Volume XXIV, No. 4 August-October 2006

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    Volume XXIV, No. 4

    August-October 2006

    BexarAudubonSocietyis a chapter of theNational Audubon

    Society. Its primarygoals are to promotespecies and habitat

    conservation and envi-ronmental education

    in the community.

    Managing to Make a Living Soil Stewardship7th Annual South Texas Farm & Range Forum

    Get the latest dirt on soil at this workshop geared toward both urban dwellers and the farming and

    ranching community in South Texas. Topics to be covered in the Thursday evening program at Palo AltoCollege include learning how to understand soils: their composition, nutritional value, and quality; howto keep soil on your land; how to improve what you have and assistance available to do that; soil eco-nomics; the many ways to compost; and soils importance to wildlife. Saturdays half-day field trip willdemonstrate these concepts and provide opportunities for on-site learning and discussion.

    Thursday, September 14 5:30PM & Saturday, September 16 8:30AMThursday at Palo Alto College (see map, p. 2) Field trip on Saturday Registration form on page 7

    Bexar Tracks

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

    Thursday, October 12 6:30PMgathering; 6:45 announcements; 7:00 programTrinity Univ. Cowles Life Sciences Bldg. Rm. 336 (see map, p. 2) Free; open to the public

    Coffee drinkers may be astonished to learn that they hold intheir hands the fate of farm families, farming communities,and entire ecosystems in coffee-growing regions like CostaRica. Trinity University professor of sociology, MeredithMcGuire, will show the video, Birdsong & Coffee: A WakeUp Call, promoted by the Smithsonian Migratory BirdCenter, and share with us her experiences in several LatinAmerican countries.

    She will discuss not only fair-trade, shade-grown, bird-friendly coffee, but also the idea of using eco-tourism to pro-mote environmental protection, economic sustainability, andsocial justice. The film features experts, students, coffeelovers, bird lovers, and coffee farmers themselves. We learn

    how their lives and ours are inextricably linked, economical-ly and environmentally.McGuire is an avid birder and amateur naturalist. Those

    interests intersect in her research on how the gross inequali-ty, poverty, and injustice befalling the vast majority of peopleliving in developing countries is having concrete negativeeffects on the natural environment. Her travels in Mexico,Costa Rica, and (most recently) Nicaragua have yielded vividfirst-hand experiences. This new film provides NorthAmerican viewers a clear image of why we should care.

    She explains, I spent my Spring Break this past March vis-iting one of the relevant coffee-producing cooperatives inNicaragua, where I spent five glorious days birding with a

    local guide in the cloud forest (and its watershed). The coop-erative includes more than 300 families, who live in this verysensitive region and rely heavily on getting a fair price fortheir high-quality organic coffee. These families subsist

    below the poverty line, with no electricity or running waterNationally, Nicaragua is a place of desperate poverty (espe-cially in recent years, since the end of the Contra war)andnow is poorest of all countries in the hemisphere, with abou70 percent trying to subsist on less than the equivalent of $2per day!

    The cooperative has organized folks in the Miraflor todevelop (in addition to coffee) organic vegetable production(including worm composting and organic pesticides), medic-inal plants, small-scale eco-tourism, community mutual-helpprojects for education and health, local busses, and basicroadworks. It was amazing how much they had accom-plished with NO government help (but some foreign NGOhelp). The birding was spectacular, but it heightened myawareness of how fragile the environment is and how depen-dent our North American neo-tropical migrants are uponhaving adequate habitat for those winter months each year.

    We hope faculty and students from Trinity and other col-leges will also join us for this fascinating and eye-openingprogram on a complex, but timely, subject.

    To learn more about the film go to:www.olddogdocumentaries.com/vid_bsc.htmlm

    OCTOBER ISFAIR TRADE MONTH

    Birdsong & Coffee: A Wake Up Call

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    Welcome new board members, Kara Ryf andAmy Whitley, and thanks to departing member,Joe Orr. Joe has left San Antonio to go backto school at Sul Ross.

    Kara comes to San Antonio from the farnorthwest. She is returning to school for acareer change and brings a fresh perspectiveto our board.

    Amy has been in San Antonio for seven years.Her home town is Uvalde. She earned a B.S.in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences from TexasA&M and a B.S. in Geology from UT PermianBasin in Odessa. Amy works with a localenvironmental consulting firm.

