S IGNAL S MOKE The Newsletter of Travis Audubon Society
INSIDE VOLUME 57, NO. 3&4
THIS ISSUE ...
From the President...................................2
Hornsby Bend News...............................3
Naturalist’s Calendar...............................4
The Dan Callaway Report.......................5
TAS News & Notes..................................6
Balcones Songbird Festival ....................7
TAS Monthly Meeting News..................8
Notes from Chaetura Canyon.................9
Denney Ranch 2...................................10
Baker Sanctuary News.........................11
TAS Events.......................................12-13
TAS Supporters......................................14
TAS Classes............................................15
Travis Audubon Society
Membership Form ...................Back page
TAS Regular Monthly Meetings
Thursday, March 20, 7:00pm
Matagorda Island
Speaker: Dr. Wayne McAlister
Thursday, April 17, 7:00pm
Balcones Canyonlands Preserve
Speaker: Kevin Connally
LCRA Board Room
in the Hancock Building
at 3700 Lake Austin Blvd. Austin TX
Please note venue is subject to change
Doors open at 6:30 pm for social time
see page 8 for additional details

March/April 2008
Travis Audubon Society Birdathon 2008!
I
t’s not just another fun-filled birding event; it’s also a major fundraising opportunity for
the chapter. Anyone interested in birding or conservation is welcome. So whether you
have the skills of a fledgling or the eye of a hawk we invite you to this exciting annual
event and encourage you to bring along friends and family to join in the fun. The bird-a-thon
is not just confined to the Austin area, so bird-lovers of every region are welcome. Birdathon
2008 is open to anyone,
“I travel all over the world to see birds, but coming home to
Central Texas is often the best part of any trip. We are very
fortunate to live in such a bird-rich area and springtime here
is so special. I urge each of you to get out there for Travis
Audubon’s Birdathon on May 10th. Go with some fellow
birders, a group of students, or go it alone. Fill those pledge
cards and do your part to raise funds for the great projects that
TAS provides to protect birds and their habitats right here in
our area of the world.”
Victor Emanuel
How can you help? In so many ways!
1. Join a team or form your own team to bird and collect pledges by logging on to www.
travisaudubon.org (click BIRDATHON 2008)
2. Collect pledges for other teams
3. Bird on your own and pledge/collect pledges
4. Work on the Birdathon committee making phone calls, e-mailing, following up,
paperwork, general running around
5. Help plan & execute Birdathon day events or the Celebration Party.
6. Solicit sponsors, private, foundation or corporate donors or gift items that can be used for
prizes (optics, restaurant or service gift certificates)
7. Send in a check!
Team ideas:
1. If you’ve birded with a team previously, we urge you to do so again, either with the same
team or branch out and form new ones, and get started now.
2. Plan a team idea and solicit teammates via your own network or through the Birdathon
page on travisaudubon.org
3. Your team can bird for a half day, full day, or even multi-days. Here are some suggestions
for creative birding:
• Canoe or kayak birding
• Bike birding
• Greenbelt/Hike & Bike trail birding
• Specific areas such as Only East of I-35 continued on page 4
 Mission Statement
Travis Audubon Society The Travis Audubon Society promotes the enjoyment, understanding,
General Address and preservation of birds, other wildlife, and their habitats in Central Texas.
P.O. Box 40787, Austin TX 78704
Address for Donations From the TAS President
P.O. Box 40787, Austin TX 78704
Phone numbers listed below without
an area code are local numbers in the
512 area.
D ear members, the Travis Audubon Society has adopted the following
policy on recreational access in the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve:

“Travis Audubon Society, partner in the Balcones Canyonlands Conservation

OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS Plan (BCCP), and owner of 680 acres in the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve
2007-08
(BCP), supports the limited access to the BCP lands as described in the original
President management plan agreed to by all partners.The current drive by recreational
Marsha May 300-BIRD users for more widespread and unsupervised access must be carefully weighed
Vice President against the harm. Preserve lands should not be opened to additional use unless
Valarie Bristol 300-BIRD scientific study clearly demonstrates that no endangered species will be
Treasurer affected. The habitat in Travis County has been greatly reduced by development
Vacant 300-BIRD and the remaining preserves are a bare minimum to protect eight endangered
Secretary species and twenty-seven species that are at risk.
Vacant 300-BIRD
Directors Our community promised to preserve 30,428 acres, and it currently has only
Anne Donovan 27,000 acres in the BCP. Until the preserves are complete, any damage to
Sam Fason
Gray Jolink current preserves would require additional land to mitigate for harm to the
Kelly Logan species caused by recreational use. After the BCP is complete, great care must
Chris Masey be taken to keep the habitat viable. The loss of habitat in Travis County will
Jeff Mundy always make protection of the species a great challenge.
Michael Portman
Bill Reiner continued on page 5
Terri Siegenthaler

Exective Director
Nancy Manning 300-BIRD
COMMITTEE AND SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIRS
Office Administrator
Diana Digges 300-BIRD TAS Rare Bird Alert Eric Carpenter 300-2473
select option #3
BAKER SANCTUARY STEWARD Advocacy Jeff Mundy 334-4300
John Wilcox 219-8425 Bird Records Lawrence Buford 452-6344
Ethel Kutac 346-7659
CHAETURA CANYON SANCTAURY Habitat Conservation Valarie Bristol 300-BIRD
STEWARDS Education Byron Stone 970-5154
Field Trips Laurie Foss 300-BIRD
Georgean & Paul Kyle 266-3861 Hornsby Bend John Kelly 331-8693
Hospitality Susan Moak 925-4590
ACT REPRESENTATIVES
Latin America Bob Warneke 300-BIRD
John Kelly (state president) 331-8693 Programs Ann Gardner 306-0737
Bryan Hale (state treasurer) 474-5599 Property and Finance Pat Dillon 663-4448
SIGNAL SMOKE EDITOR Publications Tess Sherman 300-2473
Tess Sherman 300-BIRD Sanctuary Chair Terri Siegenthaler 263-2237
Society Historian John Kelly 331-8693
TAS TELEPHONE Urban Habitat Jane Tillman 794-0058
The office number is 512-300-BIRD
(2473). To leave a message for Board
ABOUT SIGNAL SMOKE
President Marsha May, press 1. To report
sightings of rare or unusual birds in Cen- Subscription Information without permission in writing from Travis
tral Texas, press 3. To ask a bird-related Signal Smoke (ISSN 1931-9282), was pub- Audubon Society.
question, press 4. lished 11 times yearly through Volume 56,
No.4, and beginning with Volume 56, No.5,
Newsletter Deadline
TAS WEB SITE The submissions deadline is the first day of the
www.travisaudubon.org is published 6 times yearly. Subscription is
month preceding the first month of publication
a TAS membership benefit. To join, use the
TAS EMAIL (for example, June 1 for the July/August issue).
form on the back page of this issue or go
info(at)travisaudubon.org Submit uncopyrighted articles, announcements,
to www.travisaudubon.org for an on-line
and art to Tess Sherman, tsherman1(at)austin.
Signal Smoke (ISSN 1931-9282) form. For address or subscription changes,
rr.com; or mail to 210 E. Walnut Dr., Austin,
please call 512.300.BIRD (2473) or e-mail
Signal Smoke is printed TX 78753. Submissions by email or on a CD
info(at)travisaudubon.org. The USPS does not
on recycled paper are preferred but not required. Call Tess at 300-
forward Signal Smoke. Copyright 8 2008. No
BIRD if you have questions.
part of this publication may be reproduced
2 S I G N A L S M O K E / March/April 2008 TRAVIS AUDUBON SOCIETY
Hornsby Bend News
T he spring season is fast approaching. For many Austin area
birdwatchers, this is their favorite time of year, when the
variety and numbers of birds are highest. Indeed, if I had to
Austin Bastrop River Corridor Partnership
February River Monitoring Trip [Saturday Feb 2, 2008]
Report from Claude Morris – cgmorris(at)flash.net
limit my bird watching to just two months per year, I would try

I
to get out as much as I could from March 15th until May 15th.
know I used this phrase in the last report but I will use it again
Countless migrating birds move thru central Texas during this
here. Slathering on sunscreen in 75 degree weather makes for
period, and it is also when most of our summer residents return.
excellent kayaking. I like that word slather. Don’t get to use it very
It would be no surprise to many that know me that I would be
often. Especially in the winter in the same sentence with sunscreen.
spending a considerable amount of time during the spring at
Hornsby Bend Biosolids Management Plant. Hornsby Bend
Not only was the weather beautiful, but the birding was as well. We
boasts a bird list that exceeds 350 species, with many of those to
collected sixty-four species and unexpected numbers of some of
be expected or looked for during spring migration. The “sludge”
those species. We quit counting Red-winged Blackbirds after many
flats on Pond 1West serve as perhaps the best and most accessible
huge flock streamed over. Spotted Sandpipers and Killdeer were
shorebird habitat in central Texas, with as many as twenty-five
very plentiful. Our highlight birds of the day include a mature Bald
different kinds of shorebirds, and thousands of individuals,
Eagle that gave us several nice views and three Pileated Woodpeck-
visiting on their way north. Birds on Pond 1W can vary not just
ers.
from week to week, but daily, and even sometimes hourly.

