Ernie Edmundson, Coastal Bend Bays Foundation Volunteer of the Year 2006
Photos from Matagorda Turtle Patrol 2006
Paul and Mary Meredith Write Monthly Nature Column
Matagorda Island Turtle Patrol Update
Matagorda Turtle Patrol Finds a Turtle!
Rat Patrol: The Adventure Continues
Changes in Mid-Coast Chapter Organization Chart
ANWR Lamar Unit Small Mammal Survey
Chapter Member Named Volunteer of the Year
Chapter Members Assist Distressed Sea Turtle
What I Learned as a Van Tour Guide
Mid-Coast Members Rescue Great Blue Heron
Awards Presented May 12, 2007
John O'Connell presented awards for Secretary Tracie Teague at the Chapter meeting. The complete list of awards is available in the Minutes of the meeting.
Surfside Turtle Nest
By Tracie Teague, Certified Texas Master Naturalist
Matagorda Island is not the only place Chapter members are supporting the project to save the Kemp's ridley sea turtle. Watch this space for more information on efforts between our area and Galveston, and specific information about the recent Surfside find.
Matagorda Island Turtle Patrol May 7-10, 2007
By Bill Farnsworth, Certified Texas Master Naturalist
After an early rising and driving to Aransas National Wildlife Refuge for a 7AM boat departure, the team of Sandra Gay, Kris Kirkwood, Donna McKinney, and Bill Farnsworth set off on a 4-day turtle patrol on Matagorda Island. Upon arrival at the Island, the team stowed their supplies and promptly initiated beach-side search for evidence of turtle nests – particularly Kemp's ridley turtles.
The beach was in terrible condition – Sargassum heavy all along the beach and piled a couple of feet high at some points. Beach erosion prevented early access to the north end due to high tides, but by afternoon the team of Sandra Gay and Bill Farnsworth managed to reach about 22 miles north of the entrance road. Deeming it time to return, that team started back. Slightly before 4 pm and after driving some 30+ miles, the team noted turtle tracks and identified a nest site. The track included an apparently abandoned nest hole, and a possible nest exploration site along the tracks.
It was too late in the day to arrange for nest excavation, so the decision was made to guard the nest site overnight. Sandra volunteered to do so. Using directions from Adolfo, our guardian angel on the island, Sandra and Bill made a quick trip back to headquarters on an untraveled access road over a cliff and through marshes to the center island “highway,” while Kris and Donna guarded the nest site. Sandra returned with supplies in a Refuge truck and plowed her way back through the marsh and over the cliff, in just enough time for Kris and Donna to rush down the beach, over the cliff, and across the marsh just before darkness hit.
Sandra enjoyed her night alone on the beach. No predators appeared except for the mosquitoes that came out in force when the wind died down in the early morning. Much of the next day was spent in exploring options for a smoother way off the island in order to protect the turtle eggs. Eventually 98 eggs were extracted and transported to the Matagorda Island boat dock for their subsequent trip to the Padre Island National Seashore incubation facility.
The next day, “Eagle-Eye” Donna spotted a faint trail. Although some of us doubted, we sought a professional opinion, and Chad Stinson arrived for nest exploration. He found the nest, right where Donna suspected it was. Never again will we doubt her eye for tracks!
Inspection showed a fair amount of calcification of the eggs, indicating that the nesting might have occurred as much as two days before we found it. Because of the danger of moving older eggs and the roughness of the beach, and because the nest was in a fairly elevated location, the decision was made to leave the nest on the beach. Chad Stinson and Katherine Cullen erected two barrier fences, one inside the other, to deter predators—feral hogs, coyotes, raccoons and others. Flags were installed to discourage birds from leaving feeding litter that might attract predators.
Later this summer, we may be able to document the first natural hatchlings to return to the sea from Matagorda Island. Sandra, Kris, Donna, and Bill hope to be there to do it.
Linville Environmental Education Program (LEEP) Pilot Year Completed
By Tracie Teague, Certified Texas Master Naturalist
The Conoco-Phillips
environmental education pilot program (LEEP) at the Little Linnville Wetland and
Wildlife Habitat located in Old Ocean off of Hwy 35 developed for Sweeny
Elementary, in conjunction with ConocoPhillips, by Texas Master Naturalists from
Mid-Coast and Cradle of Texas has now been completed. Students ranged in age
from 3 (Pre-K) to 5th grade:
Fall - 2006
3rd grade: 125 + 8 = 133
4th grade: 160 + 9 = 169
Spring - 2007
K 129 + 12 = 141
1st 167 + 8 = 175
2nd 160 + 8 = 168
4th 147 + 9 = 156
Pre-K 53 + 7 = 60
5th 148 + 9 = 157
Total students: 1, 089
Total adults: 70
Grand Total 1,159
Pre-K through Fifth grade programs were developed according to TEKS for each grade and for each grade a completely different program was created. The focus was age appropriate hands-on environmental education that reinforced classroom learning. Preliminary reports indicate the overall program was an outstanding success. Representatives from ConocoPhillips along with the TMN Project Leader, Carolyn May-Monie, Cradle of Texas, and Tracie Teague, Program Dev elopement Chair, will be having a wrap-up meeting to discuss results and to determine program viability.