    Bexar Tracks 2 August-October 200

    WHERE & WHO

    Whos What?President, Tony Wood 210-492-4684 [email protected] & Webmaster, Harry Noyes 210-490-3124 [email protected]

    Treasurer, Caryl Swann 210-653-2860 [email protected], Jill Sondeen 830-980-2377 [email protected]: Dean Bibles 210-698-9264 [email protected]

    Kara Ryf 503-803-2856 [email protected] L. Whitley 210-340-0114 [email protected]

    Editor, Susan Hughes 210-862-1150 [email protected]/Outings,Patty [email protected]

    Palo Alto Community Collegewww.accd.edu/pac/htm/From I-35S or South 410, exit

    Hwy 16. Turn east on W. VillaretBlvd. Campus is on the right.

    Go to: ROOM 100APerforming Arts CenterHigh

    way16

    410 South

    Palo Alto College

    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

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

    SouthTexasFarm

    &Range

    ForumL

    ocation,

    Thursdayevening,9/14

    Bexar Audubon ProgramMeeting Location, 10/12

    San Antonio State of the

    Environment Conference

    Yielded Great Information

    and Conversation

    Thanks to BAS VP Harry Noyes fororganizing the second annual State ofthe Environment conference, heldAugust 5. San Antonio River Authorityonce again provided the perfect meet-ing space. Other expenses were cov-ered by a generous grant from theAudubon Council of Texas and

    EarthShare of Texas. Appreciation toeveryone who participated, particular-ly our keynote speakers, Dr. CharMiller and Chance Ruder.

    Enjoying the summers butterflies?Heres a great photo library for identifying these beautiful creatures:

    http://www.duke.edu/~jspippen/butterflies/Wondering about those butterflies that hatched in droves and headednorth after the last all-too-brief rain? American snouts.www.texasento.nethas lots of resources on butterfly ID, plants toattract butterflies, and butterflies you could find at various Texas sites.

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    Insights from the Wood,enroute to the desert:

    Maybe Im getting older, but Ive beenwondering a lot about the future. Now,as I await a flight back into Baghdad, oilhas hit $80 per barrel. I wonder aboutmy place in humanity and humanitysplace on this planet, about the future,

    and how our age will be perceived.Some answers may lie in the book Ivebeen reading on my way over here.

    I want to thank Mike Mecke, whointroduced me to the thoughts of EricPianca, a University of Texas professor,recently elected Distinguished Scientistof the Year by the Texas Academy ofScience. After a brief e-mail dialog withDr. Pianca, he recommended that I readThe Partys Overby Richard Heinberg. Ithasnt changed my life (yet), but it hasfocused my thoughts on my place inthe grander scheme of things. If you area scientist, environmentalist, conserva-tionist, teacher, parent, grandparent, oranyone with a concern for your descen-dants, I challenge you to read this book.

    Heinberg starts with a comprehen-sive exploration of how humanity fitsinto the earths ecological setting witha clear discussion of energy, nature,and society: the energy and economiccycles at play today and historicallyand how we came to be where we arenow. Each change has resulted in bet-ter opportunities for humans to cap-ture and convert energy. He predicts

    future generations will define oursespecially of Americansby its opu-lent lifestyle, which will have come toan end.

    I have long felt that I live in the bestof times over the entire course ofhumanity and am supremely blessed tobe an American. My children live welltoo, and so did my parents. In the lastweek I have traveled to three conti-nents; in my life I have been to six.Although we are middle class by Ameri-can standards, every person in my fam-ily has a car, food is plentiful, and we

    cook at the touch of a button. Heinbergobserves it would take the energy offive humans to keep a 150-watt lightbulb burning, and that each Americantoday consumes energy equivalent tothe output of 150 energy slaves.

    We have seen the most pervasive useof the cheapest energy of any genera-tion. He gives us a glimpse of how muchhumanity will have to endure to survivebeyond a few more generations. Most ofus who have lived this generation asconservationists will read this book andhope that our children and grandchil-dren are survivors.

    We must realize, however, that todayreally is the first day of the rest of ourlives. And the wake-up bell has tolled.

    Tony Wood

    [The Partys Over: Oil, War and the Fate

    of Industrial Societies. New Society

    Publishers; 2Rev Ed (6/1/05), ISBN:

    0865715297]

    Earth Share of Texas representsthe Audubon Foundation of

    Texas and the NationalAudubon Society in payroll

    deduction plans for charitablegiving. For information,

    call 800-GREENTX or [email protected]

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    Bexar Tracks 4 August-October 20

    ISSUES & ACTIONS

    New Predator Control PolicyProposed by US Forest ServiceDeadline Extended: Written com-ments due September 20th!

