Big Day for Wild Bird Rescue Wrap-Up

Sitting Ducks and Raven Lunatics run into one another at
the Chat Trail and compare notes.
Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Hawley.
L to R: Joy, Penny, Chuck, Warren, Sue, and Janet.
Not pictured: Katherine and Elizabeth

Sunday, March 6 was the Big Day for Wild Bird Rescue. Three teams covered Wichita, Archer and Clay counties to find the highest numbers of species of birds for the day.

It's not just about the birds. Beautiful giant swallowtail seen
on the Chat Trail in Lake Wichita Park.

It started out a beautiful morning, but about 10 AM a front moved in with high winds, greatly increasing the difficulty of the task. However, in spite of that, we had a good day. This year, the Sitting Ducks took bragging rights with 75 species for the day. The Raven Lunatics had 74 and the Chickadees, 67 species. The combined total of species was 97.  We still can't quite break that 100 species total. It's possible, but not easy.

Many thanks to Dianne and Chuck Thueson for hosting a post-count dinner at their home so the teams could compare lists and relate the day's happenings. Our team, the Raven Lunatics, logged over 150 miles driving and over 20,000 steps walking. Good exercise, birding.

I haven't heard the final fundraising totals. It isn't too late to donate--the baby birds will be coming into Wild Bird Rescue all too soon, so your support is important. You can mail a contribution to them at 4611 Lake Shore Drive, Wichita Falls, TX 76310 (be sure to put "Big Day" on the memo line.) You can also donate on line at their website. Again, please put "Big Day" in the comments. If you really want to make my day, you can add: "Raven Lunatics." But in the end, the important thing is the donation. All of the teams worked hard.

Here is a consolidated list of birds from all three teams.

American coot

American goldfinch

American kestrel

American robin

Bald eagle

Belted kingfisher

Bewick's wren

Black vulture

Blue jay

Blue gray gnatcatcher

Blue-winged teal

Bonaparte's gull

Brewer’s blackbird

Brown thrasher

Brown-headed cowbird

Bufflehead

Canada goose

Canvasback

Carolina chickadee

Carolina wren

Cedar waxwing

Chipping sparrow

Clay-colored sparrow

Common grackle

Dark-eyed junco

Double-crested cormorant

Downy woodpecker

Eastern bluebird

Eastern meadowlark

Eastern phoebe

Eurasian collared dove

European starling

Ferruginous hawk

Field sparrow

Gadwall

Golden-fronted woodpecker

Great blue heron

Great egret

Great horned owl

Greater scaup

Greater roadrunner

Greater yellowlegs

Greater white-fronted goose

Great-tailed grackle

Green-winged teal

Harris' sparrow

Herring gull

Hooded merganser

House finch

House sparrow

Inca dove

Killdeer

Ladder-backed woodpecker

Least sandpiper

Lesser scaup

Lesser yellowlegs

Lincoln's sparrow

Loggerhead shrike

Mallard

Mourning dove

Northern cardinal

Northern flicker

Northern harrier

Northern mockingbird

Northern shoveler

Orange-crowned warbler

Pied-billed grebe

Pine siskin

Purple martin

Red-bellied woodpecker

Redhead

Red-shouldered hawk

Red-tailed hawk

Red-winged blackbird

Ring-billed gull
Ring-necked duck

Rock pigeon

Ruby-crowned kinglet

Ruddy duck

Sandhill crane

Savannah sparrow

Sharp-shinned hawk

Song sparrow

Spotted towhee

Swainson’s hawk

Tufted titmouse

Turkey vulture

Vesper sparrow

Western meadowlark

White pelican

White-crowned sparrow

White-faced ibis

White-winged dove

Wild turkey

Wilson's snipe

Yellow-rumped warbler

All I have to say it, "Wait Until Next Year!"

Good Birding!

Big Day Team One Has a Name!

Chihuahuan Raven

For the past few years, a group of birders has been doing the Big Day for Wild Bird Rescue. Since originally there was only one team, we didn't have  a name. Last year, we had three teams. Two of the teams came up with names--my team was just called Team One because we were the first team. That was a little blah, but we just didn't take the time to come to an agreement on a name.

This year, it appears we will have four teams. Team One decided to take the plunge and come up with our own name. So we will be the Raven Lunatics. Suits us, I think.

Two of the other teams are the Sitting Ducks and the Chickadees. No idea yet what the fourth team will call themselves.

So when you send in your donation to Wild Bird Rescue, be sure to put "Big Day--Raven Lunatics" on the memo line. You can also donate online. Again, be sure to put the same memo in the comments section in PayPal. And of course, I will be happy to pick up any donations from you. Just email me at txbirds@gmail.com.

Good Birding!

Big Day for Wild Bird Rescue is March 6

The Big Day for Wild Bird Rescue will be held on Sunday, March 6. This is a fundraiser for Wild Bird Rescue.

