NatureEye on FALL 2013 A publication of the Wildlife Division — Getting Texans Involved Contentious Coalitions for a Conservation Conundrum An Endangered Bat with a By Donnie Frels Tequila Connection ome things just go together – biscuits and gravy, hot coffee on a cold morning, camp fires Page 3 S and old friends. It seems easy and comfortable to relate these associations, almost natural. Other things just don’t mix – Aggies and Longhorns, ex-wives and girlfriends, Seinfeld and Newman. The Endangered Species Act Helps Restore the Endangered Most folks would put hunters and birders in the latter category although I might disagree. Having Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle experienced both activities and associated with each group, I often hear of hunters enjoying the Page 5 art of bird watching, albeit most are novices, while sitting in a deer blind enjoying the antics of a cautious roadrunner or curious green jay. However, in my unscientific survey, it seems fewer birders T&E Fishes of Texas participate in hunting or appreciate the positive ecological impacts regulated hunting activities may Page 7 produce. In one particular instance, hunters will have a key role in the recovery efforts of an endan- gered Texas songbird. Texas Prairie Dawn Conservation Success When the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973 was initially passed by the 93rd Congress and in Houstlandia signed by President Richard Nixon, it was met with some skepticism by suspicious landowners leery Page 8 of federal government intrusion in matters involving private property rights. Perhaps nowhere in Texas was this more apparent than the biologically diverse and ecologically sensitive Edwards From Fatmuckets Plateau ecoregion in Central Texas. Depending on your point of view, perhaps landowners had to Pimplebacks reason for concern as the stated purpose of the ESA is to protect imperiled species and also “the Page 10 ecosystems upon which they depend.” Others felt the Act may even encourage preemptive habitat destruction by landowners who fear losing the use of their land because of the presence of an The Back Porch, [Continued on page 2] Kerr WMA Black-capped Vireo Surveys Page 12

500 487 463 453 Forty Years of the 443 435 408 412 413 400 402 Endangered Species Act 358 338 328 In 1973, President Richard Nixon signed a law 300 that has been a cornerstone of endangered species management in the United States since 228 that day. Like it or hate it, the Endangered

200 183 Species Act has served to guide species and 155 146 habitat management, leading to such success stories as the Whooping Crane, the Bald Eagle 106 100 84 79 and others. In this newsletter, field biologists 65 56 and program staff discuss how they have 42 42 27 worked with the Endangered Species Act to 0 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 07 09 11 13 benefit wildlife in Texas. YEAR Executive Director [Contentious Coalitions for a Conservation Conundrum, continued from page 1] Carter P. Smith endangered species; known colloquially as “Shoot, Shovel and Shut-Up.” One example Editor, Eye on Nature of such perverse incentives is the case of a forest owner who, in response to ESA listing Mark Klym of the Red-cockaded Woodpecker, increased harvesting and shortened the age at which he harvests his trees to ensure that they do not become old enough to become suitable COMMISSION habitat. Add two endangered songbirds to the fray in Central Texas and you get misin- T. Dan Friedkin, Chairman Houston Ralph H. Duggins, Vice-Chairman Fort Worth formation, contentious meetings, suspicious landowners, and locked gates. U.S. Fish Roberto De Hoyos Austin and Wildlife Service personnel referred to themselves as “combat biologists” while Dan Allen Hughes, Jr. Beeville TPWD wildlife biologists who historically nurtured and enjoyed a trusting relationship Bill Jones Austin on private lands, found themselves without a key. James H. Lee Houston If Black-capped Vireos (BCVI) were the battle, Golden-cheeked Warblers were the war. Margaret Martin Boerne Although both occurred in the Edwards Plateau, they were not common neighbors as S. Reed Morian Houston each searched for very specific habitat requirements within the central part of the state. Dick Scott Wimberley Simply stated, the warbler preferred old growth while the vireo needed new growth. As Lee M. Bass, Chairman-Emeritus Fort Worth fate would have it, Black-capped Vireos (Vireo atricapilla) were of particular interest to a group of enterprising biologists and technicians working on the Kerr Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in western Kerr County. Owned by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT MISSION STATEMENT “To manage and conserve the natural and this 6,493-acre research and demonstration area led by Donnie Harmel and Bill Armstrong, cultural resources of Texas and to provide was fast becoming known for innovative ideas and a holistic approach to land manage- hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation ment focusing on the health of the ecosystem rather than the individual inhabitants. opportunities for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.” At that time, cows were king and livestock grazing was the primary use of Hill Country range land. In order to be credible to landowners, most TPWD management plans had to You may view this publication through the TPWD consider livestock grazing and the Kerr WMA had discovered a way for cows and critters to Web site. Please notify us by completing a request form at www.tpwd.texas.gov/enews/. Once verified, coexist. For promoting attendance at their annual seminars, proper stocking rates and rota- we will notify you by e-mail when a new version tional grazing was part of the message while production of big antlered bucks was the of your selected newsletter is posted at carrot. Problem was, cows attracted Brown- www.tpwd.texas.gov/newsletters/. Your name and address will be removed from the printed headed Cowbirds (Molothrus ater) and cowbirds version mail distribution list. have a disdain for proper parenting. Instead, they prefer foster parents who build cup-shaped FOR MORE INFORMATION nests just like the Black-capped Vireo, to incu- All inquiries: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, bate, feed, and raise their demanding offspring – 4200 Smith School Rd., Austin, TX 78744, often to the detriment of the rightful recipients. telephone (800) 792-1112 toll free, As a result, the Fish and Wildlife Service had or (512) 389-4800 or visit our website for detailed information about TPWD programs: cattle grazing on the Kerr in the crosshairs. www.tpwd.texas.gov Ever diligent, our habitat heroes teamed with Joe Grzybowski of Central State University in Oklahoma to devise a research project investi- gating the real obstacles to BCVI population growth. Two overwhelming factors emerged: lack of proper nesting habitat and nest parasit- © 2013 Texas Parks and Wildlife Department PWD BR W7000-255 (10/13) In accordance with Texas State Depository Law, this publication is available at the ism. To address the latter, cowbird trapping Texas State Publications Clearinghouse and/or Texas Depository Libraries. proved effective as captured cowbirds off the

