AgriLife Extension Wildlife & Fisheries
AgriLife Extension Wildlife & FisheriesTeaching, Research, Extension and Service

Learn to Bird 2021 – two locations!

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Multi-day events in October have limited spots, geared toward new birders

Two workshops for beginning birders, part of the “Learn to Bird” series, are slated for October. These events are part of the popular Birding with Extension program.

A woman is outside peering through binoculars looking for birds at the Texas A&M Gardens
The Learn to Bird series will feature both an east and west workshop for 2021. (Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Laura McKenzie)

Learn to Bird West will take place Oct. 8-10 at the Kerr Wildlife Management Area in Kerr County, and Learn to Bird East runs Oct. 13-15 at Long Acres Ranch in Fort Bend County, just outside Richmond.

Learn to Bird features focused birding trips led by a professional guide and educational presentations by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service faculty.

The cost is $375 for each event, which may be paid in full at time of registration, or a $50 deposit may be made to hold a spot and the remainder can be paid before the event. Registration is at https://tx.ag/LearntoBird.

The cost includes classes and birding, guide fee, all meals and property access fees. Participants are responsible for their own lodging. Each program is capped at 15 participants.

New locations, addition of East event

Kerr Wildlife Management Area and Long Acres Ranch are both new locations for the Birding with Extension program.

A close up of a red bellied woodpecker in a tree
A red-bellied woodpecker is among the many species that beginning birders may get to see up close. (Photo by Bryan Calk)

“We are excited to announce these new locations for Learn to Bird and to share birding with others across the state of Texas,” said Emily Grant, AgriLife Extension agriculture and natural resources agent for Val Verde County. Grant said this is the first year there has been an East Texas event.

“Our Birding with Extension guide Bryan Calk will be back joining us for this year’s Learn to Bird programs,” she said. “We are excited to share the experience of birding with those who are interested in getting started in their birding journey.”

Owned and operated by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Kerr is a site for wildlife management, research and demonstration. It covers over 6,000 acres of the Edwards Plateau, providing habitat for hundreds of species of native wildlife. In the summer, black-capped vireos breed on the property.

“During Learn to Bird West, we will find a variety of migrating birds, along with resident species such as wild turkey and northern bobwhite at Kerr,” Grant said.

Participants of Learn to Bird East will experience Long Acres Ranch, a privately owned venue spanning 768 acres with 2.5 miles of undeveloped land along the Brazos River. Grant said this location should provide for some excellent birding and a wide range of species due to the location and the undeveloped riverfront.

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Registration now open for Birding the Border 2021!

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Four-day birding event features photography-focused, beginner options

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service announced registration is open for the 2021 Birding the Border event.

The event will take place April 29 -May 2, starting with a kickoff social the evening of April 29 at Val Verde Winery.

small bird on a tree limb seen at a Birding the Border event

A Carolina chickadee spotted at an AgriLife Extension birding event. (Photo courtesy B. Calk)

Del Rio will host the event, which will feature birding trips to a mix of private, restricted-access and public lands in Kinney and Val Verde counties.

The cost of registration is $50 and includes seminars, which will be held April 30-May 1 at the Del Rio Civic Center and feature AgriLife Extension experts. There are also spouse-of-birder passes available to allow participants to bring a plus one to the seminars and social events. If you prefer to register by phone, call Teri Gaston at 830-278-9151 ext. 283.

During the registration process, participants may also choose from one of five different daily birding trips, including a photography-focused course. Cost ranges from $100-$145 and day trips will be led by experts and professional guides. There is also a track offered for novice birders.

“We were disappointed when our 2020 event had to be canceled due to COVID-19,” said Emily Grant, AgriLife Extension agent for Vale Verde County. “However, we will have had a year to prepare and adjust and should social distancing and other guidelines still be in place, we will be equipped to abide by all rules and regulations while still being able to offer our participants an amazing experience.”

What to expect

There will be a Birds, Bats and Owls benefit dinner April 30 at Kickapoo Cavern State Park. On May 1, the Birding the Border dinner with feature professional photographer and birder Dorian Anderson. Other fun planned social events include Birds and Beer with Birding Lotería at Mesquite Creek Outfitters.

