volume xxvi, no. 4 january-february 2009

8/14/2019 Volume XXVI, No. 4 January-February 2009

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Thursday, November 13, 2008, 6:00 PM

January Chapter Meeting & Program at the McNay, Thursday, Jan. 8, 20096 PM

Beloved Audubon Gems on Rare Public Display

January's chapter meet-ing will be a special outingto the McNay Art Museumfor their exhibition "PrintsGone Wild: John JamesAudubon."

The date will be thesame as always, the secondThursday (Jan. 8), whichhas two benefits for us.First, the McNay charges noadmission on Thursday eve-

nings. Second, printscurator Lyle Williams

will be giving a publiclecture on the exhibi-tion that evening inthe Lawson Print Gal-lery.

The lecture startsat 6 PM, a half hourearlier than our nor-mal meeting time andan hour earlier thanour usual programtime. So we encour-age you all to make anote on your calen-dars to arrive early.After the lecture, wewill have until 9 PM toview these magnifi-cent prints.

Bexar TracksVolume XXVI, No. 4January-February 2009For the latest news and updates, see www.bexaraudubon.org and www.sa-naturecenter.org.

Inside this issue:

The UnexpectedPresident

2

Trinity River AudubonCenter

Project FeederWatch

3

Mitchell LakeAudubon Center

4

Community Events:Cibolo Nature Center,San Antonio Natural

Areas

5

Sustainable LandscapesGuidelines Report

7

Membership

The McNay display has20 mostly hand-coloredlithographs from the bookson birds (double-elephantsize) and quadrupeds(imperial size). Featured inPrints Gone Wild: JohnJames Audubon are three

great Texas subjects, TexasWolf, Nine-banded Arma-dillo, and Texas Rabbit, plusone of Audubons most fa-mous images, AmericanFlamingo. This particularlithograph, printed on asheet of paper nearly fourfeet long, has not been onpublic display for over 15years.

A few of these lithographsbelong to the McNay buthave never been exhibitedbefore. Others have beenloaned by San Antonio-areacollectors. Come and join usfor a dazzling visual ency-clopedia of Americas nativeflora and fauna.

February 2009: Reproductive Strategies (of Wildlife)Thursday, February 12, 2009, 6:30 PM

Valentine ProgramReproductive Strategies

of Wildlife

Join Richard Heilbrun,TPWD Wildlife Biologist, foran informative and light-hearted presentation on"Reproductive Strategies ofWildlife." Selfish genes, nestparasitism, and explosivebreeding strategies are par

for the course in this Valen-tine special!

Richard is an Urban Wild-life Biologist with TexasParks & Wildlife Depart-ment. He holds a B.S. and aMasters in Wildlife Ecologyfrom Texas A&M and cre-ated this presentation whileguest lecturing at UTSA.Richard provides technical

guidance to landownersaround San Antonio andassists city officials in creat-ing wildlife-friendly city ordi-nances and in protectingwildlife habitat.

Bexar Audubon Societyregular chapter meetingsare the second Thursdaysmonthly with programs atTrinity University, CowlesLife Science Bldg., Room149; uphill from Laurie Audi-torium near the library. Feelfree to call 210.837.0577 forfurther information and di-rections. (Map on page 6)

(Courtesy McNay Art Museum)John James Audubon's "American Flamingo."

The McNay Art Museumis located at 6000 NewBraunfels, San Antonio. Formore information call210.824.5368 or log on atwww.mcnayart.org.

Bexar Audubon Societyis a chapter of the NationalAudubon Society. Its primarygoals are to promote speciesand habitat conservation andenvironmental education in thecommunity.


2/8

TheUnexpectedPresident

expert bird carver who cre-

ated our magnificently real-

istic, hand-painted Conser-

vation Hero quail trophies;

and the 70 participants

whose presence and con-versation made the banquet

the festive occasion it was

meant to be.

Finally, but perhaps most

important of all, because we

are thanking them not only

for their role at the banquet

but for a lifetime of service

to our community and its

gram; Caryl Swann, who

handled the RSVPs and

finances; and Susan

Hughes, whose expert ad-

vice and historical knowl-

edge of Bexar Audubon

saved us from several po-

tential blunders.

