FIELD TRIPS

To ensure our members and visitors have maximum opportunities to observe birds and nature, Audubon Dallas, Fort Worth Audubon Society, and Prairie & Timbers Audubon Society have agreed to put links on our Field Trips pages to the web pages of the other chapters. To check out what the other chapters are planning, you can go to these links. Let’s go birding!

http://prairieandtimbers.org/fieldtrips.htm

http://www.fwas.org/2007-2007FIELDTRIPS.htm

NOTE:  It is very important that you RSVP for every trip you plan to attend.  Scheduled field trips may be cancelled due to weather or for other reasons, at the discretion of the field trip leader. Notice of last minute changes will be posted, if possible, on the Late-Breaking News forum of the “Bird Talk” page. Be on time because trips will depart at the “meeting” time.  Most field trips are free and open to everyone, beginners to veteran birders, however some may have an associated fee which will be indicated. Be sure to dress for the weather and conditions, bring food and drinks as indicated, and be prepared with insect repellent, sun block, and a hat.  At press time, possible additional field trips are still in development, so please check the Field Trips page on the website regularly for updates.

Saturday, August 30, 2008 @ 7:30 AM
Village Creek Drying Beds in Arlington
Leader: Homer Klonis - no RVSP required for this trip.
Meeting Place: Parking lot across the street from the entrance. To get to VCDB, from the Fielder Road exit on IH 30, go north on Fielder for 1.3 miles to Green Oaks Blvd. Turn right on Green Oaks and go 0.3 miles to the entrance on the left.
Description: As one of the greatest inland shorebirding sites in Texas, you never know what you’ll see here. Recent sightings have included: Upland Sandpipers, Marbled Godwits, Snowy Plovers, and Mottled Ducks. Beginners welcome!
Field Trip Length: approximately 2 to 3 hours

Friday, Sept. 12, 7:30 DFW Swift Night Out Hosted by 911 Wildlife Meeting Places: Three locations in the Metroplex: Location #1 -- Rogers Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, 1430 E. Cleveland Rd., Hutchins 75141 Location #2 -- Dallas County Extension Office, 10056 Marsh Lane, Dallas 75229 Location #3 -- Richland High School, 5201 Holiday Lane E., North Richland Hills 76180

Come join us to learn more about Chimney swifts. Bring lawn chairs, soft drinks, and your kids and enjoy a night out under the stars.

Additional amazing facts about chimney swifts:
Chimney swifts catch insects and eat in flight. They also bathe and drink on the wing by dipping low to break the surface of rivers and ponds.

As captivating as their amazing flight pattern is to watch, their clandestine terrestrial behavior is even more remarkable. Unable to perch or stand upright as other birds do, chimney swifts only are equipped to roost clinging to vertical surfaces. Their small but strong feet are tipped with four sharp claws which act as grapping hooks to hold them firmly to their roost. Their tail feather shafts extend as stiff exposed spines to provide additional support for their vertical lifestyle.

The mated pair works together to build a very unusual nest. First, they break off tips of tree branches. Using only their saliva, they glue the tiny twigs together to form a small U-shaped nest attached to the inside wall of a chimney. There will be only one active nest in any chimney regardless of the size.

Noises made by young chimney swifts often frighten homeowners. The nestlings have two very loud vocalizations:
1. The feeding call -- a high-pitched "yippering" made when they beg for food from the returning parents.
2. The alarm call -- a mechanical, hissing sound made when they are frightened, especially when someone opens the damper at the bottom of the chimney trying to find out what in the world is making that yippering sound.

The homeowner hearing these sounds often mistakenly thinks that they have a colony of bats in their chimney. Two different homeowners called 911 Wildlife this summer convinced they had a rattlesnake in their chimney. It was very difficult for them to believe that baby birds were making the strange sounds that were emanating from their chimney.

The young birds make the most noise during their last two weeks in the chimney. So by the time most homeowners become aware of the loud chattering, they only need to wait a few days and their chimney will be quiet again. Keeping the damper closed and packing the fireplace with insulation can dampen the sound to tolerable levels. As consolation, homeowners can consider that the raucous sound coming from the chimney represents thousands of mosquitoes and flies being converted into graceful avian insectivores that will consume thousands more of the flying insects that they would rather not have in their yard during the summer months.

Chimney swifts are protected by federal law under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. It is illegal to remove or disturb chimney swifts, their nests, eggs or young during the breeding season. Under no circumstances should a fire be lit in the fireplace to "smoke" any species of animal out of a chimney. Animals often are overcome by the smoke and fall into the fire. If the animal is a squirrel or a raccoon, it may run from there into the house and catch furniture on fire.

