March/April 2009 - Coastal Bend Audubon Society

March/April 2009
The
Brown Pelican
The Newsletter of the Coastal Bend Audubon Society
On the Web at http://www.coastalbendaudubon.org
Big Day—Big Success—more inside
Upcoming field Trips
3/7/09 Potluck lunch at the Nueces Delta Preserve (formerly McGregor Ranch). Wintering
birds in wetlands, prairies and thornscrub. NO FEE. Audubon Outdoor Club, Kingsville Bird
& Wildlife Club, Aransas Bird & Nature Club. DIRECTIONS: From Corpus, Hwy 77 north past
IH-37, the ranch gate is up the hill immediately past Katz Rock Yard. Meet at 7:00 a.m., bring
a covered dish or snack for a get-together under the pavilion after the birding.
4/16/09 through 4/19/09 Big Thicket – Jones and Huntsville State Parks, Silsbee, Anahuac
National Wildlife Refuge and High Island. Also, Conroe, Winnie, Beaumont. Deadline for
reservations April 1, Contact Gene Blacklock at 361-885-6247.
CBAS Monthly Meetings
Tuesday, March 3 at 7 pm
Speaker: Georgean and Paul
Kyle, Driftwood Wildlife Association
Topic: Chimney Swifts: Why
We Should Care
Tuesday, April at 7 pm
Speaker:
Presenter: Lowell Schake,
Sunday 5/3/09 Migrant Hot Spots, Mustang Island. Linda Fuiman, leader. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED; NO FEE. Minimum 6 / maximum 12 participants; deadline May. Trip author
starts at Paradise Pond, 7:00 am; Birding Center, shorebird sites and North Jetty, Port Aransas. Topic: On the Wings of
Cranes: Larry Walkinshaw’s
Life Story
January Meeting
Travis Gallo—Invaders of Texas Program Coordinator
Former CBAS Board Member Travis Gallo presented information on the Invaders of Texas: a program to detect and report invasive species. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is
working to confront the problem of invasive plant species. These
invasives crowd out native plants. The Invaders of Texas Program trains volunteer "citizen scientists" to detect and report on
invasive plants arrival and dispersal in their own local areas. Local agencies and volunteers use the national database to help
eliminate some of these destructive plants. Learn more at the website: http://
www.texasinvasives.org/invaders/index.php, and sign up for the free e-newsletter.
February Meeting
Shelly Maher, from the USDA Kika de la Garza Plant Materials Center, spoke about Habitat Restoration and its Benefits on
Birds and other Wildlife. She explained that the Plant Materials
Center in Kingsville provides technical assistance to restore
Gulf Coast prairie and associated salt marshes, enhance waterbird habitat, re-vegetate disturbed areas, and improve range and
pasture lands. She showed images of habitat restoration that
were truly impressive. The center assisted CBAS in revegetating the levees associated with the new Prairie Wetland
Project at the North Bay Sanctuary.
Location:
Corpus Christi Museum of
Science and History
1900 N. Chaparral
Corpus Christi, Texas
Time: 7:00 p.m.
___________________________
All members and the public
are invited!
WHAT’S UP AROUND TEXAS
JONES PARK NATURE FEST
March 7, 2009 Houston
Seminars by noted speakers, a book signing, field trips and live
wildlife
Contact: Jesse Jones Park and Nature Center
(281) 446-8588
GALVESTON ISLAND FEATHERFEST
April 2-5, 2009 Galveston
Timed to coincide with the annual spring migration, FeatherFest could see as many as 300 species as birds travel through
the area. Art, history and nature programs as well as field trips
are featured at this premier birding location.
Contact: Galveston Island Nature Tourism Council, Morton
Voller, (409) 392-0841
Web site: www.galvestonfeatherfest.com,
E-mail: vollernature@juno.com
ATTWATER’S PRAIRIE CHICKEN FESTIVAL
April 11, 2009 Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge
The highlight of this event is viewing the critically endangered
Attwater’s Prairie Chicken on their booming grounds. Wildlife
viewing tours are available throughout the area.
Contact: Attwater Prairie Chicken NWR
P.O.Box 519, Eagle Lake, TX 77434
(979) 234-3021
15th ANNUAL MIGRATION CELEBRATION
April 17-19, 2009 Lake Jackson
Haven to over 350 species of birds, the area’s diverse habitats
include coastal prairie, hardwood forests and southern bayous
along the Central Flyway. Field trips include Brazoria, Big
Boggy and San Bernard National Wildlife Refuges, Peach
Point Wildlife Management Area, five county parks and 20
miles of Gulf Coast beaches. Potential birds include migratory
tanagers, warblers, buntings, hawks, waterfowl and shorebirds
all returning from their winter in Latin America.
