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Volume XXV, No. 1
January-February 2007
BexarAudubonSocietyis a chapter of theNational Audubon
Society. Its primarygoals are to promotespecies and habitat
conservation and envi-ronmental education
in the community.
Geology of the Canyon Lake Gorge, a Glimpse at
Central Texas during Early Cretaceous
Canyon Gorge Field Trip (near Canyon Dam)
January 13th 10AM 1PM. Leader Dr. Bill Ward. Trip limited to 25 people.
For reservations & details call Patty at (210)824-1235 or email pasztor@ix.netcom.com.The alternate date in case of inclement weather is February 3rd.
Thursday, January 116:30PM gathering; 6:45 announcements; 7:00 programTrinity University Cowles Life Sciences Building, Room 336 (see map, p. 2) Free & open to the public
Bexar Tracks
For the latest news & updates, see http://www.bexaraudubon.org & http://www.sa-naturecenter.org
Thursday, February 8Same time and place as above more on p.2
Mike Mecke on
Rainwater Harvesting:
What's Old Is New Again!
Following days of tumultuous rains on July 4,
2002, Canyon Lake rose high enough to pour
over its spillway for the first time in history. In
hours, the gently sloping creek valley below the
spillway was transformed into a long gorge,
excavated as much as 30-40 feet below the for-
mer ground level. The new canyon exposes a
200-foot-thick section of the Glen Rose
Formation, deposited in a shallow sea about 110
million years ago. Also spectacularly exposed in
Canyon Lake Gorge is a stretch of the HiddenValley Fault of the Balcones Fault Zone.
Dr. Bill Ward will discuss these unique features
and how they give insight into the flow of
groundwater in limestone aquifers. The Canyon
Lake Gorge site is owned by the Corps of
Engineers and is presently leased by the
Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority, which has
plans to open up trails on a limited basis for
research and education.
Dr. Ward is Professor Emeritus of Geology,
University of New Orleans. He received Geology
degrees from UT Austin and Rice University. His
research has focused on limestones and other
sedimentary rocks in the Yucatan Peninsula,
northeastern Mexico, Spain, Puerto Rico, Egypt,
the U.S. Gulf Coast, and Central Texas. Bill isnow retired, living in the Hill Country near
Boerne. He is active with Native Plant Society of
Texas and the Cibolo Nature Center. He provides
instruction in geology for Master Naturalists and
other groups.
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Bexar Tracks 2 January-February 20
Rainwater Harvesting
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
Join us as Mike Mecke explains
the benefits of Rainwater
Harvesting in Texas. With
a 4,000 year history, rainwater
collection was common practice
in Texas until the early 1900s.Today, there is new interest
in using rainwater, not only for
landscape, but also for pets,
wildlife, businesses, and live-
stock. Another new use is for
fire protectionnow happen-
ing at UTs McDonald Obser-
vatory in the Davis Mountains.
Mike will describe the history,
benefits, and methods of catch-
ing and using rainfall: tradi-tional rooftop systems and
landscape and stormwater
catchment methods. Handouts
will be available.
Mike is a Water Management
Specialist at the Texas
A&M Extension Center in Fort
Stockton. A graduate of Texas
A&M and the University of
Wyoming Graduate School,
Mike had a 15-year career with
the US Dept. of Agriculture,
where he advised Texas ranch-
ers and farmers on land and
natural resource manage-
ment. Then, with the Bureau of
Indian Affairs, he managed range
and cropland divisions for
tribes in AZ, NM, and WY. He
retired from San Antonio Water
System in 2002 as a WaterResources Planner and Ag
Conservation Coordinator.
He is co-author of Harvesting
Rainwater for Wildlife, pub-
lished by the Texas Cooperative
Extension Service. Mike served
as president of Bexar Audubon
Society and is a co-founder of
the Texas Riparian Association.
First, let me saya huge thanks to our benefactors ofBexarTracks. A few generous contributors have kept our hard copynewsletter coming to your mailbox for the present time. If you
want more frequent reminders of Bexar Audubon events than yoget from the bi-monthlyBexar Tracks, please drop an e-mail tobexaraudubon@bexaraudubon.org. Ask to be added to the elec-
tronic announcement mailing list. Eventualwe may shift to an electronic version ofBexar Tracksfor environmental reasons. Bufor now we will all continue to enjoy aprinted version. Thank you!
Global Climate Change It seemsthat the winds are changing. Those politic
winds do not change as often as the meteorological winds. But the direction can sometimes be as distinct as a blue norther. As I
listened to NPR today I heard interesting discussions about theshifts in Washington. It now seems like every branch of ourFederal government has taken up the banner of global warming.
