Mar-Apr 2008.Qxp:Jul 97 Issue

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Volume XXVI, No. 2

March-April 2008

BexarAudubonSocietyis a chapter of theNational Audubon

Society. Its primarygoals are to promotespecies and habitat

conservation and envi-ronmental educationin the community.

Wildscaping: Landscaping to Benefit Wildlife

Thursday, March 136:30PM gathering; 6:45 announcements; 7:00 programTrinity University Cowles Life Sciences Building, Room 149 (see map, p. 4) Free; open to the public

Bexar TracksFor the latest news & updates, see http://www.bexaraudubon.org & http://www.sa-naturecenter.org

Native plants and special features can create a beautiful land-scape that invites wildlife to your backyard. Attracting butterflies

and hummingbirds with nectar-rich flowers is easy. Adding othersimple components will make your yard a haven forfrogs, lizards, songbirds, and some small mammals.Landscaping to benefit wildlife can start withputting out a birdbath or planting a fruit-bearingnative shrub. Its not difficult to be successful, and

youll be amazed at the types of wildlife you canattract to your property. Come learn what featuresto incorporate and some common plants that willopen your back door to a world of wildlife and evenachieve a certified backyard habitat (even in yourfront yard).

Judit Green graduated from Texas A&M inWildlife & Fisheries Science and has worked for

Texas Parks & Wildlife for 19 years. She has been

the Urban Wildlife Biologist for San Antonio for 13 years and nowoffices at Government Canyon State Natural Area.

Judit conducts educational outreach to the public (adults andyouth) through continuing education classes, presen-tations, workshops, booths, and technical guidanceassistance (i.e., one-on-one). The Texas WildscapeProgram is a tool to offer advice to homeowners,schools, and businesses. Judit works with other localagencies and organizations with common goals tominimize habitat loss and encourage use of native

vegetation to preserve local natural resources.

The Urban Wildlife Office sponsors the Alamo AreaChapter of the Texas Master Naturalist VolunteerProgram, and provides guidance to volunteers assist-ing the Department with educational outreach. Shesa contributing author and photographer to the book:Texas Wildscapes: Gardening for Wildlife.

Thursday, April 10, time and location as above

Monarchs Ask: What Is a Garden?Kip Kiphart, an active Texas Master Naturalist,

heads the Monarch Larval Monitoring Project inKendall County.

Active involvement with the Native Plant Societyof Texas and monarch research at Cibolo NatureCenter have shaped Kips perspective on landstewardship. A retired heart surgeon living near

Boerne, he claims his interest in native plants ishereditary; he got it from his son Tim.

Monarchs Ask: What Is a Garden? presents aneclectic approach to sustainable sub-urban-sub-rural gardening employing basic ecological prin-ciples. The presentation explores value judgments

on gardening and wildlife and encourages garden-ing for a purpose. You may want to create aMonarch Waystation (registered through theUniversity of Kansas) or become a citizen scien-tist for the Monarch Larval Monitoring Project(University of Minnesota).

Kip and Junes butterfly/hummingbird garden is

on the Cibolo Nature CenterBoerne NativePlant Societys Fall Tour of Yards.

Engage with Kips enthusiasm and love of theseamazing and special critters.

Photo by Mike Quinn

May 8 falls during Trinitys final exams, so our May meeting (the final one until fall)will be held on Thursday, May 15. See page 2 for program information.

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Bexar Tracks 2 March-April 2008

Thursday, May 15, time and location as for March & April programsKeeping the Wonder and Doing the Science:

Stewardship in the Natural AreasEvery day amazing things happen: a Golden-cheeked

Warbler that may be just a year old begins his/her flight

from Guatemala to San Antonio; or a bracted twistflowerseed barely larger than a speck of dust finds a way to ger-minate through rocky soil. Its the challenge of a biologistto be detached enough to study such treasures objectively,while at the same time to continue to be in awe.

