| Summary: | Bexar Tracks began with Vol. 4, no. 1 (January 1986). It continues Newsletter (Bexar Audubon Society). §racRs 21 0.822·4503 MAY 1993 BEXAR AUDUBON SOCIETY CHAPTER OF THE NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY The Chapter's primary goala are to promote apeclea and habHat conservation and environmental education In the community. Inside Tracks • 2-phase BIRDATHON in '93 • Rio Grande Com·dor campaign • Texas legislative issues update • Martin fencing i'n Loui'si'ana • New homed toad T-shi'rt • SAEN meeti'ng announced • Thanks to volunteers • Scholarshi'p wi'nner announced • REIF meeti'ng report • Government Canyon action • Conservati'on report • Nati'onal May Bi'rd Count BAS Member Activities "Border Balancing Act-Issues Along the Rio Grande: IJGeneral Meeting on Thursday, Mag 20 Plan now to attend the May general meeting of BAS at 7 pm, May 20th, at the Ruble Center, 419 E. Magnolia. The meeting is free and open to the public; refreshments will be served at 7, and the program will follow at 7:30. BAS meetings conclude by 9 pm. Jane Lyons, population project manager of National Audubon Society, and formerly regional representative for the southwest region of NAS, will discuss timely issues, including the Rio Grande Wildlife Corridor, pollution problems, and the international youth alliance. The Rio Grande has just been named among the most endangered waterways in the country-you'll learn some of the reasons behind this designation. Also, Mary Anne Ramirez, winner of our 1992 Bexar Audubon scholarship, will be with us to relate her tales of Audubon summer camp and how she was able to apply her learning and experiences to her grade school classes this past year. For more information about the program, contact Thelma Nungesser, 824-8199. Come to the Ruble Center at 6 pm and join us for our Conservation Committee Meeting. Catch up on the facts about local, state, and national issues. President's Letter- Mag Will Be a Busy Month with Important Decisions Scheduled May promises to be an important month for San Antonio and the entire Edwards Aquifer region. Voters, the state legislature, and the Parks and Wildlife Commission are scheduled to make decisions in May directly affecting water supplies, open space, wildlife habitat, urban development, and this region's quality of life. City Council Election In the upcoming City Council election, May 1, please consider the various candidates' stands and commitments to: • the city's master planning process; • solid waste management & recycling; • land use planning; • recharge zone & water quality protection; • intermodal transportation planning & public transportation; • farmland & open space acquisition; and • protection & creation of sustainable neighborhoods. These issues are often lost in debates over crime or taxes, but they are the very issues which ultimately determine a community's economic and ecological viability. Edwards Aquifer Legislation Legislation concerning the Edwards Aquifer should be before the Texas legislature this month. Most of these bills do nothing to address the issue of sustainable use of the Edwards Aquifer or to protect the spring ecosystems and water quality. Please contact your state senator and representative and urge them to support strong water quality protection measures and a policy of non-degradation for the Edwards Aquifer and contributing watersheds, as well as requirements for regionwide aquifer management and strong water conservation measures. (Refer to page 5 in this issue of Bexar Tracks for additional information. For more details on any of this, contact Dick Pipes, BAS Conservation Chair, 1/210/569-2452, or Sandra Skrei, NAS Southwest Regional Representative in Austin, 512/327-1943. For bill status call 800/253-9693.) Government Canyon Acquisition The vote to acquire Government Canyon in northwest Bexar County is scheduled for May 20, 1993, at a meeting [ij Page2 President's Letter (continued) of the Texas Parks & Wildlife Commission. The Edwards Underground Water District and the San Antonio Water System Board ~ave agreed to participate in this project m order to protect and enhance the region's water supply. They have agreed to fund 75 percent of the purchase price, if the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department will fund the remaining 25 percent and hold title to the land. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department considers projects based on four criteria: I. recreational potential; 2. critical or diverse wildlife habitat; 3. historical, archaeological, & cultural features· & 4. availability of public open space. ' Government Canyon meets all four of these criteria. It is in very close proximity to over one million people in the San Antonio metropolitan area. It offers tr.em.endous ~iking, biking, camping, wtld~tfe watchmg, educational, and other low-tmpact outdoor recreational opportunities. The site has habitat suitable for both the endangered Golden-Cheeked Warbler and Black-Capped Vireo in a diverse, unfragmented setting, as well as many other plant and animal species. The site has numerous Native American campground sites and middens and the Old San Geronimo stage coach route. And, at 4800 acres, Government Canyon would be a significant increase in Bexar County's publicly available open space, which now ranks as one of the lowest in the state and in the nation. If you support the public acquisition and protection of Government Canyon it is critically imoortant that letters of s~ooort outlining the above features be sent to: The Honorable Ygnacio D. Garza Chairman Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission 4200 Smith School Road Austin, TX 787 44. Please send a copy to: Mr. Andrew Sansom Executive Director Texas Parks and Wildlife Department 4200 Smith School Road Austin, TX 78744. If you would like additional information on this project, contact Danielle Milam at 828-3960, Kyle Cunningham at 695-3159, or me at 736-0355. Bexar Audubon Society would like to know of any members willing to volunteer to do bird surveys, conduct tours or educational programs, or to work on trails at the site. If you are interested, please contact me, or leave a message at 822-4503. - Walter G. Barfield Birdathon ~3 2-Phase Plans Announced Participants are needed for our upcoming Birdathon. There will be two phases this year: the first will be the traditional Birdathon; the second will be a public bird-watching opportunity at Mitchell Lake. Birding expertise is not required! Birdathon is a fund-raising activity held each year in Audubon chapters nationwide. The traditional event involves individual (or teams oO spotters, who spend a day in the field, spotting as many different bird species as they can find. Prior to their day in the field, spotters collect pledges from sponsors, based on the number of species they think they will see. After the count day, spotters report back to their sponsors and collect the pledges. It's fun for the spotters to have per species pledges. This makes a routine spotting of a cardinal every bit as valuable and exciting as seeing a rare bird! Many sponsors, however, find it more comfortable to donate a flat amount. Either way is fine· the idea is to raise money to put Audubo~ Adventures in even more classrooms. YOU can help by volunteering to be a spotter and collect pledges (some birding experience recommended; expertise not necessary); or by volunteering to be a sponsor and make a donation. If you would like to be a spotter, or sponsor, and t. need more information, or would like to be paired up ~ith another birder, call t Leslie Linehan (558-6594). If there is sufficient inter- t est, a group outing will be organized. May 1 is the recommended day for Birdathon, but your count ._ ___ ---J.may be done during any 24-hour period that is convenient for you. (Donations must be in by the end of May.) The second phase of Birdathon will be held at Mitchell Lake on May 15, from 8 am to 1 pm. Mitchell Lake is being turned into a wetlands refuge and is a terrific place to easily see many different species of birds. The public and. of course, all Audubon members are invited to take a driving tour of the refuge area . Donations will be accepted at the gate. Volunteers are needed to staff a general information table (no birding experience necessary) and to be present at observation areas around the lake (basic bird knowledge needed to answer visitors' questions and to help with bird identification). Please call me at 558-6594 to volunteer. -Leslie Linehan BEXAR TRACKS, May 1993 Bats in Your Attic? Please don't poison them. And don't block .th~m ou! while there may be young left wtthm. Watt until late summer or fall then locate the entries and install a bat excluder or one-way door. For instructions, see the Pocket Guide to the Humane Control of Wildlife in Cities and Towns, Guy Hodge, ed. Falcon Press. 