Conservation Projects - 2007
The 11th Annual Great Texas Birding Classic held in April resulted in seven conservation projects being awarded grants. Exciting good news is that a grand total of $73,000 will be granted to conservation projects this year. A new partner, the US Fish and Wildlife Service Texas Coastal Program joined TPWD and GCBO and committed funding which resulted in the increase to this new record amount. Below are the teams that won the privilege of choosing projects to receive conservation grants following this year's competition.
Here are the projects that were selected and the teams that chose them:
$20,000 Weeklong Tournament:
Reliant Energy Environmental Partners
Bill Baker, Greg Mason, Lalise Mason, Tom Roberts
Project: Columbia Bottomlands Conservation - Acquisition
Project Partner: Houston Audubon Society
Location: Brazoria County
Project Description:
The Columbia Bottomlands Austin Woods Conservation project is ten years old and has conserved over 14,000 acres of prime habitat. Funds will cover acquisition costs for the purchase of more key tracts and will be matched with funds from other grants, donations and funds made available by the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission. Costs covered will include appraisals, surveys and land consulting fees to develop proposals and offers to secure additional critical avian habitat of the highest priority.
$10,000 Second Place Weeklong Tournament:
ConocoPhillips Cranes
Tony Frank, Lynn Barber, Debra Corpora
Project: Goose Island Walkway to Wetland Wildlife - Enhancement
Project Partner: TX Parks & Wildlife Dept.
Location: Goose Island State Park, Aransas County
Project Description:
This project will entail constructing an 85 foot long walkway over a salt marsh for providing public accessto the western half of Goose Island State Park. The walkway will be constructed of wood and recycled plastic materials by TPWD staff and volunteeers. The walkway will facilitate interpretive programs about the on-going shoreline stabilization and 24 acre salt marsh restoration project. An avian monitoring program using a standard route and established protocol will be instituted. Data will be entered into GCBO’s e-bird database.
$10,000 Third Place Weeklong Tournament:
Bushnell Butcherbirds
David Womer, David Dendler, Rex Miller
Project: Texas City Prairie Preserve - Restoration
Project Partner: The Nature Conservancy
Location: Texas City, Galveston County
Project Description:
This property was donated to the Nature Conservancy as a step to save the critically endangered Attwater’s Prairie Chicken from extinction. The objective is reduction and eventual elimination of deep-rooted sedge on the property. It is a non-native plant of primary concern for prairie management. Deep-rooted sedge out competes the native grasses and forbs of the already rare Texas coastal prairie. Funds will be used to purchase herbicideand backpack sprayer, pay for labor to spray apply the herbicide to identified patches of land and follow-up with winter time prescribed burns.
$10,000 Lower Coast:
Swarovski Roadside Hawks
Clay Taylor, Joel Simon, Vicki Simon, Dane Ferrell
Project: Sabal Palm Audubon Center - Restoration and Enhancements
Project Partner: Audubon Texas
Location: Brownsville, Cameron County
Project Description:
Habitat restoration to enlarge part of the resaca, in order to have more surface water for waterfowl and other wildlife. This will involve renting heavy equipment to move the perimeter of the berm wall, but will not impact any existing critical habitat.
Enhancement - repairs to wildlife viewing features at the Center, including our wetland bridge and viewing blind over the resaca, as well as the palapa in the butterfly garden. Hand railings and rotted wood need to be replaced, and supports added. A second viewing blind will also be added to existing trails/boardwalk. Volunteers will do most of the work in completing this part of the project, and in monitoring avian populations.
$10,000 Central Coast:
Zeiss LSU Tiger-Herons
Richard Gibbons, Phred Benham, Devin Bossler, Justin Bossler
Project: Packery Channel Sanctuary Habitat - Restoration
Project Partner: Audubon Outdoor Club of Corpus Christi, Inc.
Location: Corpus Christi, Nueces County
Project Description:
This project involves restoration of lots to the habitat native to this unique barrier island, to include the following: installation of semi-porous bottom material for marsh to aid in water retention (if the aqua matte currently holding the water disintegrates), purchase and planting of trees native to area (i.e. willow, bay laurel, retama, etc.), and removal and control of cat-tails and Brazilian Pepper trees from the existing marsh.
Enhancement to follow after restoration is complete will include extension of boardwalk and installation of educational boards to explain the value of the area as habitat and refuge as well as type of birds, animals and vegetation observed.
$10,000 Upper Coast:
TAMUG Xtreme Birding Team
Susan Knock, David Lindsey, Greggo Seward, Emily Watson, Orion Weldon
Project: Horseshoe Marsh Prairie - Restoration
Project Partner: Houston Audubon Society
Location: Port Bolivar, Galveston County
Project Description:
Houston Audubon’s Horseshoe Marsh Bird Sanctuary, which is open to the public, contains approximately 500 acres of coastal prairie habitat. Approximately 400 acres of the sanctuary are degraded by exotic Chinese tallow trees. Houston Audubon needs to eradicate tallow trees from these 400 acres as soon as possible. Birding Classic funds will be used to purchase herbicide for use by the licensed contractor who will use herbicide to remove the tallow trees.
$3,000 Lone Star Bird Award:
Nikon WildBirders
Cameron Cox, Ken Behrens, France Dewaugh, Pete Hosner
Project: Coastal Sanctuary Understory Diversification - Restoration
Project Partner: Houston Audubon Society
Location: Coastal Sanctuaries in Chambers County
Project Description:
The understory in Boy Scout Woods and Smith Oaks is made up of predominately invasive plants, particularly Chinese privet. The goal is to diversify the habitat providing better food sources for resident, overwintering and migrating birds. This will be achieved by removing invasives and replanting with native species like yaupon holly and laurel cherry. Volunteers will perform the majority of the work under the direction of HAS staff.
Once again, thank you to everyone that participated and played some part in making this year's Great Texas Birding Classic successful. We continue to strive to conserve and improve the habitat for birds and birders along the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail!
Carol
Tournament Coordinator
cjones@gcbo.org