Contact: Friends of Brazoria Refuges, (979) 285-2501
Web site: http://migrationcelebration.blogspot.com
NATURE QUEST 2009
April 21-26, 2009 Concan
World-class experts on native plants, wildflowers, butterflies,
insects, birds and mammals lead participants through field
trips, workshops, seminars and evening programs.
Contact: Texas Hill Country River Region
(800) 210-0380
Web site: www.thcrr.com E-mail: info@thcrr.com
BALCONES SONGBIRD FESTIVAL – A CELEBRATION OF NATURE
April 24-27, 2009 Lago Vista
Located 35 miles northwest of Austin, Balcones Canyonlands
National Wildlife Refuge offers excellent habitat for two Texas
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endemic endangered birds — the Golden-cheeked Warbler and
the Black-capped Vireo. The festival includes opportunities to
view both of these species on birding walks as well as butterflies, wildflowers, reptile exhibits and family events.
Contact: Friends of Balcones Canyonlands, P.O. Box 4678,
Lago Vista TX 78645
(512) 339-9432, ext. 0
Web site: www.friendsofbalcones.org
E-mail: friends@friendsofbalcones.org
16th ANNUAL BLUEBIRD FESTIVAL
April 25, 2009 Wills Point
Wills Point celebrates its birds with driving tours for access to
hundreds of bluebirds and nesting boxes lining the roads into
town. Arts and crafts, games and food and educational booths
are set up throughout downtown.
Contact: Wills Point Chamber of Commerce P.O. Box 217,
Wills Point, TX 75169
(903) 873-3111, (800) WPBLUBI
Web site: www.willspointbluebird.com
E-mail: mrbluebird@willspointbluebird.com
13th ANNUAL GREAT TEXAS BIRDING CLASSIC
April 26 – May 3, 2009 Texas Coast
This friendly but serious birding for conservation tournament is
held each year to coincide with the spectacular spring migration. To date, $651,000 has been contributed to direct habitat
conservation through this event.
Contact: Gulf Coast Bird Observatory – Carol Jones
(979) 480-0999
Web site: www.birdingclassic.org
E-mail: cjones@gcbo.org
10th ANNUAL DRAGONFLY DAYS
May 21-24, 2009 Weslaco
Focusing on the diversity of these flying wonders found in the
Lower Rio Grande Valley, this event offers field trips, seminars
and lots of opportunities to see birds, butterflies, and of course,
dragonflies, in one of North America’s most diverse regions.
Contact: Valley Nature Center, Weslaco, TX
(956) 969-2475
Treasurer’s Report
December 1 - 31, 2008 -------January 1 - 31, 2009
Beginning balance
$ 14,854.56
Income ...................................................... $4,211.77
Expenses ................................................ 761.06
............................................................................. 3,450.71
Ending balance ................................................ $ 18,305.27
Less reserved fund............................................ 1,590.00
Less sanctuary improvement donation ........... 2,000.00
Operating fund ................................................. $ 14,715.27
Valley Birding & The Wall
Birds and Climate Change
By Jamie Ritter
In mid-December I took a birding trip to the Valley with my
friend Mary Yurkovich from Seabrook. Mary is a member of
the Houston Audubon, a volunteer at High Island, and a great
birder. Before Hurricane Ike, she owned a cottage on Bolivar.
We planned a 5 day visit with my brother and sister-in-law who
live near Mission. My brother, Paul Bryant, is a daily volunteer
at Bentsen State Park, and the designer and builder of his own
nature preserve on his property there.
Nearly 60% of the 305 species found in North America in winter are on the move, shifting their ranges northward by an average of 35 miles. Audubon scientists analyzed 40 years of citizen
-science Christmas Bird Count data — and their findings provide new and powerful evidence that global warming is having
a serious impact on natural systems. Northward movement was
detected among species of every type, including more than 70
percent of highly adaptable forest and feeder birds.
We had carefully planned to hit the hotspots from Brownsville
to Falcon. We were out early everyday, saw over 100 birds,
including two new life birds for me, and had a marvelous time.
Paul knows an enormous amount about the local fauna and
Mary and I learned a lot from the trip. We think he learned
from us too. In fact, the three of us were the first to see and
identify the female Crimson-collared Grosbeak that was still
being seen (in January) at Frontera in Weslaco. The trip was
nothing short of magical.
That is until the 4th day. We had planned to start at the Old
Pump House in Hidalgo. It is a historic structure from the time
period of steam pumping of water from the Rio Grande for agricultural irrigation. Attached to the park is a great nature trail.
