Audubon Outdoor Club
Monthly Newsletter 
November 2023
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The Ladder-backed Woodpecker is one of two year-round Coastal Bend residents from the Picidae family. Unlike its cousin, the Golden-fronted Woodpecker which is so often seen on telephone poles by the road, this bird is mostly found in a forested area. The male, with his red crown, tends to forage lower than does the female, who sports a black skullcap. A clear, almost musical, pik call sometimes gives notice of a downward, laughing whinny to follow. They are monogamous and both sexes incubate the eggs. Photo from Russ Trudell.
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It has been a mournful time for the AOC recently, with the loss of two of our beloved members. We memorialize them and say good-bye, and then are left with an empty spot in our hearts that feels as if it will never stop hurting.
Your editor is feeling a little awed, however, by the special good-byes that materialized recently.
Over one million raptors have now been counted at Hazel Bazemore Park. Don't you think they wanted to say their good-byes to a dear old friend?
Three pink American Flamingos have been vacationing in Pt. Aransas. Did they hear the news that una parlanchina was ready to fly up and meet them?
That pain in our tickers begins to ease up after a while, and it's my belief that, especially for birders, there comes a time when we realize that the chasm has become a cozy nest, full of soft down and moss and dry leaves, with a wonderful memory living there.
Let's go birding to honor the memory of our friends Dane Ferrell and Phyllis Yochem.
AOC Newsletter Editor
Judy Kestner
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Meetings of the Audubon Outdoor Club of
Corpus Christi
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Our  m eetings offer the opportunity to hear informative speakers and to socialize with our local flock. Join us on the 2nd Tuesday of each month, September through June.
In September and June we gather for a picnic.
In the other months we conduct hybrid meetings on Zoom and in person at the South Texas Botanical Gardens, 8545 S. Staples, from 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Thanks to Liam Wolff for securing an outstanding line-up of speakers for the 2023-2024 birding year! Also, remember that the gardens are a wonderful place to visit and bird any time. More about the Botanical Gardens can be found at their website.
November 14
Dell Little: Century Club Birding in Texas
December 12
Eric Erhlich, TPWD: Aplomado Falcons at Mustang Island State Park
January 9
Rostam Mirzadi, TAMUCC: Use of Drones for Bird Surveys
February 13
Larry Jordan, Christmas Bird Count Compiler: 2023 CBC Recap for the Coastal Bend
March 12
Liam Wolff, TAMUCC: Bachman's Sparrow Ecology in Texas
April 9
TBD
May 14
AOC Members' Bird Photography: Have you been taking photos in your backyard? Around town? On field trips? Share your photos with the membership.
June 11
Potluck Picnic, 6:00 pm - Hawkwatch Platform, Hazel Bazemore Park: Our last get-together of the birding year is also a field trip. We will enjoy birding from the platform and then conduct a brief business meeting after dinner. Bring your own table, chair, drinks, plates, dinnerware, and a dish to share. Bug spray might be a good idea!
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By Liam Wolff, AOC President
We love birds. We love watching birds and listening to birds and helping birds. But we also love people - that’s why we’re in a club. We seek community from people who share our interests and passions, not only to join in our stewardship efforts, but also because people make birding more enjoyable and more interesting. Unfortunately, we’ve lost two of our people in October.
Dane Ferrell was a pillar of the Corpus Christi HawkWatch crew and our stewardship chair for  Pollywog Pond. He swore by dry-wit humor and also swore that playing heavy metal would bring Swallow-tailed Kites by the hawkwatch platform. (We’ll see about that one.) We will be celebrating Dane’s life at the Hawkwatch Platform on November 11th at 11:00 am. More details will be sent later. You can also memorialize him by donating to Hawkwatch International.
W e also celebrated the life of Phyllis Yochem in October, a long-time club member and birder in Corpus Christi. Phyllis was also a long-time columnist at the Caller-Times, and we looked forward to her Monday bird tales, so wonderfully written and so engaging. At Christmas she would share a virtual Christmas tree - a special arboreal species dripping with birds of all colors. Phyllis was an Honorary Member of the AOC, and having her on a field trip was always a pleasure, as she dispensed bird-related wisdom ("The White-eyed Vireo is a bird that you either see but don't hear, or hear but don't see."). She was a gentle soul, so intelligent, and so humble, and so loved by all.
The Audubon Outdoor Club has had a busy month. In October. We wrapped up our annual Celebration of Flight, hosted our first Birds and Beers at The Annex, held our first-of-the-fall indoor meeting and field trip, and attended Third Thursday at the Art Museum as a pop up vendor.
Due to the passing of Phyllis Yochem and Dane Ferrell, we have rescheduled two field trips to allow members to attend their memorials. The Pollywog Pond trip, led by Mel Cooksey, will now take place on Nov. 4th, and will be a great way to see some local freshwater pond dwellers as well as some uncommon passerine migrants such as Song Sparrow and American Goldfinch. Larry Jordan’s field trip to the Encinal Peninsula (Flour Bluff area) has been rescheduled to February 10th. See the Field Trips section of this newsletter for more details.