But I would be remiss not

to also praise and thank

numerous other people who

made the banquet a suc-

cess: the generous and

highly professional man-agement and staff at Los

Patios; John Karger and his

colleagues (human and

avian) from Last Chance

Forever for an outstanding

talk on how falconry con-

tributes to bird conserva-

tion; James Middleton, San

Antonio Audubon Societys

Page 2 Bexar TracksJanuary-February 2009

Thank goodness for the

extraordinarily skilled and

dedicated people who con-

stitute the core of BexarAudubon Societys team.

Our November award-

and-anniversary banquet

was a triumph. I cannot

count how many compli-

ments I received for that

marvelous event. Not that I

deserved them.

As you may recall, I was

suffering from a serious

ailment during the critical

weeks leading up to theevent, and I had to hand off

the responsibility for plan-

ning and arranging it to my

colleagues. Special praise

and gratitude are due to

Tony Wood, who negoti-

ated the details with Los

Patios; Patty Pasztor, who

arranged a wonderful pro-

- Harry Noyes -

environment, I must cite the

three inaugural recipients of

the new Bexar Audubon

Society Conservation Hero

trophy: Bill Sinkin, founder

and sustainer of Solar SanAntonio; and Ruth Lofgren

and Ernie Roney for dec-

ades of work to protect

Mitchell Lake and their con-

tinued volunteer work there.

Let me conclude by urg-ing all of us to follow theirexamples as best we can.

(Continued on page 6)

B

illSinkin&BillHurley

Marge Lumpe & Ruth Lofgren

JohnKargerofLCF

Tony Wood & Bill Sinkin

Bill Skinner & LCF Friend

with Peregrine Falcon

KellyRaynerof

LCF

withBaldEagle

Ernie Roney

Celebrating

our

ConservationHeroes


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Trinity River Center is flagship site for

National Audubon Society

w i t h t h eB l a c k l a n d

Prairie, bot-tomland hard-wood forestand surround-ing wetlands.Its amazingthat this sitewas once aneyesore, but

now is helping naturecome back to life.

Built on top of a re-claimed former landfill, theTrinity River AudubonCenter is the first majorsignature development forthe Trinity River CorridorProject, a $2 billion City ofDallas public works project. A flagship locationfor the National AudubonSociety, TRAC is located just eight minutes fromdowntown Dallas on 120acres of the Great TrinityForestthe largest urbanbottomland hardwood

forest in the UnitedStates. The Center willserve as the gateway tothe Great Trinity Forest,which is more than 6,000acres in all. In addition tobird watching and outdoorconservation programsand clubs, the Centerserves as a teaching facil-ity for 25,000 students.

Read more about theTrinity River Audubon

facility opening at www.audubon.org/news/TrinityOpening.html, or log on tow w w . t r i n i t y r i ve raudubon.org.


Cornell Lab of Ornithology.The information they pro-vide helps generate theworlds largest database onfeeder-bird populations.

FeederWatchers acrossNorth America submittedmore than 115,000 check-lists during the 2007-08 sea-son, documenting unusualbird sightings, winter move-ments, and shifting ranges--information scientists use tomonitor the health of thebirds and of the environ-ment.

Project FeederWatch wel-comes participants of allages and skill levels. Tolearn more and to sign up,visit www.feederwatch.orgor call 800.843.2473. In re-

turn for the $15fee ($12 for Labmembers) partici-pants receive aFeederWatchersHandbook, a bird-i d e n t i f i c a t i o nposter, a calen-dar, instructions,and the Feeder-

Watch annual report, WinterBird Highlights, summariz-ing the seasons findings.

Photos are available atwww.feederwatch.org; visitthe Explore Data sectionof the web site to find thetop 25 birds reported in yourstate, rare bird sightings,and bird summaries.