Wendy Cooley, Park Naturalist, a biologist with the Cityof San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department, will

share images of some of the natural wonders of our CitysNatural Areas. She will also talk about research beingdone in the Natural Areas and show off some researchequipment.

Follow this with a Saturday morning hike!

Chapter Outing Saturday, May 17 8:30-10:30am Crownridge Canyon Natural AreaFolks interested in possibly seeing a Golden-cheekedWarbler and learning about science-based ecosystemmanagement can come to Crownridge Canyon NaturalArea. After walking parts of the ADA-accessible RedOak Canyon trail, you may also hike at least part of themoderately difficult Bear Grass Falls trail. Wendy

Cooley, Biologist with the City of San Antonio Parks

and Recreation Natural Areas, will lead the hike andwill show and tell about some of the ways NaturalAreas staff and volunteers manage CrownridgeCanyon's special natural resources. Bring binocularsin case Golden-cheeked Warblers are in the area.Limited to 15 participants. Call Patty at (210)824-1235

for reservations.

In 1886 two men on opposite sides ofthe Atlantic Ocean simultaneouslyinvented the electrolytic method forextracting metallic aluminum from baux-ite. I read somewhere they patentedtheir findings on the same date. TheAmerican Charles Martin Hall won apatent dispute, fortune and eternal glorybecause the court converted the stamp-in times to Greenwich Mean Time and

determined that he was a few minutesahead of the European.

What has this to do with BexarAudubon Society? Only that bright ideasoften pop up in many places when thetime is ripe. In the last Bexar Tracks Ibragged that Bexar Audubon was work-ing on a win-win idea: bringing to SanAntonio the green-roof/green-wallconcept, i.e., installing live gardens onthe roofs and/or walls of buildings to cututility costs, purify the air, temper theheat-island effect, expand usable busi-ness space and even create a tourist

attraction reminiscent of the HangingGardens of Babylon.

At that time, I had already discoveredone other person pursuing the idea,Mario Obledo, who is organizing a non-profit group to foster green roofs. Wewere working together to kick-start theprogram with a one-day workshop forarchitects, builders, government officialsand business owners. The workshop

would be Friday, May 2, as one of theevents in the 2008 WildFest SA.

To my surprise, I have since discoveredthat still other people are working oncool roofs, a somewhat broader rubriccovering reflective roofs as well as vege-tated ones. Indeed, the MetropolitanPartnership for Energy (home of SanAntonios green building program) andCity of San Antonio were already work-

ing together onyou guessed it!aone-day workshop for architects,builders, government officials and busi-ness owners.

Now, Bexar Audubon has longespoused collaborative efforts amonglocal environmental/conservationgroups. We do not want to undermine orcompete with the MPE and City. Wewant to collaborate with them, as wewere with Mario Obledo. Given theirspecial expertise in this area, we havedecided to follow their lead in setting upthe workshop and to support them in

whatever ways we can.For their part, they have decided to

pursue our goal of doing the workshopMay 2, creating synergy with WildFest.Bexar Audubon will help finance theeffort, will help identify expert speakers,and will offer a cash prize for BestGreen Roof as an incentive for busi-nesses, schools, etc., to actually con-

struct vegetated roofs in the comingmonths.

This is just one entry in a busy spring-time. In mid-March, Bexar Audubon willcollaborate with other conservationgroups to staff a how to live greenbooth for a major software firms annualconvention. This was by invitation, folks,reflecting a very heartening fact: thebusiness community is starting to recog-

nize that conservation and the conserva-tion community are resources andeconomic assets, not obstacles and ene-mies.

In April comes Stewardship EarthWeekend and then two weeks laterWildFest. There are details elsewhere inthis newsletter.

Let me just urge you to make theseevents family affairs. Take your kids andgrandkids to Stewardship Earth Weekendat your church, synagogue or mosque tolearn why humans have a duty to pre-serve the beautiful and bountiful Nature

that God has provided. If your house ofworship is not yet participating, urge itto do so. Then, the first weekend in May,take your yourself, your spouse andyour young ones to one or moreWildFest events in order to personallyexperience Natures beauty and bountyand learn more about it.

