Bexar Audubon Society

is a chapter of the
National Audubon
Society. Its primary
goals are to promote

Bexar Tracks
species and habitat
conservation and envi-
ronmental education
Volume XXV, No. 5

in the community.
November-December 2007

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

Thursday, November 8•6:30PM gathering; 6:45 announcements; 7:00 program

Trinity University Cowles Life Sciences Building, Room 149 (see map, p. 4) •Free; open to the public
The State of Trees in San Antonio
City Forester, Michael Nentwich, will dis- see how tree canopy has changed since
cuss the state of our trees and the pro- then; neighborhood/commercial tree-
grams his office is managing in order to planting challenge programs; and the tree
benefit them. transplanting program being helped
His discussion will include: Brackenridge along by the giant new tree spade the city
Park invasive exotics; updating the purchased.

Thursday, December 13 •6:30pm at the Hughes House

2002/2003 Urban Ecosystem Analyses to Don’t miss this important update!

Holiday Party & Annual Meeting

Time to break out the holiday cheer and join together starling trap, and
for an evening of fun and relaxation. Come gear up for other things too
the holidays with Bexar Audubon — as usual, at the wonderful to
home of Bruce and Susan Hughes in the King William recall.
area. Call for directions and to reply: 210- 532- 2032. Oh, yes, we’ll
Bring a co v er ed d i s h to share. The chapter will pro- also conduct a lit-
vide beverages and all the tools you’ll need to eat and tle chapter busi-
enjoy a great variety of holiday ness. Proposed
fare. revised bylaws
Once again, we’ll enjoy a W h i te were presented in
El ep h a nt G i f t Ex ch a n ge. Bring the previous issue of Bexar Tracks. Their adoption will
something you’d just HATE to part be voted on at the meeting. This is not an election year,
with (ha, ha) and see how much however, so the “formal” part of the meeting will be
it’ll be enjoyed by some lucky even more brief than usual!
other person at the party. And Do come and join in. It’s a casual opportunity to
who knows what you’ll end up spend some time with like-minded conservationists
taking home with you? Gifts in and be grateful for our commitment to make the San
recent years have included fuzzy- Antonio area — and the world — a better, more sus-
teddy-bear binoculars, a glow-in- tainable place for us all.
the-dark dashboard ornament, a Happy holidays!

U R G E N T ! P l e a s e t a k e a c t i o n N OW. S e e p a g e 2 f o r i m p o r -
t a n t i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t t h e S a b a l Pa l m G r ov e A u d u b o n
C e n t e r a n d S a n c t u a r y a n d t h e p r o p o s e d B o r d e r Wa l l .
 Don’t Let the Border Fence Threaten
Sabal Palm Grove Audubon Center & Sanctuary,
A Vital Link in the Habitat Chain
A report released in October by HR 2593 protected natural areas for clean
the group Defenders of Wildlife National Audubon Society joined water, recreation, economic
names the Lower Rio Grande more than 40 organizations in development, and quality of life.
Valley National Wildlife Refuge sending a letter to members of The recently enacted Secure
as “at risk.” This refuge has long the House of Representatives in Fence Act would require the
been a priority for protection by support of HR 2593, the construction of a double-layer,
W the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Borderlands
97°30'0"W Conservation and
97°25'0"W reinforced
97°20'0"W wall along large sec-
Among many impacts, the pro- Security Act of 2007. tions of the southern border.
posed border fence or wall <www.thomas.gov/cgi- Local communities, state offi-
threatens
Green
to isolate the Sabal bin/bdquery/z?d110:h.r.02593> cials, conservationists, the mili-
Valley
Palm Grove
Farms Audubon Center and Urge your U.S. RepresentativeBayview tary, and even area border patrol
Laureles
Sanctuary, even creating safety to co-sponsor H.R. 2593, which officials are concerned that the

26°5'0"N
issues for the Center and its would help alleviate the harmful Secure Fence Act embodies an
employees and visitors.Indian impacts of border enforcement inflexible and reactionary
Lake
Any security
T E X A S fencing or barriers activities on public lands, wild- approach to border security.
Chula
should ensure visitors can easily life,
Los Fresnos
and border communities.
Vista-
Orason
In sum, HR 2593 would help
reach and enjoy Sabal Palm and alleviate the problems caused by
Del Mar Heights
its wealth of birds and other Wildlife Corridors Interrupted the existing law’s inflexible
wildlife, as well as access by Nearly one-third of the 1,950 approach to border security by:
Rancho Viejo
maintenance vehicles and, par- mile U.S.-Mexico border lies 1. Providing experts at the
ticularly, 24-hour ingress and within military, tribal, and public Department of Homeland
Olmito

