This blog post has been on my mind for many months. Not that I studied it all that time, but mostly because it scared me! Not being a scientist I don’t speak genus and species, and really don’t know much about plants, etc. except the beauty and miracles I enjoy from them. So I asked Steven Fulton, our biologist, for help. “Steven, I want to do a blog on lichens and I need your help.” He asked, “When are you going to post it?” I said, “Next week” to which he replied, “I think you’ll need more time than that, there are 18,000 of them!”
In the winter of 2009 my friend, Joanna Rees, and I were exploring a very step rugged canyon on a part of the ranch named “High Lonesome.” We entered the canyon from the bottom climbing through thick brush, fallen trees, over rocks and stones. I was there primarily looking for any new source of water, a seep or spring, but we were also exploring, enjoying the Fall colors and getting good exercise. I hadn’t been in this canyon in years. It was thick with greenbriar which we were fighting and cutting on our way. At the head of the canyon rim it is lined with an outcropping of giant boulders, perhaps 20 feet tall. We could see where wild creatures had made their homes there. Perhaps coyotes, bobcats, maybe even our goats who are pastured there from time to time, but what got our attention were strange drawings on the face of these giant boulders. There were many of them and at first we thought – PETROGLYPHS. This was exciting as perhaps it would be another attraction for our education programs. We’re pretty excited about this and I can’t wait to show this to Steven. Upon looking at these interesting circles, Steven said these are not ancient Indian messages at all, but are in fact lichens. Not ancient, but they are formed over very long periods of time.
We have, over 40 years, been “building” a library here at the ranch. Not just field guides, but published research, and books on everything that exist with us and for us on this planet. Books on nature’s success stories, famous explorers who wrote about the Hill Country and modern day biologists and environmentalists. Books on endangered species and legal issues. Books on water, trees, grass, fossils – well you name it – we have a respectable library . . . but it had never occurred to me to acquire a book on lichens until my curiosity arose from the discovery of the “petroglyphs”!
I learned about the “lichen bible” as I call it – Lichens of North America by Irwin M. Brodd, Sylvia Duran Sharnoff and Stepehn Sharnoff published by Yale University Press. It’s unbelievably thorough and beautiful. It also is big and thick and it cost over $120.00! I also found in our library an article about lichens by Janet R. Edwards and printed in the Texas Co-op Power Magazine in September of 2001. I also got lichen information from my good friend Susan Sander, founder of the Riverside Nature Center in Kerrville. She is always full of nature knowledge. . . . One of the more unusual lichen things I received was through a Selah visitor, Gwendolyn Hallsmith, from Montpelier, Vermont. She, via email, introduced me to Alan Atkisson who wrote, among other things, “The Strangely Popular Lichen Song” which, with his permission, I’m adding the lyrics to this posting . . . You can buy the song on iTunes or on Amazon.com.
Now, just what are lichens? Once again, I have to confess – I’m not a biologist so I won’t try to get into the scientific lingo by copying from my Lichen bible – about the simplest way I can define a lichen is that they are small, colorful little creatures. They are not plants, but they grow or form just about everywhere in any environment from deserts to the Artic, on trees or stone, iron gates, power lines or dead wood. They are formed from a marriage of an alga and a fungus and like in any marriage (should be) they work together for the benefit of both. Lichens are different than mosses, fungi or algae, but I don’t have the ability to tell you about all their differences except that a mushroom is a fungus, mosses are small soft plants that, here on the ranch, grow on stones around our springs and as the adage goes “a rolling stone gathers no moss” and fungi are a group of spore-producing organisms feeding on organic matter such as molds, yeast, mushrooms and toadstools.
I read once in a government agriculture bulletin that it takes Mother Nature 500 years to manufacture soil. Well, it’s lichens that make this happen! One more fact before I move on, is that lichens are useful in making compounds used in medicines as well as herbicides, dyes and perfumes and if you’re poking around in bird nests, you’ll often find the birds used them in building the nests. So, you see, lichens are another of nature’s success stories!
Steven left me a post-a-note in the lichen bible instructing me to “find this in a tree.” It’s the 9 x 10 beautiful picture on the jacket cover of my lichen bible. I thought that should be so easy to spot until I walked trails and woods for two hours to no avail. You’d think an 82 year-old conservation oriented man like me would know better. When I complained to Steven, he reached to a branch over my head – he’s 6’8” – and broke off this dead branch. I had been wondering through the woods looking for a big patch of this orange beauty, not something the size of a nickel! Photograph taken by Lois Sturm.
Psora crenata (From the Lichen bible) Common name – Brickscale. Found on soil in arid sites. The scales are pink to pinkish-orange and turn grey-green when damp. They are very small. Photograph taken by J. David.
Here is Steven looking at the petroglyphs!! Well, not petroglyphs, but you can imagine how excited we were when we found them. The Lichen “bible” lists them as Speerchneidera euploca with a common name, Pale rockwood. Photograph taken by J. David.
Here you see a large group of the Pale rockwood. A common growth form of lichens is in circular patches or radial growth. Some lichens will maintain the entire patch of growth while others will allow the older center of the patch to become inactive and die leaving an outer ring of younger material which continues to take advantage of un-harvested nutrients/minerals from the substrate as it grows in a radial fashion. Photograph taken by J. David.
Dermatocarpon miniatum – common name Stippleback, leather lichen. Lichens have the ability to grow on rocks of all types and textures. These are usually found on limestone rock. Photograph taken by J. David.
The following are three pictures of lichen covered rock. Our hillsides on the ranch have many large rocks covered with the white patches – Hacma fenzlianum. We found very little of the yellow and orange. Photograph taken by J. David.
Photograph taken by J. David.
Photograph taken by J. David.
DISCLAIMER!!!!
Many times I’ve said I’m not a scientist. This is the most difficult blog I’ve ever tried and I might not have these lichens correctly identified. I will say I know much more now about lichens than I did before. Discovery and pictures were the easy part, the identification was not.
Now, if you want some real lichen entertainment fun, listen to Alan Atkinson sing his song. Here are the lyrics:
THE STRANGELY POPULAR LICHEN SONG
by Alan Atkisson
Once there was a fungus, Freddie was his name,
Said there’s no love for me among us
All these fungi look the same
So he took himself a’ courtin’
Down to where the green things grow
Met some algae name of Alice
She set his heart aglow
CHORUS
Freddie Fungs, Alice Algae
Took a “Lichen” to each other
They grew so very close
That now you can’t tell one from t’other
Them lichens lead a simple life
They never are alone
Alice does the cookin’
And Freddie builds the home
-That’s right, this song is biologically correct -
Well Freddie says, now Alice
You’ve made my life complete
But Alice said, “Now Freddie,
there’s something else we need.
gotta have some lichen children
little ones like you and me.”