The Cornell Lab of Orni-thology is a membershipinstitution dedicated to inter-preting and conserving theearths biological diversitythrough research, educa-tion, and citizen sciencefocused on birds. Visit theLabs web site at http://www.birds.cornell.edu.

The diversity of habitatsand birds in Texas makesbird watchers in the statethe envy of nature loverselsewhere. Many stunningspecies readily visit birdfeeders, and may be at-tracted to your own back-yard. Scientists are askingTexas bird watchers to re-port what they see at theirfeeders through ProjectFeederWatch.

Being a FeederWatcheris easy and fun, says pro-

ject leader David Bonter

from the Cornell Lab of Or-nithology. Scientists learnsomething new from theproject each year, whetherits about the movements ofcommon backyard birds orunusual sightings of rarelyseen species.

For example,Texas has recentlyseen the spread oftwo dove speciesthroughout the state:the White-wingedDove and the Eura-sian Collared-Dove.As the name implies, thelatter species is not native tothe United States. Will thisnew dove have an impacton populations of nativedoves? We need to hearfrom more bird watchers inTexas to get an accuratepicture of whats happeningwith bird populations fromyear to year, says Bonter.Anyone who sees birds atfeeders can help.

The 2008-09 season ofProject FeederWatch is un-derway and runs throughApril 3. Participants can signup at any time. Feeder-Watchers track the numbersand kinds of birds seen atfeeders each week and thensend the information to the

More than 10,000 peo-ple attended openingweekend at the newAudubon Center in Dal-las, offering a powerful

example of how Audubonconnects people withnature. Twice the numberof visitors expected weredrawn by workshops ontopics such as backpack-ing, paddling, outdoorcooking, how to live nearurban wildlife, plantingcommunity gardens andmore. Kids joined arts-and-crafts projects; lec-tures included how to

landscape with nativespecies, make compost,and raise bees andchickens. Highlights atthe center include hiking,bird-watching, hands-onexhibits, conservationand outdoor-skills work-shops, yoga classes anda children's discoverygarden.

Anne Brown, vicepresident of NationalAudubon Society, said,We had an amazingturnout opening weekendas the community wasready to see the Centerand to enjoy all the activi-ties that wed planned.Also, the building isuniquely designed so thateverywhere you are, youare drawn to the outside,

Calling All Texas Bird Watchers

More eyes needed to tally state birds


4/8

Berle Environmental Integ-rity Award. To be given

annually to up to two U.S.citizens who provide inno-vative leadership in helpingconfront the challenges ofclimate change, renewableenergy, depletion of theoceans, species extinction,air, water and soil contami-nation, and the urban envi-ronment, the first award(which includes a prize of$2,000) will be presented in

Last November in NewYork, Audubon President

John Flicker announced thatthe Century Foundation, incooperation with the Na-tional Audubon Society, theNatural Resources DefenseCouncil, the EnvironmentalDefense Fund, the Environ-mental Law Section of theNew York State Bar Asso-ciation, and former col-leagues of Peter Berle, havecreated The Peter A. A.

2009. Nominations shouldbe submitted via e-mail on

or before February 1, 2009to [email protected].

Peter Berle, NationalAudubon Society Presidentfrom 1985-1995, died in2007, but his conservationlegacy was honored in mem-oriam.

Learn more at www1.audubon.org/news/pressRelease.php?id=1020.

Second Saturday

Beginners Walks

Join San AntonioAudubon Society on thesecond Saturday of themonth (Jan. 10, Feb. 14);start at 8 AM, meet at theJudson Nature Trails nextto the Alamo Heightsswimming pool on ViescaStreet. For more informa-tion, call 210.342.2073.

Newbies Welcome!

Peter Berle Environmental Award Announced


Whats Happening at Mitchell Lake?

Mitchell Lake Bird Lovers 10K RunFebruary 14, 2009 Time: Race Start 9 AM$2 of Entry Fee Benefits Mitchell Lake Audubon CenterInformation:Contact Gib Hafernick, 210.492.7517

or [email protected]

Course:Flat with gentle slopes on gravel/unimproved roadsand trails circumventing 9 holding ponds separated by dikeswith abundant watering fowl.