26°0'0"N
egress by emergency safety lands, including hundreds of Security the ability to decide
equipment. miles within the National Park whether fences, vehicle barri-
Please take time to contact system. Much of the country’s ers, or virtual fences would be
your public officials (see page 3) most spectacular wildlife, includ- most effective in securing the
San
to insist on a proper and thor- ing hundreds of bird species, border.
Pedro
ough environmental review for depend upon public and other 2. Giving land management
Cameron
this federal activity, which Park protected lands along the bor- agencies, Native American
could have such extreme nega- der, such as Sabal Palm, for tribes, and local communities
tive impacts on U.S.-Mexico migration between countries. a voice in border construction
border habitat. Local communities also rely on and decision-making.
25°55'0"N

O-18
3. Requiring compliance with
Reid laws meant to protect the air,
Hope
Brownsville
King water, wildlife, culture, and
health and safety of people in
borderland communities.
Matamoros
4. Providing resources to help
Villa Pancho
mitigate damage to border-
land wildlife and resources.
South
O-20 Point
25°50'0"N

Your calls and letters will help.

Sabal Palm Please act today.
O-21

Bexar Tracks 2 November-December 2007

United States Senate Congressman Solomon P. Ortiz Senator Judith Zaffirini: District 21
Senator John Cornyn 1805 Ruben Torres, B-27 1407 Washington Street
222 East Van Buren, Suite 404 Brownsville, TX 78521 Laredo, Texas 78042
Harlingen, Texas 78550 Tel: (956) 541-1242 Tel: (956) 722-2293
Tel: (956)423-0162 Fax: (956) 722-8586
Fax: (956) 423-0193 Congressman Henry Cuellar
602 E. Calton Road Texas State House of Representatives
Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison Laredo, TX 78041 Rep. Armando "Mando" Martinez
961 Federal Bldg, 300 East 8th St Tel: (956) 725-0639 800 W. Railroad St.
Austin, Texas 78701 Weslaco, TX 78596
Tel: (512) 916-5834 Texas Senate Tel: (956) 447-9473
Fax: (512) 916-5839 Senator Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa: District 20 Fax: (956) 447-8683
222 East Van Buren Street, Suite 404 612 Nolana Suite, 410B
Harlingen, Texas 78550 McAllen, Texas 78504 Representative Rene Oliveira
Tel: (956) 425-2253 Tel: (956) 972-1841 855 West Price Road, Suite #22
Fax: (956) 412-1468 Fax: (956) 664-0602 Brownsville, TX 78520
Tel: (956) 542-1828
Governor Rick Perry Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr.: District 27 Fax: (956) 542-1618
P.O. Box 12428 500 South Kansas
Austin, Texas 78711-2428 Weslaco, Texas 78596 Representative Eddie Lucio III
Citizen's Opinion Hotline: (800) 252-9600 (956) 968-9927 2402 W. Bus. Hwy. 77, Ste. I
[for Texas callers] (956) 447-0583 Fax San Benito, TX 78586
Office of the Governor Fax: (512) 463-1849 7 North Park Plaza Tel: (956) 361-2795
Brownsville, Texas 78521 Fax: (956) 361-9158
Contact your own representatives, plus the Tel: (956) 548-0227
following Valley-area elected officials: Fax: (956) 548-0440 Representative Ryan Guillen
To find your Congressperson and send a 301 West Lincoln Ave.
message via the website, visit Senator Carlos I. Uresti: District 19 Roma, TX 78584
<www.house.gov/> 2530 SW Military Drive, Suite 103 Tel: (956) 847-2510
San Antonio, Texas Fax: (956) 735-7422
United States House of Representatives 78224
Congressman Ruben Hinojosa Tel: (210) 932-2568 Learn more about Sabal Palm Grove
2864 West Trenton Road Fax: (210) 932-2572 Audubon Center and Sanctuary at the
Edinburg, TX 78539 website:
Tel: (956) 682-5545 <http://tx.audubon.org/Sabal.html>
Fax: (956) 682-0141