So they broke up into pieces
That’s how lichens came to be.
CHORUS
-That’s right, they’re domestic, but they’ve got a great love life – like you
Now you’re a lonesome fungus
And you’re hungry too, besides
Better hook up with somebody
Who can photosynthesize
And if you love each other
Like all good couples do
And take vows of symbiosis
You can be a lichen, too.
CHORUS
There are so many, many good causes that need financial help. Preserving the earth itself is important. So, if you would like to help us with a donation, we are a 501(c)(3) private operating foundation and gifts are deductible to the extent of the law. You can send your contributions to: Bamberger Ranch Preserve, 2341 Blue Ridge Drive, Johnson City, TX 78636 or donate through your computer by using PayPal.
Friend – “a person whom one knows well and is fond of; intimate associate; close acquaintance; applied loosely to any associate or acquaintance, or as a term of address even to a stranger” from Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary.
In Water From Stone, I’m quoted as saying that I know a lot of people, but I have few friends. However events in my life the past few years have lead me to questions my definition of friend.
As the dictionary says, it could be a close acquaintance. In going through this questioning, I’ve come to realize I have many friends so I retract my statement. I think Selah has done that for me . . . from the thousands of people, young and not so young, who have visited here my circle of acquaintances has evolved into friendships. Likewise, I have many of these visitors who tell me that the “Selah Moments” they have experienced here have had a profound life changing impact on them. They need to return to walk a trail, experience the changing seasons, see nature’s progress, to talk to Colleen, Steven or myself, to have another Selah Moment. These encounters over time, the familiarity from them that develops in our lives moves us from acquaintances to friends. One aspect of this that has moved me is that age, sex, religion, politics, social status, financial status, nor anything I can think of, none of these are a barrier to friendship. I’m so very pleased to have come to this realization. Reflecting on this has been a good experience for me. I recommend you try it.
Pilar and Apolos Urquieta live in Peru where they are restoring a tract of land and using it for environmental education. They learned about Selah from the internet. Photograph taken by Lois Sturm.
Kim Kennard spent three summers in Texas while doing research for her Master’s Degree in relation to bats and their value to agriculture. Kim did a short stint as an intern at Selah. Matt Valente is a Ph.D. candidate in Geography and Paleo Ecology. Photograph taken by Joanna Rees.
Ed Sones is a wildlife rehabilitator who has brought many “creatures” to the ranch for release. Here he is preparing a green heron for its new home on Selah. Grey and Willow Grote, who live here on the ranch, learn about the many animals brought here by Ed and Sallie Delahoussaye. Photograph taken by Lois Sturm.
Dr. Kunz has brought many scientists to Selah to do research on bats and along with others they have developed a system used to actually count the bats emerging from the cave. Pictured are some of the young people who spent three weeks with us in July. Their credentials are so impressive everything from undergraduate degrees, master degrees, doctorial degrees and post doc student except Lois and me who are “lowly” undergraduate degree holders. From left to right they are: Paul Heady, III, Winifred F. Frick holding their son, Darwin, Nathan Fuller, Lois Sturm, J. David, Dr. Tom Kunz, Jaclyn Aliperti, Leslie Pepin. Photograph taken by Mary Jo Snider.
Gary McCracken, Professor and Department Head Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee. Gary is a nationally known bat biologist. He is a scientific advisor to our Preserve and was very helpful in 1997 when we built the Chiroptorium. Jennifer Krauel is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Tennessee. Photograph taken by Joanna Rees.
Liz Braun de Torres, Ph. D. candidate Boston University does our bat censusing and three wonderful and interesting students who assistant her. They are from left to right Liz Braun de Torres; Luyi Zheng, graduate of Texas A&M at Galveston Marine Biology; Kristen Lear, Ohio Wesleyan University senior majoring in zoology; and Gary Kanner, Boston University Biology and Environmental Science. Photograph taken by Lois Sturm.
Most certainly my son, David K., and son-in-law, Ernie Sessums, would not fall under the definition of acquaintance! It is possible, however that, as we all grow a little older, sometimes moving far away making personal contact less frequent that in spite of the family link one may not think of a relative as a friend. This is not the case here as Ernie Sessums, left, and David K. Bamberger, right, are two of my best friends. Photograph taken by Joanna Rees.
There are so many, many good causes that need financial help. Preserving the earth itself is important. So, if you would like to help us with a donation, we are a 501(c)(3) private operating foundation and gifts are deductible to the extent of the law. You can send your contributions to: Bamberger Ranch Preserve, 2341 Blue Ridge Drive, Johnson City, TX 78636 or donate through your computer by using PayPal.
Oh how I remember those July 4th celebrations of the 1930’s and 40’s! I played trumpet in the marching band. As we played and paraded through that little village, there were American flags hanging everywhere, front porches were decorated with red, white and blue bunting, farmers came to our little town to witness the parade and the mayor, school superintendent or some official spoke to the crowd who gathered in the square. Those were the days my friends. Patriotism was supreme. As a young boy I thought only of the wonderful country I lived in, that my God was God and he was big and strong and protector of our country, our little town.
World War II broke out – the patriotism became even stronger. We had scrap drives, war bond rallies, more parades and flag waving. We also had rationing – rationing of sugar, gasoline, tires even toilet paper! There were only a small number of young men recruited into the military from my small community. Some never came home. My older brother was one of those – shot down over the English Channel. I remember quite clearly the day the news was delivered to my mother. Under these circumstances, it was a bit hard to wave the flag and boast of patriotism. There was however for my mother tremendous support from everyone in our little town. Patriotism prevailed and as a young man I was unaware of any divisiveness in our community.
So here at Selah I wanted to have an old fashioned 4th of July. From its establishment in 1969, Selah was to bring people from the left and right of environmental issues together . . . Unlike those years when I was a boy it seems to me that, as a society, we have too many divisive things taking place. Could Selah, in some small way, help to reverse this trend? So please enjoy our July 4th, 2010 celebration at Selah, Bamberger Ranch Preserve.
The patio at Madrone Lake was decorated with flags, stars, and bunting wrapped around trees. Everyone was invited to speak. I started off with my “Declaration of Dependence.” I declared my dependence on Mother Nature and the Planet Earth. A planet in trouble with signs of danger all around and we don’t seem as a world society able or willing to do the things necessary to protect our planet and thus ourselves from what’s going on. Photograph taken by Lois Sturm.
The spirit is in the air. Here Tom Kunz, our bat researcher from Boston University, takes the platform . . . The speakers are free to say anything they wish. Photograph taken by J. David.
