West Texas Christmas Bird Counts

Sorry we're a bit late geting the Christmas Bird Count schedule posted!
Click here for Texas-wide count information.

*** COUNTS ARE FREE THIS YEAR!!!
Participation fee of $5 in the past... is a thing of the past!

Straight from Houston Audubon itself:

West Texas CBCs, by DATE:
Davis Mountains (TXDM) 12/15
Balmorhea (TXBA) 12/16
Comstock (TXCO) 12/26
Del Rio (TXDR) 12/27
Chisos Mountains (TXCM) 12/28
Big Bend NP (East) (TXBG) 12/29
El Paso (TXEP) 1/1 (probable)
Guadalupe Mountains (TXGM) 1/5

Count details:

Balmorhea (TXBA): Sunday, December 16, 2012
The Balmorhea CBC traditionally falls on the day following the Davis Mountains. The count circle includes the state park, Phantom Springs, Balmorhea Lake, and wide open spaces around town. The count routinely records 100 species and, as with most rural counts, more observers are always welcome. If possible, please contact Mark Lockwood ahead of time of your interest in participating in the Balmorhea count. Meet at the Balmorhea State Park entry station at 7:30 AM CST. Compiler: Mark Lockwood (Mark.Lockwood@tpwd.state.tx.us).

Big Bend NP (East) - Rio Grande Village (TXBG): Saturday, December 29, 2012
We will meet in front of the Rio Grande Village Campground Store at 7:15 AM. Birds of note seen during recent counts include: American Bittern, Sora, White-throated Swift, Green Kingfisher, Red-naped Sapsucker, Gray Flycatcher, Dusky Flycatcher, Sage Thrasher, Crissal Thrasher & Green-tailed Towhee. Participants always appreciated and needed. Please contact Bryan Hale at bmhale@swbell.net (email preferred) or phone 512-474-5499 (h) 512-912-4412 (w) 512-426-6033 (cell) for further details.

Chisos Mountains (TSCM): Friday, December 28, 2012
We will meet in the Basin in front of the grocery store at 7:15 AM. Areas will be assigned. Birds of note seen during recent counts include: Golden Eagle, White-throated Swift, Anna's Hummingbird, Red-naped Sapsucker, Plumbeous Vireo, Hutton's Vireo, Mexican Jay, Townsend's Solitaire, Sage Thrasher, Crissal Thrasher & Green-tailed Towhee. Participants always appreciated and needed. Please contact Bryan Hale at bmhale@swbell.net (email preferred) or phone 512-474-5499 (h) 512-912-4412 (w) 512-426-6033 (cell) for further details.

Comstock (TXCO): Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Located 45 miles west of Del Rio, the count circle includes parts of the Rio Grande and Pecos Rivers. Meet at the Visitor's Center in Seminole Canyon State Historical Park at 7 AM. Some routes on this count require a lot of walking. Should anyone wish to assist please contact compiler Sue Wiedenfeld at suewie@hctc.net or phone 830-995-2300 to sign up and for further details.

Davis Mountains (TXDM): Saturday, December 15, 2012
Davis Mountains counters will meet at 7:30 AM at the Jeff Davis County Courthouse unless otherwise noted below. There will be no potluck on Saturday evening this year because Marty is unable to host it, and Chris needs to leave town the next day. Since there will be no potluck, counters should plan to get their tally sheets to Chris within a week or two after the 15th. We can meet up later in the day, you can scan and e-mail, or send them to Chris via regular mail to PO Box 2073, Ft. Davis, TX 79734. If you would like to participate please contact the compiler, Chris Pipes (ccpipes@hotmail.com or 432-413-1554).

Del Rio (TXDR): Thursday, December 27, 2012
Open to all participants. Please preregister. Interested persons can e-mail compiler Karen Gleason at mgleason@stx.rr.com. Please include your phone number in your email. Your participation is appreciated. Within the count circle there is Lake Amistad, Rio Grande River, San Felipe and Spring Creeks, Amistad Recreation Area, Laguna de Plata, and much of Del Rio. We will be meeting at Fisherman's Headquarters at 7 AM on count day.

El Paso (TXEP): Tuesday, January 1, 2013 (probable date)
If a new or returning participant, please contact the compiler, Jim Paton at jnpaton@att.net prior to the count or phone 915-585-2628 for more information about joining. El Paso / Trans-Pecos Audubon Society.

Guadalupe Mountains (TXGM): Saturday, January 5, 2013
Please contact the compiler, Michael Haynie, at Michael_Haynie@nps.gov before count day because coverage areas will be assigned before count day. Most areas require moderate to strenuous hiking. Participants will meet at 6:45 AM at the Pine Springs Cholla Chateau (call 915-828-3251x2314 for directions) to be sure all areas are covered. This is one of the few places in Texas you can find Stellar's Jays. Other birds of note from recent counts include: Golden Eagle, Mountain Chickadee, Juniper Titmouse, Pygmy Nuthatch, Mountain and Western Bluebirds, Townsend's Solitaire, Sage and Crissal Thrasher, Green-tailed Towhee, Sage Sparrow and a variety of Dark-eyed Junco ssp. Preliminary post-count tally will be at the Cholla at the end of the day. Some dormitory style shared housing or RV space may be available for Friday and Saturday nights for $8.00 per person per night. Advance reservations required (phone number above).