Annual membership meeting -- all new

   The 2014 annual meeting was held in a new venue, the San Marcos Recreation Center, on the San Marcos River. A new format was adapted to move business forward but solicit input from the membership. Tables for refreshments, provided by the Bluebonnet Lions, were placed to encourage a mingling of the members. Chairs were placed in a semi-circle looking out at the river for the business meeting.

Member mingle and discuss the past year

   Business included naming two new and one returning members of the board of directors.  They included Richard Salmon, grant writer for the city Parks & Recreation Department; Kenneth Dees, retired school administrator and a member of the trail crew and Charlotte Wattigny of the Convention & Visitors Bureau who has served on the board since 2012.
   A re-design of the popular trail maps was up for discussion as members were asked their opinions of the new look. Accomplishments for the past year were presented on a long roll of paper complete with photographs. Special note was made of outstanding volunteers and members of the public who helped further the goals of the Greenbelt Alliance. Melani Howard received the walking stick in honor of her long time support of our natural areas and all her advice and support she gave us since SMGA's start in 1998.  Donna Browning received special trail tools in recognition as the volunteer of the year. Donna started a new regular crew with an emphasis on restoration of native vegetation.

Paul and Gordon comment on the trail map re-design.

  Also new this year were displays from the Habitat Conservation Plan Program for restoring the San Marcos River, the San Marcos High School mountain bike club and the Healthy City Task Force which is the driving force behind the Fitscription Program that encourages people to get outside and walk.

--LJ

  
  

Birding hike at Ringtail Ridge

   It was a chilly January 4th when more than a dozen of us gathered for the monthly birding walk with Stephen Ramirez at Ringtail Ridge off Old Ranch Road 12. He was joined by his friends and experienced birders, Jonny Scalise and Sasha Munters who also fielded questions from the group.

Blue-headed vireo

   The hour-and-a-half hike yielded sightings of 19 species of birds including a very unafraid and curious blue-headed vireo. The 45 acre natural area was flooded during the Halloween rains and evidence of gravel washouts remain. There are positive aspects to the standing water in all three of the ponds that once served the former slaughterhouse grounds. The abundance of standing water means more wildlife is gathering at the natural area. Fortunately, it is still too cold for mosquitos.
   The monthly hikes range from the San Marcos River front to Spring Lake to the five mostly, dry natural areas around San Marcos. The hikes, although early on the first Saturday morning of the month, are free the participants range from young families to retirees.  Everyone enjoys getting outdoors and observing something new and different.  Contact Stephen@birdsiview.org to be included in the notification list.

Adding to our list of sightings and experience

The birds we saw this month included:

3	Carolina Wren
1	Bewick's Wren
4	Ruby-crowned Kinglet
4	Northern Mockingbird
2	Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)
1	Song Sparrow
2	White-throated Sparrow
6	Northern Cardinal
3	Red-winged Blackbird
10	American Goldfinch
1	Black Vulture
1	Turkey Vulture
1	Wilson's Snipe
30	White-winged Dove
3	Common Ground-Dove
1	Golden-fronted Woodpecker
1	Eastern Phoebe
1	Blue-headed Vireo
3	Black-crested Titmouse

    Very shortly we will be in the migration season and the birding walk sighting lists should grow.
Hope you can join us.
--LJ