TPWD receives federal assistance from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife [Continued on page 4] Service and other federal agencies. TPWD is therefore subject to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, in addition to state anti-discrimination laws. TPWD will comply with state and federal laws prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, national origin, age, sex or disability. If you believe that you have been discriminated The End of Hard Copies against in any TPWD program, activity or event, you may contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Federal Assistance, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Mail Stop: MBSP- 4020, Arlington, VA 22203, Attention: Civil Rights Coordinator for Public Access. As we have been saying for the past three editions, this will be the last hard copy of Eye on Nature that we mail out. Beginning with our April edition, the newsletter ADDRESS CHANGES: For address changes, or to be added or removed from our mailing list, please contact will only be available on our website at: www.tpwd.texas.gov/publications/ [email protected]. We look forward to provid- newsletters/eye_on_nature/. On this site, you will actually receive a larger, more ing the information you need to understand, appreciate, detailed newsletter than what you have been receiving through the email, since our manage and conserve the natural resources of Texas for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. size is not restricted by page counts.

You can sign up to receive email notice of new postings of the newsletter at: https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/TXPWD/subscriber/new We hope you have enjoyed the newsletter as much as we have enjoyed producing it. 2 © Carson Brown An Endangered Bat with a Tequila Connection

By Jess Lucas

ost people have few encounters with bats – they may be seen flying over- head at dusk, drinking from ponds and pools, or if you’re lucky, you may M have seen them roosting in a tree, cave, or old building. While some might not consider seeing a bat a positive sign, some cultures believe bats to be a symbol of good fortune and luck. Whatever your belief, bats are an ecological wonder, providing pest control, seed dispersal, and pollination around the world. Agave flower. If you still find you can’t see bats in a positive light, consider this. Texas has a very special © Travis Fisher resident, the Mexican long-nosed bat, without which there would be no tequila.

The Mexican long-nosed bat (Leptonycte- agave plants, which helps build resis- stalk) is cut out, and when the plant base ris nivalis) makes a seasonal foraging trek tance to disease and pests. is deemed ripe it is trimmed and cut off to West Texas every year, migrating However, this relationship is in dan- the ground. This cone-looking part of the north from Mexico. While most bats ger. In parts of the bats’ range (primarily plant is full of fluids used to produce found in Texas are insectivorous (insect- in Mexico and Central America) wherever liquor. Unfortunately, flowering is a eating), this bat is specially built to bat roosts are found, entire colonies rare event in agaves, with some species consume nectar and pollen, primarily (usually containing multiple species) have gaining the name “century plant” for the from the flowers of the agave. You may been deliberately poisoned and roosts time it takes them to bloom. Addition- already know that tequila is made using have been vandalized, primarily because ally, each plant only blooms once, and agave plants, but you likely didn’t know of social stigmas regarding bats. In Latin then the agave dies. When agaves are bats have made it all possible. America, vampire bats are considered cut before blooming, a loss of genetic The migration of the Mexican long- harmful to livestock and stigmatized as diversity for the agave species occurs – nosed bat appears to follow the range of being “evil,” and all bats seem to get the as does a loss of feeding opportunity the agave plant and the progression of same treatment. Unfortunately, Mexican for bats. the plants as they flower. The agave long-nosed bats were hard hit by the These two major issues led to the opens its flowers at night, and attracts blanket exterminations. addition of the Mexican long-nosed bat the bats with large amounts of nectar. Additionally, the range-wide source to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service When the bats are feeding on the nectar of the agave plants on which the bats Endangered Species list in 1988. Inciden- and pollen, they pick up some pollen depend has also been decimated, and tally, the species is now protected wher- on their fur and faces, and transfer the the continuous migration and foraging ever found in the U.S., and additionally, pollen on to the next plant they visit, route of the bats now has gaps. In many Mexico has afforded it similar protection. cross-fertilizing the agave. The bats and cases, the loss of agave plants can be Fortunately, over the past 20 years, the agave are mutually dependent – the attributed to the production of regional educational efforts by bat conservation bats need the food, the plants need to bootleg liquor. To make the liquor, the groups have helped turn public opinion reproduce. Likewise, the tequila industry plant is “beheaded” – the center of the on bats, and conservation efforts have benefits from the genetic diversity of the plant (the part that will form a flower begun on the Mexican side of the border,

[Continued on page 4] 3 [Contentious Coalitions for a Conservation Conundrum, continued from page 2]