During this month’s meeting we will hear from Dell Little of the renowned Little birding family (including Ray, Terry, and Joshua) on his adventures trekking across the state of Texas, attempting to see 100 species in 100 Texas counties. We hope to have a great turnout at these upcoming events, so please come on out!
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Club Notes and Meeting Minutes of The Audubon Outdoor Club
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CLUB NOTES:
* Exciting Sightings reported at the October general meeting: Liam Wolff shared that a Tropical Parula was seen on the campus of Texas A&M Corpus Christi by Michael Orgill and that Fred Watkins found a Brown Noddy at the jetty in Port Aransas.
Many people have seen the Bar-tailed Godwit on the soccer fields and environs in Portland. Mel Cooksey mentioned that there was a similar bird seen in 2014 on the flats at A&M, which was of a different race from this one.
Liam also had a Tropical Parula at Rose Hill Cemetery, and a possible Cassin’s Vireo there too. He said Terry Little found a Ringed Kingfisher at Wright’s Pond in Bluntzer. There was a report of eight Brown Boobies and two American Flamingos on SanJose Island, and Larry Jordan had Red Knots on the beach at Mustang Island.
Mike Wenzel had several birds to report including an Eastern Towhee in his yard. Daniel Horton reported the first Bald Eagle and Golden Eagle of the fall at the HawkWatch platform on Sunday.
Adrienne Kerr said she and Judy Kestner saw a large flock of Broad-winged Hawks soaring over the Wood River Subdivision in Calallen recently.
* Below you will find a link to the October general meeting minutes. Feel free to bring up any additional corrections at the November meeting or send an email to jkestner@stx.rr.com.
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 Iif you need to change your information in the member booklet, please contact Judith at jareader@gmai.com.
WELCOME OUR NEWEST MEMBERS:
Ben Bearden & Family (Held-Moran neighbors)
ben@avitech.org, 351-249-4703
Jayna & Jordan Baker
jaynalynnbaker@gmail.com
817-995-4808
Daniel Horton (about time!)
djhorton711@gmail.com
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Beth Hoekje is a former teacher of children, and of AOC members. She moved to Richardson, TX several years ago to be near family, and we miss her a LOT! Over the course of many years Beth conducted regular bird counts at Indian Point and conducted wonderful workshops at AOC meetings (remember the flap, flap, flapping?). She was also a voice and piano teacher. After the death of her husband, Dr. Howard Hoekje, Beth established the club's Dr. Howard and Beth Hoekje Conservation Scholarship which has awarded funds to deserving students in the area. Here is her next adventure.
Here is the story behind “Beth’s Birds” at Wellington.
Wellington is a residence for “senior citizens” (a term I dislike) who are able to live more or less independently. There is also an Assisted Living section for those who require more care. Meals and housekeeping are provided, along with a few activities and entertainment.
But I soon discovered that there was very little in the way of engaging the mind, expanding views, and new learning experiences. I made friends quickly and became the resident pianist. After being here for a year or so, I decided it was time to share some of my travel experiences with the residents, starting with “Experiencing Galapagos.” I was able to put together a PowerPoint presentation using the many photos I had taken on my trip. I had always kept a detailed journal of all my excursions so it was a matter of refreshing my memory. Of course, in Galapagos, birds take center stage.
I talked with the Activity Director and scheduled the first session. The response was amazing. Every chair was taken and interest was intense. Lots of questions followed by” What are you going to do next?” and “When is the next show?”
After that came ANTARCTICA – Walking with the Penguins
WINTER IN YELLOWSTONE
ICELAND – Land of Fire and Ice……and Birds
GALAPAGOS – repeat performance by request for those who missed the first showing.
SCOTLAND THE BRAVE - with a guest bagpiper
SCOTLAND – The Western Isles
SCOTLAND – Orkney, Shetland and Faire Isle
NEW ZEALAND – the Kiwis
AUSTRALIA– the Land Down Under
THE HAWAIIAN ARCHIPELAGO – with emphasis on the birds on Midway Atoll
In every presentation, I had lots of birds since that was my main interest in making the journey. So, I decided it was time for a new series – “BETH’S BIRDS” - Birds of North America.
The first presentation was entitled “Only Birds Can Fly.” It began with why birds are important – food chain, indicator species, song, beauty. Then some basics in bird identification – size, habitat, color, season, body proportion, bill shape and size and behavior. And on to migration and Corpus Christi, holding the birdiest coastal city honor.
Finally, “Birds of Prey – Who Are They?” I really wanted to introduce the Corpus Christi HawkWatch during migration. The Mississippi Kites came through right on time this year in record numbers so I was able to include the photo of the counters at the board the day the record was broken. Great work all. I keep track of all the numbers at the watch and will be able to show the entire September count at our next meeting on Oct. 12.
This month the spotlight will be on owls. My daughter, Susan, who lives nearby in Garland, is a genius at computer programs and helps me with layout. She makes both the pictures and text look very professional. She was able to find some free sound bites of owl vocalization and add them to my program. I think she’s actually learning something about birds in the process.