But birding at Hornsby during the spring is much more than a
visit to the ponds. Trails along the Colorado River extend from
the southeast corner of Pond 2 and travel upstream some three
miles to Platt Lane. The trees along this riparian corridor are not
only great for migrating warblers and other passerines, but are
home to several nesting species, and can be thick with singing
Painted & Indigo Buntings. The trails offer several spots to peek
out over the river, and with some patience and some luck, one
might encounter a hunting Osprey or perhaps one of the Ringed
Kingfishers that is often present in the area.
Thanks go to Marilyn Kircus, Julia Balinsky, Andy Balinsky, Chris
Masey, Eric Carpenter and Alan Kugler. As a side note, Alan Ku-
gler is going to start doing bird surveys on the Colorado River from
Bastrop to Smithville. These areas are very birdy and promise to be
good surveys. If you wish to be on Alan’s mail list, contact him at
joallakug(at)hotmail.com.
Location: Austin Colony - Webberville
Observation date: 2/2/08
Number of species: 62

With some work, a day’s list exceeding 100 species can be had Wood Duck 8
during the peek of migration towards the end of April and into Gadwall 6
early May. At times when a passing storm or north wind has Mallard 2
forced migrating birds to put down in our area, there can be birds Green-winged Teal 2
almost everywhere. Under such favorable conditions, my best American White Pelican 15
one-day total at Hornsby was one day in late April 2006 when I Double-crested Cormorant 32
encountered 130 species. You can bird at Hornsby on your own, Great Blue Heron 12
though more fun can be had by joining other birders in either Great Egret 7
the monthly survey on the 2nd Saturday of each month or on Snowy Egret 6
the more casual monthly bird-walk on the 3rd Saturday of each Black Vulture 46
month. It is also important to note that Hornsby Bend is not a Turkey Vulture 48
public park but a working wastewater treatment facility owned Osprey 5
by the City of Austin. Volunteers maintain upkeep of the trails Bald Eagle 1
and roads around the ponds, and you can help out by showing Red-shouldered Hawk 8
up for the Ecological Literacy Day on the last Saturday of Red-tailed Hawk 14
every month. Information on all of these events and more about Crested Caracara 12
Hornsby Bend can be found at www.hornsbybend.org. American Kestrel 1
American Coot 34
Eric Carpenter
Killdeer 62
Ecological Literacy Volunteer Day Spotted Sandpiper 48
March 29, 2008 & April 26, 2008
Greater Yellowlegs 8
9am – 1pm at Hornsby Bend Center for Environmental Research Least Sandpiper 32
Wilson’s Snipe 6
• Help maintain Hornsby Bend Trails! Did you know that all the
White-winged Dove 1
Hornsby Bend Trails were built and are maintained by volunteers?
Mourning Dove 12
If you enjoy birding or walking along the Colorado River here,
Belted Kingfisher 8
please join us in keeping the trails open to the public.
Red-bellied Woodpecker 24
• We do three hours work and one hour of learning about the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1
ecology of the Colorado River and Hornsby Bend - Wear work Downy Woodpecker 3
clothes and work shoes, bring water if warm weather and Northern Flicker 2
binoculars if interested in birds. PIZZA WILL BE SERVED!!!! Pileated Woodpecker 3
TRAVIS AUDUBON SOCIETY S I G N A L S M O K E / March/April 2008
Eastern Phoebe 12
White-eyed Vireo 3
Blue Jay 4
American Crow 8
Cave Swallow 26
Carolina Chickadee 36
Tufted Titmouse 15
Carolina Wren 29
House Wren 2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 6
Eastern Bluebird 2
Hermit Thrush 1
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 200
American Pipit 54
Cedar Waxwing 18
Yellow-rumped Warbler 62
Chipping Sparrow 5
Savannah Sparrow 22
Song Sparrow 2
Lincoln’s Sparrow 6
Swamp Sparrow 1
White-throated Sparrow 2
White-crowned Sparrow 2
Northern Cardinal 36
Red-winged Blackbird 1000
Eastern Meadowlark 8
Common Grackle 18
Great-tailed Grackle 200
Brown-headed Cowbird 200
American Goldfinch 8
3
 NATURALIST’S
CALENDAR
Reprinted from Spring 2002 by Bill Reiner
photo by Robert Baumgardner
O
ne of the problems with being a tree – or any plant, for
that matter – is a lack of mobility. With water and minerals
drawn from their roots, and energy from the sun, trees
can produce their own food through photosynthesis, but sexual
reproduction is another matter. How does a tree transport its pollen
to another tree’s flowers to fertilize them?
Many trees depend upon the wind, and March, our windiest
month, is a great time for spreading pollen. The risk of frost killing
delicate flowers is diminishing, and the air is usually quite dry,
too, so pollen grains don’t stick together. Ashe Junipers get a jump
start by flowering in January, but several other central Texas trees
cast their pollen on the March winds. Among them are American
Elms, Pecans and other hickories, oaks, hackberries, willows,
cottonwoods, sycamores, ashes, and walnuts.
If it seems an unlikely thing for a grain of pollen to be blown
onto the tiny flower of a different tree of the same species...well,
it is. That’s why wind-pollinated plants produce so much pollen,
to increase the odds. Park your car for a few days under an oak
or Pecan in March to see just how much pollen the trees release:
you’ll come back to find it thinly coated with a yellow-green dust.
The placement of wind-pollinated flowers also improves their
chances for fertilization. The male and female reproductive parts
of most of these trees develop in separate flowers on the same tree.
For example, the staminate (pollen-bearing) flowers of walnuts
dangle from the previous-year’s twigs in long clusters called
catkins, where any breeze can shake loose the pollen. The pistillate
(seed-producing) walnut flowers grow at the ends of the current
year’s twigs, tucked singly or in small clusters among the new
leaves. Separating the sexes this way helps to prevent a tree from
pollinating itself.
Cottonwoods and willows take the idea of sexual segregation a step
further. As with Ashe Juniper, the staminate and pistillate flowers
of these species grow on separate trees. These species are called
“dioecious” – a term meaning “two houses.” (Trees like walnut,
having both staminate and pistillate flowers on the same tree are
“monoecious.”)
Birdathon, continued from front page
4. Challenge teams from other conservation organizations, such a
Sierra Club, Save our Springs, Save Barton Springs, etc.
5. Teams among TAS committees, such as Latin America
Committee, Field trip committee, etc.
6. Anyone who ever taught a TAS birding class, how about getting
your students together for their 1st Birdathon?
7. Celebrity birding teams – do you know a famous person who
might lend his/her name to help raise funds?
4 S I G N A L S M O K E / March/April 2008
Wind-pollination works best when there is a high proportion
of trees of one species growing together – a bottomland grove
of Pecans, for instance. That way more Pecan pollen will reach
Pecan flowers and not be lost by landing on a hackberry. Many
more trees are wind-pollinated in temperate forests, which
usually have few dominant species, than in tropical forests, where
the nearest tree of the same species may be a mile or more away.
Wind pollination works well for trees in open habitats, such as
cottonwoods, sycamores, and willows beside lakes and rivers, or
Live Oaks and Post Oaks on savannas. It also works well for tall
trees of the forest canopy, whose upper branches are constantly
exposed to the wind. It doesn’t work well in the wind-sheltered
interior of a forest, which is why understory trees and shrubs such
as viburnums, hollies, buckeyes, and Eastern Redbuds depend
upon alternative means of cross-pollination.
If spewing pollen willy-nilly on the breeze seems a waste,
consider these alternatives. For the vast majority of flowering
plants the only other option is to persuade some mobile creature
to carry the pollen for them. Insects are the most numerous,
and thus most likely, candidates. Insects are not known for
their altruistic motives; they must usually be bribed. Kickbacks
come in the form of nectar, but producing nectar consumes a
lot of a plant’s energy and material resources. Then there’s all
the marketing that goes with the project: attracting the insect
with sweet or foul smells, and directing it with brightly-colored
flowers.
Wind-pollinated plants avoid this hassle, instead investing
their resources in larger quantities of smaller, buoyant pollen.
Since the wind isn’t swayed by bright colors or strong smells,
the flowers of these plants are usually inconspicuous and have
little odor. You probably won’t notice a hackberry’s flowers, for
instance, unless you specifically look for them. The flowers of
wind-pollinated trees aren’t showy like a Redbud’s, but they get
the job done. If you doubt it, take an inventory of all the trees
around you.
8. Multi-day trips, such as High Island for migrants, Hill Country for
GCWs, Rockport.
• Scout teams or Homeschoolers
• Choose a team theme such as conservation, education etc.
BIRDATHON HEADQUARTERS will be at Zilker Park. Join us
from 6:00-9:00 am for coffee and breakfast snacks and at 11:00-2:00
pm for Lunch. Please check travisaudubon.org for upcoming major
announcements or call the TAS office at 300-BIRD after March 1st
for details on your participation.
Nancy Manning
TRAVIS AUDUBON SOCIETY
 THE
DAN CALLAWAY
Dan Callaway,
photo by Robert Baumgardner
REPORT
Birding to Perdernales Falls State Park - 1/23/08
Participants: Ethel Kutac, Terry Banks, Dave Seal,
Homer Rushing, Catfish Kelly and Dan Callaway After a warm bowl of soup at Riley’s BBQ in Dripping
Springs, we headed back to Austin and continued East
F rom Austin we headed West on Hwy 290 through
Dripping Springs. At the Hays/Blanco County Line,
we turned right on Ranch Road 3232. At the dead end we
through town on Hwy 71. Two miles East of the FM 973
intersect, we turned left into Southeast Travis County
Metro Park. A Green-tailed Towhee had been reported
turned right, then immediately left and into the park. The near the hiking trailhead. Homer played his tape of the
headquarters has a water feature outside the office picture bird and he appeared within seconds. We all got great
window. A Rufous-crowned Sparrow made sure we all looks and this was a lifer for Terry. Then we had apple
had good looks. Twenty species of birds were recorded pie furnished by Homer for his lifer last week, the Say’s
at the bird blind in the hour we spent there watching in Phoebe. We finished the day by circling Hornsby Bend.
the 35-degree weather. Northern Cardinals and House Here we added Swamp Sparrows to complete our 13-
Finches seemed to dominate. Sparrows were Chipping, sparrow day. Other good birds at the ponds were Eared
Vesper, Lincoln’s, Field, White-throated, White-crowned, Grebes, Wilson’s Snipe, two Bonaparte’s Gulls, Cave
and Spotted Towhee. Outside the blind, Dave found us a Swallows, and American Pipits.
Fox Sparrow. Going back on RR 3232 we added Lark and
Savannah Sparrows. Other interesting birds in and near the Total species: Sixty-three
blind included Cedar Waxwings, Orange-crowned War- Best bird: Green-tailed Towhee
bler, American Goldfinch, Ladder-backed Woodpecker,
and Western Scrub-Jay.