Kerr perched on the Pearly Gates by the friends across the fence would peer A quick glance at the graphs provided hundreds. Providing proper nesting through the net wire and opine that the will attest to the success of the ecosys- structure proved problematic. grass is indeed greener on the other side tems approach to proactive BCVI man- Although the requisite four-foot-high of the fence. agement rather than strict preservation of nesting structure is readily available for A cadre of camo-clad hunters served existing limited habitat. As Armstrong was BCVIs in the Edwards Plateau, it seems as willing participants in the battle for fond of saying, “Black-caps are the poster white-tailed deer and other exotic black-capped bungalows. Without the child for good deer management.” mammals literally eat them out of house constant browsing pressure of deer and Today, public opinion of the Endan- and home. What is one animal’s home is exotic ungulates, low-level structure gered Species Act varies depending on another animal’s hamburger. Unfortu- returned to the motte producing species personal perspective. Generally speaking, nately for the endangered songbird, like shin oak and live oak which provide I would surmise a definite shift in general landowners like deer, and in Central the majority of nesting substrate for these landowner attitudes with regards to Texas, they’re thicker than bugs on a and many other passerines. private property impacts. Where land- bumper. With arguably the highest With Aldo Leopold’s tools of wildlife owners once feared the yoke of federal white-tailed deer density in the world and management firmly in place, the Kerr regulation, many now embrace the Act as a monetary incentive for landowners to WMA was now operating like a well- a vehicle for property protection when tolerate them, BCVIs literally got the short tuned ecological machine. threatened by proposed road or utility end of the stick. • Prescribed burning was reducing ashe projects while others enjoy the monetary Due to long-term trends derived juniper while rejuvenating grass and benefits now associated with recreational from annual vegetation lines and deer brush species. birding for rare and endangered species. surveys, Kerr WMA staff were keenly • Rotational grazing proved the Often in nature beneficial associations aware of the predictable cyclic fluctua- importance of rest and recovery for formulate over time out of necessity. tions – as the deer population increased, grass species while utilizing the range Although hunters and birders both vegetative diversity and abundance properly enjoy a quest for quarry and an apprecia- declined. To address the situation, biolo- • Hunters and the high fence maintained tion for things wild, they often seem to gists recommended reducing deer density deer density at appropriate levels so possess opposing ecological ideologies. by half on several occasions. While public browse and forbs flourished Understanding the niche each occupies hunters enjoyed and appreciated the • Cowbird trapping was reducing nest in natural resources conservation and increased opportunity, success at main- parasitism not only for BCVIs but management may assist us all in effec- taining the desired density proved tem- numerous species of other songbirds tively navigating the road to recovery porary as deer from adjoining properties for our endangered resources. packed their bags and moved to the lush While avoiding the temptation to

accommodations provided at Club Kerr. concentrate management efforts on just Donnie is Wildlife Management Area Project Staff then reached into their management birds, cows, or deer, Harmel and Arm- Leader responsible for the Kerr, Muse and toolbox and pulled out an uncommon strong built an ecosystem capable of Mason Mountain WMAs. He works out of one for a state agency at the time – deer- producing a variety of desirable products the Kerr WMA. proof fencing. Soon our four-legged appreciated by both birders and hunters.

[An Endangered Bat with a Tequila Connection, continued from page 3] © Nick Hristov improving the situation. Frequent popu- nosed bat in a couple of ways. Locate a lation counts on the species have shown reputable source for local agave plants, the situation is less dire than it was in and find a place in your garden for them. the past. It will take years for the agave to bloom, The Mexican long-nosed bat is a but they provide nice greenery in the part-time resident of West Texas, where it meantime. When the flower stalk does has been captured by researchers in appear, it will provide food for bats, Brewster and Presidio counties. It is moths, and many other species. known to roost in caves and mines, but If you don’t have space for an agave there is only one known roost for the plant, or desire a quicker turnaround, you species in the United States, and that can hang out a hummingbird feeder or is within Big Bend National Park. This two, and there’s a chance the bats may colony varies in size, but up to 10,650 visit the feeders for a quick snack at night. individuals have located to the cave seasonally. Jess was a non-game data specialist working If you live in the Trans Pecos, you with the Bat Working Group out of the Austin headquarters office. can help support the Mexican long- 4 By Donna J. Shaver, Ph.D. The Endangered Species Act Helps Restore the Endangered Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle

hen I began working with the Kemp’s ridley sea turtle restoration effort at Padre Island National Seashore (PAIS), Texas in 1980 the population was plummeting. Several agencies and many people were working W together to try to save the species, but some feared that it could already be too late. Fortunately, all these years later, the Kemp’s ridley population has increased and the outlook for the population is much more optimistic, thanks in large part to the U.S. Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA).

The first published record of a Kemp’s poaching of eggs for use as a supposed the bi-national program was to form a ridley nesting in the wild was an individ- aphrodisiac and incidental capture of secondary nesting colony of Kemp’s ual found nesting in 1948 at what later juveniles and adults by shrimp trawling. ridley turtles at PAIS, as a safeguard became PAIS. Although PAIS is the most As a result of this drastic population against extinction in case a political or important Kemp’s ridley nesting beach decline, Kemp’s ridley sea turtle was natural disaster was to occur in Mexico. in the U.S, by far most nesting by this listed as endangered throughout its PAIS was selected as the location for this species occurs in Mexico. However, for range on December 2, 1970, and the effort since the nesting habitat is pre- many years, biologists did not know species has received federal protection served and protected as a national sea- where most of the Kemp’s ridley popula- under the ESA for the last 40 years. shore and it is within the documented tion nested. A Mexican engineer filmed The purpose of the ESA is to protect historic nesting range of the species. a synchronous nesting emergence of and recover threatened and endangered From 1978-1988, 22,507 Kemp’s Kemp’s ridleys in 1947 at Rancho Nuevo species and the ecosystems they depend ridley eggs were collected at Rancho in Tamaulipas, Mexico. Dr. Henry upon, so that they ultimately no longer Nuevo, packed in North Padre Island Hildebrand from Corpus Christi, Texas, need protection under the ESA. The ESA sand, and transported to PAIS for hatch- discovered that film and showed it at a provided the framework and authority for ing. The hatchlings were released on the herpetological conference in the early the U.S. to aid with recovery efforts for PAIS beach, allowed to crawl into the 1960s. Based on this film, the number of this imperiled species. In 1977, a bi- surf, and captured using aquarium dip turtles nesting at that time was estimated national Kemp’s Ridley Recovery Program nets after a brief swim in the Gulf of to be over 40,000. was formed involving the U.S. Fish and Mexico. It was hoped that this exposure Mexican biologists began studying Wildlife Service (FWS), National Marine to Padre Island sand and surf (termed and protecting the nesting turtles and Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Park “experimental imprinting”) would cause nests on the beach at Rancho Nuevo Service (NPS), Instituto Nacional de la the turtles to return to PAIS to nest when starting in the mid-1960s, but they found Pesca of Mexico, and Texas Parks and they reached adulthood. The captured that the population had plummeted. Wildlife Department (TPWD). As part of hatchlings were transported to the NMFS Despite continuing protection by the this bi-national program, the U.S. joined Laboratory in Galveston, Texas, where Mexican government, by the mid-1980s the on-going protection efforts on the they were reared in captivity for 9-11 the population had decreased to an nesting beach at Rancho Nuevo. In addi- months. This “head-starting” allowed estimated 300 nesting females. This tion to trying to protect the nesting the turtles to grow large enough to be precipitous decline was due primarily to population in Mexico, another goal of [Continued on page 6] 5 [The Endangered Species Act Helps Restore the Endangered Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle, continued from page 5]

