Speaker: Bill Lindemann
Date: Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Time: Social at 7:00 PM, Program at 7:30 PM
Place: United Way Center, 50 Waugh

Map

Spanish explorers came to the area now known as Big Bend National Park in the early 1500s expecting to find cities of gold. Their dreams were not fulfilled, but the area has unbelievable natural treasures that are still being discovered today. With its 500 million year geological history and inhabitation attempts by humans dating back 10,000 years, the area's past history is only rivaled by its incredible fauna and flora diversity. Located in North America's largest desert region, the Chihuahuan, Big Bend National Park continues to have remnants of the last Ice Age's flora in the Chisos Mountains.

The geological evidence points to a deep oceanic basin, a couple of mountain building events, a shallow ocean, a fiery volcanic center and finally a period of millions of years where erosion has carved many scenic vistas within the park's landscape. The current harsh conditions have been challenged by early man, Spanish conquistadores, hostile Native American tribes, banditos, miners, and ranchers with each leaving their mark in the regions colorful history.

Located on the Rio Grande, the park's ecological systems reflect contributions from Mexico's Sierra Madre and our Rocky Mountains. Birds, such as the Colima Warbler and the Mexican Jay, can be found in the Chisos Mountains along with Douglas fir, quaking aspen, and big-toothed maple. On the surrounding desert floor agaves, lechigullia and a host of thorned plants, including over 60 species of cactus, are home to Black-tailed Gnatcatchers, Gray Vireos and Varied Buntings. Black bear, mountain lions, and alligator lizards are among the area's rich faunal diversity

The park has a wide variety of hiking tails and road for its visitors to explore. Bill,a frequent visitor to the park, will cover the geological history of the region and its habitation attempts by man. He will show slides of vistas around the park to document the park's beautiful landscape as seen from several of the hiking trails. He will also show a sampling of the park's diversity in wildflowers, birds, and butterflies, demonstrating why naturalists find the Big Bend National Park a true dreamland.

About Our Speaker: After a career as an Exploration Geologist, Bill Lindemann retired in to Fredericksburg, where he writes a weekly birding column in the Kerrville Daily Times. He is a former President of the Native Plant Society of Texas and was awarded the Nancy Benedict Memorial Award by the Native Plant Society of Texas for establishing the Fredericksburg Nature Center and The Friends of the Fredericksburg Nature Center organization. He was also awarded the Benny J. Simpson Fellows Award by the Native Plant Society of Texas for service by a member for the enrichment of the society. Bill is President of the Board of Directors for the Friends of the Fredericksburg Nature Center, and he also serves on the Board of Directors for the Hill Country Historical Foundation, and the Hill Country Land Trust. He is a frequent speaker in the Hill Country on natural history subjects and he also teaches classes on birding and nature at nature centers and adult education schools.