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

Thank You for your support in the success of The Texas Blue Jay Project!

Many Thanks to everyone who has donated their used bird books to The Texas Blue Jay Project to support local ornithology/birding clubs in high schools and middle schools!

Thank you to all who have spread the word about our cause! Especially, Williamson Audubon Group, Travis Audubon Society, Capital Area Master Naturalists, and Friends of Balcones Canyonlands! Thank you for your continuous support!

I also would like to "Thank" Georgetown Public Library, Cedar Park Public Library, and North Village Branch Austin Public Library for hosting The Texas Blue Jay Project Bird Book Donation Boxes! I really appreciate your support! Thank you!

If you still would like to donate your used or new bird books; Please contact me at: thetexasbluejayproject@gmail.com.

We are always accepting your bird book donations! Our future young conservationists will truly appreciate it!



Have a Birdy & Happy Holidays!
The Texas Blue Jay Project

Travis & Williamson County The Texas Blue Jay Project Bird Book Donation Boxes Locations

Thank you to those who have already donated their used bird books to The
Texas Blue Jay Project Bird Book Donation Boxes to support local schools
future youth birding clubs/ornithology clubs. These bird related books will
help high schools & middle schools start an ornithology library in their
schools.

Please consider recycling/donating your old, outdated, used, or new bird
books to this awesome cause!

Here is an update of local libraries that have The Texas Blue Jay Project
Bird Book Donation Boxes:

Travis Location(s):

1. Austin Public Library--North Village Branch Center
2505 Steck Ave.
Austin, Texas


Williamson Location(s):

1. Georgetown Public Library
402 W.8th Street
Georgetown, Texas

2. Cedar Park Public Library
550 Discovery Boulevard
Cedar Park, Texas


***The listed libraries above will be continuously accepting your used bird
books for The Texas Blue Jay Project Bird Book Donation Boxes.

***Turn in your donated bird books at the circulation desk. Don't forget to
mention that your donated bird books are for The Texas Blue Jay Project
Bird Book Donation Box.
Thank you!
The Texas Blue Jay Project

#GoneTexasBirding

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 Bird Book Donation Box by Sebastian Casarez

I am excited to announce about The Texas Blue Jay Project Bird Book Donation Boxes that I am ready to place at local libraries.

My goal is to have several local libraries willing to place these boxes at their library to collect used or new or outdated bird books for their local schools and communities to support future Youth Birding Clubs/Ornithology Clubs in their schools. These donated bird books will be used for an ornithology library for future birding studies in their school. I also plan to give bird presentations at these schools to introduce them to birdwatching.

Our FIRST The Texas Blue Jay Project Bird Book Donation Box is at Georgetown Public Library. Please drop off your donated bird books downstairs at the Circulation Center. Please let the librarian clerks know that your donated bird books are for The Texas Blue Jay Project Bird Book Donation Box.

I need your HELP to spread the word to your local library about having The Texas Blue Jay Project Bird Book Donation Box at your library. These bird books will benefit your local schools and community.

Here are ways to help:

1. If interested in having The Texas Blue Jay Project Bird Book Donation Box at your local library; Contact me at: thetexasbluejayproject@gmail.com

2. Support the cause by donating your bird books at Georgetown Public Library for The Texas Blue Jay Project Bird Book Donation Box.

3.  Keep checking The Texas Blue Jay Project Blog for updated information about The Texas Blue Jay Project Bird Book Donation Boxes.


Thank you!

#GoneTexasBirding,
Sebastian 

Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles Minor) by Sebastian Casarez

*Photo by Sebastian Casarez, Common Nighthawk

   Throughout late Summer evenings in parking lots and open fields you might notice a medium-sized slim bird flying over with long-pointed wings, flies with an erratic bat-like flight and make a loud "peent" call as it's flying...this bird is called a Common Nighthawk.

*Photo by Sebastian Casarez, Common Nighthawk

   Common Nighthawks are abundant in Texas during April-October. They spend the Summer in North America and they spend the Winter in South America. Common Nighthawks are aerial insectivores, which means they feed on flying insects while on the wing. Nighthawks can be found hovering over open fields or parking lots. Especially, during nightime they will be hovering under spotlights to catch insects. During the daytime you might find nighthawks roosting on your backyard fences, trees, roofs, or even on your car!

   Male and female Common Nighthawks look almost identical but, except males have white throats and broad white wing bars while females have buffy throats and the white wing bars aren't so bold as the males. 

*Photo by Sebastian Casarez, Common Nighthawk, Male

   Nighthawks are closely related to Nightjars which include: Common Poorwill, Chuck-will's-widow, Whip-poor-will, and others. Unlike most nightjars, Nighthawks catch their prey by wing. They will hover over fields to catch insects. While other Nightjars will do the "sit-and-wait" technique, which is when the bird stays sit on the ground and when a flying insect passes by they will leap up and catch the insect with their extremely, large mouth.

  

   Common Nighthawks like any other nightjar don't build nests. Instead, they lay their eggs on flat ground (rocks, gravel, flat gravel rooftops, etc...) making themselves easy targets for predation. The eggs and hatchlings are so well camouflage that sometimes predators can't see them at all. 

   The next time you are sitting outside in your backyard porch during the Summer evenings in Texas try to hear the loud "peent" call of one of my favorite Summer bird migrant in Texas, the Common Nighthawk.

Happy Birding,

Sebastian Casarez

#GoneTexasBirding

#CommonNighthawksAreCool

#TheTexasBlueJayProject