1991. Contact Bat Conservation International in Austin. Or contact your Bexar Tracks editor. ' Dangeland EnvironmenA tal Issues Forum #2 The first meeting of the REIF, held on Saturday, April 17, was dedicated to understanding the people and rangelands involved. The speakers provided the history of the area (T.R. Fehrenbach); the natural history of the Edwards Plateau (Terry Cook); ecology and management of the plateau (Fred Smeins); and the goals and realities of managing plateau rangelands. Robert Giles, a rancher near Comfort, explained the complexities of maintaining the productivity of the land for today and the future. Murray Walton presented about twenty specific societal goals, including water conservation, especially in the cities; controlling development over recharge zones; improving grazing management practices; and landowner incentives and education to encourage cooperation with other owners for wildlife management. There was an opportunity for questions between sessions. During a bus tour of the plateau rangelands on June 5, participants will be able to see, hear, feel, and learn about the ecology and resource management needed to achieve landowner and environmental goals. The tour will visit the Giles Ranch and Friedrich Park. Reservations are required. Call Larry White, 210/278-9151. Everyone is encouraged to attend. The various interests represented by BAS member participants included Susan Rust ecologist; Richard Pipes, conservatio~ chairman; Patty Leslie, ethnobotanist; Thelma Nungesser, city-dweller; and Amy Nelson, teacher and BAS scholarship winner for 1993. Do plan to attend future programs. -Thelma Nungesser ·s!AEN Treats Household Hazardous Wastes The next meeting of the San Antonio Environmental Network will be held at 7 BEXAR TRACKS, May 1993 pm, Tuesday, June 8th, at the Witte Museum Auditorium. Clean Water Action of Austin will cosponsor the program with Bexar Audubon. What are household hazardous wastes? What are the risks associated with them? What kinds of alternatives are there for disposal? What can San Antonio citizens do? Programs such as the amnesty program in Austin will be discussed. --Susan Rust Purple Martin Welfare in Louisiana Up to 250,000 purple martins roost under the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway Bridge in New Orleans, LA. Between 3 and 6,000 are killed each season by traffic. Erecting protective fencing virtually eliminates these deaths. To protect the areas most heavily used by the martins will require almost two linear miles of fencing at a cost of approximately $80,000. J. B. Smith, owner of Big Red Nature Store, has offered a 1'1lt.a:=~.::_, matching donation of up to $1,000 for construction of the fencing. All contributions are ~-··---1.,_, tax-deductible. Make checks out to Purple Martin Conservation Association/Fencing Fund and bring or mail them to Big Red Nature Store, 5001 Broadway, San Antonio, TX 78209. For more information call Smith at 822-2473. Volunteers Recognized Thanks to volunteers who braved the rain and wind to work on behalf of BAS at Viva Botanical: Walter Barfield, Leta Bien, Susan Blaker, Valerie Camilli, Lisa Durack, Mike Durack, AI McManus, Betty Minyard, Michal Mudd, Thelma Nungesser, Anita Reeves, Janet Saunders, Barbara Scott, Emily Scott, Harold Scott, Joanne Strentzsch, and Bill Woller. Anita Reeves brought wholesome Whole Foods cookies to the April15 meeting. Marge Flandermeyer and Dick Pipes attended the Audubon Council of Texas meeting in Austin, April3. Walter Barfield, Cassandra Dickson, and Dick Pipes attended hearings, spoke with legislators, and/or provided testimony at various hearings of the Texas legislature. Susan Hughes attended hearings of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee on April 1 in Washington, DC. Easter afternoon Bruce and Susan Hughes and Anita Reeves went to Enchanted Rock State Park with petitions and information on SB179. In 3.5 hours, 180 signatures were collected. Most people -including people who said they were hunters-were appalled at the prospect of recreational hunting in the state parks. Walter Barfield, Anita Reeves, & Anne Robinson mailed the April Bexar Tracks. Would you be willing to be a full-charge newsletter mailing person? To discuss taking on this important job with about a 4- to-6-total-hour-per-month commitment, please call Susan Hughes, 696-6868. Conservation Corner · Efforts on local and state issues continue to