Birding for Conservation
TLC Birdathon was born from a shared love of birds and conservation across Texas landscapes. As a statewide nonprofit dedicated to protecting Texas land, the event became a way for TLC staff and volunteers to raise support for conservation efforts, and the vital habitats birds rely on across the state.
Inspired by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s The Great Texas Birding Classic, nine TLC staff and volunteers participated in the first-ever TLC Birdathon during the month-long statewide birdwatching tournament from April 15 through May 15. What started as a fundraising idea quickly became an opportunity to experience TLC protected properties through a new lens while documenting bird species across Texas landscapes.
Three regions, three teams, and three different experiences in the field. Before sunrise across the state, TLC staff and volunteers were already in the field with binoculars up and the eBird app open on their phones.
We asked staff from each team to reflect on the birds, landscapes, and moments that stood out most during the first-ever TLC Birdathon.
From left to right: Maggie O’Neil, TLC Stewardship Program Manager; Jamie Hooker, TLC East Texas Program Director; Tamara Wood, TLC Member
Tres Locas Chickadees – East Texas
Location: Frentress-Johnson West Bay Mitigation Bank
Documented: 68 species on May 5
Funds raised: $454
Written by Maggie O’Neil
Our team birded at Frentress Johnson West Bay Mitigation Bank, a 2,265-acre marshland restoration property along the Gulf Coast that supports several vulnerable species, including Whooping Crane and Black Rail. The property is part of a large landscape-scale conservation network located right off the Gulf of Mexico.
The most attractive thing about birding is that you never know what might cross your path in the field. You can prepare and position yourself for rare species, but it’s the random, unexpected encounters that make you stop and wonder. For our team, it was the Ruby-throated Hummingbird.
Though common, the eccentric little bird caught us completely off guard as we walked through the coastal marshland. The sudden buzz and flash of its red throat felt electric against the quiet marsh. It was likely just passing through on its own migration path, but that unexpected visitor instantly made me feel connected to something much bigger than our saunter through the soggy ground. We were there to appreciate the birds, all knitted together in ecosystems across Texas and North America. The best part was raising funds to continue supporting these special places that are home to unexpected visitors and grounding moments.
Check out the East Texas’ team eBird list here!
From left to right: Valeria Bridgewater, TLC Development & Communications Associate; Nick Fisher, TLC Hill Country Program Manager; Stephen Ramirez, Conservation Director
Taste Like Chachalaca – Hill Country
Location: La Paloma Ranch and Querencia
Documented: 65 species on April 29
Funds raised: $670
Written by Nick Fisher
When our Conservation Director Stephen Ramirez brought up a friendly competition known as The Great Texas Birding Classic, I began appreciating just how diverse Central Texas is — not only in bird species, but in habitat types as well. From dense mixed hardwood and juniper forests to open savannahs and riparian areas lined with black willow and towering cypress trees, I started imagining what birds we might encounter within these different landscapes.
For days leading up to the TLC Birdathon, I refreshed my memory of typical bird calls and songs, constantly practicing and showing off just how bad my whistling mimicry is. I also reviewed my Sibley bird guide in hopes of spotting migratory species I wasn’t as familiar with.
Armed with binoculars, well-trained ears, and a spotting scope, team Tastes Like Chachalaca set out before first light to embark on a scramble to find the most birds. Our team birded at La Paloma Ranch and Querencia, ecologically sensitive Central Texas landscapes that provide important wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and open space in areas facing increasing development pressure.
Hours went by like minutes at the start of the day. We documented more than 30 species in a short amount of time and before we knew it, we had reached our goal of 50 species before noon. The pinnacle of the day was hearing a Golden-cheeked Warbler calling high in the canopy of a typical Hill Country woodland. We found our bonus bird as quickly as the morning began, it was time to pack up and let my ears recover from hours of focused listening. Although it wasn’t a physically demanding day, the excitement and adrenaline roller coaster can wear you down. As the day heated up, the birdsongs quieted, and so did we. Fatigue started to set in as we reminisced on the ride home. I turned to Stephen and asked, “When is the next one?”
Check out the Hill Country’s team eBird list here!
From left to right: Jack Cearley, TLC North Texas Program Director; Daniela Parker, TLC Community Engagement Coordinator; Taylor Kirkland, TLC Volunteer
Texas Loggerhead Coalition – North Texas
Location: Little L Ranch
Documented: 53 species on May 14
Funds raised: $818
Written by Daniela Parker
When you think of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, you think of skyscrapers and concrete jungles, not diverse habitats where wildlife thrive. But 50 miles southwest of downtown Fort Worth sits Little L Ranch, a 624-acre property along the Brazos River that completely changed my perspective. As someone who lives and spends most of my time in the city, I didn’t know what to expect from a property just an hour outside of Fort Worth. Upon arrival, Little L Ranch welcomed me with open prairies, blooming wildflowers, and the sounds of birds carrying through the morning air.
Meeting up with my field buddies, we were ready to reach our goal of spotting 50 bird species. Throughout the morning, we encountered so many fascinating birds, but my favorites were the Painted Bunting, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, and Blackburnian Warbler. What amazed me most was the diversity of habitats packed into one property. Little L Ranch held woodlands, open prairies, and riparian areas that allowed us to spot water birds, prairie birds, and woodland birds all in the same morning. We even spotted a Golden-cheeked Warbler!
Knowing people were pledging donations toward the protection of these birds’ habitats made me feel even more motivated throughout the day. The experience left me excited not only about the birds we found, but about the importance of protecting places like Little L Ranch.
Check out the North Texas team eBird list here!
A Statewide Effort for Conservation
By the end of the TLC Birdathon, teams had documented 122 bird species across four TLC protected properties and raised $1,942 to support conservation efforts. More importantly, the event brought together staff, volunteers, and supporters across Texas through a shared appreciation for birds, habitat conservation, and the landscapes that make Texas so ecologically diverse.
Bird photos by Stephen Ramirez
Help protect more properties like this across the state!
Texas Land Conservancy could not do this important conservation work without our members, partners, and supporters. With your support, we can work with more landowners and protect more land across the state from the negative effects of land fragmentation and poorly-planned development.