tagged for future recognition and avoid turtles. Kemp’s ridleys forage in Texas experimental imprinting and head-start- most predators after release. Finally, the Gulf of Mexico and bay waters at various ing project have been confirmed nesting one-year-old turtles were released perma- stages of their life cycle. Adult males and in the wild, mostly on North Padre and nently, most into the Gulf of Mexico off females feed in nearshore Gulf of Mexico Mustang islands. They have contributed Mustang and North Padre islands. waters, and a large portion of the adult to the increase in nesting in Texas during PAIS began patrols to find and female population uses these waters as a recent years, but by far most nests found protect nesting Kemp’s ridleys and their migratory corridor between foraging in south Texas are from turtles from the eggs on North Padre Island in 1986. grounds in the northern Gulf of Mexico wild stock that are repopulating the area. Patrol programs began later on other and nesting beaches in Mexico and Texas. The substantial growth of the Texas beaches, and today patrols are con- The Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle Recov- Kemp’s ridley population is encouraging. ducted to some extent on all Texas Gulf ery Plan not only focuses on protection The Kemp’s ridley population can be of Mexico beaches annually, from April of the turtles on nesting beaches, but down-listed to threatened status after a through mid-July. The six patrol programs also in their marine habitat where these number of milestones outlined in the in Texas are administered by Texas A&M turtles spend the majority of their lives. Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle Recovery Plan University–Galveston, U.S. Fish and Wild- This is addressed through the require- are met. One of those milestones is life Service, ARK, NPS, and Sea Turtle, Inc. ment of shrimp fishery to use turtle 10,000 females nesting in a season. It will Hundreds of dedicated staff members and excluder devices (TEDs) to prevent inci- take more years to achieve this goal since volunteers conduct these patrols with the dental capture. Shrimping closures estab- each nester produces 2.5-3.0 nests within support of several organizations such as lished by TPWD during the Kemp’s ridley a season, and the rate of nesting increase TPWD. Sea Turtle Restoration Project nesting season in Texas have also been has noticeably slowed since 2009. In sponsors a toll-free telephone number extremely beneficial to the conservation order to continue to make progress (1-866-TURTLE5) to report nesting and of the species, while at the same time towards population recovery, the ulti- stranded sea turtles in Texas. allowing shrimp to grow to a larger, mate goal of the ESA, conservation efforts Patrols are conducted primarily dur- more valuable size prior to market. in Mexico and the U.S. must continue. ing daylight hours since Kemp’s ridleys Several other recovery task priority nest mostly during the day. Most nests items are also outlined in the Kemp’s Donna J. Shaver is Chief of the Division of Sea are found by the sea turtle monitoring Ridley Recovery Sea Turtle Plan. One of Turtle Science and Recovery for the National Park patrols, but some are found by other these is operation of the Sea Turtle Service at Padre Island National Seashore near individuals working or recreating on the Stranding and Salvage Network. Many Corpus Christi, Texas. beach, especially in the developed areas groups and individuals help find and of the coast. Eggs from nests found on document sea turtles stranded (washed PAIS and northward in Texas are trans- ashore, alive or dead) in the U.S. and ported either to the PAIS incubation facil- Mexico. Live stranded turtles are References: ity or protected enclosures on the beach transported to rehabilitation facilities National Marine Fisheries Service, U.S. Fish called corrals and the resulting hatchlings to receive care, with the objective of and Wildlife Service and SEMARNAT. 2011. are released at PAIS, to help reinforce the returning as many of those turtles as Bi-National Recovery Plan for the Kemp’s bi-national effort to form a secondary possible to the wild so that they can Ridley Sea Turtle (Lepidochelys kempii), nesting colony there. Eggs from South contribute to the population. second revision. National Marine Fisheries Padre Island are brought to a protective After years of effort from multiple Service. Silver Spring, MD 156 pp. + appendices. corral on South Padre Island for incuba- agencies and federal protection under tion, and the emerging hatchlings are the Endangered Species Act, Kemp’s Shaver, D.J. 2005. Analysis of the Kemp’s released nearby. The public is invited to ridley nesting has increased substantially ridley imprinting and headstart project at attend many of the hatchling releases from the population low of only 702 Padre Island National Seashore, Texas, 1978-88, with subsequent Kemp’s ridley held at PAIS and on South Padre Island, nests world-wide in 1985. A record 209 nesting and stranding records on the Texas free-of-charge. nests were recorded in Texas (including coast. Chelonian Conservation and Biology Texas waters also provide very 106 at PAIS) and nearly 22,000 in Mex- 4(4):846-859. important habitat for Kemp’s ridley ico during 2012. Some turtles from the Shaver, D.J. and C. Rubio. 2008. Post-nesting movement of wild and head-started Kemp’s ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys kempii) in the Gulf of Mexico. In: Endangered Species Research 4:43-55. Shaver, D.J., K. Hart, I. Fujisaki, C. Rubio, A.R. Sartain, J. Pena, P.M. Burchfield, D. Gomez Gamez, and J. Ortiz. 2013. Foraging area fidelity for Kemp’s ridleys in the Gulf of Mexico. Journal of Ecology and Evolution doi: 10.1002/ece3.594. 6 Threatened and Endangered Fishes of Texas

