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Volume XXIV, No. 2

March-April 2006

Bexar Audubon Societyis a chapter of theNational AudubonSociety. Its primary

goals are to promotespecies and habitat

conservation and envi-ronmental educationin the community.

Mow It or Grow It?You may have seen billboards proclaiming, Mow it dont grow it! They

tout the citys landscape ordinance, which requires property owners tocontrol vegetation on their land. But, wait a minute! Dont Texas Parks &Wildlife and the San Antonio Water System support wildscaping, main-taining natural vegetation in our yards as habitat for birds, beneficialinsects, and other urban wildlife and to minimize landscape watering?So, can the city fine me for doing what others encourage me to do?Good question. Indeed, what are the rules? Confusion and contradictions

prevail. Whether wildlife- and water-friendly natural vegetation is yours tochoose can even depend upon your neighbors attitudes.

Our panelists,Judit Green, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department urbanbiologist; Steven Lopez, San Antonio City Code Compliance Departmenttraining officer; Mark Peterson, Texas Forest Service; Manuel Flores,gardening expert and broadcaster; and Richard Alles, Citizens TreeCoalition, will explore the conflict, real or apparent, between old-stylevegetation regulation and the newfangled wildscaping movement. Thediscussion will help clarify the rules, identify the contradictions, andstimulate consideration of ordinance amendments.

Thursday, March 9 6:30pm gathering; 6:45 announcements; 7:00 programSan Antonio Environmental Network Public Issues Forum

Trinity University Cowles Life Sciences Building (see map, page 2) Free; open to the public

Second Saturday Program

March 11, 10-11:30am

Eisenhower Park

Long, Long AgoLynn Yakubik, Legacy Program Coordinator,Center for Archaeological Research, UTSA

Lynn will guide us on a virtual tour of his-toric and prehistoric Texas from a humanperspective. Learn about the lifeways ofindigenous peoples and others who livedhere before us. There will be artifacts toexamine and you can even practice throw-ing an atlatl. What is an atlatl? Come to theprogram and find out.

Reservations are recommended. Call210-698-1057. Suggested donation: $3per individual or $5 per family.

Harris (Mass) Pavilion, 19399 NWMilitary Hwy. Take FM 1535/Military

Highway/Shavano Park exit off Loop 1604on the citys northwest side. Go north 2miles. Park entrance is on the left, justbefore Camp Bullis. The pavilion is thegated one to the right. Gates open at9:30am.

Second Saturday Programs are a coop-erative venture of the San Antonio NaturalAreas and Bexar Audubon Society.

On January 21, cloudy skies preventedSecond Saturday attendees from observ-ing the celestial bodies, but the SA

Astronomical Association presented anengaging program to 10 children, 13adults, and a pack of coyotes that beganhowling midway through the program.Videos, facilitated by association mem-bers, explored astronomy in general, theNew Horizons mission to Pluto, Stardustmission that collected particles fromcomets, Hubble photos, and CosmicVoyage. A highlight was viewing a pieceof aerogel like that used to collect duston the Stardust mission. Thanks to SAAA.

Bexar Tracks

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

Thursday, April 6 Bexar Audubon Program(same location and times as above)

Medina River Natural AreaPast to Present: Jewel of the South Side

Gail Dugelby, Medina River Nature Preserve OfficerThis new 364-acre natural area is a gorgeous and peaceful refuge on thesite of the old proposed Applewhite Reservoir. Open to the public for ayear, it comprises two distinct areas. On the north is a large covered pavil-ion, park headquarters, and 2.5 miles of trails lined by large pecan,cypress, and cottonwood trees. Picnic and camping areas are to the southPlans are for the park to lead past another large natural area, the newToyota plant, the Land Heritage Institute, Mitchell Lake, and the futurehome of Texas A&M, before ending at Mission Espada.

Follow up this introduction to the Medina River Natural Area with

Birding on the Medina River, Saturday April 8, 8am(Details on page 2.)

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Birding on the Medina Rive(continued from page 1)

Join naturalists Gail Dugelby an

Susan Blacker for a leisurely wa

to bird and explore a wonderf

new natural area on the Medin

River. Enjoy a spring hike in tre

lined riparian habitat and disco

er what this jewel on the sou

side has to offer. Call Patty f

reservations at 210-824-123

The Medina River Park off

phone is 210-624-2575.

Directions: Take 35 south aexit 16 (also exit for Poteet anPalo Alto College). This exit is othe left. After a mile you paPalo Alto, then the road passunder loop 410. From here co

tinue 4 miles south on Hwy. 1Get in the left lane and slodown because in .4 miles yo

will immediately cross over thighway to the park entrance othe left. The entrance sign is difcult to see. The crossover before the Medina River bridgeSee map at:http://www.saaudubon.org/Assets/MedinaRiverPark_map.g

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Editorial Comments

Thereve been some

changes made!Welcome back! to BAS president Tony

Wood after a year in Iraq, during which

time VP Harry Noyes served ably in hisstead. Were glad Tonys returned to us,and we really appreciate Harrys leader-ship this past year.

