Wauer, Roland H. 2010-08-27
Ro Wauer discusses his experiences with Big Bend National Park, his career after Big Bend National park, and his life after retirement.
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: Roland H. "Ro" Wauer
Additional Parties Recorded:
Date: August 27, 2010
Location: Bryan, Texas
Interviewer: Andy Wilkinson
Length: 01:45:05
Abstract
Introduction; Moving to Big Bend, Texas; Working for the parks service; Becoming chief naturalist at Big Bend National Park; Time in the field; Perfect bird watching area; Job responsibilities at Big Bend; Moving around at Big Bend National Park; Getting masters degree; Black-vented Oriole; American Birding Association; Getting lifetime members of the American Birding Association; Deciding on a painting; Membership grows; Aplomado Falcon preservation; Reasons ranchers kill Aplomado Falcons; People’s interest in Big Bend National Park; Establishment of Big Bend National Park; Changes in the park; Introduction of new animals; Mountain lions at the park; Vegetation reintroduced after droughts; Goats and sheep; Less spring water due to droughts; Adding additional land to Big Bend National Park; Establishing an International Park; Feelings on International Park; Opinions on the expansion of Big Bend National Park; Post Park outside of Marathon, Texas; Open water areas; Reasons for leaving Big Bend; Wanting a biology position; Meeting in Santa Fe, New Mexico; Becoming regional chief scientist; New job responsibilities; Visiting different universities; Establishment of new parks; Resource management plan for Padre Island, Texas; Restoring the Ridley Turtle in Padre Island, Texas; Bandelier National Park; Getting married; Establishing brilliant bird study; Moving to Washington, D.C.; New areas in Alaska; Unpleasant during the James Watts years; Ronald Reagan administration; Unethical practices; Bringing in new people; Humpback whales in Alaska; Humpback whales coming on shore; Studies conducted on the Humpback whales; Suggesting to limit the number of cruise ships; Being demoted; Biosphere reserve program; Close relationships with conservation organizations; Evaluate park resources; Coordinating the State of the Park report; Report brings visibility to National Parks; Writing second report; Working with nongovernmental organizations; Resource management program; Selecting new employees; Training to become a park natural resource manager; Resource management at all National Parks; Crossing the line to work with nongovernmental organizations; Differences during presidential terms; Hunter and fishermen’s interest in natural resources; Working at Smokey Mountain National Park; New program in the Virgin Islands; Caribbean initiative program; Visiting offices around the Virgin Islands; Deciding to move to the Virgin Islands; Becoming a second class citizen; Opportunity to see all of the Caribbean Islands; Getting involved with the Columbus landing site; Governor wants to build hotels on sites; Salt River bay; Retiring at 55; Moving to Victoria, Texas; Building butterfly garden; Going to butterfly festival; Attracting butterflies; 148 species of butterflies in the yard; Interest in butterfly photography; Life after retiring; Trip to Wyoming; Watching butterflies in Wyoming; Wyoming scenery; Finding natural areas on trips; Stopping in Wichita, Kansas; Photographs taken in Wyoming; Jackson Hole, Wyoming; Local scenery; Wild flowers on Teton Pass; Using cassette tapes.
Access Information
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Transcript: Transcript available in reading room
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