Harry Noyes

The Unexpected President



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Dr. Ruth Lofgren was appointed asthe first San Antonio Peace Laureateat the annual Blessing of thePeacemakers interfaith ceremony atthe San Antonio peaceCENTER on

Sunday, January 27, 2008. Dr.Lofgren, a 91-year-old microbiolo-gist, has always prioritized her lifearound issues of the environmentbut is now focusing on issues ofconsciousness and inner life, raisingquestions of how we as humans canbe our best selves amidst the socialdisease of exploitation that seemsto be threatening this planet and allliving beings. As the 2008 PeaceLaureate, Dr. Lofgren will be hon-ored for her wisdom and experienceand will be available to speak to

schools, faith communities, civicgroups, and the media about hervision for peace and justice.Inquiries should be directed to thepeaceCENTER (210)224-HOPE.

Bexar Audubon congratulates Dr.Lofgren on this well-deserved recog-nition. Ruth has been a long-timeactive member of BAS, as well asone of the hardest working propo-nents of Mitchell Lake, now anAudubon Center.

Old-Time Mosquito RemedyMay Work Against Ticks, TooFrom an article by Luis Pons,

January 26, 2007

Regional wisdom passed on longago to a boy who grew up to be anAgricultural Research Service (ARS)scientist could lead to the nextbreakthrough against mosquitoes.

Charles T. Bryson was told by hisgrandfather that fresh, crushedleaves of American beautyberry,Callicarpa americana, helped keepbiting insects away from draft ani-mals. It was known among folks innortheastern Mississippi during theearly 20th century that placing thecrushed leaves under an animalsharness would mash out a repellentoil. Eventually, some people therestarted mashing the leaves and rub-bing the residue on their own skins.

Chemist Charles Cantrell studied theAmerican beautyberry to see what itis about it that mosquitoes don't likeand, with others, isolated severalinsect-repelling compounds, includ-

ing callicarpenal. ARS recentlydeveloped SS220, a repellent thatsjust as effective as DEET, theworlds most-used insect repellent.Tests were conducted against themosquito species Aedes aegypti,which is best known as the yellow-fever mosquito, and Anopheles

stephensi,which spreadsmalaria in Asia.

A provisionalpatent applica-tion has beensubmitted; tox-icity trials willprecede anytesting onhumans.

Image: www.prairie.mt.gov

Human Impacts on the OceansThe Philanthropy News Digest report-ed on an article from the journalScience, that human activities have

affected approximately 40 percent ofthe world's oceans, leaving onlyabout 4 percent relatively pris-tine.The study, funded by the Davidand Lucile Packard Foundation, theNational Center for EcologicalAnalysis and Synthesis, and theNational Science Foundation finds,documents how human activitiesand by-products such as fishing,fertilizer runoff, commercial ship-ping, and pollution have affectedmarine ecosystems, continentalshelves, and the deep ocean. The

findings have been incorporated in afirst-of-its-kind, high-resolution,global map reflecting seventeentypes of impact on marine ecosys-tems. The conclusion: No areas ofthe ocean are completely untouchedby human activities, and roughlyone-third of all ocean areas havebeen heavily impacted.

Ocean areas most affected byhuman impact include the NorthSea, the South and East China Seas,the Caribbean Sea, the AtlanticOcean along the east coast of North

America, the Mediterranean Sea, theRed Sea, the Persian Gulf, the BeringSea, and parts of the westernPacific. Damage includes reductionsin fish and sea animals, as well asproblems for coral reefs, seagrassbeds, mangroves, rocky reefs andshelves, and seamounts. The areasleast affected by human activitiesare concentrated near the poles,although those areas increasinglyare being affected by climatechange.