Paul and I had been on the trail at least twice before and seen
interesting birds and plants there. As we turned into the property we could immediately see the changes. A huge cement
wall was under construction. On top of the cement was a wire
type of fence as well. We knew the loud construction noises
would not be conducive to a profitable hike. We went into the
pump house to speak to the curator and were informed that the
trail was closed. He thought that in the future they would
somehow be given access to the trail again. It was a depressing
moment. We had seen evidence of the wall earlier in the week,
and we all had expressed our different views on its effectiveness. But being turned away like that gave us a different perspective. None of us said a word as we walked to the car.
Only grassland species were an exception - with only 38 percent mirroring the northward trend. But far from being good
news for species like Eastern Meadowlark and Henslow's Sparrow, this reflects the grim reality of severely-depleted grassland
habitat and suggests that these species now face a double threat
from the combined stresses of habitat loss and climate adaptation.
It is the complete picture of widespread movement and the failure of some species to move at all that illustrate the impacts of
climate change on birds. They are sending us a powerful signal
that we need to 1) take policy action to curb climate change and
its impacts, and 2) help wildlife and ecosystems adapt to unavoidable habitat changes, even as we work to curb climate
change itself.
For more information, a fun quiz, and to take action in this important issue, go to www.birdsandclimate.org.
From the National Audubon Society’s website: http://
audubonaction.org/campaign/birdsandclimate, retrieved
2/22/2009.
Photo of wall construction in Weslaco from NoTexasBorderWallblogspot.com
Page 3
CBAS BIG DAY 2009
Over 100 people and 26 teams birded the Coastal Bend region
on Saturday, February 7, 2009, to celebrate the Coastal Bend
Audubon Society’s Big Day. This was the most successful Big
Day, CBAS’ primary fund raising effort, on record. We had
greater involvement from people from out of town, including
13 from Austin, and a wide diversity of new participants from
the Coastal Bend. Participants received a t-shirt and dinner for
the entry fee of $25.00.
After birding for as long as desired, teams met at Portobello’s
Restaurant, 430 South Padre Island Drive, at 6 pm to begin tallying the bird list and comparing notes on the day. Portobello’s
served dinner and attendees viewed and bid on items in a silent
auction. Those attending the dinner also viewed Liz and David
Smith’s exceptional bird and wildlife photos as a slide show.
New activities this year included a reduced fee for children under 12, scholarships, and teams from our major sponsors: HEB
and the Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries Program.
Among the items bid on for the Silent Auction were colorful,
framed prints of local fish and other wildlife, Wildlife in Focus
books, custom handmade fish stringer, plant basket, books,
CD’s, gift certificates, and boat tours for dolphins & whooping
cranes. Preliminary numbers for the Silent Auction totaled over
$2000.
Mary Ellen Vega, Vice President of CBAS, chaired the event,
with assistance from CBAS Board Members. They organized
the teams, t-shirts and dinner, procured items for the silent auction and obtained sponsorships. Over $3,000 was raised and
will be used to support the club’s conservation and educational
activities.
Although there were lots of happy birders at the Big Day Dinner, the photographer and the editor were unable to get the
names of the participants pictured here.
Page 4
Big day teams
Hardegree Team
Loony Loons
Merry Mergansers
Oyster Reefers
Port Aransas Spoonbills
Rad Grads
Rockport Sojourners
St. John’s Shorebird
Seekers
Team HEB
Team Thrasher
Groove Billed Aunties Several Un-named
Hand-picked & Hen- Teams
pecked
Bog Suckers
Bull Bats
CBBEP(Coastal Bend
Bays and Estuaries
Program) Birders
Cooper’s Hawks
Cosmic Cuckoos
Curious Creepers
Dixie
Garbled Modwits
Gethsemans Gazers
Golden Age Three
CBAS BIG DAY 2009
CBAS would like to thank the donors and sponsor of Big Day for their support in making this the best Big
Day ever. We would like to thank the following donors for their assistance. Members are encouraged to express their thanks to the following individuals and businesses:
Sponsors
HEB
the Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program
Donors
Audubon Texas
Brad Lomax
Captain Clark’s Boat Tours
Coastal Bend Bays Foundation
Coastal Bend Wildlife Photo Contest
Corpus Christi Botanical Gardens
Corpus Christi Convention & Visitors’ Bureau
David McKee
Diane and Al Johnson
Dr. Juan Bahamon
Eagle Optics
Fisherman’s Wharf
Gill’s Nursery
Half Price Books
Jamie Ritter
John Moore
Kay Barnaby
Kohootz Tours
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Lee Fuiman
Port Aransas Chamber of Commerce
Robert Vega
Snoopy’s Restaurant
South Jetty Newspaper, Port Aransas
Texas State Aquarium
UT Marine Science Institute
Wes Tunnell
Windsor Park Animal Hospital
Woody’s Sports Center
Page 5
2009 Big Shell Beach Clean-up
Date: March 14, 2009
Time: 7:00 AM to 1:30 PM
Location: Malaquite Visitor Center Picnic Shelter
Details:
The 14th Annual Big Shell Beach Cleanup is scheduled for
Saturday, March 14th. Volunteers will meet no later than 7:00
a.m. at the Malaquite Pavilion in the parking lot of the visitor
center at Padre Island National Seashore. Everyone is welcome.
