Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused.

Experience is a wonderful thing.
It enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again.

If you look like your passport picture, you probably need the trip.

A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory.

I started with nothing.
I still have most of it.

Funny, I don’t remember being absent minded.

SEADRIFT, TX, September 15, 2011- The San Antonio Bay Foundation announces the election of the Foundation’s newest board members at their September 3rd board meeting.

Executive Director Tommie Rhoad said, “We are so pleased to have these four new directors on board. They will each bring a new level of experience and expertise to the Foundation as well as represent the interests of people who value the resources of San Antonio Bay.

The new board members include Dale Fowler, President of the Victoria Economic Development Corporation. Fowler has longed recognized the delicate balance between industry and the environment and the demands that each places on the other. As a board member, he will bring a wealth of knowledge to the table to ensure that our bays, waterways and industry will thrive in a mutually beneficial environment. He is active on several community boards, volunteers with the Victoria County Sheriff’s office as a Patrol Deputy and is a Deacon with the Blythe Road Church of Christ.

Gene Colville, Refugio County Rancher, manages a successful cattle operation in the Guadalupe Delta. His ranch is bordered by Hynes Bay, the Guadalupe River and the wetlands of the Guadalupe delta. Colville, a retired cement executive, is an avid outdoorsman and enjoys hunting and fishing at his bay-side ranch. His service on the Board of Directors will enhance scientific monitoring efforts on the river and in the bays.

Additionally, Gary Burns, Victoria County Commissioner, Precinct #3 has been tapped to serve on the Foundation Board. Commissioner Burns is recognized for his regional approach to problem solving and consensus building. He is a long time entrepreneur and serves on several community boards, is active in his church and raises cattle and horses.

Rhonda Cummins, Coastal and Marine Resource Agent for Calhoun County has an extensive background in secondary education as well as a Master’s Degree in Marine Resources Management. She holds a US Coast Guard 200 Ton Master’s License and captained the Galveston Historical Foundation’s 81-passenger tour vessel, conducting educational and historical tours of Galveston Harbor for school groups and the public. Her background will be invaluable to the mission of the Foundation.

Also serving on the board of the San Antonio Bay Foundation is Dr. Steve Wilson, a veterinarian and owner of Calhoun County Animal Hospital, as well as Wanda Roberts, a partner in the law firm of Roberts, Roberts, Odefey and Witte. Both are from Port Lavaca. Additionally, Dr. Todd Votteler, PhD, and manager of Intergovernmental Relations and Policy for the Guadalupe Blanco River Authority (GBRA) along with Debbie Magin, Director of Water Quality with GBRA serve as directors on the board of the Foundation.

The San Antonio Bay Foundation was created in July 2008 by the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority to serve as a vehicle for the protection and preservation of the bay and estuary system at the end of the Guadalupe River Basin. The Foundation’s vision is to champion a healthy and prosperous San Antonio Bay system that will provide a quality environment for marine life, coastal wildlife and for the recreational and commercial endeavors of area residents and visitors.

(Mr. Jamsion writes from his Liberty County residence, but the birds mentioned in this article are also found in our area.)

The sixty five year old (plus) couple always looked forward to the evening sitting quietly in their small party cabin in the back yard watching the deer and game come to the feeder. Both of them are always on the watch for the unusual when the wife suddenly announced the arrival of the stork!

“Honey, are you alright? You spilled your tea. Did you doze off?

“Uuh….uhhh…I guess I felt a little faint all of a sudden. But didn’t you mention something about a st…sto….”?

“The stork…..oh yes…I saw five land in the big cypress tree down by the lake last week.”

The late summer or early fall is the time for flocks of storks, a gigantic bird, to show up in cypress swamp forest. Late summer is also the time (especially this year) when the water of swamps and lakes are at a long time low. Their principal diet of fish or other aquatic animals or insects are easily harvested by these great wading birds.

A common mistake most of us make is referring to storks and ALL wading birds as cranes. There obviously is some genealogical connection in the crane family because the wood stork or wood ibis, as some call, closely resemble the whooping crane, a highly endangered bird that winters in coastal Texas. The stork is slightly smaller than the ‘whoopers’ being over waist high to a man and with a wing span wide as a man is tall.

There is another similar cousin that also frequents fields and farms in this part of the world and that is the sand hill crane. Also a bit smaller than the stork but has the migrating flight characteristic of both the whooping crane and the wood stork which is almost totally soaring on heat thermals of air while displaying a circular graceful motion.

Cranes, ibis, anhinga (some call water turkeys) and a few others fly with their necks extended. On the other hand, the runner up of the stork might be the great blue heron. But as all herons and their relatives, they fly with their necks retracted. That is the easy way to classify these birds even if it is not always accurate.

Where are the great white herons? Well, they aren’t here unless some accidental happenings occur. They are principally found in the U.S. around the lower or tropical parts of Florida. What we confuse with the great white heron is a virtual look-alike of the great white egret. Great egrets are equal in size to the great blue heron with almost exact characteristics except color.

Of all the wading birds there are only a very few that are acceptable table fare. Each of those each is federally and state protected with seasons and limits. The prize would range from the very small rail family, Wilsons snipe to the giant sand hill crane. The sand hill crane is about a six pound bird with a heavy breast that is quite similar to a wild goose. Others would include curlews and all species of plover which are totally prohibited game at this time.

All in all, the nature show in the back yard is quite remarkable most any day. From the bird bath with a leaky faucet, to the spinning racket of the feeder discharging corn, milo, sunflower seeds and millet will always make an evening a remarkable memory.

Not long ago, we really got a shock to see a wild turkey pecking around the feeder. If a squirrel got a bit close or even a deer, the turkey hen would stand tall, flap her wings and announce she was there first! These wild turkeys though few, are due to the generosity of Pat Henscey of Henscey Electric Company. His thoughtful contribution in attempting to reestablish wild turkeys in Liberty County is only exceeded by his very tight control of poaching of any kind that might harm these delicate birds. Of course, turkey season is closed here also and local game wardens are well aware of where and when these birds are seen.

The evening enjoyment should often include an interested friend to join you. But please be careful when you mention the visit from the stork.

-Bob Jamison jbobalong@yahoo.com

Wood Storks breed in the southeastern U.S. and are the only storks to breed in the U.S.

Ty Maverick Russell

Congratulations to Kevin, Tesha, and Kailyn on the birth of their son/brother, Ty Maverick.
Ty was born August 23, 2011 at 5:57 p.m. He weighed 7 lbs., 10 oz. and was 21 inches long.

Very proud grandparents are Freddie and Nancy Harborth and Butch and Christine Russell.
Proud aunts are Patricia Harborth and Robi Russell.
Great-grandparents are Freddie and Chantal Hawes, Richard and Dorothy Featherston and Patsy Russell.

Congratulations and Best Wishes!

Seadrift- Chuck Austin, 90, departed peacefully from this Earth at his home on San Antonio Bay on Monday, August 29, 2011.

Please come and join us in a celebration of his life and to honor his memory at the Seadrift Bayfront Park Pavilion at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, September 23, 2011.