Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Volume XXVI, No. 4 November-December 2008
Volume XXVI, No. 4 November-December 2008
For the latest news and updates, see www.bexaraudubon.org and www.sa-naturecenter.org.
Inside this issue:
Bexar Audubon
Thursday, November Turns
13, 2008, 25!
6:00 PM
November Program & Celebration! All BAS members and guests are invited! The Unexpected 2
President
For 25 years, a small but tation by John Karger and ers will unhesitatingly af-
dedicated band has fought his magnificent birds of firm, “Yes, he/she deserves
for the environment of the prey from Last Chance that.” Last Chance Forever 3
Earth and the San Antonio Forever. Karger will dem- November Program
Please join us Nov. 13
region under the banner of onstrate his birds' intelli-
to witness the first presen-
the Bexar Audubon Soci- gence and skills and ex-
tation of this honor to Ruth January 2009 Program 4
ety. As we mark a quarter plain how the ancient art of
Lofgren, Ernie Roney, and McNay Art Museum
century of hard but gratify- falconry contributes to the
Bill Sinkin.
ing work, we invite those modern goal of conserving
Cost of the banquet is Mitchell Lake Audubon 4
who have helped our chap- birds of prey.
ter's efforts, our allies in $35 per person. Please Center
The occasion will also
other organizations fighting send your check, made out
unveil Bexar Audubon's
the same good fight, and
newest and highest honor,
to Bexar Audubon Society Happenings: Cibolo, SA 5
friends who share our con-
the Conservation Hero
with 'banquet' on the memo Natural Areas
cern, to join us in celebra- line, to Bexar Audubon
award. This is a special
tion. A 25th anniversary Society, P.O. Box 6084, Banquet Reply Form 7
tribute to the “bravest of the
banquet will take place San Antonio, TX 78209.
brave” among our region's
Thursday, Nov. 13, at 6 Include a note with the
environmental strugglers. It
p.m., in the Brazier Room names of individuals cov-
is an award for heart as
of Los Patios Restaurant, ered by the check. Or feel
much as achievement and Los Patios is located at
and YOU ARE INVITED. free to use the form on
will go to people who have 2015 NE Loop 410 be-
NOTE: This is the chapter's page 7 of the newsletter.
dedicated many years of tween Harry Wurzbach and
usual meeting date, so no Questions? E-mail presi- Starcrest (four exits east of
their lives to conservation
change in schedule is dent@bexaraudubon.org or the airport on the west-
or have made extraordinary
needed during the busy pre call Harry Noyes at bound access road from
personal sacrifices for the
-holiday season. 210.490.3124. Read more Exit 25A, Starcrest, just
cause. In coming years,
We are pleased and only a handful will earn this about John Karger & Last down the hill from Alamo
proud to announce that the special honor, but they will Chance Forever on page 3. Toyota).
affair will include a presen- be people of whom all oth-
You are invited to Second, we realized This first honorees are nio's "greenest restaurant,"
that this was not just an Ruth Lofgren and Ernie both literally and figura-
help us celebrate our opportunity to celebrate Roney for decades of work tively. I look forward to
2008 Bexar past successes but also a to protect Mitchell Lake, seeing you there.
Audubon Society chance to implement one their leadership in its be-
I was gratified to get
of our strategic-plan goals. coming a successful Audu-
Conservation Heroes: That is our desire to sup- bon Center, and their con-
two promising responses
to my last column calling
Ruth Lofgren port and foster the entire tinued volunteer work
for more people to help
local conservation/ there. No matter what the
Ernie Roney environmental community. odds or how intense the
Bexar Audubon pursue its
goals. I want to assure
Bill Sinkin One of the tactics we se- adversity, Ruth and Ernie
those folks we will be in
lected was to honor out- displayed remarkable resil-
touch with specific sugges-
standing contributors to iency and would not move
tions when we get a few
I will start with the most impor- that community and its from their goals of estab-
(unprescribed) fires put
tant Bexar Audubon Society work. lishing Mitchell Lake as a
out. But for now, to all the
news of the season and then We have given awards
world-class refuge for birds
other BAS members, I'd
end on a personal note that before, but this will be the
and a jewel of south San
like to pass a personal
may seem at first glance to first time that we will pre-
Antonio. Completing the
message.
have little to do with our mis- sent the “award of
slate is Bill Sinkin, foun-
sion of conservation education der and sustainer of Solar Don't delay! I have be-
awards,” the new Bexar
and advocacy...but perhaps San Antonio and an advo- come agonizingly aware
Audubon Society Con-
cate for the environment how quickly we can lose
more than we realize. servation Hero trophy.
even when being green the ability to achieve what
On the first page of this This is an honor not for wasn’t cool. Along with his we want to with our lives. I
newsletter you will find a one-time or short-term wife Fay, whom we hon- have just been through a
details about one of the effort, however noble or ored at BAS’s 20th Anni- week of misery, not sure
most exciting events of our effective, but for many versary celebration for her what triggered it, and my
year, our Nov. 13 banquet years of struggle or excep- work in protecting the Ed- treatments are very slow to
celebrating 25 years of tional sacrifice for the wards Aquifer, Bill is take effect.
