About 97% of native habitat in Texas is gone. Of what remains, the ribbon of riparian vegetation along the Rio Grande River is some of the most critical habitat in the United States because of its importance to migratory birds and other fauna. Most people are aware of the wall, but how many know of the impact of putting it in? How many know that the native vegetation 100 feet either side of the wall is mulched to the ground and destroyed? How many know that the next flooding of the Rio Grande is likely to kill a lot  of terrestrial wildlife that is trapped by the wall? People are taking action, but not enough people and not fast enough. The river of life – the riparian vegetation along the Rio Grande – may disappear in our lifetime, and with it, many migratory birds that enrich our lives one way or another.

Dr. Dave Bucy is an interpretive planning specialist who has worked with refuges in Texas affected by the wall, and has seen the destruction first hand, as many of you have. He has spent time talking with people engaged in conservation to fully understand the scope of the current and impending destruction, and engaged in conversations with border patrol who provided an inside perspective on the relative uselessness of the wall.

Doors open at 6:30 pm for refreshments and visiting. The chapter meeting begins at 7:00 pm, followed by our guest presentation at 7:30.

Schedule

• Nov. 21 – Vern Beeson, Current Status of the Malheur Field Station
• Dec. 19 – Member Photo Slide Show
• Jan. 16 – Tom & Ginny Stevens, Travels in South Africa
• Feb. 20 – Dave Luoma, Wildflower Adventures and the Native Plant Society
• Mar. 19 – Worth Mathewson, Natural History of the Band-tailed Pigeon
• April 16 – Randy Comeleo, Update on the Benton County Predator Control Program
• May 21 – James Sumich—Marine Mammals

Meeting Information

Join us on the third Thursday from September through May at the First Methodist Church (see below). Renovations at the Chintimini Senior Center in 2019/2020 necessitated the new meeting site. Attendance is free and visitors are always welcome.

Doors open for refreshments at 6:30 pm. At 7:00 pm a short business meeting covers special projects and programs, current petitions for protecting the environment, and committee updates. There is time for socializing and refreshments, visiting the book table, signing up for field trips, and a raffle to raise money to cover the cost of the meeting hall.

From 7:30 – 8:30 pm an invited speaker presents an entertaining and informative program about birds, science, nature, or conservation. Sometimes there are photos and stories that highlight an exotic birding trip or other adventure. Perhaps it will inspire you to travel too, and they have already done the research! The December meeting is the Members Photo Night.

*New Venue for 2019 – 2020 ASC General Meetings starting September 10*

First United Methodist Church, 1165 NW Monroe Avenue, Corvallis
Wesley Hall, upstairs. You can enter via the stairs on the 11th street side of the church.

Wheelchair access is available using the ramp on the south side of the building (Monroe Street). An automatic door at the top of the ramp provides access to the foyer. Use the elevator on your right to get to the second floor, and the door to Wesley Hall is on your right.

For more information call Mark Baldwin at 541-757-0834 or email (mark.baldwin2(at)comcast.net).