Passport to Texas

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

Texas Parks and Wildlife, in conjunction with Texas State University-San Marcos and Texas Watch, developed a podcast that takes listeners on a wetland walking tour.

Well, we created a Texas wetlands podcast. And then we also have another version that’s site specific for the Aquarena wetlands, which are at Spring Lake in San Marcos.

Lisa Korth is education coordinator for the Freshwater Resources program in San Marcos.

Wetlands are an integral part of the natural water system of Texas. Because it’s really only sustainable if we view it as a whole in which all of the parts are preserved and protected. And that was a real inspiration to create this podcast.

Korth says she believes the wetlands walk podcast will help to create a more enriching outdoor experience for those who take part.

At Texas Parks and Wildlife we think life is better outside. And so, we’re trying to come up with as many outreach opportunities as we can to get people outside, and this is a great way for someone to go to a wetland and have something that they can take with them on their mp3 player, or their phone, to learn about the importance of wetlands as a natural resource.

More on wetlands and where to download the podcast on tomorrow’s show.

That’s our show for today… with support from the Wildlife Restoration program…providing funding for wetland conservation through the Private Lands Enhancement
Program

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti
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Texas Treasures: Wetlands [You will need Adobe Reader]

Wetlands Walk Podcast Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

We have a saying here in Texas that goes: It ain’t braggin’ if it’s true. And when it comes to which state holds the record for the most bird species…well…yes sir…Texas comes out on top.

Texas has 630 species on the list, and it grows by several species every year.

Cliff Shackelford is a non-game ornithologist with Parks and Wildlife.

When I first started paying attention to the state list – probably fifteen, twenty years ago – it was in the five seventies, five eighties…so it’s neat to see it go up like a nice bank account.

You may be wondering why we’re seeing more species. Part of the reason is birdwatchers are getting better; the other part is…well…a little embarrassing for the birds.

Birds are often lost. Usually what happens is there’s a stray from Mexico that’s attracted to the great habitat work that’s done in the Rio Grande Valley. And there’s a lot of birdwatchers there that have studied their Mexican field guides, and so these birds have just come across from parts farther south, and they show up and there’s hopefully an observer that knows what they’re looking at. And that’s how we get a lot of our new birds.

Not all lost birds come from the south. Arctic strays sometimes end up in the Panhandle…and their poor sense of direction is Texas’ gain; because, even if the bird only hangs around for a short time, we still get to count it.

That’s our show for today…For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.
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Link to World Birding Center

Birds Are Abundant in Texas Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Of the four most common venomous snakes in Texas — Copperheads, Rattlesnakes, Cottonmouths, and Coral snakes – we come across one species more than others.

Probably the Western Diamond Back rattlesnake because it is so widespread and very abundant in many places. It also gets large and can be aggressive.

We asked herpetologist, Andy Price, if he would give us the first rule of human/snake encounters.

Yeah… leave it alone.

Although venomous snake bites are rare, they result in an average of 2 to 3 deaths annually statewide.

Emergency medical folks tell us that about half of the snake bites that occur are what they call ‘illegitimate bites,’ which means people have been messing around with them in one fashion or another. For those that are legitimate, the best thing to do is go get treated at a medical facility as quickly as you can.

Even people receiving so-called “illegitimate” snake bites should seek treatment. What’s another way to avoid snake bites? Get to know what they look like and where they live — and always remain aware when outdoors.

Most of those bites occur when people aren’t watching what they’re doing, basically. Stepping over a log and not seeing what’s on the other side. Putting their hands or feet somewhere where they can’t see, like in a crevasse. Some people are bitten when they reach under plants for one reason of another.

That’s our show…with research and writing help from Loren Seeger… for Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti

Leave 'em Alone: Avoiding Snake Bite Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Texas Parks and Wildlife television series is especially good this month, with stories of fast flying birds and battles of yore and a whole lot more. Don Cash is series producer.

The first week there’s a story called the Flying Photographers. And it’s a feature on Sid and Shirley Rucker who live in Livingston, Texas, and they are just incredible photographers. They spend most of their time taking pictures of hummingbirds all over the state.

The flashes go anywhere from ten thousandths of a second to twenty thousandths of a second.

The second week we’ve got a story on the Bass Brigades, a camp for kids, teaching them how to communicate about nature.

The fourth week of August is a really interesting story called A Spirit Rises. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is working with several of the native American tribes to discover some of the history that will tell the story of the battle of Palo Duro Canyon.