Admission to the park is free for those working the Cleanup.
Trash pick-up ends at 1:30 P.M., although any volunteers wishing to work longer are welcome to.
It is not necessary to have a 4-WD vehicle to take part in the
event. Volunteers without 4-WD vehicles will be offered rides
to the work area. Volunteers with 4-WD vehicles are needed to
transport workers, haul trash and to pull trailers. Flatbed trailers
also are needed. Volunteers with 4-WD vehicles who arrive late
are welcome to drive down the beach to join work crews.
Trash bags, gloves, water and portable bathrooms will be provided. Recommended clothing includes a long-sleeve shirt, long
pants, hat, gloves, and close-toed shoes. Sandals are NOT recommended!
Lunch will be available beginning around 2:00 p.m. Feel free to
bring a snack if you do not wish to wait that long to eat. The
Coastal Conservation Association`s Corpus Christi Chapter will
provide hotdogs and drinks, while Daniel Dain`s Corpus Christi
area Domino`s Pizza Restaurants will have plenty of pizza on
hand.
Since the beginning of the Big Shell Beach Cleanup event,
more than 2,900 volunteers have removed over one million
pounds of trash from Big Shell Beach during good and bad
weather. With the debris left from Hurricane Ike, we need your
help now more than ever. See you on the beach Saturday,
March 14th!
Capt. Billy Sandifer
Fees:No Fee for Volunteers
Contact:Malaquite Visitor Center, 361.949.8068
Message from CBAS President,
Leonabelle Turnbull
Leonabelle Turnbull passed away on Saturday, February 7th
after a short illness. For those that may not know her – Leonabelle was a legendary birder and was for many years the sole
birding guide (unofficially) at the Birding Center in Port Aransas. For years she braved the elements of the heat, wind and
cold to watch the birds she dearly loved, and to educate people
passing through. The City of Port Aransas named the birding
center after her and is now known as the Leonabelle Turnbull
Birding Center, Port Aransas a place that we all love to
visit. She will be missed.
The CBAS will make a donation to the Audubon Outdoor Club
where she was an active member for many years before her
health became so frail.
Page 6
David Newstead
This year is the 14th year that Capt Billy Sandifer has done his
Big Shell Beach Cleanup down the Padre Island National Seashore. This event requires a great deal of commitment from
Billy, who's been organizing it, as well as lots of devoted beach
users who volunteer their 4WD trucks and trailers and whatever
else they can muster to clean up a very beautiful but difficult-to
-access section of one of our most underappreciated national
parks. The cleanup is scheduled rain or shine for Saturday,
March 14.
Hurricane Ike dislodged entire communities from their foundations up the coast last summer, and much of the debris washed
out to sea, drifted down the coast and washed up on Padre Island. It's an incredible amount of trash, and a painful reminder
of how much we have come to depend on plastics in our society. First, I encourage you all to participate in this event, as it
needs help like it never has before. You don't need to have
your own 4WD, just show up at Malaquite Beach parking lot at
the Padre Island National Seashore, ready to work, and they'll
put you in a vehicle with somebody else (good way to meet
people).
Great Backyard Bird Count
By Linda Fuiman, Education Coordinator
Students from H.G. Olsen Elementary School in Port Aransas learned how to help scientists and help birds. The 12th Annual Great Backyard Bird Count was the topic for fourth and
fifth graders at a presentation by Linda Fuiman, Education
Chair, in February.
Students learned why it is important for scientists to know what
is happening to birds at this time of year, how cold temperatures can influence populations and distribution, and the importance of sustaining healthy habitats. The students were eager to
put their birding skills to use and were thrilled to be part of a
national bird survey. They counted birds during the 4-day
event and submitted their results online with the assistance of
5th grade teacher, Julie Findlay.
Scientists use the count, along with observations from other
citizen-science projects, such as the Christmas Bird Count, Project FeederWatch, and eBird, to give us a picture of our winter
birds. Each year that these data are collected makes them more
meaningful. For highlights of past results, visit the Science Stories section from the Great Backyard Bird Count website,
www.birdsource.org/gbbc
This timely event was also the subject on South Texas Birding,
KIII-TV, Channel 3 on February 14th. Fourth grade student
Hawkins Williams joined me in the studio to talk about the
count. When the segment was over Hawkins, his mom and dad,
Kate and John Williams joined me to count birds in the ‘studio
backyard’, then submitted the results online. No surprises in
that count, doves, grackles and starlings, but collectively they
all have a story to tell.
South Texas Birding
Thanks,
Patty
Tune-in to South Texas Birding, KIII-TV, Channel 3, on the
second Saturday of each month at 7:15 a.m. to learn more.
Marc Woodin, U.S. Geological Survey will talk about redhead
ducks on March 14th.
Linda Fuiman, left, Port Aransas Olsen Elementary fourth
grade student, Hawkins Williams, center, and KIII newscaster
Sabrina Hall, right, talked about the Great Backyard Bird
Count on February 14 on South Texas Birding..
On Tuesday, February
3, President David
Newstead presented
Patty Beasley with a
framed photograph of a
Yellow Headed Caracara in appreciation for
her work with the
Coastal Bend Audubon
Society webpage, and
www.ccbirding.com
site for many
years. The photograph
donated by CBAS
member Tony Baylis.
New or Renewing Membership
New Member
Renewal
Chapter: C9ZW130Z
Name: __________________________________
Address: ________________________________________
City _____________________________________
State _______________
Phone (optional) ___________________________
Email (optional) ____________________________________
ZIP ______________
Indicate Membership Preference: I would like to become a
member of National Audubon Society and Coastal Bend Audubon Society (local W-13). Your membership includes the National
Audubon Magazine, chapter membership and other benefits. Your chapter receives part of your dues. Dues: One year $20 Make
checks payable to National Audubon Society
member of Coastal Bend Audubon Society (local W-13) ONLY.
No NAS membership and no National Audubon magazine. Your chapter only membership includes all other Audubon membership benefits. Your chapter receives all of your dues. Dues: One year $15
Make checks payable to Coastal Bend Audubon Society
Additional Tax Deductible Contribution
Please consider making a tax deductible contribution to the local chapter, Coastal Bend Audubon Society. You may designate the category you would like your contribution applied to. Designate category of support.
Tern
One year
$50
Osprey
One year
$100
Pelican
One year
$500
Designate specific area of support (Optional).
General Fund
Education Program
Sanctuary Maintenance
Newsletter Fund
AMOUNT Enclosed: ___________________ Date: ________________
MAIL TO: COASTAL BEND AUDUBON SOCIETY, P.O. BOX 3604, Corpus Christi, TX 78463
02/09
Page 7
Non-Profit Org.
U. S. Postage
The Newsletter of the Coastal
Bend Audubon Society
PAID
Permit No. 1080
Corpus Christi, TX
P.O. Box 3604
Corpus Christi, Texas 78463
Phone: 361-885-6203
Email: davnewst@yahoo.com
http://www.coastalbendaudubon.org
Regular CBAS meetings:
First Tuesday of the month, September
through May, 7 p.m. at the CC
Museum of Science and History
The Brown Pelican
Coastal Bend Audubon Society Board of Directors
PRESIDENT
David Newstead
361-885-6203
davnewst@yahoo.com
VICE PRESIDENT
Mary Ellen Vega
txvega@aol.com
SECRETARY
Cherie McCollough
cherie.mccollough@tamucc.edu
TREASURER
Leatrice Koch
leak36@aol.com
DIRECTORS
The Coastal Bend Audubon Society is a nonprofit 501c(3) organization dedicated to the conEducation Linda Fuiman, Linda.Fuiman@mail.utexas.edu
servation of birds, and bird habitat, and to conservation education in the Coastal Bend.
Sanctuary
Dick DuBois, papadubois@yahoo.com
The organization is supported by contributions
from local memberships and from the National
Audubon Society.
Conservation
Membership
Newsletter
Your CHAPTER needs you! You can help steer
the course of growth and change in our community by working together Please contact us at 361
-885-6203 about getting involved!
This newsletter is compiled/written and published
every other month. Articles of interest are gathered from
various sources and compiled by the editor,
volunteers, and/or contributing authors.
All contributions and comments are welcomed.
Scott Large, largesi@gmail.com
Laura Cooper, lgcooper@earthlink.net
Sally Bickley, s8bickley@yahoo.com
At-Large
Gene Blacklock, geneb@cbbep.org
At-Large
Ray Sutton, wsutton1@stx.rr.com