Meet leader Christian Fernandez (210-415-0843) at the trailhead across from Stinson Municipal Airport at 8535 Mission Road. We will explore the trails and head down to the San Antonio River.
Honey Creek State Natural Area is a designated Important Birding Area (IBA) located adjacent to Guadalupe River State Park. The trip will be an approximately 2.5 mile hike over moderate terrain. A walking stick may be useful. Participation is limited to 12 people. Contact Sandi Wheeler, Wheels5683@gmail.com, if you’d like to attend.
SAAS will celebrate the end of the year at our December 5 online meeting with members taking turns on Zoom sharing photos of birds they’ve seen this year. Email Zachary Tonzetich (Zachary.Tonzetich@gmail.com) if you’d like to share up to 10 photos from your computer that night.
Mandatory RSVP to jntbirding@gmail.com to let the leader know you’ll be attending as there is limited space. Meet the trip leader at the Judson Nature Trails. Bring water, sunscreen, and insect repellent. From the 5900 block of Broadway, turn west on Ogden Street and drive to the stop sign at Greeley Street. You’ll see a sign to Judson Nature Trails. Turn left, go one block and turn right on Viesca, then into parking lot on left. Address is 246 Viesca Street, San Antonio, TX.
Our count circle is located southwest of downtown San Antonio and divided into smaller count areas. Interested participants: email Dahn Windhorn (naturenut7@hotmail.com) to identify an area (leader) counter who needs assistance. We will be hosting a virtual countdown that will begin around 7:00 p.m. to allow compilers to fill out Rare Bird Forms and complete their daily checklists. Join the virtual countdown via Zoom here. (Zoom ID is 824 0846 4476; passcode: 022417).
Meet Sandi Wheeler (wheels5683@gmail.com) in the 1st parking lot. The park address is 12780 W Schaefer Rd, Cibolo, TX 78108. Bring water, sunscreen, and insect repellent.
Meet Sandi Wheeler (wheels5683@gmail.com) in the 1st parking lot. The park address is 12780 W Schaefer Rd, Cibolo, TX 78108. Bring water, sunscreen, and insect repellent.
Mandatory RSVP to jntbirding@gmail.com to let the leader know you’ll be attending as there is limited space. Meet the trip leader at the Judson Nature Trails. Bring water, sunscreen, and insect repellent. From the 5900 block of Broadway, turn west on Ogden Street and drive to the stop sign at Greeley Street. You’ll see a sign to Judson Nature Trails. Turn left, go one block and turn right on Viesca, then into parking lot on left. Address is 246 Viesca Street, San Antonio, TX.
Mandatory RSVP to jntbirding@gmail.com to let the leader know you’ll be attending as there is limited space. Meet the trip leader at the Judson Nature Trails. Bring water, sunscreen, and insect repellent. From the 5900 block of Broadway, turn west on Ogden Street and drive to the stop sign at Greeley Street. You’ll see a sign to Judson Nature Trails. Turn left, go one block and turn right on Viesca, then into parking lot on left. Address is 246 Viesca Street, San Antonio, TX.
Meet Sandi Wheeler (wheels5683@gmail.com) in the 1st parking lot. The park address is 12780 W Schaefer Rd, Cibolo, TX 78108. Bring water, sunscreen, and insect repellent.
Mandatory RSVP to jntbirding@gmail.com to let the leader know you’ll be attending as there is limited space. Meet the trip leader at the Judson Nature Trails. Bring water, sunscreen, and insect repellent. From the 5900 block of Broadway, turn west on Ogden Street and drive to the stop sign at Greeley Street. You’ll see a sign to Judson Nature Trails. Turn left, go one block and turn right on Viesca, then into parking lot on left. Address is 246 Viesca Street, San Antonio, TX.
Warbler Woods covers 224 acres of varied habitat covering Pecan Gap sediments with gently rolling topography located near the convergence of three Ecological Regions: South Texas Plains, Blackland Prairie and Edwards Plateau. All participants must RSVP to Sandi Wheeler at Wheels5683@gmail.com
Meet Sandi Wheeler (wheels5683@gmail.com) in the 1st parking lot. The park address is 12780 W Schaefer Rd, Cibolo, TX 78108. Bring water, sunscreen, and insect repellent.
Mandatory RSVP to jntbirding@gmail.com to let the leader know you’ll be attending as there is limited space. Meet the trip leader at the Judson Nature Trails. Bring water, sunscreen, and insect repellent. From the 5900 block of Broadway, turn west on Ogden Street and drive to the stop sign at Greeley Street. You’ll see a sign to Judson Nature Trails. Turn left, go one block and turn right on Viesca, then into parking lot on left. Address is 246 Viesca Street, San Antonio, TX.
