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Volume XXVI 11, N6^P isjj==
June, 1979
PUBLISHED BY THE ORNITHOLOGY GROUP OF THE OUTDOOR NATURE CLUB, HOUSTON, TEXAS
COMING EVENTS
There are no scheduled field trips or programs for the OG until August, when activities resume. THE SPOONBILL will continue to be published this summer as usual, so
please remember our deadline for articles, announcements, etc.: the 25th of the montl ,
and the Clearing House deadline of the following 3rd of the month for sighting re-
ports. While birding slows down considerably on the coast during the summer, you
can add to the Clearing House by sending In your sightings when you do brave the heat.'
Any nesting evidence (downy young, parents feeding young, etc.) is especially desired
by the CH Editor.
** Martins are already gathering over Mayerland Plaza Mall, THE SPOONBILL Edi+or
counted several hundred the evening of May 24th. It will be Interesting to monitor
this area every week for the next five or six weeks as the number of congregating
martins builds to a peak just before they take off for the south. West University
Village is another well known gathering spot, where, several years ago, 500,000
martins were estimated to be gathered. It is a sight to see just before dusk, the
thousands of birds overhead, on telephone lines shoulder to shoulder, fluttering
Into trees almost atop one another, soar!ng, wheeling, all to the accompaniment of
a muted roar coming from the chirping of thousands and thousands of birds.
** In the next few weeks jot down your Ideas for programs you would like to see
(preferably give, or participate in), and field trips you would like to take, and
send +o Ted Eubanks, Jr., 4012 Childress, Hous+on, 77005.
** Fred Webs+er reminds us +ha+ you s+111 have +ime for the August Rancho del Clelo
trip, from the 5th to the IIth. Rancho del Clelo Is a biological field station of
Texas Southmost College, Brownsville; guest trips are sponsored by Gorgas Science
Society of T.S.C.; proceeds go to maintenance of the station, a project dedicated
to conservation and investigation In the field of natural history. You can bird a
Mexican wilderness area, walk a cloud forest, photograph, all In complete freedom.
"The Wilderness experience with the comforts of home". Write Fred Webster, 4926
Strass Drive, Austin, Texas 78731 (512/451-1669) for further details.
** David Dauphin again reminds those who would like to be on or stay on the Rare
Bird Alert list, to fill out and send in the form found on page 17.
** Another up-dated map is included in this Issue. A Galveston area map, drawn by
Ron Braun and keyed by Ted Eubanks, Jr. is inserted between pp. 16 and 17. As these
maps are published, we suggest you remove them and begin your own file of Places to
Go. As places to go birding are suggested In THE SPOONBILL, put +hem on a list to
be kept wi+h +he maps. The April, 1977 SPOONBILL had a resume of places +o go In
spring and summer. If you keep your old SPOONBILLS, make a list of all the places
to go mentioned in them, you may have forgotten some of them.
** Do remember to call David Dauphin Immediately when you see an unusual bird, or
one completely out of seasonal occurrence. Of course you will call If you sight a
really rare bird! His new number Is 383-3955.
** For the birders who get chicken-hearted In the heat and retire to alr-condltloned
comfort, reading about birds Is the next best thing to seeing +hem. The Chickadee &
Na+u ra11s+'s EmporI urn is open this summer Wednesday thru Friday, noon +o six, and
Sa+urday nine to six. The book selection has been expanding, including their collection of rare and out-of-print books, and there are many new titles for summer Indoor
birders. To whet the youngsters' Interest, some juvenile titles can be found, as
well as books on butterflies, shells and wild flowers.
** Promised for the July SPOONBILL are Professor George Williams reminiscences of
The Gulf Coast Migrant, a series of bird records, why he decided to publish them and
some of their experiences. Sounds like a treat!
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