Currently we have 3 teams lined up to participate. The Big Day is a marathon 12-hour competitive birding event. The goal is to find as many species of birds in the allotted 12 hours as possible. We have yet to have a single team make 100 species, although that is possible. We made a combined total of 106 species between the 3 teams last year, but no single team has been able to break the 100 bird barrier. My team has been in the 90+-species range every year, but just can't quite get over the hurdle of 100. The teams may go anywhere they wish during the 12-hour period. Last year, the team I was on drove over 400 miles and walked several more.

Teams compete to find the highest number of species and to collect the highest contribution total. Teams are looking for sponsors. Individuals and companies may pledge a lump sum amount or may pledge per species.

Want to take part? No problem! You can join one of the three teams already made up or you can put together a team of your own. You do not have to be an experienced birder (although it helps.) Someone needs to drive, keep records and help spot birds, so don't think you cannot take part because you don't have a lot of knowledge.

If you have questions, would like to take part or to pledge, feel free to contact me at txbirds@gmail.com. Put Big Day for WBR in the Subject line, so I won't think your email is spam.

Good birding!

This Coming Week's Bird Events

The Big Day for Wild Bird Rescue is really happening Saturday, January 17. We had so many teams members drop out because they already had plans for the 10th, we needed to move it once again. But we are at full strength for Saturday and were even able to add a third team, so it should be a great day. The weather promises to be decent (it is January, after all!)

Next Tuesday, January 20, is the monthly meeting of the North Texas Bird and Wildlife Club at 7 PM at the NALC building at 5310 Southwest Parkway (next to Wichita Valley nursery.) We'll be discussing the Great Backyard Bird Count coming up in February.

Do you know that another way to keep up with birding events in our area is to check out the bulletin board in Wild Birds Unlimited? Katherine Smith posts details in her store.

Good birding!

Big Day for Wild Bird Rescue

The Big Day for Wild Bird Rescue fundraiser is scheduled for January 1.

This is the 4th Big Day. Teams of birdwatchers will be scouring the countryside, trying to find as many species of birds possible within our Big Day time frame.

Typically a Big Day is 24 hours, but by agreement, we have always opted for a 12-hour window, from 6 AM - 6 PM. Teams map their own routes to try to cover as many different habitats as possible and as much area as possible, hitting all of the known birdy spots in the area.

Although it is possible to get 100 species at this time of year, the record for a single team on the Big Day has been 98 species. Weather plays a big part. We have a tendency to get significant winds, which is not something that helps when you are trying to hear the birds.

If you want to participate, you are welcome to form a team of your own, or contact me at txbirds@gmail.com and I will be happy to add you to a team. Although it is helpful if you are a birder, it isn't necessary. We're trying to find as many species as we can, but Wild Bird Rescue also has a mission to educate the public about wild birds, so we welcome novices as well. Besides, more spotters and people to help record species can't hurt.

Can't bird that day? Why not sponsor a team with a donation (Team #1! Team #1!)? You can drop off a check at Wild Bird Rescue or mail one to them at 4611 Lake Shore Dr, Wichita Falls, TX 76310. You can also donate on line at the website. Be sure to indicate Big Day in the memo line of your check or in the comments of your online donation. Or if you contact me at txbirds@gmail.com, I will come to you to pick up your donation if you are in Wichita Falls.

Regardless of the number of birds we find, we'll have a great time and (I hope) raise some money for this worthy organization.

Good birding!

Big Day for Wild Bird Rescue

Terry McKee told me I haven't posted a summary for the Big Day for Wild Bird Rescue that was held January 4. It's one of those things I was intending to do that somehow in my mind got turned around to me thinking I had done....ever have that happen to you?

We had two teams this year. We met at IHOP for breakfast and to plan strategies.

The more experienced team was Team 1 (me, Brady Surber, Tiffany Surber, Rick Folkening and Katherine Smith). We birded Wilbarger, Archer and Wichita counties. This was our first year with a second team. Sue and Warren King and Chuck Thueson birded primarily Wichita and Clay counties.

