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Please give us your opinion and feedback on WildFest San Antonio. We are always assessing and planning for our next year’s Program Events. Please provide us with your feedback as to which of the below events, and/or events from the Friday, Saturday or Sunday 2007 Events sections, you would be interested in attending by going to our Program Events Feedback Form (opens in new browser window). Or, if you have an idea for a Program Event that's not listed please let us know about it. On the same form you can also give us your ideas and opinion about our fee structure and help us determine the best date to have our next WildFest San Antonio 2008 event. If you have been involved or participated in WildFest San Antonio please give us your feedback as to what we did well and what we can do to improve things for next years ahead. | Event Code | Start Time | Fee | Group Size | Title, Venue & Description | Prospective Leader | | A003 | TBA
| $ | 15
| Birding Brackenridge Park & Olmos Basin
Venue: Avenue A, Olmos Basin
Avenue A, at the south end of Brackenridge Park (south of Mulberry), has become known for migrating passerines. You should be able to find migrant passerines, Red-shouldered Hawk, Golden-fronted and Ladder-backed Woodpecker, White Winged Dove, Wood duck, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, Carolina Wren, Green Heron, Black-crested Titmouse, Carolina Chickadee, and a combination of riparian and open field birds. American Robins have been nesting here in recent years.
| Helen Rejzek | A004
| TBA | $ | 15 | Birding Walker Ranch Venue: Walker Ranch Park This easy hike will take you through Walker Ranch Historic Landmark Park, a city park in the suburbs, at 12603 West Avenue. Walker Ranch can provide some real surprises for birders because it is located between Salado and Panther Springs Creeks. Some of the birds you can expect to see or hear include Orange-crowned and Nashville Warblers. Ladder-backed and Golden-fronted Woodpeckers, Carolina Chickadees, Bewick's and Carolina Wrens, and Red-shouldered Hawks. For participants 12 and older.
| Jayne Neal | | A008 | TBA
| $ | 15 | Butterflies & Dragonflies at Mitchell Lake
Venue: Mitchell Lake Audubon Center
Learn about the butterfly life cycle, nectar and food plants butterflies depend on and their ranges in addition to learning what key characteristics you can use to identify these jewels in the garden. | Terry Doyle | A010
| TBA
| $ | 10
| Birds of Honey Creek Natural Area
Venue: Honey Creek State Natural Area
With its great diversity of Texas Hill Country flora, Honey Creek State Natural Area is home to an equally diverse group of birds, from green kingfishers to wild turkey. Participants will enjoy a morning hiking through the limited access area and may expect to find a wide variety of resident birds and quite possibly, other native fauna as well. The park is located at the north end of Park Road 31, adjacent to Guadalupe River State Park, and may be reached by traveling west on State Hwy 46 8 miles west of the intersection on State Highway 46 and US Highway 281; or by traveling eastward on State Hwy 46, 13 miles east of Boerne. Texas State Park entry and vehicle fees will be collected at the park. | Holly Camero | | B003 | TBA | $ | 50 | Bats Around the World
Venue: Norris Conference Center
Join us for a fascinating slide show about bats all over the world. We will learn about the diversity in our world. Information on bat houses and attracting bats will be available. | Kari Gaukler | B011
| TBA
| $ | 25 | Ancient Texans' Technology
Venue: Witte Museum
How did the hunting and gathering people, who lived in the Lower Pecos region of Texas 4,000 years ago, use their enviornment to survive? Investigate ancient Texan technology and find out through inquiry and hands-on activities that include examining stone tools, using an atlatl, making cordage, grinding pigment, and creating pictographs. | Witte Museum Staff | | B013 | TBA | $
| 12 | Captive Breeding of Whooping Cranes
Venue: San Antonio Zoo 
Learn how North American captive breeding is bringing our native whooping crane back from the brink of extinction. Learn how we went from 16 to three heathly flocks. Includes all day pass for the Zoo. | Josef San Miguel | B014
| TBA
| $ | 12 | South Texas Reptiles
Venue: San Antonio Zoo
 Come and learn about the world of reptiles, explore some familiar and not so familiar Texas residents. Includes all day pass for the Zoo. | San Antonio Zoo Reptile Staff | | C001 | TBA | $ | 50 | Stars Over Texas
Venue: Guadalupe River State Park
