Northern Bobwhite photo by Ashley Wahlberg
Below you will find recent news regarding the PAS. This may include information on conferences, updates on groups we partner with, community outreach, or bird alerts/significant sightings.
May 2021
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We had our first post-pandemic meeting this month with lots of exciting news including a list of new officers to view on our Contacts Page!
And an update on Susie Lower's project with the Nacogdoches Airport: The City had contracted with mowers to mow the entire airport area, leaving no areas along the edges for Henslow’s Sparrows or Sprague’s Pipits as well as other ground dwellers. Susie began to question why the city would mow the entire area. So, Susie introduced herself to the new A.L. Mangham Jr. Airport manager, Joe Cefalu. Joe was open to discussion and a tour of the property with Susie; during the tour of the property, Joe and she reclaimed areas of the airport which provided habitat for birds. Susie, David Wolf, and Dave Wallace attended an airport meeting in which the case was made to provide grassy areas at the airport which had been traditional habitat for the sparrows. John Smelser also provided a lot of good feedback about the grasses and plants. PAS now has a working relationship with the City Airport via Susie Lower and Dave Wolf; this relationship was confirmed by vote of the Airport Board. Stakes will be placed along the non-mowing areas. Thank you for your hard work and determination!!! |
Aerial image of the A.L. Mangham Jr. Airport
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December 2020
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Breaking news: Preliminary CBC Results
Pineywoods Audubon held its 51st Nacogdoches Christmas Bird Count on December 20 and it looks like we came in with a very respectable total of 114 species, a bit higher than our long-term average. Response to the count was great and we had 15 parties afield for at least part of the day. The weather couldn’t have been more pleasant, and after the previous day with heavy rain we awoke to a very moderate 50℉ and cloudy skies that cleared to a sunny afternoon with a light north wind. The birds were a mixed-bag. In general the numbers of winter residents were low and even many of our favorite year-round residents seemed down in numbers, but every party found some of our scarcer birds to get us up to a good species total. Good numbers and variety of ducks and most other waterbirds were tallied by the Kurth Lake and sewer ponds teams, while the most notable winter resident up in numbers was Purple Finch (found by 6 parties). Major “misses” were American Woodcock (missed for the 1st time since 1971), Northern Harrier, Loggerhead Shrike and Sedge Wren. True rarities found were a Ruby-throated Hummingbird found by Laura Wilson and Anne Tindell; a Clay-colored Sparrow for David Wolf (new species for the count); and 2 Summer Tanagers (Liam Wolff and Cliff Shackelford). Within a few weeks I should have everything compiled and submitted and I will send out a more detailed summary. For now, thanks to everyone and have a Happy and Safe Holiday Season |
Dark-eyed Junco by John Smelser
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November 2020
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It has been a while since our last update as there has been a lot going on in the world since January 2020. Hopefully you have seen some interesting or new birds this year, and we welcome the many folks who have (re)discovered the joy of birding during the COVID-19 pandemic. We have unfortunately not been able to meet as a group this season, but we will hold our socially distant 51st annual Christmas Bird Count next month! Also remember that dues are still due despite us not meeting in person, see our Home page for more information on where to send dues. Check our our bird reports for this year on our Archives page, like our Facebook Page, and join our Facebook Group to chat about your bird outings or sightings!
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Pine Warbler photo from John Smelser
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January 2020
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Happy New Year! The PAS completed its 50th annual Christmas Bird Count last month! The final species total was 110, including species such as Crested Caracara, Common Gallinule, Common Yellowlegs, Herring Gull, Neotropic Cormorant, White-eyed Vireo, Gray Catbird (6 of them!), and Western Meadowlark. See the full report on our Archives page.
We are also happy to share that Caddo Mounds State Historic Site has reopened; please visit and bird this special place. |
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April 2019
Migration is in full swing! Take a look online at the migration forecasts to determine the best days to go look for migrants. Much of it depends on the direction of the wind - wind coming from the south pushes birds farther north without much energy expenditure. If winds are coming from the north, birds often take a rest (such as in Pecan Park in Nacogdoches) before continuing on their migratory journey. Be sure to take some time this month and into May to experience and enjoy migration!
March 2019
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The Grand Opening of the Neches River National Wildlife Refuge to the public will occur on April 13! Find out more information by clicking here. Great Blue Heron photo by Adrian Van Dellen.
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February 2019
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The Pineywoods Audubon Society is again co-sponsoring the annual Bird Day and Great Backyard Bird Count (fun, free event for the whole family), which will be held Feb. 16 from 9am-12pm at the SFA Pineywoods Native Plant Center in Nacogdoches, TX. See our Facebook for more details!
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January 2019
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Website officially launched!
Dave Wolf publishes the Fall 2018 Quarterly Bird Report (go to the Bird Report Archive to download and read it). The Texas Ornithological Society winter meeting will be held in Galveston at the end of this month (January 24-27, 2019). There are still spots available! Find the details here and here. The Wild Texas Tour Film, which showcases wildlife, adventure, and conservation stories from across Texas, will be in Nacogdoches on January 19, 2019. Two films are featuring the Attwater's Prairie-Chicken and the Northern Bobwhite. Find more details here. |
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