Team 1 species list (in order found, not field guide order):

Great horned owl

Red-tailed hawk

Eastern meadowlark

Eastern meadowlark

American kestrel

Northern harrier

Ladder-back woodpecker

Harris' sparrow

Field sparrow

Canada goose

Cackling goose

Loggerhead shrike

White-crowned sparrow

Red-winged sparrow

Hooded merganser

Red-headed woodpecker

American crow

Northern cardinal

Horned lark

Dark-eyed junco

Wild turkey

Black-crested titmouse

Eastern phoebe

Yellow-shafted flicker

Mallard

Bufflehead

Ring-necked duck

Northern bobwhite

European starling

House sparrow

Brown-headed cowbird

Brewer's blackbird

Savannah sparrow

Lark bunting

American pipit

McCowan's Longspur

Chestnut collared longspur

Lapland longspur

Song sparrow

Winter wren

Ruby-crowned kinglet

Carolina chickadee

Sandhill crane

Ferruginous hawk

Blue jay

Eurasian collared dove

Northern mockingbird

Yellow-rumped warbler

Rock pigeon

White pelican

Great blue heron

Ring-billed gull

Green-winged teal

Herring gull

Killdeer

Lesser yellowlegs

Vesper sparrow

Gadwall

Greater white-fronted goose

Least sandpiper

Western sandpiper

Eastern bluebird

Long-billed dowitcher

Greater yellowlegs

Baird's sandpiper

White-winged dove

Great-tailed grackle

American coot

Glaucous gull

Burrowing owl

Greater roadrunner

House finch

Bewick's wren

Brown thrasher

American goldfinch

Black vulture

American wigeon

Prairie falcon

Cooper's hawk

Lesser Scaup

Greater scaup

Northern pintail

Northern shoveler

Black-bellied whistling duck

Mourning dove

Double-crested cormorant

Lincoln's sparrow

American robin

Team 2 was a first-time entry. This is their list (again, in the order seen.)

Canada Goose

Gadwall

American Wigeon

Mallard

Northern Shoveler

Ring-necked Duck

Bufflehead

Hooded Merganser

Ruddy Duck

Pied-gilled Grebe

White Pelican

Double-crested Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Northern Harrier

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk

Ferruginous Hawk

American Kestrel

American Coot

Killdeer

Greater Yellowlegs

Ring-billed Gull

Rock Pigeon

White winged dove

Mourning Dove

Inca Dove

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker –Yellow

Northern Flicker – Red

Eastern Phoebe

Shrike

Blue Jay

Carolina Chickadee

Eastern Bluebird

American Robin

Northern Mockingbird

Starling

Yellow-rumped Warbler

American Tree Sparrow

Savannah Sparrow

Le Conte’s Sparrow

Song Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Northern Cardinal

Red-winged Blackbird

Meadowlark

Common Grackle

Great-tailed Grackle

House Finch

American Goldfinch

House Sparrow

I haven't seen a final tally of how much we earned, but I Kate Bukowski at Wild Bird Rescue did tell me that although Team 2 had fewer birds, they out earned Team 1--way to go Team 2! It was the most successful Big Day fundraiser we've had. Thanks to everyone who sponsored/donated for this event!

Good birding!

Big Day, Saturday!

Saturday, January 4 is the Big Day for Wild Bird Rescue! This year, we have two teams competing against one another for the most species found and the most money raised.

Team 1 is the team that has birded in the past: me, Brady Surber, Rick Folkening and Katherine Smith. Team 2 is a new entry this year made up of Sue and Warren King and Chuck Thuesen. These teams will be vying for bragging rights and hoping to raise money to give Wild Bird Rescue a much-needed financial shot in the arm. Know one of these people? If so, consider making a donation to WBR in their honor--be sure to note "Big Day" in the memo of the check or comments field in paypal. Wild Birds Unlimited of Wichita Falls will donate a prize to all donors/sponsors.

You can follow the teams' progress through Twitter by following @birdwithpenny or watching the Twitter feed on this blog. You can also see periodic updates on the Wild Bird Rescue Facebook page. The goal is 100 species. The weather is supposed to be good, so it's possible one of the teams could make it this year.

Good birding!

Christmas Bird Count Results Are In!

Last night the North Texas Bird and Wildlife Club met for their regular monthly meeting, Christmas party and Audubon Christmas Bird Count (CBC) results party. This was the 40th Wichita Falls CBC. Participants for part or all of the count were: Tammy Davis, Rick Folkening, Debra Halter, Jimmy Hoover, Sue King, Warren King, June McKee, Terry McKee, Bryan Miller, Penny Miller, and Chuck Theuson. The compiler for the CBC was Debra Halter.

Sue and Warren King were gracious hosts for the gathering in their home.

The CBC on Saturday, December 14, started out cold and blustery, which did have an impact on the birds seen. Overall, the count was about average for the number of species, but very low in terms of the numbers of individuals of each species seen.