T-shirt with Shirts guarantee First 200

Entry Fee:$18SARR Members & Active Military; $20Non-Member; $25RACE DAY

Snail Mail AND Online Registration Close February 10, 2009

Note:"NO REFUND" or "Rain Check Date" for this event.

Online registration available at the San Antonio Road Run-ners Calendar, www.saroadrunners.com.

MLAC: Connecting People with Nature

Explore a place where nature is continually renewing itself.Where birds, insects, and wild plants surprise you with anew spectacle around every corner. A place where families,school groups and individuals can reflect and learn aboutthe natural world, just minutes from downtown San Antonio.

Mitchell Lake Wildlife Refuge: An Illustrated History

Want to know more about Mitchell Lake and how it became the restful place it is today? Look no further! We have a book

for youMitchell Lake Wildlife Refuge: An Illustrated History. The book is published by the Mitchell Lake Wetlands Society,

Dwight Henderson, president. Mr. Henderson, a retired history professor at UTSA and docent at the ML Audubon Center,

co-authored this book with Ruth Lofgren, retired biology professor (City University of New York) and also a docent at the

Center. Artist Rita Schimpff illustrated the book. She was a member of the Junior League Wetlands Project at Mitchell Lake

in 1990. Susan Ives is the graphic artist who created the cover and set up the pages so beautifully. The book is only $6

(including taxwhat a deal!!), available at the Nature Store at the Mitchell Lake Audubon Center. PLUS it may be ordered

from www.amazon.com. Discounted prices for bulk orders can be arranged for bookstores, schools and libraries. Call

210.732.5392 and leave a message, or write to MLWS, 434 Hermine Blvd., San Antonio TX 78212 for one to three copies

for $6 each + $4 S&H.

If you enjoy being out-

doors, bird-watching, gar-

dening, working with chil-dren, or sharing your love of

nature with others, then you

will feel right at home at

Mitchell Lake. Whatever

your talents and interests,

we have an opportunity for

you: become a docent!

Please call 210.628.1639

for more information.

Docent Training

Docent training is an 8-

week course that will beheld Saturday mornings

from 9 AM to 12 PM begin-

ning Jan. 10, 2009. Training

includes the history of

Mitchell Lake, bird and plant

identification, wildlife man-

agement, nature center pro-

cedures, and educationalnature interpretation. The

cost to participate is $35

and covers instruction and

materials.

Mitchell LakeAudubon Center

10750 Pleasanton Rd.

San Antonio TX 78221

210.628.1639

www.mitchelllakeaudubon.org

Become a Mitchell Lake Audubon Center Docent


5/8

Community Events SAN ANTONIO NATURAL AREASFor more information on listings below,visit www.sanaturalareas.org or www.bexaraudubon.org.

First Saturday Hikes

Interpretative Walks in January and FebruaryCall 210.372.9124 or 210.564.6400 forreservations or information on FirstSaturday Hikes detailed below. Hikesmay be cancelled if there are no reser-vations; participants limited to 15 perhike. Donation $2/person suggested.

EISENHOWER PARK

19399 NW Military Hwy.

January 3, 2009, 9-11 AM

Get some exercise after the holidayfeasts and learn about this great Natu-ral Area at the same time! Nature isnt

sleeping in the wintercome seewhats going on! Reservations recom-mended; hikes occasionally change.

FRIEDRICH WILDERNESS PARK

21395 Milsa

February 7, 2009, 9-11 AM

It may be warm, it may be cool and itmay be downright cold! (San Antoniowinter.) And the weather will determinewhat you see on this walkcould beearly wildflowers or could be snow!

Second Saturday Programs inEISENHOWER PARK, 10 AM12 PMReservations recommended, 210.564.6400 or 210.372.9124. Suggested do-nation: $3/individual, $5/family.

Jan. 10, 2009: Bare Branches!Exploreour trees in winter: learn how they canbe used in urban situations and thinkabout trees to plant in your yard thisyear.Feb. 14, 2009: A Perfect Red! Whatinsect colonizes prickley pear cactusand is the source of a a perfect red?

