Passport to Texas

Washington-on-the-Brazos: Party Time

State Parks: Texas Independence Celebration Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This year marks the 177th Anniversary of Texas Independence, and we’ll be celebrating at Washington-on-the-Brazos. Our SP Guide, Bryan Frazier has details.

53— Washington –on-the-Brazos, State Historic Site is one of the flagship historic sites in Texas as it relates to Texas independence. And, a lot of people are familiar with some of the others – like the Alamo – and the rich history that’s there. But, Washington-on-the-Brazos is very significant as well. In fact, it’s direct relationship with the Alamo was to allow people to have time to get to Washington –on-the-Brazos to convene a congress and declare independence back in the 1830s. And we’re doing the Texas Independence Celebration on March 2nd & 3rd, and it’s the only weekend of the year that has free access for everyone. And there’ll be music; there’ll be food vendors there with things for sale. And this year we’re also going to have troubadour, Craig Toungate doing a one man show based on actual letters and journals from the Texas revolution. You can find out more at www.texasstateparks.org.

Thanks, Bryan.

That’s our show for today…with funding provided by Chevrolet, supporting outdoor recreation in Texas; because there’s life to be done.

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

Former Texas Governor John Connally

TPW 50th: Connally Bonds and State Parks Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Texas Parks and Wildlife, and we’re looking back at major milestones. In 1967, Governor Connally and the State Legislature ensured citizens would have access to nature’s splendor.

09 – Governor Connally realized that if we were going to conserve our lands and waters and fish and wildlife that we had to create places for people to get out and enjoy it.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Executive Director, Carter Smith.

16 –So, Governor Connally and the Legislature championed a funding program that created a series of revenue bonds, called the Connally Bonds that were used to finance the acquisition and expansion of many state parks and state natural areas.

…such as Enchanted Rock, Lost Maples, and Devil’s River…

12—…to a host of other state parks where Texans can now get out and enjoy the great outdoors: the beauty, splendor and wildness that define our state and the place that we love. We’re able to enjoy that a lot more because of the Connally Bonds.

Help Texas Parks and Wildlife celebrate its 50 year anniversary this year by sharing your stories, videos and photographs depicting how you, your family and friends enjoy the great Texas outdoors. Just go to the Texas Parks and Wildlife website for details.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…Cecilia Nasti

Carter Smith © Lynn McBride, the Nature Conservancy

The Next 50 Years at TPWD Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

When the State Parks Board and the Texas Game and Fish Commission merged fifty years ago, hope and anxiety ran high. Today, the wisdom of that union is certain, as are the challenges ahead.

08— We’re going to have many challenges ahead in the next fifty years, just as we have had them in the past fifty years. We’ve tackled them all head on, and this will be no different.

Carter Smith, Texas Parks and Wildlife Executive Director, says the agency will continue to deal with the day-to-day and the crises as they arise.

31—None of that’s going to change. But the real battle…the real fight for us is going to be for the hearts and minds of Texans that aren’t even born yet. We serve a state that’s been urban for sixty years, but in the future it’s going to be even more urban, even more diverse, and it’s going to be ever more populated by fellow citizens who have even less of a direct connection to the places that we steward on their behalf.

The agency’s challenge is to make support of Texas’ environmental and cultural legacy meaningful.

08— And to establish connections to help foster that desire to get out and explore the wonders and beauties of our lands and waters.

Connect with the outdoors, and share it with others. Get started on the Texas Parks and Wildlife website.

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

Carter Smith © Lynn McBride, the Nature Conservancy

Looking Back on 50 Years at TPWD Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Fifty years ago the State Parks Board and the Texas Game and Fish Commission merged.

03— To create what is now the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

Carter Smith is Texas Parks and Wildlife Executive Director.

37—There was a lot of angst and anxiety over that merger and acquisition and what would that mean: Would the state’s fish and wildlife and their conservation somehow be diluted by the merger with the State Parks Board, or would state parks suffer because of too much emphasis on fish and wildlife and law enforcement and other programs? But I think any objective person looking back on the past 50 years and all the attendant accomplishments and milestones that have come from the creation of this department would have to call it an unqualified success.

State park acreage has increased tenfold since the merger; the agency reintroduced desert bighorn sheep to their traditional range in Far West Texas. Texas Parks and Wildlife developed a world class Largemouth Bass fishery, and created myriad opportunities for Texans to enjoy the outdoors. And that’s just a fraction the accomplishments from the first fifty years.

15— There’s been some extraordinary synergies that have come from the creation of this fine agency that is so rich with lore and legacy and history and heritage and meaning to all Texans. And Looking back it seems like an awfully good idea at the time.

Tomorrow: Looking ahead to the next fifty years. Until then, spend time outdoors and share it with others, because Life’s Better Outside.

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

Cedar Waxwing: Ben Thomas, Georgia

Birding: Great Backyard Bird Count Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Birds indicate the health of our environment, says Pat Leonard, who coordinates the Great Backyard Bird Count for the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, a joint project with the Audubon Society and Bird Studies Canada.

07— And, so, by understanding what’s happening to them – both good and bad –we have a measure of what we should be doing to preserve the environment.

The bird count, in its sixteenth year, is a citizen science project where birders around the world tally species not only in backyards, but anywhere there are birds—and then report their findings online.

17—What we’re going to do for the 2013 count, is integrating it with another big online bird checklist program we run with Audubon called eBird. What that will allow us to do is have much more valuable data, because the locations that people put in for their birding activity is much more precise.

Birders must register with the website bird count dot org to input their findings. Researchers use the data to study the various species and their habitat. And Pat says Texas participation is high.

18— Texas is such a birdy state. And in the count we had for 2012, it was number two after California for the most species. Corpus Christi was actually number one in terms of localities reporting the most species. They had 184. You can’t say birds, bird count, and leave Texas out of the equation.

Go to bird count dot org for more information about the Great Backyard Bird Count, February 15 -18.

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