Passport to Texas

This is Passport to Texas

[SFX brown pelicans calling]

Standing on the shore of the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, wildlife veterinarian, Dan Mulcahy, called it a good day for pelicans affected by the oil spill in the gulf.

06—We’re here today to participate in the largest release of oiled pelicans following the oil spill to date.

In late June, 38 animals arrived at Rockport Airport via Coast Guard Jet from a Louisiana rehabilitation center. Their final destination: Aransas National Wildlife Refuge.

12—They were picked up here at the Rockport Airport by the staff of the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge and TPW, and were released as fast as we could undo the crates and let them go.

Once free, the birds gathered on the water away from shore and preened, which pleased Nancy Brown from the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

03—They can focus on preening as opposed to just surviving.

Texas offers abundant habitat for the pelicans. Yet, these iconic birds still aren’t out of danger. Any long-term health effects from their ordeal are yet unknown.

08—We look forward to coming out here next year and hopefully seeing these birds and hopefully they’re fatter and happier and doing well here on the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge.

Before their release, biologists placed a steel band with a unique ID on each bird’s leg to track our newest Texans into what will hopefully be a long and healthy future.

That’s our show… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

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This is Passport to Texas

The Texas Legislature made funding available to Texas Parks and Wildlife for improvements, construction and repairs at state parks. It may seem like a long time coming, but as our state park guide, Bryan Frazier, tells us—the work is underway.

The two previous legislative bienniums, we got increases in funding, and it takes a little while for that money to makes its way into actual on the ground structures and facilities. And so we’re very please to talk about over the last couple of months, and in the next several months, some major improvements are going to be happening in some of our state parks.

So, we’re really pleased that over the next several months, I think people are really going to see that extra money put to use in new facilities, renovations to cabins and structures, and things that people want to see in our parks.

All this month we’ll tell you about some of ongoing improvements around the state.

That’s our show…For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

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This is Passport to Texas

It’s been called the Grand Canyon of Texas, and for good reason. Palo Duro Canyon, located in the Texas Panhandle, never disappoints visitors with its majestic beauty and recreational opportunities.

This month you’ll get a close-up look at this magnificent natural wonder on the Texas Parks and Wildlife Television series. Producer, Ron Kabele says Palo Duro is a revelation to first time visitors.

Once you go in there you can see why. Everything is flat all around it, and then suddenly you come across this huge canyon.

Find a PBS station near you that airs the television series on the Texas Parks and Wildlife website.

That’s our show…For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

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This is Passport to Texas

When Walt Dabney became Director of Texas State Parks, most parks, and their equipment, were in sad shape.

07—That’s much better now. We’re not where we need to be, but we are moving along in a very positive fashion right now.

After 11 years of hard work with a talented and dedicated staff at Parks and Wildlife, Dabney is retiring, and insists the Texas Park system will be fine without him.

24—And I absolutely expect this to be the case: that it makes no difference when I leave. To the extent that isn’t the case, then I really didn’t succeed. Because any organization that’s dependent on a given personality isn’t going to be a successful organization. And so, I feel absolutely great that if I go out of here that there are people who can step in and probably take it to a higher level even than it is now.

Dabney has worked in the national and in state park systems for 42 years, and until his last day on August 31, he will continue to make Texas State Parks the best they can be…and finally even spend time enjoying them.

24—Somebody the other day said you’ve got the best job in the world, you spend all your time in parks. And I looked like them like I thought they were kidding. I don’t spend almost any time in parks. And when I do it’s to help them with a problem or something like that. I love to mountain bike, I love to fish and hunt, and I wouldn’t even mind swinging a golf club every once in awhile. I’ve got some park related projects that I want to do. You can’t do that by being in the office all day long.

We hope you enjoy your retirement, Walt, and we hope to see you in Texas state parks soon.

01—Oh, you will.

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

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