TPW TV -- SHOREBIRDS: Birds that survive on sargassum -- and 
we don't mean ridicule-tinged rejoinders ... we explain on 
Passport to Texas.

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife 

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This month, the Texas Parks and Wildlife TV series 
highlights shorebirds and the challenges they face. 
Producer Abe Moore explains.

Yeah, I did a story on shorebirds. There are about thirty 
different species of birds that spend their days on Texas 
beaches and bays. And during the story, I met biologists and 
experts. And one of the main problems they're seeing is the 
increase in beachgoers and how they're disturbing the birds 
when they're out at the beach. They are constantly disturbed 
by just strolling on the beach. And it's a day-to-day thing 
that the birds have to endure. Another concern for the 
shorebirds is seaweed, or more specifically, it's called 
sargassum. Well, the beachgoers, they go to the beach, and 
they like a clean beach without any seaweed on there. The 
shorebirds, they need that sargassum. That's where the little 
tiny invertebrates that they eat live. So, it's kind of a balance, 
and biologists are trying to change the mentality of what a 
beach should look like. The tourists don't ask that they 
scrape up all the pine needles in the national forest; or they 
don't ask that they mow all the grass in the meadow in 
Yellowstone; why would they ask to remove the sargassum 
from the beach? So, if you're interested in learning more 
about shorebirds, the story airs on Texas Parks and Wildlife 
television the last week of February. :67

Thanks, Abe. Go to passporttotexas.org for a listing of 
PBS stations that air the series.

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








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