For the full report: foundationcen-ter.org/pnd/news/story.jhtml?id=204300012

Energy Source of Northern LightsFound

According to a December 11reportfrom San Francisco, Scientists thinkthey have discovered the energysource of the spectacular color dis-plays seen in the northern lights.New data from NASA's Themis mis-sion, a quintet of satellites launchedthis winter, found the energy comesfrom a stream of charged particlesfrom the sun flowing like a currentthrough twisted bundles of magneticfields connecting Earth's upperatmosphere to the sun.news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071211/ap_on_sc/northern_lights

Bat NewsResearch reported by TPWD showsbats suppress agricultural insectpests, saving farmers millions of dol-lars in avoided pesticide costs and

better crop yields. Although thestudy area focuses on eight countiesin Texas, scientists say insect sup-pression by bats benefits farmers upinto the Midwest and Canada, andthat this underscores the need toprotect large bat colonies and pro-mote public education and bat eco-tourism.

March-April 2008 3 Bexar Tracks

News & Information



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Cowles

Cowles is just uphill from the Laurie Auditoriumand between the Library and the ChapmanGraduate Center. Park by the Laurie or inlots or on streets to the west. Handicappedparking is across from Cowles. Enter fromOakmont or Rosewood. Call Patty for addition-al directions (210)824-1235 or see additionalmap at bexaraudubon.org/map.jpg

LaurieLibrary

Chapman

Map to Cowles Life Sciences Building, Trinity University, west of Highway 281

Earth Share of Texas raises money for environmen-tal and conservation organizations through workplace

giving. If your employer participates in such pro-grams, please ask them (if they dont already) to addEarth Share to your giving options. By designating theAudubon Foundation of Texas (AFT), Bexar AudubonSociety can benefit. BAS receives credit for our sup-port getting the word out and promoting participa-tion. Then BAS receives funding annually from AFT.Want more info? 1-800-GREENTX, [email protected], or www.earthshare-texas.org

Native Plants of the SanAntonio Riverby Patty LesliePasztor

A delightful and informative articleappears in the Winter issue ofRiverReach, the newsletter of the SanAntonio River Authority. Read it at

http://www.sara-tx.org/site/public_info/river-reach.html

The article covers some of ourfavorite plants with their physicaldescriptions, ranges, and ethnobot-tanical characteristics. Lovely photosaccompany the article.

A naturalist and botanical consul-tant, Patty is co-author ofTexasTreesA Friendly Guide. We are for-tunate that she is also program andoutings chairman for Bexar

Audubon.Learn about other interesting andhelpful publications of the RiverAuthority by scanning the pages ofRiver Reach.

Texas Plant InformationDatabase (TPID)tpid.tpwd.state.tx.us/

TPID contains extensive informationabout native and a few selectednaturalized plants that have valuefor landscape restoration, especially

erosion control and wildlife use.The database is structured to allowthe user the opportunity to queryand select best-suited plant speciesbased on specific site characteristicsand management objectives, whichcould vary from individual yardplantings to large area restoration.

Listed species include trees, shrubs,vines, forbs, grasses, and marshplants and, when planted in appro-priate associations, can provide veg-etated landscapes similar to thosethat naturally occur in Texas.

Whos What? and how to contact themPresident & Webmaster, Harry Noyes 210-490-3124

[email protected], Caryl Swann 210-653-2860 [email protected], Anita Anderson 210-533-8726 [email protected]: Kara Ryf 503-803-2856 [email protected]

Amy L. Whitley 210-340-0114 [email protected] Ikerd [email protected]

Editor, Susan Hughes 210-532-2032 [email protected]/Outings,Patty Pasztor210-824-1235

[email protected]


San Antonio

AudubonBeginnersBirdwalk EachSecond Saturday ofthe month at 8am.Begins at the JudsonNature Trails Housenext to the AlamoHeights SwimmingPool on Viesca St.Info at (210)342-2073. Binocularsavailable to lend.

