VH – Lights Out Dallas – September-October 2021

Hi there BPTMN!

Looking for adventure?  How about prowling the streets of Dallas in the early morning hours to look for . . . birds!  If you decide to participate, please write an article for “Shaking the Trees!”

VH – Lights Out Dallas – September-October 2021

Hi there BPTMN!

Fall is here and so is the annual fall migration, which means millions of migrating birds will be passing through Texas.  It also means the Lights Out Dallas Team has been activated.  If you are an early riser, this the perfect volunteer activity for you! The program started on September 10, but there are still plenty of morning surveys planned through October 29.

Event:  Lights Out Dallas 

Project Description:   

Downtown Dallas bird surveys begin tomorrow, September 10, and continue through October. Mark your calendar and join us on any of the following dates. We don’t need RSVPs, but we do need you. Tim, Alfonso, and Mei Ling report early surveys have already documented 45 collision mortalities downtown, mostly mourning warblers. When you volunteer, you help to sweep the survey route as thoroughly as possible. The more volunteers, the timelier and more thorough the search. Join us at 6 AM on any of these dates. (Birds > Sleep!) Downtown Dallas Survey Dates (6-8 AM)

September 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30.

October 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29.

We’ll keep you updated with schedule reminders each week.

Downtown Dallas Surveying: What to Expect

BEGIN: Promptly at 6 AM.

PARKING: Enter the Perot Special Event/Permit Parking Lot by way of Field & River Streets. Push the intercom button at the gate and let security know you are there for Lights Out. They will admit you.

WALK: We’ll walk between 3-6 miles at a leisurely pace – comfortable shoes are recommended.

CLOTHING: Light-colored clothing is a good idea for high visibility. You will be crossing many streets on foot.

RESTROOMS: Sporadically available along the survey route

GEAR: A flashlight or headlamp helps you see birds pre-dawn. A camera phone, with the iNaturalist app https://www.inaturalist.org/ downloaded, helps you document your findings but is not required.

END: We return to the Perot parking lot at 8 AM.

Logging VH:  Hours may be logged under BPTMN: Bird/Wildlife/Insect/Plant or other Survey: TMN Field Research with “Lights Out Texas Dallas Bird Count” in the service description box.

Links for more information: 

Lights Out Texas | Texas Conservation Alliance (tcatexas.org)