Birding Blog

Bird Scavenger Hunt

Written by River Legacy Wednesday, 06 July 2011 19:51

If you enjoy bird watching, join the fun at the 7th annual Fort Worth Audubon Society Scavenger Hunt on Saturday, July 23.  Bird watches of all ages and skill levels are welcome. RSVP for the hunt by July 21 by e-mailing ahoov@sbcglobal.net.

Participants will meet in the parking lot of Al's Hamburgers, 1001 NE Green Oaks Boulevard, at 5:45 am to register and check in. The scavenger hunt will be held from 6 am to noon throughout Tarrant County. Each team decides their own birding locations, but the area is restricted to Tarrant County.

Cost to participate is $3 per person, with all proceeds going to the winning teams. Participants can form their own team, or Fort Worth Audubon Society will place them on a team.

Teams will meet back at Al's for lunch, and to tally results and award prizes. Each bird species is assigned points based on rarity to the area. For example, a Blue Jay is common and worth 1 point; a Pileated Woodpecker is considered occasional and worth 5 points.

Rules, bird checklists with points and more information is available at www.fwas.org.

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Cooper's Hawks Nest

Written by River Legacy Monday, 06 June 2011 20:55

Bring a pair of binoculars to the Living Science Center and take a look at the hawk nest that is located near the creek overlook! It's a wonderful opportunity to see a mamma hawk and her nestlings.

Fort Worth Audubon Society to discuss The Aranasas Project

Written by River Legacy Monday, 21 March 2011 17:01

Ron Outen, regional director of The Aransas Project, will present an overview and update on this important conservation effort at the Fort Worth Audubon Society's meeting on Thursday, April 14.

The Aransas Project, (TAP) an alliance of citizens, organizations, businesses and municipalities working to ensure freshwater flows to the bays and estuaries that protect the winter habitat of the endangered whooping crane, has been gaining momentum since its launch in December 2009.

The coastal community's way of life depends on freshwater flows from the Guadalupe River Basin. The health of the ecosystems of the Aransas area are the indicator of how effectively we are managing the basin.

The FWAS meeting begins at 6:45 pm with a Bird ID session followed by the program at 7:15 pm. The group meets in Room 100 on the lower level of the University of North Texas Health Science Center at 3500 Camp Bowie Boulevard at Montgomery Street in Fort Worth. For more information, visit www.fwas.org.

Great Backyard Bird Count

Written by River Legacy Tuesday, 15 February 2011 16:38

Want to participate in Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Great Backyard Bird Count and have some fun too. Then come to River Legacy Living Science Center from 10 am to 2 pm, this Saturday, Feb. 19 for bird counting, guided bird walks, and a variety of family-friendly activities. Make Valentine Bird Feeders, Nesting Bags, Bird Silhouettes, and Avian Art. Investigate Owl Pellets or take a journey through the Migration Challenge. The event will also include story time, face painting and appearances by Forest the Squirrel.

Free. For more information, call 817.860.6752! Hope to see you there.

Audubon Art Talk on February 5

Written by Kristi Wednesday, 19 January 2011 15:58

If you missed Fort Worth artist Billy Hassell's Art Talk you can catch him again on Saturday, February 5 at 2 pm at River Legacy Living Science Center. Hassell will discuss the relationship between John James Audubon's original watercolors and the reproduction paintings of Scott Gentling that are currently on display at the Living Science Center.

The mixed media reproduction paintings of Scott Gentling will be on exhibit through March 5. This is the first time these paintings have been on public exhibit outside of the Gentling studio.

Native Texan Billy Hassell has been creating nature inspired paintings for more than 25 years. His colorful and expressive artworks, frequently featuring birds and indigenous plants and animals of Texas and the Gulf Coat region, have been exhibited nationwide. His work is included in the permanent collections of the Houston Museum of Art, The Menil Collection, The Fort Worth Modern, The Dallas Museum of Art and numerous other public and private collections.

RSVP to attend the FREE Art Talk at 817.860.6752. We'd love to see you there.

