USFWS Southwest Region
Region II Friends Conference
"Getting to Know You"
Friday May 14 — Sunday May 16, 2010
South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center
South Padre Island, Texas
Four members of Friends of Brazoria Wildlife Refuges attended this conference: Phil Huxford, Neal McLain, Denis Mudderman, and David Plunkett. The conference included:
South Padre Island Nature and Birding Center
South Padre Island, Texas |
Tour of facilities and all Region II Friends Conference proceedings
Presentations |
Website |
Photos |
Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge
Rio Hondo, Texas |
Tour of refuge aboard an open-air two-car tram |
Website |
Photos |
Sea Turtle Inc.
South Padre Island, Texas |
Tour of facilities and meeting with staff |
Website |
Photos |
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND BIRDING AND NATURE CENTER
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| Photo: Neal McLain | 100.jpg |
| SPIBNC from front, looking west. |
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| Photo: Neal McLain | 101.jpg |
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| Photo: Neal McLain | 103.jpg |
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| Photo: Neal McLain | 105.jpg |
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| Photo: Neal McLain | 106.jpg |
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| Photo: Neal McLain | 109.jpg |
Ken Garrahan
Chief, Division of Visitor Services
Region 2, USFWS |
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| Photo: Neal McLain | 110.jpg |
| Friends Region 2 Conference Opening Session |
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| Photo: Neal McLain | 120.jpg |
Juli Niemann
---------Landscape Architect/Outdoor recreation planner, Region 2, USFWS
Desiree Sorenson-Groves
---------Vice-President of Government Affairs, NWRA
Ken Garrahan
---------Chief, Division of Visitor Services, Region 2, USFWS |
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| Photo: Neal McLain | 130.jpg |
| Break time: David Plunkett, Tom Schneider |
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| Photo: Neal McLain | 140.jpg |
| Trail Tracker kiosk in SPIBNC lobby |
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| Photo: Rob Nixon | 150b-spibirding.jpg |
| SPIBNC from north side, looking south. Note the observation tower. |
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| Photo: Neal McLain | 153.jpg |
| Looking west from the tower. Note the Intracoastal Waterway in the distance. |
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| Photo: Neal McLain | 155.jpg |
| Looking westnorthwest from the tower. Note the boardwalk in the distance. |
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| Photo: Neal McLain | 157.jpg |
| Looking northwest from the tower. Note the boardwalk in the distance beyond the substation. Sewage settling ponds are visible in the foreground. |
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| Photo: Neal McLain | 151.jpg |
| Looking north from the tower. Note the boardwalk beyond the water tower. |
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| Photo: Neal McLain | 157a.jpg |
| Boardwalk construction details |
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| Photo: Neal McLain | 157b.jpg |
Boardwalk construction details
(for those of us who are obsessed with such things). |
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| Photo: Neal McLain | 159.jpg |
| Looking southeast from the tower, with the City of South Padre Island in the distance. The canal in the foreground connects Sea Turtle Inc. with the Intracoastal Waterway. |
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| Photo: Neal McLain | 170.jpg |
| Unintentional mistletoe exhibit near the parking lot |
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| Photo: Neal McLain | 171.jpg |
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LAGUNA ATASCOSA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
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| Photo: Neal McLain | L100.jpg |
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| Photo: Neal McLain | L105.jpg |
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| Photo: Neal McLain | L109.jpg |
| Information kiosk. Visitor center at right. |
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| Photo: Neal McLain | L110.jpg |
| Exhibit in Visitor Center. Ocelots are seen on the refuge occasionally |
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| Photo: Neal McLain | L111.jpg |
| Trail near the Visitor Center |
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| Photo: Neal McLain | L120.jpg |
Boardwalk
(for those of us who are interested in trail construction). |
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| Photo: Neal McLain | L121.jpg |
Concrete Trail
Click here for more infrastructure photos. |
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| Photo: Neal McLain | L122.jpg |
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| Photo: Neal McLain | L125.jpg |
| Pavilion for visitor groups |
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| Photo: Neal McLain | L131.jpg |
| Chachalaca |
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| Photo: Neal McLain | L133.jpg |
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| Photo: Neal McLain | L135.jpg |
| Spotted whiptail |
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| Photo: Neal McLain | L137.jpg |
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| Photo: Neal McLain | L139.jpg |
| Pond |
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| Photo: Neal McLain | L141.jpg |
| We saw this sign along the trail, but we never saw the animal |
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| Photo: Neal McLain | L145.jpg |
| The two-car tram ready to take us on a tour |
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| Photo: Neal McLain | L149.jpg |
| Our volunteer hostess addresses the group |
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| Photo: Neal McLain | L151.jpg |
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| Photo: Neal McLain | L153.jpg |
| Rear car. |
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| Photo: Neal McLain | L154.jpg |
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| Photo: Neal McLain | L154A.jpg |
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| Photo: Neal McLain | L155.jpg |
| Tom Schneider, David Plunkett, Phil Huxford, Neal McLain |
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| Photo: Neal McLain | L157.jpg |
| David, Phil |
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| Photo: Neal McLain | L158.jpg |
| David, Phil |
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| Photo: Neal McLain | L163.jpg |
| David |
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| Photo: Neal McLain | L173.jpg |
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| Photo: Neal McLain | L174.jpg |
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| Photo: Neal McLain | L175.jpg |
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| Photo: Neal McLain | L181.jpg |
| Opuntia in bloom |
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| Photo: Neal McLain | L183.jpg |
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| Photo: Neal McLain | L185.jpg |
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| Photo: Neal McLain | L186.jpg |
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| Photo: Neal McLain | L187.jpg |
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| Photo: Neal McLain | L191.jpg |
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| Photo: Neal McLain | L192.jpg |
| Denis Mudderman |
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| Photo: Neal McLain | L193.jpg |
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SEA TURTLE INC.
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| Photo: Neal McLain | 507.jpg |
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| Photo: Neal McLain | 509.jpg |
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| Photo: Neal McLain | 511.jpg |
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| Photos: Neal McLain | 513a.jpg |
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| Photos: Neal McLain | 516b.jpg |
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| Photo: Neal McLain | 530.jpg |
| Bookstore Manager |
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