Report your birdsightings to SanAntonio AudubonSocietys Birdline at(210)308-6788.

www.saaudubon.org

NOTE: If you change address or cancelmembership, you do NOT need to con-tact Bexar Audubon but MUST contactNational Audubon (and we will auto-matically get the change when wedownload labels). Save yourself timeand energy and contact NAS at theaddress or phone # listed in the frontofAudubon magazine.



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First Saturday Walks, 9-11am

The first Saturday of each month,the San Antonio Natural AreasProgram of the San Antonio Parks

and Recreation Department holdsa natural and cultural history inter-pretive walk at one of the NaturalAreas. Contact (210)564-6400 forthe schedule, locations, and reser-

vations. $2 per person donationsuggested. Limited to 15 personsper hike.

March 1 Friedrich WildernessPark, 21395 Milsa.

April 5 Crownridge CanyonNatural Area, 7222 Luskey.

Second Saturday Programs atEisenhower Park

Co-sponsored by SA Parks andRecreation Natural Areas Programand Bexar Audubon. Reservationsrequired; details occasionallychange. Call (210)564-6400. $3each or $5 per family donationsuggested.www.sanaturalareas.org

Eisenhower Park, Harris (MassPavilion), 19399 NW Military Hwy.

Take FM 1535/Military Hwy exit offLoop 1604 on the citys northwestside. Go north on FM 1535/MilitaryHwy for 2 miles. Park entrance ison the left, just before CampBullis. Program is in the largegated pavilion.

March 8 Star Party 6:30-8:30pm View featuresof the wintersky. The showgoes on even

with clouds.

The SAAstronomicalAssociation has great videos and willstill have some telescopes set up.Gates open at 6pm.

April 12 Friedrich Park (notelocation!!) 10:00am12:00 noonDo you enjoy watching the birds in

your yard outside the window

squabbling over a seed, splashing ina puddle, or cruising around theflowers? Why are humans so inter-ested in birds?? Explore your interestand learn the basics of binocular useand bird identification. Bring yourfamily (children 7 and over) and join

Tom and Patsy Inglet for this greatprogram. Bring your own binocularsor we will have a few pairs to loan.

March 8 Volunteer workday atRancho Diana 8:30am-12:30pmHelp remove exotic plants. ContactWendy Cooley (210)372-9124 forinformation and access to the prop-erty. [email protected]

Mitchell Lake Audubon Center

10750 Pleasanton Road, SanAntonio, TX 78221, (210)628-1639; [email protected]

Birding Tours

Every 2nd Tuesday morning of themonth; every Wednesday from4:30 pm until dusk; every 2ndSunday at 8am; every 3rd Sundayat 8am. $5 per person. No reserva-tion necessary, however, pleasecall to confirm since times may

vary by season.March 8-9 RandolphRoadrunners Walking Clubs 10k

Walk Start 8-12 each day; fin-ish 3pm each dayAdmission: $2(to MLAC). For more information,contact Ellen Ott (210) 525-8574or [email protected].

March 15 Monarchs, Milkweed,& More! (Part II) 1-4pm Learnabout Monarch Butterfly migration,biology, and ecology, and about

their host plant, milkweed. In thenational "Monarch LarvalMonitoring Project" (MLMP) citi-zens and scientists work togetherto collect long-term data. MLMP issponsored by the University ofMinnesota and with your help,Mitchell Lake Audubon Center canbecome a permanent site for

MLMP. Admission: Free, but reser-vations are required.

March 22 Starry, Starry Nights 8-10pmThe San Antonio

Astronomical Association will pro-vide telescopes to view the nightskies and learn about astronomy.Bring chairs. Admission free, butreservations are required.

April 5 Words for Birds/AReading of Poems and ProseAbout Nature and theEnvironment 9am-12:30pm

Join us for a Birding Walk begin-ning at 9am; at 11am a reading oforiginal work and the works ofmasters of nature writing an

open reading, coordinated by JimLaVilla-Havelin Readers include:Naomi Nye, Jim LaVilla-Havelin,

John Brantley, Jenny Browne,Ignacio Magaloni, Mobi Warren,Cyra Dumitru, and Martha K. Grant.