“Most of the properties that we would have visited in 2020 are signed up again to host us,” said Maureen Frank, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension wildlife specialist, Uvalde. “Private lands are essential to wildlife conservation, especially in Texas, and it’s such a privilege to visit these places.”

Frank said just like in previous years, this event will give participants the opportunity to see many different species.

“In addition to birding along the U.S./Mexico border, participants will bird along the border of three different ecoregions,” Frank said. “Participants may choose from trips to a range of habitats including those in the Edwards Plateau, South Texas Plains and the Chihuahuan Desert.”

Grant said some of the species targeted will include golden-cheeked warblers; black-capped vireos; Morelet’s seedeaters; varied, indigo and painted buntings; and tropical parulas.

“Since the group size for each tour will be limited, we encourage people to register as soon as possible to ensure they are able to get the trips they want,” Grant said.

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Bird Your Backyard

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Birding is a great activity for adults, kids during COVID-19

If you’re looking for a new hobby while social distancing, or have always been curious about what that small-red-breasted-bird-with-a-short-orange-beak-and-brown-tail in your oak tree is, now may be the time to try your eye at birding.

Birding is a hobby that requires minimal equipment or monetary investment to get started. It is also a great activity for kids and a way to engage the entire family in a group activity.

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service’s Birding with Extension program and Facebook page can help you start identifying your neighborhood’s feathered residents.

Birding with Extension

“The goal of Birding with Extension is to connect people to the land through the experience of birding, thus fostering an interest in conservation of natural resources,” said Maureen Frank, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension wildlife specialist, Uvalde. “Our programs include learning to bird for both youth and adults, backyard bird habitat management and birding experiences.”

Frank and Emily Grant, AgriLife Extension agriculture and natural resources agent for Val Verde County, are holding weekly birding talks on the Birding with Extension Facebook page. Their existing video collection, Backyard Birding 101, can also be found there.

Getting started

You can start to bird by dedicating 5-15 minutes a day. Go outside in your own backyard if possible, or simply look through a window.

“If you already have binoculars at home, that makes birding easier to do if you’re stuck at home,” explained Grant. “But even without binoculars, most Texans can easily spot several species in their own yard or around their neighborhood.”

Frank said a field guide is a great resource to start with. “I like to have a physical field guide in my hand, which you can order online or download to a tablet or smart phone.”

A traditional field guide will often show and explain more variations amongst the same type of birds, as well as differences between males and females, than just looking at pictures, she said.

What to look for

If you think in descriptive terms about birds, like if something has a thick bill with a squat body, that will help you use a guide to then narrow down what you saw, Frank explained.

Where, when and what the bird was doing may also be helpful in identifying it, said Frank.

“A bird’s shape, size and color can all help you determine what you are looking at,” Grant said. “If you can’t snap a picture of the bird, try keeping a notebook handy and jot down descriptive terms that will aid you in trying to determine the type later on.”

Online birding resources

Frank encouraged new birders to take advantage of an array of available birding apps for smartphones, such as eBird, Merlin Bird ID and the Audubon Bird Guide.

“There are several free ones, and some can even help you search by using a photo of a bird you’ve taken,” Frank said.

If you live in a more urban area or don’t have access to the outdoors, Grant suggested websites with live bird camera feeds as an alternative.

“April 13-15 on Birding with Extension’s Facebook page, Dr. Frank and I will have activities for virtual birding, and we’ll share some of our favorite sites with cameras on bird boxes, nests or habitats,” Grant said.

Introducing children to birding

A good way to train your eye to be an effective birder is to look at a picture of a bird and then try to describe it.

“This works especially well with children,” Frank said. “Look up a bird online like the painted bunting and then ask your kids to describe it to you or draw it. Talk about what colors they see and where, how long its legs are, how long its tail is, what shape its beak is.”

Another fun family birding activity is to play the Bird Bingo game developed by Birding with Extension and Texas Master Naturalists.

“Whether you compete against each other or work as a team, this is a fun way to start birding and to make kids aware of some of the more common birds that are around us here in Texas,” Grant said.

