Noah Comet is an Associate Professor of English at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. He is also a member of the Board of Trustees for the Anne Arundel County Public Libraries and is a Maryland State Master Naturalist.

Coastal Bend Audubon Society is fortunate to have this presentation from Noah while he is in Texas, hoping to find one of several bucket-list owls in the King Ranch area.

Field Trip Description: Rose Hill Cemetery, Tule Lake Observation Platform, and Fulton Loop Corridor.

Registration required one week in advance (by April 10, 2025). Minimum for the trip is 3 participants. NOTE THAT CURRENTLY FIELD TRIPS ARE OPEN TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES.

NOTIFY OUR FIELD TRIP LEADER, GENE BLACKLOCK, THAT YOU PLAN TO GO ON THIS FIELD TRIP. NOTIFY GENE BY TEXTING HIM AT 361-558-1829 AND PROVIDING YOUR NAME(S) AND CELL PHONE NUMBER(S).

Field Trip Group Meets: At 6:45 AM at Rosehill Cemetery (3025 Upriver Road, Corpus Christi). Entrance to the Cemetery is located at the south end of Palm Street.

Reminder: Please dress appropriately, suggest baggy cryptic clothing (never white or black, never bright colors like red), hat, insect repellent, comfortable shoes (shoes preferably with ankle support), a light rain jacket (optional), drinking water and snacks. Recommend binoculars and field guide.

Bathroom Availability: Field Trip Group will take a break at McDonalds, nearby at 4101 Leopard St., Corpus Christi during the Rosehill Cemetery portion of the trip.

Please do not forget water, hat, insect repellent and snacks.

Energy Requirement: moderate.

Fulton Loop Corridor: Continue North on Up River Road to the Joe Fulton Corridor (558), which will take you East along wetlands.

Tule Lake is a tidal lake located off Southern Minerals Road, Corpus Christi. (Tule Lake Physical Address 7201-7203 7201 Up River Rd, Corpus Christi, TX 78409). Take Exit 6 off 1-37 and follow Southern Minerals Road (51) north toward the river. Turn left on Up River Road and proceed to the overlook.

Habitat: At Rose Hill Cemetery, the habitat is over 30 acres of hardwood trees. At Tule Lake and Fulton Loop Corridor, the habitat is wetlands.

Birds of Special Interest: Rosehill Cemetery - Neotropical migrants, such as Black-billed Cuckoo (rare), vireos, thrushes, wood warblers (especially Townsend's, Hermit, Black-throated Blue and Cape May), tanagers (especially Hepatic and Western, and finches (especially Varied and Lazuli Buntings and Black-headed Grosbeak). Shorebirds & Wading Birds in the areas of Tule Lake & Fulton Loop Corridor.

The trip objective is to see varieties of migrating birds, most especially birds like shorebirds, Neotropical vireos, thrushes, wood warblers and Tanagers.

CBAS field trips are an extension of a classroom learning experience, so please bring binoculars & field guide references (books, phone apps). Questions are encouraged and are welcomed.

Field trip summary will be reported on eBird, Facebook, Twitter and CBAS online.

Please note that we are meeting EARLY on Tuesday, April 1st at the South Texas Botanical Gardens & Nature Center, Education Station classroom.

Coastal Bend Audubon Society will be providing sandwiches, drinks & light refreshments, so please plan on coming early and sharing a meal with us!

Summary: South America holds almost 3,500 species of birds, almost a third of the 10,900 species found worldwide. Columbia is home to 1,979 species and the much smaller Ecuador host 1,669 species, giving Ecuador the highest avifauna density per hectare of any country in the world. We will take a photographic tour of some of those bird species (and a few mammals as well) from the mid and high-altitude zones of those countries plus a side trip to the Pantanal region of Brazil. We will learn about some of the conservation efforts inspired by these animals, and by the tourists that come to see them.