If you are interested in participat-ing in the reading, please contactSusan Albert at the Center.Admission is free, but reservationsare required.

April 12 Beginning Birding 9-

11 A class for all ages. In prepara-tion for our annual Birdathon weare offering a class with Audubon

Texas Director of Conservation Dr.Andrew Kasner. Learn more aboutbirding, bird identification, andhow to get the most enjoymentout of this interesting pur-suit.Recommendations on fieldguides and information on how touse your binoculars will be offered.

Admission is free, but reservationsare are required.

April 12-13 2008 AttwaterPrairie Chicken Festival AttwaterPrairie Chicken National WildlifeRefuge south of IH-10 betweenSan Antonio and Houston. Prairie-chicken viewing, van, bird-walking,marsh-birding, and native-plants

walking tours. For directions and

Events




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more information call (979)234-3021.www.fws.gov/southwest/refu

ges/texas/attwater/index.html

April 16 Water: The New

Frontier and Other Secrets ofGreen Living 7-9pm Where andhow did we depart from a friendlyrelationship with our natural envi-ronment? Architect Stephen Colleyof the Build San Antonio GreenProgram shares his insight abouthow San Antonians can be on theforefront of changing course with-out making sacrifices in our com-fort. Come learn about thegreenest things we can do to envi-ronmentally-improve where we live

today! This cutting-edge workshopwill focus primarily on waterissues, such as efficiency and mul-tiple usage and energy conserva-tion and air quality as they relateto water issues. Admission is free,but reservations are required.

April 18 From Policy to Reality:Advanced Urban WaterConservation in Texas 8:30am-4:00pm. 8th Annual State-wideWater Conference. Lady Bird

Johnson Wildflower Center, Austin,

Texas. $35 registration fee includeslunch and conference materials.Advance registration required.texaswatermatters.org/state_water

_conference_2008.htm

April 19 Clean Dirt: TheImportance of Soil Quality for

Water Conservation 2-4pmThequality of soil in your yard canhave a big impact on water conser-

vation. Malcolm Beck of Garden-ville Nursery and UTSAs Science

Advisory Board discusses theimportance of soil quality to waterconservation and air quality. Learnhow you can make a difference in

your own backyard, agriculturalfield, or garden. Mr. Beck sharestips and methods for ideal soilcomposition, including no-till agri-culture & composting. Admission is

free, but reservations are required.

May 3 Mitchell Lake AudubonCenter 2008 Birdathon! Its thattime again. Our Birdathon goal for

2008 is $10,000, and every bit large or small helps! (Its also aLOT of fun.) Join us as we raisepledges and funds while we birdand explore. You can participate asa birder or sponsor. You dontneed to be a birding expert!Knowledgeable individuals will beon hand to help lead birders. Call628-1638 to sign up to bird,pledge to sponsor a birder, or formore information.

April 29 During Cibolo Nature

Centers Wildlife Research Days,Kip Kiphart will presentMonarchs, Milkweed andMonarch Larval MonitoringProject 9am-12 noon AND

May 3 Monarch LarvalMonitoring Project Back PorchReview 9:30am-12 noon. Ifinterested in participating, email

[email protected]

Government Canyon StateNatural Area

12861 Galm Road, San Antonio TX78254, (210)688-9055

March 8 8:30am Hike theCanyon

March 15-16 9:30am Explorethe Canyon

March 22, 11am-noon and 2-3pm Family Fun Hike,

San Antonio River AuthorityGuided Nature Hikes

For more information: (210)227-1373 or (866)345-7272;

www.sara-tx.org.