Making birds feel at home

More birds will be attracted to your backyard if you provide an easy food source to them.

AgriLife Extension has an online video to help create a bird feeder from commonly recycled household items. The Junior Master Gardeners program also has an easy online guide to create a pine cone and peanut butter bird feeder, although note that peanut butter and suet feeders should not be used during warm weather.

A birdhouse and birdbath are two additional items you can easily create at home to attract birds to an area.

Birding for beginners and beyond

Birding with Extension’s marquee event, Birding the Border, was canceled this year due to COVID-19, but the scheduled keynote speakers will be offering their expertise in an online webinar April 16-17. Registration is $10, and the money will benefit youth birding projects.

“We have programs for beginners and birders of all abilities led by professional guides throughout the year,” said Frank. “Even after just watching us on Facebook or attending the online seminar, beginners would be ready to join us in person in Del Rio for Birding the Border in 2021. Our guides are great at answering questions and giving those new to birding guidance out in the field.”

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Online Ranchers Agricultural Leasing Workshop

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The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will offer its award-winning Ranchers Agricultural Leasing Workshop as an online course available anytime.

“Given the popularity of our live Ranchers Leasing Workshop events, we receive more requests for and interest in programs than we are able to conduct each year,” said Tiffany Dowell Lashmet, AgriLife Extension agriculture law specialist, Amarillo.

“With that in mind, we have spent the past several months developing an online course that will allow people to receive the same information presented during our live workshops from the comfort of their own home, anytime, at their own pace,” she said.

The online course gives participants access to the full leasing workshop anytime they want to watch. The cost is $75.

Presenters are Lashmet and Greg Kaase, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension agricultural economist and risk management specialist, College Station. They will cover grazing, hunting and livestock leases as well as landowner liability protection.

Lashmet said the course is designed for both landowners and lessees.

“We go into legal considerations like why written leases are important, key terms to include, and economic issues like average cash lease rates and different lease payment structures,” she said.

Participants will be able to download the Ranchers’ Agricultural Leasing Handbook, which contains checklists and sample lease language. If they want the hard copy for $25, they can order one by contacting Lacrecia Garza, Lacrecia.garza@ag.tamu.edu.

“We certainly plan to continue our live workshops as well,” Lashmet said. “But we think this will be a useful option for people who are unable to attend a live course due to their location or because of their work schedule. We just can’t keep up with demand and do them everywhere, so the online course is a way to try and reach more people.”

Those who want to go to a live event can find a full listing here.

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Virtual Birding Seminars April 16-17 bring a bit of Birding the Border online

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The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service’s Birding with Extension seminar series will replace the Birding the Border 2020 live event.

Registration for the seminar will be $10, which will go to support AgriLife Extension youth birding programs.

“In a very difficult time, we are saddened to announce that Birding the Border 2020 has been canceled,” said Emily Grant, AgriLife Extension agriculture and natural resources agent for Val Verde County. “We, along with our landowners, are disappointed that we no longer are able to share the amazing birding management work that is being done on private lands in Val Verde and Kinney counties.”

Maureen Frank, Ph.D., wildlife specialist, Uvalde, said the seminar will feature the same experts and topics slated for Birding the Border. She also stated these presentations may be suited for Texas Master Naturalist Advanced Training credits. Committees that need more information about offering advanced training hours to attendees of this seminar may contact Frank.

“We are excited to broadcast our speakers. The virtual seminars are a great and economical opportunity for birders of all levels, or people curious about the different aspects of birding, to spend two afternoons with us online learning from the experts,” Frank said.

The April 16 seminar times, topics and speakers are:

2:30-3:10 p.m., Interactions Between Stress Hormones and Blood Parasites along Elevation Gradients – Viridiana Martinez, Texas A&M Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology doctoral student, College Station.

3:10-3:50 p.m., Borderlands Research Institute Grassland Birds Project – Alex Chavez, Borderlands Research Institute graduate student at Sul Ross State University, Alpine.

3:50-4:30 p.m., Learn Here, Volunteer Here, Change Here – Mary Pearl Meuth, Texas Master Naturalist Program assistant state coordinator, College Station.