Meet Sandi Wheeler (wheels5683@gmail.com) in the 1st parking lot. The park address is 12780 W Schaefer Rd, Cibolo, TX 78108. Bring water, sunscreen, and insect repellent.
Warbler Woods covers 224 acres of varied habitat covering Pecan Gap sediments with gently rolling topography located near the convergence of three Ecological Regions: South Texas Plains, Blackland Prairie and Edwards Plateau. All participants must RSVP to Sandi Wheeler at Wheels5683@gmail.com
Meet Sandi Wheeler (wheels5683@gmail.com) in the 1st parking lot. The park address is 12780 W Schaefer Rd, Cibolo, TX 78108. Bring water, sunscreen, and insect repellent.
Mandatory RSVP to jntbirding@gmail.com to let the leader know you’ll be attending as there is limited space. Meet the trip leader at the Judson Nature Trails. Bring water, sunscreen, and insect repellent. From the 5900 block of Broadway, turn west on Ogden Street and drive to the stop sign at Greeley Street. You’ll see a sign to Judson Nature Trails. Turn left, go one block and turn right on Viesca, then into parking lot on left. Address is 246 Viesca Street, San Antonio, TX.
Meet trip leader Zachary Tonzetich (210-232-3670; Zachary.tonzetich@gmail.com) in the parking lot of the Castroville Regional Park. The park is located at 816 Alsace Ave in Castroville, TX. Take US 90 West to Castroville. At the end of the Medina River bridge you enter Castroville, turn left onto Florence Street and follow the signs to the park. Bring insect spray, sunscreen, and water.
Meet leader, Andy Garcia, andyg4957@gmail.com, at Mission San Juan near Berg’s Mill. The address is 9101 Graf Road, San Antonio, Texas.
Mandatory RSVP to jntbirding@gmail.com to let the leader know you’ll be attending as there is limited space. Meet the trip leader at the Judson Nature Trails. Bring water, sunscreen, and insect repellent. From the 5900 block of Broadway, turn west on Ogden Street and drive to the stop sign at Greeley Street. You’ll see a sign to Judson Nature Trails. Turn left, go one block and turn right on Viesca, then into parking lot on left. Address is 246 Viesca Street, San Antonio, TX.
You do NOT want to miss the November SAAS meeting! Come and enjoy the cool Andean paramo, the cloud forests of Mindo, and the steamy Amazon basin. Feast your eyes on some of the most beautiful and intriguing birds in the world including hummingbirds that eat right out of your hand and the mythical cock-of-the-rock.
From January 22 to February 1, 2024, Desi D’Orsogna had the privilege of birding Ecuador with noted guide, Edwin Perez. With literally only 3 days’ notice, David—who keeps his bags packed—agreed to accompany Des. A competent guide and photographer in his own right, David enriched and enlivened her birding experience.
You will want to put Ecuador on your bucket list after this presentation which will feature a fraction of the more than 300 species seen/heard!
David’s soon-to-be-published field guide on birds of Texas just might feature some birds also found in Ecuador. Rumor has it that David and Edwin are organizing a jointly guided birding trip back to Ecuador’s lovely Mindo region for those of us becoming increasingly physically challenged. Stay tuned!
Join us for a potluck social at the Judson Nature Trail House. SAAS will provide the entrée and drinks, so feel free to bring your favorite side.
This will be a great time to see the renovations to the Trail House and enjoy food and fellowship with our members and guests. Then at 2 pm, Last Chance Forever Bird of Prey Conservancy will have their presentation. This is a great opportunity to see these magnificent raptors up close and to ask questions of the Conservancy staff.
Meet Sandi Wheeler (wheels5683@gmail.com) in the 1st parking lot. The park address is 12780 W Schaefer Rd, Cibolo, TX 78108. Bring water, sunscreen, and insect repellent.
Meet leader Zachary Tonzetich (210-232-3670,zachary.tonzetich@gmail.com) in the parking lot near the Government Canyon Visitor’s Center. Attendees are encouraged to purchase day passes ahead of time if they don’t have a Texas State Parks Pass. Bring water, sunscreen, insect repellant, and dress appropriately (especially footwear) for rugged trails. Terrain will be uneven and rocky in some areas. Address: 12861 Galm Rd, San Antonio, TX 78254.