About 911 Wildlife
Endorsed by the Humane Society of the United States, 911 Wildlife is the only wildlife control company in Texas that is owned and operated by wildlife rehabilitators. 911 Wildlife's goal is to provide homeowners and property managers with humane, effective solutions that prevent native Texas wildlife from being orphaned, injured, trapped or euthanized. Launched in January 2006, 911 Wildlife's service area includes Dallas, Tarrant, Denton, Collin and Grayson Counties.

Saturday, September 13, 2006 @ 7:30 AM
Village Creek Drying Beds/River Legacy Park, Arlington
Leader: DD Currie
Meeting Place: Meet at the parking lot across the street from the entrance to the drying beds at 7:30 AM
Directions: Go west on I-30 through Arlington. Take Fielder Road exit (Exit 26). Turn right on Fielder and go 1.3 miles to the “T” intersection with NW Green Oaks Blvd. Turn right. Go about 0.3 miles and turn right into the parking lot across the street from the entrance to Village Creek Drying Beds.
Description: Village Creek Drying Beds is one of the most popular places for birding in North Central Texas. We will look for sandpipers, long-legged waders, including White-faced Ibis, and various ducks and other waterfowl. Traditionally, the beds have been the best place in the county to find (in season) Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Cinnamon Teal, Common Moorhen, Black-necked Stilt, Marbled Godwit, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Short-billed Dowitcher, and Rusty Blackbird. Other expected birds include Pied-billed Grebe, Red-tailed Hawk, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, other residents and migrants. September is also a good time to watch for migrating Mississippi Kites. North Texas rarities seen in August 2008 include LEAST GREBE and SNOWY PLOVER.
For an overview of the layout of the drying beds, check this link: http://www.fwas.info/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3&PN=1
NOTES: (1) This field trip has little walking and is suitable for those who prefer to bird from their cars. (2) There are no restroom facilities at VCDB but there are restrooms at the JW Dunlop Sports Park on the other side of Green Oaks Blvd requiring a short level walk from the parking lot, and also at River Legacy Park. (3). This is great place to bring cameras and spotting scopes. We will check the ponds and look for migrating shorebirds, hawks, and others species of birds. Cancelled if raining. Beginners welcome!
RSVP. Connie Sandlin, conniesandlin@hotmail.com, phone 214-350-6426

Saturday October 4th, 9:00 a.m.
Beginning Birdwatching Field Trip
Leader: Marcy Brown Marsden
Meeting Place: Cedar Ridge Preserve, 7171 Mountain Creek Parkway, Dallas 75249.
Description: If you've never been birdwatching before, or have done some birdwatching but would like to improve your knowledge, join Marcy Brown Marsden as she presents introductory info for the novice birdwatcher. Marcy will have bird skins for you to have an up-close look at the birds, as well as tips for identifying birds in the field. A brief classroom session will be followed by a walk around the Butterfly Garden and Bluestem Prairie trail at the preserve to identify species. Some binoculars will be available to borrow if you do not have your own.
Field Trip Length: approximately 2.5 hours
RSVP: Marcy Brown Marsden, biomarcy@winwaed.com, 214-492-9409

Sunday, October 5, 2008 @ 8:00 AM
White Rock Lake & Old Fish Hatchery
Leader: Chris Runk
Meeting Place: Entrance to Old Fish Hatchery. Park along Winstead Road, being sure to carefully pull off the road.
Description: Join us for a field trip on foot at one of Dallas’ prime birding locations. Expected species include residents, shorebirds, and early fall migrants. Insect repellent and poison ivy protection highly recommended. Beginners welcome!
Field Trip Length: approximately 2 to 3 hours
A species list for White Rock Lake and vicinity can be viewed at http://www.nctexasbirds.com/wr-lake.htm
RSVP. No reservations required for this field trip.

Saturday & Sunday, October 18 & 19, 2008
Grand Opening of the Trinity River Audubon Center
6500 S. Loop 12, Dallas, TX 75217
Natural Connections: Connect with nature while celebrating the opening of the Center. Activities will revolve around four themes:
Get Outside – watch a birds of prey demonstration, learn about camping and hiking, climb the rock wall, and go birding
Naturally Healthy – participate in Yoga and Tai Chi, watch a cooking demonstration, learn about organic foods and heirloom vegetables
Green Living – attend workshops on composting, recycling, water conservation and energy conservation, learn about native plants and wildscaping, and explore the Center’s sustainable features
Nature Play – children will build a bird nest, meet Texas wildlife, go on scavenger hunts, enjoy puppet shows and storytelling, and create nature art. For more information about the Trinity River Audubon Center, go to http://www.tx.audubon.org/Trinity.html

Sunday, November 2, 2008 @ 8:00 AM
White Rock Lake & Old Fish Hatchery
Leader: Chris Runk
Meeting Place: Entrance to Old Fish Hatchery. Park along Winstead Road, being sure to carefully pull off the road.
Description: Join us for a field trip on foot at one of Dallas’ prime birding locations. Expected species include residents and shorebirds. Insect repellent and poison ivy protection highly recommended. Beginners welcome!
Field Trip Length: approximately 2 to 3 hours
A species list for White Rock Lake and vicinity can be viewed at http://www.nctexasbirds.com/wr-lake.htm
RSVP. No reservations required for this field trip.