occupy most Auduboners and other environmentalists. With the legislature in session there is a need to maintain an acute awareness (defensive posture) concerning much of the proposed legislation coming out of Austin. A summary of the current status of legislation impacting the local and state ecosystems can be found in the Legislative Update section. While local and regional problems are naturally our highest priorities, we do need to keep informed on national and international issues, some of which impact our local scene, hence the Audubon maxim of "think globally, act locally, fl11JI. act globally." One way to stay informed is to join Audubon's Action International Network. You will receive a quarterly publication covering such issues as population and the environment, migratory bird conservation, forests and wetlands projects around the globe, and education (perhaps our best hope for the planet). Some examples of current critical international issues are summarized following: 1. "Sustainable" Global Forest Ecosystems- including the following in the approach to "sustainable" global forest ecosystems: a) the urgent need to curb deforestation; b) immediate recognition of land rights of indigenous and other forestdwelling peoples; c) placing a priority on the protection of "primary/old growth" forests; d) tree planting that is ecologically appropriate; and e) the inclusion of local community needs and concerns. 2. Migratory Bird ConservationAudubon's first campaign within the migratory bird program is called "Birds in the Balance," and it targets the neotropical migratory species. "Birds in the Balance" replaces "Save Our Songbirds" and reflects our concern not only with songbirds, but with all migratory birds. Staff across the organization will work with chapter leaders and members on "Birds in the Balance" projects. Page3 [iJ We also will assist chapters in the US as they establish partnerships with chapters in Latin America and the Caribbean, and help partners develop conservation and education projects around shared species. 3. Population and the EnvironmentThe goal of Audubon's Population Program is to ensure that sound population policies are established within and outside the US that contribute to the health, well-being, and dignity of the individual citizen and that protect non-human species and their habitat. To meet that goal the program is made up of four projects: Advocacy, Coalition-building, Public Education, and "Sharing the Earth." The "Sharing the Earth" project, established as a follow-on to the Population, Wildlife, and Environment Project, was begun in 1991 in order to test our potential solutions to the problems of human impact on wildlife. Current partnerships include Mexico, Nepal, Russia, and Pakistan. Other partnerships will be developed over the next two years. All programs are targeted toward the 1994 Audubon Biennial Convention and the 1994 UN Conference on Population and Development. By joining this network, you can have a voice in the establishment of population and environment policies that not only affect the next year, but generations to come. 4. Education-What began as a lecture two years -ago to the Soviet State Committee for Public Education has evolved into the most ambitious international education program National Audubon Society's Education Division has undertaken to date. Working primarily with Russian counterparts, Audubon Senior Vice President Marshal Case has established a broad range of environmental education projects in the Republics of the former Soviet Union, particularly in Russia. The programs are aimed at fostering a conservation ethic in elementary and high-school students, instructors and curriculum developers, and producers of educational television programming. Audubon has disseminated a wealth of Russian-language environmental education materials and also established scholarships for Russian students and educators to attend Audubon Ecology Workshops in the US, and has set up exchange programs for American students and educators to attend Russian ecology camp. For more information:National Audubon Society; 666 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE; Washington, DC 20003; 202/547-9009. Population: Patricia Waak, Tanya Thomas, Lisanne Nelson International Forests: Charlotte Fox lnternat'l Wetlands/Water.Steve Parcells Migratory Birds: Susan Carlson ACTION International: Dan Johnson -Richard Pipes (~IPage4 Turbulent