San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory and Latino Outdoors Birdy Hour Speaker Series: Birding. Love at First Sight.

 

Register Today:

https://www.flipcause.com/secure/cause_pdetails/ODc2MzY=#!

Austin Nature and Science Center Nature Day April 20

Come and Join us at the Austin Nature and Science Center Nature Day Free Event! Stop by and Visit our Texas Blue Jay Project table! 


We will be hosting a "Be a Bird" Interactive booth table at this awesome event! #GoneTexasBirding

Birds of Lake Pflugerville Presentation and More!

Come and join us to learn about the beautiful birds at Lake Pflugerville! It's a FREE event! All Ages Welcome. There will also be bird craft activities for kids!

Birds of Lake Pflugerville Presentation
Thursday, March 14, 2019
7:00pm-8:00pm

Birding Activities start at 6:30pm-7:00pm

Elisabet Ney's Nature Day! Saturday, March 2, 2019, 1-4pm

Come and Stop by our TX Blue Jay Project Birdwatching Basics & Bird Conservation Booth! It's a FREE Family Event!




We will also have a very cool paper Bird Wind Chime craft activity for kids!

Young Birders Birding Resources

Birding Resources

–       American Birding Association/ABA Young Birders: www.aba.org./aba-young-birders/

–       National Audubon Society:  www.audubon.org

–       Texas Audubon Society: www.tx.audubon.org

–       Texas Parks and Wildlife/World Birding Centers: http://tpwd.texas.gov

–       ebird.org/ebird Young Birders Network: ebird.org/about/resources/for-young-birders

–       Cornell Lab of Ornithology/All About Birds: www.allaboutbirds.org

–       inaturalist.org: www.inaturalist.org

–       High island, Texas: https://houstonaudubon.org/sanctuaries/high-island/plan-your-visit.html

–       Great Texas Birding Classic: http://tpwd.texas.gov/events/great-texas-birding-classic

2018 compiled by The Texas Blue Jay Project

Birding Etiquette

Birding Etiquette

–       Respect the birds and wildlife. Don’t get too close to the birds. Especially, when photographing birds.

–       Don’t be loud when birding.

–       Don’t play bird recordings during Spring breeding season.

–       Don’t trespass on private property.

–       Respect the rules of the park and trails.

–       Assist a fellow birder who needs help finding a bird.

–       Don’t pick up a bird/Fledgling.

–       Pick up your trash.

–       Respect the landscape. Don’t trample plants or trees to view a bird.

–      –       DON’T FEED Wildlife. ONLY feed the birds at your home using a bird feeder.

–       Sit quietly at bird blinds.

                                                

Compiled by The Texas Blue Jay Project

Want to have an Ornithology/Birding Club in your High School or Middle School?

If you or someone you know is interested in having an Ornithology/Birding Club in their high school or middle school; Please contact me at: thetexasbluejayproject@gmail.com. I am looking for high & middle schools in Texas that would like to start an Ornithology/Birding Club in their school. 

The Texas Blue Jay Project has an Ornithology/Birding Club starter box to donate to your future High & Middle School for FREE. Each box will contain a starter pack of bird books, birdwatching resources, information how to start and run a birding club, a bird feeder, resources on how to become a bird citizen scientist/conservationist. WHILE SUPPLIES LAST.

If interested I can present a birdwatching powerpoint presentation for your students at your local high & middle school. Please contact me for more information. 


Thank you for spreading the word about The Texas Blue Jay Project!


Happy Birding,
The Texas Blue Jay Project

#GoneTexasBirding
#TexasYoungBirders
#YoungBirdConservationist

WILLIAMSON COUNTY AREA -The Texas Blue Jay Project Bird Book Donation Boxes LOCATIONS

I am excited to announce our TWO Williamson County Area The Texas Blue Jay Project Bird Book Donation Boxes Locations:

1. Georgetown Public Library

Location: 402 W. 8th Street Georgetown, Texas 78626

*Turn in your donated used or new bird related books at the circulation desk and don't forget to mention that your donated bird books are for The Texas Blue Jay Project Bird Book Donation Box.