From the President, continued from page 2

Travis Audubon is committed to working with mountain bikers,
runners and dog walkers to add recreational lands to the City
and County park systems. However, the preserves must be
preserved.”

Let’s protect this important habitat for Golden-cheeked Business Members

Warblers and other rare species, and for the enjoyment of future
birders. This embodies the vision of Travis Audubon Society Travis Audubon is delighted to
– inspiring conservation through birding! recognize its Business Members:
Capital Printing Co.
Marsha May
Jeff Baker Stanberry Realtors
Mundy & Singley, LLP
Powell, Ebert & Smolik, PC
SUCCESS DEPENDS
To learn about the benefits of supporting Travis Audubon as
ON THE RIGHT CHOICES. a Business Member, please go to www.travisaudubon.org and
Helping you make the right choices is what click on Business Members, or contact Travis Audubon at
our financial consultants do best. 512.300.BIRD (2473).
Michael Portman
Financial Consultant
[24778-v1-0115] IM367-0408

Vice President-Investments
301 Congress Avenue, Suite 100
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 472-6852
michael.portman@agedwards.com
A.G. Edwards is a division of Wachovia Securities, LLC. Member SIPC.

TRAVIS AUDUBON SOCIETY S I G N A L S M O K E / March/April 2008 5

TAS News and Notes
Annual Meeting & Board Member Election HELPING SAVE THE BLACK-CAPPED VIREO

O ur annual business meeting will be held March 20,

2008. At the meeting, current TAS members will vote
on a slate of candidates for the Board of Directors. The new
In 2007, Travis Audubon Society again sponsored cowbird trapping
at the Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge. This was
in support of the endangered Black-capped Vireo, which has been
term will begin on April 10, 2008. severely impacted by cowbird parasitism of its nests. In various
studies, as many as 90% of vireo nests were found to have been taken
The Nominating Committee was hoping to have the slate over by cowbirds. At that level of parasitism, very few vireo chicks
of nominees available for publication in this issue of Signal have survived to fledging.
Smoke, but that didn’t happen. By the time you read this, the
entire slate, along with brief biographical information will Karen Kilfeather trapped 368 cowbirds during the vireos’
be available on our website. The information will also be three-month nesting season, greatly helping to increase vireo
available at the annual meeting. If you don’t have internet productivity. Since trapping began, the number of vireos nesting
access and would like the information before the March in existing colonies has approximatly doubled. Vireos have now
meeting, call Shelia Hargis at 291-1861. spread to nearby areas where they were previously absent. Without
the support of Travis Audubon the vireos would undoubtedly find
Also, make sure your membership is current so you can vote themselves even closer to extinction.
in this election and have a voice in the governance of Travis
Audubon Society.
Travis Audubon Society is Movin’ on Up!
Moving Sale
Austin Butterfly Forum Travis Audubon Society is moving upstairs to bigger digs. In
April 28, 2008 preparation for this exciting shift we are holding a moving
Book signing at 6:30 pm, lecture at 7 pm sale and offering items including Dr. Blair’s duck decoys and
Zilker Botanical Center rare, out-of-print books. Have some tea and baked goods while
http://www.austinbutterflies.org enjoying the musical stylings of Beth Asmussen and our very
own President, Marsha May. You can even enter a raffle to win
Speaker: David L. Wagner, Ph.D, camping gear rental for four from REI, valued at over $300!
Discovering the World of Caterpillars So bring your friends and family and come down to the AGE
David Wagner’s recently published Caterpillars of Eastern Building at 3710 Cedar St. on March 15th from 9am to 4pm and
North America (Princeton University Press, 2005), is regarded join the fun!
as one of the most comprehensive field guides ever published
on the caterpillars of both butterflies and moths. Since moth
caterpillars outnumber butterfly caterpillars ten to one, the
coverage of moths is invaluable. The book covers nearly 700
species, with 400 full-page species accounts. Information
A ttention H-E-B shoppers.
During April, most H-
E-B stores (and also Central
includes distribution, seasonal activity, food plants, life Markets) will be honoring
history, and tips on raising and photographing caterpillars. Earth Day by supporting
groups belonging to Earth
Austin Butterfly Forum members have been using this book Share of Texas. When you
for a year and have found it extremely useful for the Austin check out, look for tear-off
area. It gives amateurs a real chance of identifying most of tabs at the checkout stands.
the caterpillars of moths and caterpillars in the Austin area. Just select a tab in for $1,
The information on moth caterpillars is a unique resource for $3, or $5 and add it to your
amateurs. purchase. Last year, H-
E-B ran an experimental
David did graduate work at the University of California, program that raised $25,000
Berkeley and is currently Associate Professor of Ecology for organizations belonging
and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Connecticut. to Earth Share of Texas.
He is co-author of two United States Forest Service guides, Almost $900 went to the four
Caterpillars of Eastern Forests and Geometroid Caterpillars Audubon chapters in Central
of Northeastern and Appalachian Forests. Dr. Wagner is a Texas, including Travis
Backyard Biologist who has found over 1,000 species of Audubon Society. Last year’s
butterflies and moths in his own backyard. He says there are project was so successful that
many things yet to learn. Join us for an introduction to the it’s now being expanded to
world of the caterpillar, part of the amazing biodiversity in other areas of the state. So please consider showing H-E-B that
your own backyard. Texans support the environment. Buy those tabs when you shop!
John Kelly