The April 17 seminar times, topics and speakers are:

2:30-3:30 p.m., Managing Aquatic Vegetation for Waterfowl – Todd Sink, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension aquaculture specialist, College Station.

3:30-4:30 p.m., Wildlife and Working Lands Panel Discussion and Q and A – John Tomecek, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension wildlife specialist, Thrall; Bryan Calk, NatureScape Tours professional birder and guide, Albuquerque; and Romey Swanson, Audubon Texas wildlife biologist, Austin.

“Thanks to the support of our fantastic donors, we have some great event giveaways,” said Grant. “All participants need to do is click ‘Enter to Win’ on the seminar page.”

Each seminar will feature prizes and giveaways, including binoculars, certificates to Birding the Border 2021, HummerBird Celebration passes and Images for Conservation coffee table book.

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Stay-home Science

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A new resource has been developed to help teach mini science lessons to youth who are home from school during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The videos are posted on Facebook and each video has a list of applicable TEKS and links to the activity resources discussed. This page will be updated with additional resources as they are added.

Wildlife Adaptations (video posted 03/18/20):
Animal Camouflage Lesson
Wildlife Skull Adaptations
Junco Adaptations

 

Animal Behavior (video posted 03/20/20):
Lesser Prairie Chickens, video 1 and video 2
Roly-Poly Activity
Bird Behavior Activity

 

Bird Beak Adaptations (video posted 03/25/20):
All About Birds, sorted by taxonomy
Bird Beak Activity
Bird Beak Adaptation Match worksheet

 

Wildlife Classification (video posted 04/09/20):
Rules of “Frogging”
Frogs and Toads of Texas

Birds in the Classroom teacher workshops

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Applications now being accepted for June, July workshops

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will hold two Birds in the Classroom workshops for Texas teachers. The first will take place June 3-5 in Sinton; the second will run July 27-29 in Sonora.

March 27 is the deadline to apply for Birds in the Classroom. Instruction, workshop materials, meals and lodging are all at no cost to applicants who are selected to attend.

AgriLife Extension and the Welder Wildlife Foundation are working together to put on the multi-day events. This is a new program geared toward educators who teach grades 7-12 and provides 22 Texas Education Agency continuing professional education credits.

“This is a workshop for teachers to connect healthy agriculture with healthy habitats through the experience of birding,” said Maureen Frank, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension wildlife specialist, Uvalde.

The program is a collaboration between Frank; Megan Clayton, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension range specialist, Corpus Christi; Selma Glasscock, Ph.D., Welder Wildlife Foundation assistant director, Sinton; and Angie Arredondo, Welder Wildlife Foundation education and volunteer program coordinator, Sinton.

“We created this program to help teachers cover a large amount of material in an efficient way that really connects their students with natural resources,” said Frank. “For biology and ag teachers, this workshop will help them understand how sustainable agriculture fits into the conservation picture.”

Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills, or TEKS, aligned lessons and activities will be covered. Participants will learn bird identification and how to use birding to connect lessons on habitat management, bird conservation and sustainable agriculture.

The value of the workshop is $300 but is made available at no cost thanks to a grant awarded to AgriLife Extension and the Welder Wildlife Foundation, said Frank. Participants are also eligible for mileage reimbursement.

AgriLife Extension’s Birding the Border Festival, a multi-day birding and nature festival, will take place next month in Del Rio and registration is open to all.

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A graphic with information about the Birds in the Classroom teacher workshop.

Small Acreage – Big Opportunity

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Program will explore wildlife-related opportunities for small-acreage landowners

A Small Acreage – Big Opportunity workshop will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 29 at the Texas A&M University Education Center, 6200 Tres Lagos Blvd., McAllen.

The program is tailored to small-acreage landowners in South Texas and presented by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and Texas Wildlife Association.

“Our goal is to reach landowners who don’t have the same resources we traditionally think of as being available to larger operations, such as their own brush-clearing equipment or lots of employees,” said Maureen Frank, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension wildlife specialist based in Uvalde and a workshop coordinator.

