Led by Sparrow Experts Byron Stone, Bill Reiner, and Chuck Sexton. The ever-popular Sparrow Workshop returns to Balcones Canyonlands! Plan to join us at the Flying X Ranch, Balcones Canyonlands NWR. Class size: 30 Workshop Price: The 2006 event was featured in the Wall Street JournalFeb 23, 2006 "Birdwatchers Find Sparrows Often Are A tough Nut to Crack", by Neal Templin2008 Event summary & bird list by Byron 22009 EventFood catered by |
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During winter and early spring, central Texas
is one of the best locations in the United States for the study
of native sparrows. This workshop will focus on field
identification of the twenty-plus species of native sparrows
that occur regularly each year in central Texas. We will alternate
classroom sessions with field trips to a variety of habitats
to give participants the best opportunity to practice identification
techniques and to maximize the chance to observe the large numbers
and variety of sparrows present in the grasslands and scrub environments
of the Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge. The workshop
leaders, Byron Stone, Bill Reiner, and Chuck Sexton, all have
a great deal of experience with teaching and conducting field
trips to observe sparrows and other specialty birds of central
Texas. Participants should be prepared for a variety of weather
conditions, ranging from mild to bitterly cold. Average highs
in February are in the low 60's; average lows are in the 40's.
Chance of rain on any given day in February is about 25%. The
most important consideration is to bring sturdy footwear, since
we will be walking in rocky, brushy terrain, often among prickly-pear
cactus. Ideal footwear for this type of trip would be waterproof,
leather hiking boots. We will spend several hours walking, although
the pace will be slow, as we will (hopefully) be spending a fair
amount of time observing flocks of winter sparrows and other
birds. Participants should bring binoculars and other appropriate
birding gear. Each of the three instructors will have a spotting
scope and tripod, but workshop participants are encouraged to
bring
their own scopes if they wish. A water bottle and a small pack
to carry snacks and gear are highly recommended. Field trips
will be split into three groups of approximately 10 persons each,
in order to maximize opportunities for bird study. The instructors
expect that workshop participants will have a good chance to
see over 15 species of sparrows during the course of the day.
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Saturday Night, Jan 31 6:30 p.m. SparrowHawk Dinner
Stay for dinner and socialize the days experience! This is an optional event and will require an additional fee of $15.00 per person to cover costs.
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Black-throated
Sparrow (Amphispiza bilineata) Photo courtesy of Greg Lasley Nature Photography |
PRELIMINARY
Saturday morning, Jan 31
0730 - field trips (10 to 12 people in each group if three leaders are available; 12 to 15 per group if only two trip leaders are available)
A - Flying X
B - Eckhardt tract
C - Peaceful Springs Nature Preserve (check out their site!)
1130 - reconvene at Flying X for box lunches greeting by Refuge manager and/ or Chief Biologist and Sparrow talk (takes 1 hour & 15 minutes)
1:30 p.m. - siesta and/ or grass walk by Bill Reiner
3:00 p.m. - rotate field trips A - Eckhardt tract B - Castleberry property C - Flying X
6:30 p.m. (optional) reconvene at Flying X for wrap-up and dinner (add'l $15.00).
--Schedule subject to change.
--All classroom and field sessions will be co-led by Byron Stone, Bill
Reiner, and Chuck Sexton.
--Transportation to field trips sites will be via a combination of mini-van
and carpool from the Flying X Ranch.