    View the proposed policy

    online:http://a257.g.aka-maitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/E6-8839.htmE-Mail comments to:PDM@ fs.fed.us (must capitalizePDM) or Fax to (202)205-1145According to the WildernessSociety, The Forest Service isproposing to change their ruleson predator control to expandtrapping, poisoning, and aerialgunning of bears, bobcats, coy-otes, foxes, mountain lions,wolves, and other animals inWilderness and Research NaturalAreas. The proposed rule wouldexpand opportunities to usemotorized and mechanizedequipment in wilderness in orderto perform predator control activ-

    ities and, for the first time ever,permit dangerous, hiddensodium cyanide traps withinwilderness.

    These actions threaten the safe-ty of anglers, hunters and othervisitors to wilderness anddegrade wilderness values.

    The changes proposed in thisnew policy are so major and sig-nificant that the full analysis ofan EIS is needed prior to adopt-ing these changes as national pol-icy, Great Old Broads forWilderness opines.Sources:

    http://www.greatoldbroads.org/PredatorControlAlert.html &

    http://action.wilderness.org/wilderness/alertdescription.tcl?alert_id=2253073

    Keep Active Stay AwareThe Audubon Action site has beenenhanced and updated along with theAdvisory and Alert Center. Please take afew minutes to visit it and keep yourrecord updated http://audubonac-tion.org/audubon/

    U.S. Agency for InternationalDevelopment ReorganizationEarly in 2006, Secretary of State Rice

    announced plans for a new strategicframework for the U.S. Agency ofInternational Development (USAID)and all other areas of U.S. foreign assis-tance. The Secretary has called for thedevelopment of a new government

    division, the Office of the Director ofU.S. Assistance, which will house allforeign assistance. Ambassador Randall

    Tobias, currently the head of thePresidents Emergency Plan for AIDSRelief, has been appointed to head thenew division.

    U.S. foreign assistance efforts oftendirectly or indirectly involve naturalresources and energy production,including the management of water,air, forests and land resources.

    Until this month, the State Departmentdid not solicit non-governmental partic-ipation for this reorganization process.National Audubon SocietysWashington D.C. Policy Office has nowbecome involved and will monitor thissweeping agency change closely.

    aElections Are Just aroundthe Corner Vote Smart!

    Project Vote Smart is a non-partisanresearch center that works to provideaccurate, relevant information aboutpolitical campaigns. Its free for you touse. Youll find issue positions, perfor-mance evaluations, voting records,campaign finance data, biographicalbackgrounds, and contact information.Special materials are available forteachers, journalists, and libraries, too.Call 1-888-Vote-Smart or visitwww.vote-smart.org

    San Antonio TreeOrdinance UpdatesFor the latest news and updatelog onto: www.treecoalition.o

    An Understory BookBexar Audubon has received agrant from the City of SanAntonio to develop a field handbook for use in distinguishingunderstory vegetation types anspecies/varieties on constructiowork sites.

    It is hoped that providing suchinformation in an easily used,easily understood, non-technicaformat will help make identifiction and protection of understory easier and, overall, improvevegetative diversity in areasundergoing construction.

    This should also reduceinstances in which developersincur penalties for violating ruland regulations related to sitepreparation and protection ofunderstory.

    Protecting understory willincrease animal biodiversity, as

    well, and should improve thegeneral ecosystem health of newconstruction sites.

    Coordinating with developersand site managers will help usdevelop the most appropriatetools that will achieve our goalsMany resources are alreadyavailable. Will you help witthis project? Contact SusaHughes (210)532-2032.

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    Also seewww.sa-naturecenter.org/conservation/conservation.html

    RMitchell Lake Audubon Center10750 Pleasanton Rd. (on the left, 0.7miles south of Loop 410 at exit 46,

    Moursund Blvd.) Sat. & Sun. 8AM-4PM,weekdays by appt. Regularly scheduledguided birding tours: 8AM on 2nd Tueand 3rd Sun with Helen Rejzek andGeorgina Schwartz, 4th Sat with ErnieRoney; also every Tue afternoon. Call(210)628-1639 or visitwww.tx.audubon.org/mitchell.htm

    pSecond Saturdays SA AudubonSocietys Beginners Birdwalk, 8AM.Visitors welcome. Binoculars to lend.

    Meet at Judson Nature Trail next toAlamo Heights Swimming Pool onViesca St. From 5900 blk of Broadway,turn west on Ogden to Greely St.; turnleft one block, then right again to park-ing lot on the left. (210)342-2073.