The cost is $80 and includes lunch. Register at https://www.texas-wildlife.org/resources/events/.

Topics will include brush and pasture management, soil health, creating pollinator and wildlife habitats, earning 1-d-1 wildlife tax valuation and cost-share opportunities.

Frank said other valuable aspects of the program will include the opportunity to speak to and learn from local biologists, AgriLife Extension county agents and other natural resource professionals.

“The program will also feature a small-acreage landowner who has been successful in wildlife management and will share his or her story of success,” Frank said.

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Birding the Border set April 16-18 in Del Rio

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The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service is holding a multi-day birding and nature festival in Del Rio April 16-18, with an event kickoff social on April 15 at 6:30 p.m.

Multi-day and single-day tickets are available, with prices ranging from $125-$300, which includes daily lunch. Registration is available online now, and participants are encouraged to register early for the best excursion selection. Options include unique outdoor opportunities such as a kayak trip down the Pecos River.

“Birding the Border is so much more than just birding,” said Maureen Frank, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension wildlife specialist, Uvalde. “We have reptiles and amphibians, butterflies and dragonflies, flowers and trees, endless scenery and sparkling night skies. Our experience connects participants with local wildlife, culture, history and new research on birds and conservation for an unforgettable adventure.”

The Birding the Border program works to connect birders with private landowners, said Emily Grant, AgriLife Extension agent, Val Verde County.

“With over 95% of the land being privately owned in Texas, we work with landowners to incorporate songbird management practices on their property, and then we open the gates to birders through the Birding the Border program to share the amazing and unique experience of birding in Val Verde and Kinney counties,” Grant said.

In addition to speakers, exhibits, booths and presentations, there will be two special events held during the festival. The Birds, Bats and Owl Benefit Dinner at Kickapoo Caverns will take place on April 16. The Birding with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Dinner with keynote speaker Iliana Pena, Texas Wildlife Association director of conservation programs, San Antonio, will be on April 17.

“Our tours provide a behind-the-gates view of boots-on-the-ground conservation,” said Frank. “One of the takeaways that I hope participants learn is that a diversity of management practices – hunting, grazing, ecotourism – can actually work together to support people and wildlife.”

Grant said Birding the Border is a phenomenal birding program for birders of all levels, nature enthusiasts and nature photographers.

“We have seven wonderful professional birding guides and a host of birding volunteers who will help make the Birding the Border program an amazing experience for everyone,”  she said.

Professional guide Bryan Calk, Uvalde, said the mix of species expected during the Birding the Border Festival is totally unique and not something possible at any other birding event.

“Where else can you expect to find tropical parula, Morelet’s seedeater, golden-cheeked warbler, varied bunting and green jay all on breeding territory in one festival? Only at Birding the Border,” Calk said.

“Every chance I get to bird on land that is typically off-limits, I do it. This special access is part of what keeps me coming back to Birding the Border as a guide year after year. It’s such an honor and a privilege to spend time in these spectacular landscapes, and the fantastic birds we get to see on top of that make for an unforgettable experience.”

For additional details or information, contact Grant at 830-774-7591. Visit https://valverdeextension.ticketleap.com/ for registration and event information for participants and vendors.

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Birding the Hills: Wonderful wildlife with a side of wild weather

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Mother Nature doesn’t always cooperate, not even for a group of her most ardent fans, including nature lovers, bird watchers and wildlife photographers.

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service held their Birding the Hills event across the Edwards Plateau ecoregion Oct. 7-11. Participants came from out of state and across Texas to participate in the multiday event.

The first day was a success with several sought-after species spotted, but windy conditions and an approaching storm front made subsequent days more of a challenge. However, many participants felt seeing native and exotic wildlife up close more than made up for it.

A Huttons vireo was spotted on day one. (Photo courtesy Bryan Calk)

A Huttons vireo was spotted on day one. (Photo courtesy Bryan Calk)

“While the windy weather was not the best birding weather, we were able to get some great birds,” said participant Consuelo Hoke of Del Rio. “My favorite birds were a sharp-shinned hawk and a Kestrel hawk that chased each other for about 20 minutes. We were very fortunate to be able to see some beautiful private Hill Country ranches.”