Tatshenshini The fight to save the Tatshenshini-Aisek N?rth America's wildest river, is nearing ~ climax. For more than three years environmentalists have fought to preserve the ur:protected British Columbia portion of this remote, unspoiled ice-age river system fro~ ~ propose.d massive open-pit copper-mmmg operatiOn. Recently the British Columbia Commission on Resources & Environment (CORE) released its report o~ whether to grant a permit to the minirlg company, Geddes Resources, Inc. In their report CORE confirmed what the environmental experts had been saying: that the mine could be an environmental disaster. The company is fighting back with a slick PR report designed to appeal in economic ter~s to the Premier and Parliament. E~vironmenta!ists are urged to counter this pressure With letters to the Premier. The U.S. has a vital stake in this issue bec~use of the newly designated World Her.Itage Status of our Glacier Bay National Park and the existing World H~ritage ~ite comprising the Wrangell-St. Ehas NatiOnal Park across the border in ~anada. The Tatshenshini-Aisek watershed hes between these two parks and is the only unprotected section of this largest de facto wilderness in North America. Please write Premier Michael Harcourt Government of British Columbia' Parliament Buildings,Victoria, B.c: Canada V8V IX4. (Letters to Canada require 40 cents pos~e for the first ounce.) Urge Premier Harcourt to immediately pres~rve the Tatshenshini, its spectacular glacier scenery, outstanding grizzly and black bear populations, its fisheries and exceptional biodiversity for all generations and all the world. If you wish add some of the points from the CORE report, above. Se~d a copy of your letter to: Vice President AI Gore, The White House Washington, DC 20510. Thank him for hi~ ongoing efforts to keep intact the entire J\lsek-~atshenshini River System, its US f1shenes, and the Glacier Bay World Heritage Site. -Richard Pipes Amy Nelson Receives BAS Scholarship Betty Minyard, BAS Education Chair announced at the April meeting that Amy Nelson is the recipient of the 1993 BAS Scholarship. Nelson will receive a $500 check to assist her in attending her choice, the Audubon Camp of the West. Congratulations to Amy Nelson and our thanks to those participating in this year's scholarship contest. Mailbox Relief Americans receive almost 2 million tons of direct mail ("junk-mail") every year-44 percent of which is never opened or read. H~v~ your na.me removed from lists by wntmg to: Mail Preference Service Direct Marketing Association, PO Box 3S61 NY 10163-3861. ' It takes 70 percent less' energy to make recycled paper than it does to make new paper. A ton of recycled paper saves an average of 17 trees. When you shop, look for products made of recycled paper and be aware of the percentage of post-consumer waste. Choose recycled-then recycle. Currently only 1/4 of all paper used by Americans is recycled. This information is from the GreenForest Recyclopedia, produced by the Fort Howard paper company. A Message from the Board The Mexican-U.S. border should be Audu~on's next hig~-priority campaign, replacmg the Platte River campaign which is [~lly] ·being won. This border is of great s1gmficance to the future of wildlife on this continent. We need to focus the resources of ~ur many ~udubon departments and people m a coordmated effort to study what has become a disaster area four thousand miles Ion~. While we study this area, we must begm to reverse the damage already done. People and wildlife are hurting. The rapid P<?Pulation growth, especially on th~ ~ex1ca~ side, has been accompanied by a mm1mum mcrease of infrastructure. Hastily cleared land is sold in tiny plots "on time" to people crowding in for employ~ent In these "c.olonias,". streets, water connections, electncal sen:1ce, sewage, and other amenities are p:om1se~, but not delivered for years. New mdustnal plants on both sides of the border frequently do not meet reasonable standards for air quality and waste emissions. Deadly cholera is carried in the water. There is a.n epi?e~ic of anencephaly-newborn babies m1ssmg or with only a partial brain. There is a misuse of insecticides and other pesticides on both sides of the border Wi~dlife is slaug~tered wantonly. Human suf~ fenng comes With the degradation of our earth, air, and water. The !"fexican-_lJ.S. border is unlike any other m the Umted States in that it is half des~rt. The Chihuahuan Desert is in New MeXIco and Texas, plus the Mexican states of Nuevo Leon, Chihuahua, Coahuila, and three s~tes further south. The Sonoran Desert of Anzona and California crosses the border into the Mexican states of Baja California and Sonora. The thin soil in these deserts tolerates ~e crush of_ new people poorly. Agmfers are ~emg drained, often wastefully, as If water Will not be needed in the next JOHN J. AUDT.mON 17~-lm S!Y!LAND FALOON AUDUBON BlANC CALIFORNIA WHITE WINE PRODU~J~r.