Arlington Citizens Journal features Kennedale Birding Program

Recently the Arlingon Citizens Journal posted a great story by Shirley Jenikins about “birding” at the Southwest Nature Preseve and featuring Kennedale’s Birding Program. This is the from the first part of the article. {{more: read more …}}

Going to the birds: Kennedale program lets watchers spot species

BY SHIRLEY JINKINS

Special to the Star-Telegram

It?s already warm at half past eight on a sunny Saturday morning at Southwest Nature Preserve. Fly fishermen are gathered in the parking lot, practicing their graceful casts. Hikers are on the trails of the 58-acre wilderness that hugs the Arlington-Kennedale city line.

 

But it?s the call of northern cardinals, the glimpse of a painted bunting in a tree and the soaring wingspan of a snowy egret that draw both veteran and would-be bird-watchers to the preserve this July day.

The city of Kennedale sponsors the quarterly bird ID workshop and walk with Master Birder Walt Berk to get people excited about backyard birds and migrating species alike.

?A lot of people are curious just to see what it?s all about, or they?ll send a Boy Scout troop,? said Berk, who began birding with his wife, Diane, about 30 years ago when he retired from the Army. ?There?s a lot of interest in it at other areas, too, like Dinosaur Valley State Park and Cleburne State Park.?

Berk, of Burleson, took the first 10-month Master Birder Society class years ago and is a member of both the Dallas and Fort Worth Audubon societies. He teaches senior enrichment classes in birding at Tarrant County College campuses in spring and fall.

 

You can read the full article with photos of the birds and the watchers at Arlington

Citizen Journal.

 

Interesting facts from the article:

• The preserve, at 5201 Bowman Springs Road, is a remnant of the Cross Timbers ecological zone, Berk said. It was saved from development at first by the Trust for Public Land and later by Arlington voters, who approved $13.6 million to turn it into a preserve. It was dedicated in 2013.

• The preserve contains three stops for Pokemon Go players.

• The preserve has been deemed a birding hot spot in Tarrant County by Cornell University; more than 135 species have been identified there, over the changing seasons and the life of the preserve.

• Birding as a hobby is more popular than ever, with several recent sources counting as many as 60 million Americans as bird-watchers.

The next Kennedale birding workshop and nature center bird walk

will be Oct. 15. There is no admission, but seating is limited and advance

registration is required. Details are at www.cityofkennedale.com/birding.

Friends of the Southwest Nature Preserve hosts its own

volunteer events every fourth Saturday of the month and conducts regularly

scheduled nature walks. See a schedule at www.swnp.org.