Passport to Texas

Passport to Texas Outdoor Stories from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Patricio Naredo’s outdoor story begins on a dark and windy night…camping with his Boy Scout troop.

We were supposed to have a fire, but it was windy so we couldn’t. So then one of our camp directors or something he made up this animal called like, I don’t remember what it’s called. He said it’s like half Chihuahua, half badger. So we started putting out marshmallows and started like putting out traps going hunting for him with our flashlight. And then, someone turned it off and they were like “Oh no my batteries dead!” And then, he started making all these sounds then he turned it back on and he’s all like shining at something. It was a log but it kind of looked like an alligator. So I barely screamed and I started running for the tents. Like, everybody got we got freaked out.

One question remains: will Patricio venture out into the woods at nighttime again?

I’m not afraid of the dark!

Thanks, Patricio. Extra flashlights, batteries and, not to mention, your wits are always good things to have when you camp overnight.

If you have an outdoor story, we’d love to hear them. Spooky, funny, or sad…whatever they may be, you can share them with us at passporttotexas.org

That’s our show…with research and writing help from Sarah Loden… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Wildseed Farm in Fredericksburg is one of thousands of education vacation destinations you can find on the website texaseducationvacation.com. Marilyn Thomas, with her husband John, own the farm.

People enjoy going out there, looking to see what wildflowers look like. And the children seem to like the walking trail because they can see the butterflies on the flowers.

And speaking of butterflies, the farm has a lovely butterfly enclosure on site.

We absolutely have. And, if I do say so myself, I do think it’s one of the most wonderful butterfly houses anywhere.

In Texas, we say, “It’s not bragging if it’s true,” so we made tracks to the Butterfly Haus—which was spectacular—where we met up with curator Liz Cannedy who was introducing children to a swallowtail caterpillar.

Okay, there you go. You want to touch it? And we just touch it minimally. Just minimally. You like caterpillars don’t you?

I love Caterpillars. I love carrying caterpillars. I want to carry one.

No, I’m going to put this one back because he’s eating. We want him to eat.

It’s a world of wonder for all ages at the Wildseed Farm in Fredericksburg. Make it your education vacation destination in May. Learn more at Texas Education Vacation dot com.

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

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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

School’s out, but that doesn’t mean learning comes to a grinding halt. Keep that gray matter bubbling all summer long when you take the family on a Texas education vacation.

From an educational standpoint, Texas is rich in history that really ties into the curriculum that’s being taught in the public schools, and there are a vast number of attractions in Texas, where students and families together can actually see and experience part of that history that’s being taught in the classroom.

David Teel is VP of Planning and Development with Texas Travel Industry Association, which operates the website texaseducationvacation.com.

It contains thousands of educational attractions, destinations, events that should be of interest to parents, teachers, school kids… And basically the function of this website is to promote the intrinsic educational value of travel in Texas.

When you type your destination into the search box, and click search, various destinations are returned. Refine your search by age, interests, cost, or more. When I did a search for Fredericksburg, Wildseed Farm topped the list.

The children seem to love the walking trail because they can see the butterflies on the flowers.

Tomorrow, we take an Education Vacation to Wildseed Farm in Fredericksburg.

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

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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

While it’s not set in stone, International Migratory Bird Day in 2009 is May 9 in the US and Canada.

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, Executive Director of Environment for the Americas which coordinates this event, says the goal is for attendees to experience birds firsthand.

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.

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 bird feeders. 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.

That’s our show…with support from the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program…working to restore wildlife habitat in Texas.

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

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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

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

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.

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.

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.

In Texas, for example, April often offers the best opportunities for viewing these migrating species. Tomorrow: how you can celebrate birds, whether you attend an event, or stay in your own backyard.

That’s our show…with support from the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program…working to restore wildlife habitat in Texas.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.
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Copy and paste www.birdday.org into your browser to go to the official International Migratory Bird Day website.

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