THE 2012 ANNUAL TxSER CONFERENCE

November 2nd - 4th, 2012

Estero Llano Grande State Park
3301 S. International Blvd. (F.M. 1015), Weslaco , TX 76549

Join us in the Rio Grande Valley for the 2012 Annual TXSER Conference, November 2nd - 4th, in an area that hosts one of the most spectacular convergences of birds on earth. Network and find new exciting ways to contribute to ecological restoration through presentations, speakers and field trips in this unique region. This year's conference will be held at the amazingly diverse Estero Llano Grande State Park, a 176-acre refuge in Weslaco, which attracts a fantastic array of South Texas wildlife with its varied landscape of shallow lakes, woodlands and thorn forest. Through field trips of the surrounding area we will learn of the restoration efforts that have been implemented by various organizations such as Texas Parks & Wildlife, The Nature Conservancy & U.S. Fish & Wildlife. This is a conference to remember!

Please mark this date on your calendar and visit this site for updates on registration, scholarships, field trips & program information.

Field Trip - THE FORT HOOD PROJECT
by The Nature Conservancy

A box lunch and drink are provided. We are looking for attendees with high clearance vehicles who are willing to take riders for the field trip. If you can help us, please indicate this on your registration, or contact us by phone or email.

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The Golden-cheeked Warbler (GCW) is one of the most at-risk species in North America. It breeds exclusively on or near the Edwards Plateau of central Texas, requiring Ashe juniper habitat, much of which has been lost or altered due to urban sprawl and land management practices. Fort Hood covers a total of 340-square miles and is the largest active duty armored post in the United States Armed Services. Of Ft. Hood's 218,000 acres, it was estimated in 2003 that approximately 66,000 acres are GCW habitat, making it the largest section of continuous habitat. In addition to the GCW, Ft. Hood is home to other endangered, threatened or rare species such as the Black-capped Vireo and karst invertebrates. Click on the link below to learn more about the management & research being conducted on Ft. Hood by the Nature Conservancy. Be sure to watch the 15 minute video of a day in the life of two biologists at Ft. Hood.

Our Saturday September 23rd TXSER Field Trip will consist of touring areas of Ft. Hood and neighboring Parrie Haynes Ranch to see what has been done, what is planned and what could be. Join us for an enlightening look at a successful joint project to protect the habitat & increase the population of two endangered songbirds. See video here.

2011 Meeting Registration is closed.

It was a great early autumn in Central Texas for this TXSER meeting, September 23-25, 2011 at Parrie Haynes Ranch, about 10 miles from Killeen. We had a field trip scheduled ½ day to Fort Hood & around Parrie Haynes to discuss restoration work done on Fort Hood and potential restoration work for Parrie Haynes. After the field trip we heldour members' meeting, followed by a dinner & social with the best (and friendliest) restoration ecologists in Texas.