6 S I G N A L S M O K E / March/April 2008 TRAVIS AUDUBON SOCIETY

 Balcones Songbird Festival 2008
W
here can you find the biggest nature festival in Texas
(away from the coast and the Lower Rio Grande
Valley)? Look no further than right here in the Austin
area. Last year more than 500 people attended the Balcones
Songbird Festival at the Balcones Canyonlands National
Wildlife Refuge in western Travis County.
Folks came to the Festival from twenty states last year. Of
course, most attendees were local, which is really what we were
hoping for. We want to show Texans the wonders of nature
they can find near their homes. And by doing this we hope to
continue improving the way people view endangered species.
The Festival’s big draw: tours into the habitats of Central Texas’
two endangered songbirds, the Black-capped Vireo and the
Golden-cheeked Warbler. Last year everyone on the vireo tour
got to see – from a discrete distance, of course – vireos on the
nest. Everyone on the warbler tours got to see the target bird.
And at least two groups were lucky enough to stumble across
nesting warblers. It’s safe to say that very few people have ever
seen both of these birds on the nest on the same day (no
guarantees for 2008, of course!).
The Festival also offers tours exploring the various habitats
of the Refuge. There will also be tours featuring, among other
things, wildflowers, native plants, butterflies, and geology.
On Sunday afternoon, April 27, there’ll be free activities
for the whole family. Tentative plans for this year’s Sunday
events include hawk flights, reptile displays, bird-banding
demonstrations, birdhouse building, and many other activities
for kids and adults.
The Festival runs from Friday to Monday, April 25 to
28. You can check the Festival website for more details
on activities and information on registration at www.
balconessongbirdfestival.org. Hope to see you there.
John Kelly
CELEBRATE!
Wine & Star Shine! This event starts at the winery. A chance to share
in the joy of accomplishment for volunteers and participants alike. Z
Tejas Executive Chef, Jack Gilmore, will delight you with food pair-
ings to complement Flat Creek Estate award winning wines.
NATURE TOURS
Tours will start at Refuge Headquarters and be transported to trail
heads by vans unless otherwise specified.
Warbler & Vireo Habitat
This is a birding tour for determined birders to see our keynote spe-
cies. Bird watching with experts. Multiple tours will go to separate
destinations to look for Warblers and Vireos each morning. Easy to
moderate hiking.
Explore Hill Country Birding
Join a top Texas birder to look for special Hill Country birds that nest
on the Refuge. Painted Bunting, Canyon Towhee, Vermilion Fly-
catcher, Black-throated Sparrow, and Grasshopper Sparrow possibili-
ties to name a few.
TRAVIS AUDUBON SOCIETY
Golden-cheeked Warbler Habitat
This is a birding tour for determined
birders to see our keynote species;
Bird watching with experts. Easy to
moderate hiking.
Exploring the Backcountry
The only thing we’ll pay atten-
tion to is “everything under the Sun”. Be ready for a wide-ranging
introduction to the ecology of the Texas Hill Country from two of
Central Texas’s most experienced naturalists. Learn your geology,
watch for weather’s influences on habitats, and bet on bumping into
some birds and botanical treasures. Moderately difficult hiking in
the back country of the Refuge not usually open to the public. Wear
ankle-supported, waterproof shoes as uneven footpaths and stream
crossings may be encountered.
Creeks to Canyons
Led by the Refuge’s biologist, this trip will explore the natural
history of the Hill Country--the wildlife, vegetation, and geology
of the area. Learn about the canyons of the Balcones Canyonlands,
study the creeks, and explore the woodlands, savannas, and shin-
neries which make up the Refuge.
A Walk on the Fire Line
See how fire is used as a dramatic tool to create and enhance habi-
tat for songbirds. The tour will start with a slide show of before and
after photos of areas that will be visited.
Nature Photography Workshop
This class will emphasize basic outdoor photography. Film or digi-
tal cameras are welcome. The instructor will cover composition,
lighting, depth of field, and some basic field tips for bird and nature
photography. All cameras are different, so be sure to bring your
camera manual with you to class. Participants will meet at Doeskin
Ranch.
Take a Trip to Selah, Bamberger Ranch
Join us on a convoy of self-driving participants from the Refuge
Headquarters to Selah, Bamberger Ranch Preserve. This tour takes
about 1 hour and 15 minutes to get there. A box lunch is provided
on a stop at LBJ National Historical Site along the way. On this 3
½ - 4 hour tour of the ranch you will see the results of thirty-seven
years of habitat restoration. We will show you projects which dem-
onstrate principles of good stewardship. You may also see dinosaur
tracks, fossil beds, a herd of endangered Scimitar-horned Oryx. and
a bat cave. Transportation is on the Bluebonnet, an open air trailer
with a shade bonnet.
Black-capped Vireo Habitat
This is a birding tour for determined birders to see our keynote spe-
cies. Bird watching with experts. Moderate hiking.
Backyard Birding
An introduction to the tools required for birding and a short walk to
learn the common backyard bird sights and sounds. This nature tour
leaves on foot from the Refuge headquarters.
Full information including dates, times, and registration are
available online at www.balconessongbirdfestival.org
S I G N A L S M O K E / March/April 2008 7
 Monthly Meeting Information
TAS Regular Monthly Meeting - 7:00 pm (doors open at 6:30 pm for social time)
Program begins at 7:00 pm. Location: LCRA Board Room, 3700 Lake Austin Blvd. The board room is in the Hancock
Building, the middle building in the courtyard. We’ll be in the room on the left upon entering. Please note that this
locaton is subject to change. Notification will be made via the webpage and email blasts. Parking available in the
adjacent garage and lots. Refreshments provided.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Guest Speaker: Dr. Wayne H. McAlister
Matagorda Island – an Enchanting Ribbon of
Sand.
Matagorda Island is not pristine but it retains much of its
natural aura: royal terns and brown pelicans loaf on the beach,
sheepshead killifish dart amid stalks of smooth cordgrass in
the bayside shallows, wands of sea oats wave over the sand
dunes and ghost crabs scuttle across the sand. The routine
number and diversity of birds rises to a veritable plethora
during spring and fall migration. Although it is not really
disjunct from the rest of the world, the island is an isolated,
discrete ecosystem. It has a well-defined edge, a topography
absolutely dominated by the whim of the Gulf of Mexico
and a select cadre of well-adapted creatures forced into tight
alliance by the unforgiving barrier environment. A visit to the
island is a lesson in ecology, a rare delight at experiencing a
wild place still wild, a chance to release and indulge yourself,
and always, in one way or another, an adventure. At your
March meeting we will take a photo tour of the island to whet
your appetite for a scheduled visit on April 12th.
Dr. Wayne H. McAlister is a retired instructor in biology
at Victoria College who took a position as environmental
education specialist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
and was stationed on Matagorda Island from 1993-2003. He
and Martha immediately fell under the trance of their barrier
island home. While leading field excursions with visiting
groups they learned many of the island’s secrets, some of
which they reveal in Life on Matagorda Island. (If you have
a copy, bring it for an author’s signature; if you want a copy,
they will be on sale for $20:18.35 + 1.65 sales tax.) The
McAlisters now live near Victoria. When the opportunity
arises they still enjoy returning to Matagorda to guide tours
and renew ties.
Alamo Inn
Lower Rio Grande * Lodging for
Birders
Guiding * Guides include Benton Basham
Artist’s studio * Grover Terry Beaman
Optics dealer * Brunton & Alpen
956-782-9912
www.alamoinnsuites.com
801 Main Street, Alamo TX
across from El Dorado Restaurant
8 S I G N A L S M O K E / March/April 2008
April 17, 2008
Guest Speaker: Kevin Connally
The Balcones Canyonlands Preserve: A
Community-Based Conservation Model
Travis County and the City of Austin recognized by the early
1980s that our region’s unique rugged beauty was home
not only to a vibrant and rapidly growing center of higher
education, medical advancement, technological innovation,
and the seat of state government, but also to a host of plant and
animal species found nowhere else on earth. In order to ensure
the continued strength of the local economy while protecting
the area’s unique native wildlife, the Balcones Canyonlands
Conservation Plan (or BCCP) was created.
Today, almost 28,000 acres (including Travis Audubon
Society’s Baker Sanctuary) have been set aside to create the
BCP for the benefit of our unique native wildlife. Thousands of
visitors each year have the opportunity to visit and learn about
the natural treasure in our collective backyard. Perhaps, most
importantly, national attention is being focused on the BCP
model of community-based conservation that seeks to balance a
healthy economy with healthy ecosystems.
Travis County’s Senior Environmental Resource Manager,
Kevin Connally, will speak at the April Membership
Meeting about the history and current status of the Balcones
Canyonlands Preserve. Kevin will talk about the “Funnel
Effect”, describe how the Lone Star State is changing right
before our eyes, and discuss how local efforts are working
to save what National Audubon has described as one of the
nation’s Ten Most Endangered Birds - the Golden-cheeked
Warbler. For more about the BCP, see Travis County’s website
at: www.co.travis.tx.us/tnr/bccp/default.asp
Kevin Connally has been working on land management
and natural resource issues for eighteen years, and has been
dedicated to the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve since 2001.
His previous resource management experience includes
time with the Nature Conservancy in remote west Texas, the
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife performing salmon
and steelhead research in Hell’s Canyon and working to
restore declining fisheries on the Mid-Atlantic Coast. Kevin
is a member of the Wildlife Society and uses his time as a
TPWD-certified Master Hunter Education Instructor to forge
a wider conservation consciousness among current and future
generations of Texans. When not scrambling around in remote
corners of hidden wilderness chasing fish or watching birds,
he is often found volunteering his time to engage the public in
wildlife and conservation issues.
TRAVIS AUDUBON SOCIETY
 Notes from Chaetura Canyon
T he Winter Wren that inhabited the vegetable garden
and enhanced the species list for Chaetura Canyon’s
contribution to the West Cave Christmas Bird Count had moved
on by the time 2008 rolled around. The Chipping Sparrows
numbers began to rise, and it is such a delight to see them
falling like feathered rain onto the millet-feeding platform just
outside the kitchen window.
A little further down the trail, but
still visible from the kitchen, the
cedar log feeder stuffed with a
mix of peanut butter, cornmeal,
oatmeal and shortening continued
to attract a pair of Golden-fronted
Woodpeckers as well as a steady
stream of Northern Cardinals,
Western-Scrub Jays, Black-crested
Titmice, Carolina Chickadees and
an occasional Bewick’s Wren.
A lone Orange-crowned Warbler
took exception with all visitors and
attempted to hold the log against all
comers.
Photo credit: Georgean Kyle
Not all is peace and harmony during the winter at the Canyon.
The visiting accipiters seem to enjoy bird watching in the same
way we all enjoy perusing the menu at our favorite restaurant.
The youngster featured in the accompanying photo periodically
perched on the afore-mentioned millet-feeding platform –
presenting an easy photo opportunity. Coyotes tend to be on the
top of the mammalian food chain as they patrol the canyon rim
at night just below the residence. They tend to be heard rather
than seen on a regular basis.
People also migrated to the Canyon as we hosted a contingent of
National Wildlife Federation Urban Habitat Stewards organized
by Jane Tillman. After a two-hour walk of the trails enjoying and
discussing the diversity of vegetation in its dormant state and
discussing what was to come, the hungry group enjoyed bowls
of home-made soup on the deck on an atypically mild January
afternoon. An unexpected finale to the workshop was a trio of
Osprey cavorting above the Canyon and eventually flying
off to the south following Lake Austin as it leaves Mansfield
Dam.
And speaking of things to come: the Chimney Swifts are on
their way back! Brush Freeman normally reports the first of
the season for Texas around March 10th while birding on the
Gulf Coast. For the past few years TAS’s own Jeff Mundy has
seen the first Chimney Swifts in the Austin Area. Those of
us who are enamored by these aerial acrobats normally hear
them before we see them. Their distinctive “chippering” or
“twinkling” call always heralds the arrival of Spring. You can
join in the nation-wide monitoring effort by reporting your
first Chimney Swift sighting at www.chimneyswifts.org. The
reports are compiled at and posted from Chaetura Canyon.
The next event at Chaetura Canyon will be the Education
Committee’s Chimney Swift Tower Workshop on March 9th. The
resulting tower will eventually be erected in one of the area parks.
We invite you to celebrate the return of the Chimney Swifts to the
Canyon by joining us for a new TAS Spring event: “Chalupas and
Chimney Swifts” in April. This will be the kick off to our Second
Saturday Swift Watch events that will occur monthly throughout the
Chimney Swifts season. We hope to see you at one or more of these
enjoyable events!
Georgean and Paul Kyle, Sanctuary Stewards

