The 2006 event
was featured in the Wall Street Journal
Feb 23, 2006
"Birdwatchers Find Sparrows
Often Are A tough Nut to Crack", by Neal Templin.
is an Austin physician and naturalist with a lifelong love of the outdoors. He has been an avid birder for over three decades, and has traveled all parts of Texas to observe birds and wildlife. Byron's interest in sparrows dates back over two decades ago, when he began to try in earnest to tell apart all of those "little brown birds." Byron began digiscoping (using a digital camera through a spotting scope) at about the same time that he began teaching the sparrow identification class for Travis Audubon Society serveral years ago, and he now uses primarily his own digital images to teach classes and workshops on sparrow identification. Byron's classes for Travis Audubon Society's have received rave reviews, and he is excited to have the opportunity to share his interest and enthusiasm for sparrows and other grassland birds with the Friends of Balcones Canyonlands NWR. He says that his motto for the classes and for the workshop is "we make sparrows fun." Join us for this workshop and he says he will do his best to ensure that participants learn a lot about sparrows, and have fun doing so.
has been birding for more than 30 years – first in Ohio and then, since the late 1980s, in central Texas. Bill is now a biologist with the City of Austin Balcones Canyonlands Preserve, which, like the refuge, protects endangered species such as Golden-cheeked Warblers and Black-capped Vireos." He is fascinated by all aspects of natural history and ecology, especially with how plants and animals fill niches in their environments and form communities. He explores these themes in a monthly nature column that he writes for the Travis Audubon Society newsletter.
Bill started Travis Audubon Society’s popular sparrow identification class, which he taught for four winters. From 1999 to 2005, he joined the staff of Balcones Canyonlands NWR, where he became familiar with the many wintering sparrows of the refuge, and led several field trips to see them. Helping other birders to see the sparrows, to distinguish among them, and to appreciate them, has always been a highlight of his winter outings.
has been the Wildlife Biologist for Balcones Canyonlands NWR for 15 years and has been active on the Texas birding scene for the better part of the past 35 years. He served for several years on the Texas Bird Records Committee and was co-editor, with his friend Greg Lasley, of the Texas column for American Birds magazine for 18 years. Although perhaps better known as one of the world’s experts on the endangered Golden-cheeked Warbler and Black-capped Vireo, he has always counted sparrows as among the most interesting of birds. Chuck remarks, “Working at Balcones, with its great habitat diversity, has given me the opportunity to study all our sparrows in close quarters.” Chuck holds a Ph.D. degree from the University of Texas at Austin.
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Grasshopper
Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum)
Photo courtesy of Byron Stone |
Cancellation Policy
Friends of Balcones regrets we cannot issue workshop refunds for any reason whatsoever after Jan 20, 2010. However, if after that date, a client who cancels a “sold-out” workshop that is resold, we will issue a refund for that space in that workshop.
There are no guarantees with respect to Hill Country weather. The workshop will be conducted regardless of conditions. In the event of extreme conditions, the workshop will be re-scheduled.