I am so pleased that attendance has consistently been around 30 residents each session, including a few Assisted Living residents who love to see the birds.
After the September 14 presentation, one of the attendees asked me if I were a teacher. What was his first clue!! After all those field trips and classroom presentations with my children in Corpus, I think I qualify.
Many, many thanks to all of you at AOC for tutoring me for all those many years. Your work goes on. I miss you dearly.
Beth
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From Michelle Alvarez
The Dr. Howard & Beth Hoekje Conservation Scholarship was established by the Audubon Outdoor Club of Corpus Christi in 2020. This year we received 31 applications. Of those applicants, 25 opted into the one-year free student membership in AOC. All 2023 winners have been invited to the April 2024 meeting to speak on their research & volunteer efforts and be recognized.
At the conclusion of our 2023 season, the scholarship has awarded a cumulative $10,000 to date! Each of those dollars is an investment in the future of conservation within the Coastal Bend.
Thank you to judges Theresa Guerra and Judith Reader. Read a bit about each of this year’s winners below.
Texas A&M University Kingsville
Jordan Jeanneret | Undergraduate student
Jordan is from Goliad, Texas. She was first introduced to conservation through her local FFA chapter in high school. Within FFA she was able to meet a private land biologist and see first-hand land burning methods, nuisance animal control, and invasive plant removal. These experiences solidified her decision to pursue an undergraduate degree in Range and Wildlife Management.
Jordan is studying to work towards habitat and animal conservation in South Texas and ultimately keep Texas wild for all to enjoy.
Thomas Yamashita | Graduate student
Thomas is originally from California, from the San Diego area. He has always had an interest in wildlife and conservation biology.
He completed his undergraduate work at the University of California, Berkeley in 2014 where he studied Ecology and Biogeography. After his degree, he worked in various national forests across California assisting with monitoring recreation on national forests. After a few years working, he decided to go to graduate school to study wildlife ecology and started a Masters program at University Texas Rio Grande Valley, studying wildlife vehicle collisions and road mitigation structures for wildlife.
After completing his degree in 2020, he started a Ph.D. in Wildlife Ecology studying road impacts on mammals and how wildlife crossings can reduce those impacts.
After he completes his Ph.D., he plans to stay in academia, focusing his research on human impacts on wildlife and the natural environment and teaching and mentoring students about conservation biology and how we, as humans, can balance our needs with the conservation of nature.
Texas A&M Univrsity Corpus Christi
Joseph Garza | Undergraduate student
Joseph is a current undergraduate student studying biology at Texas A&M Corpus Christi. Joseph grew up on the Gulf coast near a small beach town called Port O’ Connor, TX where he spent the greater part of his time fishing the flats of Matagorda Bay. It was through his time spent on the water that a strong desire to have a positive impact on our coastal ecosystems started to emerge.
His time as a current undergraduate student has yielded collaborations on multiple research projects studying a range of topics spanning coral genomics to quantifying planktonic distribution. Joseph is a TA and teaches the laboratory component of General Chemistry I at his university.
When Joseph is not working in the lab you can find him traveling the country climbing the most beautiful and technical mountain peaks. Joseph is an avid rock climber and certified AMGA rock-climbing guide.
Currently, Joseph is working towards publication whereby he is exploring the feasibility of extracting DNA from coral skeleton taken from islands spanning the South Pacific Ocean. Joseph’s career plans encompass becoming a professor of Marine Biology and working closely with invertebrate aquaculture operations to optimize cultivation efforts here along the Gulf coast.
Isabel Nykamp | Graduate student
Isabel grew up in Grand Rapids, Mich. and attended Calvin U niversity of Grand Rapids for her Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Health & Conservation Biology. During her time as an undergraduate, she was involved in projects which were framed around aquatic ecosystems, assessing the health of various water bodies to improve the living conditions of the surrounding communities and wildlife. She grew to appreciate the interdisciplinary nature of restoration biology and wanted to pursue higher education focusing on wetland and coastal ecosystems.
These interests have culminated into her position as a Graduate Research Assistant position under Dr. Jennifer Pollack at the Coastal Conservation and Restoration lab at Texas A&M – Corpus Christi, working towards her Master’s degree in Coastal & Marine Systems Science. Within the lab, she will be utilizing GIS systems to characterize the elevation of wind tidal-flats and to restore elevation damage caused by human disturbance. A restoration plan for these disturbances has not yet been created for these ecosystems and this research allows her to bring awareness to an ecosystem which shorebirds heavily rely on and yet tends to go unnoticed by the local community and stakeholders alike.
Congratulations to these four outstanding students and leaders of tomorrow!
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Field trips offer the opportunity to get to know the birds in our area, and to know the birders, too! We hope you will make an effort to participate in as many as you can. This  is a great way to learn from each other, and to find the best birding spots in the Coastal Bend.
Should there be any changes in the field trips we will try to communicate the details in a timely manner via email and on our website. It's advisable to check in with the trip leaders prior to the trip date to confirm details.