The species seen included: Canada goose, cackling goose, gadwall, American wigeon, mallard, northern shoveler, northern pintail, green-winged teal, canvasback (countweek), ring-necked duck, lesser scaup, bufflehead, common goldeneye, hooded merganser, ruddy duck, pied-billed grebe, double-crested cormorant, great blue heron, northern harrier, sharp-shinned hawk, Cooper's hawk (count week), red-tailed hawk, American kestrel, merlin, American coot, sandhill crane, killdeer, ring-billed gull, rock pigeon, Eurasian collared dove, white-winged dove, mourning dove, Inca dove, great horned owl, barred owl, belted kingfisher, red-bellied woodpecker, ladder-backed woodpecker,  downy woodpecker, northern flicker, eastern phoebe, loggerhead shrike, blue jay, American crow, horned lark, Carolina chickadee, tufted titmouse, black-crested titmouse, red-breasted nuthatch, Carolina wren, Bewick's wren, eastern bluebird, American robin, northern mockingbird, European starling, orange-crowned warbler, yellow-rumped warbler, spotted towhee, fox sparrow, song sparrow, Harris' sparrow, white-crowned sparrow, dark-eyed junco, northern cardinal, red-winged blackbird, eastern meadowlark, western meadowlark, Brewer's blackbird, common grackle, great-tailed grackle, brown-headed blackbird, house finch, American goldfinch, house sparrow.

In addition, the McKee's found a large flock of longspurs, but typically, the birds were too far away to make a positive identification as to species. I also had the good fortune to get an excellent look at a bobcat.

After compiling the count, the club members participated in a Chinese gift exchange. Overall, an enjoyable evening.

The next big event for birders will be the Big Day for Wild Bird Rescue, coming up on January 4. We are shooting for 100 species, which is considerably more than we found on the CBC. Why is that? First, the participants in our CBC don't stay out for 12 hours on their counts. The CBC is also limited in terms of geographical area--there are some good birding locations that aren't far from Wichita Falls that are outside of the count circle for the CBC. The Big Day team will visit those places. The last Big Day team drove more than double the miles all of the CBC teams logged. The CBC also tends to be more leisurely. The Big Day team knows it is out to raise money and to do that, they must find as many species of birds as possible in the time they have--so they don't spend much time just appreciating the birds (which is unfortunate, but a fact of life.)

I hope you'll take time to participate as a birder on one of the teams (it looks like we may be able to field more than one team this year) and/or contribute to the team. After all, as much as the team members love to bird, this is an exhausting event and the goal is to raise as much money as possible for our local organization. Not only does Wild Bird Rescue rescue, rehabilitate and release wild birds, but they provide educational programs to thousands of people annually--many of you have met their Avian Ambassadors around the community. If you would like to bird or would like to contribute, contact me at txbirds@gmail.com.

Good birding!

Big Day for Wild Bird Rescue Coming Up

Once again, I'll be taking part in the Big Day in support of Wild Bird Rescue. The Big Day is scheduled for Saturday, January 4. As always the goal is 100 species. We haven't made it yet, although we've been close.

Some of you may not know what a Big Day is. A Big Day is an attempt to find as many species of birds possible in a 24-hr period. In our case, our "day" is 12 hours (7 AM - 7 PM).

Our team of birders will bird Wichita and Archer counties. If we can get enough birders, we may break into two teams and expand our range a little, making it a competitive event. If you're a birder and want to take part, contact me at txbirds@gmail.com.

However, our biggest need is sponsors--people who will donate to support the team as it tries to raise money for Wild Bird Rescue. Donations can be a flat dollar amount or on a per species basis (the more species we find, the more the donor pays.) If you wish to donate on a flat basis, that's great. You can drop your donation off at Wild Bird Rescue at 4611 Lake Shore Dr., Wichita Falls, TX 76310, mail it to the same address, or donate by credit card through PayPal at the website (if you elect PayPal, please indicate "Big Day" in the comment section.) Or you can contact me via email, and I will be happy to pick up your donation in the local area.

If you wish to donate on a per species basis, just send me an email with your pledge or call Wild Bird Rescue at 940-691-0828, and they'll make note.

You can track the progress of the team all day in one of the following ways:

• Follow me on Twitter (@birdwithpenny)
• Watch the Twitter feed on this blog
• Watch the Wild Bird Rescue Facebook page

We are hoping for a lot of sponsor support for this event--Wild Bird Rescue is desperate for funds at this time of year. The organization receives well over 1000 wild birds per year to rehabilitate. The Avian Ambassadors program has been a huge hit with educational programs touching over 6,000 people in 2013 (most of them children.) This is not an inexpensive task, so your financial support is needed. 

Good birding!

Upcoming Birdwatching Opportunities

I have not been posting much lately. I would like to say it's because I have been so busy watching birds I haven't had a chance to write, but that wouldn't be true--unfortunately. However, there are some opportunities coming up in the near future to watch birds with others. This is a great way for new birders especially to learn more about birds. Novice or experienced, birding together is an enjoyable way to pass the time.

Saturday, October 12, 8:00 AM, is the Bird Walk at Lake Arrowhead State Park. Terry McKee is leading the walk this month as I have another commitment. Meet at the firewood shed in the first campground on the left after you enter the park. This is a walk, although the way terrain is fairly flat. We are in migration season, so there should be some good shorebirds and perhaps some warblers. The length of the walk depends upon the weather, the birds, and the desires of the group. It's usually 1 - 1.5 hour.

