Ornithological Society Meetings

Since Wichita Falls is so close to Oklahoma, I subscribe to the birding listserv for that state as well. A Save the Date message came out this AM that the Oklahoma Ornithological Society (OOS) Fall Meeting will be Oct 15 - 17 in Stillwater, OK.

Unfortunately, I will be just coming back from HR Southwest and just don't want to make a quick turn, although these sorts of meetings are normally informative, fun and inexpensive. Watch for details on the OOS website.

The next Texas Ornithological Society meeting is next January in Ft. Worth according to their website. They do have some good field trips coming up, however.

Good birding!

North Texas Bird and Wildlife Club Meets Tonight

With vacation, the North Texas Bird and Wildlife Club meeting came up awfully fast. The meeting is tonight at 7 PM at the NALC building on Southwest Parkway (next to Wichita Valley nursery.) No specific program topic was listed in the Cardinal newsletter, but there will be a short program, an opportunity to talk about sightings and some refreshments. The meeting is always open to the public. Come and meet some other bird watchers in the area. The group is small, friendly, and has birdwatchers from beginner to expert.

Good birding!

Last Post of Vacation

I got back last week from vacation and have had a few people ask me about the days after my last vacation post--I guess some folks do read this blog. Anyway, I did not have a single chance to go purposely birding the entire trip. However, in addition to the birds I posted previously, I did see a crested caracara in flight in Florida and a field full of ibis (both white and glossy) in Alabama. So although I didn't see a lot of birds, I did have the opportunity to see a few good ones. A fair number of red-tailed hawks were active along the roadways as well as large numbers of vultures, both turkey vultures and black vultures.

Since I got back, I have been avoiding the heat (heat indices over 100 are not my idea of nice weather). However, the birds out back have been singing away. The Bewick's wren was singing his heart out this AM. Don't forget to keep your water features full for the birds--they need the water when it is this hot.

Good birding!

Swift Night Out Coming Up

Photo from Wikimedia Commons, taken by National Park Service.

The Austin-based Driftwood Association is hosting a "Swift Night Out" the weekend of August 6, 7, 8. Chimney Swifts are among my favorite birds; our chimney swift tower at Wild Bird Rescue hosts a breeding pair every year.

The Swift Night Out is a project to collect information on chimney swifts. If you have some time, consider participating, especially if you are lucky enough to have a roost in your chimney.

Good birding!

Crows

I was sitting at a gas station on the Florida panhandle while my husband gassed up the car and saw a large flock (31) of crows fly in and land on the wires overhead. I noticed they looked a little bedraggled. However, the calls were what initially attracted my attention. In Wichita Falls, the only crow we have is the American crow, which has the stereotypical "caw" call we associate with crows. However, these were fish crows, which have a lower, softer "uh uh" sound. I used to see these crows frequently when I lived in Virginia, but this was flock was the first I have seen in many years.

Spent the night in Alabama--on to Houston today!

Good birding!

Florida

Just drove into Florida today. Three sandhill cranes at the side of the road. That was pretty exciting. Hope I get some birding time soon!

Good birding!

What's Up With This?

Eastern Bluebirds are generally birds of the countryside. For example, in Wichita Falls, you see them in the county but not inside the city, and the "city" isn't really all that urban. I have seen occasional bluebirds in Lake Wichita Park, but that is pretty much it.

We're on vacation and got stuck in a traffic jam in Atlanta (I-20 E, just outside the Loop 285) and decided to pull off as soon as possible and find a motel for the night. As my husband is checking in what do I see? I had to get out my binoculars to be sure, but there it was, a male Eastern Bluebird at the side of the road.

In addition to the bluebird, I saw a brown thrasher carrying food to its young. Two good birds for anywhere, seen in Altanta, GA.

Good birding!