Please join us for

Chalupas and Chimney Swifts at Chaetura Canyon
Where? Travis Audubon’s Chaetura Canyon Bird Sanctuary
When? April 12th, 6:00 PM ‘til 10:00 PM (Rain Date: April 19th)
What? - Observe Chimney Swifts impressive aerial displays
- Wander the self-guided upper-canyon nature trail
- Enjoy a Mexican Food Buffet with ice cold beer and soft drinks
- Marvel at a screening of “The Secret Home Life of Chimney Swifts”, Starring Twig, Timber and Puddin’
Who? The first 25 Travis Audubon Members (or “Wanna-bes”) to sign up
How Much? $35 for TAS members / $50 for non-members
How Come? - Simply to enjoy the company of Chimney Swifts and fellow conservationists
- Proceeds to benefit projects at Travis Audubon’s Chaetura Canyon Sanctuary

Please contact Sanctuary Stewards Georgean and Paul Kyle

to make your reservations ASAP: dwa@austin.rr.com or 512-266-3861
Be There, or Be Square!

TRAVIS AUDUBON SOCIETY S I G N A L S M O K E / March/April 2008 9

 Come explore Denney Ranch 2

Saturday Mornings in Burnet County

Saturdays, March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
Saturdays, April 5, 19, 26
8:00 am to Noon

J ust in time to welcome returning Golden-cheeked Warblers,

the members of Travis Audubon Society are invited to explore
Denney Ranch 2, a 96-acre, privately-owned wildlife management
area in central Burnet County, near the intersection of FMs 963 and
1174. Groomed trails pass through restored prairie on the way to
the woods along Allen Creek—prime warbler habitat. A mid-walk
resting spot is at the edge of a pond in a mature, brush-cleared oak
motte with birdfeeders and benches. For more information, please
contact property stewards, Deborah Douglas, M.D. and Thomas
Fisher, M.D. (Denney Ranch 2, P.O. Box 1339, Burnet, TX 78611
or deborah@birdburnet.com). Photos courtesy Deborah Douglas.

The 2008 TAS Copper Canyon Odyssey

You asked for it!! Travel Surveys are in. TAS members voted
the Copper Canyon of western Mexico as their #1 choice for
a 2008 birding trip.

