Black Panther Excited About Exploring the Wonders of Watching Birds, Chasing Butterflies Or Admir- Myth Or Reality?, Texas
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NatureEye on SPRING, 2002 A publication of the Wildlife Diversity Branch Getting Texans Involved The Great Texas Wildlife Trails Opportunities for Adventure by Linda Campbell Te xas Amphibian Watch, ow do you provide recreational York, Vermont, and Ontario, Canada. We Page 2 opportunity, build public under- started a trend with the Coastal Birding Trail, standing and support for conserva- and it means that people who love to com- H Private Land and Habitat tion, and bring money to rural communities bine travel with wildlife enjoyment will have Enhancement Program, all at the same time? You build the most lots to do for many years. extensive network of birding and wildlife We hope the Texas Wildlife Trails will Page 3 viewing sites of any state and then you invite encourage people to get outdoors and experi- people to get off the couch, into the car and ence nature for themselves. Whether it is by Black Panther excited about exploring the wonders of watching birds, chasing butterflies or admir- Myth or Reality?, Texas. That is what the Great Texas Wildlife ing wildflowers, experiences that provide an Page 4 Trails is all about. entry into the enjoyment of nature are criti- We give people beautiful maps with good cal in an urbanizing society if we are to Guadalupe Delta WMA, directions and descriptions and encourage develop an understanding of the importance them to get away from the city and into the of conserving wildlife and their habitats. Page 5 countryside to enjoy nature, history and the We know these trails are important for culture of Texas amidst the compelling rural recreation, but what about the key question World Birding Center, landscapes of our state. The movie line “build of how these efforts benefit conservation of Page 6 it and they will come” is becoming a reality in wildlife habitat. To understand this we need Texas. Our trails are making it easy for people to look at the people using these trails. Our Coastal Prairie–Past to reconnect with nature and their heritage at survey data shows that the typical travelers a time when Americans need the kind of [continued on page 7] Present and Future, peace and assurance that experiences Page 7 in the outdoors can provide. The first of its kind in the country, the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail was completed in 2000. We have distributed over 350,000 maps to people from all over the world. Texas is setting the standard for trails being developed in California, Arizona, Louisiana, Alabama, Kentucky, Wisconsin, Min- nesota, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia, New TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE Frolicking with frogs — opportunities with the … By Lee Ann Linam hich toad in Texas is as big as a dinner plate? Which frog Wbarks like a dog? What amphibian looks like a sausage, but has a mean bite? Which chorus of frogs just It’s easy to get involved in Amphibian might greet Santa Claus, sounding like Watch and it’s a lot of fun. Several types of sleigh bells in December? Texas Amphibian monitoring activities are possible, but the Watchers know the answers to these and most common way of monitoring frogs and other questions! toads is to conduct a nighttime call count Texas Amphibian Watch is one of a survey. Simply pick a wetland site — it can variety of volunteer monitoring programs be as small as your backyard ornamental Eye On Nature offered by Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPW), pond. Visit the wetland after dark and lis- Spring, 2002 through which we ask ordinary Texans to ten for the songs of male frogs and toads calling to the females. With all the different Te x as Parks and Wildlife pay extraordinary attention to the natural To manage and conserve the natural world around them. There’s good reason to species in Texas (about 45), frogs breed and cultural resources of Texas for nearly year round in much of the state, but the use and enjoyment of present watch amphibians. In addition to their and future generations. interesting features noted above, there’s the best nights are warm, humid, moonless also a good deal of concern about global nights following a big rain. Write down the GOVERNOR OF TEXAS Rick Perry decline of amphibian species. About 12 years species you hear or record the calls so you ago scientists began to notice declines and can compare them to some reference tapes. COMMISSION Katharine Armstrong Idsal, Chairman even extinctions of amphibians in many Also write down the environmental condi- San Antonio localities around the world. Then in 1995 a tions, and you’re on your way to your own Ernest Angelo, Jr., Vice-Chairman Midland group of school children in Minnesota dis- mini-long term research project. John Avila, Jr. Fort Worth covered a population of frogs that had