LEEP goals were reached with the help of Bryan Adams, USF&W Mid-Coast Refuge, Keith Ramos, USF&W Mid-Coast Refuge, Sharon Hanzik, Brazos Bend State Park, TPWD, Mark Hanson, Director of Brazoria County Parks, Carol Jones, Gulf Coast Bird Observatory, Cherie Allen, Gulf Coast Wildlife Rescue, and Ray Olachia, Native American. In addition to taking time out from their work, many of these organizations allowed access to their educational tools. Their contributions made the project far less complicated. TMN-Cradle of Texas members Ed Barrios, Marty Cornell, Al Brushwood, Bob Schwebel, Kirby Rapstein, Roy Morgan, Anna Hay, Rainbo Johnson, Mary Helen Israel, Jerry Krampota, Jerry Eppner, Gerald Forest, Ruby Lewis, Rich Tillman, Mickey Dufilho, Tom Morris, Georgia Monnerat, Carl Dodson, and Phil Huxford, were essential to conducting the programs.TMN- Mid-Coast Members, Tracie Teague, Paul and Mary Meredith and John O'Connell were especially vital to the project. Special thanks to Maurice Monie for his invaluable help as well as Johnny, Wilkie, and James from ConocoPhillips.
One of the issues facing program viability is volunteer support from TMN. C-BISD (Brazoria) has already requested their 5th grade be able to participate next year and Van Vleck (Matagorda) has been mentioned as a district that greatly interests ConocoPhillips.
If you are interested in helping with this program next year or for additional information, please contact Tracie Teague by email or phone her at 979-798-1936.
Welder Wildlife Foundation Training
Paul and Mary Meredith and Ray and Kris Kirkwood were
invited by WWF to join with
others to participate in training for volunteering at the Refuge. As the program
grows,
more Chapter members will be invited to join the group.
2007 Officers Elected
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President |
Paul Meredith |
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Vice-President |
Marilyn Sitz |
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Secretary |
Tracie Teague |
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Treasurer |
Shara Branstetter |
Ernie Edmundson Earns Citizen Volunteer of the Year Award
Coastal Bend Bays Foundation has named Ernie Edmundson Citizen Volunteer for 2006. The MidCoast Chapter is proud to count her among our membership. Columnist David Sikes wrote in the Corpus Christi Caller-Times:
"This is the fourth year the foundation has chosen to showcase the conservation efforts of Coastal Bend residents, many of whom might otherwise escape notice. While a show of gratitude is nice, I'm fairly sure these folks don't need our encouragement to continue their good works.
However, I'm hoping that celebrating them publicly might strengthen the positive stigma attached to the actions of people who incorporate conservation into their lives and remind us of our moral obligation to do the same. They bring conservation into classrooms. They enlighten communities on resource management. They attend meetings and keep watch over policy makers. They demonstrate common sense business practices. They lead by example."
Fellow member Lonnie Matthew wrote the nomination that won Ernie this prestigious award:
Ernie Edmundson is a Master Gardener, Texas Master Naturalist, member of the Native Plant Society of Texas, on the board of Aransas First land trust organization, and one of the founders of Stewardship Aransas, a non-profit nature preservation corporation dedicated to awareness and education regarding conservation of the natural beauty of the Live Oak Peninsula.
Ernie is a volunteer educator. She is a self-taught expert on native plants and is very knowledgeable about plants and birds. She presents many programs to Native Plant Society, Master Naturalists, and Master Gardeners from Palacios to Kingsville. She also presents programs at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge and many area garden clubs. She is a resource at the Corpus Christi Botanical Gardens.
As an Aransas/San Patricio County Master Gardener, Ernie has assisted hundreds of newcomers in saving their money, time, and water in their landscaping needs. Ernie is always cheerful, helpful, and knowledgeable. The Coastal Bend region has greatly benefited from her abilities.
This is the second consecutive year Coastal Bend Bays Foundation has honored a MidCoast Master Naturalist. See the story on the 2005 honoree, Ray Little, in the Archives.
Chapter Meeting November 2006
Attendees at November 2006 meeting and election: Left to right: John O'Connell, Tracie Teague (incoming secretary), Mary Meredith, Paul Meredith (incoming President), Earl Matthew, Norm Hirsch, Mike Mauldin, Clint Edmundson, Steve Andrews, Ernie Edmundson, Ray Little, Barbara McKnight, Les Sorenson, Mason Fleming, Dick Klopshinske, Barbara Klopshinske.
Some Photos from Matagorda Turtle Patrol 2006
TJ Fox & Ray Kirkwood document another nesting by the turtle TJ and Mike Burnett found earlier
(See Matagorda Turtle Patrol Finds a Turtle! for that story)
Doc & Martha McAllister observe an egg recovery from the last nest of the season
Other Finds on Turtle Patrol:
Paul and Mary Meredith Write Monthly Nature Column
Paul and Mary Meredith, as Texas Master Naturalists, have been asked to write a nature column for the Victoria Advocate. This activity relates directly to our TMN mission, "
To develop a corps of well-informed volunteers to provide education, outreach, and service dedicated to the beneficial management of natural resources and natural areas within their communities." The October 2006 article concerned helping animals and can be read at http://www.thevictoriaadvocate.com/632/story/7934.html. Paul will forward future columns directly to the membership.ANWR Kiosk Project
Project Overview
By David Clayton
The project was a true collaboration. Refuge staff, Texas Master Naturalists, Friends of Aransas and Matagorda Island (FAMI) members, resident volunteers, spouses of all of the above, and a few "freelance" volunteers all participated.
The design work originated with Refuge staff and was adapted by Norm Hirsch and Carroll Marsh. Site preparation was divided between staff and volunteers. The prefabrication work was almost all done by volunteers. Norm Hirsch, Martha Riccio, Dick Klopshinske, and myself participated in that phase. The last step volunteers were involved in was the concrete work. For safety reasons, the staff did the final assembly of the prefabricated panels and tops. The signage is now being produced and should be done in 3 to 6 months.