November 4, 2023
Pollywog Ponds
DIRECTIONS: We will meet at 8:00 a.m. at Pollywog Ponds, located on Up River Rd. From in town, take IH-37 north and exit at Sharpsburg Rd. Turn right at the brown location sign, then left on Up River Rd. and then an immediate right into the driveway. From US 77 (south or north), exit at IH-37 south, then take the Callicoatte Rd. exit and turn left. Turn left again at the first traffic light, left on the access road, and then right at the brown location sign. Turn left on Up River Rd., and immediately right again into the driveway.
Continuing songbird migration, and a few early winter residents, Least Grebes, maybe Green Kingfisher. Maybe Hazel Bazemore later.
Leader: Mel Cooksey, 361-244-2468
December 2-3, 2023
Rio Grande Valley
Leaders: Liam Wolff and Larry Jordan
January 13, 2024
Victoria Area
Leader: Brent Ortego, 361-827-4691
January 27, 2024
Nueces Delta Preserve
Leader: CBBEP staff
February 10, 2024
Flour Bluff
Leader: Larry Jordan, 361-443-7044
February 24, 2024
Choke Canyon State Park
Leader: Liam Wolff
March 9, 2024
Duval County (La Rosita and San Diego Creek)
Leader: Judy Kestner, 361-701-1962
Every Saturday and Sunday in April
Blucher Park Bird Walks, excluding Easter Sunday, from 7:00 am - 10:30 am
Coordinator: Larry Jordan
Tentative Date: April 27,2024
Attwater Prairie Chicken NWR
Leader: Claudia Dorn, 361-813-5767
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October Field Trip Report
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From Liam Wolff
Suter Wildlife Refuge & Ward Island
Seven birders met at sunrise at the Suter Wildlife Refuge parking lot on the cool, blustery morning of October 14th to kick off our first field trip of the season. With winds in excess of 15 mph, we opted to target waterbirds over songbirds, which we assumed would be skulking deep in the brush and trees, inconspicu ous among the constant motion of branches and leaves. Nevertheless, we were treated to Ovenbird and Wilson’s Warbler immediately on the trail to the boardwalk.
Slowly working our way down the boardwalk, we watched a congregation of wading birds and waterfowl in the freshwater inflow from the water treatment plant and were delighted by a Tropical Kingbird who was kind enough to vocalize for us before perching prominently on a dead limb, perfect for an in-scope study. Two more folks joined us as we reached the pavilion after unsuccessfully searching for an American Bittern a photographer had spotted just before.
At the pavilion, we had Forster’s Terns at nearly arm’s length, foraging in Oso Bay, and flocks of bold Roseate Spoonbills passed by. A resident King Rail, quite rare in the county, grunted at us from within its hidden lair. With us were two birders from Missouri who were quite pleased to get point-blank views of Great Kiskadee as we returned to the parking lot.
We reconvened at the Texas A&M University Corpus Christi campus and were immediately met with intense gusts of 25-30 mph winds coming off Corpus Christi Bay. We headed as far from that location as we could to access more protected areas with views of Oso Bay, where we had a smattering of shorebirds, waterfowl, gulls, and terns and even a Sedge Wren, the first one I have seen on the campus. Kingbirds put on a show for us all, but did not give up their identity by voice.
After 10:30 am, we drove down Ocean Drive towards the Naval Air Station, looking for shorebirds on the mudflats. We were delighted by the antics of Piping and Semipalmated Plovers and Reddish Egrets, and had nice views of Long-billed Curlew and Black-bellied Plover. Three American Kestrels surprised us, flying together far in the distance. Unfortunately, the intense wind made finding birds here rather challenging.
We returned to the TAMUCC campus just in time to view the annular solar eclipse from the protection of the leeward side of the Harte Research Institute building. We watched the gradual masking of the sun by the m oon on the screen of my camera, and Will Bray was clever enough to bring eclipse glasses of his own. The ambient lighting turned an eerie shade and the parking lot lights came on, but no strange bird activity was noted.
We had a total of 10 participants and 81 species. eBird checklists from the morning can be found below:
https://ebird.org/checklist/S152225519
https://ebird.org/checklist/S152226618
https://ebird.org/checklist/S152227066
Our next field trip will be Saturday, Nov 4th at Pollywog Pond, led by Mel Cooksey. Come join us!
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There are two posts open at AOC. If you have enjoyed your affiliation with the club, and would like to give back, please consider taking on one of our open positions.
 First we need a vice president, whose duties really won't kick in until next spring. This important person is responsible for lining up meeting speakers for the 2024-2025 birding year. There are so many wonderful, knowledgeable folks in our area that it is not difficult, with the assistance of the board and AOC members input, to create an eight-month roster of talks and presentations. Occasionally the vice president will have to step in for the president, but there is lots of support should the need arise.
Second, we are looking for a hospitality chairperson since Sharron Hines has stepped down from the position. (Thank you Sharron. Your refreshments were right out of Gourmet magazine!) There is a stipend to cover food and drink purchases, and you will be one of the most favorite club members among us!
Please reach out to the board, or volunteer at November's meeting. These are two positions that are fun and rewarding for the person doing the work, and the beneficiaries of it (us!).
