amendments of 1992," (Rep. Gerry Studds, 0-MA), a bill to reauthorize and strengthen the ESA. If we lose this battle, Texas birding, the richest in the country, will lose some of its excitement; endangered species recovery programs will lapse; and many more species will be lost. Shall we continue to burn the books before they are read . and how long will the tapestry stay intact? -Jim Garriott B1RDATHON Nets 127 Species in Corpus Christi Count BIRDATHON was held the weekend of May 2nd. Six members birded the Rockport-Corpus Christi area from 9 am t Saturday through 9 am Sunday (minus a very few hours t of shut-eye Saturday night). Several other members . conducted individual counts in the San Antonio area. t. The coastal outing netted a group total of 127 species, with individual members of the group each spotting 95 to 99 percent of the total. While some loca- BEXAR TRACKS, June 1992 ~ tions gave far fewer species than expected, others were real "hot spots," especially Packery Channel Park in Corpus. Here we caught a "fall-out" of migrants, including several vireo species, warblers, thrushes, yellow-headed blackbirds, orioles, and rosebreasted grosbeaks. I think all of us saw at least one "life" bird on the count, which added to the enthusiasm of the spotters. Thanks are due to Rex Wahl, manager of the Audubon Texas Coastal Island Sanctuaries, and to the local birders he recruited to guide us through their areas. Our species count would not have been nearly so high without their assistance. Special thanks to Rex for the side trip he provided to Marge Flandermeyer and Leslie Linehan on Sunday. We toured several of the nesting islands in Corpus Christi Bay by boat. What a truly astonishing spectacle we witnessed, with hundreds of brown pelicans, egrets, herons, gulls, and terns courting and raising young only feet from the boat. It was like being in the middle of an Audubon TV special. These islands are a resource to be treasured and protected. Pledges from BIRDATHON are still being collected, but without your help we may fall short of our goal. To make your donation of whatever size is comfortable for you, contact Leslie Linehan, BIRDATHON Chairperson, 558-6594, or Betty Minyard, Treasurer, 344-6128 - or send your contribu-t. 78209. tion to Bexar Audubon, PO Box 6084, San Antonio, TX t Our education programs are supported by the BIRDATHON fund-raiser. Help us support t Audubon Adventures for even more classrooms · next year- or remain at least even- by sending your tax-deductible BIRDATHON donation today. Many children will be helped to appreciate nature and will learn how to protect and cherish the world around them through your generosity. -Leslie Linehan National Audubon Society Chapter Membership Application 0 Yes, I'd like to join. Please enroll me as a member of the National Audubon Society and of my local chapter, Bexar Audubon Society. Please send Audubon magazine, Bexar Tracks, and my membership card to the address below. 0 A $20 check for my introductory membership is enclosed. 0 I think an Audubon Society membership is a great gift. Send gift memberships to my friends and family listed separately ($20 each). NAME __________________________ ~ --- ADDRESS --- CITY/STATE/ZIP ________________________ _ PHONE ______________________________ _ Make all checks payable to the National Audubon Society. Send this form and your check to: Bexar Audubon Society P.O.Box 6084, San Antonio, TX 78209 ~ --- wrg --- 1 i Local Chapter j L __ 5:~:_!_~-~---J fij BEXAR TRACKS, June 1992 Education Report - Another Addition to Our Video Collection We have received a new video, The Rain Forest Imperative, produced by Conservation International. Along with the 25-minute tape is a discussion and activity guide. It is felt that it should be viewed and discussed by high school and college students and interested adults. Contact Betty Minyard, Education Chair, 344-6128, for information about any of our education programs. Remember that the BAS video library is available to teachers or other groups for educational purposes. There is no charge to use the videos, and we deliver and pick up. A free list of videos will be sent on request. Can I Make a Difference? The next time you wonder whether your letter or telegram to your elected official makes a difference, remember these figures. Washington ?taffers say 8 to 12 letters - especially personal ones, although form letters, petitions, and postcards are also read -are enough to alert the staff that the issue is one of concern and interest to the constituency and that the representative had best come up to speed on it. So, keep those cards and letters pouring in on the issues that make a