I found the project educational for myself and others in many ways. The best part of the experience was talking with refuge visitors about what we were doing and about the level of volunteer involvement. When we were digging up one site for the concrete work, we found a rough earth snake (virginia striatula). I was moving him away from the site and a large group of visitors asked me what I had. I got to tell them all about those shy little snakes that most Refuge visitors never see. That is the kind of opportunity that raises a day of "labor" to a different level—at least it does for me.
Construction Progress
By Charla Marsh
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L to R–Harold Martell, Carroll Marsh, David Clayton, Larry Hunter, & Norman Hirsch |
L to R–Dick Klopshinske, Jon Prater, Martha & Ted Riccio, Jim Rummage, Larry Hunter, & Jack Hallonquist |
The kiosk didn't look like much at first, but in the near future it will rise from the dirt and concrete to provide information, instruction, and interesting facts about the refuge—of course that’s what a kiosk is suppose to do. A small crew of dedicated volunteers, with the assistance of refuge staff, have been working in phases to complete kiosks at the Alligator Pond, Dagger Point, and the Tower. These three kiosks are nearly complete and there are already rumors of more to come. Volunteers not pictured: Nancy Hunter and Charla Marsh.
Report to the Chapter
By Norm Hirsch
The ANWR Kiosk Project is officially complete. The project begin Jan. 21, 2006 when TMN members David Clayton, Carroll Marsh, and Norman Hirsch met with Charles Holbrook, ANWR Project Leader/Refuge Manager, to review plans for the construction of three kiosks on the refuge. Construction drawings were made by Norman Hirsch and submitted to Charles Holbrook for approval. Drawings were approved by Charles Holbrook and on March 11, 2006, work began on the project under the supervision of FAMI Project Coordinator Carroll Marsh. One crew, consisting of TMN members David Clayton and Norman Hirsch and other volunteers began the project site layout, earth excavation, and construction of concrete forms for two sites. The second crew, consisting of TMN members Martha Riccio and Dick Klopshinske and other volunteers constructed the roof and panels in the ANWR shop area.
On March 17, 2006, TMN member David Clayton and other volunteers poured concrete in the two constructed forms. On March 18, 2006, TMN members helped finish the construction of the three roof sections and six panels. Additional work days to erect the three kiosks—consisting of a roof and two panels per kiosk—were cancelled by ANWR due to the construction safety hazard of lifting and placing heavy loads by volunteers. This work was completed by the Refuge employees. The three kiosks are now complete and in place for Refuge visitors to enjoy. One is located near the Alligator Pond north of the Visitor Center; one at Dagger Point, and the third between the Tower and the Boardwalk.
Meals and water for these work days was provided by FAMI under the supervision of Charla Marsh. This was a major project and the cooperative help from ANWR, the TMN Mid-Coast Chapter members, FAMI members, and others made this project a success. A "Big Thanks" goes to everyone who contributed to the success of this project.
Matagorda Island Turtle Patrol Update
T.J. reported the current Matagorda Island turtle patrol teams have so far found 2 turtles and their nests; Mike Burnett & T.J. Fox found the first turtle and her nest on April 26, 2006.This nest had 96 eggs and was clutch #7.On May 10, two weeks and 1 day later, Ray Kirkwood and Donna McKinney found a turtle on the nest. It turned out this was the same turtle as found by Mike & T.J.; this nest had 104 eggs. Also on May 10, Mike Burnett & T.J. Fox found a third nest but no turtle. That nest had 120 eggs. The record number of nests from last season was 51 for the entire Texas coast; as of today’s meeting, the count stands at 50.
Note: More photos of MITP 2006, courtesy of Mike Burnett, can be seen on the Chapter Activities page.
Matagorda Island Turtle Patrol Finds a Live Turtle & Nest
TJ Fox, Certified Texas Master Naturalist
It's finally happened!! Wednesday morning April 26, 2006, about 11 a m, I made the call to the ANWR radio operator...."Aransas Base...Turtle Patrol...WE HAVE A TURTLE ON THE BEACH!"
That's right, Mike Burnett and I were privileged to find and document the first sighting of a nesting Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle on Matagorda Island. What a great experience!! If you'd like to hear more than you probably want, read on...
We were heading north just over 17 miles from the patrol entrance road. Mike spotted her first, less then 100 feet away and directly ahead of the truck. She had apparently finished nesting (We hoped it wasn't a false crawl) and was headed toward the Gulf about 40 feet away. The first order of business was to prevent her from reaching the water. That wasn't an easy task—she was very strong. Once she was under control, we made our call for assistance. Chad Stinson, ANWR Biologist, was immediately on his way.
Now it was time to locate and mark the nest area. Let me assure you that with current beach conditions it was not easy. Even knowing tracks were close, I could not see them. I held onto the turtle while Mike sought out and followed the tracks to the possible nesting site. He marked it with a plastic bottle and returned to relieve me. The suspected nesting site was on the side of the first dune some 100 feet or more from the water.
