Undergraduate Spring Break Field Trip 2014 Western Texas And
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Texas Big Bend and the Davis Mountains April 22-29, 2017
Texas Big Bend and the Davis Mountains Participants: Anne, Craig, David, Frank, Hilary, Jan, Joan, Judith, Lori, Linda, Neil, Skip and Stephen April 22-29, 2017 GUIDES Woody Wheeler and Lynn Tennefoss Sunset through "The Window" at Chisos Basin, Big Bend National Park Day One: El Paso to McNary Reservoir, Balmorhea State Park and Fort Davis Appropriately, we started this journey on Earth Day. We departed from El Paso on an unusually cool but sunny day – ideal for travelling. El Paso and its suburbs swiftly gave way to the vast expanses of the Chihuahuan Desert. An hour east, and well into the desert, we exited off the freeway at McNary Reservoir. At the exit underpass, we found a small colony of Cave Swallows searching for nest sites. This was a life bird for many in our group. Nearby, we pulled into the completely unassuming McNary Reservoir. From below it appears to be a scrubby, degraded bank. Upon cresting the bank, however, there is a sizeable reservoir. Here we found Clark’s Grebes performing a small portion of their spectacular mating dance that resembles a synchronized water ballet. Western Grebes were also nearby, as were a variety of wintering waterfowl and an unexpected flock of Willet. Gambel’s Quail perched conspicuously and called loudly from the shore. Just as we were about to depart, Lynn spotted a lone Ruddy Duck bringing our total to 17 species of Gambel's Quail birds at our first stop. We stopped for lunch at a colorful Mexican restaurant in Van Horn that has hosted a number of celebrities over the years. -
THE LIONS of WEST TEXAS Photo by Jeff Parker/Explore in Focus.Com
STUDYING THE LIONS OF WEST TEXAS Photo by Jeff Parker/Explore in Focus.com Studies show that apex predators, such as mountain lions, play a role in preserving biodiversity through top-down regulation of other species. 8 TEXAS WILDLIFE JULY 2016 STUDYING THE LIONS OF WEST TEXAS Article by MARY O. PARKER umans have long been fascinated by Texas’ largest felines. Ancient rock art in Seminole Canyon State Park provides glimpses into this allure. There, in the park’sH Panther Cave, rock art estimated to have been created in 7,000 B.C. tells of a unique relationship between mountain lions and man. Drawings depict interactions between the felines and medicine men, while other images show humans donning cat- like ears. We don’t know what those ancient artists called the cats, but these days Puma concolor goes by many names—cougar, panther, puma, painter and, especially in Texas, mountain lion. No matter what you call them, we’re still just as interested in them today as were those prehistoric people long ago. Now, however, we use cameras and GPS technology to document both the mountain lions’ world and our own. Two modern-day researchers, TWA members Dr. Patricia Moody Harveson and Dr. Louis Harveson, director of Sul Ross State University’s Borderlands Research Institute, have been fascinated by the felines for years. In 2011, they began what’s casually known as The Davis Mountains Study. The project, generously funded by private donors, focuses on mountain lion ecology and predator-prey dynamics on private lands within the Davis Mountains. WWW.TEXAS-WILDLIFE.ORG 9 STUDYING THE LIONS OF WEST TEXAS Of 27 species captured by Davis Mountains game cameras, feral hogs appeared twice as often as deer which were the second most abundant species photographed. -
Wildlife Populations in Texas
Wildlife Populations in Texas • Five big game species – White-tailed deer – Mule deer – Pronghorn – Bighorn sheep – Javelina • Fifty-seven small game species – Forty-six migratory game birds, nine upland game birds, two squirrels • Sixteen furbearer species (i.e. beaver, raccoon, fox, skunk, etc) • Approximately 900 terrestrial vertebrate nongame species • Approximately 70 species of medium to large-sized exotic mammals and birds? White-tailed Deer Deer Surveys Figure 1. Monitored deer range within the Resource Management Units (RMU) of Texas. 