What we’re trying to do here is to bring in both the native American perspective, and to collect data that can add detail and scope to the overall story.

The last week of August, we go pier fishing along the coast. It’s really interesting to go to all the different places. You never know what you’re going to catch.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Television series airs on PBS stations. Check your local listings.

That’s our show for today… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti
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Texas Parks and Wildlife on PBS and Cable
Stations and Air Times
Times and dates are subject to change, especially during PBS membership drives.

• Amarillo, KACV-TV, Channel 2: October–March, Saturday 6 p.m.
• Austin, KLRU-TV, Channel 18: Monday, 12:30 p.m.; Friday 5:30 a.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m. KLRU2, Cable 20: Tuesday, 11 p.m.
• Bryan-College Station, KAMU-TV, Channel 15: Sunday, 5 p.m.; Thursday, 7 p.m.
• Corpus Christi, KEDT-TV, Channel 16: Sunday, 12 p.m.; Friday, 2 p.m.
• Dallas-Fort Worth, KERA-TV, Channel 13: October–March, Saturday, 6 p.m. Also serving Abilene, Denton, Longview, Marshall, San Angelo, Texarkana, Tyler, Wichita Falls and Sherman.
• El Paso, KCOS-TV, Channel 13: Saturday, 3 p.m.
• Harlingen, KMBH-TV, Channel 60: Sunday, 5 p.m. Also serving McAllen, Mission and Brownsville.
• Houston, KUHT-TV, Channel 8: Saturday, 3:30 p.m.; Friday 1:30 p.m. Also serving Beaumont, Port Arthur, Galveston, Texas City and Victoria.
• Killeen, KNCT-TV, Channel 46: Sunday, 5 p.m. Also serving Temple.
• Lubbock, KTXT-TV, Channel 5: Saturday, 10 a.m.
• Odessa-Midland, KPBT-TV, Channel 36: Saturday, 4:30 p.m.
• San Antonio and Laredo, KLRN-TV, Channel 9: Sunday, 1 p.m.
• Waco, KWBU-TV, Channel 34: Saturday, 3 p.m.
• Portales, New Mexico, KENW-TV, Channel 3: Sunday, 2:30 p.m.
• The New York Network, NYN, Thursday 8:30 p.m.; Saturday 2:30 p.m. Serving the Albany area.

Cable

Texas Parks & Wildlife can also be seen on a variety of government, educational and access cable channels in the following communities: Abilene, Allen, Atlanta, Boerne, Collin County Community College, Coppell, Del Mar College, Denton, Flower Mound, Frisco, Garland, Irving, McKinney, North Richland Hills, Plano, Rogers State University, Texarkana College, The Colony, Tyler, Waco and Wichita Falls. Check your local listings for days and times.

TPWD TV – August Highlights Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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

The Hill Country is the crown jewel of Texas, and the Kerr Wildlife Management area teaches landowners how to keep it polished.

We’re a 65-hundred acre wildlife research and demonstration area for the Edward’s plateau ecological area. And it serves as our experiment station for private landowners to come out and find out more about the basic tools of wildlife management.

Area manager, Donnie Frels, says landowners learn how to mimic the natural systems that keep habitat in balance.

Like wildfires and grazing buffalo. We’ve just replaced those types of actions with some manmade actions, with prescribed fire and a rotational grazing system. So, we’re still mimicking some of the natural systems.

While the majority of research at Kerr focuses on white-tailed deer, three endangered species on the site also receive thoughtful attention.

We have probably one of the highest densities of black capped vireos anywhere in the state. Golden-cheeked warblers are found on the management area. The third endangered species is the toe bush fishhook cactus. And we do surveys for all three of these species; and our management program benefits not only white-tailed deer but those endangered species as well.

The Kerr WMA is open to the public for wildlife viewing during daylight hours. Find details at passporttotexas.org.

That’s our show for today… with support from the Wildlife Restoration Program… providing funding for the Private Lands and Public Hunting Program.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti

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Kerr Wildlife Management Area Contact Information

Phone: (830) 238-4483
Address:
2625 FM 1340
Hunt, TX 78024

Contact: Don Frels Jr.

Dates Open: Open year round, except closed for Special Permit hunts. The office is open 8am – 5pm, Monday – Friday.

Kerr Wildlife Management Area Play Now | Play in Popup | Download