Passport to Texas

This is Passport to Texas

The Texas Outdoor Family Program is in full swing for 2010.

We’ve got a really aggressive schedule this spring through the end of May, where we’ve actually got thirty workshops all over the state of Texas for people to come and learn about camping and learn about what you can do at a Texas state park.

Chris Holmes is the outdoor education coordinator for Texas state parks. The Outdoor Family program teaches families skills to make tent camping at state parks successful and enjoyable.

We’ve got one special program we’re really looking forward to—it’s over spring break—and its at our biggest State park: Big Bend ranch. And we realize it’s an awful lot of driving for folks to go out there for 12 hours. So, it’s actually a three day program. The families will get to canoe down the Rio Grande, and then go into the interior of the park and do some really fund, adventurous stuff out there.

The Big bend Ranch Outdoor Family event is March 25 through 28, and at the time Chris and I spoke, there were still openings available. This workshop costs $140 for the 3-day weekend, and is limited to 12 families of up to six people…however you define family.

We really don’t have a definition of family. It’s very rarely mom, dad and the two kids.

Find information at 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

This month the Texas Parks and Wildlife television series plumbs the depths of Devil’s Sink Hole with high tech imaging…and also explores living arrangements between humans and alligators in Texas. Series Producer, Don Cash.

We’ve got some pretty interesting stories. In the middle of the month, we’ve got a story called New Wave Cave. And this is about a group from the University of Texas doing Lidar mapping, or laser mapping, of the Devil’s Sinkhole down at the Devil’s Sinkhole State Natural Area.

So, the objective of what we’re doing is we’re shooting a laser model to recreate the space digitally, where we can show people what its like to be at the bottom of this hole without having to drop down a hundred and fifty feet on a piece of rope.

A little later in march, we’re going to look at the American Alligator in Texas. Thirty years ago, the American alligator was on the endangered species list, and today the range is expanding. And that means that occasionally there’s going to be contact with humans.

The homeowners need to understand that they’re in alligator habitat. They just need to understand that if the alligator’s in his habitat—he won’t bother them if they don’t bother him.

So, in March we’ve got the usual wonderful array of stories: caves, alligators—you name it, we’ve got it. You should really watch.

Find information about 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

[cacophony of birds] This is the ruckus you hear during spring and summer days on North Deer Island after its temporary residents—18 species of marine birds and their nestlings—set up housekeeping.

[backhoes limestone] For the past nine years, after the birds vacate in winter, the roar of backhoes spreading tons of limestone rubble along the rookery island’s shoreline replaced their calls. Coastal ecologist, Jamie Schubert.

They’re constructing a rock breakwater. And it will trip the waves, reducing the wave energies causing erosion on the island.

Pounding waves eroded the landmass, and without creating water breaks and additional nesting area, the future well-being of the island’s full-time and part-time inhabitants would be at risk.

We beefed up this side of the island with the dredge material and armored that with limestone rock. The barge wakes had kind of breeched this shoreline in here, so this project should allow this berm to reestablish with marsh vegetation, and give us a nice little marsh pond in here.

The island has been instrumental in the recovery of the Brown Pelican, and its wetland marshes provide valuable nursery habitat for shrimp, redfish and other important fish species. Preserving this rookery island means wildlife will always have a place in Texas to call home.

That’s our show… with support from the Wildlife Restoration program…funding habitat restoration in Texas.

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

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This is Passport to Texas

Eighteen species of birds rely on North Deer Island, near Galveston, for nesting habitat. Yet, over time, pounding waves caused by high winds and barge traffic eroded the shoreline of this natural rookery island.

Erosion really accelerated over the last four or five years. A rough estimate is [we lose] probably three to five acres a year.

That’s Bob Galloway—Houston Audubon Society’s Island Warden. Without intervention, it’s estimated the island, located next to the gulf intercoastal waterway, would decrease in size by 30% over the next 30 years. Coastal ecologist, Jamie Schubert.

This northeastern bluff is the most visually striking area of erosion. It’s been undermined by barge wakes and northerly storms blowing in waves that have undermined the bottom of the bluff and caused collapse at the top with these shrubs and other bushes falling down.

So, Audubon teamed up with Texas Parks and Wildlife and to protect the shoreline.

What this crew is doing is they’re constructing a rock breakwater, and it’ll trip the waves, reducing the wave energies that cause erosion on the island.

We’ll have more about that tomorrow.

That’s our show… with support from the Wildlife Restoration program…funding habitat restoration in Texas.

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

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This is Passport to Texas

Texas Parks and Wildlife magazine editor, Louie Bond, says if you’re looking for a cure for cabin fever…

I think our cover story in march really addresses this with 12 great state park hikes. We have hikes for those who just like a leisurely amble to those who just want a little something more strenuous. We go across the whole state and give you an idea of what the trails are like, and what you might see a long the way.

If you’re not quite ready to get outdoors—maybe March is a little too brisk for you, you can stay home and read about one of my favorite topics—tarantulas. At one point they’re fascinating and wonderful, and they’re actually gentle giants. And then when you really read closely about them there’s some horrifying facts. Such as they liquefy their prey and suck it up though some sort of straw-like mouth, which is quite disgusting, but yet we all have to eat. So, I think we have a nice variety of things, whether you’re ready to get out in March or stay indoors and curl up with the magazine.

Thanks, Louie.

You can catch up on your reading online, too, when you go to tpwmagazine.com. Search through a decade of great article and images. When you’re there, you can also subscribe to the magazine, or give it as a gift.

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

TPW Magazine March Preview Hide Player | Play in Popup | Download