by Wanda Holcombe
The WB Birding Group looks forward to a productive year in 2015 as our park, streams and pond attract even more birds with the continuing care, and backyards become healthy natural habitats. If you are interested in finding out more about how your backyard can become a Certified Wildlife Habitat, visit the National Wildlife Federation website at nwf.org.
There are several special Birding Events to look forward to in the coming months:
• Thursday, February 12, from 6:00-7:30pm, we will collaborate with the Wells Branch Library to Launch the Great Backyard Bird Count in Wells Branch. We hope you’ll join us!
• Friday-Monday, February 13-16, is the GREAT BACKYARD BIRD COUNT. For more information, visit the Wells Branch Community Library website at wblibrary.org or the National Audubon website at birds.audubon.org/great-backyard-bird-count.
The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) is an annual four-day event that engages bird watchers of all ages in counting birds to create a real-time snapshot of bird populations. Participants are asked to count birds for as little as 15 minutes (or as long as they wish) on one or more days of the event and report their sightings online at birdcount.org. Anyone can take part in the Great Backyard Bird Count, from beginning bird watchers to experts, and you can now participate from anywhere in the world! In case you are a novice at bird watching, you can read more about bird watching as it is free, fun, and easy. Each checklist submitted during the GBBC helps researchers at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology (birds.cornell.edu) and the National Audubon Society (audubon.org) learn more about how birds are doing, and how to protect them and the environment we share. Last year, participants turned in more than 144,000 online checklists, creating the world’s largest instantaneous snapshot of bird populations ever recorded.
“This count is so fun because anyone can take part — we all learn and watch birds together — whether you are an expert, novice, or feeder watcher. I like to invite new birders to join me and share the experience. Get involved, invite your friends, and see how your favorite spot stacks up.” — Gary Langham, Chief Scientist
• Monday, February 16, 9:00am- 4:00 pm, we will be joining the Silver Branchers for a collaborative day trip to Pedernales Falls State Park and Historic Johnson City:
We will be visiting two very good sources of bird blinds at Pedernales Falls State Park which has more than 150 species of birds; about one-third of these are permanent residents. Birds seen throughout the year include ravens, vultures, herons, quail, doves, owls, roadrunners and wild turkeys, as well as the endemic rufous-crowned sparrow and western scrub jay. Website: tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/pedernales-falls
Johnson City was the hometown of President Lyndon Johnson and was founded by James Polk Johnson, nephew of Samuel Ealy Johnson, Sr. and uncle to President Johnson. Johnson City is located in central Blanco County, south of the Pedernales River. We will be visiting the historic areas of the town and enjoying lunch together at one of the local restaurants.. Visit their website for more information: johnsoncity-texas.com
WB Hosted Bird Walks are planned for the 2nd Monday & 3rd Saturday of each month at 8:00 am. Meet at the Mills Pond Gazebo.
• Saturday, February 21
• Monday, March 9
• Saturday, March 21
Come join us for the bird walks and special events. If you would like to be added to our WB Birding Group Email, contact Wanda Holcombe at wandah70@gmail.com
For further information on Birding in WB, contact:
Holcombe Wanda: wandah70@gmail.com
Richardson Sharon: srich816@austin.rr.com
Johnson Heather: frioswimmer@gmail.com