31 29 30 26 22 18 25 27 17 16 24 21 15 02 20 28 23 19 14 03 05 06 13 04 07 11 12 Ecoregion RMU Area (Ha) 08 Blackland Prairie 20 731,745 21 367,820 Cross Timbers 22 771,971 23 1,430,907 24 1,080,818 25 1,552,348 Eastern Rolling Plains 26 564,404 27 1,162,939 Ecoregion RMU Area (Ha) 29 1,091,385 Post Oak Savannah 11 690,618 Edwards Plateau 4 1,308,326 12 475,323 5 2,807,841 18 1,290,491 6 583,685 19 2,528,747 7 1,909,010 South Texas Plains 8 5,255,676 28 1,246,008 Southern High Plains 2 810,505 Pineywoods 13 949,342 TransPecos 3 693,080 14 1,755,050 Western Rolling Plains 30 4,223,231 15 862,622 31 1,622,158 16 1,056,147 39,557,788 Total 17 735,592 Figure 2. Distribution of White-tailed Deer by Ecological Area 2013 Survey Period 53.77% 11.09% 6.60% 10.70% 5.89% 5.71% 0.26% 1.23% 4.75% Edwards Plateau Cross Timbers Western Rolling Plains Post Oak Savannah South Texas Plains Pineywoods Eastern Rolling Plains Trans Pecos Southern High Plains Figure 3. -
Grants in Action by STEVE WAGNER
NO AMOUNT OF MONEY Grants in Action BY STEVE WAGNER VOLUNTEERS FIND PERSONAL REWARDS IN A WORK PROJECT INSPIRED BY DESERT BIGHORN SHEEP, BUT WHICH BENEFITS ALL KINDS OF WILDLIFE. REPRINTED FROM GAME TRAILS SUMMER 2015 NO AMOUNT OF MONEY irty, smelly and exhausted, Charlie Barnes has never been more gratified. D The DSC Life Member from Trophy Club, Texas, lays down his tools, pulls off his work gloves, draws a deep breath of desert air and bellies up to a tailgate, where a troop of equally sweaty-but-satisfied volunteers is gathering around a cooler of liquid refreshment. Sipping through dry, grinning lips, they gaze upon their collective handiwork. Together, they’ve just finished a project that changes the landscape, both literally and figuratively, for wildlife in the arid Trans-Pecos region of west Texas. Soon, many kinds of species will be sipping here, too. A new guzzler – a device to catch, store and dispense rainwater for thirsty critters – now stands ready for the next downpour. Ready to help the habitat overcome its harshest limitation. “This place has everything it needs to be great habitat for wildlife, except for water, and we just solved that problem,” says Barnes. “Building a guzzler is doing something good for the future, and there’s no amount of money that could replace what I get out of being a part of it.” He explains, “I’m a member of 11 different conservation groups and I volunteer This Reservoir stores rainwater for the dry season. for a multitude of tasks. I help raise money, organize banquets and serve on committees and boards. -
The Davis Mountain State Park : I Have Been Engaged in Bird Watching Over the Past Several Years, and During That Time Many Memb
The Davis Mountain State Park : I have been engaged in bird watching over the past several years, and during that time many members of the Audubon Society have recommended that I go and look at the beautiful birds at this or that State Park. It has been my experience that their recommendations are spot on and every visit has proven to be a fabulous birding experience. Several folks had suggested the Davis Mountain State Park and waxed eloquently about the wonderful birds to be seen there. A Lesser Goldfinch A Black Chinned Hummingbird How could there be a lot of birds in the Davis Mountains in the middle of the Chihuahuan Desert? Why would the birds come to this park smack-dab in the middle of absolutely no where? I was rather skeptical and didn’t plan a visit for the longest time. That is until the spring of 2014. We were going on a visit to the McDonald Observatory to look at the big skies of Texas and look at celestial objects through fabulous huge telescopes. I decided that since we were going to the McDonald Observatory a visit to the State Park was indeed warranted. So we set aside a full day to go hiking and some bird watching at the State Park. A Black Headed Grosbeak A Ladderback Woodpecker The Davis Mountains of Texas are located in West Texas about 6 hours drive from San Antonio on I 10 west till Fort Stockton, and then due south on Hwy 17 to Fort Davis. Davis Mountains State Park is a 2,709-acre state park located in the Davis Mountains in Jeff Davis County, Texas. -
Promise Beheld and the Limits of Place