| After taking pictures, we set about searching for tags. We found no pit, metal or living tag, but she did have a tag scar on her right front flipper. We measured her both with calipers and soft tape and then set about "tagging" her. The pit tag was first, followed by a metal tag. I felt like a paramedic, but I almost cried when the entry point began to bleed. Mike assured me that she wasn't going to die as we applied antibiotic ointment. He attached the metal tag with professional ease. We scanned the area with the pit tag reader after inserting the pit tag to be sure it was working and carefully recorded both tag numbers. Finally, we took a tissue sample and our work was complete. Our training from Dr. Donna Shaver made it easy for us to collect all the data and attach the tags. |
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| EXCEPT that Chad wanted her restrained until he arrived! Boy, it's not easy to hold a Kemp's who is determined to reach water. Thank goodness for Mike's strength. We took turns at holding her firmly while applying as little pressure as possible to her shell. Finally Chad arrived. After more pictures, we released her and within three minutes she was into the water and gone. |  |
| Now Chad's task was to locate the nest and retrieve the eggs. I am amazed that a sea creature with so little capability on land can crawl 100 feet from the water, dig a hole, lay eggs, and cover the area so completely that it takes a determined search to locate the nest. In fact the nest was about three feet from Mike's marker. It yielded 96 eggs. Mike and I felt like grandparents. |  |
Finding a turtle is a matter of lucky timing, but finding a nest takes lots of work. Had we arrived three minutes later, she would have been gone and we would have been very unlikely to see the tracks. Last year we were lucky to have beach conditions that made seeing tracks a breeze. Not this year! The secret is eyes on the beach. The more the better.
"Our" turtle was part of the largest nesting day on the Texas coast since the recovery program began. Padre Island National Seashore had nine nest retrievals the same day and the season is still young. Let's hope this success rate continues!
Matagorda Turtle Patrol 2005 Pays Off!
The Mid-Coast Chapter members are all godparents, sort of. At 11:00 am Thursday, June 2nd as duty patrollers from the Kemp's Ridley Turtle Patrol on Matagorda Island, Mary and Paul Meredith spotted turtle tracks at mile 20.76. One set of tracks went inland and another set went out to the Gulf. About 50 feet above the highest line of weed washed up on the beach was an area of disturbed sand with lots of flipper and claw marks indicating a nest of eggs. Padre Island NS was contacted and Cynthia Rubio of PINS collected the eggs for hatching and release. This is the first ever documented nesting of Kemp's Ridley turtles on Matagorda.
And Again: At 9:30 Monday June 6th, Texas Master Naturalists Hollis McKinney & Sherrie Krause found tracks leading to a Kemp's Ridley Turtle nest on Matagorda Island. The nest was located at the south end of the island about half way between the fence and Cedar Bayou and mid-way between the upper edge of the seaweed and the foredunes. Cynthia Rubio (National Park Service) collected 98 eggs from the nest and carried them back to Padre Island National Seashore for incubation and subsequent release of the hatchlings. Ms. Rubio estimated that the eggs were laid about 24 hours prior to their excavation. This is the second sea turtle nest ever documented at Matagorda Island. The 98 eggs from this nest are clutch #34 for the 2005 Texas Gulf Coast nesting season. Congratulations to Hollis and Sherrie and also to the rest of the TMN Matagorda Turtle Patrollers!
And Again! Donna McKinney and Ray Kirkwood found the third nest on Matagorda on June 8. This time Cynthia Rubio could not get to Matagorda to collect the eggs until the following morning, so Ray Kirkwood spent the night on the beach to guard the eggs.
Other Activities 2005 & 2006
Volunteering with Vickers First-Graders at Coleto Creek
Working with Padre Island National Seashore & Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtles
Working with The ARK and Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network
Successful Van Tour Season
David Clayton, Certified Texas Master Naturalist
The van tour season has now ended at ANWR. Bernice Jackson tells me that the guides served 511 refuge visitors this season. That is the highest season total ever for guided tours. Bernice and all of the refuge staff are very appreciative of the tremendous efforts Mid-Coast Chapter participants made in offering these interpretive tours. Van tour guides included: Robert Angerstein, Shara Branstetter, Annie & David Clayton, Clint & Ernie Edmundson, Frankie & T.J. Fox, Norman Hirsch, Barbara & Richard Klopshinske, Sherrie Krause, Charla & Carroll Marsh, Earl & Lonnie Matthew, Joan Muchmore, Martha Riccio, and Linda Serrill.
Guides report that the one-on-one experience with visitors to the Refuge is very satisfying. If you would like to participate next year, contact contact David by email or call 361-552-5187
If you want to know more before you decide, check out What I Learned as a Van Tour Guide, an earlier article by David Clayton.
Rat Patrol: The Adventure Continues
By T J Fox, Certified Texas Master Naturalist
If you have not been keeping up with the adventures of our intrepid explorers, you might want to read ANWR Lamar Unit Small Mammal Survey before you read this one.
Our outing on Monday, February 13, took the members of Rat Patrol to new heights and exposed them to new challenges. On Sunday Hollis, Ray and I baited Transects #1 and 2.
Monday morning we were back in the field about 8:30am to see if any thing had visited our traps. We were rewarded on inspecting our first station on Transect #1. A fine healthy White Footed Mouse had decided to partake of our offering of seed. Several stations later we were surprised to find a Carolina Wren, our first avian visitor. We thought that would be the highlight for the day but, a bigger surprise was to follow.
Our first station on Transect #2 produced another White Footed Mouse. Hollis commented as he observed her in the jar that she was certainly fat. Ray commented, “Maybe she’s pregnant.” Seconds later she gave birth to a baby. We quickly released her into the grass in hopes she would deliver more healthy babies. Inspecting the area, we found two more hairless babies about the size of large raisins. Now we can add “mouse mid-wife” to our resume.
On the other end of the scale, we found a dead Fulvous Harvest Mouse in one trap. It’s now in my freezer. In a plastic bag of course….Frankie has her limits. It will be delivered to Darren at ANWR for further study.
Changes in Mid-Coast Chapter Organization Chart
Shara Branstetter graciously volunteered to assume the post of Chapter Treasurer left open by the recent resignation of Charla and Carroll Marsh. The Executive Committee unanimously approved Shara's appointment.