John Phillips Sousa marching music reverberated across Madrone Lake and fifty people joined in to sing “God Bless America.” Photograph taken by Lois Sturm.
This was a Pot Luck Day with the ranch providing 60 halves of bar-b-que chicken. There was plenty of everything for all. Followed by four big, red, sweet and cold watermelons. That’s really 4th of July! Photograph taken by Lois Sturm.
Bob Cowell, retired Air Force and now working for the Postal Service, took the podium and quickly drew the attention of the crowd with a stirring patriotic speech. Bob is a leader in the Bexar Grotto, a volunteer caver group that takes care of Bracken Cave. Photograph taken by J. David.
Winfred F. Frick, Post Doctoral Scholar, Center for Ecology and Conservation Biology, Boston University who now lives in California, got the spirit. “Fred” with her eight month old son, Darwin, enjoyed the day. Photograph taken by Lois Sturm.
Our celebration was really enlightening to these two men from Kazakhstan who are in the United States learning English at the Defense Language Institute at Lackland Air Force Base. My son, David K. Bamberger, serves as a volunteer under the “Amigo” program. Don’t you know what a celebration such as this would mean to them? Kazakhstan is at the belly of Russia. It has around 15 million population and is the 9th largest land mass country in the world. Photograph taken by Lois Sturm.
The lake was attractive to all the celebrants. Photograph taken by Lois Sturm.
Luyi Zheng was born in China before her parents emigrated from China. She is a graduate of Texas A&M University where she majored in Marine Biology. Luyi visits Selah once a month to assist Liz Braun who is censusing our bat colony using infrared computer technology. Photograph taken by J. David.
David K. Bamberger, my oldest son, gave a historical review of the 4th of July and its importance to all of us in protecting our values as a nation. Photograph taken by J. David.
Joann DeLuna is a long time volunteer at Bracken Cave and hard working member of the Bexar Grotto. Photograph taken by Lois Sturm.
For those who hadn’t been to Selah we toured the ranch for two hours on the BlueBonnet. It was a bit crowded, but the spirit of the day prevailed. Photograph taken by Lois Sturm.
It really wasn’t the crowded BlueBonnet that put “Bike Man” on his bike for the tour with us. He is just into biking. I really don’t know his name. Only know that he was on the ranch for two weeks assisting in some research using vertical profiler radar which was used to explore the behavior of bats, birds and insects in the lower atmosphere. Wow! Photograph taken by Lois Sturm.
There are many more photos of our “APPLE PIE AND 4TH OF JULY” celebration. I wish everyone could have been here. I particularly like the diversity of people. Not pictured are folks from England, Argentina and Canada who took the opportunity to speak . . . on our 4th of July patriotism was evident.
There are so many, many good causes that need financial help. Preserving the earth itself is important. So, if you would like to help us with a donation, we are a 501(c)(3) private operating foundation and gifts are deductible to the extent of the law. You can send your contributions to: Bamberger Ranch Preserve, 2341 Blue Ridge Drive, Johnson City, TX 78636.
I’d make a bet that you who follow my blog have never seen this word. Neither had I, so I looked in my trusty Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary and wasn’t at all surprised that it wasn’t there! What was there was a number of words that will give you a clue – such as aerodynetics, “a branch of aviation that has to do with gliding” or aerodynamics “relating to the force of air in motion.”
Now – I’ll quote from a paper written by Boston University professor – Thomas Kunz, Ph.D:
“Every so often in the history of science and technology, empirical discoveries, theory, and technological developments converge, making it possible to recognize a new discipline. Past examples include astrobiology, biomechanics, sociobiolgy, and more recently, macroecology, bioinformatics, and nanotechnology – disciplines that are now well established in the lexicon of modern science and technology. Aeroecology is a new discipline of ecology that embraces and integrates the domains of atmospheric science, earth science, geography, ecology, computer science, computational biology, and engineering. The unifying concept that underlies this emerging discipline is its focus on the planetary boundary layer, or aerosphere, and the myriad of airborne organisms that, in large part, depend upon this environment for their existence. The term aerosphere is derived from the Greek aero, meaning air, and sphere referring to planet Earth. In contrast to continents and oceans, which are interrupted by one another, the aerosphere is the only environment in the biosphere that is truly circumglobal.”
So – What’s This Have To Do With Selah, Bamberger Ranch Preserve?
In past blogs, I reported that “research” was a part of our mission. But at the time we thought of this as being on plants, insects, birds and animals, the natural environment of the ranch. What’s going on here at our Preserve for three weeks in June/July is mind-boggling.
The researchers are funded by grant from the National Science Foundation and Air Force Office of Scientific Research, Boston University’s Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program, the Center for Ecology and Conservation, Biology, and a corporate donation from FLIR, Inc., the company that donated the mobile research laboratory for housing the high resolution thermal imaging cameras. This custom built trailer is used to transport the high tech equipment developed specifically for this research project. Photograph taken by J. David.
The object of the research is to learn how bats, birds and insects can fly in groups. You’ve probably noticed the ups and downs, the individual and group flight behavior of bats – more to our lifetime. Curiously, Roy Bedichek, author of Adventures with a Texas Naturalist, described these maneuvers as “a travesty of flight!” Photograph taken by J. David.
Nathan Fuller, graduate student, Ph.D. Program in Ecology, Behavior and Evolution, Department of Biology, Boston University, is holding a device used to calibrate three thermal infrared cameras for exploring and describing the movements of bats in three dimensions as they emerge from our Chiroptorium. Photograph taken by J. David.
These highly specialized cameras make it possible to characterize the flight of individual bats within groups (or so-called collective behavior) as they emerge nightly from the Chiroptorium. This research is being conducted by Professor Thomas Kunz, Director of the Center for Ecology and Conservation Biology, Boston University assisted by graduate students Nathan Fuller (Biology) and Diane Theriault (Computer Science), research assistant Jaclyn Aliperti (Biology), and undergraduate student Leslie Pepin (Biology). Photograph taken by J. David.
Trailer with a DeTect vertical profiler radar used to explore the behavior of bats, birds, and insects in the lower atmosphere. This equipment is being deployed as part of a “radar aeroecology workshop” being conducted here on Selah, Bamberger Ranch Preserve in early July. Photograph taken by Lois Sturm.
Paul A. Heady III, Research Technician, Central Coast Bat Research Group, Aptos, CA and his wife, Winifred E. Frick, Postdoctoral Scholar, Center for Ecology and Conservation Biology, Boston University along with the youngest scientist ever to be here doing bat research – their eight month old son, aptly named “Darwin.” Photograph taken by J. David.
There are another twelve scientists with us now. Too many to photograph. Besides, like bats they sleep all day and stay out all night!
