Passport to Texas

Cliff Shackelford’s daughter Robin standing next to their backyard brush pile.

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This is Passport to Texas

If you’re a suburban or urban bird lover who maintains an extremely tidy landscape, don’t be surprised if interesting birds don’t flock to your yard.

Yeah, tidy yards don’t always attract good birds. Wanted birds.

Cliff Shackelford is Texas Parks and Wildlife’s non-game ornithologist.

A lot of people have their golf course looking lawn and they just get great tailed grackles in some of these cities. But, what we recommend for urbanites is keep a little brush pile.

When you’re doing yard work, instead of sending fallen branches and deadwood, or cuttings from pruning trees or shrubs to the landfill, use them to create a sanctuary.

For some birds that like thickets and hiding places, those brush piles are good. And, also think about in the breeding season; there’s nest material that they can break off from those brush piles.

Don’t worry about your HOA—just keep the bush pile in the backyard away from prying eyes. And in rural areas, create habitat for thicket-loving birds by leaving shrubs and brush growing along fence rows.

There are a lot of birds that really like that cover. A lot of native sparrows and wrens and quail and thing that like the brushy edges. So, keep brush piles when you can and keep your fence rows brushy when you can.

The bigger the brush pile the better for the birds, but even a small brushy patch is better than nothing. That’s our show… Funding provided in part by Ram Trucks. Guts. Glory. Ram

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

South Llano River

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This is Passport to Texas

Wildlife biologists use data from field surveys to manage the state’s game and non-game wildlife populations.

One thing that’s important to remember is that we’re never going to count every single animal.

Biologist, Heidi Baily, says the public sometimes confuses “survey” with “census”. The latter implies a tally of all individual animals in a population. Instead, biologists look for trends.

We like to put it in context of the years behind us and look at it in relation to that. And determine what the trend is doing: are we on a steady incline; is the population decreasing; is the sex ratio improving? Things like that.

As the majority of the state is in private hands, landowners are encouraged to conduct wildlife surveys on their property.

We can actually go out there and teach them how to do surveys on their own property. Usually, when we go out, we have a look at their habitat, and we’ll visit with them about the things that they’re concerned about, and what they want to manage for. And then we can actually teach them ways to go ahead and monitor their own populations. They’ll forward the results of those surveys to us for any kind of habitat or population management recommendations.

Learn more about wildlife surveys on the Texas Parks and Wildlife website.

The Wildlife Restoration Program support our series.

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

Wildlife biologist in the field.

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This is Passport to Texas

Wildlife biologists collect data on game and non-game species using field surveys. One survey method does not fit all species.

For instance, deer surveys. We go out at night in the truck and spotlight for them. In that case we are looking for the animals themselves. There are other surveys that we do; for instance, otter surveys. In that case, it’s very rare to actually see an otter, and so we’re actually out there just looking for tracks and signs of otter.

Biologist, Heidi Bailey says they use the data to understand a species’ status and struggles; this includes threatened and endangered animals.

We want to determine if the populations are holding steady, or if we’re lucky, increasing, or if they’re on a decline we definitely want to know that as well.

Survey data on game species allow biologists to make recommendations regarding best management practices.

In some cases, it will help us to know if we need to change the bag limits. If we’ve got an over population of deer in a particular county and the density’s way too high for a healthy habitat, we may go ahead and increase the bag limit, or change season dates—we may lengthen the season or shorten the season. So, we’ve got a whole bunch of tools that we can actually manipulate the populations with based on the survey data.

More about wildlife surveys tomorrow.

The Wildlife Restoration Program support our series.

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

Fishing with Dad on Father’s Day

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This is Passport to Texas

Few people on our gift giving lists are harder to buy for than our fathers. Most men don’t want friends and family to make a big fuss over them on special days – but we’re going to do it anyway, Dad. So get used to it.

On Father’s Day – June 19 — show Dad what he means to you by giving him the gift of the great Texas outdoors.

How do you do that? You could buy him a Texas State Parks Pass (which is really like a gift for the whole family); it allows Dad unlimited access to all state parks for a year, discounts on camping, as well as discounts at state parks stores.

You could take Dad on a picnic at a state park or natural area. We have suggestions for creating a memorable picnicking experience – including recipes to try out — at texasstateparks.org/picnic.

If your dad likes to get out on his own for some quiet time with nature – because let’s face it, you can be a handful – and doesn’t already have a limited use permit from Parks and Wildlife, getting him one gives him access to a million acres of public land in Texas, where he can hike, mountain bike, watch wildlife, fish, and in some cases do a little primitive camping.

Texas is a big state that offers a wide range of recreational opportunities. Doesn’t your dad deserve Texas?

That’s our show… Funding provided in part by Ram Trucks. Guts. Glory. Ram

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti

TPW TV 30th Anniversary - Wyman's Camera Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This is Passport to Texas

It’s been 30 years since the Texas Parks and Wildlife television series hit the airwaves.

My name is Richard Roberts, and I was executive producer of the Texas Parks and Wildlife TV series from 1989 to 2013.

Producers past and present are returning to the series all year to talk about their favorite stories.

And one of my favorite stories I worked on was an early story I did with photographer Wyman Meinzer. And he just sort of invited me into his world and let me participate in that.

[Wyman]: In this part of Texas, I can sort of see what it used to be like. It’s my only touch. It’s my only connection with Texas 100 years ago. It’s almost like, in another life—I was there.

[Narrator]: As a young man, Wyman Meinzer began a search for that other life. In the early 1970s, he lived alone hunting and trapping. Making his living on the land. What he learned during that time, would serve him well in the years to come. [camera clicks] Today, Wyman Meinzer, makes his living with a camera. Specializing in the wildlife and landscapes of north Texas. [camera click]

View this vintage segment from the Texas Parks and Wildlife TV series on PBS the week of June 12. Check your local listings.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti