The first annual Bird Poker event at Commons Ford was a big success. Nine teams participated in absolutely beautiful weather. Thanks to all who participated.
So many birders in the park turned up two new species: Long-billed Curlew and Barn Owl. A total of (roughly) 98 species was tallied for the day which is a single day park record. The full list is below. Most interesting misses were Greater Roadrunner and Eastern Screech Owl.
The winning team, Crakes of Wrath, scored 53 points and also the most species (78). Congratulations to Byron Stone, Noreen Baker, Christian Walker and Arman Moreno.
Birding the Hardway (Bryce and Rob Hardway) were only one point behind while the third place team, the Old Crows (Trent Miller, Fred Dalbey and Robin Doughty) had 39 points.
Thanks to all of our donors: Native American Seed Company, Diane Sherrill of Native EarthScapes, artist Gail Woods, Brush Freeman and Barton Springs Nursery for their kind donations and support. All funds raised from this event will go toward continuing the Commons Ford Prairie Restoration Project. Our expanded efforts include placing some education signs around the prairie this year.
Mark your calendars and join us for Bird Poker 2016 during the last week of March.
The species list as submitted by participating teams follows:
Wood
Duck
American
Wigeon
Mallard
Blue-winged
Teal
Northern
Bobwhite
Wild
Turkey
Pied-billed
Grebe
Neotropic
Cormorant
Double-crested
Cormorant
American
White Pelican
Great
Blue Heron
Great
Egret
Snowy
Egret
Green
Heron
Black
Vulture
Turkey
Vulture
Osprey
Sharp-shinned
Hawk
Cooper's
Hawk
Red-shouldered
Hawk
Swainson's
Hawk
Red-tailed
Hawk
American
Coot
Killdeer
Long-billed
Curlew
Rock
Pigeon
Eurasian
Collared-Dove
Common
Ground-Dove
White-winged
Dove
Mourning
Dove
Barn
Owl
Great
Horned Owl
Common
Poorwill
Black-chinned
Hummingbird
Ringed
Kingfisher
Belted
Kingfisher
Golden-fronted
Woodpecker
Red-bellied
Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied
Sapsucker
Ladder-backed
Woodpecker
Downy
Woodpecker
American
Kestrel
Merlin
Eastern
Phoebe
Vermilion
Flycatcher
Ash-throated
Flycatcher
Scissor-tailed
Flycatcher
White-eyed
Vireo
Blue
Jay
Western
Scrub-Jay
American
Crow
Common
Raven
Purple
Martin
Barn
Swallow
Cliff
Swallow
Carolina
Chickadee
Black-crested
Titmouse
Canyon
Wren
House
Wren
Carolina
Wren
Bewick's
Wren
Blue-gray
Gnatcatcher
Ruby-crowned
Kinglet
Eastern
Bluebird
Northern
Mockingbird
European
Starling
Cedar
Waxwing
Black-and-white
Warbler
Orange-crowned
Warbler
Nashville
Warbler
Common
Yellowthroat
Northern
Parula
Yellow-rumped
Warbler
Golden-cheeked
Warbler
Spotted
Towhee
Rufous-crowned
Sparrow
Chipping
Sparrow
Field
Sparrow
Vesper
Sparrow
Lark
Sparrow
Savannah
Sparrow
Grasshopper
Sparrow
Le
Conte's Sparrow
Song
Sparrow
Lincoln's
Sparrow
White-throated
Sparrow
White-crowned
Sparrow
Northern
Cardinal
Red-winged
Blackbird
Western
Meadowlark
Eastern
Meadowlark
Common
Grackle
Great-tailed
Grackle
Brown-headed
Cowbird
House
Finch
Lesser
Goldfinch
American
Goldfinch
House
Sparrow
