BEXAR AUDUBON SOCIETY
P.O. BOX 60H4 • SAN ANTONIO, TEXA.'; 7H209
VOL.2 NO. 4 APRIL 1984
GENERAL MEETING ••.•. APRIL 19TH, 7 ;-30, UNITARIAN CHURCH
DEAR DEER !?!
The sight of a doe and her fawn crossing' a Hill Country
road or a small group of bucks and does feeding in a field;
the excitement of stalking a deer with a ca~era; the enjoyment
of venison stew - all are commonplace experiences to us
here in Central Texas. But what do we really know about
"our" deer? How many are there? Is that too many or not
enough? Where are they? What condition are they in? Do
they have enough food? Are they overhunted? Are there
laws to protect them?
All these questions and many more will be addressed-by Mr. W.E.
Armstrong, Wildlife Biologist with Texas Parks and Wildlife,
who will present our April prog'ram. Mr. Armstrong has been
Assistant Project Leader at Kerx Wildlife Management Area
for the past 12 years studying white-tailed deer as well
as turkey and quail. He has fo6used his attention on the
interaction of wildlife with its habitat .and ·with livestock.
His remarks will cover information rahging from the history
of deer in the Edwards Plateau to the potenti~l threat to
Texas deer populations posed by exotic game animals.
If you take pleasure in the sight of healthy deer and want
to understand what part you might play in promoting and
preserving this natural resource for generations to come,
you won't want to miss this program. Bring your questions,
comments and friends.
Please remember that you may cast your ballot for our adoptive
park up until 7:30p.m., April 19th (our general meeting). Your
vote is important, so PLEASE VOTE!!! Ballots. will be counted
during the meeting and the winning pa~k will be. announced.
Dear Audubon Member,
This year, Bexar Audubon Society is participating in the National Audubon Society
BIRDATHON. I'd like each of you to get involved.
BIRDATHON is a competitive, funfilled, fundraising event structured like walkathon,
but the activity is birdwatching. Participants, called counters, will go birdwatching
either April 28 or 29 and each will compete for prizes for seeing the most species,
having the most sponsors, and for raising the most money. The money raised will ·be ·
divided equally among National Audubon Society, Regional Audubon, and the Bexar
Audubon Society.
Dave McKelvey, San Antonio's own celebrity birdman has agreed to join BIRDATHON
and will be a counter for us. Several other· Bexar Audubon Members have already signed
up and are seeking sponsors. Their names and the number of species they expect to
see follow:
Dave McKelvey 150-180 I Thelma Nungasser 60-75
Byron Stone 120-150 . Starr Kavanagh 55-65
Sandra Johns 120-150 Mary Burton 35-50
Tony JOhns 120-150 Nora Bonsignore 35-50
Susan Rust 100-120 Bruce Makuk 25-45
I'd like to have all of you join us and go birding for Birdathon. Registration forms
will be available at· the April meeting or c~ll Byron Stone at 699-1971.
I know that it will be impossible for ~orne ~f you to participate in BIRDATHON
as counters, but I'd 1 ike to see each and everyone of you show your support of this
event. You can help by becoming a sponser. To help, just fill out the bottom of
this page and return it to me. Remember th1t this is your opportunity to show your
support of Audubon. If you prefer to send f direct contribution now, that's okay
too. Make your check payable to National Audubon Society and send it to me with this
letter.
On behalf of Audubon, thank you for your support.
~i~cerely, i/
'--' lev-.-- fC.-_ -
Starr Kavanagh
Birdathon Chairman
-------------------------------------------r------------------------------------------
Please complete this form and return to:
I want to sponser(name from letter):
Starr Kavanagh/Birdathon
Bexar Audubon Society
PO Box 6084
San Antonio, Texas 78209
I pledge$ per species, with a maxi~um amount of$ Bill me for my
contribution.
or
I enclose a contribution of $ ----
Name:
Address: __________________________________ _
BIRDATHON OUTING INVITATION -Sunday, April 15, Mary Burton
and Nancy Kent will be counting in South Bexar County and
would be glad to take 5 or 6 people along to count, verify
or just join in the fun. They will will leaving from the
Post Office island in the parking lot @ McCrelless Shopping
Center at 6:15 a.m.
THANKS!!! to
a wonderful
meeting.
Sam Crowe of u.s. Fish and Wildlife for presenting
"evening ~ith the eagles" at our March general
APRI [, CALENDAR
7/8 •.• Bird Banding Outing (Bexar Audubon)
Sumner Dana-349-1732, Susan Rust-653-3105
7/8 ••• "Viva Botanica" (SA Botanical Center)
Patty Leslie-821-5115
8 •.• Adopt-a-Park Outing (Bexar Audubon)
Friedrich Park, 9:00 a.m.
