Birdwatching in North Texas, Celina Record

Birdwatching opportunities abound in North Texas Lisa Ferguson, lferguson@starlocalmedia.com Feb 26, 2016 It is said that birds of a feather flock together. Oftentimes, so do the people who get a kick out of watching them. Birdwatching - or birding, as it is also called - is hugely popular, especially throughout North Texas which has the distinction of being located in an area of North America known as the Central Flyaway. The zone includes 10 U.S. states as well as a couple of Canadian provinces and its Northwest Territories. A council that oversees the area is dedicated to leading international conservation efforts for migratory birds. Casey Cutler, volunteer coordinator at the Trinity River Audubon Center in Dallas, said she often explains the importance of the Central Flyway to the facility’s youngest visitors. “Just like when you’re on a long road trip … you have to stop somewhere, at a gas station, to fill up and rest and eat, and birds have to do the same thing as they’re going to the north from the south,” she said. “They need to stop somewhere, so they will stop in Texas. That’s where they rest, they fill up … and they keep going on their journey. So, this is definitely an important stop for birds as birds as they’re migrating.” North Texas also boasts several vastly different ecosystems – including prairie, forests and wetlands – that make it particularly hospitable for migratory birds and well as such native species as the Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Chickadee, Eastern Bluebird and Northern Cardinal, among others. Opportunities to view these and other species of birds are plentiful and, depending where you live, can be had easily by grabbing a pair of binoculars and standing in your back yard. To make it a more educational experience, however, local birding enthusiasts and ornithologists (who study the science of birds) suggest joining other birders for bird walks and other activities that are routinely held at nature preserves and conservation areas throughout North Texas, including the following: Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area - 201 E. Jones St., Lewisville; 972-219-3550; llela.unt.edu Ken Steigman is the director of LLELA, which is home to more than 280 species of birds. The 200-acree facility, situated alongside the Trinity River and on Lake Lewisville, acts as a beacon for birds looking for a safe place to land amid the urban sprawl of the Metroplex. “It makes this area that much more important to migratory and resident birds,” he said. A bird walk is held at LLELA at 7:30 a.m. on the second Saturday of each month (the next one is scheduled March 12) and is open to birders of all skill levels. The walks, which can last up to two hours, are led by birding experts. “You’ll get to see some of the really net birds that probably if you went out there by yourself you wouldn’t see,” Steigman said. “You wouldn’t know where to look or you wouldn’t recognize the calls, but our guides and staff a really knowledgeable and can open up a whole window for people.” A bird-banding station opened last fall, where birds are netted, outfitted with identification bands and released. Visitors there can questions the scientists on hand about bird migration, biology and ecology. “It gives them a rare opportunity to see these birds hand held, up close and personal,” Steigman said. Steigman, who has been an avid birder since he was a boy, said he understands how people become “hooked” on the hobby. Many maintain “life lists” of the birds they have – or hope – to see. “It gets to be a game for a lot of people,” he said. “They want to see more and more birds and, of course, some of these birds are so beautiful they can’t wait to see the same species again.” Trinity River Audubon Center - 6500 Great Trinity Forest Way, Dallas; 214-398-8722; trinityriver.audubon.org Numerous birding classes and activities designed for children and adults are offered at the facility, which is situated on the edge of the 6,000-acre Great Trinity Forest. More than 300 species of birds – many of them migratory – and known to frequent the some of the center’s five miles of trails. Center members can participate in twice-weekly early morning birdwatching sessions (the public can register to attend on the day of the events). Birding-basics classes and guided bird hikes are also available. During “Owl Prowl” events, visitors of all ages attend a special evening class and learn techniques for attracting owls to their own backyards, as well as owl calls which they practice by trekking along the center’s trails in the dark. In an attempt to introduce Millennials to birdwatching, the center hosts a quarterly “Birds & Brew” event, featuring visits with birds of prey, a walk along the trails by flashlight and a sampling of beers crafted by local breweries. Heard Natural Science & Wildlife Sanctuary - 1 Nature Place, McKinney; 972-562-5566; heardmuseum.org Bird walks for beginner- and intermediate-level birders are offered at 8 a.m. on the second Saturday of each month, from September through May, courtesy of the local Prairie & Timbers Audubon Society. According to its website, more than 25,000 birds have been banded at Heard since it established a bird banding station there during the late 1970s. Data collected is shared with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Also, volunteers at the facility assist with the Heard Birdhouse Network, monitoring and maintaining nesting boxes which serve as homes for a variety of bird species including Wood Ducks, Hooded Mergansers and Prothonotary Warblers. John Bunker Sands Wetland Center - 655 Martin Lane, Seagoville; 972-474-9100; wetlandcenter.com On the first Saturday of each month, from March through November, the center hosts “Walk & Talk Bird Walks” for beginner and intermediate birders who learn to use binoculars, field guides and what specifics to look for when identifying birds. Similar events for advanced birders, who are allowed to carpool deep into the wetland area to explore, are also available. Located within 2,000-acre East Fork Wetland Project, the center is likely best known for housing a pair of bald eagles who five years ago took up residence in an electrical tower on the property. The majestic birds typically reside there from September through July, when they briefly abandon their nest before returning each fall to lay their eggs. Fearing the eagles and their babies would damage electrical wires, in 2014 an identical steel tower was constructed. An arm from the original structure, which contained the birds’ 200-pound nest, was carefully moved and attached onto the faux structure so as not to disturb the unlikely habitat. The center maintains a webcam that is fixed on the eagles around the clock. However, the camera was damaged in December by high winds that resulted when a tornado impacted the nearby city of Rowlett. Linda Dunn, education manager for the center, said replacing the camera would have interfered with the birds’ nesting schedule, so the center was forced to hold off on its plans until the eagles leave the nest later this year. However, the public can still view the birds by visiting the center and walking to an area near where the tower is located. “One is on the nest all of the time,” Dunn said. “They don’t leave once the egg is lain, and once they hatch, they’re pretty much (there) all the time.”