Alamo Sierra Club Outings & Events

This event is organized by Build SA Green

https://www.buildsagreen.org/solarfest

### Join us at this year’s Solar Fest!

### This free, fun, family-friendly festival is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate with the community.

### Enjoy a variety of activities and engaging experiences, including learning how to save energy and water, exploring solar power, discovering Electric Vehicles, and staying informed about our city’s local resiliency efforts.

Our morning talk will focus on the role of an area's underlying rocks on soil formation. It will cover the constituents and type of soils. Emphasis will be placed on all the organisms present in soils. The talk will highlight how soil and soil composition, through the symbiotic relationship between the soil microfauna and plants, affects plant communities.

Our presenter is Gary Poole, an accomplished former Middle School math/science teacher, an electronics technician, bee keeper, and caver. Gary's graduate work in Geology left him with an abiding interest in rocks and their role in nature. Gary is a past president of our AAMN chapter.

With a 1.5 hour timeframe there will be plenty of time for questions related to rocks and soils and their effect on plant communities.

Please arrive to register for the event at least ten minutes before the 9:00 am start. Minors only when accompanied by an adult parent/guardian. Dogs not appropriate because it is an indoor presentation. DIFFICULTY: Easy, definitely suitable for families whose children are at least upper elementary.

Suggested $3 individual or $5 family donations to the PHP Conservancy to support enhancements to the park.

This event's general sponsor is the Phil Hardberger Park Conservancy supported by the Alamo Area Master Naturalists, the Sierra Club, the San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department's Natural Area Office, and the Native Plant Society of Texas- SA chapter.

Contact Stan Drezek (stanwendre@gmail.com) for additional information or questions.

Our morning's purpose is learning about birds likely to be seen in the park at this time of year. This two-part event starts with an illustrated talk showing photos of common birds and their defining characteristics followed by a 3/4 - mile walk around the savanna area. The event will be led by experienced local birder, Patsy Kuentz. She will share her extensive knowledge of local birding to offer you an opportunity to see, identify, and appreciate many of the common winter and year-round birds in the area.

Bring binolculars if you have them
Bring bird identification apps or books

Please arrive at 7:45 am SHARP to register so we can start at 8:00 am. We will walk along various trails, sidewalks, and parking areas very and close to the Urban Ecology Center conducive to sighting birds. There will be brief explanations at the start and along the way with ample time for participant questions.

Minors welcome but only when accompanied by an adult parent/guardian. Dogs are not appropriate for this walk as they can disturb the birds. DIFFICULTY: Easy, definitely suitable for families with older elementary school students. The short walk will be on flat terrain and slow-paced. The event will end back at the Urban Ecology Center about 10:15 am.

The trail is a natural surface so be sure to wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes and dress appropriately for the day's weather. Also, bring water and sun protection. Suggested $3 individual or $5 family donations to the PHP Conservancy to support enhancements to the park.

This event's general sponsors are the Phil Hardberger Park Conservancy, San Antonio Parks & Recreation Department's Nature Area Office, the Alamo Area Master Naturalists, and the Alamo Group of the Sierra Club. The Bexar Audubon South Central Texas Chapter of National Audubon Society is a special sponsor.

Contact Stan Drezek (stanwendre@gmail.com) for additional information or questions.