About Our Speaker: Born and raised in Texas, Scott Holt retired from a 35 year career as a Research Scientist at the University of Texas at Austin Marine Science Institute  in Port Aransas. Scott received his B.S. and M.S. degrees at Texas A&M University before coming to work for MSI. His research centered on fish ecology and specifically the early life stages of fishes. His emphasis on ecological processes led him to investigations of terrestrial as well as marine impacts on his young fish subjects and into areas of physical, atmospheric and acoustic influences as well. He and Joan, his wife of 49 years, and also a fisheries biologist, have traveled extensively over their lifetime together, both for work and for pleasure. With both having extensive training and research experience in ecology, they find it a natural process to observe and absorb the biological interactions of the animals, plants and human cultures of the places they visit. Scott is also an avid photographer, and this presentation will be a photo tour of South American birds and their environs.

About Our Speaker: Daniel Walker, Leader for the Coastal Bend Wetlands Ecosystem Project, grew up in Dallas, Texas where he was still able to find pockets of nature at parks and creeks in the big city. He received his BS and MS in wildlife biology from West Texas A&M University. After college Daniel went to work for Texas Parks and Wildlife at the Chaparral Wildlife Management Area (WMA). There he conducted research on snakes, tortoises, horned lizards, and operated 2 MAPS bird banding stations, as well as conducted other birds surveys. The Coastal Bend Wetlands Ecosystem Project includes 5 WMAs: Powderhorn, Matagorda Island, Guadalupe Delta, Welder Flats, and Redhead Pond. A lifelong birder, Daniel still participates in bird banding, bird surveys, and leads birding tours.

About Our Speaker: Mike Stewart’s interest in birds began in 2002 when a pair of Blue Jays nested outside his kitchen window, leading to 20 years of birding across the eastern U.S. and Texas. After retiring from the Army in 2019, Mike pursued his passion for ornithology at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, where he completed his M.S. in Biology studying Gray Hawks. He now lives in Alice, Texas, with his wife, Yvette, and their Green-cheeked Conure, Greenlee. In January 2022, Mike began his Ph.D. studies at Texas A&M University-Kingsville, where his current research focuses on Gray Hawk habitat selection, range establishment, population growth rates, and identifying additional suitable habitats.

About Our Speakesr:  Kelli Stone is the Migratory Bird Biologist, Shorebird and Waterbird Specialist on the Migratory Birds Biology Team for the Southwest Region of U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.  Kellis’ region covers Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma.  Kelli is also a member of the Science Team for the Gulf Coast Joint Venture. 

Dr. David Newstead is Director of the Coastal Bird Program at Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program (CBBEP), which focuses on habitat management, stewardship, and conservation-oriented monitoring and research on the diverse coastal bird life of the area. His staff works with partners across the whole Texas coast and has also conducted projects with our neighbors in Louisiana and Mexico. David earned a Bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Houston, studied coastal fisheries for his Master’s degree from Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi, and completed his Ph.D. in Wildlife Science at Texas A&M University-Kingsville conducting research on an endangered shorebird, the Red Knot. David is a former President of Coastal Bend Audubon Society and continues to serve on its Board as Conservation Chair.

Dr. Newstead will speak about working with local landowners to implement the Shorebird Management Plan.

Field Trip Description: Northshore Woodlands, Southeast of Swinney, Switch and Riparian habitat along the Northwest shore of Lake Corpus Christi.

Registration required one week in advance (by Ocober 15, 2024). Minimum for the trip is 3 participants. NOTE THAT CURRENTLY FIELD TRIPS ARE OPEN TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES.

NOTIFY OUR FIELD TRIP LEADER, GENE BLACKLOCK, THAT YOU PLAN TO GO ON THIS FIELD TRIP. TEXT GENE AT 361-558-1829 AND PROVIDE YOUR NAME(S) AND CELL PHONE NUMBER(S).

Field Trip Group Meets: Field Trip Group will meet meet at the town of Swinney Switch at the intersection of Hwy 3024 and 534. Please use a restroom prior to the start of the trip as no restrooms will be immediately available.

