Check out the FWAS

website at
www.fwas.org
for an online, color
version of the
Southwestern Flyer.

GENERAL MEETINGS
The second Thursday
of each month
(except Jun, Jul, Aug)
Traveling Birder Birding ID Workshop
Journey to the Central Texas Coast at 6:50PM
Our family has had a time-share condo in Port Aransas for about 20 years now, so Regular Meeting
at least twice a year (in February and again in August) we gather up the birding guides at 7:30PM
and Great Texas Birding Trail maps, the scope, all the photography gear, an Ipod or
ITouch with bird photos and songs and head down south.
Our routine includes at least one day rising while it’s FIELD TRIPS
still dark and driving over the causeway toward Corpus
Many birding fieldtrips
and Oso Bay to be at the Hans Suter Boardwalk for
sunrise. Thousands of gulls, hundreds of egrets and are offered each year.
herons, ducks and shorebirds begin to stir as the first We welcome
light comes on the horizon. The activity is almost like a members and non-
heartbeat, with the sound of the gulls announcing that members, beginner to
it’s morning, warming up their wing muscles, and then advanced birders.
rising in flocks of 300-400 at a time to make their way Find a list of this
out to the beaches and harbors in search of breakfast. I learned to identify my first season’s trips inside.
Marbled Godwit here, became familiar with several small shorebirds from the enclosure
at the end of the boardwalk that is almost like a birding blind. Longbilled Curlews,
Blacknecked Stilts, and Avocets are common in the mudflats and shallow water just a
few feet from the boardwalk. An hour or so after sunrise, we head back to the car to MISSION
start our “tour” of our favorite birding spots on this and
southeast end of Corpus. Leaving Oso Bay, we drive back MEMBERSHIP
toward Port Aransas to Flour Bluff Dr. to make a drive We encourage you to
around three roads which lead through suburban
join us in our efforts to
pastures. At the south end of this road, turn right on
Caribbean Dr. and travel slowly watching for Phoebes and
promote awareness,
flycatchers, sparrows, and Bluebirds, depending on the appreciation and
season. Caribbean Drive T’s into Roscher Rd. Turn right understanding of birds
and begin to look for Sandhill Cranes in the fields and other wildlife
and even in the large yards. There’s also a very small pond inside a fence on the west while preserving and
side of the road that attracts ducks. Blackbellies and Teals are usually here. I’ve seen protecting their
all three species of Teal and American Wigeons; one year there was even a Eurasian natural habitats.
Wigeon. When you reach the end of Roscher, turn around and drive back south to turn Yearly Chapter-only
left on Ramfield Rd. Driving slowly through this area we’ve seen wild Turkey, many duck
Memberships are $20
species, Pipits, Sparrows, and maybe even more Sandhill Cranes. There are usually
for one person or $30
patches of early wildflowers which make this drive even more pleasant!
After you’ve taken all the photos you want of the cranes and the flowers, go back to for a family.
South Padre Island Drive, turn right and stay on the service road. The last street More details inside.
before you would have to enter the lanes for the causeway is Laguna Shores. Turn
right onto this road. On our most recent trip they were doing construction and the
road was closed about 4 blocks down. But that is okay. The area you are interested in
is mostly on the east side in the first few blocks. There are two or three gravel oil Southwestern Flyer
pump roads which take you a hundred feet or so off the street into the bay and April 2010
mudflats. You’ll get a chance to see Oystercatchers, Skimmers, Spoonbills, plovers
and sandpipers fairly close and photographable (is that a word?) Martin Mattingly,
By this time, it is lunchtime and we are ready to go back to the executive editor
condo. On Hwy 361 leading to Port A, near the Island in the Son
church, there are a couple of Whitetailed Hawks which usually sit on Jim Jones,
the poles or the dunes in the fields nearby. Also look closely at the managing editor
many Kestrels on the wires. Often they turn out to be Merlins. Soon
to be added to this area will be a new boardwalk and expanded Glenda Keilstrup,
wetlands next to Packery Channel. Work was to begin this coming copy editor
spring.
Okay, it’s time to take a light lunch out to the balcony and watch
the fly-by squadrons of Brown Pelicans, the Harriers scan the fields
for their lunches, and the gulls and Sanderlings at water’s edge.
Life’s tough in Port A!
Glenda Keilstrup
 Club News and Events
2010 Membership Drive
It’s that time again to sign
up for the 2010 FWAS
Chapter-only
Memberships.
We really appreciate your
wanting to help us provide
Audubon Adventures to
our local schools and
provide financial aid to
conservation projects both
within Texas and globally.
Your continued support will
allow us to do so much
more.
Memberships are $20 for
one person and $30 for a
family. They are for the
2010 calendar year.
Send membership dues to
Ann Hoover
FWAS Membership Chair
2801 Hitson Lane
Fort Worth, TX 76112
GENERAL MEETING
Thursday, April 8th
6:50 PM Birding ID Workshop
Charley Amos looks at local Vireos
7:30 PM General Program
Our guest speaker will be Bob
Smith, local raptor ID expert and
an avid hawker. Bob will be
presenting an extended local
raptor ID session.
Then we welcome current Texas
Ornithological Society President
Lynn Barber to update the chapter
on current work by our state
organization. FWAS will be hosting
the TOS state meeting in 2011.
The Fort Worth Audubon Society meets
on the second Thursday of each month,
September through May. All meetings
are free and open to the public.
Where:
UNT Health Science Center, 3500 Camp
Bowie Blvd, Room 100 (across from the
elevators on the lower floor of Everett
Hall, Medical Education Building 2)
[go to www.hsc.unt.edu/campusmap/]
Easiest entrance is from parking lots A or
C off Clifton Street. Doors are on west
end of bulding, lowest level, down the
stairs.
Support the Future!
You can support the future by
sponsoring an Audubon Adventures
classroom. The Fort Worth Audubon
Society education program provides
environmental education kits to
many local schools and educational
organizations. The award-winning
kits bring conservation alive to future
citizens in grades 3 through 8,
emphasizing the importance of
caring for wildlife and the
environment. This year, each
classroom kits costs $38.50 (plus
$7.15 S&H). Help support the future
today by giving a donation to the
FWAS education program to sponsor
a classroom. Each year we provide
approximately 90 teachers with class
kits, and we would love to add
more.Let Paula Murphey or Ann
Halligan know if you are interested in
donating or if you know a teacher
interested in receiving an Audubon
Adventures classroom kit.
Scholarship Awards
One of the ways FWAS helps
promote awareness and helps build
appreciation and understanding of
the need to protect and preserve
natural habitats is by encouraging
both students and adults to seek
education and experience in these
areas. The FWAS Environmental All-
Star Scholarship ($1000) and the
Margaret Parker Adult Scholarship
($2000) will be awarded at our April
General Meeting.

