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://fwas.org/

And don’t forget about Free Third Thursdays at Trinity River Audubon Center. For more information including directions, go to Trinity River Audubon Center.

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.

March 18-21, 2010
40th annual Rivers and Wildlife Celebration in Kearney, Nebraska
Description: The 40th annual Rivers and Wildlife Celebration will be held March 18-21, 2010, in Kearney, Nebraska. Organized by Audubon Nebraska and the Nebraska Bird Partnership, the conference gathers together nature enthusiasts from across the county to witness the migration of over half a million sandhill cranes and millions of waterfowl and other birds through central Nebraska. Events include guided field trips, workshops, a family fun room, and daily visits to river blinds operated by Audubon’s Rowe Sanctuary for up-close views of cranes roosting on the Platte River.

Local and national speakers will present information on a variety of wildlife and conservation topics. Main speakers are Scott Weidensaul, author of more than two dozen natural history books, including Living on the Wind: Across the Hemisphere with Migratory Birds, a Pulitzer Prize finalist; Mike Forsberg, nature photographer and author of Great Plains: America’s Lingering Wild; Ron Klataske, executive director of Audubon of Kansas; and Chris Wood, eBird Project Leader, Cornell Lab of Ornithology. More than twenty local environmental organizations will have information booths and hands-on activities on Saturday.

The celebration is open to the general public. Registration materials can be found beginning in mid-December at www.nebraska.audubon.org. Or contact Audubon Nebraska to be put on the mailing list: Nebraska@audubon.org; 402/797-2301. Rowe Sanctuary has information about viewing the sandhill crane migration, 308/468-5282; www.rowesanctuary.org.  To TOP

Saturday, March 27, 2010 @ 8:00 AM
White Rock Lake & Old Fish Hatchery
Leader: Chris Runk - no RVSP required for this trip
Meeting Place: From Garland Rd. turn on Winsted. Stay on Winstead until you reach the stop sign at the end of the park on your right. Turn right - this is White Rock Rd. Continuestraight on White Rock Rd. until you meet W. Lawther on your left. This is a T-intersection and you must turn 90 degrees right to stay on White Rock Rd. After turning, you'll go down a hill under the old RR tracks. Keep straight past the guard house, past the new Sculling Center and park at the end of the road in the big, new lot!
Description: Join us for a field trip on foot at one of Dallas' prime birding locations. Expected species include residents, shorebirds and winter waterfowl. Beginners welcome!
Field Trip Length: approximately 2 to 3 hour.  To TOP

SATURDAY, April 10, 2010 @ 10:00 AM
Cedar Ridge Preserve - Early Spring Wildflower Walk
Description: Master Naturalist and long-time CRP volunteer Jim Varnum leads a walk through the meadows to look for and identify early spring wildflowers. Examples - milkweeds, fleabane daisies, firewheels, fringed puccoon, bluebonnets, blue flax, winecups, foxgloves, cornsalad, spiderworts. alliums, etc. Jim will also take the group through the CRP butterfly garden. Fun for adults and children.
Field Trip Details: The walk will start at 10:00 AM and will last approximately 2 hours. Bring your wildflower and bird books, pencil and pad, cameras, binoculars, water, etc. This will be about a 1.0 mile hike of leisure walking. Wear hiking/outdoor footwear (no sandals or flop-flops).
More info? Jim Varnum jevarnum@aol.com or 214-543-2055. Please RSVP by April 3 if you are bringing a group.  To TOP

Saturday, May 8, 2010 @ 7:00 AM
Southside Water Treatment Plant
Leader: Bob Stone
Meeting Place: Meet at Southside at 7:00 AM
Directions: From the junction of I-45 and Hwy 175, take Hwy 175 (C.F. Hawn Freeway) about 12.5 miles south/southeast to S. Belt Line Road exit. Turn right on S. Belt Line Road and go approximately 1.7 miles to the gate at Southside Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Description: We will see residents and migratory waterfowl.
IMPORTANT: You must contact Bob Stone and give your name, address and phone number to be placed on a list. This list of participants will be provided to Southside's administration the following day. No Exceptions! In addition, you must bring a picture ID so that the security guard can check your name against the list of participants attending. Again, no exceptions! By following these procedures we can return to Southside and hopefully continue to do so. Participants will also be required to sign in at the office and sign a form. You must confirm with Bob Stone at (214) 351- 2940 by 6:00 PM the Sunday before the trip. Limited to 12 participants. Beginners welcome!
Field Trip Length: approximately 3 hours
RSVP Mandatory: Bob Stone, (214) 351-2940 To TOP

SATURDAY, May 8, 2010 @ 10:00 AM
Cedar Ridge Preserve - Special Nature Walk to Observe Milkweeds, Monarchs and Painted Buntings
Description: Attention monarch butterfly fans. Master Naturalist and long-time CRP volunteer Jim Varnum leads a walk through the western meadows of the Preserve to look for Asclepias Milkweeds, Monarch Butterflies and lots of other wildflowers and grasses. Asclepias milkweeds (antelope horns and green milkweeds) are host plants for monarchs; they lay their eggs on them - we will look for eggs, too. And for bird watchers - Painted Buntings and Indigo Buntings
Field Trip Details: We will meet in CRP the parking lot at 10:00 AM and carpool to the west side of the Preserve. Don't be late. Bring your wildflower, butterfly and bird books, pencil and pad, cameras, binoculars, water, etc. This will be about a 1 to 2 mile hike with moderate difficulty. Wear long pants, hiking/outdoor footwear (no sandals or flop-flops)
More info? Jim Varnum jevarnum@aol.com or 214-543-2055. Please RSVP by May 1 if you are bringing a group. To TOP