Bates Blog

The 14th Annual GTBC will be April 24 – May 2, 2010

Green Jay

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Birding 101 (Click Image to Download PDF Brochure)

To date, the GTBC has contributed $686,000 directly to avian habitat conservation along the Texas gulf coast through the Conservation Grant funding. Prior to each year's competition, organizations submit conservation project proposals to win funding through the grants awarded by the winning teams.

Mission Statement
To increase appreciation, understanding and conservation of birds along the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail through education, recreation, nature tourism and conservation fundraising.

Why is Bird Habitat Conservation Important?
Currently, 633 species of birds have been documented in Texas. Over 400 species can be found along the Texas coast during spring migration. All of these birds are present due to the highly diverse habitats along the Texas coast. Each year we watch more and more habitat being significantly altered. Forty years of bird population data from Christmas Bird Counts and Breeding Bird Surveys were analyzed by National Audubon to determine bird population status. Since 1967 the average population of the common birds in steepest decline has fallen by 68 percent; some individual species nose-dived as much as 80 percent. All 20 birds on the national Common Birds in Decline list lost at least half their populations in just four decades.

These findings point to serious problems with both local habitats and national environmental trends. Only citizen action can make a difference for the birds and the state of our future.

While conservation organizations and agencies are working harder than ever to preserve habitat, we all have resource limitations. It is the support and generosity of corporations, communities, local businesses and caring individuals that enable additional habitat preservation. Working together, we are making a difference.

Birding in Texas

Birding is probably one of the most cosmopolitan outdoor activities in existence. By all accounts, the ranks of birders are growing. Formerly called “birdwatchers,” birders come from all walks of life, from doctors to lawyers, teachers, policemen, corporate executives, truck drivers, merchants, young children, young marrieds and senior citizens. There are as many varieties of birders as there are birds. They range from intense perfectionists who travel the globe at the drop of a hat to see a species never seen, to the casual weekend hobbyist who enjoys watching the neighborhood birds at a backyard feeder or nearby greenbelt.

What is the appeal? Why do so many people enjoy this activity? While each individual birder may focus on different aspects of the pastime, I think all will agree, birding fulfills many of our basic criteria for what makes for good outdoor recreation. Birds appeal to our sense of aesthetics. Birds are beautiful and dazzling to the eye. Their complex behavior is intriguing and their songs are varied, evocative and very pleasing to the ear.

Birds occur in a wide variety of places and are abroad both night and day. Birdwatching is something you can do while doing other things, working in the backyard, tending the garden, walking or jogging in the park, while at work or from a kitchen window. Birds can brighten up the day and break the monotony of a dull routine.

Explore the information in these pages to learn more about where to bird, activities and events open to birdwatchers throughout the State, bird and conservation facts and information, checklists and identification materials, land management information for landowners and even some fun kids’ activities. We hope that the information you find here is helpful and that it better equips you to enjoy the birdiest state in the nation!

The Birding Classic Migration Calendar is an excellent opportunity for your organization to offer events of interest to birders, such as lectures, guided tours, regional bird counts, specialized birding workshops, and nature festivals. The August issue's calendar covers the period from August 1, 2009 through April 30, 2010. Bird-related events open to the public are eligible for inclusion in this calendar of events.

Code of Birding Ethics from the American Birding Association

1. Promote the welfare of birds and their environment.
   1. Support the protection of important bird habitat.
   2. To avoid stressing birds or exposing them to danger, exercise restraint and caution during observation, photography, sound recording, or filming.
   3. Limit the use of recordings and other methods of attracting birds, and never use such methods in heavily birded areas or for attracting any species that is Threatened, Endangered, or of Special Concern, or is rare in your area.
   4. Keep well back from nests and nesting colonies, roosts, display areas, and important feeding sites. In such sensitive areas, if there is a need for extended observation, photography, filming or recording, try to use a blind or hide, and take advantage of natural cover.
   5. Use artificial light sparingly for filming or photography, especially for close-ups.
   6. Before advertising the presence of a rare bird, evaluate the potential for disturbance to the bird, its surroundings, and other people in the area, and proceed only if access can be controlled, disturbance can be minimized, and permission has been obtained from private land-owners. The sites of rare nesting birds should be divulged only to the proper conservation authorities.
   7. Stay on roads, trails, and paths where they exist; otherwise keep habitat disturbance to a minimum.
2. Respect the law and the rights of others.
   1. Do not enter private property without the owner's explicit permission.
   2. Follow all laws, rules, and regulations governing use of roads and public areas, both at home and abroad.
   3. Practice common courtesy in contacts with other people. Your exemplary behavior will generate goodwill with birders and non-birders alike.
3. Ensure that feeders, nest structures, and other artificial bird environments are safe.
   1. Keep dispensers, water, and food clean and free of decay or disease. It is important to feed birds continually during harsh weather.
   2. Maintain and clean nest structures regularly.
   3. If you are attracting birds to an area, ensure the birds are not exposed to predation from cats and other domestic animals, or dangers posed by artificial hazards.
4. Group birding, whether organized or impromptu, requires special care. Each individual in a group, in addition to the obligation spelled out in Items #1 and #2, has responsibilities as a Group Member.
   1. Respect the interests, rights, and skills of fellow birders as well as those of people participating in other legitimate outdoor activities. Freely share your knowledge and experience, except where code 1(c) applies. Be especially helpful to beginning birders.
   2. If you witness any unethical birding behavior, assess the situation and intervene if you think it prudent. When interceding, inform the person(s) of the inappropriate action and attempt, within reason, to have it stopped. If the behavior continues, document it and notify appropriate individuals or organizations.
5. Group Leader Responsibilities (amateur and professional trips and tours)
   1. Be an exemplary ethical role model for the group. Teach through word and example.
   2. Keep groups to a size that limits impact on the environment and does not interfere with others using the same area.
   3. Ensure everyone in the group knows and practices this code.
   4. Learn and inform the group of any special circumstances applicable to the area being visited (e.g., no tape recorders allowed).
   5. Acknowledge that professional tour companies bear a special responsibility to place the welfare of birds and the benefits of public knowledge ahead of the company's commercial interests. Ideally, leaders should keep track of tour sightings, document unusual occurrences, and submit records to appropriate organizations.