Leah Harter-Frazier has agreed to take over as 2005 Class Representative, replacing Sam Burnett, since Sam was elected Recording Secretary.
ANWR Lamar Unit Small Mammal Survey
According to Donna McKinney, Hollis went to ANWR biologists Darrin Welchert and Chad Stinson and told them he was interested in doing field work at ANWR. He was told ANWR wanted a small-mammal study done at the Lamar Unit, so Hollis volunteered to do it. Hollis, Darrin, and Chad developed the protocol and the rest is history. The Aransas National Wildlife Refuge Lamar Unit Small Mammal Survey was inaugurated, and thus was born:
Rat Patrol!
By T J Fox, Certified Texas Master Naturalist
In early February 2005, Hollis McKinney asked me if I would be interested in assisting with a “small mammal survey” on ANWR’s Lamar unit, located just north of Rockport. It sounded interesting, so I said yes. After almost a year, I can truthfully declare, “There’s nothing quite like the smell of an excited rat in the morning.” Norway Rats tend to get excited when caught in a live trap. When they’re excited, their intestinal processes are affected and they defecate as extensively as possible. Not a pleasant experience. Thank goodness it only happens occasionally.
That, however, is just part of the experience. As Ron Outen observed, “You bring me out into a place where I can step on a rattlesnake or cottonmouth, be swarmed by mosquitoes, and come in contact with black widow spiders. Most of the trees, bushes, and vines have thorns. AND you want me to fight my way through the marsh grass to catch rats?” Hollis and I agreed that seemed to sum it up. At some point, our project became “Rat Patrol.”
The survey began with Hollis and Donna working with Darrin Welchert from ANWR. I joined in late February, Ron Outen assisted several times during the summer, and Ray Kirkwood joined the effort in mid-summer. Hollis led the effort until late 2005. Since then, Ray and I have kept the survey going.
Let me describe the operation. Supplies needed include live-animal traps, surveyor’s flags, marking pins, and bait. Pick a likely area where small mammals should live. Measure off 300 meters in a reasonably straight line. Every 15 meters, plant a surveyor’s flag marked with a station number (1-20). At each station, place two of the traps.
Now you’re ready to begin. The survey requires two consecutive days every 2 weeks. Take about 2 hours in the evening of the first day to bait the 80 traps on two of the four transects. Place the bait at the back of the trap and set the trap door. On the morning of the second day, inspect each trap. Transfer critters caught in the traps to a clear plastic jar so they can be identified. After identification, release the critters and leave all traps open and unbaited. At the next 2-day session 2 weeks later, bait and inspect the traps on the other two transects.
When we began the survey, bait consisted of 4x1-inch pieces of wax paper wrapped around a mixture of peanut butter and seeds. We have since changed the bait to seed only—the peanut butter was a fire-ant magnet! The survey has been expanded to include a 100-meter long "drift fence," a solid barrier consisting of an aluminum strip about a foot high. The fence has plastic buckets at either end and two traps on either side about mid-fence. The buckets are intended to trap critters moving along the fence. We’ve also added motion-sensitive cameras in several locations.
Anticipation is always high when you see a closed door. Weight (and smell) can give a clue to the contents. With Hollis in charge, identification was no problem. Ray and I have to consult the reference book on mammals of Texas quite often. Most commonly, we see White-footed mice, Northern pygmy mice, and Fulvous harvest mice. Occasionally we will find a Marsh rice rat, a Hispid cotton rat, a Southern plains woodrat, or the really smelly Norway rat. Our most unexpected capture was an immature Virginia Opossum. Our rarest find was a Least shrew, caught in the drift fence. On several occasions our survey has netted a big fat zero. Monday, January 31, 2006 was our most productive day—our traps contained 20 critters!
This is my first experience with a wildlife survey. My snake leggings remind me of the need for caution—we’ve caught and inspected two cottonmouths—and despite mosquito swarms, black widow spiders, and thorns, it has been a good experience.
2006 Officers
 | Paul Meredith—President |
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Norman Hirsch—Vice President |
| Sam Burnett—Secretary |
| Shara Branstetter—Treasurer |
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Sam Burnett, Secretary |
Shara
Branstetter
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Chapter Member Named Coastal Bend Bays Volunteer of the Year
Ray Little, charter member of the Mid-Coast Chapter, was named Coastal Bend Bays Citizen Volunteer of the Year November 17, 2005. From the CC Caller-Times: Citizen Volunteer - Ray Little has held many positions, but he might be best known as one of the longest running advocates for whooping cranes. He's been a birder since he was 4. He's a Texas Master Naturalist, a founding member of the Coastal Bend Audubon Society and the Frontera Audubon Society in the Rio Grande Valley to name but a few of his affiliations with birding and wildlife groups. He's a 30-year volunteer at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. Perhaps Little is best known as a 22-year veteran narrator on whooping crane boat tours, during which time he may have set a record for repeating the same jokes more times than anyone in history. |
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Text from Ray Little's Nomination for Citizen Volunteer:
Ray Little started birding when he was four years old by learning to read the Arm & Hammer Baking Powder Bird Cards that showed the colored pictures of many birds and a description of each. As a youngster, a biology teacher lived close by and took him on many nature trips through the nearby woods and creek to study birds and other wildlife. He went to Texas A&M at College Station in 1940 to major in Fish & Game, but World War II interrupted his studies. After serving his time in the Pacific, he returned to A&M and the name of the major had been changed to Wildlife Management. He has continued to take courses in ornithology and to lecture throughout his lifetime.