Please do not forget water, hat, insect repellent and snacks.

Reminder: Please dress appropriately, suggest baggy cryptic clothing (never white or black, never bright colors like red), hat, insect repellent, comfortable shoes (shoes preferably with ankle support), a light rain jacket (optional), drinking water and snacks. Recommend binoculars and field guide.

Bathroom Availability: Note that there is not a public restroom at the meeting place, so participants are encouraged to stop at a public restroom before the start of the trip.

Trip Description: light to moderate, some walking.

Equipment: Beginners, please have a field guide, binoculars or scopes if it is desirable.

Download seasonal Coastal Bend Bird checklists from Coastal Bend Audubon Society's webpage.

Habitat: Lake Corpus Christi - brushland, marsh, a large body of fresh water, and Mid -Low Tamaulipan and Marginal Riparian woodlands, adjacent to Lake Corpus Christi.

Birds of special interest: Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Mallard, Northern Bobwhite, grebes, Greater Roadrunner, Common Pauraque, Screech Owl (uncommon), Sandhill Crane (overhead), Osprey, Red-shouldered and Harris's Hawks, Great Horned Owl, Vermilion Flycatcher, Bewick's Wren, Black-crested Titmouse, Verdin, Eastern Bluebird, Long-billed Thrasher, Olive Sparrow, several other sparrows, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Pine Warbler, Pyrrhuloxia, Spotted Towhee (uncommon).

CBAS field trips are an extension of a classroom learning experience, so please bring binoculars & field guide references (books, phone apps). Questions are encouraged and are welcomed.

Field trip summary will be reported on eBird, Facebook, Twitter and CBAS online.

Who's ready for the most plover-centric excuse to gather and have some beers for a good cause? It's time for the return of Okploverfest! Block out Saturday, October 19th, for this celebration of being the ploveriest place in North America (8 species depend on south Texas for some part of their lives). The artists from Full Court Press will be on site inking and custom-printing these incredible plover designs on t-shirts that you purchase at the event or that you bring to the event. All proceeds go to help purchase art supplies and expand our projects making the Texas coast a great place to be a plover.

Please note the change in venue for this year’s event: Lazy Beach Downtown Tap Room next to the Executive Surf Club. The address is 312B North Chaparral, Corpus Christi.

Field Trip Description: Shorebirds & Wading Birds in the areas of Tule Lake, Fulton Corridor, North Beach, Indian Point, and moist grasslands near Portland High School.

Registration required one week in advance (by September 14, 2024). Minimum for the trip is 3 participants. NOTE THAT CURRENTLY FIELD TRIPS ARE OPEN TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES.

NOTIFY OUR FIELD TRIP LEADER, GENE BLACKLOCK, THAT YOU PLAN TO GO ON THIS FIELD TRIP. TEXT GENE AT 361-558-1829 AND PROVIDE YOUR NAME(S) AND CELL PHONE NUMBER(S).

Field Trip Group Meets: Field Trip Group will meet Meet at Tule Lake Observation Platform. Tule Lake is a tidal lake located off Southern Minerals Road, Corpus Christi. (Tule Lake Physical Address 7201-7203 7201 Up River Rd, Corpus Christi, TX 78409). Take Exit 6 off 1-37 and follow Southern Minerals Road (51) north toward the river. Turn left on Up River Road and proceed to the overlook.

Please do not forget water, hat, insect repellent and snacks.

Reminder: Please dress appropriately, suggest baggy cryptic clothing (never white or black, never bright colors like red), hat, insect repellent, comfortable shoes (shoes preferably with ankle support), a light rain jacket (optional), drinking water and snacks. Recommend binoculars and field guide.

Possible stops: Carbon Black Road, Carbon Black Pond, Fulton Corridor, North Beach, Indian Point, and grasslands near Portland High School.

