BirdFest Texoma, Here I Come!

Well, I finally got my registration sent off for the BirdFest Texoma. I think I missed being able to sign up for many of the field trips I wanted since I waited so long to send in my registration, but regardless, I plan to spend the weekend birding around Hagerman NWR. I'll be more proactive about getting my registration in for the Lower Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival when registration opens in June.

I know that Nila Dowlearn from Wichita Valley nursery is planning to attend the BirdFest as a vendor. Is anyone else from the area going? If so, post a comment or send me at email at txbirds@gmail.com.

Good birding!

Birding 2013

I don't know why, but I can't help but put some significance on the first bird I see each year. It's as if I think that bird is a harbinger of the year. Intellectually I know that is not true, but that doesn't mean I don't feel that way regardless. For example, in 2011 my first bird was a house sparrow but that same day I spotted a whooping crane (a lifer), so it is demonstrably not true.

In 2012 we did the Wild Bird Rescue Big Day fundraiser and the first bird was a white-crowned sparrow, the start of a good count.

White-winged dove
Photo by Dan Pancamo via Wikimedia Commons

This year, the white-winged doves were first up. What does that say for my birding year in 2013? I must say, so far 2013 hasn't been very exciting on the birding front. However, if you want to see birds, you have to bird, and so far this year, I haven't been out much at all. But I intend to change that. I made some birding resolutions for 2013. Since I am known to be a little compulsive on my New Year's resolutions (especially after sharing them with you,) I am looking forward to a good year.

What are my birding resolutions this year?

• Attend two birding festivals. Right now I plan for those to be the Birdfest Texoma in May and the Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival in November. If I can fit in one of the Texas Ornithological Society (TOS) meetings, I will. But the Winter and Spring meetings don't fit my schedule, so we'll see about the Fall meeting.
• Be more consistent in keeping up this blog--in order to do that I have to get out and see some birds. I am shooting for a minimum of 1 blog post a week. I have done more than that in previous years, so it shouldn't be a problem.
• Update my sightings in eBird regularly. I can use eBird to keep track of the birds I see. After having lost my life list not once, but twice, this is a good thing. I can't replicate those earlier records, which is discouraging, but at least I can avoid a similar disaster.
• Add five counties to  my Texas Century Club count. This will force me to get out and bird, which is the only way to become a better birder. I am not as competitive as many people participating in this program, but I am using it as a way to encourage me to get out and bird.

I am planning for a great birding year. What are your birding resolutions this year?

Good birding!

Birdfest Texoma

I was at Wichita Valley Nursery to pick up a milkweed vine yesterday and saw an advertisement for Birdfest Texoma.

This event will be held at Hagerman NWR May 3 - 4. Wichita Valley Nursery will be there as a vendor. David Allen Sibley (Sibley's Field Guide to Birds) will be present as well.

A complete schedule and registration will be available in January, but mark your calendars now. I am planning to go.

Good Birding!