He married Margie in 1947 and has two sons, Terry and Dell, both avid birders from a very early age. He has led field trips for many groups and organizations. He served on the founding committee of the Frontera Audubon Society in the Lower Rio Grande Valley and also the Coastal Bend Audubon Society in Corpus Christi. He has served as an officer from the President on down, including many cases on the Board of Directors of many of the birding organizations.
Ray is a Texas Master Naturalist, having been part of the first graduating class of the Mid-Coast Chapter in 2000. He is a member of Coastal Bend Audubon Society, Audubon Outdoor Club of Corpus Christi, Aransas Bird & Nature Club of Rockport, Texas Ornithological Society, American Birding Association, Gulf Coast Bird Observatory, and many others. He is Chairman of Rockport Demonstration Bird & Butterfly Garden, Chairman and Developer of Aransas Woods Nature Sanctuary, Founding Committee and Developer of the Fred Jones Nature Sanctuary, Friend of Connie Hagar Cottage Sanctuary-Rockport, Friends of Goose Island State Park, and Friends of Aransas and Matagorda Island NWR. He currently is on the stewardship committee and still does most of the maintenance for Aransas Woods, now a part of the Aransas First Land Trust properties, and for several other Coastal Bend birding sites.
He is very proud of the “Awareness Award” that was bestowed upon him by the Kingsville Bird & Wildlife Club in 2003.
But Ray's Special Interest is in Whooping Cranes. He has worked closely as a volunteer with the ANWR Biologists for over 30 years. He served as Wildlife and Whooping Crane Narrator on the Wharf Cat from Port Aransas and Rockport for 22 years and recently “retired” from a formal role.
The above is the “short list” of activities for someone who has given tirelessly of himself for the benefit of the Coastal Bend. We are pleased to nominate Ray Little of Rockport for the Citizen Volunteer Award.
Earl Matthew M.D.,
Board of Directors, Aransas First and National Wildlife Federation
T. J. Fox, Past President,
Mid- Coast Master Naturalist, Inc.
John Beree, Treasurer,
Aransas Bird and Nature Club
Two other people we know well were also honored at the banquet. From the Caller-Times:
Public Awareness - Jay Tarkenton helped developed a marine education program through the Center for Coastal Studies at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, which broadcasts a message of wetland conservation to many. His hands-on style of education has resulted in the acquisition of a field classroom on Aransas Bay and a shallow-draft boat for aquatic studies. His enthusiasm for life, coastal ecology and the preservation of local history has helped instill a passion for these in those who hear his message.
Higher Education - Liz Smith has for 15 years been a tireless crusader for the preservation of Coastal Bend ecosystems through the Center for Coastal Studies at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. She's authored, co-authored or helped develop more than 74 environmentally focused publications and presentations on the subject of coastal habitat conservation and management. She's particularly dedicated to including students in all her research. Recently, Smith helped Refugio County in its effort to create a wetland education center.
TMN State Wins National Award
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A National Award was presented to the Texas Master Naturalist Program by the U.S. Department of the Interior to recognize the Master Naturalist Program for its achievement.. The award was accepted by Michelle Haggerty, TPWD and Elizabeth Gregory, Texas County Extension, in Washington D.C. The award belongs to all the Master Naturalist volunteers, since the program would be nonexistent without our efforts. Michelle stated that the turtle patrol efforts of the Mid-Coast Chapter volunteers played a part in consideration for the award. |
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Chapter Members Aid Distressed Sea Turtle
By David Clayton, Certified Texas Master Naturalist
On June 25, Annie and I were granted a special opportunity to assist a distressed sea turtle. Early that afternoon, we received a call from Kevin Stanzcik, a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department game warden for Calhoun County. We had worked with Kevin in the past on a dolphin stranding, and he remembered us when he got a call about a distressed sea turtle.
Kevin needed someone to transport the turtle to The Animal Rehabilitation Keep (ARK) in Port Aransas—none of the county personnel could be spared for the long trip on such a busy weekend. They would even bring the animal to our house, if we could take care of the transport. We agreed and then called The ARK to let them know we were coming.
Very shortly, a TPW truck backed into our driveway. Wrapped in wet burlap in the bed of the truck was an adult loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta). We were immediately very concerned for this turtle. It was covered with barnacles, algae, and even sea lettuce. The plant growth and barnacle crusting was so thick that it was hosting bristle worms and baby crabs. Barnacles were attached to all of the turtle’s flippers and even around the head and neck area. The fact that sea lettuce needs sunlight to grow indicated that this turtle had been doing a lot of floating, and we knew that infestations of parasites or infections will cause sea turtles to float. The turtle was very lethargic.
We wet the turtle down thoroughly and began to set up our little Saturn Ion for the trip. I covered the back seat with plastic sheeting while Annie soaked a foam pad with water. Once those were in place, we moved the turtle onto the pad. The animal covered two-thirds of our car seat with its head and tail toward the doors—its shell hung off the side of the seat a few inches. Annie then covered the carapace and flippers with wet towels. Within just a few minutes we were on the road with our patient.
We were somewhat anxious on the trip to Port Aransas, but it was uneventful. We kept the skin of the turtle damp with water we brought along. The turtle offered no resistance and moved very little during the drive.
Once we arrived at The ARK, the staff there immediately began their animal-intake procedures and allowed us to remain and watch them work. Dr. Tony Amos weighed the turtle (66 pounds) and issued instructions for its care. The turtle-care room at The ARK has a number of large, deep tanks for sea turtles, but our patient was not yet ready for one of those. A kiddie pool was set on the floor with a clean, damp foam pad in the bottom. Dr. Amos measured the turtle and Annie recorded the data on a statistics sheet for him. The measurements she recorded were metric and they just didn't stick in our heads, but I would estimate the carapace of the turtle was about 30" long and about 22" across.