Sunday, October 13, is the Big Sit on Lake Wichita behind Wild Bird Rescue, 7:30 AM - approximately 10:00 AM. This is a sedentary birdwatching event. Bring a lawn chair, binoculars and something hot to drink. Dress in layers--we've had rainy and/or cold weather at nearly every one of these events. Rain is forecast. Since we are still in an extreme drought, I am perfectly fine with getting wet. The photo to the left was the view last year when there was still some water at the end of the lake where we conduct the watch. It is dry now, so we will see what birds we can see.  The Big Sit is officially a 24-hr event, but we have traditionally just watched for a few hours. It is not necessary to be there the entire time--this is a come and go event.

A little further out is the Christmas Bird Count, sponsored by the North Texas Bird and Wildlife Club on December 14. This is an all day census of all birds seen. The club divides the count circle into three parts, each birded by a separate person/group. Typically we bird from sunup until we cover our area thoroughly (usually around 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM) then we head home to clean up and head to the count potluck dinner to compile the report with the information from all of the teams. I have headed up the Lake Wichita segment of the count the last few years. Other teams cover Lucy Park and much of the city of Wichita Falls and another does the area closer to Iowa Park.

A little further out is the Wild Bird Rescue Big Day fundraiser on January 4. This event runs 12 hours: 7 AM - 7 PM. This is a hard day of birding. We have traditionally had one team--it would be great to have more than one--perhaps an out-of-town team? If you don't want to bird this one, you can follow the team(s) on Facebook and Twitter during that day. Of course, we'd love to see you donate for that event to support Wild Bird Rescue.

If you want more information on any of these events, contact me at txbirds@gmail.com. I'd love to see you at some of these events.

Good birding!

Successful Big Day

The Big Day for Wild Bird Rescue, held yesterday, was fun and exhausting.

The core road team consisted of me, Brady Surber and Rick Folkening. We met at 6 AM at Sue and Warren King's home for a wonderful breakfast. Waffles, fresh fruit, bacon, and muffins! Considering we brought things like granola bars and PBJ sandwiches to eat throughout the day, breakfast was a treat.

The Kings have a barred owl in the neighborhood, and we tried valiantly to get the bird to show before hitting the road to no avail. We did pick up a few songbirds in their backyard before light. Our first bird of the count was an American Robin. Before we left, dark-eyed juncos, northern cardinals and a white-throated sparrow showed. We also heard a northern flicker.The Kings continued to watch their feeders all day to see if they had any visitors to add to the count, and we did add Inca Doves that spent an hour at their feeders that morning.

We proceeded to Sikes Lake, where we primarily picked up a few common birds, such as three species of doves, Canada and Cackling geese (pictured above).

Next, we birded Lake Wichita, checking in at the spillway, Lake Wichita Park and behind Wild Bird Rescue. We also walked the Chat Trail while we were in the park. Jonathan Alfonso and Becca Herd, new birders, joined up with us at Lake Wichita Park.

We picked up some ducks, several shorebirds, a few songbirds and a northern harrier. The highlight was a Black Scoter, a duck that has not been documented in Wichita County before. Rick took some photos--due to the distance, the pictures on the camera looked a little fuzzy, but I am hoping when seen on the big screen of the computer, there will be no doubt about the bird's ID.

Leaving Lake Wichita, we headed to Camp Stonewall Jackson where we had some good luck with our smaller birds to include everyone's favorite Eastern Bluebird and a Golden-fronted woodpecker. From there, we headed to Lake Kickapoo in Archer County. We didn't have much luck with waterfowl, but did add field sparrow, least sandpiper and gadwall.

By the time we left Lake Kickapoo, it was obvious we were already running low on time. We headed to Lake Longley for some more ducks and then to Iowa Park, hoping to find some rare gulls that had been reported just the day before at Lake Iowa Park. We checked Lake Buffalo, Lake Iowa Park and Lake Gordon, hoping we would find the reported Thayer's Gull and Lesser black-backed gull, but it wasn't to be. We did find a black-crowned night heron at Lake Iowa Park, which is an uncommon bird in this area. Jonathan and Becca left the group at Lake Buffalo (missing the heron,) leaving me, Brady and Rick to finish out the day.

By this time, it was getting dark, and we sped back to Wichita Falls. We made a quick pass through Rosemont Cemetery, hoping for nuthatches, but struck out. We got to Lucy Park just at dusk. We headed for the back part of the park, where in the past I've had the best luck with woodpeckers and small deciduous woods species. Unfortunately, the flood-control project has completely cleaned out the underbrush and most of the trees that used to provide excellent birding habitat. We came up with nothing in the short time we had available. I hope the engineers are correct that this will help prevent flooding (should we ever get rain again) because the negative impact upon the birds in the park has been substantial. I am consoling myself that the new nature park on Seymour Highway is not intended to be developed beyond a portion of the circle trail.

