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Texas Bird Breeders Annual Fall Show and Fair 2009

Editor — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 09:58:30 +0000

The Texas Bird Breeders Annual Fall Show and Fair is an anticipated event for all bird breeders, as it gives them the opportunity to show off their best birds, and win a few prizes. Held on the 7th of November 2009, the show is organized by the Texas Bird Breeders and Fanciers Association, and there will be a variety of birds, vendors and exhibits to look forward to. Some of the birds on display include Budgerigars, Cockatiels, Softbills, Finches, Lovebirds and a few different parrot species.

Information and details about the show is available on the Texas Bird Breeders and Fanciers Association website, at http://www.texasbirdbreeders.org .

Date: 7 November 2009
Venue: Mayborn Convention Centre
City: Texas
Country: United States of America

Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival

Editor — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 14:18:11 +0000

Bird lovers looking for a fantastic long-weekend getaway should look no further than the 15th Annual Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival. The festival will take place, as always, in Harlingen, Texas, and will provide plenty of great, nature-orientated activities for young and old.

So what can you expect to enjoy at the Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival? The weekend’s events are a combination of field trips, keynote lectures, workshops, seminars, children’s programs and a trade show, so there really will be something for everyone. What’s more, the programs and activities have been specially designed to cater to the needs of backyard, novice and veteran birder’s alike; so no matter what your skill level you will find the program to be insightful, informative and fun. The Birder’s Bazaar is one of the places where you will be able to while away hours while updating your equipment, having some fun and learning more about the environment. Nature artwork, trusty field guides, new optics and plenty of birding gear will be available from the more than 60 vendors who have traveled to the show from across the nation to participate in the festival. For those interested in photography, the Eagle Optics and Swarovski Optik digiscoping contest that will be held throughout the festival represents the opportunity of a lifetime. There is simply no shortage of great things to see and do at the festival.

Of course the real reason for the festival is the abundant birdlife that is present in Rio Grande Valley. More than 250 species were sighted at last year’s festival – something which proves that the area is a birding hotspot! To help you in your quest to spot some of these amazing birds, there will be a number of world-class guides leading field trips into the valley and sharing their invaluable information with you. Another good reason for attending the festival is the opportunity to surround yourself with plenty of like-minded individuals. There will be many opportunities to make new friends and meet new people. The event will get underway with a Welcome Reception held at the Harlingen Arts & Heritage Museum on Wednesday, November 5, between 5 and 7 pm. The weekend’s activities will wind down to an enjoyable ending on November 9, after five great days of bird-watching excitement. So make the most of this annual event and make sure that you participate in this year’s Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival.

2008 Hummer/Bird Celebration

Editor — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 11:30:52 +0000

Every year hundreds of people gather together to celebrate the amazing migration of the Ruby-throated Hummingbird. This year will be no different and fans are getting ready to enjoy the 20th Anniversary Hummer/Bird Celebration which will take place from September 11-14.

The annual Hummer/Bird Celebration is held in the coastal Texas towns of Rockport & Fulton every September. The celebration coincides with the fall migration of these delightful little creatures but it doesn’t focus solely on the Ruby-throated Hummingbird. There are also a number of other hummingbird species present in the area around this time and bird watchers may be fortunate enough to spot Black-chinned, Rufous, Buff-bellies and Allen’s Hummingbirds during the Hummer/Bird Celebration. The main goal of the festival is to not only celebrate the annual migration of the Ruby-throated Hummingbird but to help people expand their knowledge of all birds and associated wildlife in the area. The entire event is designed to be fun, educational and inspiring and it is tailored for members of the whole family. Birders of different skill levels are well-catered for, so you can be sure that you will enjoy the weekend regardless of how experienced or inexperienced you are.

Visitors are encouraged to make the most of the 2008 Hummer/Bird Celebration, and you will find that there will be plenty of excellent speakers to keep you informed and entertained. Thus far seventeen different speakers have been booked for the event, and they will be speaking on 21 different topics. The topics are varied and will not only cover hummingbirds and birds in general, but will feature other aspects of wildlife such as butterflies and moths, as well as developing a garden that will better attract your feathered friends. Other aspects of the festival to look forward to include a bird photography demonstration, regular bus field trips, regular boating field trips, a self-guided tour of hummer homes, hummingbird banding demonstrations, hummer/bird malls where you can purchase a variety of nature-related products, butterfly walks and a number of outdoor exhibits.

After the success of the 2007 Hummer/Bird Celebration, birding fans are looking forward to an even better 2008 Celebration. Why not take the plunge and get involved by being a part of this year’s Hummer/Bird Celebration? You are unlikely to regret it!

The Balcones Songbird Festival in Texas

Editor — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 13:56:06 +0000

Bird lovers will often tell you that the first thing that attracted them to these often delicate, pretty little creatures was their delightful songs. For centuries this caused man to catch and cage these little bards so that they could hear their delightful music both day and night. Fortunately today we no longer seek to put wild birds in cages, but we still enjoy the sweet melodies that they utter.

If you’re a lover of birds, why not think about attending the Balcones Songbird Festival? This lovely celebration of nature will be taking place at the Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge between the 25 and 28th of April 2008, and visitors will be able to enjoy birds, butterflies and wildflowers, as well as the company of many like-minded individuals. The entire concept of the festival is to encourage interest in the preservation of the Refuge’s critical habitat. This means that there is a very large educational aspect to the festival and participants are able to experience animals, plants and habitats as they make their way around the wildlife refuge. But this does not mean that the experience is drab and boring – it is quite the opposite in fact. Something special has been prepared for each day to enable visitors to make the most of their time spent living amidst nature.

So what can you expect to find at the Balcones Songbird Festival in Texas? The festival kicks off with a bit of wining and dining as visitors are treated to delicious cuisine, fine wine and a bit of nature-orientated entertainment. The following morning starts early with a birding tour that is designed specifically to enable participants to see as many of the focus species as possible. This is followed by a more generalized bird-watching tour where you might spot Painted Bunting, Canyon Wren, Vermilion Flycatcher and Grasshopper Sparrows as well as many other species. After a light lunch, visitors can again head out on a moderately easy hike to see the focus species of the event. After this you can head out and simply explore the countryside and discover its many intricacies with the help of your guides Jean and Seay Nance.

The next day of the event features more of the same bird-watching and hiking but it also has a few interesting lectures about other facets of looking after nature. One of these is a lecture about how fire can be used to create and enhance a songbird habitat. Another is a lecture and course on photographing songbirds. You can also take a tour of the Bamberger ranch on this day.

The last day is truly a day for the family and everyone can participate in events such as spider hunts, building birdhouses, building fanciful stained glass windows and more. It is also an opportunity to watch a snake show and a raptor show and learn more about the little bugs and beetles that all form a part of the local ecology. So book your place at the Balcones Songbird Festival now and enjoy this fantastic weekend of nature and birds with your family.