Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Volume XXV, No. 2 March-April 2007
Volume XXV, No. 2 March-April 2007
Volume XXV, No. 2 March-April 2007
is a chapter of the
National Audubon
Society. Its primary
goals are to promote
Bexar Tracks
species and habitat
conservation and envi-
ronmental education
Volume XXV, No. 2
in the community.
March-April 2007
For the latest news & updates, see http://www.bexaraudubon.org & http://www.sa-naturecenter.org
Thursday, April 12 •No Bexar Audubon Society Program: Please attend the TOS evening program
Texas Ornithological Society Spring Meeting
April 12-14 • Hosted by the San Antonio Audubon Society
Where East Meets West and the Hill Country Meets South Texas
Did you know??? San Antonio—2006 Birdiest Large Inland City
Bexar County—2006 Birdiest Inland County, Central Flyway
Target Birds: Golden-cheeked Warbler, Black-capped Vireo, Green Kingfisher, Painted Bunting,
Vermilion Flycatcher, Black-throated Sparrow, eastern AND western migrants!
There are MANY great field trips on the agenda (including places not normally open to the public),
evening speakers, scientific presentations, vendors, the banquet, and a silent auction. (You do not
have to be a TOS member to attend.) Airport Hilton, 611 NW Loop 410, San Antonio 78216
Download registration and field trip information at www. t exa sbi r ds. or g/ or contact Barbara
Kyse (210)824-8884, kyse125@ msn.com, and see www.sa a udubon. or g/ for late-breaking n e w s .
Words from the Wood
Just after Christmas it was brought nizations and programs can enjoy native and non-native invasive
to the attention of the Bexar learning about or cultivating plants, species, the recent removals were
Audubon Society board that a signifi- sometimes in established beds on not in the three Texas habitat zones.
cant amount of native vegetation at the east side of the gardens. The Most were from a berm around the
the San Antonio Botanical Gardens research done here includes the amphitheater. Some native trees and
(SABG) had been removed. It was development of new hybrids of low- shrubs were taken out, but so were a
feared this loss of understory might water use landscape plants that per- good number of invasive lantana
deprive our feathered friends of nec- form well in the local environment. and chinaberry trees. Most removals
essary winter forage and habitat. I was disappointed to learn there is were of volunteer plants. While the
I’m a scientist, so rather than imme- not yet a master plan for the long- plants that were removed could have
diately jumping into the fray, I want- term design of the SABG. The issues provided bird and butterfly habitat,
ed to personally investigate. I and complaints about these public they were not in the original design
assumed the decision-maker at the gardens might be stemmed if a well- or plan. More importantly, some
helm of the SABG was a profession- vetted plan were developed. A pro- plants will continue to be removed.
al, but I had never met him or her. fessionally developed plan should As exhibits are changed, improved,
So I dropped a note and soon got a incorporate significant input from or redesigned, we should expect
reply. Candace Andrews, San Antonio local stakeholders. It all comes down occasional removals. Right now
Botanical Society managing director, to money, and the planning is not yet some problems with the Pineywoods
invited me to tour the gardens with fully funded. In the meantime, the habitat must be fixed. The pond is
her and the Director of the SABG. I layout and design follow general filling in due to naturally occurring
hadn’t been there in a few years, so it concepts established years ago. aging and deposition processes. It
was time I saw the recent develop- also appears to be leaking. The pond
ments for myself. Native Texas Areas — I was especial- needs to be dredged to an appropri-
ly impressed with the conservation ate depth and a clay liner reinstalled
Managing the SABG — One thing I efforts underway at the SABG and to stop the leaks. Some plants will
quickly learned was that a botanical the preservation of both Texas native likely be removed to facilitate access
garden requires a lot of management and internationally endangered and construct the necessary
and constant maintenance. I was species. Many native plants are prop- improvements.