Yellow-shafted Flicker Sighting

Written by The Naturalists Friday, 07 January 2011 21:40

While taking 4th grade students from Williams Elementary School on a forest hike through River Legacy Park today a Yellow-shafted Flicker was spotted by one of the students. This is the first time this year that the Yellow-shafted Flicker has been reported by the Naturalists at River Legacy Living Science Center. These Woodpeckers are found in Texas from September thru March and can be spotted in wooded areas.

Birds of the Week

Written by The Naturalists Thursday, 06 January 2011 22:37

It is a great time of year for birding.  The Naturalists at the Living Science Center have seen all kinds of birds this week.  On Wednesday we saw a Red Shouldered Hawk trying to catch a tasty squirrel for lunch.  Thursday we think we saw the same hawk swoop down on a Mockingbird - twice!  He missed again.  The Blue Jays have been very loud and active.  On the trail we have heard lots of Woodpeckers this week.  Take a walk on our trails and then let us know what birds you've spotted.

Take the Flights of Fancy Challenge

Written by Kristi Tuesday, 04 January 2011 16:23

The Celebrate Urban Birds Project at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology invites you to submit photos, artwork, video and other types of entries showcasing flying birds for its Flights of Fancy contest.

"Go outside and capture the wonder of flight," said Karen Purcell, Celebrate Urban Birds Project leader. "Notice the way birds take off from a branch, fly in flocks, hover, dive, frolic and land."

Share your observations of bird flight by submitting a photo, create a dance, do some artwork, shoot video, write a story or poem, or create a sculpture. Entries will be featured on the Celebrate Urban Birds web site.

Winners will receive prizes that include bird feeders, nest boxes, sound CDs, guides, posters, and a copy of the Bird Songs Bible. Deadline for entries is Feb. 1. E-mail your entry to urbanbirds@cornell.edu. In the subject line write Flight, your first and last name, city and state. In the e-mail, you must include your name, mailing address and location where photos were taken and state why you submitted your entry.

For more information, visit the Celebrate Urban Birds Website at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/celebration/.

"Ghost Bird" Documentary

Written by Administrator Wednesday, 27 October 2010 12:25

Does the Ivory-billed woodpecker still exist? The Fort Worth Audubon Society and Fort Worth Nature Center present "Ghost Bird," a documentary film on Thursday, November 11, 2010 at 7 pm in Room 100, lower level of the University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd. in Fort Worth. The showing is free to the public.

The much-debated 2004 sightings of possible Ivory-billed woodpeckers, a species considered extinct for more than 60 years, caused a worldwide wildfire after the April 2005 announcement by government officials and scientists from Cornell Lab of Ornithology. "Ghost Bird" by Scott Croker presents the research from the murky swamps of East Arkansas, with a compilation of reactions by government officials, ornithologists, nature lovers and local townspeople.

The evidence remains controversial. Offering both sides of the spectrum, Croker manages to leave the ultimate answer to the individual viewer.

Clips and more information available at www.ghostbirdmovie.com.

For more information, contact Martin Mattingly, president of the Fort Worth Audubon Society, at 817.903.4407.

Fort Worth Audubon Society Scavenger Hunt

Written by Administrator Thursday, 08 July 2010 12:23

Join the Fort Worth Audubon Society for the 6th annual Bird Watching Scavenger Hunt on Saturday, July 17. Bird watchers of all ages and skill levels are welcome. Form your own team or get hooked up with one. Cost to participate is $5 per person. All proceeds go to the winning teams.

Participants must RSVP by July 14 to Ann Hoover at ahoov@sbcglobal.net.

Birders will meet in the parking lot of Al's Hamburgers at 5:45 am July 17 to register, then hunt throughout Tarrant County from 6 am to 12 pm. Meet back at Al's for lunch, to tally results and award prizes.

For more information, visit www.fwas.org.

Will the Gulf Oil Spill Affect Backyard Birds?

