2007 Birding Opportunities at Mad ISLAND CBC
BIRDING OPPORTUNITIES AT THE
MATAGORDA COUNTY - MAD ISLAND MARSH CBC
Mad Island is a very diverse CBC that has posted the most species in the nation for 9 of the 14 years it has been conducted. We are fortunate to get a sizeable turnout by birders, but we have lots of land to survey. We get permission each year to survey over half of the land within the count circle. We have the likelihood of being the top CBC in the nation on a continuing basis with additional participation.
The CBC is divided into 12 sections and each section has a leader responsible for coordinating the birding for their area. New birders to the count need to seek assignments to the count preferably at least one week in advance. There is no one site where people just show up for assignments during the day of the count. Some section leaders have rendezvous sites for their teams, but most just start birding as soon as they arrive.
Birding Needs:
We always need more people to help us work the beaches by scanning the Gulf for pelagics, and surveying behind the dunes for grassland and wetland birds.
There is a need for a few feeder watchers in the 2 residential areas within the Count to search for hummingbirds and unusual songbirds.
There are extensive areas of forests along the Colorado River that needs teams of good woodland birders to survey them thoroughly.
The TPWD wildlife management area and TNC preserve have extensive native grasslands, tidal marshes and managed waterfowl impoundments along with scattered motes of brush that always need additional help locating unusual birds and rare lingerers.
Participating birders will be given this year’s custom t-shirt, a meal at the banquet and have their activity fees paid.
Contact brent.ortego@tpwd.state.tx.us if you need more information, or plan to attend. Section assignments need to be made in advance.
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