Fulton Loop Corridor: Continue North on Up River Road to the Joe Fulton Corridor (558), which will take you East along wetlands. Follow group from there to North Beach, Corpus Christi

Scheduled break at North Beach Whataburger.

Please do not forget water, hat, insect repellent and snacks.

Bathroom Availability: Note that there is not a bathroom in the vicinity of the Tule Lake Observation Deck, so participants are encouraged to stop at a public restroom before arriving at Tule Lake. Scheduled break / bathroom stop at North Beach Whataburger (Physical Address: 4444 E. Causeway Blvd, Corpus Christi 78402).

Trip Description: moderate, some walking.

Equipment: Beginners, please have a field guide, binoculars or scopes if it is desirable.

Download seasonal Coastal Bend Bird checklists from Coastal Bend Audubon Society's webpage.

Birds of special interest: Waterfowl, grebes, shorebirds, wading birds, and marsh birds: Semipalmated Sandpiper, Upland and Buff-boasted Sandpiper, Wilson's Phalaropes and Horned Lark.

CBAS field trips are an extension of a classroom learning experience, so please bring binoculars & field guide references (books, phone apps). Questions are encouraged and are welcomed.

Field trip summary will be reported on eBird, Facebook, Twitter and CBAS online.

Texas has the greatest diversity of sparrow species of any U.S. state. One species, the Bachman's Sparrow, is limited in the state to the Pineywoods ecoregion, and has experienced severe decline in the last 25 years due to changes in habitat. In this talk, Liam Wolff will summarize the ecology of the species in the state, the history of its distribution, and one graduate student's attempt to help direct the management of the species in Texas by informing state and federal agencies on the habitat characteristics associated with its occupancy in the state and assessing its singing phenology.

About Our Speaker: Liam Wolff is a Research Specialist working in the Conservation and Biodiversity Lab at HRI. Liam is also serving as the current President of the Audubon Outdoor Club of Corpus Christi.

Originally from Georgia, Liam received a B.S. in Ecology from Augusta University in 2018, pursuing an interest in birds and other wildlife. He moved to Texas in 2020 and received an M.S. in Forestry with an emphasis in Wildlife Management from Stephen F. Austin State University in 2022. His Master's thesis focused on the spatiotemporal factors that affect the occupancy and phenology of Bachman's Sparrow in Texas to inform private landowners and state agencies on optimal management practices for the species in the region.

Liam's research interests center on avian conservation and ecology as well as habitat management and restoration. In addition to his Master's work, he has previously worked with the Department of Defense, assisting with long-term monitoring of the endangered Golden-cheeked Warbler in the Texas Hill Country. Later, he worked with the U.S. Geological Survey to identify important stopover habitat for migrating neotropical passerines on the Gulf Coast of Alabama.

Liam serves the birding and naturalist communities as a volunteer Regional Reviewer and Hotspot Editor for the citizen-science project eBird, as well as taking the role of Curator of Mosquito Taxonomy for iNaturalist. As the Research Specialist for the Conservation & Biodiversity Lab, Liam supports all aspects of research on the ecology, conservation, and management of waterbirds and their habitat in the Gulf of Mexico.

If you have ever thought about traveling outside of the USA for birding but were a bit nervous about doing so, this may be the talk for you!

If you are an experienced international birder but not been to Belize or want to go back and are looking for a new place to bird, this may be the talk for you!

If you just like seeing new birds and new places that you may never have the opportunity to visit, this talk may also be for you…

Belize is a small Central American country that is very friendly to eco-tourism. English is widely spoken and there is an especially well-organized birding tourism infrastructure that even a novice birder or infrequent international traveler can navigate. Larry and Paula McKinney recently spent two weeks exploring the western jungle and mountains of Belize. The birding was exceptional and thanks to careful planning and great travel expeditors, food, lodging and transportation were exceptional. Larry and Paula will share their trip through photos and include tips on how to make sure your international birding travel can be just as exciting, satisfying and safe!!