I have seven copies of Dr. Kunz’s lecture, “Aeroecology: The Next Frontier” in a pamphlet form. It’s very interesting stuff. I will gladly send it to the first seven people who respond with your name and snail mail address.
There are so many, many good causes that need financial help. Preserving the earth itself is important. So, if you would like to help us with a donation, we are a 501(c)(3) private operating foundation and gifts are deductible to the extent of the law. You can send your contributions to: Bamberger Ranch Preserve, 2341 Blue Ridge Drive, Johnson City, TX 78636.
Institution as defined in Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary – “an organization having a social, educational or religious purpose, as a school, church, hospital, etc.”
In modern day practice we think of an institution as some thing that’s been around a long time, such as a university, a museum, or perhaps even a restaurant. An institution also has to be recognized as delivering a dependable product or service and as a respected source of information.
We’re building an institution here at Selah. Although 41 years is not a long time, the ranch has been legally set aside in perpetuity for the natural world, education and research. Photograph taken by J. David.
Photograph taken by Margaret Bamberger.
Our Institution’s Goals
To maintain Selah, Bamberger Ranch Preserve in a natural state of grasslands and wooded canyons, which provide healthy habitat for native and endangered species as well as domestic plants and animals, and to protect it from development.
To demonstrate through a working example of grass-based agriculture the practices of good conservation and their value to the entire ecosystem.
To educate visitors by providing facilities and programs which enhance the visitor’s experience and encourage appreciation and awareness of Selah’s and their own natural and cultural heritages.
To provide a place where visitors of all ages can experience the beauty of nature, learn the importance of good conservation and land stewardship, and leave with a sense of power that the individual can positively impact his or her environment.
To manage the resources and facilities of Selah in such a way that agriculture, education, recreation, and “People ranching” will come as close as possible to meeting its costs of operation while preserving it for future generations of people, plants and animals.
Statement of Philosophy
We honor and respect the natural world and its biological heritage.
We recognize that good stewardship maintains a diversity of healthy habitats, and therefore the diversity of plants and animals that are able to exist in them.
Good land management provides clean water in greater amounts than in poorly managed land. In the Hill Country’s climate and type of land it is extremely important to maximize water conservation (both surface and underground), because with population growth we experience increasing demand on limited resources.
Integrating human needs into the natural world involves:
- teaching the public about the importance of good stewardship,
- providing a place to experience the importance of good stewardship,
- teaching conservation of resources,
- and instilling a love and appreciation of the natural world in children and adults so that the desire abundant healthy water, land and habitats around them.
Mission Statement
The mission of the Bamberger Ranch Preserve is to protect the 5,500 acres of land, keep it in good health and balance, and educate the public about stewardship of the land, as well as awakening and nourishing a passion for learning about nature in both children and adults.
Here at Selah we spend so much time “people ranching” – (that’s the education part of our mission) – that the true ranching activities of Selah are overlooked. . . . We believe that a well-managed ranch can have cattle, horses, sheep and or goats and still be a protector of all species, large and small, flora or fauna.
Photograph by J. David.
Photograph by J. David.
Photograph by J. David.
Because of a nice cold winter with good rains we were able to harvest surplus grass . . . hay . . . It’s been a few years since this was possible. This harvest has always been among my favorite times. To walk the field behind the hay baler as the evening sun goes down, picking up the bales and taking them to the barn. There’s a nostalgia to this. I’m too old now to do the lifting, but I can walk, see and smell and enjoy this harvest that some call work!
If you believe as I do that all of the things I’ve talked about on this and past blogs are important for the future health of our nation won’t you please help us build this institution?
There are so many, many good causes that need financial help. Preserving the earth itself is important. So, if you would like to help us with a donation, we are a 501(c)(3) private operating foundation and gifts are deductible to the extent of the law. You can send your contributions to: Bamberger Ranch Preserve, 2341 Blue Ridge Drive, Johnson City, TX 78636.
Most old time ranches had horses, cattle, sheep and sometimes goats. Anything to generate income. Of course, too much livestock on the land had a lot to do with the problems we’re experiencing today. Overstocked land made conditions just right for woody species to take over from grass. It made conditions just right for soil erosion and these conditions caused our water sources to produce just a little less each year as these practices went on.
There are still many cattle herds in the Hill Country but not many sheep and goat herds. It used to be that goats, angora, were raised for their mohair, but then synthetics arrived and took that market away – Later, globalization took even another share as this product could be produced cheaper in other parts of the world . . . However in the last ten years I have witnessed a positive change in the market for Spanish goats. Both for meat, due in large part because of the increase in the Muslim populations in our major cities of the Midwest and East. The other reason is that the Spanish goat is becoming more and more popular when used to control some of the very woody species that took over from grass.
Here at Selah, included in our mission is to show a working example of grass based agriculture and the value that all plants and animals play in the preserving and protection of the ecosystem.
These are Ranch Operations Manager Scott Grote’s horses. You wouldn’t see a goat round up in a Marlboro ad, but the horses are not for play. Our goats are rotated in and out of hundreds of acres and without the horses gathering them up would be very difficult. Those fancy 4-wheelers in our country can’t compare to a good horse. Photograph taken by J. David.
Once penned, the baby goats, called kids, are separated or weaned from their mothers called nannies and all animals are checked closely for any health problems. Photograph taken by J. David.
Our county agent, Todd Swift, is here today helping to pick out a few good candidates for our boys to raise as a project for next year’s stock show. Photograph taken by J. David.
One of the wonderful things about ranching is the life it offers. Poncho Cornilla, in the red shirt, has been working here for thirty some years. It’s his son, Javier, who has his first contact with the goat that he will nurture until show time next year. He will have to pay for the goat and any feed or health issues should they arrive. He will learn about economics and the free enterprise system. He will own the profit or suffer from the loss should his goat not judge well . . . That’s Todd Swift in the green shirt and Poncho’s older son, “Nacho” in the blue shirt. Photograph taken by J. David.
Yes, The Following is Ranchin, Too!
I don’t know how to tell this story ~ I can only say it was funny and fun to watch and it all starts with Steven and his air boat, which he constructed. Here he is arriving at the scene. Photograph taken by J. David.
I’ve written so much about the drought and its affects on our trees. It’s estimated that we lost over 2,000 Spanish Oaks but why did most of our Bald Cypress survive? All of them were around our ponds and along our creeks, so perhaps there was just enough moisture underground to keep them alive. All had shed their leaves early. A survival mechanism. This one, however, didn’t make it and had to be taken out. It was 50 foot tall with a 28 inch diameter trunk. That’s Eastern Gamma grass in the foreground and that’s Ranch Biologist, Steven Fulton, in his “toy” and all the following is his idea! You had to be there to really enjoy all that happened. Photograph taken by J. David.