We decided to swing by the small pond behind Wal-Mart on Lawrence Rd as Rick mentioned he had seen Wilson's snipe there regularly. Sure enough we discovered two, even though it was after dark.

We made one more unsuccessful try for the barred owl at the King's house before calling it a day, with 96 species. Not quite the 100 we were shooting for, but a great day of birding nonetheless. The weather was near perfect.

Here is a list of the birds we saw for the day: American coot, northern shoveler, mallard, ruddy duck, bufflehead, green-winged teal, black scoter, gadwall, redhead, canvasback, lesser scaup, American wigeon, northern pintail, ring-necked duck, hooded merganser, pied-billed grebe, eared grebe, American white pelican, Canada goose, cackling goose, snow goose, greater white-fronted goose, double-crested cormorant, sandhill crane, great blue heron, black-crowned night heron, spotted sandpiper, greater yellowlegs, lesser yellowlegs, killdeer, western sandpiper, spotted sandpiper, Baird's sandpiper, least sandpiper, American avocet, long-billed dowitcher, Wilson's snipe, ring-billed gull, Herring gull, Bonaparte's gull, Forster's tern, rock pigeon, mourning dove, Eurasian collared dove, white-winged dove, Inca dove, northern harrier, Cooper's hawk, red-tailed hawk, sharp-shinned hawk, American kestrel, northern flicker, red-bellied woodpecker, golden-fronted woodpecker, Carolina wren, marsh wren, sedge wren, Bewick's wren, Carolina chickadee, blue jay, American robin, eastern bluebird, brown thrasher, northern mockingbird, northern cardinal, dark-eyed junco, Loggerhead shrike, American crow, great-tailed grackle, common grackle, Brewer's blackbird, red-winged blackbird, European starling, brown-headed cowbird, eastern meadowlark, western meadowlark, American pipit, Sprague's pipit, yellow-rumped warbler, eastern phoebe, house finch, American goldfinch, pine siskin, spotted towhee, Lincoln's sparrow, white-throated sparrow, Harris' sparrow, white-crowned sparrow, fox sparrow, song sparrow, field sparrow, vesper sparrow, swamp sparrow, savannah sparrow, and house sparrow.

You can still support the rehabilitation and education efforts of Wild Bird Rescue by donating at their website or sending a donation to 4611 Lake Shore Drive, Wichita Falls, TX 76310.

Good birding!

Big Day for Wild Bird Rescue is Sunday!

Sunday, November 25 is the Big Day fundraiser for Wild Bird Rescue, Inc!

We'll be starting the day at Sue and Warren King's house for a pre-sunrise breakfast--Thank YOU!--and then start our 12-hour birding marathon on a quest for 100 species in Wichita and Archer counties. We plan close out our day at Wild Bird Rescue at 7PM.

As of right now, our team consists of me, Katherine Smith of Wild Birds Unlimited, Brady Surber from Vernon and Rick Folkening from Holliday.

I'll be posting our progress in Facebook on the Wild Bird Rescue page and on Twitter. You can watch the twitter feed on this blog.

If you haven't already, please make a lump sum donation at the Wild Bird Rescue website or pledge a per-species amount by emailing me.

Thanks for all your support.

Good Birding!

Big Day Coming November 25

The Wild Bird Rescue Big Day fundraiser is Sunday, November 25.

Wild Bird Rescue, Inc. has a two-fold mission: to rescue, rehabilitate and release wild birds and to educate the public about wild birds and wild bird issues.

This past year Wild Bird Rescue added a raptor aviary and a shorebird aviary and expanded its education program by adding several birds of prey and an amphitheater on site. This increased the number and types of birds Wild Bird Rescue can keep, but also added significantly to the operating costs, as raptors and shorebirds are expensive to feed.

The Big Day is a marathon event to find the most species during a particular day. The Big Day will be from 7 AM - 7 PM and will cover Wichita and Archer Counties. Last year, the team covered over 200 miles and recorded 98 species. The goal this year is 100 species--if the weather is good, that's possible.

Wild Bird Rescue is looking for birders for the team. If there are enough birders who want to participate, competing teams could be arranged. Contact me if you would like to take part.

We are also looking for pledges. You may pledge a flat amount or per species. You can email me your pledge or you can go to the Wild Bird Rescue website and use the "Donate" button--just put "Big Day" in the comments so your donation will be credited to the Big Day event.

It isn't necessary to be a part of the team to pledge.

To follow the progress of the team on the Big Day, you can look for posts on the Wild Bird Rescue Facebook page or follow me on Twitter at @birdwithpenny (that Twitter feed will also show up on this blog if you don't have a Twitter account.)