March 1 9-11am DiscoverNative Plants, Braunig Lake Park

March 15 9-11am Scat andTracks, Jackson Nature Park onCibolo Creek

April 5 9-11am Wildflowers

and Butterflies, Calaveras LakePark

April 19 9-11am Wildflowersand Butterflies,Jackson Nature

ParkMay3 9-11am Wildflowersand Butterflies, Braunig Lake Park(in conjunction with WildFest)

May 17 9-11am DiscoverNative Plants,Jackson Nature Park

Guided hikes are free to partici-pants but park entry admissionfees do apply. Admission toBraunig and Calaveras Lake Parksis good at both parks for the wholeday: adults $4, youth 6-15 $2, 5

and under free.Ad mission atJackson Nature Park $1 per person.Guided hikes are easy and nomore than 1.5 miles. Wear sturdyclosed-toed shoes for walking andbring water. Trails are not accessi-ble and hikes are not suitable for

very small children.

March 27-29 Texas TropicsNature Festival McAllen.www.mcallencvb.com

May 15-18 Dragonfly Days Weslaco.

www.valleynaturecenter.orgOctober 24 Generations on theLand: Working for LandStewardshipTexas A&M Universitywww.generationsontheland.com

April 1 Texas AgriLifeExtension Services TexasBrigades applications due. RollingPlains Bobwhite Brigade, June 14-18, Centennial Lodge, Coleman. South Texas Bobwhite Brigade,

June 22-26, 74 Ranch,Campbellton. Bass Brigade, July7-11, Buchanan Dam, Marble Falls. South Texas Buckskin Brigade,

July 13-17, La Bandera, CarrizoSprings. North Texas BuckskinBrigade, July 20-24, Stasneys CookRanch, Albany. East TexasFeathered Forces Brigade, July 27-31, Pine Island, Lufkin. Call HelenHoldsworth at (800)TEX-WILD orwww.texasbrigades.com

Events,continued



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Stewardship Earth & WildfestSan Antonio 2008We have a special Spring seasonon the way, with two major con-servation-related events BexarAudubon Society membersshould be sure to support andto enjoy. While they may seemquite different, we encourage

you to think of them as a pack-age and to save the date forboth.First: Stewardship Earth

Weekend, April 18-20 A multi-faith celebration of Gods cre-ation for those who believe theenvironment is a blessing fromGod and it is mans duty to safe-

guard that treasure even as webenefit from the use of its fruits.Stewardship Earth 2008 isscheduled just before Earth Dayon April 22. Throughout the

weekend, on their various holydays, the many faiths of SanAntonio will pursue a common,concentrated focus on the stew-ardship of the Earth, throughbulletin inserts, prayers, homi-lies, and religious-school classesto remind their members that

we have a duty to save Gods

creation, the worlds beauty andresources, for Gods children ofthe future.We urge Bexar Audubon mem-bers to participate at their hous-es of worship. If you arent sure

your congregation will partici-pate, ask. If need be, encourage

your leaders to join in and thenwork to help them organize theevent. For more information,

visit: www.solarsanantonio.org/StewardshipEarth.htm

Just two weeks later comes ourcommunitys civic celebration ofNature,WildFest San Antonio,May 2-4.

The first WildFest occurred lastMay, an event of historical signif-icance. For the first time, the SanAntonio business communityand the San Antonio environ-

mental/conservation communityworked together on a major ini-tiative to boost nature tourismand nature education. The rosterof events was world-class, rang-

ing from excursions to theBracken Cave bat emergence tobirding tours at Mitchell Lake,seminars on nature photogra-phy, and native plants. ClearlySan Antonio can compete withthe countrys best festivals, as faras activities and leaders.WildFest combines a nature-tourism goal and a local nature-education goal. The events areattractive to both audiences andthe availability of events isample to serve both audiences.We urge you to put WildFest on

your calendar, both as volun-teers to lead activities or toassist with administrative sup-port and as participants, to learnfrom and enjoy the activities thatappeal to you.

Track WildFest plans by checkingout the WildFest website atwww.wildfestsanantonio.comOnline registration makes it easi-er to reserve early for ones pre-ferred activities.