Here’s an attempt to pull the Cypress over into Madrone Lake. No luck, the tree doesn’t budge. We’ll have to saw it down. I’m sorry I wasn’t present to photograph that. Photograph taken by J. David.
I planted this Cypress in 1989. It grew to 50 foot, nourished by the waters of Madrone Lake. The widest point of the stump is 28 inches. Steven is an accomplished carpenter and he wants to see what he can make from the Cypress wood. Photograph taken by J. David.
We can’t get a truck or trailer in to haul out the brush, so Steven and Poncho load it onto the air boat. Photograph taken by J. David.
Here Steven goes, taking the brush to Madrone Lake spillway where we can easily unload and take it to a brush pile. Photograph taken by J. David.
Steven’s 6’8”, but even he can’t see over the brush to where he’s headed without standing up. Photograph taken by J. David.
Everything you see here was pulled down by Steven’s air boat. Photograph taken by Lois Sturm.
Scott Grote has brought another “Tonka Toy” to lift the main trunk onto the trailer. Photograph taken by Lois Sturm.
Next stop will be to a local sawmill to see if there is some useful lumber that can be obtained from the trunk. Photograph taken by Lois Sturm.
The job is basically done as Steven “rides off into the sunset!” Photograph taken by Lois Sturm.
Both of these episodes happened on the same day the goats were worked in the morning when it was cooler and the tree was taken out in the afternoon . . . Just another day at the ranch!
There are so many, many good causes that need financial help. Preserving the earth itself is important. So, if you would like to help us with a donation, we are a 501(c)(3) private operating foundation and gifts are deductible to the extent of the law. You can send your contributions to: Bamberger Ranch Preserve, 2341 Blue Ridge Drive, Johnson City, TX 78636.
This past winter Mother Nature was very good to us. Lots of slow soaking rains that replenished our “perched aquifer” along with winter weather – cold weather that we haven’t enjoyed for years and even snow. My fireplace consumed three cords of wood! It was so nice that many nights I woke up at 2 a.m. still sitting there. . . .
Snowfall on Selah.
Photograph taken by J. David.
It was a good winter in many ways, especially since we had the driest, hottest summer of the past 60 years. Most of our springs quit flowing, our creeks dried up as well as most stock tanks. We came within days of having to buy water. . . . Now with that wonderful winter behind us, we’re back to normal. . . . But what is normal?
It’s been three years since this scene greeted you as you came into the ranch. This water is collected from many hillsides and seeps for four miles before coming together near here. Photograph taken by J. David.
Just a quarter mile upstream, near the Historical Marker. It’s the same creek as in the previous picture. Photograph taken by J. David.
This tributary is on higher ground. It brings runoff from an entirely different canyon which our neighbor at Walnut Springs provides. It’s been rather dependable in the past. Photograph taken by J. David.
This was the first concrete dam we built, about 1972. The water is eight foot deep. It stopped running for the first time last year, but still had stock water behind the dam. This location, years ago, was named Jacob’s Ladder . . . but that’s another story. Photograph taken by J. David.
Ah, yes ~ Madrone Lake, the Jewel of Selah! Full and going through a draw down tube. The lake is surrounded by the Natural Arboretum and Nature Trail. It will be good swimming for the kids with clear, cool water all summer. Photograph taken by J. David.
So Why Is This Posting’s Title About Drought?
There are still people that do not believe that global warming and climate change are for real. I am not one of them. These last five years I have witnessed the loss of 2,000+ trees from extreme heat and lack of rain. I’m watching certain plants expand their range, Sotol and Twisted Leaf Yucca. Even now, today May 19, after receiving three inches of rain my testimony is that we’re entering a drought!!! It’s beautiful here, wildflowers aplenty, new growth on the trees, birds, butterflies and bees seem happy enough, but, while the rangeland is green, on close examination it’s not all grass and what grass we have is not full and tall. Weeds/forbs fill in the spaces left bare from last year’s heat and lack of rain. Grass that has been stressed is slow to recover. While we’re looking good out the picture window, there are ominous signs out there. . . . First, we have been experiencing temperatures in the low nineties every day this month. We’re still having “March winds,” regularly. Ninety degree temperatures are expected in July and August – not in April and May. The high temperature and wind dry out surface moisture and this is bad for grass.
Our aquifer is full – all eleven springs are producing and as my pictures illustrate – we’re looking good, but summer isn’t here yet. Let’s not forget the fear we had these last few years. Everyone, please stay focused on conservation. It’s a good habit to develop.
There are so many, many good causes that need financial help. Preserving the earth itself is important. So, if you would like to help us with a donation, we are a 501(c)(3) private operating foundation and gifts are deductible to the extent of the law. You can send your contributions to: Bamberger Ranch Preserve, 2341 Blue Ridge Drive, Johnson City, TX 78636.
Any way you look at it our Family Picnic on Sunday, May the 2nd, was just wonderful! This was our fifth year holding the picnic. It began when I asked our Board of Directors to come up with something really worthwhile and different that would not only help us raise money, but would also bring the ranch to the attention of more people. Thanks to the creative thinking of Board member Anne Donovan the idea developed. The concept was to bring grandparents and young parents with children to the ranch for a day that encompassed education, recreation and family. I think when you view these pictures you’ll agree that this mission was truly accomplished.
The day began at 10 a.m. with four trailers taking tours every half hour to see some of the best dinosaur tracks ever discovered, to search for 100 million year old fossils and to see the world’s only chiroptorium and a large herd of scimitar horned oryx, a vanishing antelope species native to Africa.
Scott Gardner with trailer.
Dinosaur tracks. Photograph by Chris W. Johnson.
Picture of Chiroptorium. Photograph by Chris W. Johnson.
Scimitar horned oryx.
Down along the Nature Trail, Mary Kay Sexton was having the kids search and seine for creek critters. Photograph taken by Karen Archer.
Meanwhile, back at the Center, some of the kids looked at snakes and lizards, and a nanny goat with her kid while some were inside doing face painting, building kites and other arts and crafts.
Photograph taken by Karen Archer.
Photograph taken by Lois Sturm.
Photograph taken by Karen Archer.
This was a new addition this year, a zip line. Talk about fun. Some kids rode it five times! The zip line was down was installed near Madrone Lake. Photograph taken by Karen Archer.
Photograph taken by Karen Archer.
Also at Madrone Lake the kids were taught how to fish.
Photograph taken by Karen Archer.