Ron Huffrnan-695-8894
12 ..• Cornrnittee Chairpersons Open Meeting
7:30, Nora Bonsignore's-826-8531
12 ..• SAAS General Meeting
14 ••• Chapter Picnic Outing (Bexar Audubon)
Jesse Walker-694-6516
15 ••. Birdathon Outing (Bexar Audubon)
Mary Burton-621-2130
17 ••• Sierra Club General Meeting
"Fire Ant Furor"
19 .•. Bexar Audubon Society General Meeting
"The Deer We Hold So Dear•
7:30, First Unitarian Church
28/29.BIRDATHON WEEKEND (Bexar Audubon)
Starr Kavanaugh-493-1381
27/29.High Island Birding Outing (Bexar Audubon)
Ron Huffrnan-695-8894
MAY CALENDAR
3 •.• Bexar Audubon Board Meeting
7:30, Susan Rust's, 653-3105
4/5 ••• Welder Wildlife Foundation (Bexar Audubon)
Jon Johnson-822-4915
S ••• Native Plants of Texas Class
Patty Leslie-821-5143
6 ••• Marlin Prairie (Bexar Audubon)
Patty Leslie-821-5143
12/13 •• Kerr Wildlife Managernen t Area (Bexar Audubon) .. .­Susan
Rust-653-3105
20 ••• Nature Photography Outing (Bexar Audubon)
@ Bexar Audubon's Adopted Park
Optimism is the true philosophers'
stone, which turns to .gold
everything it'tOuches .
Nancy Kent-621-2130
26/28 •• Guadalupe Peaks National Park (SAAS)
Steve Hawkins-
June
l-3 •••• National Audubon Society s.w. Regional Meeting
JI!AN lnRNNI CHAI'ONNIW
BEXAR AUDUBON WELCOMES ALL IT'S NEW MEMBERS!!!!!!!!!!
MR & MRS R T HAMILTON
'MR & MRS GERALD SPANLEY
KAY M DUNN
KAREN FRALEY
PETER & NANCY GROJEAN
ROBERT HARPER
ROBERT KELSO
ALAN MORGAN
NELL RECROFT
ROBERT CO'l'TER
E KINNJ:rY
MRS G SANDOVAL
JOHN M HOBBS
GERVASE L HUTZLER
BILL JACKSON
MRS LOUIS KLUSMEYER
BRIAN MILLER
LARRY MORZ
DANIEL STOK
T ARMOUNT BALL
TRACY BASKIN
JAN BRYANT
LUNN CLUNY
MRS EARL STEWART
GLORIA FLORES
MR & MRS PAUL FREEMAN
A K HUYSSOON
DANNY MELLEY
JAMES P LYONS
MR & MRS PAUL MENCHEN
W M STAFFER
DREW SYKES
MR & MRS ZOELLNER
SUSIE BLAYLOCK
EVELUN CARR
ROY & PAM SHOCKEY
THE WM W EVANS FAMILY
CLAUDIA PERRY
MR & MRS JAMES DOSS
VIOLET ENGELKE
J A FRASER
DAVID GROTH
J P HEANEY
FLORENCE MILLER
JAMES MORTOLA
BETTY JO SHERWOOD
BOB WALCOlHCH
ROBER'l' HIVAS
BEXAR AUDUBON OUTINGS
BIRD BANDING (April 7-8, Sumner Dana -349-1732) If you've
ever wanted to get "up close a~d personal" with your feathered
friends, now is the time. Master bander Sumner Dana will
have the nets up and active, and will discuss the whys and
bows of banding. If you are just starting to look at birds
or are an old hand -and/or ,if you'd like an opportunity
to take some spectacular pho~ographs, this is a chance you
won't want to miss. Plan to car-camp Saturday night.
CHAPTER PICNIC (April 14, Jesse Walker -694-6516) Pack a
basket and plan to enjoy a l~isurely lunch along the river
at Guadalupe River State Park. A stroll through parts of
the park, a little birding dnd critter watching, perhaps
a visit to the Rust House (Honey Creek's headquarters),
and maybe a trip out from the park to marvel at the wildflowers,
if time and the weather cooper,te.
HIGH ISLAND BIRDING (April 27-29, Ron Huffman -695-8894)
This trip should provide ample opportunity to add migrants
to anyone's list, or just t~ 1 stand in awe of the abundance
of life which is supported oy wetlands habitat. Timed to
coincide with the Spring migration peak, it may prQvide
an opportunity to experience a "fallout". Reservations must
be made early because accommpdations are few and Ron plans
to reserve space on an air .qoat in order to get into the
less accessable areas. In addition to the High Island area,
stops will be made at Anahuac Refuge to ride the Dune Buggy,
Bolivar Flats, and other promising areas. This trip may
add to the fun and excitement of Birdathon and give Bexar
Audubon members a competitive edge!