~tl.,.,~·c;. century. Native grasses are replaced by spiny shn:bs. Overgrazing by sheep, goats, and cattle IS common, particularly on US government land leased at minimum cost as if in perpetuity. Forests on both sides are being cut in an unsustainable way. Unemployment on the Texas side of the Rio G_ran4e is th~ highest in all the country. LikeWise, Mexico has many people living in pove_rty. Perhaps 10 million people from Mexico are now in the United States. Hundreds of "maquilas" are set up in Mexico aior:g the border to take advantage of low Mexican wages, lack of effective labor unions and. permissive pollution standards: EnVIronmental concerns are expressed with platitudes rather than workable plans The Mexican and US governme.nts are working on a trade agreement to further open the borders between Canada Mexico and the US. Details are to come soo~. ' All of Mexico with its 80 plus million people has o_nly or:e A~dubon chapter and that is deep m the mtenor, in a small artit community, Saf! Miguel de Allende. None are in the population centers, state capitals or burgeonin~ bo~de~ cities. Half the length of the border IS Withm Texas, which has only two Audubon chapters-both fine ones-on this border. New Mexico has one chapter on the border. Others are in Arizona and California. The first priority of the Audubon Council of ~exas this past decade has been the completi~ n ~f the Lower Rio Grande Valley National W1ldhfe ~e~ge-f~deral, state, and private sanctuanes m a stnng along the River from Laredo to the Gulf of Mexico also known as the "wildlife corridor." They grow, they help, but they need to be completed. The next larger step will be to select the whole of the Mexican-US border as one of Audubon's .High Priority Campaigns. What do you thmk? My address is: Box 4856, McDade, TX 78650, phone: 512/273-2840. -David Carson, regionally selected member of the NAS board of directors BEXAR TRACKS, May 1993 Trade & the Environment A new Worldwatch Paper (No. 113) is "Costly Tradeoffs: Reconciling Trade and the Environment," by Hilary F. French. Worldwatch Institute, March 1993. This slim, but well-documented paper looks at NAFTA and the GATT. Walter Russell Mead's "Bushism, Found: A second-term agenda hidden in trade agreements," Harper's Magazine, September 1992, was a stunning explanation of the complexities and impacts of international trade agreements and their long-term implications for environmental interests, labor, etc. The US General Accounting Office published its biennial transition series in D.ecember 1992. Of the series, which proVIdes Congress thumbnail sketches of some 28 separate areas of concern, volume GAO/OCG-93-11 TR deals with International Trade Issues. Texas Legislature Update Following is a status update on some priority bills, most of which were included in the March/April issues. Please contact your representative or senator to express your views on these subjects. For more information, contact Dick Pipes, BAS Conservation Chair, 1-210-569-2452, or Sandra Skrei, SW Regional Rep, 512-327- 1943. For bill status call 800-253-9693. Wildlife-SB5B3 Harris. Would list the mountain lion as a game animal, thereby requiring the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department to carry out a full assessment of the status of the lion population and to manage the species accordingly. Lion can now be killed or trapped anytime and anywhere without regard to age, sex, or numbers. Reported favorably without amendment out of the Trade & Technology Committee 4/14. Heading for the intent calendar. Please support. Water Conservation-SB375/HB1026 Requires submetering of water in apartments. 