Ernie Sessums has enjoyed teaching this sport all five years and even though it’s not a trophy, Conner Hathaway is proud of his catch. Photograph taken by Karen Archer.
The dam for Madrone Lake was perfect for kite flying. The lake was beautiful and wildflowers enhanced the scene. Photograph taken by Kathleen Marie Wilson.
Photograph by J. David.
The Grass Trail attracted Ernest, Paula and Brian Smith.
Photograph taken by Karen Archer.
It’s lunch time! Clean country air and so much to do added to the appetite of everyone. Chicken and beef fajitas, beans, grilled vegetables, salad – even hot dogs – iced tea, lemonade and a cookie was on the menu. Unbelievably good food prepared by volunteers from the Bexar Grotto, a caving group from San Antonio. They also are the stewards of Bracken Bat Cave.
Photograph taken by Lois Sturm.
Photograph taken by Lois Sturm.
Photograph taken by Karen Archer.
What would a Fund Raiser be without a silent auction? Nell Martin, a volunteer, has organized this since the beginning and with a great deal of success. We try to have only items that are nature, conservation and environment oriented. Photograph taken by Lois Sturm.
Plant sales are always a big hit with the picnicers – Medina Native Nursery donated over $600.00 worth of plants and trees. This year ranch biologist, Steven Fulton, offered many tree species raised right here on Selah – Bur Oaks, Lacey Oaks, Buckeye, Rough Leaf Dogwood, Carolina Buckthorn, Sycamore Leaf Snowbell to name a few. Photograph taken by Karen Archer.
From all the enthusiastic comments received, I’ve got to say that the demonstration and education presented by John Karger, founder of “Last Chance Forever,” was the biggest hit of all. This organization rehabilitates raptors and releases them back into the wild. John’s demonstration and commentary held the attention of both young and old.
Photograph taken by Kathleen Marie Wilson
Photograph taken by Lois Sturm.
Chance Ruder, a protégé of John Karger, shows the gathering a great horned owl. Photograph taken by Lois Sturm.
When the day is done – a small tired, but happy group of volunteers gets to relax. No one does it alone – THANKS to ALL of YOU !!!!!! Photograph taken by Lois Sturm.
What’s it all about? This picture speaks to me: Children today, adults tomorrow. I so admire the young parents who brought these beautiful young kids to our picnic. With experience like this, there will be no nature deficit disorder among these kids. I wish every child could visit Selah. Photograph taken by Karen Archer.
There are so many, many good causes that need financial help. Preserving the earth itself is important. So, if you would like to help us with a donation, we are a 501(c)(3) private operating foundation and gifts are deductible to the extent of the law. You can send your contributions to: Bamberger Ranch Preserve, 2341 Blue Ridge Drive, Johnson City, TX 78636.
Recently many conservation oriented people received a press release by a Texas A&M University researcher that alarmed and confused them in regard to the management of cedar on their property. I can understand why as the release that came to me was very poorly written, left out important information needed to make land management decisions and, in my opinion, was very misleading. I did later, however, receive other versions that were much better and I have now had the opportunity to read the entire research paper.
There is a proverb that says only fools and children criticize unfinished work. This is analogous to reading the early press release on the subject and criticizing the work before we got to study the full report.
What I believe is so very important and from what I can see in this work that is omitted is: 1) It leaves out the different ecological site types where cedar has been removed; and 2) It assumes that the land will be bare after cedar removal.
There have been dozens of research papers written on the cedar issue, hundreds of hands-on experiences, such as my own, that report the increase in ground water and return of springs and even creeks that resulted from cedar removal and restoration of grasslands. This, while not pure science, is definitely not anecdotal. Here are numbers given to me years ago by the Texas Agriculture Experiment Station at Sonora, Texas showing the amount of water that reaches the soil from a one inch rain under different woody species:
Influence of Canopy Cover on Amount of Water Reaching Mineral Soil
| Type Plant |
% Interception Loss |
% Litter Interception Loss |
%H2O Reaching Mineral Soil |
| Shortgrass |
10.8 |
0.0 |
89.2 |
| Bunchgrass |
18.1 |
0.0 |
81.9 |
| Live Oak |
25.4 |
20.7 |
53.9 |
| Ashe Juniper |
36.7 |
43.0 |
20.3 |
It does not take scientific studies to see or accept the obvious – rainfall on bare ground runs off taking away precious soil with it, creating erosion and leaving gullies behind. But establishing grass after cedar removal on sites promotes more underground water and spring flow and more food and shelter not only for cattle but for all wildlife. So it’s good economics and good for our quality of life.
I do not claim to be a scientist, but I have spent 41 years on this very subject and my experience is well noted. I have never advocated removal of all the cedar and in fact still have four or five hundred acres of it. My experience with the return of springs and creeks is shared by countless other landowners.
This article appeared in Austin American Statesman on October 25. 1995:
Study Indicates Clearing Cedar Increases Water
by Kelly Shannon
Associated Press
HUNT – To Hill Country ranchers Travis and Mary Lee, cedar is simple. Clear the stubby trees from your land, and more desirable grasses and oaks thrive.
“Cedar sucks up all your water,” said Travis Lee.
In slightly more technical language, university and government researchers in the region are saying much the same thing about mountain cedar, a native evergreen formally known as ashe juniper.
A five-year study concluding this month has found clearing cedar yields some additional water, which seeps into the soil or becomes runoff, helping to replenish the underground Edwards Aquifer.
Bill Dugas, who has conducted the study for the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station at the Blackland Research Center in Temple, said for two years, two 40-acre pieces of property in eastern Uvalde County were studied for rainfall and evaporation before any cedar cutting was done.
In September 1992, chain saws were used to clear one of the pieces of land of small cedar trees. Mature cedar and cedar on steep slopes that is considered habitat for the endangered golden-cheeked warbler were not cut.
Then researchers continued to measure rainfall and evaporation.
Scientists expected water loss would be less where the cedar was cleared, and that’s what they found. About 60,000 more gallons of water per acre per year was discharged from the site cleared of cedar.
In the past year, more water has still been yielded by the cedar-cleared land, though the amount has dropped to about 15,000 more gallons per acre per year, Dugas said.
“We’ve had a tremendous flush of growth of grasses and other woody plants. So we’re getting less of a savings,” he said. “It’s why you can’t do this for one year and know the answer.”
Dugas conducted a similar study on mesquite trees in North Texas but did not detect the same water savings. The soil there is different, and grasses grow in place of mesquite almost immediately.
Dugas’ cedar study is one of several within the state-federal Seco Creek Water Quality Demonstration Project.
Phillip Wright, Seco Creek project manager with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, said in a study about 1.5 miles from Dugas’ site, researchers have found spring flow has been enhanced by cedar clearing.