Join Fellow TAS members May 24 – 31, on a journey that

offers fabulous birding in addition to spectacular scenery, TAS Copper Canyon Odyssey is managed by the trusted ladies
unique lodging, indigenous peoples, and one of the world’s of Panama Boutique and JB Journeys. You will be escorted by a
most amazing train rides. member of Travis Audubon.
Look for neo-tropical bird species including: Russet-crowned Group size is limited to ten. Put your name on the interest list
Motmot, Bare-throated Tiger-Heron, Eared Trogon, Sinaloa now by e-mailing: panamaboutique@yahoo.com, subject line
Wren, Red-faced Warbler, military Macaw. Your Copper TAS Copper Canyon Odyssey.
Canyon Birding guide is a native from the region. He will
be able to get you on the bird, as well as delight you with More details will be available at the March general meeting, and
personal anecdotes. by an e-mail broadcast.
Journey from sea level to 7700 feet elevation, exploring
diverse habitats of the Chihuahuan desert, grasslands,
tropical & subtropical forests, and coniferous forests of the HybridRealtor@Stanberry.com
Sierra Madre Mountains.
Jeff Baker, REALTOR ®, Birder
Meet members of the Tarahumaras, Indigenous people Cell: (512) 619-7421
renowned for their running, and crafts of pine-needle Fax: (512) 371-9952
4000 Duval St. Austin TX 78751
baskets, pottery, drums, and carvings.
SEARCH AREA LISTINGS @
jeffbaker.stanberry.com
Your participation will contribute to the Travis Audubon Also check out:
Society, and a select local conservation organization. A bakerproperties.biz & jeffbakerart.biz
program will be arranged with the organization to facilitate
an international exchange of ideas. Environment & Client Friendly

10 S I G N A L S M O K E / March/April 2008 TRAVIS AUDUBON SOCIETY

 Baker Sanctuary News
I
n 2007, Northwest Travis County received over forty-five
inches of rain. The year started out with a “see-saw” rain
pattern that ended when rainfall amounts evened out in May.
From May through July, our area received over twenty inches of
rainfall and it was during this period that Lake Travis filled up
and adjacent low-lying areas flooded. This increased summer
rainfall caused a spike in the growth of forbs and grasses. The
last five months of 2007 left our area with a total of slightly over
eight inches of rain. Winter freezes killed back the forbs and tall
grasses, which left large dead fuel loads in wildland habitats.
Under these conditions, fires can start from most causes. With the
exception of lightning fires in some areas, the number of starts
is generally low. Fires in open cured grasslands will burn briskly
and spread rapidly on windy days. Timber fires spread slowly
to moderately fast. The average fire is of moderate intensity and
control is relatively easy.
What moisture our part of the county received after January
1, 2008 was the result of Pacific moisture moving in from the
west and overrun by Arctic fronts that left little in the way of
measurable rainfall. For the most part, the weather systems that
passed through in January were dry and were accompanied by
high winds and low relative humidity that measurably increased
the fire danger.
Various factors such as fuels, weather, topography, and risk are
combined to assess the daily fire potential of an area. As of this
writing, Travis County has already experienced at least one
Join us at these upcoming Baker Sanctuary events
Annual Open House
Please join TAS on Saturday March 29th for Baker
Sanctuary’s Annual Open House. Guided tours
will take place from 9 am to noon. Tours will focus
on ecology and feature Golden-cheeked warblers,
plants, butterflies and bugs. Adventurous folks are
free to take self-guided tours from noon to 4:00 pm.
Enjoy a variety of displays on native plants and
wildlife species. Light snacks will be served but we
encourage you to bring a sack lunch for those longer
walks. Please contact Travis Audubon Society with
any questions at 300-BIRD or info@travisaudubon.
org.
TRAVIS AUDUBON SOCIETY
burn ban and several Red Flag Days. The current Keech-Byram
Drought Index (KBDI) for Travis County is 500-600. The KBDI
attempts to measure the amount of precipitation necessary to
return the soil to full field capacity. It is a closed system ranging
from zero to 800 units and represents a moisture regime from zero
to eight inches of water through the soil layer. Zero is the point of
no moisture deficiency and 800 is the maximum drought that is
possible. At any point along the scale, the index number indicates
the amount of net rainfall that is required to reduce the index
to zero. This means that in Travis County that there is moisture
deficiency of 5 to 6 inches in the soil.
The old adage may be that the only things you can be sure of are
death and taxes, but anyone who’s spent his or her life in Texas
knows there’s a third certainty: drought. Looking back at last year,
Texas was awash with water in late 2007, but ranchers, farmers
and land managers know that the next drought begins the day the
rain ends.
(Portions of this article were taken from www.tpwmagazine.com
& www.tamu.com).
Annual Open House is Scheduled
You are invited to bring a sack lunch and join us for the Travis
Audubon Society Baker Sanctuary Annual Open House scheduled
for March 29th. Guided hikes will be offered throughout the
morning and the Sanctuary will remain open that afternoon for
additional visitation. Additional information below.
John Wilcox, TAS-Baker Sanctuary Steward
Breakfast with the Birds
Join Golden-cheeked warblers in their habitat at
Baker Sanctuary on April 19, 2008 from 7 am
to noon. You will be serenaded by the morning
songs of the birds and feast on a delicious gourmet
breakfast. There will be a guided educational tour
around the Sanctuary featuring information on the
assemblage of habitats which support “golden-
cheeks” and diverse array of other wildlife.
$100 per person
Call Travis Audubon Society office to purchase
tickets at 300-BIRD
S I G N A L S M O K E / March/April 2008 11
 TAS Events - March 2008
February 26 Lower Rio Grand Valley with Gary Waggerman
through March 2 May be your Last Chance Trip for these Lower Rio Grande Valley hot spots. You can sign up now for
what may be some of the great birding spots in the LRGV before they may become inaccessible in the
no-mans-land between the Border Fence and the Rio Grande River. We plan to begin in Zapata County
on Tuesday and finish on Sunday in Cameron County on South Padre Island. In between we plan to visit
most of the major refuges and parks in the Lower 4 counties. The expenses of the field trip leader will be
split among the participants. Contact Gary Waggerman for a detailed day-by-day itinerary at 512-775-
8720 or waggerman(at)sbcglobal.net.

Saturday, March 8 Monthly Bird Count at Hornsby Bend

7 am & 4 pm Contact Eric Carpenter at ecarpe(at)gmail.com for more information. Sponsored monthly by the Hornsby
Bend Bird Observatory.

Saturday, March 15 Monthly Bird Walk at Hornsby Bend

7:30 am to Noon Monthly Bird Walk at Hornsby Bend, led by George Kerr, Laurie Foss and Shelia Hargis. Austin’s pre-
mier birding site. No registration required. Contact fieldtrips(at)travisaudubon.org for more information.
More information and directions to the site can be found online.

Saturday, March 22 Commons Ford Ranch Park with Ed Fair

7:30 am to Noon Come bird one of the most diverse parks in the Austin Park system. Located on Commons Ford Rd.
just west of Bee Caves off Cuernavaca, the park list contains over 170 species. Commons Ford always
presents the opportunity for an unusual species or two. Extensive walking on mostly level ground but
accommodations can be made for those who do not want to walk as far. Registration required and limited
to fourteen participants. These trips fill up fast so get your reservation in early! To confirm your partici-
pation or for more information contact Ed Fair ezflaw(at)sbcglobal.net or call 512-560-1943.

Saturday, March 29 Baker Sanctuary Open House

Over the years, many TAS members and guests have visited our beautiful Baker Sanctuary in northwest
Austin. Currently at 690 acres, our Sanctuary provides nesting and breeding habitat for Central Texas’
very special Golden-cheeked Warbler, listed as endangered by the U.S. Government and the State of Tex-
as. Because of its endangered status, the GCWA was among several plant and animal species included
for protection under a regional habitat conservation plan called the Balcones Canyonlands Conservation
Plan (BCCP). The primary goal of this plan is to assemble and manage over 30,000 acres in northwestern
Travis County, called the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve (BCP) system, to protect viable populations
for the species addressed in the plan. The Travis Audubon Society has committed its Baker Sanctuary to
the BCP system and is one of several managing partners in the BCP. No registration is required. Be sure
to bring plenty of water. For more information email fieldtrips(at)travisaudubon.org

TRAVIS AUDUBON SOCIETY NATURE BOOK CLUB

W
e invite you to join the Travis Audubon Society Nature Book Club, which is usually held on the 4th Thursday of every
other month at 7:00 pm at BookPeople (at 6th and Lamar, thank you BookPeople!). The group is informal and fun, and
you can choose to go to all the meetings and discuss all the books, or you can pick and choose the meetings featuring
books you would like to discuss. You do not have to have read the book to attend. In March we’re reading:

Thursday, March 27 2008 - Birding on Borrowed Time by Phoebe Snetsinger (2003)

Birding on Borrowed Time by Phoebe Snetsinger is a touching memoir highlighting the life and birding adventures of the author.
A late-comer to the birding world, Phoebe began her hobby at 34 and not long after was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Doctors
gave her only a year to live, but Phoebe gave herself seventeen, dedicating every one of them to her passion for birding. Phoebe
documented over 8,000 bird species from her extensive travels across the globe before her death in 1999. Killed in a traffic accident
in Madagascar, Phoebe left this earth while fulfilling her last wish that she might “go down binoculars in hand.”