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During the recent Celebration of flight at Hazel Bazemore County Park, we were pleased to have three staff members of HawkWatch International on hand to instruct, count, and support the activities.
Laura Cleveland has been with HWI for a year and a half. She started with field work, and now is involved in outreach as an educator.
Sammy Riccio is communications manager, and has been an employee for two years. She initially started working with bugs in Connecticut, then moved to working with birds on gloves. It was her first time in Corpus Christi. "So many birds!" she exclaimed.
Jesse Watson has been here four or five times, and has been with HWI since 2016. His dad is a raptor biologist in Washington State and Jesse visited the "workplace" since 1998. He is a research biologist and banding coordinator, which he enjoys. Over the years he has watched HWI grow, and funding increase. "It's always a highlight to be here," he said.
Thanks and see you next year!
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AOC Funds A&M-CC Student Awards
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On October 20 a symposium was conducted by the Marine Science Graduate Student Organization (MSGSO) at Texas A&M Corpus Christi. Cash prizes were awarded to students who gave oral presentations and designed posters about environmental-related research and conservation.
Our club donated $500 in prize money to the cause, and AOC president Liam Wolff took part on our behalf, acting as a judge, suggesting research opportunities to the students, and awarding the prizes.
Liam writes, "Our first place winner was AOC member Becca Davis for her presentation on how Agroforests in South America benefit birds in the tropics (including some of our own neotropical migrants).
"I have added the three award recipients and the titles of their presentations onto the AOC scholars webpage and will invite 1st place winner Becca to our April 2024 meeting to give a short presentation along with our other scholars.
"Overall I was very impressed by the effort put forth by the students at the symposium. There are great students and projects in development here at the university and it's great that the club gets to help these students out."
Eva Jundt of the MSGSO planning committee sent a thank-you to Liam, and shared some results of the contest:
On behalf of the entire Marine Science Graduate Student Organization (MSGSO) symposium planning committee, I would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude for your generous donation, which helped make the 11th Annual MSGSO Student Symposium a huge success this past Friday. We had 29 oral presentations and 15 poster presentations from undergraduate and graduate students from the College of Science and the College of Engineering and Computer Science.
Your support has enabled us to recognize and reward the hard work, dedication, and outstanding contributions of our STEM student researchers at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. Your commitment to fostering academic excellence and encouraging the next generation of scientists is truly commendable.
The student awards have not only served as a source of motivation for our young scientists but have also helped create a sense of recognition and pride within our academic community.
With funds raised and your contribution of $500 we were able to provide 3 awards in a category inspired by the CC Audubon Outdoor Club mission: Habitat Conservation. The recipients of these awards were:
1st: Rebecca Davis, “Birds in the cacao: Examining how agroforests provide habitat for tropical birds”
2nd: Allison Weber, “Fine-scale genetic population assessment of eastern oysters for aquaculture, fisheries management, and restoration”
3rd: Bria Marty, “Flora and function: A multi-taxa assessment of the Ingleside Sandsheet pond habitat to inform and support conservation”
Additional awards we were able to give out thanks to yours and other donations include undergraduate and graduate posters, oral presentations, engineering and computer science topics, and coastal conservation issues.
We deeply appreciate your commitment to the advancement of education and research. Your generosity has played a pivotal role in the success of our symposium, and we look forward to continuing our partnership in the future.
We also wanted to extend our deepest gratitude to Liam Wolffe for his involvement throughout the day; aiding in the judging of awards, talking with students about research opportunities during our Faculty/Staff Meet & Greet, and additionally presenting the awards.
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AOC Opposes Blucher Park Proposal
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AOC member Joan Wolfe recently contacted Blucher Park steward Bibi Dalrymple concerning a proposal by the City of Corpus Christi to install restrooms in the park. Bibi prepared the following well-thought-out response which was sent to the Parks & Recreation Department.
Argument Against Portable Restrooms at Blucher
The Audubon Outdoor Club (AOC) opposes the installation of portable restrooms at Blucher Park for practical, financial, and aesthetic reasons. The AOC has been an active member of the Adopt-a-Park program since 1990 and contributes many hours of resource management to the park. Our volunteers are very familiar with the park and its visitors.
Blucher Park is a nature preserve focused on providing a native habitat suitable for resident and migrating birds. Most park visitors will spend a limited amount of time in the park, either watching birds or enjoying time in nature. A city ordinance prohibits eating, lying down, and bringing blankets or chairs into the park, which makes it unlikely that most visitors will spend more than an hour or two in the park. La Retama Central Library, adjacent to Blucher Park, provides clean and accessible restroom facilities until 6 p.m. on weekdays and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays. Regular visitors to the park will learn to plan their visits according to the available restroom facilities.
Although the city ordinance has dramatically reduced the number of campers in the park, many visitors still suffer from mental health and drug abuse issues. In our experience, some visitors to the park can be destructive, and we are concerned that they might damage or misuse this facility, creating an eyesore incompatible with the atmosphere of a quiet nature preserve.