What has FWAS done this year in the area of education and conservation ?
How about a gift
Several teams of FWAS members participated in the Longhollow Ranch/Charlie Brown property surveys near Chalk Mountain in the Glen
membership for someone
Rose area. The information gathered was part of the on-going battle with the Chalk Mountain rock crusher and its affect on the
Golden-Cheeked Warbler and Black-capped Vireo habitat as well as the environmental impact for the area. Texas Parks and Wildlife
organization also asked for the information we gathered.

We made contributions to several birding organizations and habitat/conservation projects, including the Great Texas Birding Classic, River
Legacy Boardwalk project, and the Fort Worth Nature Center. We continue to support the Audubon Adventures classroom projects, and
we are providing student and adult scholarships.

As a group we have conducted or participated in several citizen science bird counts, including the Tarrant County Christmas Bird count,
the Village Creek Christmas Bird Count, the Spring bird count, and the Great Backyard Bird Count. David Powell has assisted ranchers in
our area with a bird survey designed to encourage the restoration and preservation of bird habitat.

We have partnered with a family in the local community to help preserve and develop 14 acres of undeveloped grassland, creek, and
wooded areas into a protected bird habitat, with possibilities of future introduction of increased native plants and grasses.

We’ve supported the Regional Science Fair with FWAS judging and awards and aided River Legacy in its Migration Celebration.
Individual members have led youth groups in their nature studies, and several members have provided programs to schools and
community organizations.