Comments to U.S. Customs and Border Protection in
response to the scoping notice published in the Federal
Register: [September 24, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 184)]
[Notices] [[Page 54278]] were due on October 15, howev-
er, your calls and letters to officials are very important
right now.
Comments received after October 15, 2007, will receive
responses following the publication of the draft EIS. This
scoping period is not the only opportunity you will have
to comment. A draft EIS will be prepared, and prior to
the development of a final EIS, CBP will release the draft
EIS for public review. At that time, a Notice of Availability
(NOA) will be published in the Federal Register, the San
Diego Union Tribune, and the San Diego Daily Transcript.
The NOA will announce the availability of the draft EIS,
how to obtain a copy, and the dates, times, and places of
any associated public informational meetings.
You may submit comments to U.S. Customs and Border
Protection by contacting the SBInet, Tactical
Infrastructure Program Office. Please include your name
and address and identify your comments as for the San
Diego Sector EIS. To avoid duplication, please use only
one of the following methods:
(a) Electronically through the Web site at:
<http://www.BorderFenceNEPA.com>
<http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-
bin/leaving.cgi?from=leavingFR.html&amp;log=linklog&
amp;to=http://www.BorderFenceNEPA.com> ;
(b) E-mail to: SDcomments@BorderFenceNEPA.com;
(c) By postal mail to: San Diego Tactical Infrastructure
EIS, c/o e\2\M, 2751 Prosperity Avenue, Suite 200, Fairfax,
Virginia 22031; or
(d) Fax to: (757) 257-7643.
Thi s a ct i on a l er t is s pon s or ed by Sa v e t he L aj a, In c., a
Texas 501(c)(3), in order to foster watershed and habitat
protection in the Texas-Central Mexico corridor. Save the
Laja has joined forces with Bexar Audubon to increase
knowledge and understanding of corridor and border
issues. Contact Save the Laja at 825 E. Guenther St., San
Antonio, TX 78210-1237. Contributions are tax-deductible
and welcomed.

November-December 2007 3 Bexar Tracks

 M a p to Cowl es L if e Sci ences Buil ding, Tri ni t y Univ e rs i ty, wes t of Hi ghwa y 281 Workplace Campaigns Support
Environmental Giving
September marked the start of work-
place campaigns for Earth Share of
Texas. If your workplace offers the
Earth Share option, we urge you to
direct your contribution there.

Chapman
Specifically, please contribute to
Library Laurie
Audubon Foundation of Texas (AFT), an
Cowles Earth Share’s member organization.
AFT’s mission is to support the
National Audubon Society’s 20 Texas
Cowles is just uphill from the Laurie Auditorium chapters, including funding new chap-
and between the Library and the Chapman ters and helping established chapters
Graduate Center. Park by the Laurie or in
lots or on streets to the west. Handicapped
meet their operating expenses.
parking is across from Cowles. Enter from
The AFT also provides grants to sup-
Oakmont or Rosewood. Call Patty for addition- port special projects. Recent grants
al directions (210)824-1235 or see additional
map at bexaraudubon.org/map.jpg
include $1000 to Travis Audubon for
work at the Chaetura Canyon sanctuary
Second Saturday Report — Sixteen participants learned what insects helped and to Big Country Audubon Society to
write the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, and many more impor- construct an observation blind in
tant documents during the “Insects to Ink” program at Eisenhower Park on Abilene State Park. Other grants have
September 8, 2007. We considered gall-forming insects, made ink from oak supported conservation work in Latin
galls, and wrote with quill pens. And, we learned how to make “Bug Juice”
(from cochineal insects) and what it is used for. Participants tasted a commer- America. Working with the Houston
cial drink with cochineal extract and dyed natural fibers with cochineal dye. A Audubon Society, AFT helped fund
buggy good day for all! — See our Second Saturday schedule on Page 5. Niños y Crías, an educational organiza-
tion in the Yucatan, which helps pro-
W ho’s W ha t ? tect Caribbean Flamingos and
encourages sustainable development.
a n d how t o c o n t a c t t he m Together with the Nature Conservancy,
Pr es id ent & W ebmas ter, Har ry Noyes — 210-490-3124 — AFT helped support a conference of
harrynoyes@satx.rr.com Central American researchers studying
Tr ea s u r er, Ca r y l Swa nn — 210-653-2860 — cjswann1@earthlink.net the wintering grounds of the endan-
Secr et a r y, A n it a A n der s on — 210-533-8726 — ajandrsn@sbcglobal.net gered Golden-cheeked Warbler. AFT
A t - l a r ge: K a r a R y f — 503-803-2856 — kararyf@hotmail.com has helped Bexar Audubon with its
newsletter costs, the SA Environmental
A my L . W h i tl ey — 210-340-0114 — nueces66@yahoo.com
Network, and Farm & Range Forum.
K at hy I k er d — kathy@wordwright.com For a complete list of workplaces par-
Ed i to r, Sus a n Hugh es — 210-532-2032 — editor@bexaraudubon.org ticipating in the Earth Share campaign,
Pr ogr ams /Out i ngs , Pa tt y Pa s z t or —210-824-1235 — visit <http://www.earthshare-
pasztor@ix.netcom.com texas.org/workplace.htm>.

