Barrington Elementary Green Park School Celebration Report by Sebastian Casarez

Hello Fellow Texas Birders!

Many Thanks to all who donated their used or new bird field guide book(s) to The Texas Blue Jay Project Bird Field Guide Book Drive for Barrington Elementary Green Park School in NE Austin! You have inspired many new future young birders by your contribution(s)! Back in late February, I had sent out an email to fellow birders (TexBirds) requesting used bird field guide books for The Barrington Elementary Green Park School Celebration for March 24, 2018. I was overwhelmed by the generous donations from all over Texas. With your generous bird book donation(s)  The Texas Blue Jay Project raised a total of 75 bird field guide books for the students at Barrington Elementary School. Thank you to all who made this happen for the kids! Special Thanks to The Rio Brazos Audubon Society and Travis Audubon Society for their support!

About 100 people attended The Barrington Elementary Green Park School Celebration on Saturday, March 24, 2018. This was their celebration for their new green space at their school campus. Along with several wonderful collaborators who made this possible for Barrington Elementary: Children in Nature of  Austin, Westcave Outdoor Discovery, City Councilman Gregorio Casar, District 4, Austin Police Department, Austin Parks and Recreation, AISD Superintendent Dr. Paul Cruz, Dr. Stephen Pont, Nature Rocks Austin, Mrs. Gilma Sanchez, Barrington Elementary School Principal, and many others who joined ceremony celebration for Barrington Elementary Green Park School.

 *Barrington Elementary Green Park School Ceremony photo by Sandra Casarez

*Seeding Ceremony for Barrington Elementary Green Park School photo by Sandra Casarez

After the Barrington Elementary Green Park School Ceremony, I headed back to my table ready to distribute your donated book(s) to the students at the celebration. 

*Photo by Sandra Casarez

I had a total of 75 donated used and new bird field guide books. I handed out 21 used bird field guide books to future young birders that attended the Barrington Elementary Green Park School Celebration. I handed 21 new or good condition bird field guide books to The Barrington Elementary School Principal Mrs. Gilma Sanchez for those bird field guide books to be used for the Classroom. One Austin birder generously donated 20 Golden Guide Bird Field Guide Books to the school and dropped them off at Barrington Elementary School. One Austin birder generously donated 13 used bird field guide books to the school and planned to drop the books at Barrington Elementary School.

Thank you for making so many happy young birders! Enjoy these photos of  some of  the Barrington Elementary Green Park School Students receiving your donated bird field guide books! 

Thank you, Mrs. Gilma Sanchez, Barrington Elementary School Principal for having The Texas Blue Jay Project participate at The Barrington Elementary Green Park School Celebration! I would not have been able to do this without the help of several generous Texas birders! Thank you, Texas Birders!

 *Me presenting the donated bird field guide books to Mrs. Gilma Sanchez, Principal of Barrington Elementary School. 

photo by Sandra Casarez

*Mrs. Gilma Sanchez, Principal of Barrington Elementary School with donated bird field guide books. Photo by Sandra Casarez

Stay tuned for our NEXT The Texas Blue Jay Project bird field guide book drive for another Texas Elementary School! #Gone Texas Birding #TheTexasBlueJayProject #TexasYoung Birders #TexasBirders

Celebrate Urban Birds Dove Springs Recreation Center by Sebastian Casarez

On Wednesday, March 14, 2018 was the Celebrate Urban Birds (CUB) event at Dove Springs Recreation Center in Austin, Texas. I had the pleasure of volunteering at this awesome event again for the second year. This was also a special day for me as this was the first time The Texas Blue Jay Project was represented and volunteered at this event. The Texas Blue Jay Project hosted a Bird Mask activity table at the event where several East Austin kids had fun making their creative masks for the event to wear. Many thanks to my mom Sandra for helping me with preparing the crafts and assisting me at the tables. Also, "Thank you" to Jennifer and Diana from the City of Austin Park Ranger Cadet Program, for assisting at the bird mask activity table. I really appreciate your help!

*Photo by Sebastian Casarez

As some of you know, that I love to make "bird calls."  I especially enjoy teaching kids how to make bird calls as well. The kids were having so much FUN making bird calls with me. There was one kid in particular that wanted me to make every bird call on his bird field guide. Of course, I was happy to make them for him. I had so much fun making bird calls for the kids!

*Photo by Sandra Casarez

When I started The Texas Blue Jay Project last June 2017, I wanted to make sure that I could reach as many kids out there and teach them about the joy of birds and birding. At this CUB event, there were about 250 kids attending this event. I hope that each of those kids that visited our Texas Blue Jay Project tables left this CUB event with excitement of wanting to know more about the birds in their backyard and discover the beauty of the sounds of birds. 

I invite you all to the next FREE Celebrate Urban Birds Austin Event on Saturday, March 31, 2018 at Austin Nature and Science Center 9am-12pm. The Texas Blue Jay Project will be there volunteering. I have a special guest joining me, my Great Horned Owl, BUBO. Check out our First puppet performance "Sebastian & Bubo Explore Birding" at CUB ANSC event! 

#GoneTexasBirding

Sebastian Casarez

The Texas Blue Jay Project

#AustinBirding

#TexasYoungBirders

#FutureBirdConservationists

ABA Blog: Birding Mentors Inspiring Young Minds by Sebastian Casarez

Birding Mentors do indeed inspire young birders! Thank you, Dr. A! 

Please read ABA The Eyrie Blog:

http://youngbirders.aba.org/2018/03/open-mic-birding-mentors-inspiring-young-minds.html

Become bird mentors for #Young Birders!

#TheTexasBlueJayProject

#GoneTexasBirding

#AmericanBirdingAssociation