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A Field
Trip Invitation:
The Tyler Audubon Bird Group has a schedule of their
planned field trips for the upcoming months. They have
graciously given an open invitation to all members of the
PAS group to attend any of these field trips subject to
any group limits noted. See the details on the
attached link at the end of this message:
From Peter Barnes and the Tyler Audubon Bird Group:
We welcome any of the Pineywoods Audubon members if they
would like to come. If you would like, you could post on
your website or put in a link to the Tyler Audubon
website, where they are also listed.
http://www.tyleraudubon.org/Pages/trip_current.html
Peter Barnes
FIELD TRIP REPORT: 4th annual Owl Prowl
On March 26, 2011, thirty-four people participated in the 4th annual Owl Prowl at the SFA Experimental Forest (EF). This is a joint field trip of the Pineywoods Audubon Society and the Piney Woods Group of the Sierra Club. After a brief introduction on Barred Owls at dusk in the EF’s parking lot, we all piled into the bed of two pickup trucks, one of which pulled a haybale-lined trailer. After a short drive, we reached our spot that included a quick hike down a pipeline and one of the leaders began to hoot like a Barred Owl. Within about 3 minutes, a flash of something large quietly landed in a nearby tree which resulted in spotlight views of a Barred Owl. And after a few more minutes, the bird and presumably its mate began hooting and hollering very close to the group. The sights and sounds of Barred Owls put smiles on everyone’s face. Thanks to our leaders: Cliff & Julie Shackelford and Howard Williamson.
Lake Rayburn has been receding quickly the last few weeks and areas of mudflat and exposed shoreline are attracting shorebirds and long-legged waders, including spoonbill, ibis and Wood Storks. The best sites have been Marion Ferry (from the boat ramp; also hiking around to the flats, accessible from the end of the dirt road to the right as just enter the park); and TX 103 at the Attoyac Bayou (do not stop on the bridge; you can park on the north side of the road on the San Augustine County side). TX 147 has great potential also as the shallows recede. And don't forget that the lakeshore brush attracts migrant songbirds". -- Dave Wolf
Neches River Update
Ann Richardson forwarded to me links to some very
interesting articles. The first is KYTX's website:
Conservation
groups struggle to save Neches River from
damming.
The next is from the KTRE
website: Groups working to
protect the Neches.
*****************************************
The Neches River Featured
in Texas Monthly
From
Janice Bezanson:
Hey, Folks, we’re thrilled! Texas Monthly is featuring the beautiful Neches River with a 7-minute video on its website and also in the May magazine!
Texas
Monthly tells about the Neches and our efforts to
have it designated a National Wild and
Go to
http://www.texasmonthly.com/multimedia/video/home/14806
(you can register for free access to see it) and let
Richard and Gina Donovan and Michael Banks introduce you
to their favorite river. Turn to Page 114 of the
May issue of Texas Monthly and read about an
exciting
A huge
thanks to Texas Monthly for helping the people
of
*****************************************
The following is a letter to the editor of the Lufkin News written by PWAS member Ann English Richardson. It was published in Friday's edition (3/26/2010).
Misplaced concerns
Congressman Louie Gohmert's
comments about designating the Neches River a Wild and
Scenic River make the designation appear much
more restrictive than it will be.
Please note the following input, which is
only a part of the purpose of the proposed project.
The potential unintended consequences of not
designating the Neches River is a condemnation of
100,000 acres of private land for a huge reservoir.
The concerns about road and bridge
repair or construction of pipelines and electric lines
have been exaggerated because these activities already
require a federal permit. The presence of a Wild and
Scenic River would mean the project would get a closer
look during the permit review - but, projects that do
not involve actual damming of the river are in general
allowed on Wild and Scenic Rivers.
Mr. Gohmert's concerns about land being
taken off the tax rolls for the Neches to be
designated as a Wild and Scenic river are misplaced.
The Wild and Scenic River proposal is not a land
acquisition project. It is a designation that
prohibits dams from being built on the river while
allowing for other activities to continue. I do
appreciate Congressman Gohmert's support for there
being no reservoirs built on the Neches.
If and when the Neches is designated is a
Wild and Scenic River, it will protect riverside
landowners from condemnation for reservoirs proposed
on the river and increase visibility for the
region as a tourist destination; therefore,
designating the Neches as a Wild and Scenic River will
be very good for all East Texans!
Ann English Richardson, Lufkin
Posted
3/26/2010 4:30 pm
From
Friends of the Neches River:
We Have a Refuge!
