Passport to Texas

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="460"]Boating with Safety in Mind[/caption] This is Passport to Texas Over the past couple of years, low lake levels from the drought kept many boats and other watercraft in dry dock, but thanks to spring rains… 02—We have a lot more water now, so the lakes have changed. That’s good news as we approach Memorial Day weekend —the unofficial start of summer boating season. More water means easier, safer navigation of lakes, says Tim Spice, manager of boater education for Parks and Wildlife. Being savvy about safety also keeps everyone protected when on the water. 31—We can identify two major factors that you as a boater can affect in how you operate a vessel, and the things that you do in and around the water. One is wear a lifejacket. Eighty percent of those people that die from falling in the water would be alive if they had a life jacket on. And then the second thin you can do is to not drink alcohol. Alcohol affects your judgment, and you can lose your driver’s license—your vehicle driver’s license—the court can take that away from you if you are found guilty of boating while intoxicated. On tomorrow’s show the rules of the road as they pertain to boating, and what items you need to have on board before setting sail. 07—The rules on the road are all designed based on the type of vessel and the maneuverability of the vessel. The Sport Fish Restoration program supports our series and works increase fishing and boating opportunities in Texas. For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I'm Cecilia Nasti.

This is Passport to Texas Wondering what you’ll discover on a visit to the Texas coast? 02—There’s always something new and surprising. Writer… Melissa Gaskill…should know. She grew up on the coast and although she lives in Austin now, she’s a frequent visitor to her old stomping grounds. She says if you steer clear of the Texas’ sandy shores because you’re looking for something more tranquil…you need to check out her article in the June issue of Texas Parks and Wildlife magazine. 19—[In] Port Aransas you’ve got the busy beach, [but] you can get on a ferry and ride over to St. Joe Island, and walk off and be all by yourself. You can do that at Sea Rim; you can do that on Matagorda Island, and you can even do it in Matagorda County on the Beach, or South Padre island, where you can go down past where all the people are and just keep on going. Melissa says wildlife viewing, dining, kayaking, swimming, and fishing just scratch the surface of the activities awaiting coastal visitors…activities such as instruction on sandcastle-making taught by experts. 16— It’s a class you pay for. You typically get an hour with one of these people; they’re on the beach – that’s where the sand is. And they’ve got all the tools. You’re usually under a little shady tarp. The place I went, they gave you a drink. And they start showing you from the basics up; over that hour, you build something pretty impressive. Check out Melissa Gaskill’s article, titled Go Coastal in the June issue of Texas parks and Wildlife magazine. For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="460"]Image courtesy of www.destination360.com[/caption] This is Passport to Texas Writer Melissa Gaskill is never at a loss for things to do on the Texas coast. 09—I spent my middle school and high school years on the beach; I have spent my adult life all along the coast. Believe it or not, that article only scratches the surface. The article Melissa’s referring to is one she wrote for the June issue of Texas Parks and Wildlife magazine titled: Go Coastal. It’s a compendium of diverse activities. 10—I just made a list right off the top of my head and sent it to the editor and said, ‘how does this look?’ and she goes ‘great!’ And we refined it a little bit, but for the most part these are things that I’ve been doing my entire life and loving. Melissa says the first place to start a coastal visit is on the beach…but you needn’t stay there. 26—There are places to hike… you can get in a kayak; a kayak is a wonderful way to explore. You can charter a boat, you can go offshore. You can go out on a fishing pier. There are all of the touristy things: you can go to the pier and ride a Ferris wheel, you can go to a restaurant, sit out on the deck and feed fish-- that sort of thing. Or you can go off the beaten path: ride a horse, kayak, or hike off into some pretty remote areas. Melissa Gaskill returns tomorrow and shares more about her Go Coastal article for the June issue of Texas Parks and Wildlife magazine. Funding for the show’s provided in part by RAM Trucks: Doing what’s right and good regardless of the degree of difficulty — takes guts. Those are the people who build Ram trucks. RAM. For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400"]TPW Magazine: Going Coastal[/caption] This is Passport to Texas With summer looming, Texas Parks and Wildlife Magazine editor, Louie Bond, says the June issue of the magazine is going coastal. 58 – We are going coastal in June. Melissa Gaskill is going to take us on a grand tour of the coast. Melissa is one of those writer’s who’s been everywhere and done everything – so we thought she was the perfect person to tell us what the best things to do on the coast are. And that’s everything from kayaking to birding to fishing to swimming to riding your horses on the beach – there’s just a million things to do. There are great aquariums; great food to eat… there’s lots of recreation whether you’re quiet or an adventurous daredevil. So, we’re taking everybody down to the coast this month. Of course, there is one danger of living on the coast, and that’s hurricanes. So, our own Lance Robinson takes a look at the damage after hurricane Ike. It’s hidden damage; it’s salt marshes and oyster beds. And it takes a long time for those to recover. But there have been some great efforts made to help those get back to their natural health. And he’ll help us see how they’re recovering. So get on your flip flops and come to the beach with us this month. Thanks, Louie. The Sport Fish and Wildlife restoration program supports our series and funds coastal conservation and fisheries projects in Texas. For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="460"]Caddo Lake[/caption] This is Passport to Texas Abundant water and huge old cypress trees makes Caddo Lake ideal wildlife habitat. 