    DSeptember 2 Crownridge Canyon.1st Sat. Interpretive Walk, SA NaturalAreas. Reservations: (210)698-1057.

    xSeptember 8 Whats on Tap forSouth Central TexasA Water for Peopleand the Environment Conf. Trinity Univ.Chapman Auditorium. 9AM-3:30PM. $20before 9/5. (Student waivers available.)(512)477-1729 www.texas.sierraclub.org Overview by Char Miller Whats Ahead for the Edwards Aquifer? Will the Colorado River Flow to San

    Antonio? the LCRA/SAWS project Desalination with a Grain of Salt Is the Carrizo Aquifer an Option?

    Aquifer Storage and Recovery Drought Management Whooping Cranes, Freshwater Inflows

    aSeptember 9 Welcome to my Web,Second Saturday Program, EisenhowerPark, 7-9PM. Dr. Cary Guffey, OLLU. Alively hike to learn about the wonderfulworld of spiders and other arachnids.Bring flashlights. (210)698-1057.

    I

    September 13-15 6th Annual TexasPlant Conservation Conf Exploring theBig Bend. Rare plant conservationaround the SW. Speakers includeCathryn A. Hoyt, Exec. Director of theChihuahuan Desert Research Institute;botanical illustrator Lotus McElfish;Kathy Rice, Desert Botanical Garden;and Dr. Jim Zech, Sul Ross State Univ.Public: $55. Flo Oxley (512)292-4200,ext. 160, or [email protected]://www.wildflower.org/?nd=tpcc

    Registration deadline 9/8.

    FSeptember 14 & September 16 7thAnnual South Texas Farm & RangeForum. CEs available. See pages 1 & 7.

    cSeptember 23 Cedar ManagementWorkshop, Dietez/Ressel Ranch, HillCountry Land Stewards. Call (830)249-4616 for information and registration.

    CSeptember 23 Adopt-A-Beach FallCleanup at sites along the Texas Coast.For more information: 1-877-TX-COAST,www.texasadoptabeach.org

    HSeptember 30 Starry, Starry Nights.

    Stargazing and astronomy with the SAAstronomical Assoc. Telescopes out-doors and a slide show in the visitorcenter. Bring chairs/blankets to sit on.Free; reply suggested (210)628-1639.

    BOctober 7 Walker Ranch HistoricPark. 1st Sat. Interp. Walk, SA NaturalAreas. Reservations: (210)698-1057.

    JOctober 7 TCONR Annual Meeting.

    Staton Family Center near Jacksonville.Visit the new Neches River NWR. TexasCommittee on Natural Resources.www.tconr.org(512)327-4119,[email protected]

    zOctober 7 Cibolo Celebration Gala,7PM, Cibolo Nature Center. (830)249-4616 or [email protected]

    k

    October 12 Renewable EnergyWorkshop. UT Austin Thompson Conf.Ctr. 8AM-4PM. $65 by 9/28. (512)471-5231, [email protected] orwww.utexas.edu/cee/tcc/wre

    gOctober 14 Mitchell Lake Fall Festivaland Native Plant Sale. 9AM-4PM. BASwill have a booth. If you would help,contact [email protected]

    eOctober 19-22 Native Plant Societyof Texas Annual Symposium Conver-gence and Diversity: Native Plants of

    South Central Texas. Marriott Northwest,San Antonio. (210)733-0034. Nature inBexar County, local restoration projects,

    guided tours, learn to cook nativeplants. CEs available, silent auction,awards banquet. www.npsot.org

    jOctober 19 4th Annual Sunset Cele-bration. Bexar Land Trust. (210)222-8430, [email protected]

    lOctober 21 Fairchild Center BikeExpo and Campout. BAS will have abooth. If you would help out, contact

    Harry at [email protected]

    nOctober 27-November 19 Great OldBroads for Wilderness 2nd annual Wildfor Wilderness online auction fundraiser.Visit www.greatoldbroads.org

    mNovember 1-5 El Cielo BiosphereReserve Nature Festivals. All inclusivebirding/butterfly watching trips depart-ing from the Texas Valley. The northern-

    most cloudforest in the AmericanContinent; 397 species of birds, e.g.,Solitary Eagle and Ornate Hawk-Eagle.Local guides. Also February 18-22,2007. Call 011-52-81-8378-5926, [email protected] or visitwww.elcielofestival.com

    7November 4 Friedrich WildernessPark. 1st Sat. Interp. Walk, SA NaturalAreas. Reservations: (210)698-1057.

