Two workshops for beginning birders, part of the “Learn to Bird” series, are slated for October. These events are part of the popular Birding with Extension program.
Learn to Bird West will take place Oct. 8-10 at the Kerr Wildlife Management Area in Kerr County, and Learn to Bird East runs Oct. 13-15 at Long Acres Ranch in Fort Bend County, just outside Richmond.
Learn to Bird features focused birding trips led by a professional guide and educational presentations by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service faculty.
The cost is $375 for each event, which may be paid in full at time of registration, or a $50 deposit may be made to hold a spot and the remainder can be paid before the event. Registration is at https://tx.ag/LearntoBird.
The cost includes classes and birding, guide fee, all meals and property access fees. Participants are responsible for their own lodging. Each program is capped at 15 participants.
New locations, addition of East event
Kerr Wildlife Management Area and Long Acres Ranch are both new locations for the Birding with Extension program.
“We are excited to announce these new locations for Learn to Bird and to share birding with others across the state of Texas,” said Emily Grant, AgriLife Extension agriculture and natural resources agent for Val Verde County. Grant said this is the first year there has been an East Texas event.
“Our Birding with Extension guide Bryan Calk will be back joining us for this year’s Learn to Bird programs,” she said. “We are excited to share the experience of birding with those who are interested in getting started in their birding journey.”
Owned and operated by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Kerr is a site for wildlife management, research and demonstration. It covers over 6,000 acres of the Edwards Plateau, providing habitat for hundreds of species of native wildlife. In the summer, black-capped vireos breed on the property.
“During Learn to Bird West, we will find a variety of migrating birds, along with resident species such as wild turkey and northern bobwhite at Kerr,” Grant said.
Participants of Learn to Bird East will experience Long Acres Ranch, a privately owned venue spanning 768 acres with 2.5 miles of undeveloped land along the Brazos River. Grant said this location should provide for some excellent birding and a wide range of species due to the location and the undeveloped riverfront.