To be fair, the Supreme Court is still trying to decide if they willengage, too, but it looks like they might. Thanks to the winds andthe voices of the voters.
But, as with many endeavors in life, there are often two steps
forward and one step back . . . . if you are lucky enough to havethe wind at your back. Lately our local environmental movementhas learned that we need more effort and more perseverance. Th
Insights from the WoodBexar TracksIs Back . . . for a while, at least
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January-February 2007 3 Bex
Does you r em p loye r o f f e rt he Ea r t h Sha re a lt e r na t i ve?Fo r i n fo rm a t ion ca l l800-GR EENTX or e - m ai le s t x @ea r t h sha r e - t e xa s . o rg .
San Antonio tree preservationordinance has been diluted sig-nificantly by recent councilactions. My honest concern isthat migratory birdlife thatcomes through our region, andother dependent organisms, will
suffer as we intentionallyremove natural and indigenousbiodiversity from our urban andsuburban landscapes.
As you look to the holiday sea-son, consider your new yearsresolutions. Commit to keepingyour diversified indigenousecosystem as much a part ofyour overall priorities as you can.
Vote, purchase, and teach envi-ronmentalism.
WildFest 2007 One way foryou as Audubon members toparticipate this spring will be to
get involved in WildFest 2007,San Antonios 1st Annual Bird &Nature Festival, May 4-6, 2007.Bexar Audubon Society will be asponsor of this event. The festi-
val will include a broad spec-trum of workshops and fieldtripsthat will draw nature-orientedtourists to our area and will helpget local children involved in
nature.Please visit their website for
new details and developments.www.wildfestsanantonio.com.
H.A. Tony Wood, December 1, 2006
Half Way ThereGenerous donations from ourreaders have funded about halfof our years expenses to pro-duce Bexar Tracks. To continue,
we need to raise an additional$2,000.
Please make an end-of-year,tax-deductible donation tosupport Bexar Audubon.The Chapter works hard to rep-
resent the interests of the mem-bership on issues in the city andthe region. Your donation isused locally it does not leaveour area and it reaches and, wehope, influences readers, voters,
and other decision-makers tomake wise choices about con-servation right here.
We honor and appreciatecheckbook activists!
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EVENTS CALENDAR
Also see www.sa-naturecenter.org/conservation/conservation.html
pMitchell Lake Audubon Center10750 Pleasanton Road (on theleft, 0.7 miles south of Loop410 at exit 46, Moursund Blvd)Saturday & Sunday 8AM-4PM,
weekdays by appointment.Regularly scheduled guidedbirding tours: 8AM on 2ND
Tuesdays and 3RD Sundays withHelen Rejzek and Georgina
Schwartz, 4TH Saturday withErnie Roney; also every Tuesdayafternoon. Call (210)628-1639or visit: www.tx.audubon.org/mitchell.htm
mFirst Saturdays InterpretiveWalks are scheduled at the SANatural Areas. Confirmed reserva-
tions are required; hike locationsvary. Call (210)698-1057 fortimes and locations.
rJanuary 5 ConservationEasements 2007: A Year ofOpportunity. Bexar Land Trust. SAPublic Library, Central BranchAuditorium, 8AM-2PM. Call
(210)222-8430 for tickets orwww.bexarlandtrust.org
xJanuary 6 Walker RanchHistorical Park. 9-11AM. FirstSaturday Interpretive Walk. SANatural Areas. Confirmed reserva-tions required: (210)698-1057.January 11 Bexar Audubon
program meeting. See page 1.
HJanuary 13 Bexar AudubonOuting to Canyon Gorge. See p1.
eJanuary 13 Second Saturday:Winter Skies Star gazing withthe SA Astronomical Society.6:30-8:30PM. Co-sponsored by SAParks & Recreation Natural Areasand Bexar Audubon. Reservationsrequired; details occasionallychange. Call (210)698-1057.
DJanuary 25-27 Statewide Land
Trust Conference, Austin.Sponsored by the Texas Land
Trust Council. Contact: cpitts@texaslandtrustcouncil.org
uFebruary 3 Kids Birding 101
9-11AM. Learn to use binocularsand about bird identification,behavior, & habitat. Free, butreservations required. MitchellLake Audubon Center. Call(210)628-1639.
zFebruary 8 Bexar Audubonprogram meeting. See pages 1-2.
aFebruary 10 Second Saturday:Wood Treasures. Hear RandyGoad, local woodcarver and fieldguide for the natural areas, talkabout local trees and their won-derful wood. His chronology of
woodworking includes authentictools from his grandfathers
workshop. 10AM - noon. Co-sponsored by SA Parks &Recreation Natural Areas andBexar Audubon. Reservationsrequired; details occasionally
change. Call (210)698-1057.