Bexar Audubon's work. We cause. It is an award more clearly among the most
were so busy with the mis- Bottom line: I've found
for heart than achieve- influential individuals work-
sion that we almost forgot how fast perspectives can
ment, though most recipi- ing for good in San Anto-
this milestone and have change, from focus on the
ents will surely be achiev- nio’s civic history.
had to scramble to make world to a narrow and total
ers as well as people of
the necessary arrange- All three inaugural he- obsession with one's own
dedication.
ments in time to get them roes have been quiet war- health. I've lost interest in
into this newsletter. There won't be many riors for their causes, the election, in hurricanes,
Conservation Hero awards achieving their goals with in the aquifer, in birds,
I want to express my but we are determined that tenacity and effective per- even in my beloved books.
gratitude to BAS vice all selectees will be people suasion, armed I've had to
president Tony Wood, pro- of whom you will say, with good infor- cut back on
gram chair Patty Pasztor, "Indeed, those are truly mation and a Conservation Heroes: the volun-
all-around chapter guru worthy honorees"...and fervent desire to teer activi-
Susan Hughes and all our people with whom earlier make San Anto- “people of whom ties that I
board members for their recipients will be proud to nio a better place counted on
ideas, wise counsel and be associated. you will say, ‘Indeed,
to live for us all. to make my
support of this surge effort. those are truly retirement
We are confident that I urge you to
It would have been this is the case with our take advantage
worthy honorees.’” as busy and
easy to ignore the anniver- first three selectees. of this chance to rewarding
sary, but we forged ahead (Ordinarily we will be thank these true conserva- as work. Only the pressure
for two reasons. unlikely to give more than tion heroes. And by the of necessity enables me to
one Conservation Hero way, we will have a special keep up my Bexar Audu-
First, it would be unfair
award a year, on average, program with John Karger bon work via e-mail. I am
to the many hardworking
but we are trying to catch and his raptors from Last getting a little better and
past chapter leaders and
up a little on people who Chance Forever and, of hope to be well by Nov. 13,
activists who built our leg-
have deserved such an course, an excellent meal but the lesson is burned
acy to let such an occasion
honor for many years.) at what may be San Anto- into my mind forever:
pass unmarked.
Page 3 November-December 2008 Bexar Tracks
Excerpt From
More Information on
November 2008: Last Chance Forever with John Karger
Thursday, November 13, 2008, 6:00 PM at Los Patios
John Karger is Executive Director of Last Chance Forever, The Bird of Prey Conservancy.
He is a Master Falconer, Certified Veterinary Technician, and recipient of a Bio-engineering be-
havior certification from Southwest Research Institute. He holds wildlife rescue, rehabilitation,
and educational permits to care for and teach about native wildlife including endangered spe-
cies. His educational background is in the wildlife and veterinary sciences.
For over 30 years, Mr. Karger has been deeply involved in wildlife rehabilitation releasing
well over 2,000 birds. The impact of his work is national, and international.
His public educational programs have touched well over a million people, exposing them to
the importance of birds of prey and their living within a healthy ecosystem. He currently directs
and performs an average of 350 educational programs annually, reaching an audience of ap- John Karger
Last Chance Forever
proximately 250,000 people throughout Texas and the United States.
To read more about Last Chance Forever: The Bird of Prey Conservancy, log on at www.lastchanceforever.org.
Page 4 November-December 2008 Bexar Tracks
January's chapter meet- bition that evening in the colored prints from the "Where the Wild Things
ing will be a special outing Lawson Print Gallery. books on birds (double- Are Drawn," by Kate
to the McNay Art Museum elephant size) and quadru- Carey, museum educator;
HOWEVER, the lecture "Nature Talk & Bird
for their exhibition "Prints peds (imperial size). A few
starts at 6 p.m., a half-hour Watch," by Iliana
Gone Wild: John James belong to the McNay but
earlier than our normal Pena, Mitchell Lake Audu-
Audubon." have never been exhibited
meeting time and an hour bon Center; and "Up Close
before. Others have been
The date will be the earlier than our usual pro- with Critters," a San Anto-
loaned by San Antonio-
same as always, the sec- gram time. So we encour- nio Zoo educator with trav-
area collectors.
ond Thursday (Jan. 8), age you all to make a note eling animals.)
which has two benefits for on your calendars to arrive (NOTE: On Sunday,
us. First, the McNay early. After the lecture, we Nov. 2, from 2:30-4 p.m., The McNay Art Museum is
charges no admission on will have until 9 p.m. to there will be several free located at 6000 New
Thursday evenings. Sec- view the prints. afternoon activities for chil- Braunfels, San Antonio.
ond, prints curator Lyle dren related to the Audu- Info? 210.824.5368 for or
Williams says they will www.mcnayart.org.
Williams will be giving a bon exhibition, including
have about 20 hand-
public lecture on the exhi-
Conservation Conversation
Susan Campbell, new Education Coordinator of Medina River Natural Area, is looking for people who are willing to have
a conversation about the possibility of helping create a Friends of Medina River Natural Area organization. If you are inter-
ested in this possibility for Medina River Natural Area, please call Susan at 210.624.2575. For more information on the
Medina River Natural Area, log on at sanaturalareas.org.
www.bexaraudubon.org
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