Promise Beheld and the Limits of Place A Historic Resource Study of Carlsbad Caverns and Guadalupe Mountains National Parks and the Surrounding Areas By Hal K. Rothman Daniel Holder, Research Associate National Park Service, Southwest Regional Office Series Number Acknowledgments This book would not be possible without the full cooperation of the men and women working for the National Park Service, starting with the superintendents of the two parks, Frank Deckert at Carlsbad Caverns National Park and Larry Henderson at Guadalupe Mountains National Park. One of the true joys of writing about the park system is meeting the professionals who interpret, protect and preserve the nation’s treasures. Just as important are the librarians, archivists and researchers who assisted us at libraries in several states. There are too many to mention individuals, so all we can say is thank you to all those people who guided us through the catalogs, pulled books and documents for us, and filed them back away after we left. One individual who deserves special mention is Jed Howard of Carlsbad, who provided local insight into the area’s national parks. Through his position with the Southeastern New Mexico Historical Society, he supplied many of the photographs in this book. We sincerely appreciate all of his help. And finally, this book is the product of many sacrifices on the part of our families. This book is dedicated to LauraLee and Lucille, who gave us the time to write it, and Talia, Brent, and Megan, who provide the reasons for writing. Hal Rothman Dan Holder September 1998 i Executive Summary Located on the great Permian Uplift, the Guadalupe Mountains and Carlsbad Caverns national parks area is rich in prehistory and history. -
Foundation Document Big Bend National Park Texas May 2016 Foundation Document
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE • U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Foundation Document Big Bend National Park Texas May 2016 Foundation Document Unpaved road Trail Ruins S A N 385 North 0 5 10 Kilometers T Primitive road Private land within I A Rapids G 0 5 10 Miles (four-wheel-drive, park boundary O high-clearance Please observe landowner’s vehicles only) BLACK GAP rights. M WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA Persimmon Gap O U N T A Stillwell Store and RV Park Graytop I N S Visitor Center on Dog Cany Trail d o a nch R 2627 TEXAS Ra a u ng Te r l i 118 Big Bend Dagger Mountain Stairway Mountain S I National Park ROSILLOS MOUNTAINS E R R A DAGGER Camels D r Packsaddle Rosillos e FLAT S Hump E v i l L I Mountain Peak i E R a C r R c Aqua Fria A i T R B n A Mountain o A e t CORAZONES PEAKS u c lat A L ROSILLOS gger F L S Da O L O A d RANCH ld M R n G a Hen Egg U O E A d l r R i Mountain T e T O W R O CHRI N R STM I A Terlingua Ranch o S L L M O a e O d d n U LA N F a TA L r LINDA I A N T G S Grapevine o d Fossil i a Spring o Bone R R THE Exhibit e Balanced Rock s G T E L E P d PAINT GAP l H l RA O N n SOLITARIO HILLS i P N E N Y O a H EV ail C A r Slickrock H I IN r LL E T G Croton Peak S S Mountain e n Government n o i I n T y u Spring v Roys Peak e E R e le n S o p p a R i Dogie h C R E gh ra O o u G l n T Mountain o d e R R A Panther Junction O A T O S Chisos Mountains r TERLINGUA STUDY BUTTE/ e C BLACK MESA Visitor Center Basin Junction I GHOST TOWN TERLINGUA R D Castolon/ Park Headquarters T X o o E MADERAS Maverick Santa Elena Chisos Basin Road a E 118 -
Texas Treasures: Wetlands
TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE Wet la nd s a vanishing treasure? Wetlands are more important than you might imagine. They are one of Texas’ most valuable natural treasures. Wetlands provide flood protection, improve water quality and provide millions of Imagine... dollars in economic benefits each year. Yet, Texas has lost more than half of its wetlands in the past Rivers laden with silt 200 years. Texas wetlands have been drained, filled, used as dumps and generally misunderstood. and debris Migrating birds without a place to rest Young fish without food and shelter Imagine Texas without wetlands WETLANDS ARE THE TYPICAL WETLAND FEATURES: IN-BETWEEN PLACES WHERE THE WATER MEETS THE LAND. THEY ARE LARGE AND SMALL, PERMANENT AND ONLY OCCASIONAL, ON THE COAST OR IN THE DESERT. WETLANDS