Clear Creek Heritage Nature Center attendees Bill Diehnelt, Doug and Judy Smith and Pat and Geri Powers
The birding interest group at the Ranch is comprised of people who just like to see birds and know what the name of that bird is; folks who see birds coming to their backyard feeders; and the nature lovers who go to the lakes and parks in search of birds and the out-of-doors. At the present time the majority of the members are in the first two categories. About 10 or so of the members go out birding several times a month. From time to time articles of birding interest are emailed to the group. These articles alert the group to seasonal changes in birds at the Ranch or to unusual birds in our area. Right now we are all watching for purple martins looking for places to live in our martin houses. We are also watching for the arrival of the barn swallow and scissor-tailed flycatchers.
So far in March we have gone on three field trips. We went to Forest Lake off Ryan Road and saw 32 different birds. There were several types of ducks, a yellow-bellied sapsucker and a hermit thrush. That same day we moved over to South Lakes where we saw 18 more species including ring-neck, gadwalls, wigeons and shoveler ducks. On another trip we went to the Clear Creeks Heritage Nature Center on the north side of Denton. We saw 25 different birds including the ruby-crowned kinglet, many cardinals and some Eastern bluebirds. Most recently we hiked the Blue Heron Trail near Trophy Club and saw 45 different birds. We saw an osprey, Cooper’s hawk, red-shoulder hawk and 39 white pelicans flew over us.
Anyone interested in birds in any way is welcome to join our group. As the group is large and informal, most of our communication is by email. If you would like to join us just drop an email to John Kirk at [email protected]. Once on our list you will receive notices of our birding trips and emails on birding topics.