The group visited different terrain each day in order to have the most potential success to see a wide assortment of birds. Some of the private lands visited had never before  been open to birders. Zebra, watusi, fallow deer, sika deer, kudu, markhor and aoudad were among the non-feathered species that participants were able to photograph on the private lands.

Zebra on one of the private ranches visited. (AgriLife Extension photo by Emily Grant)

Zebra on one of the private ranches visited. (AgriLife Extension photo by Emily Grant)

“Any birding trip is at the whim of the weather,” said Maureen Frank, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension wildlife specialist, Uvalde. “We had a gorgeous first day of Birding the Hills, but even though the birds hunkered down after that, we experienced a wide variety of private lands. Participants learned about different wildlife management with each ranch being unique in its flora, fauna, history and current goals. This trip took birders behind the gates to learn about wildlife and ranching in Texas.”

Birding with Extension programs work to connect birders with landowners in Texas, explained Emily Grant, AgriLife Extension agent for Val Verde County and event organizer.

The Inca Dove was another species spotted during the event. (Photo courtesy Bryan Calk)

The Inca Dove was another species spotted during the event. (Photo courtesy Bryan Calk)

“With Texas being more than 95% private land, there is much of our state that most people don’t ever get to see,” Grant said. “Our birding programs are a great way for birders, photographers and nature enthusiasts to get to explore these parts of Texas.”

In addition to enjoying the sights and sounds of the Hill Country, the group was also treated to catered lunches in the field that featured some unique regional cuisine. Dinners were spent in Hill Country restaurants where the group shared photos and their birding highlights nightly with each other.

Watusi cattle were among the exotics spotted. (AgriLife Extension photo by Susan Himes)

Watusi cattle were among the exotics spotted. (AgriLife Extension photo by Susan Himes)

“Birding the Hills showcased a wide variety of landscapes, habitats and management strategies on private lands across the central Hill Country,” said professional birding guide and avian biologist Bryan Calk of Harlingen. “This unique opportunity to bird on so many places, that we wouldn’t typically have access to, provided a birding and guiding experience unlike any I’d had before.

“Emily and Maureen work hard to make sure their expeditions are something that participating birders won’t soon forget, and Birding the Hills was no exception. I can’t wait to be back again for the Birding the Border Festival in April 2020.”

Birding the Hills participants. (AgriLife Extension photo by Susan Himes)

Birding the Hills participants. (AgriLife Extension photo by Susan Himes)

The next Birding with Extension event will be April 15-18. Birding the Border will consist of a festival, informational speakers and over 30 different optional birding trips participants may select from.

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Land and Livestock Workshop set Nov. 21 in Comstock

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Topics to include wild pigs, post-anthrax deer management

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service is holding a multi-county land and livestock program on Nov. 21 in Comstock.

Presented by the AgriLife Extension offices of Terrell and Val Verde counties, the event will run from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., with registration at 9:30 a.m. It will be held at the Comstock Community Center, 68 Langtry St. The cost is $20 and includes lunch.

There will be one Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education unit available in integrated pest management.

“We’ve lined up speakers to address some of the most pressing issues facing our local communities,” said Emily Grant, AgriLife Extension agent for Val Verde County. “We’ll be covering how to manage deer after the large anthrax outbreak we experienced this summer and what people need to know to curb the destruction and spread of wild pigs.”

Topics and speakers include:

–  Expansion and Management of Feral Hogs – Maureen Frank, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension wildlife specialist, Uvalde.

– Interaction of Plants and Livestock – Bob Lyons, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension range specialist, Uvalde.

– Laws Texas Landowners Need to Know – Tiffany Dowell Lashmet, AgriLife Extension agricultural law specialist, Amarillo.

– Deer Management Post Anthrax – Frank.

– Prescribed Fire – Chase McCrory, Texas Parks and Wildlife biologist, Sanderson.

“I’m hoping we have a large group of landowners, and those in charge of land management turn out for this important event,” said Jessica McCrory, AgriLife Extension agent for Terrell County.  “The AgriLife Extension experts we’ve assembled are always in demand to speak on their respective topics and this is an excellent opportunity to learn from the leaders in their fields, all in a one-day event.”

