AUSTIN— The 23rd annual Great Texas Birding Classic (GTBC) has wrapped up another year and the winners of the largest and longest bird-watching competition in the United States have chosen 10 conservation projects to award grant funds. Grants range in amount to $1,000 to $10,000.
AUSTIN – As boaters head out to Texas waterways for the Fourth of July holiday, Texas Game Wardens and thousands of law enforcement officers will be on heightened alert looking for those violating boating under the influence laws. These ramped up efforts to crack down on impaired boaters will continue July 5-7 during the annual Operation Dry Water weekend, a nationally coordinated heightened awareness and enforcement campaign focused on deterring boaters from boating under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
AUSTIN— Starting July 8, the Battleship Texas State Historic Site is reducing its visitation hours to allow staff full accessibility to the ship and its historic artifacts ahead of an upcoming trip to a drydock facility for major repairs to restore the ship’s leaking hull. The ship will be closed to the public Monday-Thursday and open weekends 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
ATHENS – The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Toyota ShareLunker Program is having a banner year in its efforts to create bigger, better bass in Texas. After successfully spawning three of the five 13 pound or larger Legacy Class largemouth bass loaned to the selective-breeding program in 2019, the department’s hatchery staff produced more than 92,000 offspring to stock in Texas public lakes.
AUSTIN— Last year, Texas’ temperatures soared to record highs and staff at more than 40 Texas Parks and Wildlife Department sites handled 134 incidents relating to heat-related illnesses in humans and pets. On the eve of the official start of summer, TPWD experts are sharing their top six heat hacks for staying safe in the outdoors during the blistering Texas heat.
AUSTIN – With long summer holidays on the horizon, many anglers are looking for unique fishing destinations to explore with friends and family. This year, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department fisheries staff are encouraging Texans to try heading west to target a variety of fish species and enjoy the breathtaking scenery.
On June 1, researchers put leg bands on fuzzy Aplomado falcon chicks at Mustang Island State Park, where a pair of adult falcons occupy one of 67 artificial nest structures maintained along the Texas coast. A few days later, on June 5, scientists banded the 500th Aplomado falcon in Texas. It’s all part of ongoing monitoring to maintain the success of a wildlife restoration effort begun decades ago.
LA PORTE— Battleship Texas State Historic Site will commemorate the 75th anniversary of D-Day with a day of activities from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 8. Admission to the ceremony is free and open to the public and boarding will begin at 7:30 a.m. Regular ship admission will be charged beginning at 9:30 a.m.
PILOT POINT— Ray Roberts Lake State Parks’ Isle Du Bois Unit is closing its day use area for a major capital repair project until fall 2019. The closure begins May 28 and includes the swimming area, picnic area and pavilions.
AUSTIN— The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission approved $3.81 million dollars in grants to fund 22 motorized and non-motorized recreational trail-related projects across the state.