Ultimately, the city needs to address more critical and pressing issues at Blucher Park, and foremost is safety. The construction of the Palms at Blucher Park apartments has eliminated a path traditionally used to move from the lower park to the upper park at the railroad trestle. Visitors have created informal trails up very steep slopes that are dangerous and unsustainable. The parks department should use any money for park amenities to design safe and sustainable access to the railroad trestle, which is a much higher priority than the proposed restroom facilities.
Well done, Bibi - thank you for looking out for this important bird area!
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Fall 2023 Notable Bird Sightings and Miscellaneous Craziness
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By Mel Cooksey
October has been a carryover from the hot summer, and fall birding has been just as hot.
While spring migration could be likened to a carefully-arranged classical symphony overture, with each species appearing on cue at the expected dates, fall birding is sort of a jam-infused jazz fest, with lots of improvisation. In spring, migrant birds are driven by strong nesting impulses, and are very punctual in their migratory path. In fall, migrant passage is a bit more relaxed and subdued, and partially driven by weather patterns. Fall migration also includes the hatch year birds, which have no experience with the southerly migration, and sometimes make the wrong turn. Hence the rarity potential.
Nueces County finally got its first American Flamingo record, when two birds appeared on Oct. 21 at the wide expanse of flats at Charlie’s Pasture South in Port Aransas. A third bird joined the party on Oct. 25. All three are present as of Oct. 30. At least one, maybe two birds, have a bit paler plumage, which may indicate immature birds. This is not always easy to determine, as some adults are apparently paler.
These flamingos are a portion of at least 50+ flamingos that were displaced to several US states by Hurricane Idalia in early September. Some have occurred as far inland as Kansas, Wisconsin, and Ohio! While hurricanes are not known to displace terrestrial non-migratory birds, it is suspected that the flamingos may have been caught up over ocean waters. American Flamingos are known for flights between the Yucatan, Cuba and the Bahamas.
The seabird highlight was Jon McIntyre’s well-photographed Wedge-tailed Shearwater found only about two miles from Port Aransas, seen from the Gulf Eagle fishing vessel, which Jon pilots. If accepted by the Imperial Overlords of All Texas Birding (TBRC), this would be only the second Texas record, the first being June 15 of this year by Justin LeClaire within Cox/Lavaca Bay in Calhoun County. There is even speculation that the two events may actually represent the SAME bird. A more moderate explanation might be that there is a small transient population of the species within the Western Gulf of Mexico.
Seabird Strandings: Several beached shearwaters have been found in the past few days, both live and dead, along the northern portion of Mustang Island beach between the state park and the Port Aransas jetty. Andrew Orgill reports of birds brought into the Amos Rehabilitation Keep, most of which were in very weakened condition and could not be saved. He has reported TEN Great Shearwaters, one Manx Shearwater, six Cory’s Shearwaters, one Audubon’s Shearwater, two Sooty Terns, and one Pomarine Jaeger. All were found Oct. 25 or later. Also, a Red-billed Tropicbird was found on a Cameron County beach Oct. 27. Hopefully, some explanation can be found regarding these strandings.
From the Amazing and Weird Department: A Yellow Rail was picked up near the dune line on Mustang Island Gulf Beach on Oct. 12 by a state park ranger. It was turned over the ARK for rehab, if needed. https://ebird.org/checklist/S152052212 This represents only the second record of this species for Nueces County, with the first also from Mustang Island State Park, being found earlier this year, on April 22, by Tabitha Olsen and her TPWD Secretive Marsh Bird Monitoring Program. https://ebird.org/checklist/S145712363 The status of this species in the Coastal Bend is not well-known, but it is thought to be an uncommon winter resident.
Michael Orgill photographed a Limpkin in flight at the Port Aransas jetty on Sept. 19, for the second Nueces County record. We have yet to find one that will cooperate.
A Bar-tailed Godwit was found in Portland at Chatworth Park on Oct. 5 again by the itinerant Bar-tailed Godwit finder, Skip Cantrell. This bird is thought to be the same bird Skip found in November 2022 in the same area. It is the Siberian baueri race, with dark rump and back. The bird has been quite compatible with birders in sticking around, to date. It tends to change its location a bit, and has made appearances at Sunset Lake, Indian Point, and nearby mudflats around the Motel 6 along Hwy. 181, but the best spot is Chatworth Park and the Portland soccer fields.
An immature Sabine’s Gull was photographed along Fish Pass on Mustang Island by Andrew Orgill on Sept. 13. https://ebird.org/checklist/S149817636
A Brown Noddy apparently continues to linger near the Packery Channel jetty, and was photographed Oct. 1 through Oct. 25 at that location. https://ebird.org/checklist/S153062474
An immature Sooty Tern was photographed near Packery Channel jetties on Sept. 30. https://ebird.org/checklist/S151102349. Another was found Oct. 29 at Aransas NWR https://ebird.org/checklist/S153336226
Two land-based Masked Boobies were found. One was an immature bird at the Port Aransas Jetty from Sept. 15-18, originally spotted by the returning pelagic trip participants. The other was a flyover at Indian Point on Oct. 13.