Come meet his insect and explore sym-biosis. Sample bug juice and join usas we brew a perfect red dye to make aValentines Day treat. Family fun!

Eisenhower Park, 19399 NW MilitaryHwy. Take FM 1535/Military Highway/Shavano Park exit off Loop 1604 on thecitys northwest side. Go north 2 miles.Park entrance on left, just before CampBullis. Gates open at 9:30 AM.

Wildlife Tax Valuation Seminar

Session I:Overview/Property InventoryJanuary 10, 9 AM-1 PMSession II:Management Practices and

Application ProceduresJanuary 17, 9 AM-2:30 PMSession III:WTV History and Update

On Current Law and RegulationsJanuary 24, 9 AM-12:30 PMLocation: CNC auditoriumCost: Members $70/person and $90/couple; non-members $90/person and$110/couple. Pre-registration required;call 830.249.4616. Limited to 30. Pro-

gram especially for owners of lessthan 500 acres and will emphasizewildlife management for songbirds.

Boerne BirdersBoerne LakeJanuary 17, 8-10 AMMeet in the parking area near the dam.FREE. Information, call 830.230.5551or 210.710.3981.

Tree Management ALL NEWFebruary 7, 9 AM-12 NoonMembers $15/person: non-members$20/person. Limited to 30. Pre-

r e g i s t r a t i o n r e q u i r e d . C a l l830.249.4616. Presenter: TFS foresterPaul Johnson.

Rainwater Harvest WorkshopFebruary 14, 9 AM-12 NoonCNC auditorium and visit to Kight in-stallation. Members $20/person: non-members $30/person. Limited to 30.Pre-regist rat ion required. Cal l830.249.4616.

Boerne BirdersCNCGreat Back-yard Bird Count (GBBC)February 14, 8-10 AMMeet at the CNC pavilion. Free. Infor-mation, 830.230.5551 or 210.710.3981.

Composting Made Easy ALL NEWFebruary 21, 10-NoonMembers $15/person: non-members$20/person. Limited to 30. Pre-r e g i s t r a t i o n r e q u i r e d . C a l l830.249.4616. Presenter: Master Gar-dener Chris Seifert.

Habitat For BirdsPart I: Attracting Birds to Your PropertyFebruary 28, 9-NoonMembers $15/person: non-members$20/person. Limited to 30. Pre-registration required, 830.249-4616.

MEDINA RIVER NATURAL AREA

(MRNA)

15890 Highway 16 South

San Antonio TX 78264

Medina River Natural Area is located

approx. 4 miles south of Loop 410 onState Highway 16 South.

Second Saturday Programs

January 10, 2009, 9-11 AM

RAMBLING REPTILES! Join Dr. CaryGuffey, Professor at Our Lady of theLake University, with a discussion anddemonstration about the world of TexasReptiles. $3 suggested donation or $5per family.

February 14, 2009, 9-11 AM

ReDuce, ReUse and ReCycle, pre-sented by San Antonio Solid WasteManagement Dept. and Keep San An-tonio Beautiful, Kid Friendly RecycledArt activity included. $3 suggested do-nation, $5/family.

March 14, 2008, 9-11 AM

Native American Dancing and Singing,presented by Boy Scout Troop 10 andTroop Leader; Native American KidFriendly activities included. $3 sug-gested donation, $5/family.

Reservations are re-quested for all MRNAevents. For more infor-mation or to RSVP forany event in the MRNAcall 210.624.2575.


CIBOLO NATURE CENTER

All listings are on Saturdays

unless otherwise indicated

For more information , call 210.564.6400 or visit www.cibolo.org/calendar.


6/8

Hail our Conservation Heroes!