If you have friends who want tovisit SA this year, urge them tocome during this special week-end and participate in WildFestactivities.See this as a packagebeinspired by Gods love for natureduring Stewardship Earth 2008,then by nature itself at WildFest.Encourage your fellow worship-pers to do the same.And by the way, use both ofthese events to promote family

togetherness. After worshippingtogether on Stewardship Earthweekend, take your children orgrandchildren to a few of themany fun and educationalevents being offered on WildFestSan Antonio weekend.

Harry Noyes

What if?An article in the recent issue ofOrion magazine, investigates thescenario: If Nature Had Rights,

What would people need to giveup? Find this excerpt from thebookWild Law: A Manifesto forEarth Justice by Cormac Cullinan atOrions website:www.orionmagazine.org/index.php

/articles/article/500/

Two excerpts from the article:

On September 19, 2006, theTamaqua Borough of SchuylkillCounty, Pennsylvania, passed asewage sludge ordinance that recog-nizes natural communities andecosystems within the borough as

legal persons for the purposes ofenforcing civil rights. It also stripscorporations that engage in the landapplication of sludge of their rightsto be treated as persons and con-sequently of their civil rights. One ofits effects is that the borough or anyof its residents may file a lawsuit onbehalf of an ecosystem to recovercompensatory and punitive damagesfor any harm done by the land appli-cation of sewage sludge. Damagesrecovered in this way must be paidto the borough and used to restore

those ecosystems and natural com-munities.

In the face of climate change andother enormous environmental chal-lenges, our future as a speciesdepends on those people who arecreating the legal and politicalspaces within which our connectionto the rest of our community hereon Earth is recognized. The day willcome when the failure of our lawsto recognize the right of a river toflow, to prohibit acts that destabilize

Earths climate, or to impose a dutyto respect the intrinsic value andright to exist of all life will be as rep-rehensible as allowing people to bebought and sold. We will only flour-ish by changing these systems andclaiming our identity, as well asassuming our responsibilities, asmembers of the Earth community.


Events & Ideas



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Non-profitOrganization

U.S. Postage PaidSan Antonio, TX

Permit #590

Bexar Audubon Society, Inc.P.O. Box 6084

San Antonio, TX 78209-0084

Membership and Support for

Your Environmental Voice in Our Community

Bexar Audubon welcomes new members to join Audubon through the chapter. This brings 100 percentof the first-years dues directly back to support local work. The same applies to gift memberships placedthrough the chapter. Your additional tax-deductible donation is greatly appreciated. Bexar Audubonreceives only a few thousand dollars each year from National Audubon Society as dues share. The restwe must raise ourselves. Your help is needed, and your donations will be put to good use right here inSouth Central Texas to provide environmental news and education to the community, including thenewsletter, programs, San Antonio Environmental Network Issues Forums, Second Saturday programs,and other activities you may or may not hear about.

Individual introductory memberships are $20; seniors and students join for $15.Please provide the following information for each personal subscription or gift:

Name __________________________________________________________________________________

Mailing Address with ZIP code______________________________________________________________

AC & Phone________________________________e-mail ________________________________________Do you wish to opt out of other mailings by Audubon or those with whom it shares lists? ___yes ___noMake checks payable to Bexar Audubon Society and mail to the address above.Enclosed: $__________for subscription(s) $_______ additional donation

NOTE: Renewals should be sent directly to National Audubon Society.

Bexar Tracksis the official

newsletter of the Bexar

Audubon Society, a Chapter of

the National Audubon Society.

The Chapters primary goals

are to promote species and

habitat conservation and envi-ronmental education in the

community.

Your membership includes

National Audubon and Bexar

Audubon and subscriptions to

Audubon and Bexar Tracks. TheEconomyisawhollyownedsubsidiaryoftheEnviro

nment.TimWirth



Documents

Mar-Apr 2008.Qxp:Jul 97 Issue