Meet Mariann Golden (210) 415-4661 In the parking lot Bring water. The trail partially paved. There is an increase in elevation as we get to the top of the hill. We will be looking for migrants and arriving winter birds. 15551 Nacogdoches
Mandatory RSVP to jntbirding@gmail.com to let the leader know you’ll be attending as there is limited space. Meet the trip leader at the Judson Nature Trails. Bring water, sunscreen, and insect repellent. From the 5900 block of Broadway, turn west on Ogden Street and drive to the stop sign at Greeley Street. You’ll see a sign to Judson Nature Trails. Turn left, go one block and turn right on Viesca, then into parking lot on left. Address is 246 Viesca Street, San Antonio, TX.
Warbler Woods Bird Sanctuary needs your help to maintain this premier birding location. Trimming along trails, cleaning feeders, trash pickup, and blind maintenance are all things you can help with. We may even get some birding in too. Water will be provided. Some tools are also available but if you have your own loppers or small chain saw to use that would be helpful. If you’d like to participate please let Sandi Wheeler know at Wheels683@gmail.com
Meet Sandi Wheeler (wheels5683@gmail.com) in the 1st parking lot. The park address is 12780 W Schaefer Rd, Cibolo, TX 78108. Bring water, sunscreen, and insect repellent.
Frank Chapman and 26 other conservationists initiated the Christmas Bird Count (CBC) as a way of promoting conservation by counting, rather than hunting, birds on Christmas Day of 1900. Each count takes place in an established 15-mile diameter circle from December 14 through January 5 each year. Audubon and other organizations use data collected in this long-running wildlife census to assess the health of bird populations and to help guide conservation action.
On December 26, 1955, SAAS conducted its first CBC with 22 observers participating. The count was in two areas, one included Woodlawn Lake, Olmos Basin, Brackenridge Park, Fort Sam Houston, and Old Blanco Road. The second area was around Mitchell Lake. Now SAAS is the official CBC organization for San Antonio and the count site is located on the south side of San Antonio and includes the areas of Somerset and Mitchell Lake. This year’s CBC will be on December 15, 2024.
Mandatory RSVP to jntbirding@gmail.com to let the leader know you’ll be attending as there is limited space. Meet the trip leader at the Judson Nature Trails. Bring water, sunscreen, and insect repellent. From the 5900 block of Broadway, turn west on Ogden Street and drive to the stop sign at Greeley Street. You’ll see a sign to Judson Nature Trails. Turn left, go one block and turn right on Viesca, then into parking lot on left. Address is 246 Viesca Street, San Antonio, TX.
Meet Sandi Wheeler (wheels5683@gmail.com) in the 1st parking lot. The park address is 12780 W Schaefer Rd, Cibolo, TX 78108. Bring water, sunscreen, and insect repellent.
Bumble bees are important native pollinators, but are often outshone by the more familiar European honeybee. Unfortunately, bumble bees are declining worldwide and four of the documented species in Texas are considered imperiled. In this program, you will learn more about the bigger, fuzzier, native Texas cousins of the honeybee. Topics will include identification, natural history, and conservation tactics.
Meet Sandi Wheeler (wheels5683@gmail.com) in the 1st parking lot. The park address is 12780 W Schaefer Rd, Cibolo, TX 78108. Bring water, sunscreen, and insect repellent.
There are many facets to creating, having, maintaining, and enjoying a wildlife/bird viewing blind. After facing the planning, construction, and maintenance of both an older and a new blind, John Prentice hopes to share what he has learned about what makes a blind work for those who will enjoy time spent there watching and for those who will have the responsibility of keeping blinds going and productive. John will share concerns, planning, resources needed, maintenance, documentation, and funding for a wildlife viewing blind in hopes of helping anyone thinking about it to be more successful.
Zoom Meeting ID: 851 1103 5159 / Passcode: 368788; click HERE to join
Meet Sandi Wheeler (wheels5683@gmail.com) in the 1st parking lot. The park address is 12780 W Schaefer Rd, Cibolo, TX 78108. Bring water, sunscreen, and insect repellent.
Meet Sandi Wheeler (wheels5683@gmail.com) in the 1st parking lot. The park address is 12780 W Schaefer Rd, Cibolo, TX 78108. Bring water, sunscreen, and insect repellent.
Please note this is an evening field trip.