A brand new welcome to board mem-ber at-large Kara Ryf. Kara is from thenorthwest and has moved here to returnto school. She is an enthusiastic newvolunteer with energy and great ideas.

Kara fills a vacancy left when our long-serving treasurer Betty Minyard resignedand Caryl Swann, secretary, becametreasurer. Thanks to Betty for her many

years of service, not only as treasurer,but also as coordinator of our AudubonAdventuresprogram. That program isnow being run by the Mitchell LakeAudubon Center.

When Caryl became treasurer, I

stepped into the secretarys slot frombeing at-large. Now, Jill Sondeen, whohas been our newsletter co-editor forquite a few years (and sole editor sinceTom Wilson moved to Marin County),will soon become secretary, and I haveagreed to take back the editors hat.

Kudos to Jill for doing a wonderful jobwith the newsletter for so many years.Its an important, but gratifying, job com-municating with our members.

A note of appreciation is also due toour other board members, Dean Bibles

and Joe Orr, as well as steadfast voluteers Patty Pasztor, Marge Lumpe, andBlair Richter.

Wed love to include you in the ranksof our volunteers. Contact one of ourboard members to find out how.

Susan Hughes, susan@wordwright.cPresident, Tony Wood 210-493-4684tonywood@sbcglobal.netVP & webmaster, Harry Noyes 210-490-3124 harrynoyes@satx.rr.comTreasurer, Caryl Swann 210-653-286cjswann1@earthlink.netSecretary & editor, Susan Hughes 21532-2032, susan@wordwright.comAt-large: Dean Bibles 210-698-9264dbibles@aol.com;Joe Orr 210-377-06josephorr@aol.com;Kara Ryf kararyf@hotmail.com

CHAPTER NEWS

Cowles

Cowles is just uphill from the Laurie Auditoriumand adjacent to the Library and the ChapmanGraduate Center. Handicapped parking is acrossfrom Cowles. Park by the Laurie or in lots or onstreets to the west. Call Patty for additionaldirections (824-1235) or see additional map atbexaraudubon.org/map.jpg

LaurieLibrary

Chapman

First Saturday Interpretive Walks

emphasize the natural and cultural history of our area.

March 4, 9-11am Walker Ranch Historic Park, 12603 West Ave. Join us for astroll through this former ranch country and learn about its natural history and thatof people who lived there before us.April 1, 9-11am Crownridge Canyon Natural Area, 7222 Luskey. Be among thefirst to visit the newest jewel in the Natural Areas crown.Reservations are highly recommended. Call 210-698-1057. Participation is limit-ed to 15 per hike. For groups of 8 or more, please call to schedule a separate hike.Meet at the restrooms near the parking lot in each park. Suggested donation: $2per person. A program of San Antonio Natural Areas sanaturalareas.org

Wanted! Field Guides!

Learn, share, and enjoy. Training and opportunities available for field guides for the SANatural Areas Parks. Training March 7-9, 9am-noon; mini-training March 11, 1-3pm.Contact Peggy Spring, Park Naturalist, for details: 210-698-1057.

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

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Bexar Tracks 3 March-April 2006

(Additional information available atwww.sa-naturecenter.org/conser-vation/conservation.html)Second Saturdays SAAudubon Societys BeginnersBirdwalk, 8am, each month.

Visitors welcome. Binoculars tolend. Meet at Judson Nature Trailnext to Alamo Heights SwimmingPool on Viesca St. From 5900blk of Broadway, turn west onOgden to Greely St.; turn left oneblock, then right again to parkinglot on the left. 210-342-2073March 10-12 Women of theLand: TWA & TPWD workshopfor women who own or co-ownland, or who are otherwiseinvolved in land management.Franklin Family Ranch, Blanco, TX.www.texas-wildlife.org

March 18 Nature photographysymposium (TMI, 8:30-5:30,$75). Pro-tour launch party(Gallagher Ranch, $50). Imagesfor Conservation Fund & TPWD.

Contact Sam Mason or JohnMartin, 956-381-1264,icfprotour@aol.com,www.imagesforconservation.orgMarch 30-April 2 GalvestonFeather FestApril 5 Trinity University pre-sents Carl N. McDaniel, Wisdomfor a livable planet, Northrup HallRoom 040. Free and open to thepublic. Contact Bea Caraway,

210-999-7292April 8-9 Attwaters PrairieChicken National Wildlife RefugeAnnual Festival

April 29-30 TCONR 27thAnnual Texas Wilderness PowWow, Ratcliff Lake Rec. Area,Davy Crockett National Forest,and Big Slough Wilderness. 512-

441-1122, tconr@texas.netMay 10 Texas EnvironmentalExcellence Awards, TCEQ. 512-239-3150May 18 Overabundant white-tailed deer in Texas: Impacts onpeople, communities, and land.Texas State Univ., San Marcos.7:45am-5pm. $40 until 4/1; $50thereafter. Contact 800-TEX-WILD or www.texas-wildlife.org

Congratulations to Annie Brown,new VP & Executive Director of

Audubon Texas!