    MORE EVENTS

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    Bexar Tracks 6 August-October 20

    TIDBITS

    Second Saturday Reports

    Super Serpents presented by Jeffand Marie Dominguez of the SouthTexas Herpetological Association,Eisenhower Park, July 8. Twenty youthand 27 adults attended this informa-

    tive program on local snakes.Participants learned about the naturalhistory of both non-venomous andvenomous snakes, were able to view20 species and got a chance to touch afew of the snakes, including a large

    ball python (not native, of course). Formany, this was their first opportunityto meet these reptiles up close and per-sonal and to learn of their value inlocal ecosystems, including our own

    backyards!

    Fossils! Despite the 100 degree heatof the August 12 evening, 7 children

    and 32 adults attended a fossil presen-tation by Clayton Nye, president ofP.A.S.T. Mr. Nye included many fossilsin his program, starting with the snailsand clams of the local Cretaceousdeposits. Dinosaurs are always popu-lar; a skull model and a jaw model,models of several teeth and a model ofone of the footprints from Glen Rose,Texas received much attention. Ofcourse, the model of Archaeopteryxled to a discussion of the connection

    between dinosaurs and modern birds.Participants were able to examine allthe materials and had ample time topose their questions to Mr. Nye.

    Our sincere thanks to Peggy Spring and ourSecond Saturday Programs co-sponsor, SanAntonio Parks & Recreation Natural Areas.

    Chicharra Grande!The giant cicada has expanded itsrange into central Texas. See MikeQuinns vastly extensive website onthe life history of this most amazinginsect. (photo by Charles Bordelon)

    http://texasento.net/Cicada.htm

    XDROUGHTIts Where We Are!Want to Learn More?

    http://www.twdb.state.tx.us/DATA/DROUGHT/drought_toc.asp hashistory, forecasts, how-to-deal with itideas, and a wealth of other information.

    eYou Dont Have to Guess!How do you know when your land-scape needs watering? Visitwww.saws.org and follow the SeasonalIrrigation Program (SIP) advice. Youcan register online to receive a weekly

    e-mail or phone message with SIPadvice personalized for your grasstype, sun exposure, and watering day.

    And remember convert your turf-grass to a watersaver, wildlife-friendlandscape for even more benefits!SAWS still offers REBATES for watesaver landscape conversions.http://www.saws.org/conservation/

    h2ome/landscape/index.shtml

    SAVE WATER SAVE MONEYPROTECT OUR AQUIFERS & STREAM

    ELIMINATE PESTICIDESGIVE WILDLIFE A HOME

    ENRICH THE BEAUTY OF YOURGARDEN WITH BIRDS & BUTTERFLI

    Texas Wildscapes Informationhttp://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwildwild/wildscapes/certification/tx_wild

    scapes/#application

    Study Finds Global WarmingBoosts Poison IvyA May 31, 2006, Associated Press storeported research that indicates poisivy grows faster and bigger as carbo

    dioxide levels in the atmosphere rise

    http://enn.com/today.html?id=10575

    Rio Bravo del Norte

    Natural MonumentA June 6, 2006, story by AP reporterMark Stevenson, discussed thatMexico is developing an environmetal reserve about 30 feet wide and 60miles long on the Texas border, agreen wall to protect the Rio Grandfrom the roads and staging areas thasmugglers use to ferry drugs andmigrants across the frontier.

    And it means millions of acres great

    for wildlife! http://www.enn.com/

    today.html?id=10616

    Have a Good Idea?Through the Community Budget InpDropbox, c-BID, citizens can offer sugestions on how the City of SanAntonio can increase efficiencies, generate new revenues, and make effec-tive changes to service delivery. Ideathat are quantifiable and achievablecould be recommended for inclusionin the 2007 proposed budget. [email protected] of Dinosaur Teeth

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    SOIL STEWARDSHIPThe Seventh Annual South Texas Farm & Range Forum

    September 14 & 16, 2006Palo Alto College, Costanzo and Verstuyft Farms, and

    Medina River Natural Area

    Thursday, September 14, 2006

    Palo Alto College Performing Arts Bldg., Room 100A5:30 pm Registration & Refreshments6:00 pm Welcome & Introductions6:05 pm Why Is Soil Important? Larry Allen, USDA-NRCS6:50 pm Soil Tests What Do They Mean?