ARE SHORELINES, L WATER that stands or flows L PLANTS that have L SOILS that develop in oxygen- MARSHES, MUDDY SWAMPS OR gently through low areas for at least adapted to life in wet poor conditions and are saturated STREAM BANKS. part of the year environments for at least part of the year WETLANDS ARE MORE THAN SIMPLE SWAMPS OR PONDS. THEY ARE COMPLICATED COASTAL WETLANDS ECOSYSTEMS THAT WORK FOR Salt water or a combination of salt and fresh ALL LIVING THINGS EVERY DAY, water mixed together Playa Lakes ALL THE TIME. Plants that have adapted to changes in salinity Bottomland Hardwoods LIFE GATHERS AROUND Coastal shorelines, shallow bays and inlets, swamps, marshes, mud flats and deltas Riparian & Spring-fed WETLANDS, AND WETLANDS Trans-Pecos Springs & Wetlands SUPPORT LIFE. FRESHWATER WETLANDS Riparian Rainfall, springs, rivers and other sources Wetlands TEXAS WETLANDS ARE Plants that survive fluctuating water Coastal Marshes & conditions ONE OF OUR MOST PRECIOUS Prairie Depressions AND THREATENED Riverbanks, streamsides, lake shores, floodplains, bottomlands, marshes, seeps, ENVIRONMENTAL TREASURES. -
Species List
1 P.O. Box 16545 Portal, AZ. 85632 PH: (866) 900-1146 [email protected] www.naturalistjourneys.com Big Bend & Davis Mountains April 19-26, 2014 Guide: Woody Wheeler with six participants: Susie, Camille, Kathy, Trina, Les, and Mike SPECIES LIST Birds Gadwall Anas strepera–– At McNary Reservoir “Mexican Duck” (Mallard) A. platyrhynchos––pair seen well at small pond on Nature Conservancy preserve in Davis Mountains Blue-winged Teal A. discors–– 2 seen in same pond at TNC preserve, Davis Mountains Northern Shoveler A. clypeata––at McNary Reservoir Green-winged Teal A. crecca–– In roadside ponds between Ft. Davis and Alpine Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis–– In breeding plumage at McNary Reservoir Scaled Quail Callipepla squamata–– Coveys en route to and from Big Bend, Dugout Wells, Rio Grande Village and at Christmas Mountains Oasis Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps–– Several at McNary Reservoir Eared Grebe Podiceps nigricollis–– One at McNary Reservoir, frequently diving Western Grebe Aechmophorus occidentalis––at least 2 at McNary Reservoir Clark’s Grebe A. clarkii–– One well lit in sunshine at McNary Reservoir Neotropic Cormorant Phalacrocorax brasilianus – One spotted in flight at Rio Grande Village Double-crested Cormorant Phalacrocorax auritus – Several over McNary Reservoir American White Pelican Pelicanus erythrorhyncros – Ten flew overhead in formation above McNary Reservoir Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias–– Several on Rio Grande River Great Egret Ardea alba–– Several at McNary Reservoir Snowy Egret Egretta thula–– A half-dozen perched conspicuously at McNary Reservoir Green Heron Butorides virescens–– Beautiful look at one perched on snag along Nature Trail board walk at Rio Grande Village, Big Bend N.P. -
Guadalupe Mountains National Park U.S
National Park Service Guadalupe Mountains National Park U.S. Department of the Interior Visitorsummer/fall Guide 2015 Fall/Winter 2019 FindA Sky Your Full Adventure of Wonder and a Mosaic of Biodiversity On the Guadalupe Ridge Trail Photo by Artist in Residence Ethan Smith By Elizabeth Jackson for 23 miles along Highway 62/180 and posed range. Facilities at the trailhead Greetings GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK turn right on FM 1576 just before you include accessible parking, RV/bus WELCOME TO GUADALUPE MOUNtAINS is full of wonderful surprises. From the reach the town of Salt Flat. Travel north parking, picnic tables with shade struc- National Park. Guadalupe Mountains disappearing streams of McKittrick 17 miles and then turn right on William’s tures, as well as pit toilets. Camping is National Park protects one of the world’s Canyon to the Sky Island coniferous Road. Continue on the dirt packed road strictly prohibited in this area. best examples of a fossil reef, diverse eco- forest and meadow of the Bowl trail, no for 8.5 miles. Use caution and travel systems, and a cultural heritage that spans matter where you hike in the park, there slowly. There is no water, so be sure to As you begin your 1.5 mile hike to the thousands of years. is always something unique to experi- bring what you need. dunes, you enter ecologically sensitive ence and learn. One area of the park terrain. The area landscape leading to Our park staff are here to help make your that is often overlooked is the Salt Basin An alternate route to the dunes incor- the dunes is fragile and visitors are asked visit a truly memorable event and will be Dunes. -
