O C T O B E R 2 0 1 3 NE WS LE T T E R OF THE FORT WORTH AUDUBON SOCIETY FWAS – Active Birding Group Check out the FWAS Website at www.fwas.org Have you been promising yourself that you are going to be more active outside for an full color online version of the as soon as it cools off a bit? It’s time! Southwestern Flyer. _________________________ The Fort Worth Audubon Society group has many opportunities for you to GENERAL MEETINGS participate. Whether it be short two-hour Birding in the Park or a 5-day trip out of The second Thursday state, you’ll find events which suit of each month your desired level of activity. (except June, July, August) Birding ID Workshop On Sunday, Oct. 13th, from 5AM at 6:45 PM to 7PM, about 20 birders took Regular Meeting part in the Big Sit at the Village at 7:30 PM Creek Drying Beds in Arlington. _______________________ Some stayed most of the day, others just for a short shift. The FIELD TRIPS final count of the species was 77. Many birding field trips are offered each year. We welcome Highlight of the day was an Big Sit participants at Village Creek Drying Beds: L to R members and non-members, beginner to extremely close fly-by of a – Organizer Ted Drozdowski, Robbie and Laurie advanced birders. Peregrine Falcon. You’ll find a Robertson, Paula Channell, Greg Cook, and Bret Newton Find a list of this season's trips inside. complete report on page 9. ________________________ Another recent activity which drew a MISSION and MEMBERSHIP good number of birders was the We encourage you to join us in our October session of our Birding in efforts to promote awareness, the Park with leader Jean Ferguson. appreciation and understanding of birds This monthly bird walk takes place and other wildlife while preserving and at Foster Park in Fort Worth on the protecting their natural habitat. first Saturday of the month. The Yearly Chapter-Only Memberships atmosphere is friendly, and the group almost always finds a nice are $20 for one person October Birding in the Park participants and $30 for a family. In the foreground (L to R): Patty Culpepper, Nadine variety of birds. More details inside Barker, Ronnie Burklow, Barbara Bettis, Gary Hall Birding at the Beds, which is also a Village Creek event, provides an equally easy bird walk, with a bit more rugged terrain. On the second Wednesday of each month, leader Jim Sipiora guides birders in finding and identifying birds at this varied habitat. The October walk produced 37 species, including ducks and shore birds, vultures and raptors, Glenda Keilstrup, Managing Editor woodpeckers, flycatchers, sparrows, and swallows. Best bird of the day was a Red-headed Woodpecker, not easily seen in this area. Copy Editor, Gail Morris Photo credits as listed Continued on Page 9 2014 Club News and Events November Program Membership Drive Identifying Ducks in Flight November General November 14, 2013 Speaker: Charley Amos Join our efforts by signing up Meeting Ducks sitting still are not too for your 2014 FWAS Thursday, November 14, 2013 Chapter-Only Memberships. difficult to ID, as long as they are male ducks. Most of them have a Chapter dues help support Birding ID Session plumage, size, or distinct habit that the Audubon Adventures 6:45PM can give us a clue. And we do get program, environmental a chance to see many of them in projects, habitat preservation, Social Time – 7:10PM local lakes and ponds. scholarships for students, However, identifying ducks in flight and other educational areas. can be a different matter. There General Meeting - 7:30PM are some hints and special “tricks” Memberships are $20 for one person and $30 for a family. that more experienced birders use to make that a bit easier. They are for the 2014 When: calendar year. Come join us on Thursday, th The Fort Worth Audubon Society meets on November 14 , to see and hear a You are able to pay online at the second Thursday of each month, uniquely “Charley” presentation to fwas.org without having to September through May. All meetings are help expand your duck mail in a form; however, you free and open to the public. identification skills. may still mail in your dues if you prefer. Where: December Program UNT Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Come for birding games and prizes Bowie Blvd., Room 114 (down the hall during the Birding ID time slot. Then from our previous years’ room - on the settle back with popcorn and drinks to Mail membership dues to lower floor of Everett Hall, Medical enjoy a fascinating movie provided by Cindy Compton Education Building 2) the National Audubon society, Lost FWAS