Page 2 Southwestern Flyer - April 2010

 Field Trips
Field trips are open to all, members and nonmembers, beginners to world-class birders. We especially want to encourage and
welcome first-time birders to come on our local trips in the Fort Worth area. These trips are an excellent way to get started
learning the birds and the best locations and season to find them. There are always people on these trips who are willing and
able to answer any question about birds. We try to help everyone see all the birds we find. Don’t let bad weather deter you.
Often the best birding is in the worst weather. Miserable conditions certainly build camaraderie. Come prepared. Warm weather
trips may bring mosquitoes, chiggers, etc. Always bring along food and water because lunch is always in the field.

Mary Lee Johnson is beginning her third year as the FWAS Vice President of Field Trips.

She became interested in birds 6 years ago while training to be a volunteer docent at the Fort Worth Nature
Center. Seeing her first Painted Bunting was all it took. FWAS offered a beginning birders class and after that
she began attending field trips. Before long she was asked to join the board as the co-chair of Hospitality and
soon after organized her first field trip. The rest is history - that is still being written! Mary Lee has been
providing us with the opportunity to bird in many local, state, and out-of-state locations with her smooth,
creative organization.
She works for the Department of Homeland Security at DFW Airport. When she’s not spending her free time
birding, she enjoys travelling and music. She says the best vacations allow her to do all 3 - travel, bird and
listen to music. A recent vacation to Oregon was one such trip. She attended the Sisters, Oregon, folk music
festival and joined the local Audubon chapter for a field trip. She proudly reported she got 18 life birds on
that trip!

Upcoming FWAS Field Trips

Please join us for the trips we have planned for the remainder of our field trip season:
Saturday April 10 – Birding and Picnic at the Chicken Ranch
The Chicken Ranch is a 15 acre plot of undeveloped land in Parker County. The Fort Worth Audubon Society is cooperating
with the owner to make it nature-friendly so that it can play a conservation role in the crowded metroplex area.
Directions:
Take I-30 or I-20 West. I-30 merges into I-20 west of Fort Worth.
Continue West to Exit 415 (Mikus Rd/FM5/Annetta)
Turn Left onto Mikus Rd/FM5 Go 1.7 miles
Turn Left onto Hillmont Ranch Rd
600 Hillmont Ranch Rd is on the right about .4 mi.
Note: You may miss the turn onto Hillmont Ranch Rd. since the sign sits well back off the road. If you come to railroad tracks
turn around and try again. Hillmont Ranch Rd. is a little, winding lane.

Wednesday April 14 – Birding at the Beds – Village Creek Drying Beds

Join us for the last Birding at the Beds until September.
Where: Meet in the parking lot of the Dunlop Sports Center on the south side of Green Oaks Blvd. between Davis Dr. and
Fielder Rd. in Arlington, across from the entrance to Village Creek Drying Beds.
When: The 2nd Wednesday of each month September through April, 8:30 AM - 10:00 AM
Leader: Martin Mattingly

Description: After meeting in the Dunlop Sports Center parking lot** we will carpool over to the drying beds. This field trip will
be great for beginning birders and to observe and document what birds are visiting the beds during each season. Birding will
be done by automobile and with some easy walking. Binoculars will be available if needed. Please be prepared for the current
weather conditions. Please note that after heavy rains the drying beds are not open to vehicles due to flooding.
** Please ensure all valuables in your vehicle are placed out of sight PRIOR to arriving at the parking lot.

April 15 – 18 Texas Ornithological Society Meeting in Rockport

Please see the TOS website for more information: http://www.texasbirds.org/

April 22 – 26 Edwards Plateau

We have 2 openings for the trip to the Edwards Plateau, April 22-26. Here is the itinerary:
4/22 Drive to Junction / bird in the area
4/23 Bird in Junction in the AM / drive to Uvalde
4/24 Bird Bracketville, Ft. Clark Springs, Kickapoo
4/25 Bird Uvalde area
4/26 Bird Concan / drive home
Contact Mary Lee Johnson ASAP if you’d like to attend : birder76051@yahoo.com
 May 1 Spring Bird Count
Check with David Powell for more information: bronzebird11 @aol.com

May 8 Prairie Creek Park in Richardson

Join leader Michael Francis for a ½ day trip to this great little migrant trap. Check the website for more info.