    Dr. Sam E. Feagley, Texas A&M University7:35 pm Break Refreshments7:50 pm Maintaining Soil Health, Malcolm Beck (invited)8:35 pm Home Composting Options, Susan Hughes9:00 pm Adjourn

    Saturday. September 16, 2006

    8:30 am Registration & Refreshments Costanzo Farms9:00 am Tour and visit with the owners

    10:00 am Travel to Verstuyft Farms10:15 am Tour and visit with the owners11:15 am Travel to Medina River Natural Area11:45 am LUNCH12:15 pm How To Keep What You Have, Dr. Robert K Lyons, Texas Cooperative Extension12:45 pm Walking tour of Medina River Natural Area

    1:30 pm Adjourn official program Continue walking tour of MRNA on your own

    Speakers and schedule subject to change (8.11.06)

    Recommended attire: Country casual. Saturdays events will be outdoors and will involve walking ontrails, so cool clothing, hats, and comfortable walking shoes are highly recommended!Questions? Call (210)826-2904, (800)TEX-WILD, or email [email protected] by: Alamo Area Quail Unlimited, Bexar Audubon Society, Edwards Region GLCI, Texas Cooper-ative Extension-Bexar County, Texas Wildlife Association, & USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service.Extension programs serve people of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, disability, or national origin.

    The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating

    Please register by September 12. Early registrations help us plan. PRINT LEGIBLY and mail or fax.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------NAME: __________________________________________ AC/PHONE: ____________________________

    FARM/RANCH/ORGANIZATION: _____________________________________________________________ADDRESS: _____________________________________________ CITY/ZIP: ________________________EMAIL: _______________________________________ PAY BY: ____ Check (payable to TWA)Thursday only: _____ @ $15/person _____MasterCard ____Visa____AmExSaturday only: _____ @ $15/person Card # __________________________Exp __/___

    Both days: _____ @ $25/person Signature __________________________________MAIL TO: Helen Holdsworth, Texas Wildlife Association

    2800 NE Loop 410, Ste. 105, San Antonio, 78218 or FAX TO: 210-826-4933

    Student waivers available. CEUs available for 2-day attendees. Indicate here if you wish to receive CEUs:_______________

    Soil. One of our most precious natural

    resources. The basis for human and

    animal survival. Well look at how

    we can keep the soil we have

    and ways to improve it.

    While the farmer holds the titleto the land, actually it belongs

    to all of the people because

    civilization itself rests upon the soil.

    -Thomas Jefferson

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    Non-profitOrganization

    U.S. Postage PaSan Antonio, TX

    Permit #590

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

    Bexar Tracks 8 August-October 200

    Bexar Tracks is the officialnewsletter of the Bexar AudubonSociety, a Chapter of the NationalAudubon Society. The Chaptersprimary goals are to promotespecies and habitat conservationand environmental education inthe community.

    Introductory memberships toNational Audubon Society (NAS),including a subscription toAudubon magazine, are $20. Thisincludes membership in BexarAudubon, as well, and a subscrip-tion to Bexar Tracks.

    Please submit your new or giftmembership through BexarAudubon, so your entire first-

    years dues will benefit your localchapter: Bexar Audubon.Separate 100% deductible

    donations to Bexar AudubonSociety are seriously needed tosupport Bexar Audubons ser-vices to our community.

    Name:

    Mailing address:

    City/State: ZIP CODE:________________

    AC/Phone:

    E-mail: Check here to opt out of other mailings______

    MEMBERSHIP & SUPPORT FORM(list gifts on another sheet, please)

    Make your check payable to Bexar Audubon Society Mail to the address above.

    $20 individual/family membership: $_______$15 seniors/full-time students: $________Your additional tax-deductible support for BAS $_______

    And the Survey Said . . .In the previous issue ofBexar Trackswe asked a few questions ofour readers to help us make choices about how our limited oper-ating budget is spent. One cost-saving option is to quit publishingthe newsletter in paper format and sending it through the U.S.Postal Service. The newsletter is already available on the BexarAudubon website. Only 5 responses were received fromamong some 1500 newsletter recipients. (Thanks to those who

    took the time to reply.) Though not a statistically significant sample, most respondents favored eliminating the hard-copy versioRemember, Bexar Tracksis for you. If it is useful or of interest tyou, or if theres some way we could make it meaningful to you,please let us know. If not, the board needs to consider eliminatiBexar Tracksor going to e-mail or web-only publication of chapnews. E-mail [email protected] call (210)532-2032and leave a message. skh

    Theeconomyisawhollyownedsubsidiaryoftheen

    vironment.TimW

    irth