pleased to understand that Director agated, preserved, and exhibited in
Bob Brackman, from Dallas/Fort three distinct native Texas habitats. Diverse Exhibits — If you haven’t
Worth and Nashville, is indeed a pro- The Hill Country display includes been to the Botanical Gardens lately,
fessional and appreciates native trees typical of our immediate area: you should visit them this spring.Visit
plant habitats and xeriscape. His live oak, juniper (mountain cedar), the native Texas exhibits and the
work is a bit like managing a zoo, and mountain laurel. Recent rains water-saver garden. Then visit the
because the collected and displayed should assure that in spring the blue- garden for the blind, children’s,
species want to wander, but good bonnets, buttercups, red salvia, and Japanese, rose, and herb gardens. See
management requires keeping each Texas bluebells will be abundant in the specialty collections that include
species in its designated location. the area clearings, just as they will alpine plants, epiphytes, desert cacti
Displays change from time to time throughout the Hill Country itself. and succulents, equatorial tropicals,
and there are significant “theme” The Southwest Texas area exhibits palms and cycads, tropical fruits,
areas within the 33 acres of gardens. trees and shrubs like mesquite, ferns and aroids, insectivores, and
It is a complicated job to manage huisache, cenizo, blackbrush, ebony, aquatic plants. As you walk through
such a large footprint and wide vari- and sotol. The third area replicates each habitat, realize that these plants
ety of native and non-native species East Texas Pineywoods habitat, with are housed in their own well-man-
for the aesthetic enjoyment and edu- pine, magnolia, sweetgum, sassafras, aged and human constructed envi-
cation of the general public. and dogwoods. The dominant feature ronments. Many must be climate-
is the one-acre pond surrounded by controlled. Appreciate that folks care
Master Planning — I asked Bob if cypress trees and cat-tails. enough to propagate, cultivate, and
they have a mission statement and a All three native Texas areas have display plants from around the state
master plan to manage such a large healthy understory. Typical life-cycle and the world for our common
expanse. Their stated mission is: is demonstrated by keeping some enjoyment.
“Connecting people to the plant downed and/or decaying trees, The San Antonio Botanical
world through experience, educa- attracting lots of birdlife, including Gardens is located north of Ft. Sam
tion, and research.” My experience, waterfowl at the pond. — 555 Funston at N. New Braunfels
even in the winter, was great. Ave.Visit their occasional plant sales
Education includes areas where Management Choices — While there for interesting garden materials.
children and adults in various orga- have been significant removals of — H.A. Tony Wood, President
Bexar Tracks 2 March-April 2007
M a p t o Cowl es Li f e S cie nc es Buil di ng, Tri ni t y Univ er s i ty, wes t of Hig hwa y 281 F i r s t S a t u r da y H i k e s
The first Saturday of each
month, San Antonio Natural
Areas Program of the San
Antonio Parks and Recreation
Department holds a hike at one
Chapman
of the Natural Areas. Contact
Library Laurie
(210)565-6400 for the schedule,
Cowles
locations, and reservations.
E a r t h S h a r e ? W h a t a b ou t i t ?
Earth Share of Texas raises money for environmental
and conservation organizations through workplace giv-
ing. If your employer participates in such programs,
please ask them (if they don’t already) to add Earth
Share to your giving options. When you and your co-
workers designate the Audubon Foundation of Texas
(AFT), Bexar Audubon Society can benefit. BAS
receives credit for our support of Earth Share — getting
the word out and promoting participation. Then BAS
receives funding annually from AFT. Want more info?
1-800-GREENTEX or ESTX@earthshare-texas.org
March-April 2007 3 Bexar Tracks
Help Stop A ntif reeze Poisoning ing a bittering agent to be added Na tur e Ques t 2007
Over the last fifteen years, three to all antifreeze sold in the U.S. The 8th annual nature festival
states have successfully passed Until then, protect curious crit- offers an exciting opportunity to
legislation requiring that a bitter- ters from antifreeze’s sweet—but
get acquainted with the beauti-
ing agent be added to ethylene deadly—spell:
ful Texas Hill Country River
glycol antifreeze to make it 1. Switch to antifreeze that con-
tains propylene glycol instead of Region of Uvalde County. This
unpalatable for wild and domes-
tic animals and children. Other ethylene glycol. year’s event will be held April
states have considered similar 2. Keep antifreeze sealed and 24-29.
laws, but they have failed to pass. away from animals; clean up See www.thcrr.com/index.cfm
The Antifreeze Bittering Act of spills completely, and fix any for descriptions of field trips,
2005 (S. 1110 and H.R. 2567), now leaks immediately. (From workshops, seminars, and other
being considered in Washington, w w w .hsus.org/ pets/ pet_ca re/ a nti activities and to download a reg-
would trump state laws by requir- freez e.html) istration form.