Warbler Woods covers 124 acres of varied habitat covering Pecan Gap sediments with gently rolling topography located near the convergence of three Ecological Regions: South Texas Plains, Blackland Prairie and Edwards Plateau. All participants must RSVP to Sandi Wheeler at Wheels5683@gmail.com
Tiffany Kersten is a Wisconsin native who now resides in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas. Hooked on birds since age 12, she graduated from Northland College with a B.S. in Wildlife Ecology. She has spent fifteen years working in conservation and environmental education with organizations including the US Forest Service, US Fish & Wildlife Service, and the Cape May Bird Observatory. After completing a Lower 48 States Big Year in 2021, she founded her own company, Nature Ninja Birding Tours.
If you plan to participate in the Bird Walk with Tiffany at Mitchell Lake Audubon Center, please sign up and purchase your tickets on the Mitchell Lake Audubon Center website.
Birdie Big Year: Elevating Women Birders
Tiffany didn’t set out to do a Big Year, but after a series of unanticipated and serendipitous events, she suddenly found herself amidst one. As a sexual assault survivor, she spent 2021 traveling to all corners of the Lower 48 States, tallying birds and gifting personal safety alarms to women she met along the way. Her goal was to see 700 species, and to raise awareness of women’s safety in the outdoors. She ended up surpassing her goal and setting a new record of 726 species. In her presentation, Tiffany will lead us through the fear, empowerment, struggles, and healing that all played vital roles in the personal growth she experienced on this wild adventure.
Speaker: Tiffany Kersten
Join the Zoom Meeting at 6:30pm
Mandatory RSVP to jntbirding@gmail.com to let the leader know you’ll be attending as there is limited space. Meet the trip leader at the Judson Nature Trails. Bring water, sunscreen, and insect repellent. From the 5900 block of Broadway, turn west on Ogden Street and drive to the stop sign at Greeley Street. You’ll see a sign to Judson Nature Trails. Turn left, go one block and turn right on Viesca, then into parking lot on left. Address is 246 Viesca Street, San Antonio, TX.
Meet Sandi Wheeler (wheels5683@gmail.com) in the 1st parking lot. The park address is 12780 W Schaefer Rd, Cibolo, TX 78108. Bring water, sunscreen, and insect repellent.
Meet trip leaders Zachary Tonzetich (210-232-3670, zachary.tonzetich@gmail.com) and Christian Fernandez at the parking area on Red Oak Rd near E. Mulberry Ave. at 7:30 AM. We will cover Avenue A and parts of Brackenridge Park looking for neotropical migrants. Bring water and bug spray.
Celebrate World Migratory Bird Day at Warbler Woods.
Warbler Woods covers 124 acres of varied habitat covering Pecan Gap sediments with gently rolling topography located near the convergence of three Ecological Regions: South Texas Plains, Blackland Prairie and Edwards Plateau. All participants must RSVP to Sandi Wheeler at Wheels5683@gmail.com
Mandatory RSVP to jntbirding@gmail.com to let the leader know you’ll be attending as there is limited space. Meet the trip leader at the Judson Nature Trails. Bring water, sunscreen, and insect repellent. From the 5900 block of Broadway, turn west on Ogden Street and drive to the stop sign at Greeley Street. You’ll see a sign to Judson Nature Trails. Turn left, go one block and turn right on Viesca, then into parking lot on left. Address is 246 Viesca Street, San Antonio, TX.
300 Reasons to Come Birding in Vermont
Did you know that tiny Vermont, at one-27th the size of Texas, has more than half the number of bird species as that huge state? We’ve got lakes and rivers, forests, mountains and wetlands, open fields and orchards, all within easy driving distance. We’ve also got enthusiastic birders who would love to show you around! And we’ve got great places to stay and great places to enjoy anything from a custom-made sandwich to a six-course dinner, with many places featuring local cider, soft drinks (with maple syrup of course), ale, beer or wine. On May 2, take an armchair birding trip to Vermont. See and hear about many of the 409 species of birds that have been recorded in the state. And then start planning your visit!
Speaker: Maeve Kim - Jericho Center, Vermont
Join the Zoom Meeting
Run by the Community Science teams at the California Academy of Sciences and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, the CNC is an annual four-day global urban bioblitz at the end of April, where cities are in a collaboration-meets-friendly-competition to see not only what can be accomplished when we all work toward a common goal, but also which city can gather the most observations of nature, find the most species, and engage the most people in the event.
Meet Sandi Wheeler (wheels5683@gmail.com) in the 1st parking lot. The park address is 12780 W Schaefer Rd, Cibolo, TX 78108. Bring water, sunscreen, and insect repellent.
