Ornithology -- February 11, 2026

Ornithology - Unit 12 in your textbook. Complete the optional quiz HERE

Sam Crowe, a lifelong birder, author of Photographic Guide to the Birds of North America (2020), and a member of the BPTMN Class of 2022

Read Sam's BIO

1. TUTORIAL: Watch this video (4:20) on logging class attendance and read pp. 15-19 in your MIT Handbook.

*Make sure that you have recorded last week's attendance in VMS. 

 (If you missed class, contact your pod Guides to schedule a make-up.)    

Opportunity: Init Training-Class 01     

Date: February 4, 2026     

Hours: 3.0     

Description: Ecological Concepts with Sam Kieschnick

*IF YOU ATTENDED THE MEET AND GREET, make sure that you have recorded attendance in VMS.

 (If you missed this, it does not need to be made up.) 

Opportunity: Init Training-Orientation   

Date: February 1, 2026    

Hours: 2.0     

Description: Meet & Greet Orientation for Class of 2026

NOTE: THESE MUST BE LOGGED BEFORE YOU COME TO CLASS on Feb. 11

Use the VMS information page to see logging details for all classes and field trips.

2. Complete the short feedback survey for Sam K's ecology class.

3. Look over Unit 12 in your textbook. Complete the optional quiz HERE

4. Watch our speaker's pre-recorded presentation and answer questions.

Is it a Bird? (17:15)

3. Watch video lessons on the basics of ornithology and answer questions.

Inside Birding: Size and Shape (9:45)

Bird Migration in the Western Hemisphere (8:31)

4. Get the Merlin app and set up an account. Go outside and try to ID a few birds. Be prepared to share your results with your pod.

5. Watch Great Backyard Bird Count video and check out links.

GBBC introductory video (1:18)

GBBC resource list

2025 GBBC results

6. After completing your pre-work, jot down any questions you may have. You can ask Sam during your Q&A rotation.

Optional Activities

Twenty Common Birds (7:37)

Light Pollution Affects Migrating Birds(2:59)

Climate Change Affecting Chickadee Distribution (2:04)

Cornell slow-motion video of backyard birds (5:10)

How Does an Owl Fly So Silently? (4:13)

The Big Sit (8:43)

TPWD Big Sit (2:31)

Download Backyard Birds, with bonus info on creating bird habitat, using bird feeders, choosing bird seed, as well as a PDF copy of the presentation on Twenty Common Birds.

Check out the birds that have been observed in Collin County HERE

Visit the Migratory Bird Treaty Act site and see if your favorite bird is protected.

Complete the activity on Using eBird Species maps HINT: Find abundance animation on the White-Throated Sparrow here.

Respect points awarded for playing the Bird Song Hero game 

Listen to a podcast from Cornell's list "Ten of the Best Podcasts About Birds" 

Your Merlin app bird ID results from the week. Be prepared to share with your pod.

Make-up Classes

Do you already know that you will have to have to miss a class because of a conflict? Contact your pod Guides to make arrangements for a make-up class as soon as possible. Right now, we have plenty of opportunities for make-up classes, but we'll have fewer choices every week.  

Logging Hours

Try to log your class hours by Friday night.

Advanced Training (AT) Opportunities

• • Great Backyard Bird Count Webinar: Thursday, February 5th, 2pm - link to register  (VMS logging details are at the bottom of the VMS Information page)

  • Guided Bird Walk at Connemara Meadow Preserve: Saturday, February 7th, 7-9am - see event details on chapter calendar

  • Chapter Meeting with Laura Johnson from the BP Raptor Center: Tuesday, February 10th, 7:00pm - see details here

  • TMN Tuesday presentation "The Bobcat": Tuesday, February 10th, 12:00pm - see details here

Volunteer Service Opportunities

• • Sunrise Bird Count "Little Sit" at Hagerman NWR: Saturday, February 7th, 7-9am

  • Great Backyard Bird Count: February 13th-16th - event details

  • Check the chapter calendar to see details for these bird-themed opportunities:

bird banding at the Heard Museum

Lead a bird walk at Connemara or LLELA

Blackland Prairie Raptor Center - education, animal care, events, or maintenance workdays

"The Big Sit" events at LLELA or Hagerman NWR

Project Feederwatch

Cornell Bird Survey

• ·All About Birds - website

• Merlin Bird ID from the  Cornell Lab of Ornithology

• Beaks: Bird Feeding Adaptations - video from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology

• Prairies and Timbers  Audubon Society - serving Collin and surrounding counties

• Texas Ornithological Society (TOS)- website

• The TOS Handbook of Texas Birds 

• The Feather Atlas  - From the US Fish & Wildlife Service Forensics Lab.