E a r t h S h a r e ? W h a t a b ou t i t ?
Earth Share of Texas raises money for environmental
and conservation organizations through workplace giv-
ing. If your employer participates in such programs,
please ask them (if they don’t already) to add Earth
Share to your giving options. When you and your co-
workers designate the Audubon Foundation of Texas
(AFT), Bexar Audubon Society can benefit. BAS
receives credit for our support of Earth Share — getting
the word out and promoting participation. Then BAS
receives funding annually from AFT. Want more info?
1-800-GREENTX or ESTX@earthshare-texas.org.
Bexar Tracks 4 November-December 2007
 Events & News
F i r s t Sat u r d ay Wa l k s , 9- 11a m
The first Saturday of each month,
the San Antonio Natural Areas
Program of the San Antonio Parks
and Recreation Department holds
a natural and cultural history inter-
pretive walk at one of the Natural
Areas. Contact (210)564-6400 for
the schedule, locations, and reser-
vations. $2 per person donation
suggested. Limited to 15 persons
per hike.
No v ember 3 — Friedrich
Wilderness Park, 21395 Milsa.
December 1 — Crownridge Canyon,
7222 Luskey Blvd.
Sec on d Sa tu r d a y Pr ogr a ms a t
Ei s en ho wer Pa r k , 10a m- 12n o on
Co-sponsored by SA Parks and
Recreation Natural Areas Program
and Bexar Audubon. Reservations
required; details occasionally
change. Call (210)564-6400. $3
each or $5 per family donation
suggested.
<www.sanaturalareas.org>
Eisenhower Park, Harris (Mass
Pavilion), 19399 NW Military Hwy.
Take FM 1535/Military Hwy exit off
Loop 1604 on the city’s northwest
side. Go north on FM 1535/Military
Hwy for 2 miles. Park entrance is
on the left, just before Camp
Bullis. Program is in the large
gated pavilion.
November 10 — “ Where A r e You??
Staying ‘f ound’ with a GPS.” Dianne
Hart, GIS analyst with the City of San
Antonio, will help you learn how to
use your GIS: set a waypoint, track
your path, do a “go to” to find your
way back to a home point. Bring
your own unit or there are a few to
loan.
December 8 — “ Texas M ammals”
by Texas Parks & Wildlife Biologist
Richard Heilbrun. San Antonio is rich
with diversity. Explore our wild ani-
mals interactively. Enjoy a hands-on
exploration of animal signs, calls,
and tracks.
November-December 2007
S a n A nt o ni o A u du bo n B e g i n ne r s
B i r d wa l k — Each Second Saturday
of the month at 8am. Begins at
the Judson Nature Trails House
next to the Alamo Heights
Swimming Pool on Viesca St. Info
at (210)342-2073. Binoculars avail-
able to lend.
Mitchell Lake Audubon Center.
10750 Pleasanton Road, San
Antonio, TX 78221, (210)628-1639
<www.mitchelllakeaudubon.org>
November 3 — 9-11am — Kids
Birding 101.
November 10 — 10am-12 noon —
Make Your Landscape a
“Wildscape.” Wildscaping is very
helpful for preserving soil’s water
content, reducing the need to
water, and providing food plants
for birds, insets, and other wildlife.
The program concludes with a
Wildscaping plant walk.
November 17 — 10am-12 noon —
Food and Fiber: How Native
Plants Can Be Used for Food and
Other Purposes. Peggy Spring of
the City of San Antonio Natural
Areas and Bill Woller, Master
Naturalist, will discuss how many
native plants in our water-chal-
lenged region can be used for
food, fiber, and dyes. Learn how to
extract and twist agave fibers,
process grain with pre-historic and
modern methods, and dye fibers
with cochineal and oak galls, while
gaining an understanding of the
value of promoting and conserving
our native plants.
December 8 — 9-11am — Just
Ducky: Wintering Birds and
Wetlands. Visit Mitchell Lake’s
wetlands to view some of the birds
that depend upon this habitat.
Presented by Dr. Andrew Kasner,
Audubon Texas Director of Bird
Conservation.
Exhibit through November 11 —
Images of Selah — Lady Bird
5 Bexar Tracks
Johnson Wildflower Center in
Austin. An exhibit of photos and
drawings illustrating Water from
Stone: The Story of Selah,
Bamberger Ranch Preserve.
Rep or t y o ur b ir d sightings to San
Antonio Audubon Society’s Birdline
at (210)308-6788.
El Ci el o Na tur e Fes t i v a l
A sustainable development project
