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BASTROP – Birders of Bastrop continue to take advantage of the county’s aerial diversity, welcoming newcomers to the hobby with bimonthly gatherings and recording sights for conservation reports.
Co-coordinators Luke Thompson and Louise Ridlon lead groups of all ages on sightings throughout Bastrop and the surrounding area, appointed as an official Texas Bird City.
Bird City designations make conservation a priority and invite in nature tourism of all kinds, according to Texas Parks and Wildlife.
Bastrop was one of the original four cities certified as a Texas Bird City in 2020, alongside Dallas, Houston and Port Aransas.
“The biggest part of Bird City is not just birding,” said Thompson, atop Buescher State Park, Aug. 11, “but education about birds and what they require in order to thrive. It requires cities and counties to participate.”
“If we don’t focus on conserving birds, we’re also going to lose a lot of other things,” Ridlon added.
Bastrop Bird City members go out for both their own pleasure and because of the importance of birds in an ecosystem, attendees said.
A big part of each expedition involves recording data, Thompson said. He teaches enthusiasts how to submit sightings and audio cues to eBird, an electronic ornithology database.
By logging what they see, researchers get a better picture of the details in an environment.
“This is citizen science,” said Thompson. “If you have a dubious sighting, you will be contacted by reviewers asking for more information.”
Thompson recounted a bronzed cowbird sighting that drew attention. The cowbird is a nest parasite, laying eggs in another bird’s home, and can be a detriment for species that act as habitat quality indicators. eBird keeps both personal records and shared community input, letting watchers keep track of their own development.
“Bastrop is blessed with the Colorado River running through it,” Ridlon said.
Different ecoregions are all represented within the county, according to Texas Parks and Wildlife, each with different niche birds to spot. Different vegetation within parks also creates diversity at the “edges.”
The group has seen bald eagles, kingfishers, warblers and kites across the area. Fall migration is just now getting started, the team expects to see more shorebirds.
Bird City Bastrop meets the second Friday of every month for a “little hike,” and the fourth Saturday of every month for a “little sit.”
Thompson brings 12 extra pairs of binoculars with him for anyone that comes without a set. Groups range anywhere from three to thirty people.
“Join us, it’s free and we’re eager to share our information,” said Thompson.
Bastrop will host an official Bird City conference on Oct. 25, inviting cities from across the state that may be interested in bringing the program to their own communities, as well as discuss what is working for current city members.
The next outing will be on Aug. 26 in Smithville at the Vernon L. Richards Riverbend Park, 107 Texas Highway 71, 8:30 a.m.
Follow Bird City Bastrop on Facebook at https:// www.facebook.com/birdcitybastroptexas/ for more details.