06 - Caddo Lake is the mother load for several species of neo-tropical migrants. Cliff Shackelford is a non-game ornithologist stationed in Nacogdoches. The prothonotary warbler, northern parula, and yellow-throated warbler flock to Caddo. 17 - A dawn chorus of those warblers singing is quite a neat thing. It’s good to be out in a boat, a canoe, a kayak, something where you can get out in the middle of the swamp to hear these things—they’re just loud and explosive. It’s really refreshing to hear things like that singing in the morning. But warblers aren’t the only creatures that make use of Caddo’s resources. Vanessa Adams is the area biologist at the Caddo Lake Wildlife Management Area. And says you’ll find white-tailed deer and… 14 - We unfortunately do have feral hog, but that is a huntable population, of course. We see several species of ducks. You’ll see wood duck year round. We get mallards; we have other unusual ducks. In fact, we’ve had white bellied whistling ducks nest here. There’s more information about Caddo lake on the Texas Parks and Wildlife website. The Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program supports our series and provides funding for wetland conservation through the Private Lands Enhancement Program. For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="460"]Mother's Day in a Texas State Park[/caption] This is Passport to Texas Mother’s Day is fast approaching, and our state park guide, Bryan Frazier, recommends giving Mom the gift of the great outdoors. 47 – There’s a dilemma sometimes of ‘what do I do that’s special for my mom?” So, I want to encourage people to think not only outside the box – think outside. Take your mom on a hike, on a scavenger hunt a la Geocaching; sign her up for a Texas Outdoor Woman’s workshop, or sign the whole family up for a Texas Outdoor Family guided camping experience. Or, just go together with the family and enjoy some time along a nature trail. There are moms out there that love to fish, too. She will never need a fishing license inside a Texas State park with the free fishing in state parks program. So, there’s lots of different things to do, from the spontaneous to the planned event. Check the calendar at texasstateparks.org and this year – maybe this maybe mom needs a trip outside. Thanks, Bryan. Find myriad outdoor opportunities to share with mom on mother’s day and every day at texasstateparks.org. That’s our show for today…with funding provided by Chevrolet, supporting outdoor recreation in Texas; because there’s life to be done. For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="460"]Picnics in Parks[/caption] This is Passport to Texas The merry month of May brings with it ideal weather; the perfect weather, in fact, for packing a picnic and heading to a nearby state park. It’s also when we celebrate Mom. Mother’s Day is May 12th. Why not combine the two and take mom on a picnic? Just don’t let her do the food prep. Picnicking is our Outdoor Activity of the Month for May, and we’ve created a page with recipes that are easy to make ahead, or prepare onsite. They are courtesy of chefs, food bloggers, the Texas Department of Agriculture’s Go Texan program, and the Texas Beef Council. Your picnic can be as simple as burgers cooked over a campfire and served with chips, sodas, and cookies for dessert. Or it can include more unusual, fresh, and tasty fare such as sugar snap peas with basil, Jamaican jerks wings, or nectarine cobbler (which would cook up beautifully in a Dutch oven). You’ll find the picnic recipes on the activities page of the Texas Parks and Wildlife website. In addition, you’ll be able to check the weather forecast in your area, find food safety tips, as well as much more information to make your Mother’s Day picnic – or any picnic –in a state park a day to remember. Because not only is life better outside…food tastes better outside, too. For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="460"]Indian Lodge[/caption] This is Passport to Texas Coming up on the Texas Parks and Wildlife TV series the week of May 12 a story where a cooler head prevailed. Producer, Alan Fisher has details. 63— We profile an employee – Stephanie Rubio – who works at Indian Lodge in the Davis Mountains State Park. Stephanie is one of the people who keeps Indian Lodge running. I think Stephanie probably has one of those jobs that if everything is going right you wouldn’t know that she was even working there. But, there was a particular incident in April of 2011, where she had quite a different day at work, and really rose to the occasion. So, in April of 2011, there was a wild fire that started outside of Marfa and tore all the way into Fort Davis. Stephanie was really in charge at that time; she was kind of the only person there to sort of keep an eye on things. And she made the decision to evacuate people out of safety concern. With the fire approaching, she saw the danger – only one road in and out – and made sure that everybody was safe. Everyone who knows her well, said that she’s always very calm and collected; and she really stayed calm through the entire incident. I think afterwards she kind of realized that that was kind of a big deal, but a very modest person. Humble; would never brag about it. Just doing her job. Thanks, Alan. Support provided by Ram Trucks. Doing what’s right and good regardless of the degree of difficulty — takes guts. Those are the people who build Ram trucks. RAM. For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="460"]Sirloin with Sugar Snap Peas, © Courtesy Texas Beef Council[/caption] This is Passport to Texas May is Picnicking Month at Texas Parks and Wildlife and our state park guide, Bryan Frazier, recommends heading to a state park with your favorite foods. 