By Gary Garrett and Megan Bean

o a great extent, the Endangered Species Act works as intended and helps us to address issues of threat and work to avoid losses to our natural resources. Not only does the ESA provide legal protection, but the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service convenes teams of experts (Recovery Team) to assess status and make recommendations Tfor protection and recovery. Unfortunately however, we have already lost as many fish species (8) in Texas as are now listed. One, Rio Grande Silvery Minnow, was extirpated but is now in the process of being repatriated. An additional 50 species of freshwater fishes are recognized by TPWD as Species of Greatest Conservation Need (face the threat of extirpation or extinction but lack legal protection). In 1991 a study by TPWD and the University of Texas revealed that 25% of the native freshwater fishes of Texas were already lost or faced extirpation or extinction. Today that number has grown to 40%.

We hope the Rio Grande Silvery Minnow ways in which ecosystems have been County. It is known to occur in Texas in (Hybognathus amarus) story is one with a destroyed include grazing and watering the Devils River, San Felipe Creek, Syca- happy ending. This fish used to be one livestock, draining to move water more more Creek and Pinto Creek. They have of the most common fishes in the Rio efficiently to agricultural fields, and over- been extirpated from Las Moras Creek, Grande, from the Texas coast into north- pumping of aquifers. Kinney County. There are also historic ern New Mexico. By the late 1960s it had Over half (63%) of the native fishes records of occurrence in two small disappeared from the Texas part of its of the Chihuahuan Desert are threatened streams in Coahuila, Mexico, the Río San range and all that remained in New with extinction or are already lost. Carlos and Río Sabinas. Their current Mexico was in a short stretch of river Documented extinctions from this area status in Mexico is unknown but, at best around Albuquerque. We may never include the Maravillas Red Shiner (Cypri- they are thought to be rare. Historically, know what caused their demise, but it nella lutrensis blairi), the Phantom Shiner the Devils River Minnow was one of the was likely a combination of factors such (Notropis orca), the Rio Grande Bluntnose most abundant fishes in the Devils River. as drought, pollution, dewatering, etc. In Shiner (Notropis simus simus), and the Their numbers began dropping in the 1994 it was listed as endangered and in Amistad Gambusia (Gambusia amistaden- 1970s and they became quite rare. The December 2008, the U.S. Fish and Wild- sis). Extirpations include the Rio Grande upper and lower portions of its range in life Service, the National Park Service, Silvery Minnow (Hybognathus amarus), the Devils River are gone, due to reduced Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, and Pecos Bluntnose Shiner (Notropis simus spring flows in the headwaters and other partners began releasing silvery pecosensis), Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout impoundment of Amistad Reservoir in minnows into their former home in Big (Oncorhynchus clarki virginalis) and the lower portion. The biome created by Bend. These recovery actions are Blotched Gambusia (Gambusia senilis) the overlap of the Chihuahuan Desert, designed to reestablish the minnow in in Texas. Edwards Plateau, and South Brush Texas Texas with the ultimate goal of eventually ecosystems yields a unique fish fauna of removing the need to have it listed. So Here is a brief summary of two remaining which the Devils River Minnow is part. A far, we have released over two million federally listed fishes of Texas. You can Conservation Agreement was developed young silvery minnow and biologists find a description of the remaining listed in 1998 among the Texas Parks and continue monitoring (and hoping) for species in this article in our e-newsletter. Wildlife Department, the City of Del Rio a self-sustaining population. and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Many of our T&E species occur in Devils River Minnow is designed to foster research to “elimi- the relatively harsh habitats of West (Dionda diaboli) – Threatened 1999 nate or significantly reduce the probabil- Texas. Our portion of the Chihuahuan ity that potential threats to the minnow Desert region contains a wide variety of © Garold W. Sneegas will actually harm this species and to habitats and many uniquely adapted recover populations of the minnow to plants and animals. Unfortunately, the viable levels.” Although first proposed for limited aquatic habitats of this ecosystem endangered status under the Endangered have undergone substantial modifications Species Act in 1978, the Devils River in the last hundred years. One of the minnow wasn’t listed until 1999. A most heavily impacted habitats is the critical subset of the range of D. diaboli desert springs and their associated wet- is now owned by the Texas Parks and land habitats (ciénegas). These ecosys- Wildlife Department and the Nature tems were seldom damaged on purpose; The Devils River Minnow was originally Conservancy of Texas. put simply, water is rare in the desert and discovered and described from Baker’s people want it for a variety of uses. The Crossing on the Devils River, Val Verde [Continued on page 9] 7 Texas Prairie Dawn Conservation Success in Houstlandia By Jason Singhurst

exas prairie dawn (Hymenoxys texana) or prairie dawn is a member of the sunflower family and a globally rare endemic plant (found nowhere else but Texas). Prairie dawn is a small, slender, tap rooted annual with one to seven stems that range between 1.5 to 7 inches tall. The plants are erect to spreading and usually Tleafless below branches. The plants arise from a rosette in late December or January with somewhat fleshy leaves. The yellow flowering plants bloom from late February through April.