in the Biosphere Reserve — the for-
est in the clouds in Northeast
Mexico. Register Online.
<www.elcielofestival.com>
Come meet the local guides and
help preserve this wonderful area.
Na tu r e Fes ti v a l (4th Annual)
February 28 – March 2, 2008.
Both events will be hosted at
Ciudad Mante, Tamaulipas. ALL
INCLUSIVE FESTIVAL PACKAGE
TRIPS will be departing from
McAllen, Texas.
A F i el d Gui de t o t he Bi r ds of
t he W or l d
<www.flickr.com/groups/birdguide/
pool/>
Beg i nni ng Bi r di ng
If you are involved in teaching young-
sters how to bird or want to learn
more about the sport, check out Texas
Parks and Wildlife’s web pages on
Beginning Birding. We think you'll
find them fun and helpful.
<www.tpwd.state.tx.us/adv/birding/
beginbird/beginbird.htm>
A udubon Tex a s ’s 2007 St a te of
t he Bi r ds Repor t on Common
Bi r ds i n Decl i ne has been pub-
lished. A series of reports is coming
out at the state and national levels.
<www.tx.audubon.org/pdfs/Texas%20
State%20of%20the%20Birds%206_07.
pdf> for the full report. Texas’s vulner-
able common birds include the
Northern Bobwhite, Lark Sparrow, and
Loggerhead Shrike.
 The Unexpected President
Clearly, the first thing I must do is explain my unexpect-
ed assumption of the presidency of Bexar Audubon
Society.
Briefly, it is the result of a most honorable gesture by
our elected president, Tony Wood. Tony’s company had
sent him overseas twice to work on U.S. Government
environmental projects. Each time, Tony offered to
resign, and the board assured him that we could fill in till
he returned. This summer his company decided to send
him abroad again, and this time our assurances were not
enough. Tony felt that BAS could no longer afford an
absentee president and insisted on resigning.
The good news is that he will come back and wants to
continue being part of BAS’s leadership, albeit not as
president for now. I will complete his term, which ends in
December 2008. At that time, our nominating committee
will recruit for the position. Tony or I might be nominat-
ed, or someone entirely new. In any case, the chapter
membership will vote in the customary manner.
Will there be major changes in our chapter’s direction? I
think there will be, but not because the presidency has
changed. Rather, we are at a juncture where evolving con-
ditions urge BAS to revisit its goals and strategies.
We seek better ways to achieve National Audubon’s
overarching goal: to create a “culture of conservation,”
i.e., a society in which citizens expect and demand con-
servation, and government, businesses, and individuals
practice it.
Watch future issues of Bexar Tracks for more on our
search for better paths to that dream. And don’t forget to
offer your own ideas.
In one respect, a change in presidents does mean change
— in style.
Tony is an environmental professional, very expert on
technical issues, and a “smooth operator” with the bear-
ing and gravitas befitting the leader of a major Audubon
chapter. I am a professional communicator who joined
Audubon as an activist. I fancy I am fairly well-informed,
but I am certainly not an environmental professional. I
am hardly a smooth operator, and the only gravitas I pos-
sess is of the excess avoirdupois variety. But I have
worked hard for Audubon over the years, have helped us
develop our collaboration with other conservation orga-
nizations, and have some ideas on how we can progress.
In short, expect a little more noise in the presidency (if
you’ll pardon the pun).
My frankness about environmental threats sometimes
leads to my being accused of negativism or pessimism. So
be it. No one has ever given me a good reason to think
Bexar Tracks
that untruthful optimism will accomplish more than
truthful pessimism, though I am acutely sensitive to the
risk that unpleasant truths can discourage people. At the
same time, I think many people suffer from a misconcep-
tion about what “negative” and “positive” really mean.
To some people, a positive attitude implies refusing to
even acknowledge obstacles or resource limitations. One
envisions their approval if Custer had shouted, “Don’t
