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Chapter Meeting

No July General Meeting

Cool Site of the Month

Texas Entomology

The Texas Entomology Web site by Texas Parks & Wildlife Department Invertebrate Biologist Mike Quinn is a labor of love that is chock-full of links relating to the insects in our state including dragonflies, cicadas, and butterflies. Especially interesting are the entries on the Monarch butterfly and on cave invertebrates, and also Mike's own contributions with photography and research.

Covering more than just the species themselves, Mike's site also includes many other topics that could also be associated with an interest in insects, such as photography, collecting, maps, weather, geology, and botany, as well as listings of other related organizations, databases, and events.

Chapter News & Announcements

• 

  Over Ten Wonderful Years! The Master Naturalist Program started here in San Antonio over ten years ago with the formation of our chapter.

• From The President

  Message From The Board

  First, a reminder that there is no board meeting in July. The board gets together on a Saturday to strategize and prepare for the remainder of the year. This year the emphasis will be on finalizing the AAMN Chapter Operating Handbook (COH). The goal is to present the COH to the membership in a few months for adoption. Be looking for more information on that topic in future newsletters.

  The first six months of 2010 is now behind us. This serves as a perfect time to review and evaluate the direction our chapter has taken. A good starting point is to revisit the goals set forth in January:

  * Promote the participation of the entire membership.

  * Renew old friendships and create new ones.

  * Provide more opportunities to serve the community.

  * Define new directions for the organization.

  * Enhance Master Naturalist visibility within our community.

  The board is very much involved in accomplishing these goals, as are the committee chairs and committee members. The adoption of a new set of bylaws at the April meeting “defines a new direction for the organization.” The May “Celebrate Master Naturalists” fun-filled gathering at Eisenhower Park helped “renew old friendships and create new ones.” Thanks to Frank Ballard, the updated calendar on the Web site “promotes the participation of the entire membership,” and “provides more opportunities to serve the community.” Presently, we are being offered an opportunity by Debbie Reid, the founder of the Master Naturalist program, to “enhance the Master Naturalist visibility within our community” and beyond. See her email below:

  Last week I met the Director of the Estacion cientifica la malinche and she is interested in the proposal for having Master Naturalists come and assist in some projects at the station. I have sent her several websites to look at. I know the young investigator would really like some assistance with the bird counts she does in January and February. She not only does them at the station but also at a lake just south of Tlaxcala.

  So let me know what you think. Tomorrow I am off to Xalapa to attend the Int’l Society of Economic Botany conference. Looking forward to the botany conference and a change of pace. Hugs, Debbie

  To read more about Debbie’s Mexico adventure, read the September 2009 chapter newsletter or visit the following MySA link. AAMN volunteers are needed to take on this challenge. If you are interested in spearheading this great travel adventure to the central-eastern part of Mexico and have some basic knowledge of the Spanish language, please contact Liz Robbins asap.

  We wish to thank Kim Carrell for sharing some information on Facebook about Texas Public Radio. Check out the following link for the TPR programing schedule. City of San Antonio Forester Michael Nentwich, AAMN Class 17, and other city staffers are slated to speak on various environmental issues.

  Finally, here’s wishing you the best, fun-filled, safe “Fourth of July” holiday. Hope to see you at the next monthly meeting, August 10th, at the Texas AgriLife Extension building.

• Stewardship Activities For The San Antonio Natural Areas

  July San Antonio Natural Areas Stewardship Activities

  by Jayne Neal and Wendy Leonard

  

  Usually Wendy and I use the newsletter to write about some natural wonder we have observed in the field, like an amazingly intricate spider web that survives wind and rain, or a plant like stick-leaf (Mentzelia oligosperma) with leaves that stick to clothing “so tenaciously that only slow decay will remove them” (Enquist, M. 1987. Wildflowers of the Texas Hill Country).