Membership Chair www.hsc.unt.edu/campusmap/ Bird. Even if you’ve seen it before, 2101 W. Lotus Ave. there’s nothing like viewing it with Fort Worth, TX 76111 Easiest entrance is from parking lots A or others who have the same birding C off Clifton Street. Doors are on west passion that you do! end of building, lowest level, down the Click here to read all about the film stairs. project: http://www.lostbirdfilm.org/about Schedule of Remaining Programs for the 2013-14 Season Tom Haase, our Program Chairman, has put together an excellent schedule of programs for the 2013/14 season. Barring any conflicts for our speakers, here is what we have to look forward to the rest of the year: November 14 – Charley Amos, Fort Worth Audubon Society - Ducks in Flight December 12 – Movie Night - Lost Bird January 9 – Jim Foster, Author, Photographer, and Naturalist - Birding Trails Texas February 13 – Joan Garland, Crane Foundation - Whooping Cranes March 13 – Jason Hardin, TPWD, Upland Game Bird Specialist - The Vanishing Bobwhites April 10 – Professor Wayne Myer, Austin College - Painted Buntings May 8 – Members Annual Slide Show Page 2 Southwestern Flyer - OCTOBER 2013 Please join the Fort Worth Audubon Society (FWAS) on field trips to local destinations, birding hotspots adjacent to the Metroplex and out-of-town trips both in state and out of state. Membership to FWAS is not required to attend the field trips but is encouraged. FWAS Chapter-Only members will get first priority on all trips when a limit on participation has been set. More information can be found on our Website at www.fwas.org. For all trips please be prepared for current weather conditions. Always bring water and snacks and lunch on the trips that last 3/4 - full day as lunch is usually in the field. Additional suggested items: sun protection, insect repellant, hat, sturdy shoes. Please note that some trips require an RSVP. Field December Field Trips 12/07/13 – Birding in the Park 8:30AM Trips 12/11/13 – Birding at the Beds 8:30AM Thursday, December 5 – Saturday, December 8, 2013: Laredo and the western Rio Grande Valley This is a continuation of the one to the eastern part of the Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRVG) in January 2013. We will travel between Laredo east to the town of Roma. The Recurring Field Trips day we bird Laredo and the surrounding area, we’ll be led by Raul Delgado, the main man of birding in that part of First Saturday of each month (Sept-April) the world. Target birds are White-collared Seedeater, Red-billed Birding in the Park - Foster Park, Fort Worth - One mile Pigeon, Muscovy Duck, and Audubon’s Oriole. Additional north of I-20 on Trail Lake Dr. We'll meet our leader, Jean target birds are Ringed Kingfisher, Green Kingfisher, Ferguson, at 8:30 AM. This is a great field trip for all birders, Curve-billed Thrasher, Verdin, Pyrrhuloxia, Cactus Wren, beginners to experts. Binoculars will be available if needed. Black-throated Sparrow, Olive Sparrow, Scaled Quail, Easy walking. (2 hours) Green Jay, Great Kiskadee, White-tipped Dove, Common Ground-Dove, Bronzed Cowbird. While we won’t see as Second Wednesday of each month great a diversity of birds as we did on the eastern LRVG trip, we will see many great birds – at least you’ll know you Birding at the Beds - Village Creek Drying Beds - We'll are not in Tarrant County! meet our leader, Jim Sipiora, at 8:30 AM in the parking lot of Locations: Salineno, Chapeno, and the Falcon Dam area; the Dunlop Sports Center on the south side of Green Oaks Roma Bluffs World Birding Center; Zapata City Park and Blvd. between Davis Dr. and Fielder Rd. in Arlington, across Library; San Ygnacio Nature Center, Zacate Creek and from the entrance to Village Creek Drying Beds. After other birding locations within the city of Laredo, as well as meeting in the parking lot, we will walk across the street to parks and rest stops along the way. We will have a guide the drying beds. the day we bird Laredo. This field trip will be great for all birders - beginners to This trip is being limited to 11 people, other than the experts – as we observe and document what birds are leader, with preference given to FWAS Chapter members. visiting the beds during each season. (3 hours) Though mainly an expense sharing trip, we request a $25.00 deposit for two reasons: November Field Trips a) The money will show your seriousness. b) The money will be used to pay for our Laredo guide 11/02/13 – Birding in the Park 8:30AM (but you can always give him more afterwards if you feel 11/13/13 – Birding at the Beds 8:30AM he’s done a great job).