SFebruary 10-11 Eaglefest,Emory. www.eaglefest.orgUnofficial results show 51Eagles were sighted on LakeFork during the 2006 TexasParks & Wildlife count.
cFebruary 16-19 The 10thAnnual Great Backyard BirdCount. The Cornell Lab ofOrnithology and Audubon arechallenging people everywhereto Count for the Record by paticipating in greater numbersthan ever before to provide moinformation about bird popula-
tion trends and better informconservation. A downloadableposter and information are at:www.birdsource.org/gbbc. Tobe a GBBC ambassador in yourcommunity email Jennifer Smithat jls39@cornell.edu with GBBambassador in the subject line
RFebruary 15-17 Brownsville
International Birding Festival.www.brownsville.org/2006BirFest/. Field trips, seminars andother events exploring the bio-diversity of South Texas andNorthern Mexico.
NCombine the Brownsville bird-ing festival with:
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February 18-22 El CieloBiosphere Reserve Nature Festival.All inclusive birding/butterflywatching trips departing from theTexas Valley. The northernmost
cloudforest in the AmericanContinent; 397 species of birds,e.g., Solitary Eagle and OrnateHawk-Eagle. Local guides. Call011-52-81-837-85-926,writeelcielofestival@gmail.com, or visitwww.elcielofestival.com
CFebruary 23-25 11th Annual
Celebration of Whooping Cranesand Other Birds. Guided trips byland and water to see WhoopingCranes and other birds, lecturesby birding experts, photographyand watercolor workshops, toursof the Animal RehabilitationKeep, and a marine educationbus. Early registration endsFebruary 14. Call 800-45-COAST
or visit www.portaransas.orgh
February 24 CommunityVolunteer Day at Mitchell LakeAudubon Center. Come help aswe spruce up our gardens andtrails! Please call for times anddetails: (210)628-1639.
ZFebruary 27 Ecosystem ServiceMarkets: Everyones Business.Westin Galleria, Houston. See p7.http://tfsregister.tamu.edu.
}March 10 Second Saturday:Winged Adventures Explore theworld of birds with Tom and Patsy
Inglet. 10AM-noon. Co-sponsoredby SA Parks & Rec Natural Areasand Bexar Audubon. Reservationsrequired; details occasionallychange. Call (210)698-1057.
dApril 14 Second Saturday:Bizarre and Beautiful Bugs. JoinGail Dugelby to meet the bizarreand beautiful in the world ofbugs. 10AM-noon. Co-sponsoredby SA Parks & Rec Natural Areasand Bexar Audubon. Reservationsrequired; details occasionally
change. Call (210)698-1057.
IMay 4-6 WildFest. See p. 3.
oMay 10 -13 The Cornell Lab ofOrnithology is sponsoring anationwide Celebrate UrbanBirds! event. To participate orhelp organize activities in yourcommunity, visit www.urban-birds.org/celebrationfor ideas,and free registration.
PMay 12 Second Saturday: PlantHike with Janis Merritt, nativeplant expert, to enjoy spring floraand get ideas for using nativeplants in your yard. 10AM-noon.
Co-sponsored by SA Parks &Recreation Natural Areas andBexar Audubon. Reservationsrequired; details occasionallychange. Call (210)698-1057.
QAugust 19-25 AudubonLeadership Workshop at Hog
Island Camp in Maine. Earlysignups encouraged to takeadvantage of scholarship opportu-nities. Designed especially foractive Chapter leaders to build
and deepen participants exper-tise and ability to enhanceAudubons effectiveness at all lev-els. Call Maine Audubons campregistrar at (888)325-5261 x215or visit http://www.maineaudubon.org/explore/camp/hi_adult08132007.shtml
FTest Your Bird BrainBrush up on your identificationskills by taking the brand new
video birding quiz on our AllAbout Birds web site www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/bird-ing123/identify/quiz. Youll see
video footage of each bird andhear its sounds. If you really getstuck therere hints. Its a good
way to practice for the both theGreat Backyard Bird Count andCelebrate Urban Birds!
BAudubon Texas announces itsnewly re-designed website is nowLIVE and available for you tobrowse. http://www.audubon-texas.org/
If knowledge alone wereenough to inspire action, theworld would already be a bet-ter place.A. GoodmanAct on your knowledge today.With more active volunteers,Bexar Audubon can be evenmore effective. Call any boardmember. BAS needs you now.