Written by Administrator Thursday, 08 July 2010 12:15

As oil washes ashore along the Gulf Coast, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology is asking birders to keep an eye on nesting birds, not just near water, but hundreds of miles inland.

Wildlife biologists are monitoring species such as pelicans and plovers in the immediate path of the oil," said Laura Burkholder at the Cornell Lab. "But we need bird watchers across the country to help us find out if birds that pass through or winter in the Gulf region carry contamination with them..."

To help, Burkholder said that anyone with an interest in birds can learn how to find and monitor nests as part of the Cornell Lab's NestWatch project. It involves visiting a nest for a few minutes, twice per week, and recording information such as how many eggs it contains, how many chicks hatch, and how many leave the nest.

Many birds, such as Red-winged Blackbirds and Tree Swallows, spend part of the year along the Gulf of Mexico, where they could be affected by the oil spill, Burkholder said.

To help the effort, visit www.nestwatch.org.

We Love Birds Photo Contest

Written by Administrator Tuesday, 30 March 2010 11:28

The Natural Resources Defense Council and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology have launched aWeLoveBirds.org photo contest. Anyone can join this free interactive online community and submit one original photograph of a wild bird for the contest. Site members will vote for their favorite photographs. The winning photos will be announced and featured on Earth Day, April 22.

Backyard Bird Count Tally

Written by Administrator Tuesday, 16 February 2010 08:07

Thanks to all who came to River Legacy's Great Backyard Bird Count festival! We had a great time building bird houses, making bird feeders and more! Here's River Legacy's official tally from the bird walks:

Number of Species: 24

•  Mallard - 2
•  Great Blue Heron - 1
•  Great Egret - 2
•  Turkey Vulture - 2
•  Cooper's Hawk - 1
•  Bonaparte's Gull - 1
•  Mourning Dove - 2
•  Northern Flicker - 2
•  Eastern Phoebe - 1
•  Blue Jay - 2
•  Carolina Chickadee - 5
•  Tufted Titmouse - 5
•  Carolina Wren - 2
•  Golden-crowned Kinglet - 2
•  Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 5
•  Hermit Thrush - 1
•  American Robin - 8
•  Cedar Waxwing - 25
•  Orange-crowned Warbler - 1
•  Yellow-rumped Warbler - 5
•  Spotted Towhee - 2
•  White-crowned Sparrow - 22
•  Northern Cardinal - 9
•  American Goldfinch - 1

Nationally so far, 63,826 checklists have been submitted; 567 species observed; and 7,447,117 individual birds counted! Thanks for participating in bird conservation!

Move Over Mockingbirds!

Written by Administrator Tuesday, 09 February 2010 15:08

When participants in last year’s Great Backyard Bird Count tallied up the feathered friend sightings in Arlington, it was the Northern Shoveler, American Coot and European Starlings that dominated the branches, bushes and waterways in their backyards and at River Legacy Parks.

But then perhaps the state bird of Texas was smart enough to stay out of sight and out of the cold during this annual winter tally held across the U.S. and Canada.

On Saturday, February 13, the 106 species spotted in 2009 will have another opportunity to be counted when naturalists and volunteers from River Legacy Living Science Center lead guided bird walks and host a family-friendly festival as part of the 13^th annual Great Backyard Bird Count, a four-day event led by the National Audubon Society and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

The festival slated from 10 am to 2 pm at the Science Center, 703 NW Green Oaks Blvd., will also include building bird houses and Valentine bird feeders.

Early morning guided bird walks will leave the Center at 7:30 and 8:30 am.  Family-friendly bird walks and group counts are scheduled for 10:30 am and 12:30 pm. Participants are encouraged to bring binoculars and cameras.

Guest speakers will discuss topics related to attracting birds to your backyard as well as backyard birding. Steve Woodward of the Wild Bird Center, will present “Attracting Birds to your Own Backyard,” at 10 am; Hester Schwarzer, a Master Naturalist, will present “Plants for Backyard Wildlife,” at 11 am; and Martin Mattingly of the Fort Worth Audubon Society will present “Backyard Birding 101,” at 12 pm.

