Photo by Lora Render
On Wednesday, February 10, 2021, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department designated San Antonio as a Bird City Texas Community! We are very excited to share the great news.
San Antonio is part of the migratory flyway and millions of migratory birds pass through our city every year on their way to or from their breeding grounds. Additionally, many birds breed right here in San Antonio.
Bird City Texas is a community-focused certification program created to help people protect birds and their habitats. The program is centered on science-based bird conservation initiatives and community action that enhance and restore bird habitats, increase native plant coverage, reduce population-level threats, increase public awareness of the benefits and challenges of bird conservation, and promote environmental stewardship. To learn more about Bird City Texas community programming, go to TPWD Bird City Texas website.
If you would like to join in and see what birding opportunities might interest you, there are several events coming up.
Feb. 12-15, 2021 is the Great Backyard Bird count. To participate, all you need to do is download an app to help you log the birds you see and you will be giving valuable data to scientists trying to establish what species of birds are present across North America. Go here for more details: https://www.birdcount.org/participate/
Stop by our table Saturday, Feb. 27 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. to pick up a Grab-N-Go bag filled with activities to help you explore the park. This month’s kit will have different activities to explore birdlife, including how to make your own bird nest, write with a feather quill, build a birdhouse and explore birds at home and in the park. Link: https://www.philhardbergerpark.org/calendar-events/grab-n-go-birds-ptc4c
Join us online on Saturday, Feb. 27 at 9 a.m., to hear expert birders Patsy and Alan Kuentz as they discuss how to observe our area birds. This presentation will be filled with wonderful photography from birds in San Antonio’s natural areas. Pick up some tips on what to expect in the bird’s behavior and learn how to identify, and appreciate the most common birds in Hardberger Park. Link: https://www.philhardbergerpark.org/calendar-events/virtual-nature-walk-birds
To read the full TPWD press release, go here: https://tpwd.texas.gov/newsmedia/releases/?req=20210210a