This selection is tentative and the meeting location is subject to change! Before you commit to reading a book for a particular
month, you may want to call Terry Banks at 451-6302 or e-mail tessiembanks(at)msn.com to find out if the book is still current and
verify the meeting location.

12 S I G N A L S M O K E / March/April 2008 TRAVIS AUDUBON SOCIETY

 TAS Events - April 2008
Thursday April 3 Concan and Uvalde County led by Gary Waggerman and Bob Rasa
through Monday, April 7 Stay tuned for more information about this exciting field trip in Uvalde County. We expect accommodations
to be at Neal’s Lodges in Concan. The area surrounding Concan is considered one of the best birding areas in
Texas! Several hundred species of birds can be spotted throughout the year, including the endangered Golden-
cheeked Warbler and Black-capped Vireo.

Tuesday, April 8 Fort Hood with Stan Van Sandt

Join Stan for a spring trip to this unusual birding hot spot. Fort Hood, a major Army training base located on
approximately 220,000 acres (88,000 hectares) in central Texas, supports the largest known breeding popula-
tions of Black-capped Vireos and Golden-cheeked Warblers under any single property management. We’ll
leave Austin from a central meet-up point so that we can car-pool to the property. Limit twelve participants.
Contact fieldtrips(at)travisaudubon.org to register for this trip.

Saturday, April 12 Monthly Bird Count at Hornsby Bend

7 am and 4:00 pm Contact Eric Carpenter at ecarpe(at)gmail.com for more information. Sponsored monthly by the Hornsby Bend
Bird Observatory.

Saturday, April 12 Matagorda Island, led by Laurie Foss and Shelia Hargis with Dr.Wayne McAlister
Matagorda Island, accessible only by boat, is not pristine but it retains much of its natural aura. The routine
number and diversity of birds rises to a veritable plethora during spring and fall migration. On a good day in
April, an observer can easily find more wood warblers, buntings, orioles, tanagers, and thrushes in one clump
of salt cedars on Matagorda than he is likely to see elsewhere for the remainder of the year. Dr. Wayne H.
McAlister is a retired instructor in biology at Victoria College who took a position as environmental education
specialist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and was stationed on Matagorda Island from 1993-2003.
The field trip will leave from Fulton Harbor in Rockport on The Skimmer at 7:00 am and return to the harbor
at 5:00 pm. Participants should bring their lunch, water, a hat, and sunscreen and wear comfortable walking
shoes. Cost of the trip is $100, a portion going to benefit Travis Audubon Society. More information will be
sent to each participant with your paid reservation. Email fieldtrips(at)travisaudubon.org with any questions
and to let Laurie and Shelia know you’ve paid via PayPal. Sunday morning we’ll have an opportunity to con-
tinue to bird in the Rockport area. Stay if you wish or head home; your choice.
Saturday, April 19 Monthly Bird Walk at Hornsby Bend
7:30 am to Noon Austin’s premier birding site. No registration required. Contact fieldtrips(at)travisaudubon.org for more infor-
mation. More information and directions to the site can be found online.

Saturday, April 19 Breakfast with the Birds at Baker Sanctuary

7:00 am to Noon See our announcement on Page 11 of this issue.

Friday April 25 A Special Weekend at High Island with George Kerr

through Monday April 28 If you’ve never birded the Houston Audubon Sanctuaries at High Island, this trip is for you! For birders there’s
nothing like that first time you see the spectacle that is migration on the Upper Texas Coast. Travis Audubon
Society has collaborated with Houston Audubon Society to put on a first-ever Ambassador Program Weekend.
You’ll be hosted by Houston Audubon volunteers in their homes. Your host will be your personal guide to visit
and bird in the places you’ve heard so much about – Boy Scout Woods, Anahuac NWR, Bolivar Flats, Smith
Oaks and more. Arrive at your host’s residence Friday evening and depart Monday afternoon (final arrange-
ments will be made between you and your host). There is no fee for this trip, but expect to pay your host’s gas
and incidentals. This fieldtrip is limited to twelve participants so be sure to get your registration in right away.
Priority for the trip will be given to those who have never been to High Island. Email fieldtrips(at)travisaudub
on.org to register.

About TAS Field Trips All TAS field trips are open to members and nonmembers and to experienced and inexperienced birders. Wear appro-
priate clothing and walking shoes, and bring binoculars and water. Unless otherwise noted, field trips are free. For complete, up-to-date information
on field trips, including cancellations due to weather or other circumstances, please check the TAS website at www.travisaudubon.org. Because of
the publication schedule of the newsletter, things can change. If you do not have Internet access, please contact the person(s) listed with the event
description.
About Hornsby Bend Maps and other information about the Hornsby Bend facility may be found on the Hornsby Bend website at www.
hornsbybend.org

TRAVIS AUDUBON SOCIETY S I G N A L S M O K E / March/April 2008 13

 TAS Supporters!!
We thank these persons and groups who generously made recent contributions to
Travis Audubon Society (as of press time):

2007 Annual Appeal James Gilchrist Mona Sue Roberts Suzanne Napier Charles Sexton
Barbara Anderson Lawrence Gonda William Sample Anita Knight Byron Stone
Claudia Anderson Susan Graham Ronald Sassen Cheryl McGrath Tommie Jean Williams
Anonymous Cecilia Green P.M. Schenkkan Mark Lyon
Margaret Ayres Kenneth Gregory Joann Schilhab Jane Tillman Life Membership
Judith Bailey Christopher Gunter Robert Sechler Mary Matthies Julie A. Moore
James Beckett Laura Gutierrez-Witt Steve Sigman Elayne Lansford
Paul Bielamowicz Bryan Hale David Smith Peter Keeler In Memory of Jackie Arnold
Virginia Bleck William Hardwell Timothy Stuart Karen Sterling Michael Gagarin
James Brow James Hargrove, Jr. Lorna Terhune
Dennis Brown Cheryl Hazeltine Ray Toburen El Cielo In Memory of Dorothy Berry
Kerry Bruns Elizabeth Hendrix W.E. Townsley Ann Bishop Gene Majors
Nancy Byrd Marsha Holt Deborah Van Tol Mary Parker
Mr. & Mrs. Dan Callaway Karen Horen Rebecca Weaver Penny Potter In Memory of Georgie Dierschke
William Carr J. Russell Hoverman Thomas Webber Noreen Baker
Vanessa Chiapetta Junko Imai Holly Whitten General
Ann Clift Adrienne Inglis Evelyn Wilson Stephanie Barko In Memory of Elinor W. Doty
Alsa Cotner Dennis Jistel Jane Wilson Nancy Charbeneau Meta Butler Hunt
James Cousar Mark Jones Walter Zolnerovich, Jr. Jenny Cloudman
Chris Coxwell Karen Kimbrough Shaya Zucker Nancy Nazier In Memory of Bert Lindsay
Ignacio Cubas Peter Knight Raymond Risk Wayne Lindsay
Fred Dalbey Martha Leonino Audubon Adventure Kits
Caryl Dalton Keith Martinson Elizabeth Hendrix Painted Bunting Tribute to Cathy Gattuso
Jacqueline Davis Suzanne McAnna Mary Kay Sexton Membership Mary Vance
Marjorie Dearmont Ann McGinley Audrey Baxter
Jon DeVries Rex Medcalf Chaetura Canyon Paul & Cynthia Roush Tribute to Jeff Mundy
Anne & John Donovan Loren Okrina Patrick Dillon Edward Sones Judith Boyce
Valerie Dunnam Marilyn Davis Rabkin Leslie Pool
Sam Fason Nancy Radding Will Grover Vireo Membership
Jill Fatzer Martha Renfroe Kristen Harris Thomas & Gelya Camp
Teri Flack J. D. Rich Mary Helen Quinn Jane Lowrimore
Laurie Foss & Shelia Hargis Elizabeth Ripperger Sally Scott Gilbert Martinez
Ann Gardner Stephanie Rivaux Cindy Patrizi Leslie Morris