Contact Grant at 830-774-7591 or McCrory at 432-345-2291 for more information.

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Birding the Hills set Oct. 7-11 in Hill Country

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Multi-day, single-day options now available!

Registration is now open for Texas A&M AgriLife Extension’s Birding the Hills, Oct. 7-11.

FREDERICKSBURG — The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will hold a multi-day birding workshop Oct. 7-11 in Fredericksburg.

“This is ideal for bird watchers and nature photographers,” said Emily Grant, AgriLife Extension agent, Val Verde County.  “Participants will engage with expert speakers and be able to observe birds on private land not previously open to the public.”

Birding the Hills will be limited to 15 participants. Online registration is available at https://valverdeextension.ticketleap.com/birding-the-hills/. The cost is $250 per day or $850 for the entire event.

The cost includes lunch and dinner while in the field and transportation to birding locations in the Edwards Plateau ecoregion. Departures each morning will be from the AgriLife Extension office in Gillespie County, 95 Frederick Road, Fredericksburg.

The Edwards Plateau covers an area of West Central Texas that lies roughly between San Angelo, Del Rio, Austin and San Antonio. The eastern part of this region is considered the Texas Hill Country.

Workshop highlights include a welcome dinner, three full days of birding, photography opportunities at a private ranch acclaimed by nature photographers and access to private lands, some of which have never been birded before.

“Birding the Hills is a great birding program for beginner and intermediate birders,” said Emily Grant, AgriLife Extension agent, Val Verde County. “We’ve focused on educating landowners and birders about the opportunity to use private lands for nature tourism opportunities, and we now will have access to some truly remarkable properties.”

Some of the species the workshop hopes to see include the pied-billed grebe, white-tailed kite, Swainson’s hawk, common ground dove, rufous-crowned sparrow, clay-colored sparrow, pyrrhuloxia, canyon wren and canyon towhee.

“We’re right in the heart of Texas Hill Country, and we’re excited to welcome birders from Texas and across the U.S. to this event,” said Brad Roeder, AgriLife Extension agent, Gillespie County. “Participants will gain access to some of the most scenic ranches and places in Gillespie County.”

Each day will feature a different guest speaker during the lunch break covering a wide-range of topics related to birding and wildlife.

The educational programs and speakers include:

-Oct. 7,  Birding and Bird Watching: Contributions to Our Conservation Legacy – Romey Swanson, Audubon Texas director of conservation strategy, Dallas.

-Oct. 8,  Beef, Birds and Butterflies: Sustainable Coexistence in an Agroecosystem – John Tomecek, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension wildlife specialist, San Angelo.

-Oct. 9,  Back(yard) 40: Managing Songbirds on Lands Large and Small – Maureen Frank, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension wildlife specialist, Uvalde.

-Oct. 10,  Land Management at the Kerr Wildlife Management Area – Ryan Reitz, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department biologist, Kerr.

Participants are encouraged to register and then book accommodations immediately due to the high demand in Fredericksburg year-round. A list of hotels, recommended items to pack and additional details are available by contacting Grant at 830-774-7591 or Roeder at 830-997-3452.

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Wildlife Field Day set Sept. 17 in Brady

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Deer in field

The Brady Wildlife Field Day will cover a wide range of topics, including many deer-related issues. (Texas A&M AgriLife Communications photo by Paul Schattenberg)

BRADY — The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will conduct a multi-county Wildlife Field Day Sept. 17 at Heart of Texas Trophy Whitetails, 755 Private Road 922 in Brady.

Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m., with the program to follow from 9 a.m.-3:00 p.m. The cost is $25, and lunch will be provided. Three Texas Department of Agriculture general continuing education units will be offered.

The deadline to RSVP is Sept. 10.  RSVP by phone to the AgriLife Extension office in any of the participating counties: Gillespie, 830-997-3452; Mason, 325-347-6459; Llano, 325-247-5159; McCulloch, 325-597-1295; or Menard, 325-396-4787.