56 – Do we really need any incentive to eat while we’re doing something we enjoy? This is one more time to do that. And, it seems like, when you’re outdoors, whether you’ve cooked over a campfire or one of the grills in the picnic area, or whether you packed it ahead of time and put in all your favorite foods and snacks (it can be everything from sandwiches or hotdogs, to venison to veggies), take it with you, and find a beautiful place. It seems food tastes better with a great view. And some of our state parks have fantastic places for picnicking. There’s day use areas that have picnic tables. There are picnic tables in most all of the campsites you can find. And then there are designated areas along lake shores. Or, sometimes maybe you’re on this remote wilderness trek backpacking, and there’s a little rest area or a bench off the trail. Take your lunch there and enjoy it. It can really be a unique dining experience when you get a picnic with a view. Thanks, Bryan. Find picnicking information at www.texasstateparks.org. That’s our show for today…with funding provided by Chevrolet, supporting outdoor recreation in Texas; because there’s life to be done. For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="460"]Environment for the Americas[/caption] This is Passport to Texas International Migratory Bird Day falls on the second Saturday in May in both the US and Canada. 04-We encourage groups to host a program or an event when it works for them and the birds. Susan Bonfield is Executive Director of Environment for the Americas, which coordinates this international event. She says the goal is for attendees to experience birds firsthand. 12-I want people to go to these programs and have one of their first opportunities to see a bird. To use binoculars, to use a field guide, to get excited about birds, and to want to become involved in bird conservation. Find events at www.birdday.org. But if you can’t get to one, don’t fret. 25-You know, your backyard is just a great place to celebrate migratory bird day. I think that anything you do around your house to help conserve birds—we have information up on the website about threats to birds, and what you can do to minimize the threats at your home. Any improvement of habitat in your yard, cleaning your bird feeders. Any very basic and practical activities are a wonderful way to help conserve birds. You can also just sit in a lawn chair in your yard with a beverage and binoculars and see who comes along. The Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration program supports our series and funds conservation projects in Texas. For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I'm Cecilia Nasti.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="460"]Image Courtesy National Park Service[/caption] This is Passport to Texas In the early 1990s, scientists started noticing that some populations of migratory birds were declining. 10-There was a concern about what these causes were, and at the same time there was considerable interest in getting the public involved in learning more about birds and their conservation… Susan Bonfield is Executive Director of Environment for the Americas. Her non-profit coordinates International Migratory Bird Day, an event created as a direct result of scientists' concerns over declining avian populations. 12-Several researchers at the Smithsonian Migratory Bird center came up with the idea of hosting a public event to get communities involved in learning about birds. And that was the origins of International Migratory Bird Day. It is the second Saturday of May for the US and Canada, and is intended to occur during peak migration. The idea is to give folks an opportunity to see these migrants. 09-That doesn't work for everyone. So, for example, in some parts of Canada it may too early, and some parts of the United States, even, it's a little bit too late—migratory birds have already passed over. This time of year is excellent for bird watching in Texas. Tomorrow: celebrating birds at an event, or your own backyard. The Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration project supports our series…and funds diverse conservation projects in Texas. For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I'm Cecilia Nasti.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="460"]Fort Richardson State Historic Site[/caption] This is Passport to Texas Fort Richardson played a vital role settling the Texas frontier. And we celebrate the146th anniversary of this outpost later this month. Our State Park Guide Bryan Frazier has details. 