Ongoing TAS Meetings

Program Committee: meets on the 2nd Monday of each month, contact: Ann Gardner, anngardner(at)hotmail.com
TAS Board of Directors: meets on the 2nd Thursday of each month (except for December), contact: Marsha May, 300-BIRD
Urban Habitat Development Group: meets on the 3rd Monday of each month, contact: Jane Tillman, 794-0058
Education Committee: meets on the 3rd Monday of each month, contact: Byron Stone, 970-5154
Latin America Committee Meeting: meets most 3rd Wednesdays, contact: Bob Warneke, warneke@austin.rr.com
TAS Regular Monthly Meeting: meets on the 3rd Thursday of each month except for June, July & August
Bird Records Committee: meets on the 4th Thursday of the month, contact: Ethel Kutac, 346-7659
TAS Nature Book Club Meeting: the 4th Thursday of every other month at 7:00 pm at BookPeople, contact: tessiembanks(at)msn.com

14 S I G N A L S M O K E / March/April 2008 TRAVIS AUDUBON SOCIETY

Workshop info
Travis Audubon Society Gull Identification Workshop
T ravis Audubon Society will offer a gull identification class
on Saturday March 22, 2008. The class will be taught by
Byron Stone, who also teaches Travis Audubon’s popular Sparrow
Identification Class. The gull class will consist of five to six hours
of classroom instruction on a single day, and a brief field excursion
to a nearby reservoir to practice identification skills with local
gulls. An optional weekend excursion to a coastal location will be
offered on a separate weekend for a modest additional fee to cover
the instructor’s expenses.
This class will focus heavily on identification of the six species
of gull that occur regularly in good numbers in Texas, including
Ring-billed, Herring, Laughing, Franklin’s, Bonaparte’s and
Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Class participants will learn a general
approach to gull identification that will be helpful anywhere in
the world, and will learn to determine the age of most gulls they
encounter, which is a prerequisite for accurate identification of the
most confusing species of non-adult gulls. The class will
cover in some detail the identification of each age-group of each
of the above species, and participants will learn what field marks
are important to separate each of the above species from each other
and from other similar gulls which occur occasionally in the state.
In addition to the above six species, some time will be spent on
identification of an additional five or six species of gull which
occur less frequently in Texas, including California, Thayer’s,
Glaucous, Mew and possibly Little Gull, Sabine’s Gull and Black-
legged Kittiwake.
Byron will use digital images of gulls at rest and in flight which
he has collected in his travels, or borrowed with permission from
others, much like the way he teaches his sparrow classes and
workshops. Class will be limited to thirty participants, and initial
registration preference will be given to Travis Audubon Society
members who have previously taken a TAS class. Fee is $45 for
TAS members, $60 for non-members. For registration and more
specific class information, contact Byron at drbirdie(at)aol.com.
Chimney Swift Tower Workshop
at Chaetura Canyon
C himney Swifts are now listed as an endangered species in
Nova Scotia, and the future for these aerial insectivores is also
uncertain in the remainder of their breeding range. Georgean and
Paul Kyle will conduct a workshop on building and maintaining
new habitat for this declining species on Sunday, March 9th, from
1-4 pm.
The workshop will begin with an introduction to Chimney Swifts
that includes a slide presentation and video highlights from a
typical nesting season. Participants will then construct an actual
Chimney Swift Tower. After the project is completed, participants
will take a one-mile walking tour of the Chaetura Canyon Bird
Sanctuary. There are currently sixteen Chimney Swift towers on
the property that demonstrate a variety of designs and materials.
One of the towers will be opened, and the class will be shown
how to evaluate the nesting productivity of last year’s season.
Refreshments will be served on the deck overlooking the Canyon
following the tour.
Chaetura Canyon has been the epicenter for Chimney Swift
conservation and research worldwide for more than twenty years.
Master Naturalists and property owners with wildlife exemptions
may find this workshop useful in their conservation efforts.
Chimney Swift Towers also make great Eagle Scout projects, so
Scout Masters, Eagle candidates and their parents should consider
taking advantage of this unique opportunity.
Registration is limited to ten builders (16 years of age and
older). The cost of this workshop is $35 for TAS members and
$45 for non-members. The fee includes a copy of the Kyle’s book
Chimney Swift Towers: New Habitat for America’s Mysterious
Birds. For more information or to sign up for the workshop,
please contact Anne Donovan at 472-3030 or email her at
ajdonovan(at)austin.rr.com.
For a preview of the walking tour, visit www.ChimneySwifts.org
and click on the “Chaetura Canyon Bird Sanctuary” link.

Austin Butterfly Forum

Z ebra Heliconians may be to the butterfly world what Painted Buntings are to the birding
world – so irresistibly spectacular that they captivate amateurs and turn them into ardent
enthusiasts. Even better than Painted Buntings, Zebra Heliconians were seen in backyards
all over Austin in 2008.

Will this trend continue? What can you do to support future generations of Zebras, Julias, and other
Heliconian butterflies? The answer may be as simple as planting certain Passionflowers, the hostplant of this genus.

Katie Hansen from the University of Texas at Austin will speak about Native Passionflowers, the beautiful genus Pas-
siflora, at the March meeting of the Austin Butterfly Forum. Join us at Zilker Botanical Garden Center at 2220 Barton
Springs Rd on March 24th at 7:00 pm to learn more about which Passionflowers to grow, which to avoid, and the com-
plex co-evolution that has been taking place between the Heliconian butterflies and their hostplants.

TRAVIS AUDUBON SOCIETY S I G N A L S M O K E / March/April 2008 15

Travis Audubon Society Nonprofit Org.
Membership Secretary U.S. Postage Paid
P.O. Box 40787 Permit No. 2301
Austin TX 78704 Austin, Texas

Dated Material - DO NOT DELAY

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Visit the TAS Web site:

www.travisaudubon.org

Travis Audubon Society

YES! I want to enjoy the benefits of Travis Audubon
Society chapter membership. Enroll me as a member of
Travis Audubon Society. Enclosed is my check for:

J
oin your local Audubon chapter, Travis Audubon Society,
by using the form at the right. Your dues will be put to use  $12 Youth Membership (up to age 18)
supporting local conservation, education, research projects,  $25 Individual Membership
field trips, and other Travis Audubon activities right here in  $35 Family Membership
Central Texas. We seek your support through your member-  $75 Painted Bunting Membership (bonus Travis
ship in our local chapter. (To become a member of the national Audubon T-shirt)
Audubon, please go to their Web site at www.audubon.org.)  $100 Vireo Membership (bonus T-shirt and book)
 $250 Warbler Membership (bonus T-shirt, book, and
Join Travis Audubon now and support free workshop)
local birds, wildlife, and their habitats.  $1,000 Lifetime Membership (bonus T-shirt, book,
free workshop, and listing in annual report)
Travis Audubon Society chapter members receive six issues
of this Signal Smoke newsletter, priority sign-ups on local field T-shirt size (for premium memberships) __________________
trips, discounts on our educational classes, the opportunity
to participate in our e-mail group and attend our wonderful
monthly lectures, and more!  This is a gift membership from ________________________

To join Travis Audubon Society:

Make your check payable to Travis Audubon Society and
send it with this form to TAS Membership Secretary, P. O. Box
40787, Austin, TX 78704, or join on-line using any major
credit card by going to www.travisaudubon.org and clicking
on Membership.
Name _______________________________ Phone ________________
Address _____________________________________________________
City ____________________________ State _____ Zip _____________
Email ______________________________________________________

16 S I G N A L S M O K E / March/April 2008 TRAVIS AUDUBON SOCIETY