Prairie dawn is restricted to the Gulf Prairie dawn is limited to ‘saline towards recovery of this species in Coastal Prairies in the upper coast of prairies’ with cryptogamic soils within the ‘Houstlandia’ (greater Houston area). Texas with its core range centered on Houston Coastal Prairie dominated by After the 1981 rediscovery, prairie Houston (Fort Bend and Harris counties) gulf coast muhly (Muhlenbergia capillaris). dawn was documented at Addicks and with two disjunct isolated prairie popula- Many of the species that occur in these Barker reservoirs in 1986, lands owned by tions, one in Greg County and one in rare saline prairies are absent from or the United States Army Corps of Engi- Trinity County. The species was first uncommon in adjoining vegetation. neers (USACE). Addicks and Barker reser- collected in 1889 near Hockley, Texas, in These soils are shallow, saline, and sup- voirs are located near the intersection of Harris County, by F.W. Thurow. Hockley port a moderate diversity of annual and Interstate 10 and State Highway 6, in the is renowned by many geologists for its perennial herbs that commonly occur in upper watershed of Buffalo Bayou. The famed Hockley Salt Dome, a mound or 26,000 acres that make up Addicks and barren slicks and at the base of mima columns of salt that rise above parent Barker reservoirs are publicly accessible mounds (Bierner 2005). It is thought geology to the surface. Until 1970, the and provide flood damage reduction that the natural pattern of disturbance prairie dawn species appeared to have along Buffalo Bayou downstream of the (droughts, fires, and floods) is necessary vanished from Texas botany. It is not reservoirs and through the center of the to maintain the areas, though the exact listed in Texas Plants – A Checklist and City of Houston. This amazing tract of role disturbance may play is not clear. Ecological Summary by Dr. Frank Gould land also contains large populations of Prairie dawn was listed as endan- (1962). Correll and Johnston (1970), in prairie dawn. Since the 1986 discovery, the Manual of the Vascular Flora of Texas, gered by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service extensive botanical surveys have been state “Rare in sandy soils near Hockley (1986). The founding information was conducted, which has resulted in many and Houston, Harris County, probably assembled by Bridges (1988). Approxi- populations of prairie dawn found extinct (no known collections after mately 60 occurrences (TxNDD 2013) of throughout this landscape. USACE has 1900).” In 1981, James W. Kessler prairie dawn have been recorded, these conducted annual monitoring surveys discovered three populations growing primarily in Harris County. Unfortunately, and population estimates. USACE has also in “buffalo wallows” or small depressions many of these occurrences have been lost utilized Geographic Information Science in Harris County, these being the first to development. Today, there are only 11 (GIS) and Global Position System (GPS) known collections of this species since occurrences; nevertheless, huge conserva- tools to map populations and provide 1889-90 (Mahler 1983). tion strides have moved the bar forward this data to Texas Parks and Wildlife

[Continued on page 9] Hymenoxys texana. © Jason R. Singhurst

Dr. Larry Brown, Anita Tiller, and Nancy Shackelford estimate prairie dawn populations in a saline prairie. © Jason R. Singhurst 8 Department’s Texas Natural Diversity with Mercer Arboretum, in north Harris plants. The road to full recovery for prai- Database. USACE has also mapped County. rie dawn since its rediscovery in 1981 is invasive plants that occur adjacent to Harris County Parks also owns a tract still far out on the horizon, but these land or within the saline prairies that prairie of land in southeast Harris County called acquisitions, restoration, management, dawn inhabits. USACE is utilizing this the Native Coastal Prairie Preserve, adja- and partnerships are making great prog- digital data within their natural resource cent to Ellington Field Airport. This prairie ress for this unique yellow flowering plan with application to reduce invasive landscape is also referred to as Armand Texas wildflower. plants such as Chinese tallow, Macartney Pothole and sits on a salt dome. This pre- rose, and deep-rooted sedge that serve, also purchased through mitigation Jason Is a botanist with Texas Parks and Wildlife threaten prairie dawn populations. funds, had been neglected for several Department working out of the Austin Headquarters. Katy Prairie Conservancy (KPC), is a years which has allowed invasive woody local land trust organized for the preser- plant growth (primarily Chinese tallow). References: vation of the remaining Katy Prairie However, recent discussion with Harris Bierner, M.W. 2005. Hymenoxys. In: Flora remnants in northwest Harris County, County Parks and Coastal Prairie Partner- of North America Editorial Committee, eds. near the city of Katy. KPC owns and ship to conduct ecologically sound 1993+. Flora of North America North of manages a total of 18,000 acres of management of invasive plants within Mexico 12+ vols. Oxford Univ. Press, New conservation land which includes two the preserve looks promising. York and Oxford. Vol.21. extremely significant prairies, Warren Harris County Flood Control owns Bridges, E.L. 1988. Endangered species Prairie (285 acres) and Jack Road Prairie Willow Water Hole Prairie in south Harris information system species workbook for (511 acres) that were purchased as con- County and is restoring this natural Hymenoxys texana, part II. U.S. Fish and servation areas to preserve two large prai- pocket prairie and planning interpretive Wildlife Service, Washington, D.C. 43 pp. rie dawn populations. Warren and Jack signage. Not yet open to the public, Correll, D.S. and M.C. Johnston. 1970. Road prairies lie adjacent to the Hockley plans for public visitation are in the works. Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas. Salt Dome. These prairie dawn popula- These are some of the gold star Texas Research Foundation, Renner. tions have been surveyed almost annually highlights with respect to migration Gould, F. W. 1962. Texas Plants – a since 2003, and in 2008-2009, a census towards recovery of prairie dawn checklist and ecological summary. MP-585. was conducted by Wesley Newman, KPC throughout its restricted global range. Tex. Agri. Exp. Sta., College Station. Conservation Stewardship Director, Prairie dawn is also accompanied in the Mahler, W.F. 1983. Rediscovery of Nancy Shackelford (University of Western highly restricted saline prairie habitat with Hymenoxys texana and notes on two other Australia) and Jason Singhurst (Botanist, several other globally rare endemic Texas endemics. Sida 10:87-91. TPWD) to estimate the population size. plants, including coastal gayfeather (Lia- Texas Natural Diversity Database (TxNDD), A population of prairie dawn docu- tris bracteata), Houston daisy (Rayjackso- 2013. Wildlife Diversity Program, Texas Parks mented back in 1988 was purchased nia aurea), Texas windmill grass (Chloris and Wildlife Department, Austin, Texas. through mitigation funds and is now texana), and three-flowered broomweed U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1986. owned by Harris County Parks and called (Thurovia triflora). Therefore, each con- Determination of endangered status for Prairie Dawn Preserve. This preserve is servation success for prairie dawn benefits Hymenoxys texana. Fed. Reg. 51(49):8631- being managed by Anita Tiller, a botanist one or more additional globally rare 8633.