57 – For Richardson from the 1860s to the 1870s was one of the most significant outposts on the Texas frontier. You’re talking about being on the edge or, and in the heart of, Comancheria at the time. So, this particular outpost was responsible for helping ensure the safety of the settlers and the farmers and the ranchers that were there in the area. And it’s the 146th birthday of Ft. Richardson, which is in the city limits of Jacksboro, just north of Interstate 20, about an hour and thirty minutes west of Fort Worth. And they’re going to have all kinds of activities and re-enactors; soldiers from the 1860s and 70s in their full regalia on horseback, and cannons firing. And there will be cavalry, infantry and artillery troops. It’s just a great event. It’s going to be Friday and Saturday – the 12th & 13th of this month – to get out and see the living history event at Fort Richard State park and Historic Site. Thanks, Bryan. Find additional information at texasstateparks.org. That’s our show for today…with funding provided by Chevrolet, supporting outdoor recreation in Texas; because there’s life to be done. For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="460"]Image, Chase A. Fountain, © Texas Parks and Wildlife Department[/caption] This is Passport to Texas Texas Parks and Wildlife is growing its Wildland Fire Team, made up of employees throughout the state. The TPW TV Series features the group this month. Producer, Abe Moore, has details. 54— We followed Kevin Ferguson who works at Kickapoo Cavern State park, and Robin Dabney, who works out at Dinosaur Valley State Park. They also do lots of prescribed burns, where they burn 5 to 10-thousand acres of parkland every year. The fire behavior is very good; we’re getting what we want. It’s exciting. It’s sort of an adrenaline rush. So, now while we were working on this story for the TV show, the biggest, most devastating wildlife season in Texas history happened. You had to be prepared to be able to endure whatever’s thrown at you – especially in an emergency situation like that. They’re able to handle some seriously stressful situations. Even when I was filming them doing the prescribed burn, I’m just walking along with my camera as the fire’s happening; all of a sudden I noticed my microphone started melting because it was so hot. And I’m running away from the fire, going ‘Okay; I don’t know what I’m doing. I better pay more attention here.’ And they’re just smooth as silk because they know how to handle the situation. It struck me that they really are prepared and well-trained. The show airs the week of April 7 though 13. Support provided by Ram Trucks. Doing what’s right and good regardless of the degree of difficulty — takes guts. Those are the people who build Ram trucks. RAM. For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="460"]Colin Pack of Round Rock caught Toyota ShareLunker 548 from Lake Austin March 27, image by Nathan Reynolds, © Texas Parks and Wildlife Department[/caption] This is Passport to Texas If you reel in a largemouth bass from Texas waters, and it weighs 13-pounds or more, donate it to the Toyota Sharelunker program through the end of the month; you’ll help spawn the next generation of big bass. To donate a fish, handle it as little as possible, then… Get a weight on it. If you have a set of scales that you feel like are close enough that you can actually say it’s a good enough weight to call us, weigh it and let us know. David Campbell coordinated the program for 26 years before retiring in 2012. He explains what to do if you think you have a lunker, and want to donate it to the program. We would like to have these fish in our possession in less than 12 hours. I realize sometimes if you’re on the other side of the state of Texas is may take me a few hours to get there. If you have to go somewhere and have that fish weighed, leave it in the water in aerated live well or whatever it is, try not to dry the fish off. If that fish weighs 13-pounds on a set of certified scales—whether it’s for business or whatever it is—give us a call as quick as possible. And we dispatch a vehicle; and take care of it until we get there. That’s the main thing. Log onto the Texas parks and Wildlife website for more information. That’s our show…with support from the Wildlife and Sport Fish restoration Program…providing funding for the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center. For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="460"]Donald Deville of Ville Platte, Louisiana, caught Toyota ShareLunker 547 from Lake Fork March 20, Larry D. Hodge, © Texas Parks and Wildlife Department[/caption] This is Passport to Texas The Toyota ShareLunker program takes largemouth bass—13-pounds or more—and uses them to breed even bigger bass. By placing the males and females in the same tank, you’d think nature would take its course. It’s not that easy, says David Campbell. 04—It’s very hard to get these older fish to spawn in a strange environment. Campbell retired from TPW in 2012, after 46 years with the agency, and 26 years managing the ShareLunker program. The bass donated to the program are ten years old or more, making their journey to the spawning tanks more stressful. 08—When you catch a thirteen-pound bass with a rod and reel, that’s not something you just reel in real quick and get it out of the water and put it in a live well—it usually takes some time, and it stresses the fish. Music and dim lights work to calm humans and put them in the mood for romance. I asked, in jest, whether Campbell tried such mood enhancers with the bass. 11—(laughter) We haven’t tried it, but we have thought about it. (chuckles) We thought about a lot of this in the first few years of the program because we found it was extremely difficult to get them to spawn. They’re doing something right, because they’ve stocked nearly a million fry in lakes from the Sharelunker program. Donating your catch to the program…that’s tomorrow. The Sport Fish Restoration Program supports our series and provides funding for the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center. For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.