The program will begin while it's still light with a show & tell, Q & A, and meeting the astronomers and telescopes. A slide show presentation will begin around 8:30 in the amphitheater. Venus and Saturn will be prime targets, along with numerous star clusters, nebulae, and perhaps a few distant galaxies. State Park entry and vehicle fees will be collected at the park. | Don Baker | | D001 | TBA
| $ | 15
| Migrants in North East Bexar County
Venue: Comanche Lookout/Live Oak City Parks
This trip will visit two city parks in northeast San Antonio seeking resident birds and spring migrants. Live Oak is an excellent place to see both spring migrants and resident birds. Residents we might see are Least Grebes, Herons, Barred Owl. Many species of warbler and vireo are seen there during migration. The oak motte at the top of Comanche Lookout is a regular warbler stopover. MEET at Live Oak Park. | Dana Green | | D002 | TBA | $ | 50 | Medina River Archaeology
Venue: Land Heritage Institute/Richard Beene Site
Evidence of 10,000 years of human history can be found in this area. In addition to Dr. Thoms, oral histories and demonstrations will be shared by Native Americans and descendants of farming and ranching families, representing the Spanish Colonial period and the late 1800's. Not long ago, this property was intended to become the infamous Applewhite Reservoir! For participants 12 and older. A liability waiver is required. Walking is easy; a more challenging hike may be offered to those interested. The site is not wheelchair accessible. ALLOW 35 minutes driving time from the Norris Conference Center. A map will be mailed to those registering for this trip. | Dr. Alson Thoms, TAMU | | D003 | TBA
| $ | 12
| Butterflies for Kids
Venue: Mitchell Lake Audubon Center
After a short tale about the life cycle and a little about the parts and families of butterflies, Amy will answer questions and the group will find, observe and identify butterflies in the Mitchell Lake Audubon Center Butterfly Garden. | Amy Johnson | | D008 | TBA
| $ Adults $ Kids | 20 | Friendly Bugs in Your Backyard
Venue: San Antonio Zoo
This program is designed to introduce children and a parent to the wonders in their own backyards. Come and meet some fun bugs and help the Zoo release lady bugs into the garden. Includes all day pass to the Zoo. | San Antonio Zoo Staff | D009
| TBA | $ Adults $ Kids | 10
| Basic Birding & Binoculars for Kids
Venue: San Antonio Zoo
Come take a walk through our zoo and learn the basics of bird the watching. Bring your own field glasses and experience some fun for the whole family. Includes all day pass to the Zoo. | San Antonio Zoo Staff | | D015 | TBA | $ Adults $ Kids 3-11 | 25 | The North Cavern and Area Archaeology
Venue: Natural Bridge Cavern
Visit the largest show cave in Texas. Knowledgeable guides explain how the caverns were formed, how the formations grow and how the caverns were discovered. This all-waling tour takes one hour and fifteen minutes. Please wear comfortable walking shoes that provide good traction on steep, wet surfaces. Participants should be prepared to do some moderate exercise, including a 35-step staircase, in a high-humidity environment. Then we will provide a brief overview of tools and archaeological evidence from nearly 6,000 years of intermittent human occupation of the Sinkhole area of Natural Bridge Caverns. | Natural Bridge Cavern Staff | | D016 | TBA | $ | 20 | Biking the Mission Trail
Venue: San Antonio Mission National Historical Park
Ride your own bike along the Mission Trail from Mission Concepcion to Mission Espada and back. Bring your lunch. | Greg Mitchell | | D022 | TBA
| $ | 20
| Biking the Mission Trail - with Bike Rental & Lunch
Venue: San Antonio Mission National Historical Park
This is the same trip as D016, but with a 5-hour bike rental and box lunch included. | Greg Mitchell | E011
| TBA
| $
| 50
| The Urban Water Cycle, Rain to Drain
Venue: Trip begins at the SAWS Customer Service Center
This Field Investigation focuses on the symbiotic relationship between water and humans: from the time it falls as precipitation, recharges an aquifer, is pumped from the aquifer and sent to a home, returns down the drain, sent to a SAWS Recycling Center, and finally back into the environment. This trip lasts from 11:30 am-4:30 pm and includes lunch. MEET at the SAWS Customer Service Center, just north of Mulberry on the northbound Hwy 281 access road.
| Greg Wukasch, SAWS | | E005 | TBA
| $ | 50 | Attracting Wildlife to Ponds Venue: Norris Conference Center The focus of this presentation is how to design and build a pond that is attractive to wildlife, such as birds, small mammals, Frogs/snakes, etc. as opposed to a pond dedicated to koi or goldfish. Janet will address the four primary areas necessary for a wildlife habitat (food, water, shelter and space to raise young), but from a pond perspective. | Janet Christian | | E013 | TBA | $ | 20 | Fish and Bugs Are Fun!
