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, May 10, 2008, 7:00 a.m.
Southside Wastewater Treatment Plant
Leader: Bob Stone
Meeting Place: Meet at Southside at 7:00 a.m.
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 resident 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. 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! 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 (April 6, 2008). Limited to 12 participants. Beginners welcome! Field Trip Length: approximately 3 hours
RSVP Mandatory: Bob Stone, (214) 351-2940

Sunday, May 11, 2008 @ 7:30 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 spring migrants. Insect repellent and poison ivy protection highly recommended. Beginners welcome!
Field Trip Length: approximately 2 to 3 hours
RSVP. No reservations required for this field trip.

Sat., May 17, 2008, 10:30 am - 2:30 pm (9:00 am if you want to participate in CIA work day)
Audubon Dallas Spring Picnic at Cedar Ridge Preserve
For more information Click Here

Sunday, June 8, 2008 @ 7:30 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 spring migrants. Insect repellent and poison ivy protection highly recommended. Beginners welcome!
Field Trip Length: approximately 2 to 3 hours
RSVP. No reservations required for this field trip.

Saturday, July 26, 2008, 7:00 a.m.
Southside Wastewater Treatment Plant
Leader: Bob Stone
Meeting Place: Meet at Southside at 7:00 a.m.
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 resident 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. 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! 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 (April 6, 2008). Limited to 12 participants. Beginners welcome! Field Trip Length: approximately 3 hours
RSVP Mandatory: Bob Stone, (214) 351-2940

Southeast Arizona, Summer of Hummers
August 3-10, 2008
Leader: Steve Shunk, Paradise Birding
$1,890 single, $1,680 double, deposit $95
Southwest monsoon season for up to 13 hummingbirds and 18 flycatchers, plus Elegant Trogon, Arizona Woodpecker, Gilded Flicker, Gray and Zone-tailed Hawks.
KEY SPECIES: Up to 14 hummers, incl. Violet-crowned, Berryline, Magnificent, Blue-throated, White-eared, and Lucifer; up to 18 flycatchers, incl. Buff-breasted, Dusky-capped, Sulphur-bellied, Greater Pewee, and Thick-billed Kingbird; Elegant Trogon, Arizona Woodpecker, Gilded Flicker, Gray Hawk, Whiskered Screech-Owl, Mexican Jay, Mexican Chickadee, Bridled Titmouse, Bendire's Thrasher; Olive, Virginia's, Lucy's, Grace's, and Red-faced Warblers; Painted Redstart; Rufous-winged, Cassin's, and Botteri's Sparrows; Yellow-eyed Junco, and Varied Bunting.
SPACE LIMITED
RSVP:  Connie Sandlin, conniesandlin@hotmail.com, 214-350-6426

Saturday, Aug 16, 2008, 7:00 a.m.
Southside Wastewater Treatment Plant
Leader: Bob Stone
Meeting Place: Meet at Southside at 7:00 a.m.
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 resident 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. 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! 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 (April 6, 2008). Limited to 12 participants. Beginners welcome! Field Trip Length: approximately 3 hours
RSVP Mandatory: Bob Stone, (214) 351-2940

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!