Mission Statement: |
| Rio Grande Delta
Audubon is dedicated to conservation of our native habitat for
the protection of birds, other wildlife, and for the enhancement
and appreciation of our environment through education. |
|
|
Tamaulipas
Crow in palm on the center part of the right of way - first
part of April 2006
Image
by Lee Zieger |
|
This
Brownsville, Texas property on the right behind the fence
is 7301 Utah Road representing 1.69 acres. The center behind
the
red
post
is city
property. The first drive on the right next to the For Sale sign
is 7300 Utah Road representing 1.08 acres.
Imagine the red
post being pushed in 30 feet allowing for straight in parking.
The red fence would be between the parking and the crow's
perches with a four foot height so most could see over. Hackberry trees
or similar that reach a maximum height of 25 feet would be planted
just beyond the fence by a tree spade. Birders and photographers
could stand behind the fence and not have their legs seen, yet
they could
see
below the
Hackberry tree branches. The Hackberry trees would block the crow's
view of the traffic and people.
This parking and viewing area could be extended into both adjoining
properties with demand.
New June 6, 2006
Air Port property can be part of Sanctuary. See below.
Pledge Form for
Tamaulipas Crow Sanctuary with pledge options and directions.
|
| What is the significance of the Tamaulipas Crow in Brownsville
and Rio Grande Valley, Texas? |
| To Tamaulipas Crows: |
1. A Home as long as they want it.
2. Properties are for sale and who knows who will buy them.
3. RGDA can protect the trees, as the city would, plus property access
to insure the crows have peaceful nesting. A family with kids
on the lots and in the trees would almost surely mean good-bye to
the crows. I.e.: Kids climb trees. Kids run and play.
|
| To Birders: |
1. This is the only place in the USA this bird is regularly at.
2. Increase parking for birders.
3. Have viewing area for visiting birders where they will be partially
hidden.
|
| To Sabal Palm Sanctuary: |
1. More birders will be drawn to the area and the
Sabal Palm Sanctuary, as the crow’s location is not well
known.
2. Possible lodging for out of town sanctuary volunteers.
|
| To Brownsville and Texas |
1. More nature minded travelers will seek the Tamaulipas Crow and
find the Sabal Palm Sanctuary, Gladys Porter Zoo, Boca Chica beach,
Green Parakeet, and Red-crowned Parrot with possible lodging in Brownsville.
2. In general a very rare bird in the USA will draw more birders
to Deep South Texas, Rio Grande Valley, and Brownsville.
|
| To Conservation: |
1. Create a Sanctuary inside an urban area.
2. Keep the habitat suitable for the Tamaulipas Crow on this property.
3. Plant native habitat conducive to the crow’s needs for
food and shelter.
4. Prepare parking area for birders to not interfere with the crow’s
normal routine.
5. Prepare a viewing location to reduce the impact on the crow.
|
| What is the chance of the Tamaulipas Crow leaving this location? |
1. It is
always a possibility.
2. The habitat in this location is considerable with native brush
on nearby Resaca edges. This makes the crows leaving
less likely.
3. Airport property at the edge of the resaca doesn't seem to
affect the airport's operation, while adding the right type of
habitat for the crow will help keep it in the area.
4. Resaca protecting three sides is good.
|
| What are the property options if the Crow leaves this location? |
1. It could be kept.
2. It might develop into something great for conservation.
3. Land value will increase if nearby development starts making selling
an option.
4. The crow has left some years for a short period of time according
to some web information.
|
| Property Usage. |
1. Sanctuary
2. Meetings
3. Projects
4. Use for lodging youth groups doing local projects.
5. Education
|
| Property Location |
The property is in East Brownsville just north of Sabal Palm Sanctuary.
The exact location from the intersection of Boca Chica Blvd (Tx4)
and Indiana (FM 511) south on FM 511 to first blinking light which
is Utah Road. Go west on Utah Road to cul-de-sac.
The properties are like a peninsula with Resaca De La Guerra on
three sites. Crows seem to nest near or on a Resaca. The Tamaulipas
Crow will need protection on only one side.
|
| Competing similar project possibilities in the Brownsville area: |
1. World Birding Center
2. Sabal Palm Sanctuary Rabb Plantation House
Both these properties are secured, while the Tamaulipas Crow property
could be lost. This might mean the bird would be lost for USA, Brownsville,
and the Sabal Palm Sanctuary. A loss of birders visiting Brownsville
would result.
|
| What will the properties cost? These are the asking prices. |
1. 7300 Utah Road is with a Realtor for $79,500.
2. 7301 Utah Road is owner selling for $75,000.
3. Total asking price is 154,500.
|
| A part of Brownsville International Airport is to remain a sanctuary
and is just across the resaca from the proposed Rio Grande Delta
Audubon property. |
The part at the end of
Utah Rd is what we will have to purchase.
The parts circled in green or the line along the west side
of the resaca are part of an existing unmanaged sanctuary. The
green line across the resaca is an old city road with a short
channel in the middle to let water pass. Briding this channel
is needed to reach the Air Port part of the sanctuary. It is
not a wide channel. The air port people prefer entry to the
sanctuary from outside air port property. A fence is in the
near future already to seperate the sanctuary from the industrial
part of the air port.
More meetings and discussions on requirements are being organized.
An invironmental study and engineering group are already working
the project. |
Image
by Lee Zieger |
|
| Routine Bills
and Maintenance: |
| Bills: |
The utility bills are being collected for the past 12 months. One
property had a renter which will show in the monthly bills.
|
| Maintenance: |
The lawn will be a frequent need. The trees and plants will need
quarterly attention. The buildings will be routine with perhaps annual
reviews.
|
| Fund Raising |
| Letters of Support |
Ask individuals and organizations for their support in this project.
|
| How will the money be raised? |
1. Letter will be prepared to ask for pledges.
2. Benefit packages will be developed to go with pledge levels.
3. Pledges
4. Rental of units to nature lovers
4. Projects:
• Dinner for 100 at $50.00 a plate = $5,000.
• Auction of donated items.
|
| Funding and contribution Potentials |
1. Foundations
2. Public Entities
• City of Brownsville
• BISD
• Cameron County
• Texas Parks and Wildlife
• US Fish and Wildlife Service
• UTB
3. Conservationists
4. Birders
|
| Funding for the month to month expenses: |
- Annual donations
- Rental Fees
- Annual fund raisers
|
I (Lee Zieger) phoned one conservationist on a Saturday morning.
I came away with a verbal commitment of $10,000 and another possible
$10,000
from a foundation they run.
We all have friends who would support nature and conservation at
different levels.
Contributions could be in something other than money. Any and all
contributions are appreciated.
Rio Grande Delta Audubon is a non-profit organization.
|
| Have other Audubon Chapters taken on such projects? |
Frontera Audubon has a small in town sanctuary here in Weslaco.
Houston Audubon and Austin Audubon are similar examples.
|
We are asking for your support and comments. We
don’t have
a time line on this project yet. Again comments and suggestions are
welcome. We will take a pledge also if you like the project outlined.
We can work out the pledge timing to meet your time requirements
later.
|
Please let me hear from you at riorvpark@aol.com or call 866-279-1775.
If I am not in, set up a time for me to return your call.
Also, call
if you can serve on a committee. We need people who can do some
of the leg work necessary to make this project a reality.
|
Lee Zieger, President,
Rio Grande Delta Audubon
8801 Boca Chica Blvd.
Brownsville, Texas 78521
Fax 956-831-0147
|
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