May 16th, 2013

Boating with Safety in Mind
This is Passport to Texas
Over the past couple of years, low lake levels from the drought kept many boats and other watercraft in dry dock, but thanks to spring rains…
02—We have a lot more water now, so the lakes have changed.
That’s good news as we approach Memorial Day weekend —the unofficial start of summer boating season.
More water means easier, safer navigation of lakes, says Tim Spice, manager of boater education for Parks and Wildlife. Being savvy about safety also keeps everyone protected when on the water.
31—We can identify two major factors that you as a boater can affect in how you operate a vessel, and the things that you do in and around the water. One is wear a lifejacket. Eighty percent of those people that die from falling in the water would be alive if they had a life jacket on. And then the second thin you can do is to not drink alcohol. Alcohol affects your judgment, and you can lose your driver’s license—your vehicle driver’s license—the court can take that away from you if you are found guilty of boating while intoxicated.
On tomorrow’s show the rules of the road as they pertain to boating, and what items you need to have on board before setting sail.
07—The rules on the road are all designed based on the type of vessel and the maneuverability of the vessel.
The Sport Fish Restoration program supports our series and works increase fishing and boating opportunities in Texas.
For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.
Posted in Boating Safety | Comments Off on Boating: Safety, 1
May 15th, 2013

This is Passport to Texas
Wondering what you’ll discover on a visit to the Texas coast?
02—There’s always something new and surprising.
Writer… Melissa Gaskill…should know. She grew up on the coast and although she lives in Austin now, she’s a frequent visitor to her old stomping grounds. She says if you steer clear of the Texas’ sandy shores because you’re looking for something more tranquil…you need to check out her article in the June issue of Texas Parks and Wildlife magazine.
19—[In] Port Aransas you’ve got the busy beach, [but] you can get on a ferry and ride over to St. Joe Island, and walk off and be all by yourself. You can do that at Sea Rim; you can do that on Matagorda Island, and you can even do it in Matagorda County on the Beach, or South Padre island, where you can go down past where all the people are and just keep on going.
Melissa says wildlife viewing, dining, kayaking, swimming, and fishing just scratch the surface of the activities awaiting coastal visitors…activities such as instruction on sandcastle-making taught by experts.
16— It’s a class you pay for. You typically get an hour with one of these people; they’re on the beach – that’s where the sand is. And they’ve got all the tools. You’re usually under a little shady tarp. The place I went, they gave you a drink. And they start showing you from the basics up; over that hour, you build something pretty impressive.
Check out Melissa Gaskill’s article, titled Go Coastal in the June issue of Texas parks and Wildlife magazine.
For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.
Posted in Saltwater, TPW Mag | Comments Off on Recreation: Go Coastal, 2
May 14th, 2013

Image courtesy of www.destination360.com
This is Passport to Texas
Writer Melissa Gaskill is never at a loss for things to do on the Texas coast.
09—I spent my middle school and high school years on the beach; I have spent my adult life all along the coast. Believe it or not, that article only scratches the surface.
The article Melissa’s referring to is one she wrote for the June issue of Texas Parks and Wildlife magazine titled: Go Coastal. It’s a compendium of diverse activities.
10—I just made a list right off the top of my head and sent it to the editor and said, ‘how does this look?’ and she goes ‘great!’ And we refined it a little bit, but for the most part these are things that I’ve been doing my entire life and loving.
Melissa says the first place to start a coastal visit is on the beach…but you needn’t stay there.
26—There are places to hike… you can get in a kayak; a kayak is a wonderful way to explore. You can charter a boat, you can go offshore. You can go out on a fishing pier. There are all of the touristy things: you can go to the pier and ride a Ferris wheel, you can go to a restaurant, sit out on the deck and feed fish– that sort of thing. Or you can go off the beaten path: ride a horse, kayak, or hike off into some pretty remote areas.
Melissa Gaskill returns tomorrow and shares more about her Go Coastal article for the June issue of Texas Parks and Wildlife magazine.
Funding for the show’s provided in part by RAM Trucks: Doing what’s right and good regardless of the degree of difficulty — takes guts. Those are the people who build Ram trucks. RAM.
For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.
Posted in Saltwater, TPW Mag | Comments Off on Recreation: Go Coastal, 1
May 13th, 2013

TPW Magazine: Going Coastal
This is Passport to Texas
With summer looming, Texas Parks and Wildlife Magazine editor, Louie Bond, says the June issue of the magazine is going coastal.
58 – We are going coastal in June. Melissa Gaskill is going to take us on a grand tour of the coast. Melissa is one of those writer’s who’s been everywhere and done everything – so we thought she was the perfect person to tell us what the best things to do on the coast are. And that’s everything from kayaking to birding to fishing to swimming to riding your horses on the beach – there’s just a million things to do. There are great aquariums; great food to eat… there’s lots of recreation whether you’re quiet or an adventurous daredevil. So, we’re taking everybody down to the coast this month. Of course, there is one danger of living on the coast, and that’s hurricanes. So, our own Lance Robinson takes a look at the damage after hurricane Ike. It’s hidden damage; it’s salt marshes and oyster beds. And it takes a long time for those to recover. But there have been some great efforts made to help those get back to their natural health. And he’ll help us see how they’re recovering. So get on your flip flops and come to the beach with us this month.
Thanks, Louie.
The Sport Fish and Wildlife restoration program supports our series and funds coastal conservation and fisheries projects in Texas.
For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.
Posted in TPW Mag | Comments Off on TPW Magazine June 2013 Preview
May 10th, 2013

Caddo Lake
This is Passport to Texas
Abundant water and huge old cypress trees makes Caddo Lake ideal wildlife habitat.
06 – Caddo Lake is the mother load for several species of neo-tropical migrants.
Cliff Shackelford is a non-game ornithologist stationed in Nacogdoches. The prothonotary warbler, northern parula, and yellow-throated warbler flock to Caddo.
17 – A dawn chorus of those warblers singing is quite a neat thing. It’s good to be out in a boat, a canoe, a kayak, something where you can get out in the middle of the swamp to hear these things—they’re just loud and explosive. It’s really refreshing to hear things like that singing in the morning.
But warblers aren’t the only creatures that make use of Caddo’s resources. Vanessa Adams is the area biologist at the Caddo Lake Wildlife Management Area. And says you’ll find white-tailed deer and…
14 – We unfortunately do have feral hog, but that is a huntable population, of course. We see several species of ducks. You’ll see wood duck year round. We get mallards; we have other unusual ducks. In fact, we’ve had white bellied whistling ducks nest here.
There’s more information about Caddo lake on the Texas Parks and Wildlife website.
The Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program supports our series and provides funding for wetland conservation through the Private Lands Enhancement Program.
For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.
Posted in Conservation | Comments Off on Wetlands: Caddo Lake