About Our Speaker: Dr. Larry McKinney is currently a Board Member and Director of Policy at Palacios Marine Agricultural Research. Larry received his PhD in Zoology from Texas A&M University in 1976. He retired as the Senior Executive Director of the Harte Research Institute at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi after 17 years of service. Prior to joining HRI, Dr. McKinney directed environmental and aquatic programs at Texas Parks and Wildlife, retiring after 23 years of service.

Larry served on the Flower Gardens National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Committee (former chair), and the Consortium for Ocean Leadership’s Policy Committee. He has served as a member and chair of the Texas Sea Grant Advisory Committee, NASA’s SSC Applied Sciences Steering Committee, the EPA Science Advisory Committee for the Gulf of Mexico, the Gulf Alliance’s Ecosystem Assessment and Integration Team, and the Texas Academy of Science, where he is also a past President.

As a biologist, Larry has had an interest in birds since college, but he developed a great interest in bird photography as he and his wife, Paula, began to bird-watch together more than a decade ago.

Registration required one week in advance (by April 27, 2024). Minimum for the trip is 3 participants. NOTE THAT CURRENTLY FIELD TRIPS ARE OPEN TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES.

NOTIFY OUR FIELD TRIP LEADER, GENE BLACKLOCK, THAT YOU PLAN TO GO ON THIS FIELD TRIP. NOTIFY GENE BY TEXTING HIM AT 361-558-1829 AND PROVIDING YOUR NAME(S) AND CELL PHONE NUMBER(S).

Field Trip Group Meets: Field Trip Group will meet in the parking area near the entrance to Packery Channel County Park and board walk, 14218 South Padre Island Drive (SPID) - when driving to the Packery Channel County Park from Corpus Christi: Drive to North Padre Island on SPID. Continue on SPID over the JFK Memorial Causeway Bridge. SPID becomes Park Road 22 once you are on North Padre Island. After you pass the light at Aquarius (Starbucks), continue for approximately .3 miles and turn LEFT. (The Texas Sealife Center is located at this turn.) Watch for the Packery Channel parking area and boardwalk in front of the Oak Motte on your LEFT.

Other sites of interest:

• The Field Trip Group will drive on to "The Willows” immediately adjacent to Sea Gull Condominium Resort (6613 TX Hwy 361, Port Aransas). From Packery Channel: Drive WEST to Park Rd. 22 and turn RIGHT, heading toward the JFK Bridge. Turn RIGHT on Hwy 361 at the traffic light. Drive approximately 10 miles on Hwy 361 and turn RIGHT on Seacomber Drive, then turn RIGHT at the next street when you see the Willow Trees/Wetland.

• Leona Turnbull Birding Center (1356 Ross Avenue, Port Aransas, approximately 8 miles from The Willows). Get back on Hwy 361, turning RIGHT toward Port Aransas. Turn LEFT on West Ave. G at the traffic light and continue on this street until it becomes Cut-Off Road. At the intersection of Cut-Off Road, 6th Street & Ross Ave, turn slightly LEFT onto Ross Ave. Drive 0.6 miles on Ross Ave until you reach the water treatment plant/Leona Turnbull Birding Center on your RIGHT.

• Joan & Scott Holt Paradise Pond (410 Cut-Off Road, Port Aransas). From the Birding Center, drive back 0.6 miles to Cut-Off Road and Turn LEFT. Paradise Pond is located behind the Restaurant San Juan, at the intersection of Cut-Off Road and Ave. C.

,Reminder: Please dress appropriately, suggest baggy cryptic clothing (never white or black, never bright colors like red), hat, insect repellent, comfortable shoes (shoes preferably with ankle support), a light rain jacket (optional), drinking water and snacks. Recommend binoculars and field guide.

Bathroom Availability: Packery Channel County Park has a restroom. After that portion of the trip, there will be no bathrooms available (unless you want to stop at a private business in Port Aransas on the way to the Leona Turnbull Birding Center). Field Trip Group will also be able to take a break near Paradise Pond (at Restaurant San Juan).