Venue: Comanche Park/Salado Creek
The best way to learn about riparian habitats is to get in with the fish and bugs and get wet! During this field trip along Salado Creek at Comanche County Park, you will collect and study fish and aquatic insects, collect and test water samples, measure water flow, and assess the habitat quality. The field trip will be guided by subject-matter experts from the San Antonio River Authority. Attendees should plan to get wet and bring a change of clothes, sunblock, insect repellant, and a cap or hat with a brim. For participants 11 and older. MEET at Comanche Park Pavilion # 1 (NOTE: participants in this program will not be able to see the full luncheon presentation.) | SARA Staff | | E004 | TBA | $ | 40 | Using Photo Software
Venue: Norris Conference Center
Unless the photographer -- or the camera -- is always spot on, there are usually a few simple steps you can take to improve your digital photos before sharing them. We'll look at techniques you can use with common computer software to
make the most of your shots. | Jan McClintock | | E006 | TBA
| $ | 40
| It Takes More Than A Diner to Host a Bird
Venue: Norris Conference Center
 This program will focus on using native plants to create a comfortable atmosphere with a diverse menu for the various avian guests we might expect in our backyard. | Mark Klym | E007
| TBA
| $ | 20 | Resident & Visiting Birds at the Zoo
Venue: San Antonio Zoo
Expect to see one of the world’s best and biggest bird collections, especially South American and Australlian birds, but African and Asian birds, too. Highlights include the Amazon flight cage, the American bald eagles, the Andean condors, several types of cranes, a plethora of water fowl, and magnificent parrots and hornbills. Many wild birds that take advantage of the Zoo's food, water and safety - especially wild ducks, wading birds and occasional migrants. A hat, water and sunscreen are necessities. Binoculars are recommended but not essential. Birders are amazed at how close they get to even the wild birds but they do help with some birds. | San Antonio Zoo Staff | | E008 | TBA
| $ Adults $ Kids 3-11 | 25 | Butterflies and The North Cavern
Venue: Natural Bridge Cavern
Butterfly-friendly plants attract a large variety of butterflies. Enjoy the profusion of winged visitors to our gardens while you learn about larval food sources, nectaring plants for adults, and how you can create a butterfly-friendly oasis even in a small space. Then visit the largest show cave in Texas. Knowledgeable guides explain how the caverns were formed, how the formations grow, and how the caverns were discovered. This all-walking tour takes one hour and fifteen minutes. Please wear comfortable walking shoes that provide good traction on steep, wet surfaces. Participants should be prepared to do some moderate exercise, including a 35-step staircase, in a high-humidity environment. | Natural Bridge Cavern Staff | | E015 | TBA | $
| 20
| Common Birds of Bexar County
Venue: Mitchell Lake Audubon Center
Learn to find and identify Bexar County’s commonly-found residents. Bring binoculars! There will be time to bird at the Mitchell Lake Audubon Center afterwards. | Georgina Schwartz | | E019 | TBA
| $ | 12 | Butterflies for Kids
Venue: Mitchell Lake Audubon Center
After a short tale about the life cycle and a little about the parts and families of butterflies, Amy will answer questions and the group will find, observe and identify butterflies in the Mitchell Lake Audubon Center Butterfly Garden.
| Deedy Wright
| | G005 | TBA | $ | 15 | Birding at Espada Mission & Acequia
Venue: Espada Mission/Aqueduct
This area along the San Antonio River is within the National Park Service's San Antonio Missions National Historical park along with the 255-year-old, still functioning, Espada Acequia. Resident birds include herons, egrets, Wood Ducks, owls, and woodpeckers among others. The riparian vegetation provides habitat for migrating warblers and flycatchers. | Mike Scully |
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