The Friends of the Port O’Connor Library, Museum of the Coastal Bend and San Antonio Bay Partnership are providing two opportunities this month to learn more about Texas’s many bird species.
On Thursday, April 21, the museum is screening the documentary “The Messenger,” a film about how songbirds are impacted by humans. A reception will be held at the Museum of the Coastal Bend starting at 5pm. At 5:30pm, Dr. Susan Heath, Avian Conservation Biologist with the Gulf Coast Bird Observatory, will give remarks about threats to Texas’ coastal birds and how we can help. Following the speaker, the 90-minute documentary will be shown in Johnson Symposium, which is also located on the Victoria College campus. After the film (7:55-8:30pm), the public is invited to participate in a panel discussion on solutions for songbird survival. Panelists are Dr. Sandra Cochran, DVM, on the impact of spaying & neutering cats; Brent Ortego, TPWD Wildlife Diversity Biologist, on habitat loss & enhancement; and Dr. Susan Heath, on protecting coastal bird species. This program is free and open to the public.
On Saturday, April 23, you have a unique chance to visit the TNC Mad Island Marsh Preserve near Palacios to observe Smithsonian Migratory Bird biologists studying the many species of birds on their spring migration. The field trip runs from 8:30am-2:30pm includes lunch and presentation “The Amazing Journey of Migratory Birds”. Registration is $50 per person This fund raising event supports the Friends of the Port O’Connor Library, the Museum of the Coastal Bend and San Antonio Bay Partnership. Space is Limited. Purchase tickets at www.sabaypartnership.org
“This field trip is an incredible opportunity to see Texas birds up close, and to experience the science that helps tell us about their lives,” says Isabel Ray, museum curator of education. “Here on the Coastal Bend, we’re lucky to be surrounded by so many species.”
For questions about the field trip or film contact Brigid Berger 713 825 1929 brigidberger@comcast.net To learn more about museum events, contact Isabel Ray at 361 582 2559 or isabel.ray@victoriacollege.edu.
The Museum of the Coastal Bend is located at 2200 East Red River in Victoria. Regular museum hours are 10am-4pm, Tuesday-Saturday. Admission is pay-what-you-want. For more information, including a calendar of events, visit the website: www.museumofthecoastalbend.org.
