Building on conservation activity dating back a century and bolstered by a specialized Adaptive and Integrative Management team that helps bring innovations to the focus on environmental goals, Fort Cavazos in central Texas is making a big impact on its environment and helping lead ongoing conservation efforts.
In 2023, the AIM team hosted the eighth annual Christmas Bird Count at Fort Cavazos in collaboration with the local Audubon Society and volunteers compiled data on every individual bird and bird species in a 15-mile-wide circle featuring grassland, wetland and woodland habitats.
“The Christmas Bird Count is a vast citizen science network that stretches back more than 100 years,” said Dr. Amber Dankert, program member for wildlife management, DPW. “At Fort Cavazos, the community event helped to tally 71 species and 1,011 individual birds, and during the official event, biologists and expert birders observed 129 species and 11,996 individual birds. We are very proud that our Bird Count Circle encompasses the largest amount of Department of Defense lands.”
The Christmas Bird Count at Fort Cavazos, to date, has produced more than 60,900 individual avian observations that included more than 145 different species, including rare and undocumented species for the area. In addition to the valuable data that is used to drive conservation planning programs, the annual event also helps to engage the community.
Cassie Bray, a military spouse who with her daughter joined in the 2022 event said, “It was really exciting to try something different and I wasn’t sure what to expect. It was nice to get out and get into nature. The (Fort Cavazos) Christmas Bird Count is a great opportunity to get life skills and do our part to see what we can do to help to grow our experiences and knowledge in birds and nature. My takeaway is get on the bird apps and for my daughter and I to start learning and growing in our understanding of birds.”
Sgt. Rodneka Seamster, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, U.S. Army Garrison-Fort Cavazos, who was surprised by the enjoyment of the 2023 bird watching experience said, “It’s nice to be able to get out and learn about the different names and characteristics of birds that I have never seen or heard of. It makes for a special experience, when you can do it with your other half. As it pertains to your mental, spiritual and physical health, it’s good to come out and connect with nature. It allows you to be able to have a reset and enjoy the finer things in life.”
The AIM team also had notable success in creating innovative programs to deal with the specific conservation needs at the installation. In the last decade, overall populations of the monarch butterfly have experienced a dramatic decline and have been designated as a candidate species under the Endangered Species Act.
As part of their remarkable 3,000-mile annual migration, monarch butterflies pass through the 218,823-acre Fort Cavazos, which falls in the Texas central flyway for the fall and spring migrations. AIM staff, as part of the Monarch Watch research program based at the University of Kansas, tag the butterflies as they migrate across the installation in the fall. The data collected each year from the tags help determine the pathways taken during the migration, the influence of weather on these patterns and the survival rate of the monarchs.
Data collected during the tagging process include tag code, sex, forewing/hindwing measurements, wing condition and damage scores, OE parasite sampling, and behavior observations. Comparing this data over the course of several years will provide valuable insight into species trends. The data also provides insight on preferred monarch nectar sources and what areas of the installation are utilized by monarchs during their fall migration.
Fort Cavazos was recognized for its monarch tagging program in the National Geographic magazine and behind-the-scenes series in January 2024.
National Geographic photographer and Explorer Jaime Rojo said of the Fort Cavazos effort: “You have this amazing group of people that are trained and work very well as a team. All that energy, discipline and training - you funnel that into a conservation effort. What I see here at (Fort Cavazos) is a great example of a case study that could be replicated in many other places in the U.S. and abroad. What I like of this effort is the potential partners between the civilians and military to do something great for the planet and the monarchs.”
As a sign of its leadership in monarch conservation, former U.S. Army Garrison-Fort Cavazos Commander Col. Chad R. Foster signed the National Wildlife Federation’s Mayors’ Monarch Pledge, becoming the first Department of Defense installation to join.
“This is a priceless moment to engage youth and inspire lifelong environmental stewardship. It’s a meaningful experience knowing that you are doing your part to help with the research and survival of species, while also connecting with military families and the community,” said U.S. Army Garrison-Fort Cavazos Command Sgt. Maj. Calvin Hall of the efforts on the installation to protect the monarch population.
The AIM team has also launched a study to collect data on nocturnal owls and nightjars on the installation, based on concerns that nightjars are anticipated to be a mission-sensitive species in upcoming years as their numbers continue to decline and their range overlaps with many military installations.
The team is also conducting avian surveys on the Northern Bobwhite, a game bird that has seen population declines as well. AIM staff believe that Fort Cavazos acts as a stronghold for this species thanks to an abundance of appropriate habitat.
“Our team is absolutely dedicated to collecting the data we need to make the right decisions and take the right actions to preserve and protect the environment, while ensuring our vital training mission can continue,” said Dankert. “A big part of that is ensuring our community is both aware and involved in these activities. We leverage multiple platforms including local newspapers, social media, podcasts, an electronic newsletter, briefings, and school and community events to inform and engage stakeholders.”
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