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The
Brown Pelican
The Newsletter of the Coastal Bend Audubon Society
November Speaker:
Jim Blackburn, Nov. 3, 7:00 pm
The recent winter loss of more than 8% of the whooper population was tied to low flows of
fresh water from the Guadalupe River into San Antonio Bay. Recent research by Blackburn
and his team of experts shows that low-flow problems will become worse as diversion of
upstream water increases. This threatens the survival of the whooping crane as well as the
productivity of local bays.
Can the Endangered Species Act help avert this threat to the last and only natural mi-
grating population of whoopers? Are local bays going to be starved of the fresh water they
need to sustain fisheries and bird populations? What are the implications for the local econ-
omy? Blackburn will present the results of this research and discuss its implications. Jim
Blackburn is the preeminent environmental attorney of the Texas Gulf Coast, a veteran of
over 30 years of efforts to preserve our coastal heritage. He is the author of The Book of
Texas Bays.
There will be plenty of time for questions and discussion. Please save the date and bring
your friends.
WHAT’S UP AROUND TEXAS
BIRD WALK Birders of all skill levels are invited to join a master birder as
Every Tuesday and Saturday in November the group searches the wetlands, prairies and woods for a few
World Birding Center, Resaca de la Palma SP, Brownsville of the 289 avian species documented there. Ages 10 and up.
Walk the trails of the park with an experienced birder and learn Reservations required. 7:30 a.m.
why the park is important for bird abundance and diversity. Phone: 972-219-7980
Bring plenty of water, sunscreen and insect repellent. 8:30 a.m. Web site: www.ias.unt.edu/llela
to 10:30 a.m. $4 per adult; free for children 12 and under.
Phone: 956-350-2920 FESTIVAL OF THE CRANES
Website: www.worldbirdingcenter.org/sites/brownsville November 17–22, 2009 Bosque del Apache NWR, Socorro,
NM
EN–RAPTOR–ED This festival highlights the world renowned Bosque del Apache
November 7, 2009 Kinkaid School, Houston National Wildlife Refuge. It features refuge tours and bird,
Jonathan Wood takes attendees on a wilderness expedition with biology, geology and art workshops and fantastic keynote
his raptor entourage, which includes live birds of prey from speakers.
every type of habitat on the planet. Lunch is included. 11 a.m. Phone: 575-835-2077,
to 1 p.m. $100 per person. Email: friends@sdc.org
Phone: 979-480-0999 Web site: www.festivalofthecranes.com
Web site: www.gebo.org
SOUTH TEXAS WILDLIFE AND BIRDING FESTIVAL
16th ANNUAL RIO GRANDE VALLEY BIRDING FESTIVAL November 19-22, 2009 Kingsville
November 12-15, 2009 Harlingen The festival will include workshops and seminars, birding
This festival will focus on field trips, a trade show and special tours, vendors and exhibitors.
presentations by internationally renowned birders and authors Contact: Kingsville Convention and Visitors Bureau 1501 N.
of wildlife biology. Field trips offer glimpses of parrots, Highway 77, Kingsville, TX 78363
Chachalaca, Great Kiskadee, Altamira Oriole and Green Jay Phone: 800-333-5032
among many other birds found in this region. Web site: www.kingsvilletexas.com
Contact: Harlingen Chamber of Commerce 311 East Tyler,
Harlingen, TX 78550 OPEN HOUSE/HOLIDAY SALE
Phone: 800-531-7346; (956) 423-5440 December 5, 2009 Gulf Coast Bird Observatory, Lake Jackson
Web site: www.rgvbirdfest.com Great gift items on sale range from bird books to hummingbird
feeders. There is a 10 percent discount for GCBO members. All
BIRD WALK items are sales tax free. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
November 14, 2009 Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Phone: 979-480-0999
Area Website: www.gcbo.org
Thursday, November 5
10 am to 2 pm
Whataburger Field
Page 2
Hibernia Preserve breeding bird survey
By Gene W. Blacklock, Mary Kay Skoruppa, and Jake Herring
Seven hundred sixty-five acres of relatively undisturbed wood- June 12, 2008: Species of special interest (high counts): cattle
lands along the lower Nueces River comprise the San Patricio egret, 22; wood stork, 30; black vulture, 23; white-tipped dove,
de Hibernia Preserve, protected and studied by the Coastal 23; yellow-billed cuckoo, 20; barred owl, 7; ladder-backed
Bend Bays and Estuaries Program since October 2004. Habitats woodpecker, 8; Carolina chickadee, 2; summer tanager, 10;
occurring along the river are significant because they represent and northern cardinal, 38. Birds seen that do not breed in this
remnant sub-tropical forests that once were common in this area: wood stork, 30; red-eyed vireo, 2.
area.