On a 7.9-acre site, about 80 percent of the mountain cedars were cleared. Again, larger trees that might be warbler habitat were left. Through 40 months of collecting data after the clearing, spring flow has increased.
“We’ve seen an increase of about 20 percent in the flow with about 30 percent less rainfall,” Wright said, adding that he has seen no decrease in water savings.
These water findings could have important implications for the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone, a boomerang-shaped region stretching from Austin up through the Hill Country to north of Uvalde.
“There is a potential to increase water yield for these cedar-infested rangelands by doing selective ashe juniper control,” Wright said.
Though it is native to the area, the density of ashe juniper has increased over the years possibly be- cause of grazing and a lack of natural wildfires, researchers say.
Grazing is a big reason rancher Travis Lee wants to remove cedar from his land. With cedar growth, one cow can graze per 50-70 acres; without cedar, that figure increases to one cow per 15 acres, he said.
The Lees’ 1,600-acre ranch used to be owned by Mary Lee’s grandfather. In his days, cedar clearing was a routine chore. “He used to burn all the time and keep all the cedar down,” she said.
Last year, as the Lees were clearing a 36-acre patch of property, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recommended they stop so biological surveys could be done to determine if it is warbler habitat.
Their cedar clearing is on hold, they said, because they were warned that continuing with it could violate the Endangered Species Act. The Lees said they’ve never seen warblers on their property and that they were planning to leave the mature cedars—possible warbler habitat—anyway.
Like the researchers with the Seco Creek Project, Travis Lee said he’s seen a difference in water flow when cedar is cleared.
“We’ve got a couple of gullies, the water production is much improved if you’ve cut the cedar,” he said.
This article was printed in the San Antonio Express News of May 4, 1997:
Managing Junipers May Ease Water Use
John Fohn – Agriculture
This probably isn’t going to shock anyone much: Juniper, alias mountain cedar, takes a lot of water out of the ground.
However, researchers working west of San Antonio now know how much water, and they also know that junipers use almost twice as much of it as do oak trees.
Some rather involved measurements, done in northern Uvalde County, indicate that a 15-foot-tall juniper uses about 35 gallons of water per day in a typical Hill Country ranching environment.
According to Keith Owens, range ecology professor at the A&M Research and Extension Center at Uvalde, the research also indicates that a live oak tree of the same size might consume only 19 gallons per day.
In a telephone interview last week, Owens said, “We’re developing a water use simulation model.
The computer model could calculate increased water yields as the plant density were reduced for a particular site, he said.
Owens said follow-up research will examine water use by three grass species: Texas wintergrass, sideoats grama and curlymesquite. It also will look at water-usage changes during regrowth by live oak, persimmon and mountain laurel.
A news release describing the project indicates scientists went to considerable trouble to come up with their water-use numbers. Researchers measured carbon dioxide intake and water loss from individual leaves on six trees – three oaks and three junipers – in each of nine watersheds. After measurements were taken, the leaves were clipped and fed into a meter that determined their exact surface area.
Meanwhile, the nine watershed areas were divided into three groups. All of the juniper and oak canopy was removed from three sites and 70 percent was taken from three more, while the final three were left uncleared.
Finally, runoff was measured for each area, before and after clearing.
The combined data allowed Owens and his colleagues to determine how much water the trees used, how much stayed in the soil and how much ran off into streams, the release stated.
With the information that’s been developed, a landowner might manage juniper trees with water use in mind.
However, Owens added that esthetic concerns, as well as federal regulations on endangered-species habitat destruction, could affect juniper removal decisions.
As for total water recovery, Owens said it may vary with location, soil depth and slope.
Research by others near Sonora indicated a gain of 100,000 gallons of water per acre where all vegetation except grasses was removed. Other research in Medina County involved removal only of juniper, leaving oak and other shrubs. That test indicated 60,000 gallons per acre of water. His own results fell between the two, Owens said.
However, he said he’s unaware of a means to determine exactly how much water gained through juniper removal could be recharged into the Edwards aquifer. New variables would enter that equation, such as how far water has to travel before it reaches fractured limestone that allows recharge, Owens said.
In the meantime, however, economic and environmental considerations for preserving or removing juniper in the Hill Country now can be tied to a pricetag, expressed in gallons of water.
Joe Fohn covers issues relating to agriculture. Call 250-3245 to leave a message.
The following statements are from a 1994 Juniper Symposium held at the Texas A&M University Research Station at Sonora; chapter 4 written by Thomas L. Thurow and Deirdre H. Charlson. Their full papers could still be available.
In the United States, particularly in the southwest, rangeland watersheds are the source of most of the region’s surface flow and aquifer recharge.
Raindrops striking bare soil are by far the most important mode of soil erosion. Therefore it is very important that the amount of bare soil be minimized through maintenance of vegetation cover.
Water loss per unit area of leaf tissue of herbaceous vegetation such as grass or forbs is usually less than from trees or shrubs.
According to the Texas A&M University Research Station at Sonora about 13 inches of the annual 21 inch precipitation would ever get below the canopy if the site is covered with juniper.
It is no wonder herbaceous vegetation growing under the canopy of juniper trees is so sparse.
Rangeland management practices which affect vegetation cover and composition can affect both on-site and off-site water availability.
The invasion of rangelands by juniper and other brush species can have a major impact on the hydrology of the site. The presence of juniper alters the amount and distribution of water reaching the soil. Junipers are highly competitive with the understory vegetation for water and nutrients, often reducing the productivity of grasses and forbs and increasing the amount of bare soil. The increase in bare soil, particularly in the spaces between trees, typically leads to increased runoff and soil loss as the juniper infestation increases. The method and degree of juniper removal can significantly impact the hydrology and erosion on rangeland watersheds. The effect of removal method depends on degree of elimination of brush and associated vegetation, steepness of slope, soil type, precipitation characteristics and vegetation recovery time.
Below is a summary statement on a research paper presented by Thomas L. Thurow and Justin W. Hester at the 1997 Juniper Symposium held at the Texas A&M Research and Extension Center in San Angelo, Texas:
Juniper increase can have a major impact on rangeland hydrology. The presence of juniper alters the amount and distribution of water reaching the soil. Junipers are highly competitive with the understory vegetation for water and nutrients, often reducing the productivity of grasses and forbs and increasing the amount of bare soil. The increase in bare soil, particularly in the spaces between trees, typically leads to increased runoff and soil loss as the juniper infestation increases. The method and degree of juniper removal can significantly impact the hydrology and erosion on rangeland watersheds. The effect of removal method depends on degree of elimination of brush and associated vegetation, steepness of slope, soil type, precipitation characteristics and vegetation recovery time.
