October 19th, 2007
Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife
[Woody Woodpecker laughter]
Woodpecker damage to your home is no laughing matter.
As a rule woodpeckers excavate cavities in dead trees called snags, which they live in. The exception is when they mistake dark colored, or cedar house siding, for a snag and end up leaving a trail of destruction.
And it looks like cannon balls have been shot through the house. Maybe two or three; and we’ve seen some with fifteen, sixteen holes.
Cliff Shackelford is a non-game ornithologist. He says woodpecker damage occurs most often in urban and suburban areas where the dead wood has been removed.
What we recommend people to do with problems with woodpeckers is to put a nest box. If you’re familiar with a bluebird box, it’s just a larger version of that custom made for woodpeckers.
Visit passporttotexas.org for a link to free blueprints to make your own woodpecker nest box.
People can build this in a couple of hours on the weekend, and put it up on the side of the house, and in all cases that we’ve done this – it’s worked. And the woodpecker stops chiseling on the home, and goes to this next box, and is very content.
That’s our show for today… Remember: Life’s Better Outside…For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.
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Click on this link to take you to woodpecker house plans.
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Posted in Birding, Education, Podcasts, Shows | Comments Off on Woodpecker Damage — One Solution
October 18th, 2007
Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife
If you live in East Texas, and have noticed strange holes in the wood siding of your home… don’t call the police; call an ornithologist.
There are fifteen species of woodpeckers in Texas, eight of which are in the eastern third of Texas. And that’s where we get most of our calls of woodpecker damage.
Non-game ornithologist, Cliff Shackelford, says the pileated and red bellied woodpeckers are among the culprits inflicting the damage to these homes.
What happens a lot of time is that they see these houses that might be painted brown, they might have cedar siding, and this is very attractive to the birds to try to excavate a cavity. So, they’re not looking for food when they’re doing this; they’re looking to make a cavity to call home.
The pileated woodpecker, about the size of a crow, can excavate holes as big as a man’s fist — and not just in the outside walls of your home, either.
That’s right. We’ve documented pileateds going through into the sheetrock and into the room of the house. Of course, they’re very lost when they do that, they quickly go out. They’re not looking to make a mess of the house.
Keeping woodpeckers from damaging your home… [Woodpeckers pecking]…that’s tomorrow.
And that’s our show for today… Remember: Life’s Better Outside…For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.
Posted in Birding, Podcasts, Shows, Wildlife | Comments Off on Woodpecker Damage — The Problem
October 17th, 2007
Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife
The first time I saw Caprock Canyons State Park I did so from overhead, viewing the…then…14-thousand acre site from inside the cabin of a twin engine plane operated by Parks and Wildlife. The year was 1985; I was a fledgling producer working in public radio, and I was awe-struck.
More than twenty years later, Caprock Canyons SP still inspires awe, and offers even more outdoor opportunities with the addition in 1992 of a 64-mile trailway…bringing the park’s size to nearly 15-thousand acres.
Deanna Oberheu, park superintendent, says on October 20th the park will celebrate its 25th anniversary and the grand opening of a one million dollar visitor’s center.
The new visitor’s center is a brand new facility; it’s over four-thousand square feet. It will have a lot of exhibit space for us to be able to tell the story about Caprock Canyons.
Exhibits won’t be in until spring, but once they are…
The exhibits are going to have to do with the Caprock Canyons Trailway, which visitors don’t get to see a lot of, the Texas State Bison herd, which is housed here at Caprock Canyons SP, and other interesting things about the people and the geology about the canyons.
Visitors may also access a platform adjacent to the new center, overlooking the Texas State Bison Herd pasture.
Find links to information about the celebration and grand opening at passorttotexas.org. That’s our show for today… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.
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October 20, 2007 — Caprock Canyons SP & Trailway — Visitor’s Center Grand Opening — The opening will be held in conjunction with the park’s 25th anniversary celebration. Other special events will occur throughout the day and park entrance fees will be waived. Call for more information (806) 455-1492.
Posted in Events, Podcasts, Shows, State Parks | Comments Off on Caprock Canyons State Park & Visitor Center
October 17th, 2007
Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife
The first time I saw Caprock Canyons State Park I did so from overhead, viewing the…then…14-thousand acre site from inside the cabin of a twin engine plane operated by Parks and Wildlife. The year was 1985; I was a fledgling producer working in public radio, and I was awe-struck.
More than twenty years later, Caprock Canyons SP still inspires awe, and offers even more outdoor opportunities with the addition in 1992 of a 64-mile trailway…bringing the park’s size to nearly 15-thousand acres.
Deanna Oberheu, park superintendent, says on October 20th the park will celebrate its 25th anniversary and the grand opening of a one million dollar visitor’s center.
The new visitor’s center is a brand new facility; it’s over four-thousand square feet. It will have a lot of exhibit space for us to be able to tell the story about Caprock Canyons.
Exhibits won’t be in until spring, but once they are…
The exhibits are going to have to do with the Caprock Canyons Trailway, which visitors don’t get to see a lot of, the Texas State Bison herd, which is housed here at Caprock Canyons SP, and other interesting things about the people and the geology about the canyons.
Visitors may also access a platform adjacent to the new center, overlooking the Texas State Bison Herd pasture.
Find links to information about the celebration and grand opening at passorttotexas.org. That’s our show for today… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.
__________________________________________________________________
October 20, 2007 — Caprock Canyons SP & Trailway — Visitor’s Center Grand Opening — The opening will be held in conjunction with the park’s 25th anniversary celebration. Other special events will occur throughout the day and park entrance fees will be waived. Call for more information (806) 455-1492.
Posted in Events, Podcasts, Shows, State Parks | Comments Off on Caprock Canyons State Park & Visitor Center
October 16th, 2007
Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife
Halloween is a time for ghosts, goblins and goodies…and
State parks across Texas are gearing up for some frightening family fun.
October 20th, the Varner-Hogg Plantation State Historical Site, on the Gulf Coast, is holding a Haunted Hayride from 7 to 9 pm. Games, goodies and a spooky storyteller will be on hand for brave visitors.
In North Texas, Fort Richardson State Park and Historic Site and Lost Creek Reservoir State Trailway host a Ghost Walk from 8 to 9 PM on October 27th. But don’t worry; all the ghosts are friendly on this trail.
For those looking for ghost stories, the Mission Tejas State Park, in East Texas, is hosting Fireside Storytelling on October 27th. Ranger John Tatum, a member of the Tejas Storytellers Association will be on hand from 7:30 to 9 pm. Not all the stories will be ghost stories but all will be age appropriate.
If you are looking for something a little batty in South Texas, don’t pass up the World Birding Center’s, 2nd Annual Halloween Fest on October 27th. The fest features programs on bats, kids costume contests, night hikes and more.
For more information on these and other Halloween events across Texas, visit passporttotexas.org.
That’s our show…with research and writing help from Kate Lipinski… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.
Posted in Events, Historic Sites, Podcasts, Shows, State Parks | Comments Off on Halloween in State Parks
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