Please help this organization continue to provide these programs to the community.

Good Birding!

Upcoming Events to Help Wild Bird Rescue

As most readers know, Wild Bird Rescue, Inc. is a local charity with a two-fold mission:
  - To rescue, rehabilitate and release wild birds
  - To educate the public on wild birds and wild bird issues

This has been a very busy year for the organization. So far this year, the organization has cared for nearly 1200 birds. In addition, 2012 saw the completion of a raptor aviary and a shorebird aviary, allowing Wild Bird Rescue to keep more types of birds. The organization also ramped up its education programs by keeping more raptors for programs.

Between more birds overall, more costly birds to keep and the number of education birds, the costs have also increased. Wild Bird Rescue still operates with just one paid staff member. Regardless, the coffers are empty. The organization has had a few fundraisers lately and three more are planned. If you can help by supporting one of these fundraisers, please do.

• Saturday, October 13: PAWS It Forward to benefit Wild Bird Rescue. Wild Birds Unlimited is hosting a fundraiser at Smith's Gardentown on Saturday, October 13, 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM. Donate $25 to Wild Bird Rescue and receive a $20 coupon for Wild Birds Unlimited products. Rusty, one of Wild Bird Rescue's avian ambassadors will be on hand periodically during the day.
• Sunday, October 14: Big Sit, 7:30 AM - 10:00 AM. The Big Sit is a national event--rather like a birders' tailgate party. Birder's sit inside a 17-foot circle and count all of the birds they can identify. This year, to assist Wild Bird Rescue the North Texas Bird and Wildlife Club has pledged $1/species. Anyone is welcome to participate in the Big Sit, whether for a few minutes or for the entire scheduled time. This is a great way for new birders to learn about birds or those with mobility issues to participate. So bring a lawn chair, binoculars and dress in layers.
• Sunday, November 25: Big Day for WBR. This is a marathon birding event with a team (or possibly multiple teams) birding from 7 AM - 7 PM, attempting to find as many species of birds possible. Wild Bird Rescue is looking for sponsors (individuals, groups, or businesses) to pledge on a per species basis or a flat amount. Last year the team found 98 species. This year the goal is 100 species. If you would like to sponsor, contact Wild Bird Rescue at 940-691-0828 or email me at txbirds@gmail.com. You can also make a donation through PayPal on Wild Bird Rescue's website. If you would like to participate on a team, contact me. Just remember, this is a marathon event, with non-stop birding. We'll be driving a couple of hundred miles and likely walking quite a bit. The team will be posting their progress on Facebook and on Twitter throughout the day. You can follow the team by following me at @birdwithpenny or by watching the Twitter feed on this blog.

Of course, personal donations to the organization in any amount would be appreciated, whether or not they are connected with any of these events.

Good birding!

Local News for Bird People

Several small snippets of information for local people interested in birds:

• The next bird walk at Lake Arrowhead State Park will be this Saturday, September 8, 7:00 AM. We'll meet as usual in the first camp ground on the left by the firewood shed. This is the last month we'll be meeting this early until next Spring. Over the fall/winter, we'll switch to 8 AM. But for this month, set your alarm and be there shortly after sunrise.
• Wild Bird Rescue, Inc. is recruiting for a new Executive Director. If you or anyone you know might be interested, contact WBR at 940-691-0828.
• Wild Birds Unlimited in Smith's Gardentown is looking for a part-time person for their store.
• The Wild Bird Rescue garage sale is September 15. If you have items to donate (no clothing please) call 940-691-0828 to arrange for drop off. You will be able to drop off items on September 14 at the National Association of Letter Carriers building on Southwest Parkway from 9 AM - 4 PM.
• We're recruiting for the next Wild Bird Rescue Big Day fundraiser. If you like to bird and have the stamina for a 12-hour birdathon, contact me at txbirds@gmail.com or call me at 940-867-9761. Right now, we're looking at the Sunday following Thanksgiving.

Good birding!

Great Start to 2012!

Me and Brady Surber caught in the act by Katherine Smith at Lake Kickapoo during the Wild Bird Rescue Big Day.

January 1 was the Big Day fundraiser for Wild Bird Rescue. Twelve hours of birding in Wichita and Archer counties.  We ended the day with (officially) 91 species, an excellent day for this time of year, although there were plenty of fairly common birds we didn't get. Later, I went back through the notes and added a couple of birds from a separate birder (Scotty Lofland) that we didn't get incorporated earlier in the day, and instead of 91, we actually ended up with 98 species. But for all of those people who pledged per species, the 91 is the "official" count at the end of the day.