*All collected bird books at Georgetown Public Library will go to a nearby high school to start a Youth Birding Club/Ornithology Club. These donated bird books will help them start an Ornithology Library in their school.

2. Cedar Park Public Library 

Location: 550 Discovery Boulevard
Cedar Park, TX  78613

*Turn in your donated used or new bird related books at the circulation desk and don't forget to mention that your donated bird books are for The Texas Blue Jay Project Bird Book Donation Box.

*All collected bird books at Cedar Park Public Library will go to a nearby high school to start a Youth Birding Club/Ornithology Club. These donated bird books will help them start an Ornithology Library in their school.

Please consider donating your used or new bird books to this wonderful cause! Thank you!

#GoneTexasBirding

Sebastian

The Texas Blue Jay Project

The Texas Blue Jay Project Used Bird Field Guide Book Drive for Texas Students by Sebastian Casarez

The Texas Blue Jay Project goal is to encourage kids and their families to discover birds and birdwatching in their backyards, city and state parks. And to help bring more diversity and young birders into the birding community. This is why I am discovering several ways how to reach kids and families to get them started with birdwatching. First, with The Texas Blue Jay Project Pledge and visiting students at schools and libraries to teach about birds and birdwatching. Now, I am organizing a Texas Blue Jay Project Used Bird Field Guide Book Drive for Barrington Elementary School in NE Austin. I hope to continue this book drive to help bring bird field guide books to several schools around Texas as well. I was a self-taught birder at the age of 7 with an Audubon book. I would have never dreamed that an Audubon book would have changed my life. Now, I hope it will change several kids lives too.

*Photo above by Sebastian Casarez: The Audubon Book that changed my life at the age of 7.

AISD Barrington Elementary School became the 1st recipient of the Austin Children's Outdoor Bill ( Austin's Cities Connecting Children to Nature Initiative, the Parks and Recreation Department, along with dozens of partner organizations. November 1. 2016).
This grant provided Barrington Elementary School to build a garden center and several green space for their school. Next month, they will celebrate their completion of their greenspace. The Barrington Green School Park Celebration will be on March 24. I will be there volunteering leading birding by ear walks. I will have a table there to distribute birding resources and I hope to distribute used bird field guide books for the students. That's where  I need your help. I will need donated books by March 19. Please email me if you would be interested in donating a used bird field guide book. Thank you.

Happy Birding,
Sebastian Casarez
The Texas Blue Jay Project
#BirdBookDrive
#TexasBirding

Bird is the Word! By Sebastian Casarez

We are half way to reaching The Texas Blue Jay Project Pledge of 1,000 new birders! Thank you to all who have supported the cause.

I have exciting news! The Texas Blue Jay Project has caught the attention of KXAN Studio 512 Entertainment Reporter Joe Barlow. Mr. Barlow wanted to know more about The Texas Blue Jay Project and wanted to know how to birdwatch. I had such a fun time! I hope you all enjoy the interview video that aired in September:

The Texas Blue Jay Project
http://kxan.com/2017/09/18/bird-is-the-word-with-this-outdoor-hobby/


Thank you, Joe Barlow for spreading the word about The Texas Blue Jay Project!



Happy Birding,
Sebastian Casarez
The Texas Blue Jay Project
Founder/Coordinator

#GoOutside&Bird

The Texas Blue Jay Project Launch! by Sebastian Casarez

On June 13, 2017, I launched The Texas Blue Jay Project and I am happy to annouce we have 45 new Texas birders that pledged to explore birding (birdwatching) in their backyards, city & state parks! That is AWESOME! We need to keep the momentum going...We still need 955 Texans to take the The Texas Blue Jay Project Pledge! My goal is to reach 1,000 Texans throughout the Great State of Texas that will pledge to explore birding. Please spread the word about The Texas Blue Jay Project Pledge. 