Bexar Audubon Society ContactsPresident/Webmaster: Harry Noyes210.490.3124, [email protected] President: Tony Wood210.867.2363; [email protected]: Caryl Swann210.653.2860; [email protected]: Anita Anderson210.533.8726; [email protected]: Amy L. Whitley210.340.0114; [email protected]: Kathy Ikerd [email protected]: VACANCYPrograms/Outings: Patty Pasztor210.824.1235; [email protected]

Editor: Michele Wood210.492.4684, [email protected]

(continued from page 2)

Even if we never reach their level of

achievement, we can support them and

by all working together we can, as IsaacNewton put it, stand on the shoulders of

giants. If you arent sure what you can

do or want to do, contact me: lets talk.

Finally, some personal good news. My

illness, which turned out to be anxiety/

panic attacks (probably related to my

retirement from the civil service being

more of a what do I do now? shock

than I expected) is under control. (In time

for me to attend the banquet, thankfully.)

The pills reduce my energy level, but I

think I will be able to fulfill my Audubonduties. If I ever feel that I cannot, you

have my word that I will resign and allow

someone else to take over. (By the way,

my thanks to Vice President Tony Wood

for filling in during the worst phase of my

illness.)

Let me conclude by repeating my les-

son-learned from the previous column:

There is no substitute for your health.

Use it while you can. Take that trip to

Europe now. Write that novel now.

START YOUR VOLUNTEER WORKNOW, whether for Bexar Audubon or any

other worthy cause.

Cowles is just uphill from Laurie Auditorium &between Library and Chapman Graduate Center.Park by Laurie or in lots or on streets to the west.

Handicapped parking across from Cowles. Enterfrom Oakmont or Rosewood. Call Patty for addi-tional directions, 210.824.1235. or see additional

map at bexaraudubon.org/map.jpg.

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

There are many ways you can help!

Conservation Heroes

come in all shapes and sizes;

email Harry Noyes at

[email protected].

Together GreenAudubon and Toyota launched the five-year TogetherGreen initiative earlierthis year to fund conservation projects, train environmental leaders, and offervolunteer and individual action opportunities that significantly benefit the envi-ronment. To date, TogetherGreen volunteers in 40 communities have do-nated more than 15,000 volunteer hours to community conservation efforts.Funding totaling $1.4 million was recently awarded for the first year of innova-

tive conservation projects nationwide.

Reprinted fromAudubon Newswire & In the News Volume 6, Number 19

Audubon Issues Statements on Changing of the Guard"Audubon believes the election ushered in a new era of hope for our environ-ment; and the people, birds and other wildlife that depend on it," said BetsyLoyless, Senior Vice President, National Audubon Society, as part of a tele-conference with reporters and representatives of wildlife conservation organi-zations. To hear audio of the news conference and other statements includingthose by Mike Daulton, Audubon's Legislative Director, visit http://web1.audubon.org/news/pressRoom.php.

Cowles

LaurieLibrary

Chapman


7/8

Creating Sustainable Landscapes

Focus ofFirst Comprehensive Report


Earth Share of Texas raises money for environmental and conserva-tion organizations through workplace giving. If your employer partici-pates in such programs, please ask them to add Earth Share to yourgiving options. By designating the Audubon Foundation of Texas(AFT), Bexar Audubon Society can benefit. BAS receives credit forour support and receives funding annually form AFT. For more infor-mation, call, email or log on: 800.GREENTX, [email protected], or www.earthshare-texas.org.

The Sustainable Sites Initiative, a partner-

ship that includes The University of Texas atAustin's Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Cen-ter, invites public comment on a new reportthat offers the most comprehensive set ofvoluntary guidelines yet developed for sus-tainable landscapes. Titled "Guidelines andPerformance Benchmarks Draft 2008," it pro-vides more than 50 prerequisites and creditoptions that cover everything from initial siteselection and design to construction andmaintenance.

The Sustainable Sites Initiative, which alsoincludes the American Society of LandscapeArchitects and the United States BotanicGarden, is asking for comments before Janu-ary 20, 2009 on the report that is available fordownload at www.sustainablesites.org.

The report is timely because of increasedconcerns about such environmental issuesas scarce resources, climate change, waste,and air and water pollution. Landscapes havethe potential to use resources more efficientlyand to improve air and water quality, andthey can reduce the urban heat island effectand remove carbon dioxide, an importantgreenhouse gas that contributes to globalwarming, from the atmosphere.

