Passport to Texas

This is Passport to Texas

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then the January issue of Texas Parks and Wildlife magazine will speak volumes. Editor, Louie Bond, says 2010’s first issue will be a festival of photos.

And I don’t mean just a couple of extra photos. Instead of our regular features, and some of our regular departments, we’re having photo essays by our best photographers. We are so blessed with these great talents, so we’ve decided to showcase portfolios from our photographers. It’s just going to be, I think, a thing of great beauty, and we’re really excited about it. We do hope this will become a regular occurrence every January.

In addition, we couldn’t leave out our good guys. So, Earl Nottingham, our longtime photographer, will have some photos in there, as will Brandon Jakobeit, our photo editor. We’re hoping that you’ll take this issue and enjoy it in January and all through 2010.

Thanks Louie.

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

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This is Passport to Texas

To unwind from a demanding day at work or school, a simple change of scenery may do the trick.

Research and theory suggest nature is very supportive of human functioning.

Dr. Andrea Faber Taylor studies the connection between our environment and behavior at the University of Illinois. And her research has revealed what we’ve thought all along: nature, even if it’s just a small patch of green, can renew our minds.

Even a view of a green space is beneficial. So, it suggests to us that nature, and even a little bit of trees and plants makes it [a place that’s] restorative.

So what does nature offer that other settings or activities and don’t? Attention restoration theory provides an explanation.

Environments that might be restorative or helpful have characteristics that engage our attention, but in a very gentle way. For an environment to be restorative there’s room in your mind for reflective thought. A space maybe doesn’t need to be huge if it has enough richness and enough depth to engage our minds and hold our attention, but again, in a gentle way.

Taylor says video games and television are too riveting to be restorative. So, tonight: instead of the TV, try a walk in the park and see how much more refreshed you feel.

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

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This is passport to Texas

Could spending more time in nature help kids with attention-deficit hyperactive disorder?

The research so far suggests that there’s a relationship between contact with nature or playing in green space and improvements in attentional functioning.

Dr. Andrea Faber Taylor researches child environment and behavior at the University of Illinois. In one study, she had children with ADHD take guided, 20-minute walks in a downtown area, a neighborhood, and a city park, and afterward, tested their ability to concentrate.

What we found was that after the children walked in the park they generally scored higher on the measure of attention. And surprisingly, the neighborhood and the downtown area were not significantly different in scores. That said to us, there’s something about the park that makes it, perhaps, more restorative than the other two settings.

Taylor’s findings match other research as well, which suggest it’s the setting, not just the activity, that’s important.

Based on our work and the work of others, we feel very confident that children benefit from contact with nature or even just what we call green space, a small pocket of trees and grass. Certainly, we’re not suggesting that it’s going to cure a child from ADHD, but it appears to, at least, temporarily reduce their symptoms.

That’s our show…For Texas Parks and Wildlife

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This is Passport to Texas

Parents harness their kids into high chairs to keep them from taking a tumble. Hunters should always use a similar device called a fall restraint system that keeps them safely tethered to elevated stands.

Most of them fit like a fishing vest, but they have straps that go under your legs and secure it to your body.

Hunting education coordinator, Terry Erwin, says not all fall restraint systems are created equal.

When you’re going into an elevated stand of any type, you should always use a tree stand manufactures association approved safety harness. And, if it’s not TMA approved, then you don’t want to use it because it’s not going to be the one that will protect you the most.

For the restraint system to work properly, it must fit snugly around the body, with no slack in the tether.

Tether yourself, or secure yourself, above your head, so that there‘s no slack in the harness itself and the tethering line. So, if you were to accidentally fall asleep and lean forward, it would catch you within about 3 or 4 inches.

Finally, before using a fall restraint system in the field, Erwin says—give it a test run.

Go out and give it a try. Climb with it; secure yourself going up, and also secure yourself coming down.

Find hunter safety information on the Texas Parks and Wildlife website.

That’s our show…We receive support from the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program…funded by your purchase of hunting and fishing equipment and motorboat fuel…For Texas Parks and Wildlife I’m Cecilia Nasti.

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This is passport to Texas

There are those who define fly-fishing as angling for trout in the Northwest US; but not Tink Pinkard.

In the Hill Country of Texas, and in particular South Texas, there are several rivers and streams that harbor several large populations of smallmouth, largemouth and sun perch. For instance, here in downtown Austin, it’s quite possibly the best urban fishery here in the United States.

Pinkard, a hunting and fishing guide and avid fly-fisher, considers fly-fishing artful angling.

You’re actually making and forming the flies; so it’s a lot more hands on and its more of an art form.

Like art, fly-fishing takes time to master.

It’s all about the process of learning to fly-fish instead of just, as we call it, chunking junk (laughter)

Pinkard says don’t let the process get you down; with perseverance, you will become proficient.

It’s just more patience in the end, and probably more practice to get the technique down. Because, as with any fishing, it’s the proper introduction that will get the fish to take your lure—or your fly, if you will. And with anything, practice makes perfect. So, as you practice more with the fly rod, you start to get the ability that you would have with the commercial tackle.

That’s our show… we receive support from the Sport Fish Restoration program…which funds fisheries research in Texas.

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

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