difference to our world. For some more numbers, a recent study by the Capital Research Center of Washington, DC, indicates that the top 10 environmental organizations have a combined membership of over 7.5 million people. Thanks to Our Volunteers This month's reports are full of thanks to BAS volunteers. Here are more. Anita Reeves, Tatjana Terauds, Walter Barfield, and Betty Minyard helped get out the May newsletter, as well as the BIRDATHON Nature Walk materials, delivered the next day by Barb DeLuca and Betty Minyard. Thanks to Dick Pipes for bringing chocolate-chip cookies to the May meeting. Page4 Keeping Track Walter Barfield manned a table at the Neighbors for '90s Conference June 6 - inside -while Betty Minyard and Susan Hughes tried to support a table at the San Antonio Zoo Conservation Day outdoors. They were rained out. Thanks anyway. 1-800-453-SMOG-The Chance We've Been Waiting For Choking on the freeway from some noxious blue fumes? Disgusted by the load of particulates some vehicle or other is spewing into the air? Feel helpless to do anything about it? Well, no longer. Call 1-800-453-SMOG and report the offending vehicle by providing its license number, as weil as the time and location at which you saw it. The state will then write the owner a letter suggesting that their vehicle may be in violation of safety and operational standards. J' .I ]'hooping Cranes W'f' Suffered from Drought The fall 1991 issue of the Endangered Species Technical Bulletin reported that "a second year of drought in the Northwest Territories, Canada, has taken its toll on whooping crane ch'ick numbers, discouraging nesting even by experienced pairs and making eggs and hatchlings more accessible to predators." Master Plan Meetings Concluded The Citizen Workshops on the Master Plan for San Antonio have been concluded. If you need additional information about the plan or the process, please contact the San Antonio Planning Department at 299- 7941. The draft plan is expected in early September, and will undergo review, revision, and comment during the fall. Don't Bag It! Every day when I walk in my neighborhood - and especially on the weekends - I see why the statistic indicating the amount of solid waste that is attributable to lawn waste is so high. Total solid waste in the Fort Worth area typically increases 20 to 25 percent from May to September - primarily because of bagged grass clippings. San Antonio is believed to be similar. The "Dont't Bag It Program" is "a system of lawncare which requires slightly more frequent mowing and a prescribed schedule of water and fertilizer. Results of a survey of demonstrators revealed that total mowing time was reduced by 30 percent, even though they mowed more frequently (an average of five tmes a month, rather than four) simply because of not bagging the clippings . 184 demonstrators saved the space of approximately 25,000 bags of grass clippings which did not go into the landfill during the summer." If you don't want to use the "Don't Bag It" program for some reason, at least consider a compost pile. Composting is quick and easy and provides really rich soil nutrients. For more information on "Don't Bag It," contact the San Antonio Men's Garden Club (337-6428) or Bexar County Agricultural Extension Service office (220-2774). As for watering your lawn, water as seldom as necessary to keep your grass healthy. If your grass is wilted in the morning, it's probably time to water. Do not water in the evenings. Use only as much water as is required to thoroughly soak however much topsoil you have. And, give serious thought to a xeriscape conversion. •.• ~;};;~ii"iti!~ AUDUBON COLLECTION JOHN J. AU[>lJBON l7S~- l~ l SEfl.AND FAl.(;QN AUDUBON BLANC CALIFORNIA WHITE WINE f>f( ()(>U<:f.tl &/. SOTI1.Ef• BY AU( >UBON •:fl.lARS. BERKE.I.EY. CA ALCOHOL 12.4'!1. HY VOLUME • CO NTAJNS SULFITE$ Page5 'fMTant to Protect 1'1' Antarctica? You or your child can draw a small poster with the caption, "Make Antarctica a World Park.," and send it to President George Bush. l"'fommunitg Recycling ~Center Changes Name, Management After 20 years, the Community Recycling Center - the most complete recycling collection center in San Antonio - has gone on its own. It's in the same place, but it's now known as the Recycling Collection Center of San Antonio. Thanks to St. Margaret Mary's School, Wood Industries, Beautify San Antonio Association, and Keep San Antonio Beautiful, who sponsored or co-sponsored the center in the years prior to this news. The purposes of the center are to operate recycling center(s); conserve energy, natural resources, and landfill space; to provide service opportunities for students and