May 15 Bird Watch Open at Tierra Verde Golf Course in Arlington

Join us for the annual bird watch open at Tierra Verde Golf Course. See the website for more info.

May 22 Snakard Ranch Bird Survey in Somervell County

Join us in counting the birds on the Snakard Ranch. See the website for more info.

May 29 Longhollow Ranch in Somervell County

To help sustain habitat for Golden-cheeked Warbler and Black-capped Vireo help us count the birds. See the website
for more info.

July 2010
We will hold our annual Scavenger Hunt sometime in July. Keep watching the website for more info.

September 22 – 27 Monterey Bay Birding Festival, Monterey CA

Plans are being made to attend this festival. If you’re interested in attending contact Mary Lee Johnson ASAP –
birder76051@yahoo.com

Lynn Barber, past FWAS president and current TOS president will have a book out soon
about her fabulous Big Year. She is currently the ABA Big Year record holder for women
and is second only to one other birder overall. To be published by Texas A&M
University in 2011 and tentatively titled Passionate Birder: One Woman’s Big Year, the
book is a month by month account of her journey.
Congratulations, Lynn, and we look forward to reading about your escapades!

Places to Bird
Village Creek Drying Beds near the corner of
Green Oaks and Fielder in Arlington remains a
very productive birding location in spite of the
current pipeline installation construction.
Chandor Gardens and Clark Gardens in the
Weatherford area have been suggested by
members as a good place to take bird
photos, not to mention the beauty of spring
flowers. Check out their hours and fees at
their respective websites:
www.chandorgrdens.com and
www.clarkgardens.com

Ducks remain in large numbers, a few

shorebirds are beginning to appear, warblers
and woodpeckers can be found on the entry
road, raptors are almost always present, and a
growing Blue Heron rookery is in full swing.
Gates are open (unless paths might be muddy
from recent rains) daily from 7:30-4.

Page 4 Southwestern Flyer - April 2010

 The President’s Pen by Martin Mattingly

After a considerable absence the newsletter is back! All of our activities are done by volunteers who have to balance "Audubon
time" with all the other demands on their schedules. If you attend one of our activities give a word of appreciation to those
responsible. I know from experience that encouragement can energize a group.

Remember, if you are not a chapter-only member of Fort Worth Audubon, now is a good time to join. We usually have a summer
birding event we refer to as a scavenger hunt where teams seek as many species of birds as possible within a prescribed time
frame. The winning team gets bragging rights. The Fall 2010 agenda is starting to take shape and we even have five members
signed up to attend a birding festival in California. See the website or contact Mary Lee Johnson for more details on this outing.
Chapter-only membership gives you first shot at our scheduled field trips.

Now for a brief review of Fall 2009-Spring 2010 as far as activities and birding are concerned. Michael Francis led a field trip to the
Davis Mountains in November and we visited several large ranches and the Nature Conservancy property. We saw some good birds
for Texas (Anna"s and Allen's hummers, Williamson's and Red-naped Sapsucker, Lewis' Woodpecker to name a few).

Eleven Fort Worth Audubon members attended the Texas Ornithological Society meeting in January in Weslaco. A Rose-throated
Becard was a star of the show there. Phil Craighead, Ed Lane, David Powell, and Charley Amos have led productive local field trips
these past few months. Simone Jenion established herself as champ locator for the LeConte's Sparrow on the Craighead field trip.

The Christmas Counts were successful with thanks to David Powell and Jim Sipiora.

My personal birding (just in case anyone is still reading this) has progressed slowly as far as lifers are concerned. They
just don't show up in the backyard as often as they used to! However, those "common birds" fascinate me as much as
always.