Please do not forget water, hat, insect repellent and snacks.

Lunch: Field Trip participants may opt to eat lunch at Restaurant San Juan or another restaurant in Port Aransas.

Trip Description: moderate, a fair amount of walking with ramps.

Equipment: beginners, please have a field guide, binoculars or scopes if it is desirable.

Download seasonal Coastal Bend checklists from Coastal Bend Audubon Society's webpage.

Habitat: coastal

Birds of interest: Neotropical migrants, such as Black-billed Cuckoo (rare), vireos, thrushes, wood warblers (especially Townsend's, Hermit, Black-throated Blue and Cape May), tanagers (especially Hepatic and Western, and finches (especially Varied and Lazuli Buntings and Black-headed Grosbeak).

CBAS field trips are an extension of a classroom learning experience, so please bring binoculars & field guide references (books, phone apps). Questions are encouraged and are welcomed.

Field trip summary will be reported on eBird, Facebook, Twitter and CBAS on line.

About Our Speaker: Tim Anderson is the Lower Texas Coast Coastal Program Manager for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. He is based in Corpus Christi and has collaborated with private landowners and non-governmental organizations on projects to provide habitat for endangered species and migratory birds in Coastal and South Texas for over 20 years.

Ben Horstmann will offer advice for birding in the State Parks of South Texas and using the EBird app.  He will talk about some of the special species that live in or migrate through each park, what to expect at each site when visiting, as well as go over some of the programs and guided tours available at the State Parks. 

About Our Speaker: Ben Horstmann is with Texas Parks and Wildlife and serves as the Regional Interpretive Specialist for South Texas State Parks.  His addiction to birding was a direct result of moving to the coastal bend and birding with the park staff and volunteers.  His favorite pastime is birding in the natural places of Texas.

Most of our CBAS members are familiar with Ben, who writes the “Ben’s Corner” section of our monthly newsletter, the Brown Pelican, offering recommendations on birds to look for in our area and giving rare bird sighting information and photos. Ben also gives regular updates on rare birds, good birding locations, and seasonal birding for our monthly seminar meetings.

Antonio Cantu’ De Leija is a Graduate Research Assistant and Tunnel Fellow PhD student in the Conservation and Biodiversity Lab at at the Harte Research Institute (HRI) for Gulf of Mexico Studies, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. His research focuses on modeling wading bird foraging habitat availability and how it may be affected by sea level rise. Antonio is originally from Monterrey, Mexico and earned his B.S. in Biology from the Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon in Mexico and an M.S. in Renewable Natural Resources from Louisiana State University.

His research interests include wetland ecology, waterbird ecology, restoration ecology, habitat management and conservation; particularly the study of wetland ecosystem drivers and processes to inform habitat restoration and management for birds and other wetland-dependent species. For his dissertation research, Antonio will be studying the hydrologic dynamics of intertidal zones that control the availability of foraging habitats for wading birds in the west coast of Florida and potentially expanding to other regions across the Gulf of Mexico.

To learn more about Antonio’s research and interests, you can watch this short YouTube video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWc25yh0QPY

Migratory shorebirds are one of the fastest declining groups of North American avifauna, suffering an estimated population decline of 40% since 1970. As an obligate grassland shorebird and long-distance migrant, the Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Calidris subruficollis) is a species of global conservation concern that uses the Texas Gulf Coastal Plain during southbound and northbound migrations.

Buff-breasted Sandpipers migrate from their breeding grounds on the Arctic tundra through Canada and United States to a narrow region near the Atlantic Ocean in Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil, where they spend the winter. They complete their annual migration by returning to the Arctic the following spring.

About Our Speakers:

Tara Rodkey is a Master’s degree graduate student at the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute at Texas A&M University - Kingsville.

