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!