Houston Audubon has participated once again in the Great Texas Birding Classic by sponsoring teams in both youth divisions this spring. The Houston Audubon Accipiters began competing in 2005 in the Roughwings division (ages 13 and under), and the Houston Audubon Hawks first competed in 2006 in the Gliders division (ages 14-18).
Under the sponsorship of Houston Audubon, the Accipiters have won first place every year they've competed! This year they won with a very impressive 130 bird species seen in the 8-hour period allowed for that division. Team members this year included returning members Cooper Raterink, John Bryan, and Elissa Mroski. They were accompanied by Stennie Meadours as driver and chaperone. The Accipiters believe that participating with their peers in the Classic was the key factor for them becoming “real” birders and are very grateful to Houston Audubon for providing the sponsorship.
Competition at the Gliders level was fierce again this year. The winning team was sponsored by Leica and reported an incredible 195 species seen in a 24-hour period. The HAS Hawks came in third with a number to be proud of – 161 species. Team members Luke Downey and Justice Haynes returned as members of the Hawks team this year for their third year on the team, joined by Ian Godwin of Herndon, Virginia. Andrew Beck, Sanctuary Steward at Houston Audubon, acted as "chaperone" for the team, while Joy Hester drove and Dana Downey recorded species seen.
Winners of the adult divisions of the Great Texas Birding Classic choose conservation projects from proposals made by conservation organizations, and Houston Audubon has been the beneficiary of many of the grants awarded in the past. Houston Audubon is proud to be a part of the Great Texas Birding Classic and is proud of its amazing youth teams. We were pleased to have Tropical Birding as a co-sponsor in the Gliders division this year.