If you are interested in taking the The Texas Blue Jay Project Pledge here are ways to Pledge:

1. You can email me at thetexasbluejayproject@gmail.com with the below information provided: 
-.First name and First letter of your last name
 -The name of the Texas city you live in
-Finally, the Date you Pledge to Explore Birding(birdwatching) at your backyard, city & state parks

2. You can attend one of my bird presentation talks or bird walks to sign The Texas Blue Jay Project Pledge. I will post upcoming events on Twitter : texasbluejayproject@TXBLUJayProject

3. You can post on Twitter a photo of you birding in your backyard, city or state park  @TXBLUJayProject

4. You can post a comment on The Texas Blue Jay Project Blog with the same info from Step 1.

5. Any Texan can sign The Texas Blue Jay Project Pledge! If you have a child or you are under the age of 18 years old ALL I ASK FOR IS THEIR FIRST NAME ONLY PLUS THE CITY IN TEXAS YOU ALL LIVE IN AND DATE OF PLEDGE. Thank you!

Once I reach 1,000 signature pledges I plan to visit with local cities park and recreation departments and Texas State Parks to show them Texans do LOVE and support birds and birding(birdwatching) in Texas. I prepared several proposals to present to them on ways how they can increase birding programs for kids and adults in ALL city parks and state parks in Texas.
 
Keep checking The Texas Blue Jay Project Blog for the progress of The Texas Blue Jay Project Pledge. I will also post about birding tips on where to bird in Texas, birding ID tips, ways to protect Birds Habitats, Bird of the Month, Birding events and birding festivals in Texas, and many birding related topics.

#GoneTexasBirding

Happy Birding,
Sebastian Casarez
The Texas Blue Jay Project 
Founder/Coordinator

Take The Texas Blue Jay Project Pledge Today!

#GoTexasBirding!

The Texas Blue Jay Project Pledge is to get outdoors and birdwatch at your backyard, city & state parks. Whether you’re a First time, Novice, or Expert Birder TAKE THE PLEDGE! Support Texas Birds!

#GoTexasBirding

For more information: Contact: Sebastian Casarez, The Texas Blue Jay Project Founder/Coordinator

thetexasbluejayproject@gmail.com

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER

TexasBlueJayProject@TXBLUJayProject

The Texas Blue Jay Project by Sebastian Casarez

As Texans, we are very fortunate to live in our state that has more than 600 birds that either live all year in Texas or migrate to Texas. The diversity of habitats in Texas welcomes many birds to call Texas home and it also attracts many migratory birds that visit Texas during migration. Especially, the Endangered Golden-cheeked warbler and the Endangered Black-capped Vireo. Both birds migrate once a year to Texas from Central and South America to breed and raise their young. The Endangered Golden-cheeked warblers nests in Central Texas, because of it's Ashe Juniper cedar trees that they use to build their nests with the bark of the Ashe Juniper cedar trees. Unfortunately, the Texas General Land Office recently filed suit to delist the Golden-cheeked warbler from the endangered species list.*sources from Audubon Texas & National Audubon Society Facebook post on June 7, 2017. 

Protect the Endangered Golden-Cheeked warbler! For more information on ways to help the Endangered Golden-cheeked warbler contact Travis Audubon Society or your local TX Audubon Society.

Lots to see in Texas! Besides, the beautiful and diverse habitats in Texas we have endangered birds that visit Texas, several types of warblers, herons, and much more! 

This is why I started The Texas Blue Jay Project Pledge! I believe it is our responsibility as Texans to protect and preserve habitats that many birds call Texas home, too! #GoTexasBirding! 

Explore your Texas birds!

Visit The Texas Blue Jay Project blog:

thetexasbluejayproject.blogspot.com

Follow us  on Twitter:

TexasBlueJayProject@TXBLUJayProject

Happy Birding,

Sebastian Casarez

The Texas Blue Jay Project

Founder & Coordinator