Kelli Stone is the USFWS Region 2 Migratory Bird Biologist in charge of shorebirds in the region

 Red Knots were historically a very reliable sight along our beaches in the fall, to the extent that Oberholser mentions the tradition of local birders “going knotting” on the beaches of Mustang and Padre Islands. By almost all accounts, this activity has become less successful over the past several decades. In 2009, we began a series of studies trying to better understand this enigmatic species:  Where do they spend the winter? Do they wander back and forth across the Gulf? What might be causing the apparent decline? Tracking studies and an extensive project banding and resighting marked birds has yielded many new insights into this unique and very much “Texas” population. Long story short: they’re not doing great. Red tide events and increased human pressure on local beaches are among the factors impacting their population. I’ll review what we’ve learned over the past 14 years of study, emphasizing just how important the Gulf beaches are to this and many other beach-dependent species, and how important it is to advocate for them.

About Our Speaker: Dr. David Newstead is Director of the Coastal Bird Program at Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program (CBBEP), , which focuses on habitat management, stewardship, and conservation-oriented monitoring and research on the diverse coastal bird life of the area. His staff works with partners across the whole Texas coast and has also conducted projects with our neighbors in Louisiana and Mexico. David earned a Bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Houston, studied coastal fisheries for his Master’s degree from Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi, and completed his Ph.D. in Wildlife Science at Texas A&M University-Kingsville conducting research on an endangered shorebird, the Red Knot. David is a former President of Coastal Bend Audubon Society and continues to serve on its Board as Conservation Chair.

Live Oak County, "Carmel Hills, Mid – Low Tamaulipan and Marginal Riparian," adjacent to Lake Corpus Christi. 

Registration required one week in advance (by October 17, 2023). Minimum for the trip is three participants. NOTIFY OUR FIELD TRIP LEADER, GENE BLACKLOCK, THAT YOU PLAN TO GO ON THIS FIELD TRIP. NOTIFY GENE BY TEXTING HIM AT 361-558-1829 AT LEAST ONE WEEK IN ADVANCE AND PROVIDE HIM WITH YOUR NAME(S) AND CELL PHONE NUMBER(S).

NOTE THAT CURRENTLY FIELD TRIPS ARE OPEN TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES.

Meet: At the junction of Hwy 534 & Carmel Drive, located on the Southwest Side of Lake Corpus Christi at 7:30 AM. To get to this location from Mathis, go south out of Mathis on Hwy 359 through the town of Sandia; approximately 5.5 miles south of Sandia, turn Right (West), on Hwy 534. Drive North on Hwy 534 approximately 16 miles to the intersection of Hwy 534 and Carmel Drive. Caravan begins at meeting site at Carmel Drive/Hwy 359 at 7:30 A.M.

Reminder: Please dress appropriately, suggest baggy cryptic clothing (never white or black, never bright colors like red), hat, insect repellent, comfortable shoes (shoes preferably with ankle support), a light rain jacket (optional), drinking water and snacks. Recommend binoculars and field guide.

Sites: Some walking and Stop and Go Driving along Carmel Drive.

Please do not forget water, hat, insect repellent and snacks.

Restroom Availability: No bathrooms available until lunch. Recommend stopping for bathroom facilities at private businesses in Mathis or Sandia area before trip.

Lunch: Lunch in Mathis optional.

Trip Description: moderate, some walking.

Equipment: beginners, please have a field guide, binoculars or scopes if it is desirable.

Download seasonal Coastal Bend Bird checklists from Coastal Bend Audubon Society's webpage.

Habitat: Lake Corpus Christi - brushland, marsh, a large body of fresh water, and Mid -Low Tamaulipan and Marginal Riparian woodlands, adjacent to Lake Corpus Christi.

Birds of special interest: Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Mallard, Northern Bobwhite, grebes, Greater Roadrunner, Common Pauraque, Screech Owl (uncommon), Sandhill Crane (overhead), Osprey, Red-shouldered and Harris's Hawks, Great Horned Owl, Vermilion Flycatcher, Bewick's Wren, Black-crested Titmouse, Verdin, Eastern Bluebird, Long-billed Thrasher, Olive Sparrow, several other sparrows, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Pine Warbler, Pyrrhuloxia, Spotted Towhee (uncommon). 