EVENTS CALENDAR and more
January-February 2007 5 Bex
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NEWS & REMINDERS
Sonora Caverns ButterflyFormation Vandalized
The signature Butterfly formationat the Caverns of Sonora was
vandalized shortly before Thanksgiving, according to anews release from the park.About two-thirds of the right
wing was broken off the distinc-tiveand perhaps uniquefor-mation. The cave system is 90percent active: most of the for-mations are still growing asminerals are deposited by perco-
lating water within the caves.Of the unusual helictite forma-tions that grow in whateverdirection they want, best knownis the Butterfly quartz fins thatgrew as a pair facing each other,mimicking the form of a butter-fly. It is the only known forma-tion of its kind.
Sonora Caverns, considered anational natural landmark, islocated about 8 miles west ofSonora off Farm Road 1989.Anyone with information aboutthe wing can call the caverns at(325) 387-3105. [Reported byMatthew Phinney at:www.gosanangelo.com/news/2006/dec/05/breaking-news]
Curbside Recyclingin San Antonio
Thereve been some changesmade. The following items arenow acceptable in your greencurbside bin:Paper:Most types of paper,such as ad circulars, catalogs,carbonless paper, dry goodspackaging with liners removed(example: cereal, pasta, rice,beer/soda cartons), envelopes,file folders, flattened cardboard,
junk mail, magazines, newspa-pers, office paper, paperbackbooks, paper bags, papertowel/toilet paper cores, phonebooks, non-metallic gift wrap.Plastics:Labeled #1 through
#7. Look for the recycling symbol on the bottom. Remove lidand rinse any remaining food oliquids from containers or traysExamples include: beverage
bottles, shampoo and lotionbottles, meat trays, condimentbottles, prescription and medi-cine bottles, plastic grocery batied together into a bundle.Glass Bottles and Jars AllColors:Remove lids and rinseall food and liquids. Examples:beverage bottles, food andcondiment bottles and jars
(jelly, mustard, mayonnaise).Metal Cans:Aluminum, steeland tin beverage and foodcansrinse all food or liquids;aerosol cansempty, removenozzle; baking tinsrinse andremove remaining food.Thanks to the City of San
Antonio! This list is far more liberal than it had been. Now
how can the City make it easiefor SA businessesto recycle?
Need a recycling bin? Go thecitys website at www.sanantonio.gov, choose services, therecycling. Or call 311 on yourtelephone . . . one-stop callingfor city services of all kinds anda good number to know.
Bexar Tracks 6 January-February 20
Whos What?and how to contact themPresident, Tony Wood 210-492-4684 tonywood@sbcglobal.netVP & Webmaster, Harry Noyes 210-490-3124 harrynoyes@satx.rr.com
Treasurer, Caryl Swann 210-653-2860 cjswann1@earthlink.netSecretary, Jill Sondeen 830-980-2377 jls2003@gvtc.comAt-large: Kara Ryf 503-803-2856 kararyf@hotmail.com
Amy L. Whitley 210-340-0114 nueces66@yahoo.comEditor, Susan Hughes 210-862-1150 editor@bexaraudubon.orgPrograms/Outings,Patty Pasztor210-824-1235pasztor@ix.netcom.com
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Ecosystem Service Markets:Everyone's Business
February 27, 2007
The Westin Galleria
5060 West AlabamaHouston, TX 77056Sponsored by: Texas Forest
Service, USDA Forest Service, TexasA&M Institute of RenewableNatural Resources, GreaterHouston Partnership, HoustonAdvanced Research Center,Conservation Capital, Ltd.
As businesses, government, uni-
versities, and the non-profit sectorstrive to understand and applynew concepts of sustainabledevelopment, a recurring themeis the inability of market forces toprevent the fragmentation of func-tioning ecosystems. The economicimportance of healthy, functioningecosystems is widely recognized.Wetlands purify our streams and
ground water and assimilate ourwastes. Estuaries mitigate theimpact of storms and floods.Forests provide timber and fiberfor human use, while stabilizingour climate and providing habitatfor plants and animals.
Can society find practical ways toprovide incentives, through marketmechanisms, to protect function-
ing ecosystems? This conferencewill focus on the scientific, publicpolicy, and economic foundationsof emerging markets for ecosys-tem services.Topics What is an ecosystem service? Who might buy such a service? Who might be able to sell such a
service?