take any prisoners, men!” at the Battle of the Little Big
Horn.
To the contrary, I believe a good leader must be totally
clear-eyed about obstacles and resource shortfalls. But
then, instead of giving up or simply battering his head
against the problems, he must devise imaginative new
approaches that outflank the problems altogether.
Let’s borrow the old saw about the pessimist seeing the
glass half empty and the optimist seeing it half full.
Rarely is it noted that both are right. The real test is, what
do they do with that knowledge?
If the pessimist says, “Oh, we’re running out of water,
and we’re all going to die,” and sits down to wait for
death, then he is indeed misguided. But equally misguid-
ed is the optimist who says, “Great, we’ve got plenty of
water…noooh problemo…let’s eat, drink and be merry.”
The guy I want leading me is neither the pessimist nor
the optimist, but the goal-oriented realist, i.e., a person
who says, “Okay, that will keep us going for a while, but it
will run out eventually, and we must begin now to seek
some water to fill the glass up and keep it filled.” And if
he anticipates all kinds of problems along the way –
“Meanwhile, I need to shore up that glass with some pil-
lows to keep people from knocking it over, and I need to
look for a plastic cup in case the glass breaks” – so much
the better.
I believe Bexar Audubon can serve you and our commu-
nity best by being a goal-oriented realistic organization.
That is the kind of leadership I’ll try to give.
Finally, while I believe in telling the truth about conser-
vation challenges and the crimes committed against our
environment, I do understand the value of tact (even
though it sometimes gives me headaches to practice it). I
also deeply treasure Bexar Audubon’s reputation as a
moderate, constructive organization. That reputation is
the source of our influence and success over the years,
and I will not squander it…nor would our outstanding
board allow me to.
Please contact me at any time about your concerns and
suggestions, both for our chapter and for conservation in
the San Antonio region. — Harry Noyes
6 November-December 2007
 Events & News
Proposition 4 on the
November 6 Ballot Will
Affect Texas State Parks
$27 million for major repairs and
improvements at Texas state parks
is part of the benefit to nine state
agencies, including legislative
appropriations for 2008 and 2009.
The ballot language for Prop 4 will
read: “The constitutional amend-
ment authorizing the issuance of
up to $1 billion in bonds payable
from the general revenues of the
state for maintenance, improve-
ment, repair, and construction pro-
jects and for the purchase of
needed equipment.”
For more information, visit
<www.proposition4.org>
Stewardship Earth 2008
Bexar Audubon seeks chapter
members of faith who believe the
environment is a blessing from
God and would like to help safe-
guard that treasure by helping to
plan Stewardship Earth 2008, a
multi-faith celebration of cre-
ation and humanity’s duty to it.
One of the most encouraging
recent developments in the strug-
gle to protect the planet against
reckless and excessive exploitation
has been the growing commitment
of religious organizations and reli-
gious people to protect the Earth.
As evidence accrues that humani-
ty is in fact doing irreparable dam-
age to God’s creation, more and
more faithful Americans — repre-
senting not only virtually all
Christian denominations, but the
other great world religions, as well
— are speaking up. Through wor-
ship and civic action, they work
from a platform of faith to encour-
age policies and behaviors that will
save the world’s beauty and
resources for children of the future.
November-December 2007
This past April, the San Antonio
Community of Churches, the Office
of Social Concerns of the
Archdiocese of San Antonio, the
Community Relations Council of
the Jewish Federation of San
Antonio, and other faith communi-
ties celebrated a citywide, multi-
faith Stewardship Earth Weekend.
The goal was to encourage a com-
mon, concentrated focus on the
stewardship of the Earth in houses
of worship, through bulletin inserts,