  This month, however, I feel compelled to comment on the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Those of you who have volunteered with us over the last 2-3 years may remember that it has been our custom until recently to spend a little time on Thursday mornings discussing ways in which we can reduce our energy and water use. We have shared many good, practical ideas. We came up with getting another use out of vegetable cooking water by letting it cool and then pouring it on plants. We thoroughly debated whether it would save energy if we unplugged (rather than just turned off) electronics. Most of all, we did not just talk about doing these things — I believe many of us adopted new energy and water-saving habits.

  Regarding opportunities in the Natural Areas in July, we will continue our Thursday vegetation surveys at Scenic Canyon. In addition, it is that time of the year when we do our night cave cricket counts. We suggest you bring an easy-to-carry, lightweight chair for the cricket surveys. If you think this is a spectacular spring and summer, just wait until you spend some time in the Natural Areas at night!

  Below is the complete schedule of activities. If you have any questions, please contact Wendy Leonard or Jayne Neal.

  Thursdays - July 1, 8, 15, 29

  7:30 AM - 11:30 AM

  Scenic Canyon. 19011 Scenic Loop Road, Helotes, TX 78023

  Thursday - July 22

  No Survey. Wendy and Jayne will be out of town.

  Fridays - July 2, 9, 30 and Saturday - July 10

  7:30 PM - 11:30 PM

  Special Night Survey for Cave Crickets. You must call Wendy Leonard to get a confirmed reservation. Meet at Stone Oak Park
  parking lot on north side of Stone Oak Parkway, 20395 Stone Oak Pkwy.

  Saturday - July 31

  7:30 PM - 11:30 PM

  Special Night Survey for Cave Crickets. You must call Jayne Neal to get a confirmed reservation. Meet at Crownridge Canyon Natural Area, 7222 Luskey Blvd.

• The Hot Tub Naturalist

  July Hot Tub Naturalist

  by Tony Hajek

  

  After more than a year of injury rehab and recovery, the hot tub has been traveling!

  First there was a trip for the Texas Transportation Museum to Ozona, TX to pick up a 1927 Dodge Liberty, a World War I commemoration car. It had been sitting under a closed shed on a 9,000-acre ranch since 1956 and wasn’t beyond restoration except for the cost thereof. Two tires still held air! But the other two rear tires came off the rims and pulled car sideways. It took a mere two hours to load the car into the trailer: one winch, four come-a-longs, two jacks, and some aged but strong backs. Our reward was a beer and Greek-styled lunch.

  The soft cover for the car top became airborne and left the transport somewhere on IH-10.

  By contrast, the delivery of a Model T to Castroville was uneventful. Well, except for the loading mistake that had it rolling off the trailer and headed toward other museum pieces. Luckily, a heavyweight lived up to his name.

  Then, to Big Bend for the long Memorial Day weekend with a newbie, Hugh. A citizen of Scotland in the USA legitimately for 23 years, he had never been past Kerrville. This is my favorite place of all. For some reason, Hugh thought one shouldn’t visit an observatory in the day.

  What a pilgrim. Unless you have bought admission to a star party, the buildings are closed due to astronomers at work! He did tolerate my dunking the electric car’s keys into hot springs fairly well. I don’t personally own a vehicle that uses a chip/electric key. Luckily, the case was well sealed. Hugh is the manager of the Texas Transportation Museum and the cause of the Ozona trip.

  Finally, a leisurely weekend with my wife at the Brown Ranch for a stay at the Hummer House. What a shame the Master Naturalist trip failed to fill. Owner Dan Brown informally lectured the enthralled Saturday visitors for two hours. On Friday evening, he sat with us as we watched the sun diminish on 19 deer and 9 turkeys. The cottage had soft music, cool air, and scent upon entry. And well appointed, as one could eat breakfast and lunch as part of the rental with no problem. Electric carts were provided to find the dam, the orchard, the graveyard, the spring, and the paths. The tiny town of Christoval had one small grocery, one antique shop, two Mexican food restaurants, two Baptist churches, and one museum open upon a call, as well as a linear park along the river.