September 22nd, 2009
Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife
The ecological regions of Texas are diverse — something the Parks and Wildlife archaeological team knows well.
Our team has to become proficient in all of those different areas, and there are very different ways to find the archeology of those areas.
Margaret Howard is archeology survey team leader at Parks and Wildlife. Some areas of the state give up their secrets more easily than others.
In the Pineywoods, it’s deep below the pine needle blanket that’s on the ground;’ it’s very well preserved but it’s hard to find. Out in West Texas, it often shows on the surface, so it’s easy to find, but then it’s very vulnerable to erosion, or even vandalism.
Even though there are more than a million acres of parkland to survey, knowing where to look for artifacts is easier than you might think.
Humans are just not as different as you might want to imagine. We’ve had a number of cases where ancient campgrounds were below the campgrounds that are used today. We are humans; we’re walking across the ground the way that humans once did. Humans are thirsty, humans need to eat, they like shade and protection from the weather. And so, if you look at those aspects of the landscape, you can figure out where people tended to live.
Learn how Parks and Wildlife archeologists use the clues left behind from peoples’ activities to gain insight in Texas’ past when you log onto the Texas Parks and Wildlife Website.
That’s our show for today …For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.
Posted in Historic Sites | Comments Off on Texas Archaeology
September 21st, 2009
Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife
The GO TEXAN brand is well-known among agricultural producers, wineries and restaurants. And now, the brand is expanding to include wildlife.
I’m extremely excited to announce the addition of the GO TEXAN Wildlife initiative. We’re inviting businesses and organizations that focus on wildlife recreation to join GO TEXAN.
Texas Agriculture Commissioner, Todd Staples, encourages businesses that cater to hunting and fishing enthusiasts to take part in the GO TEXAN Wildlife Initiative.
TPWD estimates fish and wildlife recreation activities have a $15.8 Billion dollar impact on the Texas economy. Parks and Wildlife shares our commitment to business development in rural Texas, and the GO TEXAN brand is a tremendous way to do that.
Commissioner Staples says the GO TEXAN Wildlife initiative captures the heritage of our state.
Since the beginning of time, Texas has been recognized as an ecosystem that offers a diverse variety of fish and wildlife opportunities for enthusiasts. Whether you’re hunting [,fishing] or nature tourism—whatever it is—the Texas Wildlife Initiative showcases the best that Texas has to offer.
We have more information about the program at passporttotexas.org.
For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.
Posted in Wildlife | Comments Off on GO TEXAN Wildlife Initiative
September 18th, 2009
Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife
When Texas State Parks new website débuts later this fall, it will have virtual tours, videos of state parks, new images, and a chance to get up to the minute information about parks using social media.
They’re going to be able to sign up for Twitter updates. As most of you know Twitter now has become very commonplace. But, it’s going to allow them to, for example, find out when there might be fall foliage at Lost Maples SP. They’ll get a Twitter alert.
Marketing Director, Darcy Bontempo, says Twitter isn’t the only social media application the new state parks website will employ to keep visitors connected.
They also can go and look at the Facebook page for a park and see, for example, what other visitors have experienced at the park…user comments…also look at photos and videos from park visitors who have been there post. So, that’s a neat way, also to explore what a park’s about before you’ve even had a chance to go there.
Incorporating social media into the new website makes sense.
This is the way of the future, and people want to see what other people are saying. This is not a new discovery on our part—this is just us keeping up with the wave, and we are very excited about it. And people are going to possibly even reconnect based on Facebook. I mean, there are all kinds of opportunities to connect or discover things that they didn’t know about the park, because users are the ones sharing experiences or discoveries.
The new State Parks website goes live this fall.
That’s our show… remember…Life’s better outside…for Texas parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.
Posted in State Parks | Comments Off on Social Media & the State Parks Website
September 17th, 2009
Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife
Texas state parks are exciting and diverse; they’re where visitors engage nature and discover Texas’ past. Too bad the website that told our parks’ stories fell flat.
Visitors told us, and Texans told us, that when they went to our website they didn’t see as many photographs and images and [as much] information as they’d like.
Marketing Director, Darcy Bontempo, says the agency took these concerns to heart, and later this fall, will unveil a redesigned and reenergized site.
Really, we’re listening to our customers. They wanted to have a much more visually appealing and informative site. So that’s why we’re making this change.
The new image and content rich website will give visitors an opportunity to engage Texas state parks online in a way never before possible.
When people visit the new state parks website they’re going to be very delighted, I think, to discover a wealth of beautiful photographs of facilities of the parks, cabins, things to do at parks. They’re also going to be able to look at virtual tours. So, they’re going to be able to get a better idea of what kind of facilities are at parks. We also have a lot of videos, so they’re going to be able to watch short videos that tell them about history or about what they can do.
You might even hear a Passport to Texas podcast or two on the on the new state park website when it debuts later in the fall.
That’s our show… remember…Life’s better outside…for Texas parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.
Posted in State Parks | Comments Off on New State Parks Website
September 16th, 2009
Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife
The October issue of Texas Parks and Wildlife magazine celebrates one creature’s incredible journey. Managing Editor, Louie Bond.
This month we’re going to highlight one of the most spectacular natural events anywhere, which is the monarch migration, which actually happens during October. These delicate little creatures that look like they could hardly fly into your neighbor’s yard actually fly 2000 miles every year.
It takes several lifetimes to complete this. One butterfly doesn’t fly all the way down to Mexico and then back the next year; it takes several generations.
It makes you ask how do they know where to go, or when to go there, or what to do? But it’s this curious natural instinct. They can calculate, apparently, not only latitude, but longitude.
And it’s quite the spectacle every year when they come through Texas. Entomologist, Mike Quinn, tells us that his phone line starts lighting up every October. And, he’s had people calling, he says, from the 20th floor of high rise apartment buildings to say that the monarch had just flown past their windows.
So, it’s an incredible feat. But for me, I just have my mouth hanging open in awe and wonder at these tiny little creatures making this great journey.
The October issue of Texas Parks and Wildlife magazine is on newsstands now.
For Texas parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.
Posted in Education, Events, TPW Mag | Comments Off on TPW Magazine October Preview
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