[Threatened and Endangered Fishes of Texas, continued from page 7]

The other locations for Devils River The Arkansas River Shiner is a small, Canadian River in Oklahoma, western Minnow have been severely affected streamlined minnow that has evolved for Texas and eastern New Mexico. An by drought and water use (Pinto life in shallow braided channels of wide isolated population occurs in the Pecos Creek and Sycamore Creek) and sandy prairie rivers in the Arkansas River River in southwestern Texas where they establishment of the exotic armored system. Like many prairie minnows, they were accidentally introduced. Channeliza- catfish (San Felipe Creek). spawn after heavy summer rains and tion of the Arkansas River has perma- their eggs drift with the water current nently altered and eliminated suitable Arkansas River Shiner and develop as they are carried down- habitat and is largely responsible for the (Notropis girardi) – Threatened 1999 stream. Historically, the Arkansas River extirpation of the species within the Shiner occupied all of the major river Arkansas River in Arkansas and Oklahoma. tributaries to the Arkansas River in the In addition, habitat loss, alteration of river Great Plains including the Cimarron, flow from reservoir construction and North Canadian and Canadian rivers as pumping from the watershed for irriga- well as the Arkansas River. This species tion has had detrimental effects. has been in decline since the 1950s, and Gary Garrett is Program Director for Watershed has been extirpated from nearly 80% of Conservation at Texas Parks and Wildlife working its historic range. The current range of out of Mountain Home. Megan is a Watershed © Garold W. Sneegas the Arkansas River Shiner is mainly in the Biologist. 9 From Fatmuckets to Pimplebacks By Marsha May

here was once a time in Texas when all its rivers and streams supported dense populations of freshwater mussels. These invertebrates were the greatest biomass in these systems. Now many of their populations are dramatically in Tdecline or gone, not only in Texas but nationwide. So why are mussels that look so much like rocks, so important? Well, these amazing bivalves serve vital western pimpleback epitomize some of collecting important data on Texas’ functions in aquatic ecosystems, and the wacky names of these once abun- freshwater mussels. Through attending one of the most vital functions is as dant creatures. The Rio Grande monkey- a workshop, volunteers are placed on a natural vacuum cleaner. Their main face has not been seen alive in Texas a Texas Mussel Watch scientific permit diet consists of bacteria and plankton since 1898. This species is presumed to allowing them to legally handle animals (tiny plants and animals). They keep the be extinct. Only one mussel species in and shells in the field. Data collected water clean and clear as well as serve as Texas is listed as federally endangered, on rare species by Texas Mussel Watch habitat for other aquatic animals such the Ouachita rock-pocketbook. Most volunteers goes directly into the Texas as benthic microinvertebrates (hellgram- surviving populations of this species are Natural Diversity Database (www.tpwd. mites, dragonfly larva, damselfly larva, restricted to Oklahoma and Arkansas. texas.gov/huntwild/wild/wildlife_diver- etc.). Why are we losing these important Texas has only two records and neither sity/txndd/). The mission of the Texas animals? Scientists believe that there are were found alive. In January of 2010, 15 Natural Diversity Database is to manage a number of reasons, but the number native freshwater mussel species in Texas and disseminate scientific information on one reason is loss of habitat. The envi- received a state status of threatened. Six rare species, native plant communities, ronments where these animals live are of those 15 species are now candidates and animal aggregations for defensible, impacted by a host of hardships from for federal listing. Those six species effective conservation action. siltation from construction sites, building are: Texas hornshell, Texas fatmucket, You can find more information of dams changing the dynamics of the golden orb, smooth pimpleback, Texas on Texas Mussel Watch along with habitat, and runoff of pollutants from pimpleback, and Texas fawnsfoot. workshop dates and information on the surrounding terrain, to name a few. The last five of those six species can other Texas Nature Tracker projects at As many as 52 out of the 300 or be found in the rivers and streams of www.tpwd.texas.gov/tracker. so species of freshwater mussels found Central Texas. in North America inhabit Texas’ water Texas Mussel Watch is a Texas Marsha is a Program Specialist coordinating bodies. Texas heelsplitter, threehorn Parks and Wildlife Department project the Texas Mussel Watch out of Austin. wartyback, Rio Grande monkeyface and designed to get citizens involved in

[The Back Porch, continued from the back]

