Fall 2008 A publication of the Wildlife Diversity Program—Getting Texans Involved
Grasslands:
Treasures Lost and (re)Found
Much of Texas was once described as grasslands, from our noted prairie regions like the Blackland Prairies and the Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, to those not so obviously named like the Edwards Plateau, much of which would be prairie interspersed with canyons, or the Trans Pecos where grasslands are common at lower elevations.
A landscape approach to
upland bird conservation
The Western Navarro Bobwhite Recovery Initiative - WNBRI
Until the late 1970’s or early 1980’s, the sound of “Bob-bob-whiiiiite” was as much of a springtime passage in Navarro County as the annual bloom of wildflowers. During this time, the bobwhite whistles slowly began to fade. By the late 1980’s they had become all but silent. Today, except in small isolated habitat patches in the western portion of the county, the springtime silence continues. If you’re lucky, and happen to be in the right place at the right time, you just might hear one, but it is almost like finding a needle in a haystack. When you do hear one you are so surprised that you second guess yourself.
Native grassland restoration programs
One hundred and fifty years ago much of Texas west of I-45 was a sea of native grass that fed foraging herds of bison, antelope, elk and deer and provided habitat for hundreds of other grassland dependent species of wildlife. Grass health was maintained by the nomadic nature of the large herds of herbivores whose constant movement prevented local overgrazing and periodic lightning or Native American induced fires.
Lake Arrowhead State Park
Built by the city of Wichita Falls as a primary water source, Lake Arrowhead lies approximately fifteen miles southeast of the city in the North Central Plains of Texas. The lake covers roughly 16,400 surface acres and is bordered by 106 miles of shoreline.
Texas nature tracking on the prairie
The North American prairie historically ranged from Canada to the Mexican border and from the foothills of the Rocky Mountains to western Indiana and Wisconsin. This prairie is referred to as the Great Plains.
Endangered birds of the coastal prairies -
vanishing or recovering?
The eerie sounds of a coastal prairie dawn were all but silenced. The mournful "boom" of the Attwater subspecies of Greater Prairie-Chicken have all but disappeared from what was once a 9,500,000 acre crescent of grassland interspersed with herbs and forbs.
An introduction to
Texas Turtles
Turtle, tortoise or terrapin? Many people get confused by these terms, often using them interchangeably. Texas has a single species of tortoise, the Texas Tortoise (Gopherus berlanderi), and a single species of terrapin, the diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin).
Historical and Current Assessment of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's
Private Lands Assistance Program
Since the 1930's Texas Parks and Wildlife Department biologists have provided habitat management assistance to landowners. In the early years, work consisted of collecting data for hunting/fishing regulations, trapping and transporting wildlife, population studies, wildlife research, and vegetation surveys.
The Benefits of
Backyard Bugging
A few weeks ago I bought a new (to me) camera body that allows me to once again use my close-up lenses left over from the film era. Since then, I've been shooting backyard bugs.
The Back Porch
A passion for people
I’m a wildlife biologist. Therefore, I’m in the “people business”. If you think those two statements contradict one another, you’re not alone. However, it’s true.
Wild Stuff!
For Wildlife Posters and Hummingbird Wheels, visit www.tpwd.state.tx.us/shop for order form.