The Paisano Volume 37 Number 1 2019 B
National Park Service Big Bend National Park U.S. Department of the Interior Texas Big Bend National Park Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River Visitor Guide The Paisano Volume 37 Number 1 2019 B. TRESTER The Mule Ears, found along the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive. Free Park Movie More Inside... Welcome to Big Bend The park's 24-minute film "Life on the Edge" is played every thirty minutes at the Panther Activities and Scenic Drives...............2, 6-7 Welcome to Big Bend National Park and the remaining wild corners of the United States. Junction Visitor Center. First showing: 9:30AM; Fossil Discovery Exhibit ............................ 2 Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River! Over From the forests of the Chisos down to the last showing: 4:00PM. Safety .................................................... 3 800,000 acres await your exploration and floor of the desert, over 1,500 types of plants Visiting Mexico ....................................... 3 enjoyment. thrive in the park and support ecosystems Feature Articles ....................................4-5 Junior Ranger full of pollinators, herbivores, and other Day Hikes ............................................... 7 From an elevation of less than 1,800 feet wildlife. Birds and Bird Watching ......................... 8 Program Park Partners .......................................... 9 along the Rio Grande to nearly 8,000 feet in Camping and River Use ......................... 10 Free Big Bend Junior Ranger the Chisos Mountains, Big Bend includes Take a drive along one of Big Bend's roads, Wildlife ................................................. 11 activity books are available at massive canyons, vast desert expanses, or hike a scenic trail, and discover just Information and Services ....................... 12 any visitor center. Do you have forested mountains, and an ever-changing how much diversity and life there is in this what it takes to become a Junior Ranger? river. -
Texas Describes a Great Bend Between the Town of Van Horn, Tex., on BIG BEND the West, and Langtry, Tex., on the East
Big Bend NATIONAL PARK Texas describes a great bend between the town of Van Horn, Tex., on BIG BEND the west, and Langtry, Tex., on the east. During its 107-mile journey along the boundary of the park, NATIONAL PARK the river passes mainly through sandy lowlands and between banks overgrown with dense jungles of reeds. But 3 times in CONTENTS its course it cuts through 1,500-foot-deep canyons that were Page carved by its waters over a period of hundreds of thousands of Welcome 2 years. Land of the Big Bend 2 Within the park itself is a wild kind of scenery that is more Where to Go—and When 4 like that of Mexico, across the river, than that of the rest of the Taking Pictures 10 United States. The Naturalist Program 11 The desert is gouged by deep arroyos, or gullies, that expose Geology 11 colored layers of clay and rock. On this flatland, where many varieties of cactuses and other desert plants grow, birds and Plants 12 mammals native to both countries make their homes. Animals 13 Rugged mountain ranges, near and far, give assurance that Seasons 14 the desert is not endless. In the very center of the strange Big Bend's Past and Future 15 scene soar the most spectacular mountains in this part of the Other Publications 19 country—the Chisos. Their eroded peaks look like distant forts How to Reach the Park 19 and castles as they rise some 4,000 feet above the desert floor. Where to Stay 20 To the east the magnificent, stratified Sierra del Carmen guards Services 20 that border of the park, and to the south the little-known moun Precautions 21 tains of the Fronteriza disappear into the vastness of Mexico.