How can the market be used toestablish values and prices forecosystem services? Case studies
will be discussed. How can service delivery be mea-
sured and ensured over time? What is the current state of the
market for ecosystem services? Where is the market going? What is the state of science that
underlies this evolving market?Leaders in government, business,academia, and the non-profit sec-tor need to address these criticalissues proactively. Mainstreaming
market-based ecosystem servicetransactions is challengingbecause of fragmented govern-ment rules and policies, difficultproperty rights issues, and thecomplexities of matching supplyand demand. At this conferenceindustry representatives, privatelandowners, government leaders,university researchers, and non-
profit organizations will discusseconomic-based approaches toprotecting ecosystems-strategiesthat employ a combination ofenforceable regulatory constraintson ecosystem impairment andmeaningful economic incentivesfor ecosystem conservation. Formore information, see:http://tfsregister.tamu.edu
RAmerican Bird ConservancyReceives $1 Million Pledgefor Land-Acquisition
The ABC and various partnersseeking to acquire habitats forendangered bird species received
this pledge, which includes$900,000 for land purchase and$100,000 for other conservation
work from New York philanthropist Robert Wilson.This year alone, ABC and its part-
ners have protected twenty-eighttracts of land in Central and SouthAmerica that provide core habitatsfor more than seven hundred birdspecies, including four that areglobally endangered: the SantaMarta parakeet, the jocotocoantpitta, the black-breasted puff-leg, and the long-whiskered owlet.
ABC will use the grant, which stip-ulates a three-to-one match, toleverage additional support andencourage others to participate ina land-acquisition campaign. Withthe average cost to acquire land inSouth America only $100 peracre, said ABC president GeorgeFenwick, this generous challengegrant means many more imperiled
bird species will have a permanentplace to call home.
Worthens sparrow and the long-billed curlew in Mexico, theHonduran emerald hummingbird,the chestnut-capped piha inColumbia, and Lears macaw inBrazil are species in immediateneed of habitat protection.
These funds will be targeted
towards priority sites for speciesthat are very rare or declining fast,said Fenwick. But it is not onlybirds that will benefit. Biodiversity,including declining frogs and otheramphibians, reptiles, mammals,and plants, can all benefit from themanagement of these lands asprotected reserves. 11/28/06.
anuary-February 2007 7 Bexar Tracks
IMPORTANT WORK
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Bexar Tracks is 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 in the community.
Your membership includes National
and Bexar Audubon and subscrip-
tions toAudubon and Bexar Tracks.
Adopt-an-Ocelot!A major problem facing theendangered ocelot in South
Texas is loss of habitat. Help sup-port habitat protection and con-tinuing research for ocelots at theLaguna Atascosa NWR and inSouth Texas.
Adopt-an-Ocelot is sponsoredby Friends of Laguna AtascosaNWR, a non-profit group. Tax-deductible contributions may besent to:Adopt-an-Ocelot, P.O. Box942, Rio Hondo, TX 78583.
Sponsoring an individual ocelotis $20; a family may be spon-sored for $30. Make checks to:Friends of Laguna Atascosa NWR.
Your adoption packet has pho-tos of ocelots available for adop-tion, plus life histories andinformation about each ocelotand a synopsis of ongoing
research, as well as habitat pro-tection information. After choos-ing the ocelot or family you
would like to adopt and returningthe postcard in the packet, a cer-tificate of adoption suitable forframing will be mailed to you orto a person of your choice.
January-February 2007 8 Bexar Tracks
Bexar Audubon Society, Inc.P.O. Box 6084San Antonio TX 78209-0084
Non-profitOrganization
U.S. Postage PaiSan Antonio TX
Permit #590
TheEconomyisawhollyownedsubsidiaryoftheEn
vironment.TimW
irth
Membership & Support Thank You & Happy New Year!
Bexar Audubon welcomes new members to join through the chapter. This brings 100 percent of thefirst-years dues directly back to support local work. The same applies to gift memberships placedthrough the chapter. Your additional tax-deductible donation is also appreciated. Bexar Audubonreceives only a few thousand dollars each year from National Audubon as dues share. The rest wemust raise ourselves. Your help is needed, and your donations will be put to good use right here inSouth Central Texas. Individual introductory memberships are $20; seniors and students join for $15Provide the following information for each personal subscription or gift:Name $_________subscriptions $_______additional donatioMailing Address (including Zip code)AC & Phone + e-mail, if availableIndicate whether you wish to opt out of other mailings by Audubon or those with whom it shares lists.
Make checks payable to Bexar Audubon Society and mail to the address above.