The main team consisted of me, Brady Surber (Vernon), Steve Welborn Quanah) and Katherine Smith. Steve left mid-afternoon to prepare for the Quanah Christmas Bird Count, being held today and Katherine left late afternoon. Scotty Lofland worked an area around Archer Lake, which saved us from having to stop there. The team started at Wild Bird Rescue, went to the chat trail and the barrow pit at Lake Wichita Park, followed by the Lake Wichita spillway. Then we went to Crestview cemetery, went down 79 to 1954 to 368 to Camp Stonewall Jackson. Then on to Lake Kickapoo, which was atypically barren. However, this is where we picked up some excellent sparrows and a verdin. When we left Lake Kickapoo, we took a lot of backroads in Archer and Wichita counties.

We had a good day with bluebirds. We had lots of eastern bluebirds and several mountain bluebirds. We tried for a bluebird trifecta, but couldn't get good enough views to be absolutely certain of the western bluebird (although the likelihood was high there was one or more in the flocks we saw.) We then went to the Dundee fish hatchery after searching for the tundra swans that were reported in the area a couple of weeks ago. We continued on some more county roads on the way to Lake Buffalo, which was also unusually quiet. We whipped through Lake Gordon in Iowa Park and then on to Lucy Park. Unfortunately, by the time we got to Lucy Park, it was getting dark. So we tried for owls. Coming up empty handed, we decided to try the chat trail again as there are great horned owls there we have seen many times. But again, no owls called or showed before we had to get back to Wild Bird Rescue to finish the day. However, Scotty was able to pick up a great horned owl in his area. All told, the main team drove about 140 miles.

Some of the really good birds we got: common goldeneye, Ferruginous hawk, snow goose, Say's phoebe, mountain bluebird, and verdin.

What didn't we get that we would have thought would be a slam dunk? House finch, downy woodpecker, tufted titmouse, Carolina chickadee would be expected. Other reasonable possibilities would be Inca dove, Cooper's hawk, blue-winged teal, white-throated sparrow, brown creeper, red-crested nuthatch, brown thrasher and Carolina wren. No luck with those either.

In addition to the birds, we had a great look at a large beaver, a beautiful white-tailed buck and heard some coyotes.

Here's our list for the day (hopefully, I won't leave any out): Canada goose, cackling goose, snow goose, white-fronted goose, mallard, northern shoveler, green-winged teal, common goldeneye, American wigeon, ruddy duck, ring-necked duck, gadwall, pintail, bufflehead, lesser scaup, wood duck, canvasback, redhead, hooded merganser, American coot, pied-billed grebe, eared grebe, double-crested cormorant, neotropic cormorant, white pelican, great blue heron, sandhill crane, greater yellowlegs, lesser yellowlegs, killdeer, Wilson's snipe, least sandpiper, spotted sandpiper, ring-billed gull, Herring gull, Bonaparte's gull, belted kingfisher, wild turkey, great horned owl, sharp-shinned hawk, northern harrier, American kestrel, Ferruginous hawk, red-tailed hawk, rock pigeon, Eurasian collared dove, mourning dove, white-winged dove, Northern flicker, red-bellied woodpecker, golden-fronted woodpecker,  ladder-backed woodpecker, marsh wren, Bewick's wren, winter wren, northern mockingbird, northern cardinal, blue jay, eastern phoebe, Say's phoebe, robin, ruby-crowned kinglet, eastern bluebird, mountain bluebird, cedar waxwing, Chihuahuan raven, American Crow, red-winged blackbird, European starling, Brewer's blackbird, brown-headed cowbird, great-tailed grackle, common grackle, eastern meadowlark, yellow-rumped warbler, orange-crowed warbler, yellow warbler, common yellowthroat, loggerhead shrike, roadrunner, American pipit, Harris's sparrow, lark bunting, white-crowned sparrow, song sparrow, savannah sparrow, swamp sparrow, chipping sparrow, fox sparrow, rufous-crowned sparrow, Lincoln's sparrow, field sparrow, vesper sparrow, verdin, junco, spotted towhee, American goldfinch, house sparrow.

Overall, a great day of birding that helped raise some much-needed funds for Wild Bird Rescue. I don't know exactly how much money was raised, but every dollar helps return our wild birds to the wild for our enjoyment and provide educational programs about birds to the community. Since this was a first event, we learned some things for next time. Many thanks to all of the birders who took part and to the people who donated. We'll do this again.

Good birding!

Big Day for Wild Bird Rescue

On January 1, I'll be out with other birders in Wichita and Archer counties looking for birds in a Big Day fundraiser to support Wild Bird Rescue. If you would like to donate, you can contact me at txbirds@gmail.com or donate on line at the Wild Bird Rescue website. Just indicate "Big Day" in the "purpose" block.

You can follow the team's progress on Sunday by following me on Twitter (@birdwithpenny) or watching the feed on the home page of this blog.

Good birding!