Reprinted from In the Flow, the weeklyfreshwater news wrapup and analysis pre-pared by the River Systems Institute.

Environmental Notes1. It has often been assumed that less sunnyplaces can not use solar, but Germany is doing itdespite its location. Part of this is because theyare using amazing cables that lose no more than15% energy over very long distances.

2. There has been much illegal logging going onin the world, and it still goes on today. When

prized merbau trees were cut down in Papua, thelocals were paid $11 per cubic meter. By the timethey reached China, their value was $240 per cu-bic meter. When they arrived as flooring in the US,they brought $2288 per cubic meter. Building anew home? Replacing flooring, paneling, siding?Check on the history of the wood you use. This isone way to stand for law and sustainability.

3. When using a tea kettle, only fill it for theamount of water you are going to use. This willsave heating times and also save water.

Ya Gotta Let em Know Youre Out There!

In all my years as an environmental activist, one of the things I haveheard most often is Oh, my U.S. Representative (Senator, State Rep,Councilperson, etc.) is _________. S/hes so unconcerned about the envi-ronment theres no point in contacting him/her. Its just a waste of my time.I have heard almost as often, from the kind of representative mentioned inthe preceding sentences, Well, Im surprised about your position on thisissue. Youre the only one who has ever contacted me about it.

My message to all who read this is: Write or call your political reps! If youhave the sort of rep who doesnt give a fig about what concerns you themost, that rep is the one who should get the most contacts. If enough ofhis/her constituents needle him/her, some very rigid stances may change,even with vested interests calling a lot of the shots. In the end a politicalleader has to win votes, and votes come from individuals, not corporations.If the leader believes there is a groundswell about a particular issueletssay, global warmingthat leader just might come around sooner ratherthan later.

You have a voiceuse it! Your message to the representative doesnthave to be long or involved. Postcards to Congress dont have to gothrough the screening that letters do, and there are always phone calls ande-mails. But the contact has to be made, and made as often as possible.And dont forget to write letters to newspaper editors!

Loretta Van CoppenolleAlamo Group Conservation Co-Chair BACK

Reprinted with Permission


8/8

Bexar Tracks is the official newsletter of the Bexar

Audubon Society, a Chapter of the National Audu-bon Society. The Chapters primary goals are topromote species and habitat conservation andenvironmental education in the community.Your membership includes National Audubon andBexar Audubon and subscriptions to both AudubonandBexar Tracks.

www.bexaraudubon.org

Bexar Audubon SocietyPO Box 6084San 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 percent of the first yearsdues directly back to support local work. The same applies to gift memberships placed through the chapter. Your additionaltax deductible donation is greatly appreciated. Bexar Audubon receives only a few thousand dollars each year from Na-tional Audubon Society as dues share. The rest we must raise ourselves. Your help is needed, and your donations will beput to good use right here in South Central Texas to provide environmental news and education to the community, includ-ing the newsletter, programs, San Antonio Environmental Network Issues Forum, Second Saturday programs, and otheractivities you may or may not hear about.Individual introductory memberships are $20; seniors and students join for $15. Please provide the following informationfor each personal subscription or gift:

Name: ___________________________________________________________________________________________

Mailing Address with Zip Code: _______________________________________________________________________

Phone w/Area Code: _________________________________ 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: If you change address or cancel membership, you do NOT need to contact Bexar Audubon but MUST contact National Audubon (and wewill automatically get that change when we download labels). Save time and energy by mailing your change of address information to National Audu-

bon Society Membership Data Center, PO Box 52529, Boulder CO 80322-2529; phoning 800.274.4201; or e-mailing [email protected].

For the latest information on environ-mental events and happenings through-out the San Antonio community andsurrounding areas, check out

www.bexaraudubon.org andwww.sa-naturecenter.org.

Non-ProfitOrganization

US Postage PaidSan Antonio TXPermit #1527

Bexar Tracks January-February 2009

volume xxvi, no. 4 january-february 2009

Documents