The next step was to administer water and antibiotics through an IV inserted just to the side of the base of the neck. Dr. Amos told us that the loggerhead would now have a good chance to survive and be released back into the wild. The ARK has been very successful at rehabilitating ailing loggerhead turtles.
By the time we left, the turtle was already moving around more in the kiddie pool. We hope it has a speedy recovery!
Our thanks go to the TPW wardens for this opportunity, the ARK staff for letting us observe and participate in their intake procedures, and especially to Cynthia Rubio at Padre Island National Seashore—she has taught us so much about sea turtles that we felt confident taking on this task.
ANWR Van Tours
This story shows how valuable the tour can be to the guide as well as to the public. Consider becoming a guide next year.
What I Learned as a Van Tour Guide
By David Clayton, Certified Texas Master Naturalist
Volunteering as a van tour guide at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge this year was more than just fun. For me, it was a very educational experience. Every time we took a trip out in the van with a group of visitors, I learned something. This learning may be the most valuable aspect of volunteering as an interpretive guide.
On one recent tour, I learned that it is important to some visitors that we learn the scientific names for at least the dominant, or prominent, species. One gentleman taking the tour that day was a retired industrial forester from the state of Washington. At our tour stop at a large Blackjack oak near the Visitor’s Center, I spoke about the oak and how it relates to the name of the peninsula occupied by the mainland portion of the refuge. As we pulled away, he asked me, “So, that tree is Quercus what?” I answered, “Quercus marilandica.” He smiled, and seemed to loosen up a bit. What I gained in that one moment was credibility with that man. I had his attention, and his participation, for the rest of the tour. If I had fumbled his question, not knowing what he was talking about, I doubt he would have listened to another word I said.
How did I know the scientific name of that tree? I learned it from my free book on the oaks of the Eastern U.S., which I got because Linda Serrill recommended it and told me how to obtain it. Thanks to Linda, I had it with me in the van that day, so I could have looked up what I needed to know. Even being able to do that would have given me credibility with our visitor. A van tour guide doesn’t have to know everything, but he or she has to be willing to try to find out what a visitor wants to know.
On several other days I learned how important it is to have a wide variety of information to impart. One afternoon a very pleasant couple was chatting with me before boarding the van. They told me that they had enjoyed the tour so much the week before, with Master Naturalist guide Robert Angerstein, that they had decided to come take it again. I was able to gather some of what Robert had focused on the day they were out with him. From there, I chose to emphasize points other than what Robert had covered. They told me several times how much they had enjoyed both tours. My thanks go to Robert for giving those folks such a great time that they just had to do it again. My job was easier than his—he had built for them an expectation of an interesting, enjoyable time.
Being able to focus on more than one theme came in handy on other days, as well. Twice Annie and I had tour shifts, and it seemed to us that the refuge personnel had forgotten to let the animals out! Not a deer, armadillo, alligator, turtle, frog, hog, or javelina was to be found for the first three-fourths of the tour. As luck would have it, however, the wildflowers were beginning to appear. We were able to focus attention on the flowering plants, pollinators, fruits, and so on. The beautiful and fascinating things are always there; the challenge is to integrate whatever you find out there on a given day into your program. Preparing several broad themes to present is a good way to avoid being caught off-guard by circumstances.
The language we use to present our material matters, too. Milt, one of the winter-resident volunteers at the refuge, joined the tour one day. That trip was one of the few times I had younger people in the van. Several times I used terms they didn’t understand, so I had to back up and explain a little more. Later Milt and I got to talking about language and vocabularies. Milt, a retired educator, reminded me of a concept I have since tried to keep in my mind. It seems that most people have four vocabularies—hearing, speaking, writing, and reading. They will overlap, but they will be somewhat different. For our tour situation, it is the hearing vocabulary that matters most. Many people will not truly “see” an object pointed out to them if they do not have a word (and image) for that word in their hearing vocabulary.
For example, let us assume I am out in the van with two couples. One is from Minnesota and the other from Pennsylvania. As we pass an oak motte I direct their attention to it and speak of the animal diversity often found in a motte. The couple from Minnesota might see me pointing at a “grove,” while the couple from Pennsylvania sees me pointing out a “copse.” Just remember that even some native Texans will not be familiar with terms that we as Texas Master Naturalists have come to take as part of everyday speech.
I had to concentrate on this very problem one day with a couple from Germany. Each of them had a different level of proficiency in English (and my German is very weak!), so I had to choose my words carefully, and watch them closely, to be certain they understood what I was saying. They noticed my attentiveness, and were very appreciative. Lesson learned—stay attentive to reactions from the group, and tailor what you are saying accordingly.
My last story involves several lessons learned, but the story comes first. On April 9, Annie and I gave our last tours for the year. In the afternoon, Norm Hirsch joined us in the van. On the way back to the van at the Bay Overlook stop, Annie spotted an interesting insect. Now this was a day when the birds and animals were very scarce. Annie pointed the critter out to the group. I knew I had seen pictures of this red and black insect. I just could not recall what in the world it was. Expectant faces around us seemed to demand that I say, or do, something. I got down on my knees and coaxed the insect onto my hand. I was stalling, doing anything to keep the guests interested, while I tried to remember what this thing was. I pointed out its segmented body and counted the six legs, which identified it as an insect. It was now on my forearm. At this point Norm caught up with us from behind.