MORE EVENTS

Birder, naturalist and authorKenn Kaufman will visit SanAntonio to promote hisnewest book: Gua de campo

Kaufman a las aves denorteamrica, the first-everSpanish field guide to NorthAmerican birds, and to partic-

ipate in Mitchell Lake Audubon Centers Birdathon.Kenn will be signing books on Friday, May 5th at the

Mitchell Lake Audubon Center. There are also opportu-nities to participate in Birdathon and bird with Kenn.The first birders to raise $500 will be able to bird withKenn. For more information please call Susan Albert atMLAC at 628-1639 or email salbert@audubon.org.Kenn is a legend among birders and has perhaps done

more than any other single human being to promote

the appreciation of birds. A birder and naturalist sincechildhood, he left home at the age of sixteen to beginan 80,000-mile cross-country journey aimed at break-ing the record for most avian species sightings in a sin-gle year. Those travels were just the beginning; sincethat time he has led nature tours on all seven conti-nents. A longtime friend and disciple of the late emi-nent birder Roger Tory Peterson, Kaufman is a field edi-tor for Audubon magazine and a regular contributor toevery major birding magazine. He is the youngest per-son ever to receive the highest honor of the AmericanBirding Association, and he has been voted to elective

membership in the prestigious American Ornitholo-gists Union. His books include Lives of North AmericanBirds, Kingbird Highway, The Peterson Field Guideto Advanced Birding, and his own Kaufman Field Guide

series(on North American birds, butterflies, and mammals).

NEW MLAC HOURS ANNOUNCED

Saturdays 8am-4pmSundays 8am-12 noonweekdays by appointment

Regularly scheduled guided birdingtours: 2nd Tuesday, 3rd Sunday, and

4th Saturday of each month at 8am;every Tuesday afternoon pleasecall for departure times: 628-1639

Mitchell Lake Audubon Center10750 Pleasanton Rd.

San Antonio, TX 78221www.tx.audubon.org/mitchell.htmConnecting People with Nature

MITCHELL LAKE AUDUBON CENTER PRESENTS KENN KAUFMAN

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USEFUL NUMBERS please retain for future reference:800-935-2473 National Audubon Membership Assistance210-308-6788 San Antonio Audubon bird sightings recording512-306-0225 Audubon Texas210-698-1709 Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation800-792-GAME Texas Parks & Wildlife warden210-704-7297 San Antonio Water System water waste reports210-281-1478 Soil moisture information

210-225-0505, 830-606-3617 Weather210-467-6575 Gardening questions210-353-2302 CPS home energy audits800-424-8802 Toxic spill reports888-426-4435 Animal Poison Control Center202-224-3121 U.S. Congressional switchboard202-456-1111 Presidents White House comment line210-207-7060 San Antonio Mayors office210-207-7040 San Antonio City Council offices210-335-0180 Bexar County Commissioners Court800-453-SMOG Smoking vehicle hotline TCEQlicense #, date, time, location210-403-4028/4039 Texas Commission on Environmental Quality800-447-2827 Small Business & Local Government Assistance Program, TCE

Other Outdoor & Volunteer Opportunities:SELAH, Bamberger Ranch, Johnson City workshops & tours:830-868-2630, www.bambergerranch.orgCibolo Wilderness, Boerne 830-249-4616, www.cibolo.orgAlamo Chapt Texas Master Naturalist www.alamomasternaturalist.orgBraunig & Calaveras Lake Parks & Nature Trail, CPS/SARA.210-635-8289/635-8359Useful Wild Plants, Inc., producing the 12-volume The Useful Wild Plantof Texas, the Southeastern and Southwestern United States, the SouthernPlains, and Northern Mexico. 512-928-4441, 222.usefulwildplants.org

Non-profitOrganization

U.S. Postage PaSan Antonio, TX

Permit #590

Bexar Audubon Society, Inc.P.O. Box 6084San Antonio, TX 78209-0084

Bexar Tracksis the official newsletterof the Bexar Audubon Society, aChapter of the National Audubon Society.The Chapters primary goals are topromote species and habitat conser-vation and environmental education inthe community.

Introductory memberships to

National Audubon Society (NAS),including a subscription to Audubonmagazine, are $20. This includesmembership in Bexar Audubon, aswell, and a subscription to BexarTracks. Mail your check for $20 ($15for seniors or full-time students) toBexar Audubon at the addressabove. Include:NAME & ADDRESS WITH ZIP CODEPHONE & E-MAIL of the new member.Makes a great gift, too.

If you submit your new or gift member-ship through Bexar Audubon, yourentire first-years dues will benefit thechapter.

Please check if you wish to OPT OUTfrom other mailings using the NASmailing list: _____

Separate donations to BexarAudubon Society are greatly appre-ciated to support the newsletter andexpenses related to our programmingfor the community. As the dues shareto chapters from National Audubonhas been significantly curtailed overthe past several years, your individualdonations to BAS are absolutely vitalto continuing our programs and ser-vices. Please mail your 100% tax -deductible gift to Bexar Audubontoday.

Earth Share of Texas: One

environment. One simpleway to care for it.Earth Share of Texas representsthe Audubon Foundation of

Texas and the National AudubonSociety in payroll deductionplans for charitable giving. Forinformation, call 800-GREENTXor e-mail estx@earthshare-texas.org

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