In the central Texas area, 23 species of Emberizid sparrows occur annually on a regular basis, and several others occur less frequently. During our day of Sparrow Fest field trips we expect to encounter 18 or more species of native sparrows. An annotated list of central Texas sparrows and a few other birds of interest follows:
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White-crowned
Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) Photo courtesy of Byron Stone |
Spotted Towhee - common and widespread in winter
Eastern Towhee - very rare in winter
Canyon Towhee - uncommon but regular at Flying X year-round
Cassin's Sparrow - very rare; not likely during Sparrow
Fest
Rufous-crowned Sparrow - uncommon but regular year-round
Chipping Sparrow - abundant during winter
Clay-colored Sparrow - migrant in spring and fall; unlikely
in winter
Field Sparrow - common to abundant during winter
Vesper Sparrow - common to abundant in winter
Lark Sparrow - uncommon to rare in winter; numbers increase
in early spring
Black-throated Sparrow - uncommon but regular at the
Flying X
Lark Bunting - rare in winter, but found on 2005 Christmas
Bird Count
Savannah Sparrow - abundant in winter and spring
Grasshopper Sparrow - uncommon but regular
LeConte's Sparrow - uncommon but regular
Fox Sparrow - uncommon but regular in shinnery and woodlands
Song Sparrow - common and widespread
Lincoln's Sparrow - common to uncommon
Swamp Sparrow - rare to uncommon along Little Creek on
Eckhardt tract
White-throated Sparrow - uncommon but regular in riparian
areas
Harris' Sparrow - rare in winter
White-crowned Sparrow - common and widespread
Dark-eyed Junco - common
***Legend - during our day in the field, it is likely that many
participants will see all 17 of the species listed as abundant, common
and uncommon, and it is possible that some participants will see all
of those plus one or more of the species listed as rare.
***
Additional birds of interest:
Greater Roadrunner - uncommon
Wild Turkey - uncommon but regular along Cow Creek Rd.
Eastern Screech owl - uncommon but hard to find
Great Horned Owl - common but hard to see
Ladder-backed Woodpecker - common
Black Phoebe - rare, but one was present at Camp Balcones
Springs for the Christmas Count, and could still be present for Sparrow
Fest
Sedge Wren - rare but regular along Little Creek on the
Eckhardt tract
Black-capped Vireo - not seen in winter
Golden-cheeked Warbler - not seen in winter
Pyrrhuloxia - rare
Eastern Meadowlark - common in winter, but hard to identify
to species unless singing
Western Meadowlark - uncertain status in winter
Lesser Goldfinch - uncommon in winter, but numbers increase
in early spring
Byron Stone is an Austin physician and naturalist with a lifelong
love of the outdoors. He has been an avid birder for over three decades,
and has traveled all parts of Texas to observe birds and wildlife.
Byron's interest in sparrows dates back over two decades ago, when
he began to try in earnest to tell apart all of those "little
brown birds." Byron began igiscoping (using a digital camera
through a spotting scope) at about the same time that he began teaching
the sparrow identification class for Travis Audubon Society three
years ago, and he now uses primarily his own digital images to teach
classes
and workshops on sparrow identification. Byron's classes for Travis
Audubon Society's have received rave reviews, and he is excited to
have
the opportunity to share his interest and enthusiasm for sparrows
and other grassland birds with the Friends of Balcones Canyonlands
NWR. He says that his motto for the classes and for the workshop is
"we make sparrows fun." Join us for this workshop and he
says he will do his
best to ensure that participants learn a lot about sparrows, and have
fun doing so.
Bill Reiner has been birding for more than 30 years – first
in Ohio and then, since the late 1980s, in central Texas. Bill is
now a biologist with the City of Austin Balcones
Canyonlands Preserve,
which, like the refuge, protects endangered species such as Golden-cheeked
Warblers and Black-capped Vireos." He is fascinated
by all aspects of natural history and ecology, especially with how
plants and animals fill niches in their environments and form communities.
He explores these themes in a monthly nature column that he writes
for the Travis Audubon Society newsletter.
Bill started Travis Audubon Society’s popular sparrow identification
class, which he taught for four winters. From 1999 to 2005, he joined
the staff of Balcones Canyonlands NWR, where he became familiar with
the many wintering sparrows of the refuge, and led several field trips
to see them. Helping other birders to see the sparrows, to distinguish
among them, and to appreciate them, has always been a highlight of
his winter outings.
Chuck Sexton has been the Wildlife Biologist for Balcones Canyonlands NWR for 12 years and has been active on the Texas birding scene for the better part of the past 35 years. He served for several years on the Texas Bird Records Committee and was co-editor, with his friend Greg Lasley, of the Texas column for American Birds magazine for 18 years. Although perhaps better known as one of the world’s experts on the endangered Golden-cheeked Warbler and Black-capped Vireo, he has always counted sparrows as among the most interesting of birds. Chuck remarks, “Working at Balcones, with its great habitat diversity, has given me the opportunity to study all our sparrows in close quarters.” Chuck holds a Ph.D. degree from the University of Texas at Austin.