May 22, 2009:
Three hundred eighty acres along the river are checked for Species of special interest (high counts): black-bellied whistling
breeding bird activity annually in late May or early June. Habi- ducks, 10; mourning dove, 14; and white-winged dove, 5. Birds
tats occurring there support a mixture of temperate and sub- observed that do not breed in this area: eastern wood-pewee, 1;
tropical woodland plant species: live oak (Quercus virginiana), yellow-bellied sapsucker, 2; willow flycatcher, 1; red-eyed, 9;
not commonly found along the lower Nueces River, and Philadelphia vireos, 3; magnolia, 6; blackburnian, 2; chestnut-
Tamaulipan thorn scrub, represent approximately 35 percent sided, 2; Canada warbler, 1; American redstart, 2.
cover. The remaining 65 percent is mainly trees: cedar elm
(Ulmus crassifolia), anacua (Ehretia anacua), net-vain hack- CONCLUSIONS
berry (Celtis laevigata var. reticulate), sugarberry (Celtis laevi- Fifty-one bird species have been observed during the 5 years of
gata), Mexican ash (Fraxinus berlandieriana), Western soap- surveying; all but eight are expected to breed here, eight were
berry (Sapindus saponaria var. drummondii), coma migrants. Three species, northern parula, tropical parula and
(Sideroxylon lanuginosum), black willow (Salix nigra), and summer tanager, were previously not expected to breed along
colonies of mustang grape (Vitis mustangensis); ball “moss” the lower Nueces River. From information collected, the north-
Tillandsia recurvata and Spanish “moss” (T. usneoides) is lo- ern parula and summer tanager breed seasonally at Hibernia: In
cally abundant; understory is partly open with some dense June 07, 2005, a breeding pair of tropical parula warblers was
stands of Tamaulipan thorn scrub. In addition, several season- discovered; they were in full song and were observed defending
ally wet sites occur. Brush holly (Xylosma flexuosa), rarely territory. This discovery was published in the Texas Bulletin of
seen this far north, Neotropical, occurs mainly along the south- the Texas Ornithological Society, Vol.40 (1), 2007; pp. 14 – 17:
west edged of the property. Regrettably, guineagrass (Urochloa “Three Noteworthy Species of Woodland Birds in a Riparian
maxima), an exotic grass, is becoming increasingly more abun- Forest of the Lower Nueces River, San Patricio County,
dant throughout the preserve. Texas”.
SURVEY METHODS Two additional bird species found during the counts suggest
Three participants walked designated trails documenting all that these may breed along the lower Nueces River. On several
male birds that were heard or seen; mapping approximate loca- occasions red-eyed vireos were observed singing and possibly
tions of each one on aerial map. All methods, counts and trails maintaining territory but breeding was not confirmed.
have been accomplished in the same way since June, 2005. Due Two Carolina chickadees were observed at Hibernia on June
to space limitations, only species of special interest are listed 12, 2008. Breeding could not be confirmed. Chickadees have
here. occurred as residents infrequently east to southeastern Nueces
County, Encinal Peninsula, Flour Bluff (Gene W. Blacklock,
SPECIES OF SPECIAL INTEREST 1969); locally along the lower Aransas River, Welder Wildlife
June 07, 2005: (high counts): green jay, 5; tropical parula, 2; Refuge, San Patricio County, and in winter along the lower
and olive sparrow, 13. Birds observed that do not breed in this Nueces River, San Patricio and Nueces Counties (Gene W.
area: northern waterthrush, 7; mourning warbler, 1. Blacklock).
May 26, 2006: Species of special interest (high counts): great MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS:
Kiskadee, 4; white-eyed vireo, 19; black-crested titmouse, 24; Take care to minimize the spread of guineagrass and other exot-
long-billed thrasher, 8; northern parula, 10; red-eyed cowbird, ics in this remnant tract of native riparian forest. The existing
10. Birds observed that do not breed in this area: least fly- guineagrass should be treated with herbicide. Clearing of native
catcher, 1. brush should be avoided; disturbance and clearing opens up
areas for exotic species such as guineagrass, to colonize. It is
May 23, 2007: Species of special interest (high counts): great important to control exotic species because once they become
blue heron, 10. Birds observed that do not breed in this area: established, overall diversity is reduced, and fewer wildlife
long-billed curlew, 1; eastern wood-pewee, 2; yellow-bellied species can be supported. The changes brought about by the
sapsucker, 1; least flycatchers, 5; red-eyed vireo, 3. introduction of an invasive species such as guineagrass are
nearly impossible to reverse, unless action is taken early.
Page 3
Red knot project: south texas coast
Page 4
Red knot project: south texas coast
L to R: Winnie Shrum, David Newstead, Jackie and Humphrey Sitters, April Anderson, Ron Kratzer, Larry
Niles, Brent Ortego, Cliff Shackelford, Cullen Hanks. Photo by Winnie Shrum.
Page 6
Treasurer’s report Memorial donation
By Leatrice Koch
August 1-September 30, 2009
Robert M. White, Corpus Christi, sent this mes-
Beginning balance. .................................... $17,072.59 sage to the Coastal Bend Audubon Society:
Income......................... $ 3,735.81
Expenses ........................... 691.73
.............................................................. ...... $3,044.08 "Please accept the enclosed donation of $250 in
memory of my wife, Sheryl White."
Page 7
Non-Profit Org.
U. S. Postage
The Newsletter of the Coastal
Bend Audubon Society PAID
Phone: 361-885-6203
Email: coastalbendaudubon@gmail.com
http://www.coastalbendaudubon.org