BIRDING CLASSIC, 2: The Great Texas Birding Classic 
attracts diverse groups of birders ... coming up on 
Passport to Texas ... 
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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

The Great Texas Birding Classic - sponsored by TPWD and 
the Gulf Coast Bird Observatory -- gets underway April 22. 
Although in it's tenth year, the event is constantly 
evolving.

One thing that is new for this year is the college challenge. 
:05

Carol Jones is with the Observatory, and coordinates this 
competitive team bird watching tournament. 

We have had that tournament in the past, where we get teams 
of birders from universities - they can be students or actually 
be employed by the university - but this year we have a 
conservation cash grant that those teams will be participating 
to win, and then they get to pick the project that they want 
that money to go toward. :23
 
The Classic has raised $500-thousand dollars for coastal 
conservation projects. You don't need to have eagle eyes 
to participate. Good hearing can also keep you in the 
game.

We do, again this year, have our out of sight song birder 
tournament. And that tournament is designed for blind and 
visually impaired participants. And they do all of their 
identification by ear. They practice, they learn the bird calls, 
and then when they go out and compete, that's what they're 
doing - they're listening for the birds. :23

Go to the Bird Observatory's web site, gcbo.org for 
sponsorship and registration information.

That's our show for today. For Texas Parks and Wildlife, 
I'm Cecilia Nasti.