Saturday, November 22, 2005 @ 8:00 AM
Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge, Grayson County, Lake Texoma
Sponsor: Audubon Dallas.
Leader: Thomas Riecke
Meeting Place: Meet at the Refuge Headquarters by 8:00 AM
Directions: (Note Directions given here are for your information and start from Spring Valley Road at Central Expressway (US 75) in Richardson. From this location, go 58.2 miles north on US 75 (toward Denison) to Exit 63 for US 82. turn left (west) onto Hwy 82. Go approximately 1.7 miles on US 82 (Buck Owens Fwy), exit and turn right (north) on FM 1417. Go north approx 4.0 miles on 1417 to Refuge Road (look for sign for refuge). Turn left and go west approx 6.3 miles to Refuge Headquarters. Allow extra time in case of construction.
Description: Snow Goose, Ross’ Goose, and White-fronted Geese should be highlights for this trip, in addition to multiple species of ducks. Other birds we may see include Red-headed and Pileated Woodpeckers, in addition to many other residents and migrants. There will be less walking on this field trip than many others, however we will be getting out of cars frequently. Please bring a spotting scope if you have one. Beginners welcome!
RSVP Thomas Riecke riecket13@yahoo.com

Sunday, December 7, 2008 @ 8:00 AM
White Rock Lake & Old Fish Hatchery
Leader: Chris Runk
Meeting Place: Entrance to Old Fish Hatchery. Park along Winstead Road, being sure to carefully pull off the road.
Description: Join us for a field trip on foot at one of Dallas’ prime birding locations. Expected species include residents and shorebirds. Insect repellent and poison ivy protection highly recommended. Beginners welcome!
Field Trip Length: approximately 2 to 3 hours
A species list for White Rock Lake and vicinity can be viewed at http://www.nctexasbirds.com/wr-lake.htm
RSVP. No reservations required for this field trip.

Saturday, December 20, 2007, ALL DAY
DALLAS CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT
Coordinator:  Reba Collins, 972-530-2412
Additional information will be posted on the Audubon Dallas website.

INTERNATIONAL FIELD TRIP FOR 2008 - 4 places still available!

MADAGASCAR 2008 with Rockjumper Birding Tours (spoke to Audubon Dallas in 2005)
Madagascar is one of the most unique places in the world, containing a large amount of endemic birds, plants, reptiles, amphibians, insects and mammals due to the island’s separate evolution from the continent of Africa. Much of the wildlife is endangered or threatened. Madagascar includes several entire families of birds found only on the island: Ground Rollers, Cuckoo-rollers, Asities, Vangas, and Mesites. Also unique to the island are the Madagascar Warblers, Couas and Bulbuls. In addition, we will see many shorebirds, aquatic birds, (including flamingos), raptors, parrots, owls, sunbirds and many other endemic and near endemic species of birds.

Madagascar and the Comoros Islands are the only country where Lemurs are found and we can expect to see 18-20 or more species. Other mammals include large Fruitbats (Flying Foxes), Civets and Tenrecs. The island has a large assortment of bizarre reptiles and amphibians such as chameleons, tortoises, frogs, skinks, and day geckos, and the strange camouflaged Leaf-tailed Geckos. Many of the plants are also unique, such as those found in the spiny desert, including the impressive Baobab trees. We will visit the major habitats of the island: the southern spiny forest, the forests at Berenty, the dry deciduous forest in the northwest and the rainforests at Perinet, Mantadia, and Ranomafana NP. This broad coverage will enable us to see the endemic bird families as well many of Madagascar’s endemic, near endemic and, migratory species of birds.

Trip of a lifetime and a must-visit-soon destination as the country continues to suffer from increased deforestation.

When: October 8-29th, 2008 (comprehensive tour 22 days (2 travel days)
Tour Cost: $6,250.00 for 8 participants, $5,950.00 for 10 (based on double occupancy). Single supplement is $750.00

Does not include airfare from the USA.  Fly from Dallas to Paris, Paris to Madagascar. ** Another option for those retired, with extra funds and time would be to fly into South Africa and visit Kruger National Park and the Cape on a 6 day Rockjumper Tour to see more birds (over 250) and lots of mammals!

Contact: Ruth Games for more info, itinerary and recent trip reports, ruthgames@aol.com or (214) 943-2928.
              LET’S GO MADAGASCAR 2008!