4/15 reported favorably as submitted out of the House. Support. Texas Parks & Wildlife SB23 Moncrief. Protects certain animals and provides penalties. (Defines "restricted" wild animals including lions tigers, cougars, leopards, cheetahs, etc.; limits their possession, transport, purchase, and hunting, i.e., bans "canned" hunts in Texas. ) In House. Support SB179 Parker. Oppose this bill that would allow recreational hunting in Texas s~ate parks and natural areas and, thus, vwlates the basic purposes of the Texas Park System. It passed the senate 24 to 5 on 4/7. Public hearings 4/20. Population (Adolescent Pregnancg)SB20 Moncrief. Calls for self-development and life skills education in Texas public schools, including pregnancy prevention, AIDSIHIV prevention, and substance abuse education. Referred to a special subcommittee. Pesticides-SB609. Prevents local governments from regulating the use of pesticides at all-including warning signs on lawns that are being treated. Many local governments have stricter pesticide regulations than the state's. Passed 3rd reading as amended 3/30. Please oppose. Aquifers-CSHB1792 Linebarger, Puente. Write to support the regionwide agency language; urge inclusion of a nondegradation clause regarding water quality in the aquifer. Ask if there are rules & regulations to measure & enforce quality. How to Contact Elected Officials in Austin: Write, phone, or fax: State Senator _ _ Box 12068, Austin, TX 78711 FAX 512/463-0326;phone:512/463- 01 __ *(the last two digits are your Senator's district number) State Representative __ _ Box 2910, Austin, TX 78768-2910 FAX 512/463-0326 If you don't know your districts and various representatives, call 978-0362. Write Governor Richards, PO Box 1242A Austin, TX 78711 (Hotline 1/800/252~ 9600) and express your opinions about these bills. She has the power to veto. Urge her to use it on bad bills. JlTorth American l. W Migration Count The second nationwide spring bird count is scheduled for May 8, the second Saturday in May. With the concern over declining numbers of birds, the goal of this count is to obtain a one-day picture of the progress of Spring Migration and to obtain ir~_formation on the abundance and PageS~ r --- , TEXAS HORNED LIZARD T-SHIRT ORDER FORM QUANTITY & SIZE: S M L XL XXL TOTAL SHIRTS ORDERED x$15.00= $- .00 SHIPPING/HANDLING: $3 minimum for 1 shirt=$ 3.00 $1.50 for each additional shirt z $ _.oo YOUR CHECK FOR THE TOTAL AMOUNT $ .00 PAYABLE TO: BEXAR AUDUBON SOCIETY. - MAIL TO: Bexar AuciJba1, POt:J 6004, San Antooio 78200. Prices include sales tax. Pr~-paid only. Allow 3 weeks. NAME: PHONE: L_) SHIPPING ADDRESS: '--- CITY/STATE/ZIP:, ________ _ gives strength of heart and mind. -Navajo legend Habitat loss threatens the Homed lizard, once plentiful In South Central Texas. Red Ants (Pogon11myrmex spp.), its natural food, have been depleted by pestlddes and the Invasion of imported fire ants, Solenopsis invicta. distribution of each species. While creating more participation among birders within a state and between states, it also creates challenges and goals among birders, while collecting useful information. Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, and Maryland have been conducting annual bird counts in May for years. These counts have provided an index to trends of migrants that do not breed locally and are not monitored by Breeding Bird Surveys and Breeding Bird Atlases. Jim Stasz organized and promoted a National May Count. In 1992, the first year, and 1500 plus letters later, 3026 birders in 34 states participated and reported 511 species. In Texas, 47 observers counted 282 species in 11 counties last May. The Texas species total was the highest in the nation! The May Bird Count is similar to the Christmas Bird Count except that birds are counted within an entire county during one specific day. The date this year is May 8, and it may not be substituted. Groups of participants count all birds, and record by county the number of participants, their hours, total miles, and species totals. Birders are invited to assist and contribute their records to the total. Four ~Page& BEXAR TRACKS, May 1993 types of effort wilJ be recognized: regular bird run on foot or by car, a stationary count, feeder watch, and owling. An easy to understand form for recording your count and detailed instructio·ns will be provided to those participating, so call 210-/995-2300 soon. Come out, join the f';ln, and have a r-N;tl~;;J!B~-;.-;.