WELDER WILDLIFE FOUNDATION (May 4-5, Jon Johnson 822-4915)
This trip will provide the chance to become better acquainted
with the ecology of our Coastal Plain and some of the most
up-to-date information on the interactions between wildlife
and habitat. For the past several years researchers at the
foundation have been examinihg aspects of coyote, deer and
wild turkey biology; the intbrplay of cattle and wildlife
and range condition; effects of fire on plant and anima~
populations; and dozens of other issues of concern to conser­vationists,
ranchers and scientists. The Foundation not
only sponsors fine research, but an excellent environmental
education program as well. Don't miss this.
MARLIN PRAIRIE (May 6, Patty Leslie 821-5143)
Corne explore this untouched native prairie near waco owned
by the Texas Nature Conservancy. We will also take a look
at Burleson Prairie, a nearby privately owned prairie under
restoration, and compare vegetation. Wildflowers should
be bountiful!!
KERR WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA (May ,12, Susan Rust 653-3105)
Not only is this outing a follow-up to the subject of the
April general meeting, but it is a chance to visit one of
the most beautiful sections of the Hill Country. It will
provide the chance to see first-hand some of the results
of many years of research with fire in the Hill Country,
genetic and.nutritional studies on white-tailed deer, and
experiments to determine the effects of exotic game on native
species. Eagles and wild turkey are usually abundant and
the chance to photograph deer and some exotic game is assured.
I f requested, this trip may include an overnight carnpout
and perhaps some Hill Cobntry history tales courtesy of
Bob Guthrie.
NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY in "OUR PARKn (May 20, Nancy Kent 621-2130)
A most beautiful time of year to get intimately acquainted
~ith the park selected by you, the membership, to adopt. Pho­always
provides "new eyes" for old familiar images. If there
is time for development, the results of participants handiwork
will act as a vehicle to introduce the rest of the membership
to "our park" during the May general meeting at the Garden
Center on H~y 24 (see details in the May newsletter).
SPECIAL BIRDATHON OUTINGS There will be several outings
throughout the state during our Birdathon weekend of April
27-29. Please contact the indivdual leaders for more details:
LEAPER
Susan Rust
Byron Stone
Sumner Dana
Patty Leslie
653-3105
699-1971
349-1732
824-5115
Marshall, Tx. to San Antonio
Mitchell Lake/Bexar County
Gulf Coast
· Denton, Tx. to San Antonio
BEXAR AUDUBON OUTINGS POLICIES: For most outings there
is a charge of $1.00 for members and $2.00 for non-members.
Children under 16 are free. No pets, audio equipment, firearms
or recreational drugs are permitted.
HAPPENINGS
VIVA BOTANICA (April 7-8, Patty Leslie 821-5143/824-1235)
This annual festival at the San Antonio Botanical Center
will feature music, crafts, food and is a great way to spend
a Spring day. A falconry demonstration by John Karger is
planned @ 1:00 a.m. both days. The festival runs from 10
a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday & S~nday and admission is free.
(Bexar Audubon is planning to1 have a "Birdathon Booth" at
Viva Botanica--hope to see you there!)
FIRE ANT FU,R.OR 1
There was considerable agitation last Spring when the Texas
Department of Agriculture announced the beginning of its
experimental fire ant control program. Hearings were held,
petitions were signed, people argued ••• and the sprayings
'commenced. If you want to k~ow the program's rationale,
procedures, current status, Jand future prospects and if
you'd like to know more aboJt this fiesty beast at horne
and abroad - now's your chanc~. Mr. Mark Trostle from the
Texas Agriculture Department ~ill speak at the April 17th
general meeting of Sierra Club, ~ :30, First Unitarian Church. The
topic is of concern to everyone from the backyard gardner
to the environmental conservationist. Plan to come with
questions and leave with a better understanding of the whole
issue.
NATIVE PLANTS OF TEXAS CLASS (M~y 5, Patty Leslie 821-5143)
Learn about identification, , cultivation and propagation
of trees, shrubs and wildflorers from Paul Cox. This is
an OLLU Continuing Education class and will be held at the
Botanical Center Log Cabin ftorn 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cost is
$25. Call for registration details.
NATURAL DYE WORKSHOP (May 12, Patty Leslie 824-1235)
Hands on experience in dye ektraction using native plant
materials, mordants and will involve dyeing of wool. OLLU
Continuing Education class talught by Patty Leslie and Patsy
Light from 9 a.m. to 4 p.rn. ~ at the Botanical Center Log
Cabin. Cost is $30. Call for registration details.
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how can any man be sad and watch a sunset? .•. Bella Lugosi
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Please submit articles, news and items of interest for the
May newsletter to Nora Bonsignore, 826-8531/824-3293, 9514
La Rue, S.A., 78217 by April 25.