The following statement was taken from the summary of a lengthy paper written by F. E. Smeins, M. K. Owens and S. D. Fuhlendorf. It was titled, “Biology and ecology of Ashe (Blueberry) Juniper” and published by the Texas A&M University Research Station at Sonora – April 14, 1994:
A dense stand of Ashe juniper can use substantial quantities of soil moisture reducing recharges to aquifers and soil water for growth of other plants.
Once again, I do not claim to be an expert on brush management and most certainly not on soil ecology which could alter the results of cedar removal, but when all the science, research and testimony is studied the net result is clear. Properly managed cedar removal followed up with good grass cover is good for water, for livestock, wildlife and people.
Which side of the fence would you prefer?
Should you want to study the reporting of other scientists you will find the following useful:
- Smeins, F.E. 1990. Ashe juniper, consumer of Edwards Plateau rangeland. Texas Agricultural Experiment Station Technical Report, 90-1.
- Blomquist, K.W. 1990. Selected life history and synecological characteristics of Ashe juniper on the Edwards Plateau of Texas. M.S. Thesis, Dep. Rangeland Ecology and Management, Texas A&M Univ., College Station, TX. 108 p.
- Doescher, P.S., L.E. Eddleman and M. R. Vaitkus 1987. Evaluation of soil nutrients, pH, and organic matter in rangelands dominated by western juniper. Northwest Science 61:97-102
- Fuhlendorf, S.D. 1992. Influence of age/size and grazing history on understory relationships of Ashe juniper. M.S. Thesis, Dep. Rangeland Ecology and Management, Texas A&M Univ., College Station, TX. 79 p.
- Holmstead, G.L. 1989. Water-use and growth of three C4 bunchgrasses: Evaluation under field and controlled environment conditions. M.S. Thesis, Dep. Rangeland Ecology and Management 144 pp.
- Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board 1991. A comprehensive study of Texas watersheds and their impacts on water quality and water quantity. Texas State Soil and water Conservation Board, Temple, TX. 104 p.
- Wright, H.A., F.M. Churchill, and W.C. Stevens 1975. Effects of prescribed burning on sediment, water yield, and water quality from dozed juniper lands in Central Texas. Journal of Range Management 29:294-298.
- Yager, L. Y. 1993. Canopy, litter and allelopatic effects of Ashe juniper (Juniperus ashei, Buchholz) on understory vegetation. M.S. Thesis, Dep. Rangeland Ecology and Management, Texas A&M Univ., College Station, TX. 109 p.
What human characteristic is it that drives one to hold on to power? We witness this so frequently in third world countries when leaders and dictators refuse to step down when someone is duly elected to replace them. We see it frequently in our corporations when CEO’s outlive their usefulness and many times this is detrimental to the stockholders. I can attest that it is detrimental to many in an organization when opportunity to move up is blocked. All organizations whether a civic club, church or business need new blood to stay healthy. Without manpower movement there isn’t room for new blood. There are restraints to manpower movement in a small entity such as Selah, Bamberger Ranch Preserve. Some, of course, are financial, but the bigger is the protection of this land, the habitat for Mother Nature. This is foremost as to why I have given this 5,500 acres away. So, how do you reconcile the two – opportunity for others and preservation?
My personal philosophy is that it is my obligation to mentor, nurture and develop every employee to such knowledge and skills level that they are worth more to some other organization, than I am able to pay them. Thus, they move on and up leaving an opportunity for new blood to move in! Makes sense, doesn’t it? . . There is one problem however, that is the quality of life that comes with living on 5,500 acres of a natural area. A place to raise your kids unlike any in Texas. A place respected for its clean, clear message that it brings to thousands each year. A place that is recognized as a model of land stewardship. . . . So one becomes passionately connected, weighs the values and sticks around. . . . It’s not all about money!
No, I haven’t done it alone – It’s because of the skills, knowledge and above all, the passion for Selah that all these other people have that makes it all possible.
Colleen Gardner, our Executive Director, does not sit in an office. She walks the talk by participating in all education programs. Here she shows and tells the kids about life in the water. Photograph taken by Kathy Wilson.
Scott Grote is Ranch Operations Manager, but here he is with the kids talking about goats and the role they play on the ranch. Photograph taken by Colleen Gardner.
Steven Fulton, Ranch Biologist, is holding a small rough green tree snake which he has captured so that the kids can learn more about snakes. Photograph taken by Colleen Gardner.
Lois Sturm, pictured here in the “Work Room”- (I refuse to call it an office, as I gave that life up long ago). Lois not only handles my personal business affairs, but is a back-up for Colleen with the education programs and communications. Sometimes I think we would fold up without her to find things. Photograph taken by J. David.
“Poncho” Coronado, on the left, has been working here for 28 years. He helps Scott Grote work the cattle and goats. “Poncho” has mended more fence, lifted more hay bales and cut more firewood than the rest of us put together. Photograph taken by Colleen Gardner.
Ann Cook, Anne Donovan, Colleen Gardner and Susan Evans at our Family Picnic, our only fundraiser. Photograph taken by Kathy Wilson.
Susan Sander is an Education Advisor to the BRP. She is, however, more than that as she has volunteered here for years. She is also a most passionate environmentalist. Photograph taken by J. David.
Deborah Mann, one of our Education Advisors, is a Science teacher at Waldorf, a private school in Austin. Every year Deborah takes the entire twelfth grade for a week of living at Selah as part of her Ecology class where the students perform research projects, learn the practices of land restoration, and also do nature writing in conjunction with Waldorf’s Humanities Department. Photograph taken by Colleen Gardner.
Gary McCracken, center, is Science Department Head at the University of Tennessee. He is an Advisory Director of our Preserve and is known nationally for his research on bats. He was very helpful in the design and construction of our chiroptorium. Gary is pictured here with the students from Boston University who spend the summer here doing a census of our bat population. Photograph taken J. David.
Fred Smeins, far right, serves us as a Scientific Advisor. Fred, a professor of Ecology at Texas A&M University is pictured here at the ranch with a small group of graduate students. Photograph taken by J. David.
Nobody Does It Alone – and while these and many other volunteers, donors and foundations are helping to support our Preserve we can’t raise the needed money alone. We need your help. . . . If, before my death, we can build an endowment, those who carry on here will be free to continue the education programs and preserve the habitat for the benefit of all living things.
There are so many, many good causes that need financial help. Preserving the earth itself is important. So, if you would like to help us with a donation, we are a 501(c)(3) private operating foundation and gifts are deductible to the extent of the law. You can send your contributions to: Bamberger Ranch Preserve, 2341 Blue Ridge Drive, Johnson City, TX 78636.
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