Passport to Texas

This is Passport to Texas

If cats, dogs and grackles are the only wildlife visiting your backyard—you need a wildscape. Creating one is not as tough as you might think.

02–You know, the hardest part is just getting started.

Kelly Bender is an urban wildlife biologist and co-author of the book Texas Wildscapes, and was instrumental in creating the Texas Wildscapes interactive DVD, which comes with the book, and guides users through planning an urban oasis.

15–The wildscape DVD is designed to help people to get started in planning their habitat, understanding what wildlife need to succeed, or to survive, and to give them the tools that they need to start implementing wildlife habitat management principles in their own gardens and landscapes.

Just pop the DVD into your computer, and a wealth of information, including which plants will grow in your area and what wildlife they attract, is at your fingertips.

20–We made this product that allows us to enter in different variables. So, you can say, well, I want something that is native to Central Texas, that needs a lot of sunshine or a little bit of sunshine, or attracts hummingbirds, or attracts songbirds, or whatever it is that you really want to have in a plant. And it will give you a list of plants that are appropriate for your goals.

Texas Wildscapes DVDs come with the Texas Wildscapes book from book sellers through Texas A & M Press.

That’s our show…we receive support from the Wildlife restoration program, working to preserve habitat in Texas. For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

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This is Passport to Texas

Habitat requirements vary between species, yet some critters make themselves at home anywhere.

06—Wildlife are really adaptable, and there’s going to be some wildlife that thrive in whatever type of habitat that’s provided.

Kelly Bender is an urban wildlife biologist. She says even a perfectly manicured monochromatic monoculture known as lawn—will attract some wildlife.

20—In a typical urban area—where you’ve got really closely mowed Bermuda grass lawn, or St. Augustine lawn, and then just a few really tall mature trees and kind of nothing in the middle? That kind of habitat is really good for grackles, and pigeons, for possum and raccoon, and kind of the species that you see in a disturbed habitat.

Bender says most people don’t mind seeing those species sometimes, but not all the time.

15—And so what we try to do is to encourage people to create a more balanced habitat. And what I mean by that is to provide native plants that provide natural food sources—fruits, nuts, berries, leaves, etcetera—that provide a balanced source of nutrition for the animals.

This balanced habitat is called a wildscape, and we’ll tell you more about Wildscaping tomorrow.

That’s our show… visit us online at passporttotexas.org and leave a comment on our blog…For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

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This is Passport to Texas

This month folks who reside in the Central Flyway of Texas may get a treat if they cast their gaze skyward, because whooping cranes are in migration.

18—Usually on a route down from the Muleshoe National Wildlife refuge area through the Hill Country and down to the coast. These birds are on migration so they’re on a pretty direct flight. And usually they’re moving during the day and they roost in good numbers at the various national wildlife refuges along the Central Flyway.

Mark Klym is with Wildlife Diversity. Whooping cranes are an endangered species, numbering slightly more than 260 birds—that’s up from a low of fewer than 20 animals in the early 20th Century.

Whoopers migrate in small groups of six or less, as well as on the fringes of migrating sand hill crane flocks. Klym asks that you contact him if you see these big birds along their migration path.

19—Once we’ve got a confirmation, our biologists use that to anticipate where we would see them next and try to follow them as they’re coming south to give us an idea if they’re going to run into any problems. You’ve got migratory bird hunting season at that time and we encourage the hunters to know what they’re shooting at. And, if there may be a problem, we may have to look at other actions to protect the birds.

We have the phone number for you to call to report seeing these birds at passporttotexas.org.

That’s our show…with support from the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration program… for Texas Parks and Wildlife …I’m Cecilia Nasti.
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Whooping cranes are protected by federal and state endangered species laws, and Texans can help safeguard this national treasure by helping to prevent harm or harassment to whooping cranes. Anyone sighting a whooping crane is asked to report it to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department at (800) 792-1112, extension 4644 or alternatively at (512) 847-9480. Sightings can also be reported via e-mail at leeann.linam@tpwd.state.tx.us.

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This is Passport to Texas

This time of year when you look high overhead, you might just see whooping cranes.

10—Every year, about this time of year, we start getting emails and telephone calls from people all excited that they’ve seen whooping cranes flying over; and usually it’s between 50 and 100 birds.

But, Mark Klym, with the agency’s Wildlife Diversity program, says if you do witness a huge flock of big birds in the clouds…

07—I’m sorry, that’s not whooping cranes. Whooping Cranes never fly in a flock larger than about 10 birds, and very rarely more than six birds.

Well, maybe what you saw were sand hill cranes. Even so, North America’s biggest bird could still mingle in the mix.

05—Usually they’re off to the side. You’ll get the sand hills in a group and the whooping cranes off in a group on their own.

Whooping cranes, on the endangered species list, come through Texas’ Central Flyway this month on their way to the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge to overwinter.

15—We are optimistic that we are going to see a good population at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. Certainly a recovery from what we saw in the past winter.

Well, with the drought, we had very few blue crabs in the bays and as result suffered; we had a few losses.

If you do see whooping cranes in migration, contact Mark Klym. You’ll find his information at passporttotexas.org.

That’s our show…with support from the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program… for Texas Parks and Wildlife …I’m Cecilia Nasti.
_________________________________________________________

Whooping cranes are protected by federal and state endangered species laws, and Texans can help safeguard this national treasure by helping to prevent harm or harassment to whooping cranes. Anyone sighting a whooping crane is asked to report it to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department at (800) 792-1112, extension 4644 or, alternatively at (512) 847-9480. Sightings can also be reported via e-mail at leeann.linam@tpwd.state.tx.us.

Check out this YouTube video of whooping cranes at Aransas national Wildlife Refuge.

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This is Passport to Texas

If you’re ready for a long road trip, head west—and then go south…and then south some more…until you reach Presidio, Texas, where you’ll be treated to a celebration at Ft. Leaton State Historic Site. Bryan Frazier, our state park guide, joins us with details.

This time of year in Texas, for the most part, the weather is really mild and so we do a lot of events. And this one is really unique. We’re marking the hundredth anniversary of the modern Mexican independence day.

It’s really a colorful time, and that park really does a great job down there every year there in Presidio.

Thanks Bryan,

For the majority of Texans, this is not a day trip, so remember to arrange overnight accommodations before hitting the road. Find information at texasstateparks.org.

We record our series at the production Block Studios in Austin, Texas.

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

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