and so the species is proposed for listing our various biologists across the state involved in various citizen science projects simply to protect it from our lack of data. obtained with permission from landowners looking for and monitoring species of con- Other causes for listing a species might be and observations. cern, or by simply providing data when spe- rapidly declining or fragmenting habitat or a Another great tool in preventing the cies we track through the TXNDD are seen. habitat feature that is experiencing increased listing of a species comes with the imple- As the sun was setting, the air came or diverse pressure from development. mentation of conservation agreements in alive with the high pitched trill of toads – Whatever the cause, the most effective which stakeholders in the area affected by the Houston toad was calling again. That tool in determining whether a species the listing agree to cooperate in identifying, was several years ago, too. Since then, should be listed, or should not be listed, is a protecting and enhancing critical habitat development has moved into the area and good data set that we can turn to in order features for the benefit of the species. This the tank they once used is all but gone – to make meaningful decisions about the has been used in a number of cases, one of and the night has gone silent around my status of the species in question. In Texas, the most notable being the development of home. With your help and using the tools this data set is the Texas Natural Diversity ciénegas in West Texas to protect desert available including the Endangered Species Database, housed and maintained at Texas pupfish. Act, we can keep this from happening Parks and Wildlife Department. This data- Texas currently faces the potential list- elsewhere. base is populated from many sources, some ing of a large number of species, many of of which are our citizen science projects, our which we simply do not have the necessary Mark is an Information Specialist working with the biological assessment teams and data from data to act on. You can help by getting Texas Nature Trackers program out of Austin HQ. 10 Simple things you can do on your Habitips land to enhance wildlife value. Wild Stuff! In General Strip disk to encourage native food resources Monitor grazing pressure on Focus on providing travel rangelands and move livestock lanes and cover for birds accordingly Continue controlling feral February hogs Preserve brushy fence rows, Conduct prescribed burns as shelterbelts and critical wildlife needed cover by fencing Begin planting annual seed- Order survey kits for Texas lings — perennials should be Nature Tracker programs such planted in fall as Hummingbird Roundup Monitor turkey flocks and Texas Horned Lizard Conduct mechanical brush Watch control as needed Disk wetland areas to November encourage moist soil plants Wildlife Posters as needed Migratory Landbirds of the Southeast Monitor use and condition Look for early spring wild- of key vegetation going into flower blooms —mostly gold Common Feeder Birds of Eastern North America winter colored flowers Common Feeder Birds of Western North America Move livestock off of fall food Hummingbird migration You Can Help Texas Turtles (pictured) plots for wildlife begins Order spring-planted annual Repair and install nestboxes $2 each plus $3 shipping and handling for up to seedlings for the nesting season 4 posters. Add $1 for each additional poster. Construct brush piles needed Visit www.tpwd.texas.gov/business/shop/ for winter cover March for order form. Begin developing winter prescribed burn plans If trained begin trapping Disk fire lanes as needed brown-headed cowbirds Clean up leaf litter within your Plant native grasses, forbs firewise defensive zone and legumes Conduct prescribed burns as December needed Watch for developing Prepare fireguards for wildflower blooms prescribed burning program De-water flooded areas to Disk in proximity to woody encourage wetland vegetation cover to provide habitat interspersion for game birds April Get prescribed burn Show Your equipment ready Monitor grazing to provide Support for Wildlife! Strip disk to encourage native nesting cover and plant diversity food resources Help protect native non-game species like Focus on providing travel Clean and store prescribed the Horned Lizard with the purchase of the lanes and cover for birds burn equipment Develop a checklist of birds Horned Lizard license plate. The cost is just January you see in various locations — $30*, with $22 going directly to benefit the note habitat use conservation of wildlife diversity in Texas. Prepare fireguards for Continue trapping brown- prescribed burning program headed cowbirds if trained Disk in proximity to woody Protect turkey roosts in areas Order online today and get cover to provide habitat with limited numbers of your plate in just two weeks! interspersion for game birds large trees Get prescribed burn Continue monitoring www.conservation-plate.org/nature equipment ready wildflower blooms *In addition to regular vehicle registration fees 11 Texas Parks and Wildlife Department PRSRT STD Wildlife Diversity Program U.S. POSTAGE PAID 4200 Smith School Road AUSTIN, TEXAS Austin, Texas 78744 PERMIT NO. 2270

The Back Porch Recovery and the Endangered Species Act By Mark Klym

t was early evening and we were near- birds harmed, but successive generations the count of nesting pairs had increased to ing the end of a long ride. As we were were harmed as many pair began produc- 9,789 in the lower 48 states, many of those Idriving across a long stretch of highway, ing “soft shelled” eggs that would crack nests found right here in Texas. On June a juvenile Bald Eagle chose to swoop grace- during incubation or worse, would never 28, 2007, the United States Department of fully down and glide almost effortlessly in hatch due to the contamination in the egg. the Interior declared the species recovered front of the car – “drafting” off the vehicle In 1972, the use of DDT in the United enough to remove it from the Endangered in front of us and keeping pace with us as States was banned except in certain Species List entirely – something that has we both wound our way through the restricted cases for public health reasons. happened for very few species in the history mountains. As early as the 1930s, people became con- of the Endangered Species Act! That experience several years before I cerned about the status of our national Nobody likes to see an animal or plant came to Texas almost did not happen. symbol – the Bald Eagle. The passage of the added to the Endangered Species List – Threatened by habitat loss, persecution and Bald Eagle Act in 1940 reduced the harass- especially not the biologists and managers food contamination, the Bald Eagle nearly ment and persecution of the bird, but it that work with these animals on a daily disappeared from the lower 48 states. In continued to decline. In 1967, the Bald basis. Often the reason for listing is not as 1963, counts indicated there were 487 Eagle was officially declared endangered in obvious as it was in the case of the Bald nesting Bald Eagle pairs in the lower 48, all areas of the United States south of the Eagle – a once plentiful bird was declining despite the Bald Eagle and Golden Eagle 40th parallel. With the passage of the in numbers so rapidly it could not be Protection Act which had been in place Endangered Species Act in 1973, this missed. In some cases, there may be plenty since 1940. The continuing decline was endangered bird was afforded protection of individuals where they are found, but the attributed to the pesticide DDT. south of the 40th parallel and in 1976, range may be so limited that one natural or An insecticide, DDT was used on crops it was officially listed as endangered man-made disaster could wipe them out to reduce insect damage. Animals that ate nationwide. entirely. Another scenario might be that the contaminated insects were eaten by the That was not the end of the story, we simply do not know enough about the birds, and the contamination built at each however. This bird did begin to recover species, its population and its habitat needs, successive level. Not only were the adult with the various actions taken and by 2006, [Continued on page 10]