adults; provide employment opportunities; and establish scholarships for student volunteers. The Center is located at Fair and Goliad. Did You Know? Did you know that one of the many misnomers in nature is the name we give to the Texas Mountain Laurel? The Texas Mountain Laurel is a member of the legume (or bean) family, and not the lau rel family. Its binomial or scientific name is Sophora secundiflora. Many of us appreciate this hardy native evergreen with its showy clusters of usually lavender and occasionally white flowers. It can be a natural and attractive ornamental as part of a xeriscape. The lovely spring flowers are very aromatic, reminiscent of grape KoolAid, and are attractive to bees. The Texas Mountain Laurel has other colorful, common names, such as mescal bean, coral bean, frijollito, and big drunk bean. Although lovely, it can be deadly. The hard red seeds ground into a powder and mixed with mescal liquor were used by ancient native Texans supposedly to induce visions in ritual ceremonies, as far back as about 8,000 BC. Later, the much milder peyote cactus replaced the mescal bean in native religious ceremonies. The red seeds were used as trade items by native Americans and were worn as amulets with supposed magical properties. It is said that the leader of the Native American Church wears a "coral bean" necklace as a symbol of his authority. -Allen Perry BEXAR TRACKS, June 1992 fij lliere to write or call? President George W. Bush • 202-456-1414 The White House• Washington, DC 20500 The Honorable Lloyd Bentsen • 202-224-5922 730 Hart Senate Bldg. • Washington, DC 20510 The Honorable Phil Gramm • 202-224-2934 370 Russell Senate Bldg. • Washington, DC 20510 The Honorable Albert Bustamante, District 23 202-225-4511 • FAX 202-225-3849 1116 Longworth House Bldg.•Washington, DC 20515 727 E. Durango • San Antonio, TX 78206 • 229-6191 The Honorable Kika De La Garza, District IS 202-225-2531 • FAX 202-225-2533 1401 Longworth House Bldg.•Washington, DC 20515 The Honorable Henry B. Gonzalez, District 20 202-225-3236 • FAX 202-225-1915 2413 Rayburn House Bldg.•Washington, DC 20515 727 E. Durango • San Antonio, TX 78206 • 229-6195 The Honorable Greg Laughlin, District 14 202-225-2831 1033 Longworth House Bldg.•Washington, DC 20515 The Honorable Lamar Smith, District 21 202-225-4236 • FAX 202-225-8628 509 Cannon House Office Bldg.•Washington, DC 20515 10010 San Pedro • San Antonio, TX 78216 • 229-5880 Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121 -r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r When you contact your national elected officials, send a copy to NAS headquarters, 950 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10022. Let BAS know when you act on local issues. The association monitors member concern and support and "reminds" officials about their constituents' opinions. Collector: LITTER INVENTORY Location: Mail your inventory forms to Walter Barfield, Bexar Audubon Society, PO Box 6084 San Antonio, TX 78209. An · questions? Call Walter at 736-0355. Soft Drink Soft Drink! Plastic Fast DATE Beer Can Beer Bottle Can Juice Bottle Bottle Cup Food Bag Other ~ BEXAR TRACKS, June 1992 Calendar- June 11 BAS Board Meeting. 7:30pm. Call Betty Minyard for location. 344-6128. 12 UN Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, comes to a close. 13-19 Act for Wildlife in '92: Endangered Species Need You!- NASconvention in Washington, DC. 13-19 Quadripartite conference on migratory birds. Middlebury College, Vermont. 14 *Canyonland songbird hike, Hill Country State Natural Area near Bandera. 512-796-4413 14 *Bird-watching tour focusing on the black-capped vireo and other endangered species, Colorado Bend State Park near Bend. 915-628-3240. 15 Summer WILD! Week Ecology Camps continue at Friedrich Wilderness Park. Call 698-1057 for more information. 15 Design an Exhibit - youth program. San Antonio Zoo. 1:30-3:30 pm. Ages 7- 11. Members $8, non -members $11. Call 734-7184, ext. 168 or 113. 18 BAS Conservation Committee Meeting. Ruble Center, 419 E. Magnolia, 6 pm. Call Dick Pipes, 1-512-569-2452. All members & interested people invited. 18 BAS General Meeting- Ruth Lofgren on Mitchell Lake. At the Ruble Center, 419 E. Magnolia, 7 pm. Call Nathan Ratner, 826- 4462. Free & open to the public 19-21 Carrying Capacity Network National Issues Conference. Washington, DC. 20 Outing toCunsight Mountain Ranch in Tarpley. Meet at 7:45am. See page 1 for details. 20 *Bat emergence tour, Old Tunnel WMA near Fredericksburg, 512-896-2500. 21 *Native plants tour, Hill Country State Natural Area near Bandera, 512-796-4413. 22 Get Crafty at the Zoo -youth program. 