CBAS field trips are an extension of a classroom learning experience, so please bring binoculars & field guide references (books, phone apps). Questions are encouraged and are welcomed.

Field trip summary will be reported on eBird, Facebook, Twitter and CBAS on line.

CBAS will participate in a trash cleanup in the vicinity of the JFK Causeway.

This cleanup will be done in collaboration with other groups, and will focus on removal of fishing line and other trash that can be injurious to wading birds, gulls, terns, and shorebirds. The half-day event will take place in the morning. More details will follow and will be shared via email, Facebook, and the CBAS website.

Who's ready for the most plover-centric excuse to gather and have some beers for a good cause? That's right - back by popular demand and following a 3-year hiatus, it's time for the return of Okploverfest! Block out October 7 for this celebration of being the ploveriest place in North America (8 species depend on south Texas for some part of their lives). The artists from Full Court Press will be on site inking and custom-printing these incredible t-shirts, or you can bring your own shirts, shorts, dresses, onesies, or anything else that you can fit a plover on! We'll also have some stainless-steel pint tumblers and other assorted merch, and you'll be grooving to a carefully curated bird-themed playlist while our friends at Nueces Brewing keep their delicious Octoberfest marzen flowing. All proceeds go to help purchase art supplies and expand our projects making the Texas coast a great place to be a plover. If you can't make it to the event, we'll be posting an order form soon so you can order shirts and other goodies and we'll mail them to you, so you can give everyone you know the gift of plovers the upcoming holiday season!

About Our Speaker:

Andrew Orgill is the Staff Supervisor at the Amos Rehabilitation Keep (ARK), an organization that is part of the Mission-Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve (Mission-Aransas NERR).  In turn, the Mission-Aransas NERR is part of the larger University of Texas Marine Science Institute in Port Aransas, Texas.  The primary mission of the ARK is to rescue and rehabilitate sick and injured birds, sea turtles, terrestrial turtles, and tortoises found along the South Texas coast and to return them to their native habitat.  To ensure the successful release of as many animals as possible, the ARK staff work with veterinarians and other wildlife management organizations to use the most up-to-date rehabilitation techniques. The ARK also strives to educate the public about the potential impacts of population growth and urban development on coastal wildlife.  In addition to his skills with capture, transport, treatment, and release of wild birds and other wildlife, Andrew is also an excellent birder and a proficient bird photographer.

400+ Audubon Chapters: Inspiring Change Across the Country and in Texas
Audubon Chapters are our boots on the ground. Together with our centers, state office, and national team our reach is unparallel. Chapters are integrated to the local community and provide numerous benefits from education, citizen science efforts, conservation, and advocacy. Together, we will review the 2021 impact of chapters across the U.S. and how Texas compares, discuss ways we can invite the next generation of diverse birders to join us, and explore the many resources available to help make this happen. Together, we are one Audubon making an impact for birds, today and tomorrow. 

About Our Speaker:

Chloe Crumley is the Engagement Manager for Audubon Texas! Her work involves connecting our 20 chapters across the state so we can build relationships and connect our grassroots and grasstops initiatives to protect and inspire action for bird conservation. She also oversees Audubon Texas’s Lights Out Texas and Bird City Texas campaigns with the goal to increase bird friendly spaces across Texas.

Originally from San Antonio, Chloe received her B.S. in Environmental Science and Public Policy at St. Edward's University in Austin. Her background includes leading non-profit campaigns and building non-partisan support for environmental efforts at local and national levels. You can often find Chloe out at Balcones Canyonland National Wildlife Refuge, a USFWS refuge for the endangered Golden Cheek Warbler, where she is a Board Member on the Friends Group or biking around Ladybird lake.