Archive for June, 2009

Texas Outdoor Story: From Birds to Bugs

Tuesday, June 16th, 2009

Passport to Texas Outdoor Stories from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Mike Quinn is an invertebrate biologist and his interest in bugs developed through an interest in birds.

My parents were birdwatchers, and I had an interest in outdoors as a child. But it wasn’t until I was in my twenties… I was helping ornithologists at UT study painted buntings at McKinney Falls State Park, and walked around the bend, and we saw this large butterfly there sunning itself – absolutely gorgeous in the sun – and Anita Fauquier says, “I think that’s a giant swallowtail.” And it hit me like a ton of bricks. It was an epiphany for me that you could put a name on an insect. Why that was a revelation to me I still don’t quite don’t know, because I could identify birds by sight and sound, and plants and herps and etcetera. But putting a name on an insect was somehow a foreign concept. And I went home and I borrowed my mother’s butterfly field guide (which I haven’t quite returned yet), and just from that point on I started paying much closer attention to insects, and that led me to my degree now that I have in entomology and the job that I have studying them at Parks and Wildlife.

Spend time outdoors—you never know where it will lead. Share your outdoor story at passporttotexas.org.

That’s our show for today… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

TV Series Production is Hard Work

Monday, June 15th, 2009

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Although the Texas Parks and Wildlife TV series is currently in summer reruns, show producers are busy planning next season.

We spend some time talking about what we’ll do for the next
season every spring and get out when the weather’s pretty and spend as much time out in the field as we can.

Alan Fisher is a producer with the show.

There’re so many interesting things to see and do out there;
there’s always something that you haven’t gotten to explore yet. So, we’re always looking forward to getting out there and going down those trails we haven’t been down yet.

Fisher said producers get a workout lugging around their gear.

We have 50 to 75 pounds of gear that we lug around. So, that’s
why the spring months are really the idea time to be shooting. And you want to be in a nice cool edit room in the summertime if you can.

One show Fisher is working on for fall is about the Texas Horned Lizard.

Some of the myths and legends about the horned lizard, and some of the research being done to help it out, as it’s stating to be a little harder to find.

And why does he do it?

There’s always something that I am always looking forward to doing, because I find it inherently interesting.

That’s our show for today…made possible by a grant from the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration program. For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

Endangered Ocelots, 2

Friday, June 12th, 2009

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Wildlife Restoration Program

Texas is the only US state with suitable Ocelot habitat.

The habitat that ocelots use is extremely dense brush. The type of brush that not only can you not see through it, you can’t walk through it.

Dr. Michael Tewes (two-ES) researches wild cats with the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute.

The main problem for ocelots now is, like many other endangered species, the lack of suitable habitat. There are less than 100 of them remaining in Texas and less than 1% of Texas has that very special habitat or cover type that they use. And since most of Texas is owned and managed by private landowners and ranchers, it is in their ability to protect the habitat that is vital to the recovery of ocelots.

Fewer ocelots mean less genetic diversity.

When the populations are as small as they are in Southern Texas, almost any kind of a wildlife population will start to decrease genetic diversity and tend to go towards extinction. We have been working on revising the recovery plan and, although it’s not finalized, translocation is suggested as a tool. The genetic diversity is much greater in Mexico than it is in Texas. And by bringing them into Texas it would help alleviate some of the problems that come with genetic erosion.

That’s our show… with research and writing help from Sarah Loden… and sponsored by the Wildlife Restoration program…working to restore critical habitat for endangered species like the ocelot.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

Endangered Ocelots, 1

Thursday, June 11th, 2009

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Wildlife Restoration Program

Ocelots are small wildcats that are spotted like jaguars and leopards; some of these animals live in South Texas.

We only know of two breeding populations in Texas. They occur primarily in Southern Texas now. Historically, ocelots occurred throughout much of Central and East Texas.

And they lived along the river banks. Dr. Michael Tewes (two-ES) has researched wild cats with the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute for 25 years. He says these beautiful animals are being driven to extinction by development, inbreeding, and habitat loss.

The population here in South Texas represents the United States population and there are less than 100 of them remaining. Therefore, they’re an endangered species. When the populations are as small as they are, almost any kind of a wildlife population will start to decrease genetic diversity and tend to go towards extinction.

Hear about the proposed recovery plan to restore the Texas Ocelot population tomorrow.

By increasing the genetic diversity of such a small population you can help reduce the amount of mortality that is increased with low genetic diversity, and increase survival and increase reproduction. There’s a stronger, vigorous population in Mexico that can be used to help augment the two populations that we have here in Texas.

That’s our show… with research and writing help from Sarah Loden… and sponsored by the Wildlife Restoration program…working to restore critical habitat for endangered species.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

Fishing with Grandparents

Wednesday, June 10th, 2009

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program

Susan Schulte of Central Texas grew up on a farm, and spent nearly every waking moment outdoors. When she had daughters of her own, she introduced them to the wonders of nature, and does the same for their children.

With my grandchildren, we love to go fishing.

Grandparents play an important role in children’s lives, and fishing is a simple and thrilling way to experience the outdoors together.

They get so excited when they catch a little fish. And it may just be a little four-inch fish. But to them it’s a monster, you know.

Schulte says first-hand knowledge is priceless.

They realize the sliminess of the worms…and the wind…the waves….the water….they experience that first-hand and that makes an impact on them, as opposed to sitting quietly and passively in front of a screen.

And fishing is just the beginning. If you’re a grandparent, spending time in nature with your grand kids not only enriches their lives now, but also into the future.

Because they’re involved, and it’s outdoors. I just see such a hope for our future, you know? They’re learning. They’re learning something that they will never be able to learn in an enclosed building.

That’s our show for today…with support from the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program…funded by your purchase of fishing and hunting equipment and motorboat fuel.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.