1:30- 3:30. Ages 10-13. Members $10, non-members $15. Call 734-7184, ext. 168 or 113. 23 Native Plant Society. Lions Field Clubhouse. 7-9 pm. Betty Hughes, 821-5143. 27 *Texas tortise and Texas horned lizard tour, Chaparral WMA, Dimmit and LaSalle Counties, 512-676-3413. 27 "Gardens by Moonlight." Botanical Center. 7-10 pm. Call Betty Hughes, 821-5143. 27 Developing Effective Electoral Skills - A Workshop for Concerned Citizens . Americans for the Environment. South Austin Multi-Purpose Center. $15 ($30 for political candidates and staffs). Call Mary Ann Neely, 512-474-0605. 27-28 Aransas Shoreline Protection Project. Call512-991-1443. 30 Xeriscape. Holmes High School. 7-9 pm. $5. Call Kathy, 228-0417. July 19-24 NAS Population Lobby Week. Washington, DC. Tanya Thomas, 202-547-9009. 9 BAS Board Meeting. 11 "Co Batty- Amazing Mammals of the Night." Second Saturday. Friedrich Wilderness Park. 9 pm. 698-1057. 16 BAS Conservation Committee Meeting. Ruble Center, 419 E. Magnolia, 6 pm. Call Dick Pipes, 1-512"569 ~2452. All members & interested people invited. 16 BAS General Meeting- San Antonio's Solid Wastes. At the Ruble Center, 419 E. Magnolia, 7 pm. Call Nathan Ratner, 826-4462. Free & open to the public. August 8 "Stargazing." Second Saturday. Friedrich Wilderness Park. 9 pm. 698-1057. 20 NO BAS General Meeting in August. See the July newsletter for information on date, place, and time of the annual BAS planning meeting. Page6 September BAS General Meeting. Tom Arsuffiis res<: bedul¢d to talk about Endangered ··· .·si)fillgs Ecosystems. 19 7th Annual Texas Coastal Cleanup. October 4 Ornithology Croup of Houston pelagic trip out of Port Aransas on the 80-foot Scat-Cat. Departs 5:30 am and returns 6:30 pm. For birders only. $40 per person. Call Brandford at 713-855-2615. 8-9 "Ethics in Environmental Communication." National Association of Professional Environmental Communicators Conference. Chicago. 312-661-1721. Ongoing *The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department offers nature activities too numerous to list here. Buy your annual Texas Conservation Passport for $25 to invest in Texas and its natural resources, and get free entrance to parks, a discount on overnight facilities, and naturalist-guided tours on wildlife management ar eas and state parks - some not regularly open to the public. Also receive a quarterly calendar of activities and a discount on Texas Parks & Wildlife Magazine. In Texas, call 1-800- 937-9393. Every Thursday, 1 pm, San Antonio City Council meetings, City Hall. Fourth Tuesdays, 5-6 pm, Open Space Advisory Board meets, City Hall (call to confirm location). San Antonio Light CreenLine offers environmental tips & event reminders 24 hours a day at 512-554-0500, category 7220. National Audubon Society's Actionline -a weekly update of environmental news. Dial 202-547-9009 and ask for the Actionline; after hours, press 4 when the line answers. For status of federal bills, call Legislative Information & Bill Status, 202-225-1772. OFFICERS AND BOARD Walter Barfield Marge Flandenueyer Betty Minyard President Vice President 736-0355 684-2668 344-6128 653-2860 651-6054 226-6808 696-6868 824-8199 BEXAR AUDUBON SOCIETY P.O. BOX 6084 NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID Caryl Swann Audrey Cooper Ronald "Rusty" Guyer Susan K. Hughes Thelma Nungesser Richard Pipes Treasurer Secretary Board Member Board Member Board Member Board Member Board Member 1-512-569-2452 COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS Conservation Richard Pipes l-512-569-2452 Education Betty Minyard 344-6128 Finance Membership Thelma Nungesser 824-8199 Outings Marge Flandermeyer 684-2668 Programs Nathan Ratner 826-4462 Publicity Christina O'Connell 308-0959 Bexar Tracks Editor Susan K. Hughes 696-6868 PO flox 690028, San Antonio, TX 78269-0028•FAX G9G-S053 The eclil or beli ev es the information in this publictltion to be ., Hccurate a:-> of Jun e ~- We welcome contributions of interest lo (X}(\ \.1 members. Any submission may be edited. ~0 Printed on acid-free SO percent recycled paper (2.1 0 pe rcent post-consumer wast e). using soy-based ink. SAN ANTONIO, TX 78209 Address Correction Requested SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS Permit No. 590 Text Antarc* Antarctica Northwest Territories peregrine falcon UTSA Digital Collections (The University of Texas at San Antonio) Audrey ENVELOPE(-67.100,-67.100,-68.133,-68.133) Austin Bandera ENVELOPE(-67.950,-67.950,-67.183,-67.183) Canada Gonzalez ENVELOPE(-58.250,-58.250,-63.917,-63.917) Marcos ENVELOPE(-61.833,-61.833,-64.500,-64.500) Northwest Territories Reeves ENVELOPE(-67.983,-67.983,-67.133,-67.133) Swann ENVELOPE(-62.967,-62.967,-73.867,-73.867) |