Tex a s Spr i ngs : Pr otect i on, Res t or a t i on & Stewa r ds hi p
Friday, March 30 • Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Austin
A tt wa ter ’s Pr a i r i e Chi ck en
Environmental Defense is focus- • Regional and state-level ground-
ing its annual state-wide water water-management efforts and
Fes ti v a l at the National Wildlife
conference on, arguably, our state’s how these affect and can be Refuge, off IH-10 near Eagle
most precious and at-risk water used to protect springflows Lake, east of Columbus, Texas.
resources: our springs. • Testimonials from spring owners Dates: April 14-15
As our state’s population and and caretakers on how they’ve Activities: various van and walk-
water demands grow, we must built relationships for protection ing tours focused on prairie
manage groundwater resources — and managed their land to chickens, marsh birds, general
especially our springs — soundly. restore and protect flows birding, and native plants.
With the majority of our springs • Tools and financial resources For more information, call the
located on private property, the available to landowners to pro- Attwater’s Prairie Chicken NWR
roles of steward, caretaker, and tect and restore springflows at (979)234-3021.
advocate fall to landowners and • Ins and outs of springflows from
the local community. Travel to the Edwards Aquifer
Austin for a day of stimulating dis- More information, including the N ew R ep o r t M e a s u r es
cussions including: full agenda and registration form, B e n e f i t s o f Pa r k s
• The history and diversity of are located at www.texaswater- The Texas Parks and Recreation
Texas springs matters.org/conference_ Foundation has released a new
• The Florida Springs Initiative: springs_march30-2007.htm report by economist Ray
www.floridasprings.org Perryman showing that local
parks contribute billions to
W ho’s W ha t ?
Texas’s economy and help cre-
a n d how t o c o n t a c t t he m ate tens of thousands of jobs.
Pr es id ent , To ny W oo d — 210-492-4684 — tonywood@sbcglobal.net The report includes detailed
VP & W ebmaster, Har ry Noyes — 210-490-3124 — harrynoyes@satx.rr.com
numbers for every metro area in
Tr ea s u r er, Ca r y l Swa nn — 210-653-2860 — cjswann1@earthlink.net
Texas.
Secr et a r y, Ji l l Son deen — 830-980-2377 — jls2003@gvtc.com
A t - l a r ge: K a r a R y f — 503-803-2856 — kararyf@hotmail.com HB 6, introduced in the Texas
A my L . W h i tl ey — 210-340-0114 — nueces66@yahoo.com Legislature, would increase
K at hy I k er d — kathy@wordwright.com funding for state and local parks
Ed i to r, Sus a n Hugh es — 210-532-2032 — editor@bexaraudubon.org by more than $90 million. HB 6
Pr ogr ams /Out i ngs , Pa tt y Pa s z t or —210-824-1235 — information can be viewed at
pasztor@ix.netcom.com www.ca pi t ol .s t a t e.t x .us
Bexar Tracks 4 March-April 2007
M i t chel l L a k e A udubon Center Pr ogr a ms — www.mitchelllakeaudubon.org
Sa t ur da y, M a r ch 17 — The A r t of Na t ur e Fa mi l y Pr ogr a m
Visual arts activities led by local arts educators from the Mobile Arts Program (MAP) of the Young
Artist Programs (YAP) of the Southwest School of Art & Craft.
10 am-noon: Paper Freshwater Fish
Noon-2: Drawing Bugs & Flowers
2-4 pm: Mobiles with Natural Materials
Come for one session or all three! FREE, reservations required: Call (210)628-1639.
Sa t ur da y, M a r ch 24 — Pa pel Pi ca do W or k s hop — 9a m- noon
Artist/author Kathleen Trenchard has developed original cut-paper applica-
tions of this most unusual technique of “punching paper.” She designed the
distinctive T-shirt for Mitchell Lake! You will learn about the technique at this
hands-on workshop.
Papel picado, “punched paper” in Spanish, describes the traditional Mexican
folk art used to decorate altars, tables, ceilings, and plazas during festivals.
Papel picado artists use hammer and chisel to punch designs out of stacks of
up to forty layers of tissue at once. copyright © Kathleen Trenchard
Registration and pre-payment required: $30 for Mitchell Lake Audubon
Center members, $35 for non-members (includes all materials). Call (210)628-1639.
Sa t ur da y, A pr i l 21 — St a r r y, St a r r y Ni ght s — 6- 8:30 pm
Evening program of stargazing and astronomy education provided by the San Antonio Astronomical
Association. Admission free; reservations required.
Sa t ur da y, A pr i l 28 — Bi r di ng 101 f or K i ds — 9- 11a m
Morning birding classes for children to learn about bird identification, behavior, and habitat.
Admission free; reservations required.
Make checks payable to “Bexar Audubon Society” and mail to the address above.
$__________for subscription(s) $_______ additional donation