He said, “Oh, that’s a cow ant. When I was a kid they called them that because people said their bite is so painful it can kill a cow.” Imagine please, if you will, what was in my mind as I looked down at this creature crawling up my arm. I turned my arm, and the cow ant fell off. I thanked Norm for telling us about this interesting Aransas resident; he had really saved me twice. First, he had identified the insect, and secondly he had kept me from doing something even more stupid than what I had already done. By the way, the Audubon Field Guide to Insects lists the “cow ant” as “cow killer” and even repeats the old saying about how painful their bite is.
Multiple lessons come from that incident. “Don’t pick up strange insects.” “Learn all of the dangerous insects on the refuge.” “If you don’t know what it is, don’t point it out, or be ready to try to find out.” Those would be valid lessons learned, but I think another good one would be, “Always take Norm with you on the tour!”
Gold Dragonfly Milestone Awards for 1000 Hours of Service
By Janice Arnsdorff, Certified Texas Master Naturalist
Shirley Windhorst joins fellow Mid-Coast Chapter members John Beree and Ray Little, both of Rockport, in reaching the 1,000-hour milestone. All have contributed more than 1,200 hours, and several Chapter members are steadily creeping toward the 1,000-hour mark.
Shirley and Ray Little, along with others statewide who have reached that mark, were recognized October 24 at the TMN State Meet at Mo Ranch in the Texas Hill Country. Last year, John Beree was among an elite group of only six who were honored from close to 30 Chapters statewide.
Shirley is a human whirlwind. She joined the Texas Master Naturalist organization in 2001, and has since donated more than 1,200 volunteer hours to various causes, mostly as a guide and working behind the scenes at the Texas State Aquarium in Corpus Christi. She has reached more than 7,700 people in her efforts, and has completed more than 130 hours of Texas Master Naturalist (TMN) advanced training covering a broad range of topics.
Mid-Coast Members Rescue Great Blue Heron
By G.B. Heron, as told to Rolf & Penny Hong, Texas Master Naturalists
I like Rockport. I’ve lived here all my life and enjoy the water, the wetlands, and the protections afforded along the shores that spread out almost everywhere I look. I have hundreds of distant cousins in this same area stretching from Holiday Beach to Ingleside. I am, you know, one of the great blue herons with whom you humans share these shores. I was born not too many years ago near the Spanish Dagger on our island in the middle of Little Bay—in what your maps call the "ski basin." Year after year, without exception, I have lived and fished the waters of Little Bay, Canoe Lake, and the shores up toward the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. I have learned infinite patience. I have spent hours standing still in the shallows waiting for just the right second to use my lightning-fast beak to spear my dinner. I know enough to stay away from fishermen (although they are hard to resist when they are cleaning their catch), speeding boats, power lines, and water skiers.
So the other day there I was, gliding peacefully toward one of my favorite landing places on a quiet, green spot along Canoe Lake where I spend many of my more contemplative and culinary hours. All of a sudden, out of nowhere, I was grabbed by an unseen hand and forced into the water with a splash. Now don’t get me wrong—we blue herons can swim in deep water and can even pull ourselves free from water’s grasp. But, we don’t especially like that as much as our friends the pelicans. You see, we prefer to stand around in shallower waters no deeper than our beaks can reach.
So what do I do? I try flying out. But nooooo; another sudden splash when a second unseen hand slaps me back into almost the same spot. I am in deep water and too close to the bulkhead.
Surveying my predicament, I discover to my dismay that I am entwined in not one fishing line but in two—almost invisible, completely outfitted with sinkers, savage hooks, and live bait. I can’t flap my wings hard enough to break their bonds and the harder I flap, the more entangled I become.
That, by itself, would have been bad enough—when along the bulkhead I spot a stalking, miniature panther, staring at me through two emerald eyes and twitching a long, furry tail. I know, from some deep, instinctive part of my brain, that cats of any variety do not mix well with bound and tied birds of any feather.
Unable to flee, my instincts told me to protect myself at all costs. So I struck, fast as lightening, at a point midway between the green eyes of the small panther. Realizing that dinner could be found easier somewhere else, the panther withdrew.
But now I felt a tightening throughout my very being, my body (and, I should add, my spirit) becoming increasingly restrained. The monofilament lines began binding me, pulling me tighter and tighter, dragging me helplessly through the water toward the bulkhead.
Suddenly a net enshrouded my head, neck, and upper part of my body—holding me firmly against the bulkhead. I could barely move and my ability to throw my lightening-fast spear was lost to me.
It was only then that I noticed two of you humans—one carrying scissors and the other handling the fishing net. Now don’t get me wrong; I’ve lived around humans all my life and as two-legged species go, they are not an entirely disagreeable lot. But the proximity of these two was daunting, to say the least. The humans started their chirpings. “Pull that tighter... Watch those hooks... Keep an eye on that beak! Closer, so I can reach that other line.” Then a snip, a snip, and another snip— “Hey! Watch it, fellow. That last snip took one of my feathers."
Suddenly I was floating free. Except for losing that one small feather, everything felt pretty good. My wings worked, my neck worked, and my feet worked. Together the humans lifted me free of the water and into the air. Like Gulliver freed at last from his bonds, I flew up and up and on to my favorite secluded green place where I could recover and count my blessings.
And what blessings are those? What have I learned that I will have to teach my kids, who also like living around the waters of Rockport?
Well, I will tell them that times aren’t like they used to be before invisible monofilament fishing lines became so strong and so popular. And I’ll caution them, "Be careful where you fish and where you fly—just because you don’t see humans attending their lines, never, never assume there are no fishing lines lying around just waiting to reach out and grab you."