Nueces County recorded only its SECOND and THIRD Cassin’s Kingbird records. Tom Langschied spotted and photographed one within a migrant kingbird flight at Hazel Bazemore Hawk Watch platform on Oct. 11. Then, Scott and Joan Holt photographed another Cassin’s at their home in Port Aransas on Oct. 16-17. https://ebird.org/checklist/S152443464
A Red-breasted Nuthatch was found at Turnbull Birding Oct. 22. This species is usually irruptive, and is found in small numbers throughout the area during those irruption events. It is sometimes accompanied by Golden-crowned Kinglets and Brown Creepers during incursion events. The most recent such event was fall 2010.
Cassin’s Vireo: A dull Solitary-type vireo was present at Rose Hill Cemetery from at least Oct. 8, and may still be present. ID is problematic with this complex, and the full range of plumage variation between brightly-plumaged Cassin’s and dull Blue-headed Vireos is not fully known. Vocalization quality between the two can be definitive, but to date there are no audio cuts posted to eBird for our Oct. 2023 bird. From the photos, I am of the opinion this bird is as good a candidate for pure Cassin’s as we have seen in years: vague cheek-to-chin contrast, “dirty” underparts, faint yellow flank wash, etc. I am not totally sold on the long-staying winter 2019-2020 Rose Hill Cassin’s Vireo, but several experienced birders were more confident about it. Our old friend, Matt Heindel, the Dalai Lama of Solitary Vireo ID with his paper: Heindel, M. T. 1996. Field identification of the Solitary Vireo complex. Birding 28: 458-471, also is fairly OK with the Oct. 2023 bird as a pure Cassin’s, although he doesn’t seem to grace any Midwest “Cassin’s” from a 100% favorable position. The study of these birds is sort of the avian version of Einstein’s viewpoint: “The more you learn, the more you realize how little you know.” It seems the least experienced observers are most confident about ID. Those of us who have studied Cassin-ish birds for many years continue to be embarrassingly puzzled.
The fall warbler parade was good, with notables such as Swainson’s, Blue-winged, Cerulean, Tropical Parula, Palm, Prairie, and Black-throated Gray, sometimes in multiples.
The yearly eBird taxonomy update has now completed. If you were experiencing weirdness in your data or checklists, it should be over now. As to the taxonomy changes: we aren’t affected much. If you had a Pacific-slope Flycatcher, you no longer do. That species has been swept into the dustbin of history, and is now re-lumped with Cordilleran Flycatcher, restoring the old Western Flycatcher, Empidonax difficilis. Cattle Egret is split into Western Cattle Egret (ours) and Eastern Cattle Egret (Africa’s).
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The Audubon Outdoor Club doesn't have a secret handshake, but we do have a way of identifying ourselves as members: the AOC name tag. Here is the information, and an example of how it will look. Order yours today, or contact Judith Reader at 361-443-6799 or jareader@gmail.com who will place the order for you to pick up.
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Nearby Festivals and Other Events
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Be sure to check for cancellations and closures. Remember to abide maintain distance where possible, sanitize/wash hands, and wear a mask if required or desired.
* The Rio Grande Birding Festival runs from November 8-12, 2023 and is based in Harlingen, in one of the best birding locales in the country. This is a Texas birding tradition!
* The winter meeting of the Texas Ornithological Society will take place in Weslaco on Jan. 11-14, 2024. Registration opens in early December. Enjoy guided field trips throughout the Valley, exciting speakers, and mingling with other birders.
* The Laredo Birding Festival gives you the opportunity to enjoy a smaller group with expert guides and warm south Texas hospitality. Dates are Feb. 7-10, 2024
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Birding classes? Gardening seminars? Kids' programs? Check out the many opportunities to expand your understanding of our outdoor world. Be sure to check for cancellations and closures. Masks are no longer required.
* Welder Wildlife Refuge offers free public tours on most Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9am – 11am and 3pm – 5pm. Check their calendar to ensure they will host a tour on the day you choose.
* The Port Aransas Nature Preserve offers outdoor activities for everyone. Click HERE for info. Additionally they offer the following on-going events:
Nature Preserve Yoga. Tuesdays at 12:30 pm at the Nature Preserve at Charlie’s Pasture Pavilion
Birding on the Boardwalk. Wednesdays at 9 am at the Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center
Nature Walk. Saturdays at 8 am at the Community Park. The walk is approx. 2.5 miles in 2 hours.
Every Thursday 9am, Volunteer work days: Location changes week to week. Email Rae if you are interested in being added to the weekly email list, contact: rmooney@cityofportaransas.org.
Be sure to visit Facebook @portaparksnrec and @PortANaturePreserve to learn more and join in on all the digital fun!
* Oso Bay Wetlands Preserve hosts free nature walks on Tuesdays, and other family-friendly events. Check to see other offerings here.
* If you have a green thumb, get involved with the Blucher Bunch. They meet at Blucher Park on Monday afternoons to clean up and help maintain the plants and paths there. Bring work gloves, bug spray, water and a sack supper, and gardening implements for trimming shrubs and trees. Contact Bibi Dalrymple for information: 361-548-6371 or bibidalrymple@gmail.com.
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Lost or Injured Wild Animals?
