2018 BIRDING CLASSIC: After 22 years, the Great Texas 
Birding Classic is still flying high… [03 “…hasn’t happened 
yet.”] details ahead on Passport to Texas. 

This is Passport to Texas

Twenty eighteen marks the 22nd anniversary of the Great 
Texas Birding Classic. Shelly Plante, Nature Tourism 
Manager for Parks and Wildlife, has been involved for 21 
of those years.

In the beginning, Plante says most participants were 
“hard core” birders. Since becoming a statewide event, 
she says it’s evolved into a tournament for everyone.

23—We have a lot of different categories. There are categories for 
beginners; categories for kids who are just getting started; categories 
families can take part in—or bird clubs can take part in. And so, I’ve seen 
this really huge growth in the generalist, which I think is fantastic. That’s 
who we would love to connect with nature. They may not have a connection. 
So, we’re hopefully making that connection for them with an event.

The Great Texas Birding Classic is April 15 through May 15; 
registration deadline is April 1st. Money raised through fees 
and sponsorships goes toward conservation grants.

22—The more money we raise through registration fees and sponsorships, 
the more money we are able to award to conservation grant projects 
throughout the state. So las year, we gave out 36-thousand dollars’ worth of 
grants.  And, some of the winning teams got to pick which projects received 
that funding. So, it’s really a fun way to take part in conservation, and 
maybe even get to choose who gets those conservation dollars. 

Put together a team and register before April 1, at 
birdingclassic.org. 

That's our show… Funding provided in part by Ram 
Trucks. Guts. Glory. Ram

For Texas Parks and Wildlife, I’m Cecilia Nasti