Organizers said the program will offer the latest wildlife management information in several areas of interest to land managers across the Edwards Plateau Hill Country.

Topics and speakers will include:

– Wild Turkeys – John Tomecek, Ph.D., Texas A&M AgriLife Extension wildlife specialist, San Angelo.

– Beneficial and Problem Plants – Bob Lyons, Ph.D., Texas A&M AgriLife Extension range specialist, Uvalde.

– Recreational Deer Feeding Program – Alicia Erwin, Record Rack, Lubbock.

– High-Fenced and Deer-Breeding Feed Program – Corey Schlensker, Record Rack, Lubbock.

– Whitetail Breeding Pen Tour – Grant Evridge, owner Heart of Texas Trophy Whitetails, Brady.

“We have assembled a great group of experts, and I think any landowner with wildlife will benefit tremendously from this field day,” said Justin Klinksiek, AgriLife Extension agent for McCulloch County.

For more information, contact Klinksiek at 325-597-1295 or Lisa Brown, AgriLife Extension agent for Menard County, at 325-396-4787.

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Livestock predator program set Sept. 17 in Brownwood

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Livestock guardian dogs will be one of the ways to manage predators discussed on Sept. 17 in Brownwood. (AgriLife Extension photo by Susan Himes)

BROWNWOOD — The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will be holding a livestock predator program on Sept. 17 at the Brown County Fairgrounds, 4206 U.S. Highway 377 S. in Brownwood.

The program will address the question of what livestock and/or wildlife producers can do to manage predators.

The cost is $30 if preregistered by Sept. 10 and $40 after that date. Fees are payable at the door, and cost includes a catered lunch. To preregister,  contact the AgriLife Extension office of Brown County at 325-646-0386.

Five Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education units are available, three in integrated pest management and two general.

“Coyotes, bobcats, feral hogs, black-headed vultures, mountain lions and a few more wild animals are all currently causing livestock and deer losses due to predation,” said Scott Anderson, AgriLife Extension agent for Brown County. “These livestock predators are in Brown and every other surrounding county. It seems that predator numbers continue to grow each year.”

Program topics and speakers include:

  • Utilizing guardian dogs to manage predators – Bill Constanzo, AgriLife Extension livestock guardian dog specialist, San Angelo.
  • Wildlife Services predator management – Mike Bodenchuk, Texas state director, U.S. Department of Agriculture – Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, San Antonio.
  • Wild Pig Control and Management – Josh Helcel, AgriLife Extension associate, Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute, College Station.
  • Managing coyote, mountain lion and bobcat predators – John Tomecek, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension wildlife specialist, San Angelo.
  • Nuisance wildlife predator management – Maureen Frank, Ph.D.,  AgriLife Extension wildlife specialist, Uvalde.

The event is presented by the AgriLife Extension offices of Brown, Mills and San Saba counties. For more information, call 325-646-0386 or email Anderson at sa-anderson@tamu.edu.

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Central Texas cow, calf clinic set Sept. 18 in Lampasas

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LAMPASAS — The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service is holding a cow and calf clinic Sept. 18 in Lampasas. The event starts at 8:30 a.m. with registration and refreshments; presentations will run from 9 a.m.-noon.

The event is presented by the AgriLife Extension offices of Burnet and Lampasas counties, and will be held at the Lampasas County Farm Bureau, 1793 N. U.S. Hwy 281. Three Texas Department of Agriculture general continuing education units are available.

The cost is $15. Call the AgriLife Extension office in Lampasas County at 512-556-8271 to preregister by Sept. 16. The featured speaker is John Tomecek, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension wildlife specialist, Thrall.

“We wanted this clinic to include discussions on additional ways your ranch can provide income, beyond cattle,” said Heath Lusty, AgriLife Extension specialist, Lampasas County. “We are excited to have Dr. Tomecek on hand to share his experiences and expertise with our attendees.”

Topics to be discussed by Tomecek include:

  • Diversifying Ranch Income: Alternative wildlife enterprises.
  • Is it Right for Me? Developing a wildlife-watching business on your property.
  • What’s in a Lease? Considerations for setting hunting and wildlife watching lease terms.

 

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