-A~d-.;b~-S~i;iY, super count at the same time! . • • • -sue Wiedenfeld Jomt Membershtp Apphcation Brent Ortego is coordinating Texas's May Bird Count among various groups, with Bryan Hale of Travis Audubon in Austin assisting in organizing Texas Audubon chapters. I have volunteered to assist Brent and Bryan with the count process in TOS Region V, which includes Bexar County. Anyone wishing to assist in the count either in Bexar or another county please contact me at: 210/995- 2300 or write to Rt. 2, Box 238, Comfort, TX 78013. Calendar - Mag II ••• BA~YBlRDATHQN;S~Withifi><• ·•·>•••····•I 6 SA Audubon annual dinner. 7pm. Earl Abel's. Roland Wauer, former chief park naturalist for Big Bend National Park speaking on Birds of Big Bend. $10.75. Reservations by May 4 to Jeff Rouse, 205 E Huisache #214, San Antonio 78212. 8<.· . ·•·••· WillifiCiwerkBAS S#\:irm$~wr¢1S!¥ << >>FriednchWilderriess Paik 9arni calL < i .·······6~f~QS7. •l: <'U&••·••••••••••••••••••••••·•·•········-·.·.· . ·.·.·.·.·.· ·.·.·.·.·.· ·.·.·.·.· . 8 2nd Annual North American Migration Count. Bryan Hale (512)443-2709 or Brent Ortego (512)572-9848. Contact Sue Wiedenfeld (210)995-2300 to assist in Bexar or surrounding counties. 14 Federal Crazing Hearings, Albuquerque, NM. (202)208-3477. OFFICERS AND BOARD Walter Barfield President Marge Flandermeyer Vice President Betty Minyard Treasurer Caryl Swann Secretary Patty Leslie Board Member Anita L Reeves Board Member Susan K. Hughes"" Board Member Richard Pipe Board Member Bill Wolle~ Board Member COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS •]ldeos Provide Ideal r End-of-Year Programs The BAS Video Library is available for your use for schools, civic groups, and other educational purposes. Call Betty Minyard for a complete list of videos available-344-6128. There is no charge to borrow video tapes from the BAS video library. New tapes include the World of Audubon special, The Mysterious Elephants of the Congo. 18 National Bike to Work Day. 4Q••· ~AS C:9tish'\l#ti()ti Gilmfuitt¢~ M¢etiijg~ > · c ~FP¥J~rT>ffi~il~1~jWJ~m~;· ~ ~t~£~$~ri > 25 Texas Camel Corps. Dr. Paul Bahn on Easter Island. 6:30pm social; 7:20 program. Witte Museum. 820-2167. Latin American Audubon Council, Costa Rica_ (512)327-1943. June 5 Range Environmental Issues Forum #2-bus tour of plateau rangelands. Contact Larry White, (210)278-9151, for reservations. See within for more info. 0 $23 introductory membership for myself. 0 __ Gift memberships to those listed separately ($23 each). NAME ________________________ _ ADDRESS ______________________ _ CITY/STATFJZIP --- AC~HONE __________________ __ Payable to: National Audubon Society. Send this form and your check to: Bexar Audubon Society P.O.Box 6084 San Antonio, TX 78209 Wl9--~ Local Chapter I Code7XCHA , ---·· --- ~ Ongoing activities The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department offers nature activities too numerous to list here. Buy your annual Texas Cons.ervation Passport for $25 and get discounts and other benefits, too. Call1(800)937-9393 for a complete listing of events. Every Thursday, 1 pm, San Antonio City Council meetings, City Hall. National Audubon Society's Actionline-a weekly update. Dial (202)547-9009 and ask for Actionline; after hours, press 4 on a touch-tone phone when the line answers. Audubon Activist. Subscribe to this timely action update--free with your commitment to make a minimal number of issue-oriented contacts per year. Write NAS, 700 Broadway, New York 10003. Bexar Audubon Society meets every third Thursday for its general membership meetings (7pm) and Conservation Committee meetings (6pm). BAS Board meetings are generally held on the 2nd Thursday (May'93 is an exception). 736-0355 657-1665 344-6128 653-2860 . 824-1235 733-7849 696-6868 BEXAR AUDUBON SOCIE1Y P.O. BOX 6084 G. U.S. POSTAGE PAID 210-569-2452 696-3186 210-569-2452 344-6128 SAN ANTONIO, TX 78209 Address Correction Requested SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS Pennh No. 590 Conservation Education Finance Richard Pipes Betty Minyard Membership Dan & Kristy Davis 210-625-5678 Outings Marge Flandermeyer 657-1665 Programs Thelma Nungesser 824-8199 Publicity Jean Ann Craig 681-0882 Armchair Activist Taljana Terauds 696-6868 Bexar Tracks Editor Susan K. Hughes 696-6868 PO Box 690028, San Antonio, TX 78269-0028•FAX 696-8053 The edttor believes the Information In this pubHClll.lon to be accurate as of April20. We .,Jcomecontributlons of Interest to members. Sul:mlsslons may beedfted. o-lline Is the day after the general meeting. '-•ti'l\ Printed with soy-based ink on aclcJ.lree 50 percent rA-r~""""l recycled paperU,l 0 percent post-eonsumer waste). ~INK
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