• Audubon Texas - website of the Texas branch of Audubon

• Basics of Birding - video from Texas Parks & Wildlife Dept.

• My Life As A Turkey - PBS production about Wild Turkeys

• Six Steps to Choosing Binoculars You'll Love - article at All About Birds

•  Recent:  Master Naturalists Present Fun Facts about Hummingbirds

WEEK TWO CLASS UPDATE

What a great first class! Sam K. never disappoints. Now we're kicking off our Ornithology Week. When you visit the class website, you'll see that all of the supporting webpages are now visible. Many of them will be part of this week's pre-work.

Week ONE leftovers:

Field Trips - as part of your initial certification, you are required to attend 3 field trips. Take a look at the list of dates, sign-up, and get the dates on your calendar. Please note: If you sign up for a date, you are expected to attend. If your plans change, you need to remove your name from the event in Sign-Up Genius (SUG). Space is limited for many of the trips and we may have a waiting list.

Snacks - The first class has been arranged for you, but we need everyone to sign-up to bring snacks for one of the other classes. The snacks can be store-bought or something homemade. Details are outlined on the SUG.

Week ONE “extras”:

If you scroll down on the ecology webpage, you’ll see a section entitled “Extras”. Each week’s page will have this section. It is where we add any extra content that comes up during the class. For ecology, you’ll see links for the “Greenfire” video about Aldo Leopold. Make sure to check back at previous weeks to see added speaker slide decks, suggested books, videos, articles, etc.

Note: Our speakers share their slides and resources with the understanding that they will be used only by trainees for their own personal use. Please do not share these items.

Week TWO: Feb 5 - Feb 11

Pre-Work:

As always, your pre-work includes readings and videos to complete prior to class. In addition, please download the Merlin app to your phone and try to ID several birds. Bring your list of birds to share with your pod.

But before you do ANY of that, you need to log your class hours in VMS. You’ll see a tutorial video link and logging instructions as #1 on your pre-work list. Do this FIRST and try to get it done by Friday. 

If you are having trouble logging your classes, field trips, or VHAT, contact your pod Guides for help. If you can't remember your VMS username, let me know.

#2 on your list is complete the short feedback survey for Sam K’s ecology class. Do this SECOND and try to get it done by Friday. Then, start on your ornithology pre-work.

For the Birders out There:

Whether you have lots of experience with birding or none at all, there will be a great opportunity coming up to earn some Volunteer Hours (VH) with the Great Backyard Bird Count. While the count takes place February 13-16, there is an AT opportunity TODAY to get you ready to participate. It's a free webinar held today at 2pm. You can earn 1 hour of AT, but only if you participate live. Registration link (You can watch the recorded webinar anytime on YouTube, it just can’t count as AT.)

Two other AT Opportunities for You:

Our chapter meeting will be on Tuesday, February 10th at 7:00pm. Laura Johnson will be visiting from the Blackland Prairie Raptor Center to share information about the raptors found in our area.  Earn 1 hour of AT whether you attend in person or watch LIVE online  (but not if you watch the recording on the website).

TMN Tuesday will also be on the 10th, at noon. This month's webinar will be about the Bobcat, which is our 2026 certification pin species. TMN Tuesdays are presented by the state Texas Master Naturalist office every month, on the second Tuesday. These events are eligible for one hour of AT if you watch it live OR if you watch the recording. TMN Tuesday webinars are typically the only events for which you can earn AT for watching a recording. Any you watch from the current calendar year may be logged as AT.  

Raptor Center volunteer orientation:

The raptor center is hosting their monthly volunteer orientation THIS Sunday, February 8th. If you plan to attend, send Stephanie Losoya an email ASAP so she can help you get registered. Her email is stephanie.losoya@bpraptorcenter.org.

Library:

One of our pod Guides, Linder O'Rourke, is also the chapter librarian. She has spent the past few months totally revamping the library and adding new titles. Before class or during a break, stop by and see which books are available to check out. Books are expected to be returned within a month.

Until next week,

Nancy

Nancy Casillas, Training Director

Texas Master Naturalist, Blackland Prairie Chapter

nancyc@bptmn.org

214-725-2309