Updates are made daily. Count compilers wishing to have details posted on this site should contact Susan Billetdeaux, Webmaster.

Houston Area - Upper Texas Coast

Freeport: Sunday, December 14, 2008
Begun by Victor Emanuel, for many years the Freeport Count was usually the top count in the nation and finds the largest number of species of any on the Upper Texas Coast. It still usually ranks among the top five with an average total of 217 species. Habitat includes seashore, barrier islands, prairie & woodland. Access to Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge, Dow Chemical Company lands, and the Gulf shore provide an amazing variety of habitat and often produce rare winter birds for the Upper Texas Coast such as Least Grebe, Summer Tanager, Sage Thrasher, Masked Booby, and assorted warblers. The count is organized and reported by compiler Mike Austin. Victor Emanuel remains an honorary co-compiler and an active participant in the count. The Freeport Christmas Bird Count works through its co-compilers and is divided into ten areas with their own leader & unique habitats. For more information and assigments, contact Mike Austin by e-mail or by telephone (281-992-8888).

Mad Island Marsh: Monday, December 15, 2008
We reported 235 species in 2007 and are again Number One in the nation for species. Most of the count is on private land and participation in the CBC is the only way to gain access to some very productive wildlife lands. The diversity of the CBC is great and most sections have multiple exclusives. The CBC features extensive native grasslands, brushlands, floodplain forests, beaches and coastal marshes. We are very much in need for an experienced observer to scan the Gulf most of the day for gannets, jaegers, etc. Contact Brent Ortego for count assignments. More information on Brent Ortego's web site.

Galveston: Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Anyone who would like to participate is welcome! Please contact count compiler Dwight Peake, telephone 409-740-4621, to sign up and for more information. All of the areas in this count circle have great birding! It is a wonderful count like Attwater, but the two contrast sharply. Attwater may have the highest species total for a totally inland site, and Galveston may get the highest number of species relative to the land area available in the count circle since most of it is water. This count also includes Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary and Horseshoe Marsh Bird Sanctuary. Last year we listed 171 species. Highlights included Red-eyed Vireo, Broad-winged Hawk, Hairy Woodpecker, Nashville Warbler, Northern Waterthrush, Glaucous Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Yellow and Black Rails, Stilt Sandpiper, Groove-billed Ani, Horned Grebe, and Fulvous Whistling Ducks.

Brazos Bend State Park: Saturday, December 20, 2008
Circle the date. In addition to the wonderful property within the park, our teams are able to enjoy vast Smithers Lake, Davis Estates, Northern Brazoria County and other diverse habitat within the count circle. Now in our 24th year, we encourage participants young and old, and all levels of experience to join the fun. Strong leadership will be assigned for all groups and the park entry fee is waived for participants. A count-down dinner will follow the count including the award of the "Big Bird" for the outstanding sighting during the event. (An American Redstart seen by Stephan Lorenz was the 2007 winner.) Contact Bill Godley at 281-341-6684 (email: fribbish@msn.com) for details and choose your area now if you have a favorite location.

Armand Bayou Nature Center: Saturday, December 27, 2008
Come for the birds, come for the fun, but just come! Volunteers are needed in the field and in backyards. Armand Bayou's count includes areas of LaPorte, League City, Dickinson, Seabrook and Baycliff (and lots of places in between), so we need your help. We meet at 6:30 am at Armand Bayou Nature Center's auditorium. We will also be owling at ABNC (5:00 am-ish) Please contact Martha Hood at 281-286-6746 or lazuli007@yahoo.com to register, get signed up for an area, and for further details. Thank you!

Cypress Creek (Katy Prairie): Thursday, January 1, 2009
Last year we had access to a record number of acres thanks to the Katy Prairie Conservancy and its many land partners. Access to other private ranches and acreages like the Kelsey Ranch, Laas Ranch and Bridgeland Properties gave us access to over 32,000 acres. These private ranches contain much of Cypress and Bessie Creek bottoms within the count circle providing a habitat diversity unparalleled on the Katy Prairie. Unusual birds included Yellow-crowned Night-heron, Glossy Ibis, Golden Eagle, Prairie Falcon, Common Moorhen, Ladderback Woodpecker, Tree Swallow, Cave Swallow, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Palm Warbler, and Pyrrhuloxia. Count Compiler: Fred Collins.

San Jacinto Wilderness: Saturday, January 3, 2009
Love to bird - but also love to kayak? Do you enjoy seeing winged wonders in a true wilderness setting? Then come join us for the 2nd annual count, sponsored by Lake Houston Park! In January 2007, with barely two weeks notice, we had 19 birders of all ages and skill levels come and participate in what everyone knew would be only a trial run, and we ended up with over 5000 individuals across 80 species. For 2008, the first official count for this circle, an incredible 43 birders joined in an awesome effort and gathered in almost 11,000 birds across 93 species! Will 2009 be the year this unique inland circle breaks into triple digits? Come and be a part of it! For 2009, most groups will be meeting 7 AM inside the Jack-in-the-Box, 20130 US-59, in New Caney, TX. This is at the southwest corner of the US-59/FM-1485 intersection. Five groups have been formed: Lake Houston Park Trekkers, Damuth Preserve Diehards, Dayton Prairie Muckers, Tri-Lakes Roadies, and Iron Duck Kayakers. Read descriptions of groups. If one of the groups strikes your fancy, please email the leader directly as well as compiler David F. Henderson. See you 1/3/09!

Coastal Bend

Guadalupe River Delta - McFaddin Family Ranches: Thursday, December 18, 2008
We reported 225 species in 2007 and were Number Two in the nation for species. The count surveys one TPWD wildlife management area, 2 chemical plants and a number of private ranches which are only accessible during this survey. The CBC specializes in trying to locate lingering neotrops which it does well. It also has high diversity since it is positioned at the border of South Texas and also adjoins coastal marshes. There are opportunities to bird from canoes if that is your preference. Contact Brent Ortego (telephone 361-576-0022, ext. 24) count assignments. More information on Brent Ortego's web site

Lower Rio Grande Valley

Anzalduas-Bentsen: Saturday, January 3, 2009
Count circle includes Bentsen State Park and Anzalduas County Park. Participants, working in teams, may opt for a few hours of counting, an all-day marathon or anything in between. Compiler Josh Rose, telephone 956-584-9156.

North/East Texas

Tyler: Saturday, January 3, 2009
This is a count in northeast Texas that includes woodland and lakeside habitat with a good variety of pineywoods birds. Anyone who is interested should contact Peter Barnes, home telephone 903-839-8359.

This list reports details of the counts as provided by the compilers. Houston Audubon Society is not responsible for administration of the counts.