Other activities throughout the day include story times, van tours of the Village Creek Drying Beds, face painting, and door prizes!

Each checklist submitted by these “citizen scientists” during the Great Backyard Bird Count, helps researchers learn more about how the birds are doing and how to protect them. Last year, participants turned in more than 93,600 checklists online, creating the continent’s largest instantaneous snapshot of bird populations ever recorded.

Be a CamClickr!

Written by Administrator Monday, 13 July 2009 12:58

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology has placed live cameras at active bird nests all around the country. Since 1999, Cornell has archived more than 8 million images from these NestCams. And now they need your help to sort and tag them. Cornell has developed CamClickr, an online tool you can use to view the images and sort them into albums, then tag each image by type of behavior you see such as preening, eating, feeding chicks, etc.

CamClickr will appeal not only to bird lovers, but to people who enjoy testing their skills with online games. Collect points and compete for prizes, such as binoculars, DVDs, books and posters, when you log on to CamClickr to help sort and tag the camera images. Also, by using the CamClickr online tool, you help scientists learn more about the nesting behavior of birds and how they are responding to challenges in their environment.

Just visit www.camclickr.org to create an account. This allows you to chat in the NestCam forums, tag photos and track your stats in CamClickr anytime.

Backyard Bird Counts

Written by Administrator Friday, 13 March 2009 12:22

River Legacy Living Science Center had a successful Family Fun Saturday: We Love Birds! event on Saturday, February 14. Following is a list and count of birds taken during the guided bird walks in River Legacy Parks that was submitted to the Great Backyard Bird Count Web site:

Red-Shouldered Hawk: 3
White-Winged Dove: 7
Blue Jay: 2
White-Crowned Sparrow: 5
Red-bellied Woodpecker: 3
Downy Woodpecker: 1
Carolina Wren: 5
Northern Cardinal: 3
Black Vulture: 1
Ruby-Crowned Kinglet: 5
Yellow-rumped Warbler: 9
Northern Flicker: 1
Carolina Chickadee: 5
Belted Kingfisher: 1
American Crow: 2
Yellow-bellied Woodpecker: 1
White-Throated Sparrow: 3
Great Blue Heron: 1
Ring Billed Gull: 4
Turkey Vulture: 1
Titmouse: 3
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 1
Great-tailed Grackle: 12
House Sparrow: 4

During the 2009 Great Backyard Bird Count event a total of 93,590 checklists were submitted; 619 species were observed; and more than 11.5 million individual birds were counted. To learn more visit www.birdsource.org/gbbc.

12th annual Great Backyard Bird Count

Written by Administrator Friday, 30 January 2009 09:08

River Legacy Living Science Center is once again joining this national effort to count birds for fun and for science during the 12th annual Great Backyard Bird Count held the weekend of February 13-16. A joint project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society, this free event is an opportunity for families, students and people of all ages to discover the wonders of nature in backyards, schoolyards and local parks, and at the same time, make an important contribution to conservation. Participants count birds and report their sightings online at www.birdcount.org. 

 Anyone can take part, from novice bird watchers to experts, by counting birds for as little as 15 minutes or as long as they wish on one or more days of the event.

River Legacy's Great Backyard Bird Count/Family Fun Saturday: We Love Birds! event will be from 10 am to 2 pm, Saturday, February 14, at River Legacy Living Science Center, 703 NW Green Oaks Blvd. in Arlington. Activities include guided bird walks, Birding 101 workshops, story times and art activities, crafting Valentine Bird Feeders and more. Participants who take part in the walks and bird counting will have opportunities to enter their information online in the multipurpose room.

The data that these "citizen scientists" collect helps researchers understand bird population trends, information that is critical for effective conservation. In 2008, participants submitted more than 85,000 checklists.

For more information on River Legacy's FREE event, call 817.860.6752. For more information about the 12th annual Great Backyard Bird Count, visit www.birdcount.org.