Passport to Texas

Migratory Bird Day, 1 Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In the early 1990s, scientists started noticing that some populations of migratory bird species were declining.

10—There was a concern about what these causes were, and at the same time there was considerable interest in getting the public involved in learning more about birds and their conservation.

Susan Bonfield is Executive Director of Environment for the Americas. Her non-profit coordinates International Migratory Bird Day, an event created as a direct result of scientists’ concerns over declining avian populations.

12—Several researchers at the Smithsonian Migratory Bird center came up with the idea of hosting a public event to get communities involved in learning about birds. And that was the origins of International Migratory Bird Day.

It is the second Saturday of May for the US and Canada, and is intended to occur during peak migration. The idea is to give folks an opportunity to see these migrants.

09—That doesn’t work for everyone. So, for example, in some parts of Canada it may too early, and some parts of the United States, even, it’s a little bit too late—migratory birds have already passed over

Tomorrow, some ways that you can celebrate birds whether you attend an event, or stay in your own backyard.

We record our series at the Block House in Austin.

The Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration program supports our series and works to restore wildlife habitat in Texas.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

Great Texas Birding Classic Goes on for Some Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

The Great Texas Birding Classic—a yearly week-long birding competition on the Texas coast is taking 2012 off to reevaluate, says Shelly Plante, nature tourism coordinator for Parks and Wildlife.

06—With this down economy, and some of the cutbacks we’ve had at parks and wildlife, this year was a tough year.

The 15 year old competition attracted dedicated birders from around the globe, who donated more than three-quarters of a million dollars to habitat projects. And some of those birders aren’t about to let the fact the classic is on hold keep them from their yearly tradition.

37— This is true. We sent out letters in January letting past participants and supporters know that 2012 was the year that we were taking off on the birding classic to really plan for 2013. And, so far we’ve heard from a few teams out there who are just going to do the classic anyway. This is their passion, this is what they do every April with their families and their friends, and they really are passionate about bird watching and Texas habitat conservation. They said they are going to do their own teams; they’re going to go out informally and keep checklists. And they’re going to donate money to habitat projects on behalf of the birding classic even though formally we’re not existing.

Shelly says the agency will support the birders via the birding classic website and Facebook page.

11—Teams are going to be able to talk about what they’re seeing, post photos, post their species totals for their count days, and really have a forum for their bragging rights of what they’ve done out on the Texas coast.

The Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program supports our series. For Texas Parks and Wildlife, I’m Cecilia Nasti.

Great Texas Birding Classic is On Hold Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This year will be an interesting one for the annual Great Texas Birding Classic, which is a week-long birding competition in April on the Texas coast.

20—After 15 years of a really successful run, donating a lot of money to on the ground projects in Texas for habitat conservation for birds, we are going to be taking the year off and spending this year re-envisioning the classic, and coming back in 2013 with a newly re-energized and exciting event with some new twists.

Shelly Plante is nature tourism coordinator for Parks and Wildlife. For nearly half of the classic’s 15 year run, it partnered with the Gulf Coast Bird Observatory. But because of the down economy, the observatory decided to hold a yearly auction instead, with proceeds benefiting habitat conservation.

11—Parks and Wildlife is going to be taking back the birding classic and try to figure out ways to streamline it financially and logistically; keeping costs down yet still keep to the mission of the classic.

The mission includes outreach and education, engaging new birders, nature tourism in Texas and conservation fundraising.

16—So, that will be our focus moving forward. And we think by giving ourselves 2012 to really think about this and meet with partners and meet with past participants who have a passion for the event, we can come up with something really great for 2013 that will make a lot of sense in this economy, while still accomplishing those missions.

But for some…the classic goes on…details tomorrow.

The Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program supports our series. For Texas Parks and Wildlife, I’m Cecilia Nasti.

Christmas Bird Count Feeder Watchers Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Get out your binoculars and note pads, because it’s time for the Christmas Bird Count—a project of the National Audubon Society. December 14 through January 5, volunteers count birds during a 24-hour period inside defined 15-mile diameter circles throughout the state.

05—But there aren’t any on December 25th—you can’t compete with family time and ripping open presents.

There is that. Non Game Ornithologist, Cliff Shackelford says volunteers submit their observations to the lead person, called a compiler.

05—That compiler then crunches all the numbers and turns in—nationally—a count for the whole circle.

Now, if you can’t get to a circle, but you have bird feeders in your yard, you can still contribute as a feeder watcher.

23—That’s someone that just merely watches out their back window and looks at the birds coming to the feeder and just counting those things. It’s a really good niche for someone that’s not able to get out if it’s too cold, or you’re just not physically able to get out, or maybe you have a newborn at the house, These are people that might have their eyes open watching the feeder and can contribute.

Find additional feeder watch programs that take place at other times of year; just do an online search and use feeder watch as your search term.

The Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program… supports our series as well as conservation programs in Texas.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti

Christmas Bird Count Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

More than a hundred years ago people participated in a time-honored Christmas tradition.

06—People would go out and do what was called a side hunt, and the winning group would come back with the biggest pile of dead critters.

The majority of critters in those piles were birds. Cliff Shackelford, a non-game ornithologist with Parks and Wildlife, says conservationists had a better idea.

05—Early conservationists thought that we ought to count birds and not try to collect birds.

Today we have the nationwide Christmas Bird Count. This season—between December 14 and January 5—groups of volunteers, armed with a bird list, head into the field and count birds over a 24-hour period.

15—What people do is they get into teams, and they have a defined 15 mile radius circle that they’re counting in, and that circle never moves. The hope is that you would count that circle for decades and decades and over time you would see trends.

Different groups pick different days within that three week period to count birds. Researchers then use the census information to assess the health of bird populations, and to guide conservation action.

It’s not too late to get involved this year if you like.

05—They might need a full year’s heads up to chew on it and figure out, hey, I want to do this next year.

Sure…there’s always next year if you prefer. Go to www.Audubon.org for more information. The SFWR supports our program. For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.