Martin Mattingly
President, Fort Worth Audubon

Photobirding by FWAS Members

Birders get excited about the birds they see, and they
are anxious to share those views with other birders.
FWAS has many excellent photographers in the
membership. Sometimes they take photos just to
capture the magic moment of seeing the bird up close
and personal, or they may want to try to represent a
particularly artistic setting. Other times they simply want
to document a sighting for the record or for their own
aid in learning to ID a bird.
Whatever the reason, we all enjoy sharing the photos
they have captured.
Here are a few of the photographers’ “artworks”.

Also take a look at Patrick Fagar’s video of VCDB at

http://vimeo.com/100020005

If you enjoy these, or you’d like to see more, be sure to

come to the May General Meeting, which will be the
traditional Member’s Slide Show. Also, if you have
photos you’d like to share, please email them to Lee
Snaples, our Program Chair, at lee@snaples.com . He’ll
need to receive them by the end of April in order to
include them in the slide presentation.

Page 5 Southwestern Flyer – April 2010

Southwestern Flyer - April 2010

 Fort Worth Audubon and You – Survey Results

Thanks to all of you who participated in the recent FWAS Survey. 140 members/supporters responded,
and we have some results to share:
1. How long have you been a member?
12% - New Members, 25% - 1 to 3 yrs, 13% - 4 to 8 yrs , 27% - 9+ yrs, 13% - supporters, 10% - Nat’l only
2. Gender and Age
36% Male, 64% Female None under 30, 20% Age 31-50, 80%- Over 50
3. Zipcodes – show members from many surrounding cities in addition to Fort Worth, including Flower
Mound, Plan, Lewisville, Dallas, Arlington, Azle, Bedford, Burleson, Euless, Grapevine, Joshua, Kennedale,
Mansfield, Springtown, Weatherford, Southlake, Denton, Argyle, Justin, Keller, Bluffdale, and
Albuquerque,NM.
4. Frequency of “beyond backyard” birding
Daily – 11%, 2/3 times weekly – 18%, Once a Week – 11%, 2/3 times Monthly – 23%, Once a month – 16%,
Less than 10 times a year – 21%
5. Birding Experience
Very Experienced – 4%, Experienced but Learning – 23%, Familiar with most birds – 34%, Growing – 27%,
Beginning Birder – 12%
6. Attend General Meetings
Almost every time – 17%, 2/3 times a year – 15%, Rarely – 25%, Never – 43%
7. Reasons (could choose more than one)
Don’t like night driving-20%, Schedule too crowded-58%, Inconvenient Time-13%, Inconvenient
Location-17%, Don’t like meetings-8%, Supporter, but not interested in being involved-9%
8. Kind of Programs which interest you (could choose more than one)
Ecology/Conservation-60%, Habitat Restoration-55%, Birding ID Skills-80%, Places to Bird-70%, Backyard
Birding-41%, Backyard Habitat Creation-39%, Birding Equipment-26%, Nature Photography-47%,
Research-24%, Ornithology-48%, Nature Education-51%
9. What kind of Field Trips interest you? (could choose more than one)
Bird Walks close to home on weekends-71%, Bird Walks weekdays-37%, Local fieldtrips weekends-%71%,
Local fieldtrips weekdays-32%, Out of town within Texas- 55%, Outside of Texas-35%, Prefer backyard
birding-11%, Support FWAS but not interested in birding-2%
10. Website Use
Daily-11%, Once/Twice Week-21%, Monthly-22%, 2/3 a year-28%, Never-20%
11. Posting to the Website
Once a month or more-8%, Never-74%, Don’t know how-17%, Would like to know how-14%
12. Willingness/Availability to Participate in FWAS activities (could choose more than one)
Help with mailouts-20%, Serve on board-9%, Lead Field Trip-11%, Provide a Program-7%, Make speaker
suggestions-10%, Help with Newsletter-9%

In addition to multiple choice answers, many of you made comments and suggestions. The board will
discuss these ideas and the results of the survey in our Summer Meeting. Many of your ideas have
possibilities that we would like to work with.

Two further ways you can help us. If you did not include your name on the survey and you have
questions or you are willing to help, please go back to that survey and add your name. OR if you have
not yet taken the survey, please send us an email to glendak22@flash.net and we will send you the link.

Page 6 Southwestern Flyer - April 2010