NOTE: It is very important that you RSVP for each trip where it is required.
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.
Waterfowl Identification Class Saturday January 21, 2012 Location: Southside Water Treatment Plant & John Bunker Sands Wetland Center Time: 7:15 am – 10:30am Price: $5.00 per person for Wetland Center Admission
Join us for a birding adventure beginning at the Southside water treatment plant and ending at the amazing John Bunker Sands Wetland Center. Dr. Bob Stone, naturalist and former Audubon Dallas Board member, will be leading the group through both sites to identify and study waterfowl. Dr. Stone has birded on all continents except Antarctica and is currently at 2030 on his World Bird List.
Please bring a Sibley Guide for reference, binoculars and a spotting scope if you have one.
Directions to Southside:
From the junction of LBJ freeway and highway 175
Head southeast on 175 toward Kaufman
Exit Belt Line and turn right onto S. Belt Line Rd
Go 1.5 miles to the front gate parking lot of Southside where you will find Dr. Stone waiting to take groups inside the gate.
Class size is limited to 12 participants and participants must sign a liability waiver. Also, bring a photo ID so that the security guard can check your name against the list of participants attending. Please RSVP at least 10 days prior to class date to Sahar Sea at ssea@audubon.org with name, address, email address, and a phone number.
PLEASE visit www.wetlandcenter.com to learn about this wonderful wetland!
White Rock Lake & Old Fish Hatchery Sunday, February 12 Time: 7:30 AM Leader: Chris Runk Meeting Place: New parking lot on Winstead off Garland Road (Spillway) Description: Join us for a field trip on foot at one of Dallas' prime birding locations. Beginners welcome! Binoculars are necessary for this outing.
Approximately 2 to 3 hours
Great Backyard Bird Count Saturday, February 18, 2012 Location: Trinity River Audubon Center Time: 9:00AM-2:00PM FREE
Join our experienced North Texas field ornithologists in this Citizen Science adventure for all ages. A 15-minute bird census will be conducted at various locations on the TRAC property every hour on the hour. All findings will be submitted to GBBC.
Whooping Crane Trip, Rockport/Fulton, TX area Date: Saturday and Sunday, February 18 and 19 Travel days: Friday, February 17 and Monday, February 20 Location: Rockport, TX Description: On Saturday, a 4-hour boat trip (on the Wharf Cat) is scheduled to see the Whooping Cranes along the Inter-coastal Waterway from Rockport Harbor to the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. We will bird on land around the Rockport/Fulton area after the boat trip. On Sunday, we will do a full day of birding at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. Individuals are responsible for their own travel to and from the Rockport/Fulton area. Hotel headquarters will be the Best Western Inn by the Bay in Fulton, Texas. For more details, contact Reba Collins, field trip leader, at 972-530-2412 or rcollins20@verizon.net. There is a limit of 12 spaces. RSVPs must be received no later than February 10.
Geoffrey B. Stanford Trout Lily Walk Sunday, February 26 Location: Cedar Ridge Preserve Time: 1:00 PM Description: Trout lilies, or white dog-toothed violets, are the harbingers of spring in the plant world. These flowers in the lily family bloom from just mid-February to mid-March. And there are many interesting facts about trout lilies. Did you know trout lily bulbs produce just one leaf in the first 6 years, then 2 leaves, a scape (stem) and a flower in the 7th year? Details: Master Naturalist and long-time CRP volunteer Jim Varnum will conduct a short walk to observe trout lilies. The walk last approximately 1 hour. Bring your camera. Wear sturdy boots or shoes with good ankle support. Join Jim for a nature walk afterwards.
Contact Jim Varnum at jevarnum@aol.com or 214-543-2055. RSVP is not needed.
Geoffrey B. Stanford Trout Lily Walk Saturday, March 3 Location: Cedar Ridge Preserve Time: 10:00 AM Description: Trout lilies, or white dog-toothed violets, are the harbingers of spring in the plant world. These flowers in the lily family bloom from just mid-February to mid-March. And there are many interesting facts about trout lilies. Did you know trout lily bulbs produce just one leaf in the first 6 years, then 2 leaves, a scape (stem) and a flower in the 7th year? Details: Master Naturalist and long-time CRP volunteer Jim Varnum will conduct a short walk to observe trout lilies. The walk will start at 10:00 AM and will last approximately 1 hour. Bring your camera. Wear sturdy boots or shoes with good ankle support. Join Jim for a nature walk afterwards.
Contact Jim Varnum at jevarnum@aol.com or 214-543-2055. RSVP is not needed.
White Rock Lake & Old Fish Hatchery Sunday, March 11 Time: 7:30 AM Leader: Chris Runk Meeting Place: New parking lot on Winstead off Garland Road (Spillway) Description: Join us for a field trip on foot at one of Dallas' prime birding locations. Beginners welcome! Binoculars are necessary for this outing.
Approximately 2 to 3 hours
Celebrate Birds Festival Saturday, March 31, 2012 Location: Trinity River Audubon Center Time: 10:00AM-2:00PM at FREE
A free egg-stravaganza for the whole family awaits bird enthusiasts and nature lovers at the Trinity River Audubon Center. As the country looks toward Earth Day, “Celebrate Bird Fest” will showcase the power and diversity of birds with an opportunity for children and adults to Meet Birds of Prey up close, Fly Homing Pigeons, Dissect Owl Pellets (What?), talk to an ornithologist (Cool!), and take guided birding hikes. There will be craft stations to create bird art and learn about binoculars and spotting scopes! The celebration features an additional earth-friendly element as participants build bird houses and make bird feeders.
Warbler Identification with Jim Peterson Saturday, May 5, 2012 Location: Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center Time: 8:00AM-11:30AM FREE
The Warblers are coming! Are you ready? Warblers are colorful and extremely active birds, which flock in large groups during spring and fall migrations. They can be gray, olive, or green; many are patterned with bright yellow, red, orange, blue or black and white. There are many species of warblers with many names to describe their appearance. Learn to identify these amazing birds with ease and confidence.
Jim Peterson: Jim was Curator of Ornithology at the Dallas Museum of Natural History and is now Director of Technology at the Episcopal School of Dallas. He has compiled the Dallas County Christmas Count for the last 21 years, and currently maintains bird records for North-Central Texas at http://www.nctexasbirds.com
And don't forget about Free Third Thursdays at Trinity River Audubon Center. For more information including directions, go to Trinity River Audubon Center.
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!