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Following are available local resources:
* If you see a stranded or nesting sea turtle call the Turtle Hotline: 1-866-TURTLE5.
*Second Chances Wildlife Rehabilitation Program at the TX State Aquarium, 881-1219 (water birds and some raptors only, no land birds)
*Texas Sealife Center, 14220 SPID, next to Packery Channel Park (all kinds of animals, but focus is rescue/return of turtles, shorebirds and raptors).
*Cage birds/Parrot Rescue: email Paula Scott at cbcbirdclub@gmail.com, Coastal Bend Companion Bird Club and Rescue Mission.
*To contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator in your area, visit the Texas Parks and Wildlife's rehabilitators, by county, at their website, or call TPWD Wildlife at 1-800-792-1112.
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SOCIAL MEDIA
Check out our website and share it with others! You'll find photos, maps and full descriptions of our sanctuaries. There is a place to make donations and to renew your registration, or join for the first time. Our webmaster is Liam Wolff. He can be contacted at liamgwolff@gmail.com, or 706-607-0229.
Please "like" our Facebook page where you can stay in touch with other members and view local events and field trips. If you have suggestions or items to include there, please contact the talented Holly Schuh at hollyaschuh@gmail.com.
OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE SUPPORT
In pursuing the interests of local and migratory wildlife along the Coastal Bend, the Audubon Outdoor Club contributes both volunteer services and monetary donations to allied organizations operating in Corpus Christi and South Texas that share our goals. These organizations either emphasize the intrinsic value of natural habitat and the moral imperative for humans to nurture all organisms in our environment, or they take agency on behalf of natural resources that cannot lobby for themselves. Additionally, all organizations empowered by the Audubon Outdoor Club operate in or advocate for the ecology of the Coastal Bend and the city of Corpus Christi.
MAKING A DIFFERENCE
Your AOC is steward to significant nature preserves including the Held-Moran Nature Preserve in Flour Bluff, and the Packery Channel Oak Motte Sanctuary on Padre Island. Many thanks to those who support these projects.
We always need volunteers to help maintain and nurture these special places. Think of your time spent helping us as a labor of love. Please consider helping out on Mondays at Blucher Park (see Other Opportunities above). Your help will ensure that this important migrant stop-over remains available to birds for food, water and shelter. Volunteers help collect trash and clear vegetation. Bring your gloves, favorite garden tools, water and bug spray.
Contact our Sanctuaries Chairman Larry Jordan to get ideas on how you can help at our sanctuaries, or for other ways you can contribute your time and labor.
MEMBERSHIP IN THE AOC
To join or renew your membership, visit the membership section on our website. Select your membership plan, and then provide the required information. You can also make donations on the site. Hold on to your password in case you’d like to make changes in the future.
If you need help joining or renewing your membership, contact Judith Reader, our Membership Chair, at 361-443-6799 or jareader@gmail.com
Online dues payment will be good for a year from the date of payment.
Student $10.00
Individual/Family $25.00
Contributing $60.00
Sustaining $100.00
Audubon Outdoor Club of Corpus Christi
P O BOX 3352
Corpus Christi, TX 78463
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Audubon Outdoor Club of Corpus Christi, P O BOX 3352, Corpus Christi, TX 78463
www.audubonoutdoorclub.com
aoccctx@gmail.com
Our newsletter is designed to keep members current with club events, meetings and field trips. We strive to present entertaining articles, items of ornithological interest, and information on how we can be good citizen scientists, supporting our mission and making the world better for avian life in general.
Please share your stories, photos and event information, or let us know of any corrections, by calling 361-701-1962, or sending an email to jkestner@stx.rr.com.
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Roster of Audubon Outdoor Club Officers 2023-2024
President
Liam Wolff 706-607-0229 liamgwolff@gmail.com
Vice President/Programs
OPEN
Treasurer
Theresa Guerra 361-549-5494 tdwar@yahoo.com
Recording Secretary
Judy Kestner 361-701-1962 jkestner@stx.rr.com
Corresponding Secretary
Adrienne Kerr 361-767-0439 akerr1718@yahoo.com
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AOC COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS
Conservation
Sanctuaries Larry Jordan 361-443-0744 lawrencemjordan@hotmail.com
Stewardship
Blucher Park Bibi Dalrymple 361-548-6371 bibidalrymple@gmail.com
Pollywog Pond OPEN
Outreach/Education Liam Wolff 706-607-0229 liamgwolff@gmail.com
Hospitality OPEN
Membership Judith Reader 361-443-6799 jareader@gmail.com
Newsletter Judy Kestner 361-387-7329 jkestner@stx.rr.com
Programs
Field Trips OPEN
Public Relations Adrienne Kerr 361-767-0439 akerr1718@yahoo.com
Sales Holly Schuh 936-229-5453 hollyaschuh@gmail.com
Scholarships Michelle Alvarez 361-215-5843 michellealvarez96@gmail.com
Social Media
Facebook Holly Schuh 936-229-5453 hollyschuh@gmail.com
Website Liam Wolff 706-607-0229 liamgwolff@gmail.com
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From The New Yorker magazine
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