an A free monitoring packet is available Joseph B.C. Fitzsimons San Antonio extremely high rate of malformations. Given from TPW, and a tape of frog and toad calls Alvin L. Henry Houston Philip Montgomery Dallas their porous skin and association with is available for $5. TPW also offers optional Donato D. Ramos Laredo aquatic environments, scientists and citi- amphibian monitoring workshops for $10. Kelly W. Rising, M.D. Houston Mark E. Watson, Jr. San Antonio zens began to recognize that amphibians More information on materials and work- Lee M. Bass, Chairman-Emeritus might be telling us something about envi- shops is available at our website Fort Worth ronmental change. www.tpwd.state.tx.us/amphibians or by Executive Director Robert L. Cook Many culprits have been suggested as calling 512-912-7011. Wildlife Division Director causes for amphibian decline, including And, just in case you can’t wait for an Gary Graham pesticides, disease, parasites, ozone deple- amphibian workshop to find out, the answers to the questions above are: the EYE ON NATURE STAFF tion, climate change and habitat change. Mark Klym Editor All the answers are not in yet, especially in marine toad (found in the Rio Grande Val- John Herron Production Manager Texas, where very little long-term monitor- ley), the Eastern barking frog (found in the Te x as Parks and Wildlife receives federal financial ing of amphibian populations has taken Texas Hill Country), the amphiuma (found assistance from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Sec- place. That’s why more amphibian watch- in East Texas streams), and the spring peeper tion 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Age ers are needed. (found in East Texas). But you still need to Discrimination Act of 1975, and Title IX of the Edu- cation Amendments of 1972, the U.S. Department of sign up to find out which frog sounds like the Interior and its bureaus prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, dis- an alien invading South Texas, which one ability or sex (in educational programs). If you believe that you have been discriminated against in sounds like a farm animal in distress, which any Texas Parks and Wildlife program, activity, or facility, or if you desire further information, please ones never see the light of day … call or write: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office for Diversity and Civil Rights Programs - External Programs, 4040 N. Fairfax Drive, Webb 300, Arlington, VA 22203, (703) 358-1724. Lee Ann Linam coordinates the Texas Nature Trackers program out of the Austin offices. 2 food supplies is encouraged and Private Lands and explained in detail. Achieving and maintaining desired population para- meters such as age structure, produc- Habitat Program tion level and sex ratio is emphasized. Population management of big By Linda McMurry game species is often identified as a key tool for habitat management in exas Parks and Wildlife (TPW) concert with domestic livestock man- provides technical assistance agement and other land use practices. to persons desiring to include T The value of wildlife as a renewable wildlife management considerations natural resource is explained in eco- in present or future land use practices. nomic and aesthetic terms. This service is strictly advisory and is Survey techniques are suggested provided without charge to cooperat- which will adequately monitor popu- ing land managers. lation levels and allow the develop- The goal of the Private Lands and ment of game harvest quotas. The Habitat Program is to provide exper- merits of various census techniques, tise to land managers in the preserva- species identified by the land man- their relative accuracy and cost are tion and development of wildlife ager. Unique areas will be noted in explained. Participation in survey habitat and the proper management cooperation with the landowner and activities by technical guidance per- of the various wildlife populations management options suggested to sonnel is on a one-time basis for that utilize that habitat. Through enhance or preserve these habitats. demonstration purposes; cooperators this effort, TPW hopes to slow or A management plan addresses are responsible for the performance reverse the decline in quantity of the multiple facets of habitat manage- of subsequent surveys and implemen- State’s wildlife habitat and improve ment and population management. tation of management actions. the quality of remaining habitat. Components of a management plan Wildlife biologists will continue TPW biologists promote manage- include an objective as established by to assist cooperators through periodic ment practices which will maximize the land manager, the past history of visits to help interpret survey infor- wildlife potential, prevent waste or hunting and other land use, and a mation and formulate harvest recom- depletion of the resource, provide aes- description and appraisal of the habi- mendations.