prayers, homilies, and religious-
school classes.
Planning for Stewardship Earth
2008 has already begun, with April
18-20 as the proposed week-
end. Bexar Audubon urges
you to mark that weekend
on your calendars and plan
to participate at your
house of worship. If you
aren’t sure your congre-
gation will partici-
pate, ask…and
encourage
your lead-
ers to join
in.
Your
chapter
asks one
more thing.
Planning for
Stewardship Earth 2008 is being
coordinated by Solar San Antonio
and in particular by its executive
director, Bill Barker. A former Bexar
Audubon board member, always a
good friend, and one of the most
knowledgeable conservation pro-
fessionals in San Antonio, Bill is
asking Bexar Audubon to partici-
pate in the fairly modest series of
planning meetings for this event.
Frankly, your volunteer directors
are swamped. It occurs to us that
among our many chapter members
of faith, who believe in treating the
environment as a blessing on loan
from God, there are those who
would relish a chance to do some-
thing about that. You could
contribute much to the planning
7 Bexar Tracks
process – and we guarantee you
would learn much from Bill and the
other participants.
If you can help, please contact
Harry Noyes at (210) 490-3124 or
president@bexaraudubon.org. (E-
mail is preferable to facilitate and
expedite your communications with
Bill Barker.)
WildFest SA Erratum & A lert
The attendance report in the previous
issue of Bexar Tracks was in error.
About 150 students attended, and the
total attendance was over 750 people.
May 2-4, 2008, is the next WildFest!
You can keep track of WildFest over the
coming months by checking out the
WildFest website at
<www.wildfestsanantonio.com>
Voelcker Park Update
How do you envision the 311-acre
Voelcker Park, the City’s next great
recreational destination? Come partici-
pate in the master planning process.
October 19 — Groundbreaking on the
first phase of the Salado Creek Linear
Park. This two-mile stretch of hike-and-
bike trail borders the northern edge of
Voelcker Park.
October 20 — 9am-12noon — City of
SA Parks & Recreation event at the
park: two tents, hiking trips, children’s
activities, demonstrations, refresh-
ments, and information tables. Held on
the land behind the Jewish Community
Center (204 acre southern portion).
October 22-24 — Three evening meet-
ings for public input.
10/22 — 6-8:30pm — Bode
Community Center, 901 Rigsby Ave,
Highland Park
10/23 — 7-9:30pm — Jewish Commu-
nity Center, 12500 NW Military Highway
10/24 — 6-8:30pm — Harlandale
Community Center, 7227 Briar Place
For more information, call
210-207-2879 or visit the website
<www.sanantonio.gov/saspar/voelcker
property.asp>
 Bexar Audubon Society, Inc.

The Economy is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Environment. — Tim Wirth

Non-profit
Organization
P.O. Box 6084 U.S. Postage Paid
San Antonio, TX 78209-0084 San Antonio, TX
Permit #590

Bexar Tracks is the official

newsletter of the Bexar
Audubon Society, a Chapter of
the National Audubon Society.
The Chapter’s primary goals
are to promote species and
habitat conservation and envi-
ronmental education in the
community.
Your membership includes
National Audubon and Bexar
Audubon and subscriptions to
Audubon and Bexar Tracks.

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-year’s dues directly back to support local work. The same applies to gift memberships placed
through the chapter. Your additional tax-deductible donation is greatly appreciated. Bexar Audubon
receives only a few thousand dollars each year from National Audubon Society as dues share. The rest
we must raise ourselves. Your help is needed, and your donations will be put to good use right here in
South Central Texas to provide environmental news and education to the community, including the
newsletter, programs, San Antonio Environmental Network Issues Forums, Second Saturday programs,
and other activities you may or may not hear about.
Individual introductory memberships are $20; seniors and students join for $15.
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November-December 2007 8 Bexar Tracks