FEEDER WATCHERS: If you like watching birds at home 
become a feeder watcher ["There's a big niche for that."] Who 
knew, right? Details ahead on Passport to Texas.

This is Passport to Texas

The Christmas Bird count, which takes place from 
December 14 - January 5 is a project of the National 
Audubon Society where for three weeks volunteers count 
birds during a 24-hour period in a 15-mile diameter circle.

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

Cliff Shackelford is TPW non-game ornithologist. 
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.

Audubon isn't the only organization counting birds this 
winter. The Cornell Lab or Ornithology and Bird Studies 
Canada offer a feeder watcher program for folks who 
prefer to count birds from the comfort of home.

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 links to more information on the bird count and 
feeder watch at passporttotexas.org.

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



Total sound bite time:		 0:33.0
Maximum Script time:		 0:52.0 Suggested show time: 85.0 = 1:25