The US Supreme Court ruled today that the highest court in the land will NOT hear the case against the US Fish and Wildlife Service brought by the City of Dallas (Dallas Water Utilities) and the Texas Water Development Board over the creation of the Neches River National Wildlife Refuge.
U.S. Supreme
Court Denies Request to Hear Neches River Refuge Case
For immediate release
Contact: Janice
Bezanson
512-327-4119
Michael
Banks
903-372-1987
The U.S. Supreme Court
announced today that the Court will not hear the lawsuit
brought by the City of Dallas and Texas Water
Development Board (TWDB) against the Neches River
National Wildlife Refuge. Dallas and TWDB had
sought to block the refuge to keep the site available
for a potential future reservoir.
"We heartily endorse the Court's decision -- the Neches
River Refuge will be great for East Texas!" said Dr.
Michael Banks, Co-Chair of Friends of the Neches
River. "It'll provide recreation, draw tourists,
protect vital habitat for wildlife and waterfowl, and
protect the landowners along the river from
condemnation."
"There is enough water in existing reservoirs for Dallas
to have all the water it needs for future growth," added
Janice Bezanson, Executive Director of Texas
Conservation Alliance. "Dallas could tap Lake
Texoma, Wright Patman Reservoir, or Toledo Bend
Reservoir for its future supplies."
Dallas' plans were to draw only about 3% of the City's
future demand from the proposed Fastrill Reservoir.
"The proposed Fastrill Reservoir was not a particularly
good source of water for Dallas," continued
Bezanson. "Dallas and other cities in the
Metroplex can get a lot more water for similar or less
cost from existing reservoirs. Using water from
already-developed reservoirs avoids condemning people's
land and harming the timber-agribusiness economy of East
Texas."
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service identified the site
of the Neches River National Wildlife Refuge decades ago
as a priority site for conserving habitat for wildlife,
songbirds, and migratory waterfowl. Plans are in
place for the Neches River Refuge to acquire more than
6,000 acres once the case brought by Dallas and TWDB is
finalized. In the long term, up to 25,000 acres
may be added to the refuge.
"This decision is a win for East Texas and in the long
run also a win for Dallas," concluded Banks. "The
Refuge will benefit everyone - local residents and folks
from Dallas and other urban areas in need of a place to
get outdoors."
Helping Disadvantaged Children
Posted 2/13/2010 2:30 pm
Here are some pictures taken on Jan. 27 and Feb. 3 at the Pineywoods Native Plant Center. This is an after school program for dis-advantaged kids to learn about nature. Elyce Rodewald set up the program through a grant which PAS sent a letter of support. Ruth Heino, Susie Lower, and Dave Wolf taught the children how to identify birds and led them on a bird walk. Photos taken by Elyce's SFA student helpers. Ruth Heino
Binoculars Donation Request
posted 1/21/2010 9:50 am
Elyce Rodewald, education co-ordinator at the SFA
Pineywoods Native Plant Center, is in need of binoculars
to be used with the after school nature classes
for disadvantaged kids. This program is funded
with the grant PAS endorsed last year. If you have
any binoculars you are no longer using, please consider
donating them to Elyce at the Pineywoods Native
Plant Center . Several members of our group will
be helping children learn to use binoculars and identify
birds. Elyce's work phone is (936) 468-1832.
Thanks, Ruth Heino
Children's Bird
Activities a Success
posted 1/20/2010 12:45 pm
In conjunction with the Museum of East Texas, Pineywoods
Audubon Society presented an afternoon of bird
activities on Dec. 20. This was part
of a family day at the museum. Families could
enjoy the beautiful exhibit of Audubon
prints and then the children h
ad a chance to do various bird
activities and games in the main lecture room.
Ruth Heino had about a dozen activities which she has developed. The only problem
was that most of the volunteers (from the MET) that were
supposed to help out, failed to show. So we had just 3 volunteers to help. While we
discussing how we could ma
nage everything, a lady with
several children, who had arrived early, volunteered to help and then her teenage daughter
also volunteered to help. Ruth's husband Tom, who
had come to view the exhibit, was also recruited to
help. Mimi Wolf came later on and also
helped. Children seemed to enjoy themselves.
Favorite activities seemed to be the Color and cut
out a bird, Feed the birds, the Bird relay race, and the Migration game. We had lots of really young
children. Refreshments and a visit from Santa was
also part of the entertainment. It was a fun way
to spend a Sunday afternoon. Ruth Heino