Passport to Texas

This is Passport to Texas

International Migratory Bird Day is always the second Saturday of May in the US and Canada, making it May 12 this year.

04—We encourage groups to host a program or an event when it works for them and the birds.

When celebrations actually occur depends on the arrival of migrants. Susan Bonfield is Executive Director of Environment for the Americas, which coordinates this event.

12—I want people to go to these programs and have one of their first opportunities to see a bird. To use binoculars, to use a field guide, to get excited about birds, and to want to become involved in bird conservation.

Find events at www.birdday.org. But if you can’t get to one, don’t fret.

25—You know, your backyard is just a great place to celebrate migratory bird day. I think that anything you do around your house to help conserve birds—we have information up on the website about threats to birds, and what you can do to minimize the threats at your home. Any improvement of habitat in your yard, cleaning your birdfeeders. Any very basic and practical activities are a wonderful way to help conserve birds.

You can also just sit in a lawn chair in your yard with a beverage and binoculars and see who comes along.

The Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program supports our series and works to restore wildlife habitat in Texas.

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

Migratory Bird Day, 1 Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In the early 1990s, scientists started noticing that some populations of migratory bird species were declining.

10—There was a concern about what these causes were, and at the same time there was considerable interest in getting the public involved in learning more about birds and their conservation.

Susan Bonfield is Executive Director of Environment for the Americas. Her non-profit coordinates International Migratory Bird Day, an event created as a direct result of scientists’ concerns over declining avian populations.

12—Several researchers at the Smithsonian Migratory Bird center came up with the idea of hosting a public event to get communities involved in learning about birds. And that was the origins of International Migratory Bird Day.

It is the second Saturday of May for the US and Canada, and is intended to occur during peak migration. The idea is to give folks an opportunity to see these migrants.

09—That doesn’t work for everyone. So, for example, in some parts of Canada it may too early, and some parts of the United States, even, it’s a little bit too late—migratory birds have already passed over

Tomorrow, some ways that you can celebrate birds whether you attend an event, or stay in your own backyard.

We record our series at the Block House in Austin.

The Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration program supports our series and works to restore wildlife habitat in Texas.

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

Recreation: Off Road Options in Texas Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

08—Texas has more off highway vehicles than any state other than California.

California also has more room for these off highway vehicles to roam.

06—They have 132 legal venues on public land, and in Texas we only have about 20.

Steve Thompson manages the off highway vehicle program for Texas Parks and Wildlife.

09—The Texas Off Highway Vehicle Program was created by the Texas legislature to provide a managed program for off highway vehicles as a sport in Texas.

He works with communities to identify and develop land suitable for safe, legal off highway vehicle recreation. Money for the development comes from grants and the sale of an annual off road vehicle permit/decal.

25—Over the last six years we’ve helped create legal venues in the City of Childress. We gave them grant money to buy land and build the infrastructure in that park. It’s been open now for about five years. We’ve done the same thing for non-profit like the Texas Motorized Trails Coalition. They’ve created a park up near Tyler called Barnwell Mountain. And they’re working on their second park near Ozona, a venue called Escondido Draw.

The goal of the OHV Program is to create safe, legal, parks where families and friends can enjoy their off road vehicles.

Find more information on the Parks and Wildlife website.

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

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Game Warden Brandi Reeder developed the Women in the Wild Workshop, an annual event where a diverse group of women gather to learn the wild arts.

15—A lot of professional women; we’ve had some homemakers who’ve come out. It’s just really a diverse group. I think my oldest participant was 70. My youngest was 21, which is the start age to actually participate in this. It’s all sorts of ladies that are interested in the outdoors, so it’s been great.

The workshop, scheduled April 13-15 in Rockport, connects attendees with experts in shooting, fishing, boating, Dutch oven cooking, and more.

15—This is just the beginning. And then, all across the state, we have our Texas Outdoor Women Network clubs (T.O.W.N.). And so it’s a springboard for them to start out at this event, and then to continue through their local T.O.W.N. chapters—to continue their knowledge. And most of these ladies teach those skills to their families as well.

The cost is $125 for the weekend; early registration ends March 5, at which time the cost goes up to $150.

18—This is a day camp situation, so they’ll be responsible for their own lodging. We’ll have an opportunity to check in on Friday. Then on Saturday the event begins at Fort Bay Hunting Club. They get to pick four courses that they want to participate in over the course of the weekend. And then we accommodate that on a first come first serve basis.

Find more information on the event’s Facebook Page.

The Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program supports our series.

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

Women Gone Wild Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Game Warden Brandi Reeder lives and works in the Rockport area. In addition to protecting our state’s natural resources…for the past three years she’s helped area women hone their outdoor skills.

20—A lot of the ladies felt comfortable enough to come up to me and ask for instruction on outdoor skills; the felt unable to learn from their husbands. I knew that I couldn’t do the one-on-one consistently. So, I came up with an event to offer them a wide range of opportunities to try all sorts of different things in one location.

The event is the Women in the Wild Workshop; this year scheduled April 13-15 in Rockport. Women who attend the workshop learn skills such as shooting, angling, boating, archery, game processing, and more.

11—This is a safe environment to do so. We’re not expecting mastery of anything. We’re just looking for them to feel comfortable enough to try something and determine whether or not they want to pursue it in the future.

Experts teach the women throughout the weekend, and past participants have offered praise for the event.

08—By the time the event’s done, they’ve always expressed appreciation for the confidence that they have developed in this event and the willingness to go forward and learn more.

Cost for the weekend Women in the Wild workshop is $125 before March 5, and $150, afterwards. Registration closes March 31. Additional details about the Women in the Wild Workshop tomorrow.

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