BAYOU CITY BIRDING
Would you like to learn about the birds who live along Houston’s bayous and in the nearby parks and neighborhoods? And are you a kid or a young-at-heart adult? If yes, the Bayou City Birding Zines (short for mini-magazines), Posters, Flashcards and Cheat Sheets are here for you. And all are free!
Zines and Posters: Zines and Posters: Each of these miniature field guides features a small group of birds who share something in common. You can use an origami trick to fold the zines into little magazines that you can read at home and take with you when you go outside. (And don’t worry – the upside down photos in the zines turn right side up with folding – see the link to directions below). You can also print the zines as mini-posters, with all of the photos right side up. The zines and posters feature birds found within Houston’s 610 Loop, with many of the photos taken on the Bayou Greenway trail that borders the White Oak Bayou. The full set covers 100+ of Houston’s most common birds.
Warbler Flashcards and Cheat Sheets: Up for a challenge? After learning your basic birds, move on to the warblers, the little jeweled wonders of the bird world. Each set of Warbler Flashcards introduces a different group of warblers found in Houston at one or more points in the year. Cut out the Warbler Flashcards for practice and then use the Warbler Cheat Sheet for quick reminders. In time, you can up your game with the Warbler Song Cheat Sheet, using it with a bird song app and/or CDs to learn to ID warblers “by ear.”
Sparrow Flashcards and Cheat Sheet: Ready for the next big challenge? Then try your hand at sparrow identification. Although they are often grouped together only as nameless LBJs (Little Brown Jobs), you too can learn to identify many of the sparrows who spend the winter with us. Start with Sparrow Flashcards #2 if you need help with the bird jargon.
What some more help? Then use one or all three of the free bird apps we recommend. An intro to these apps can be downloaded here.
Sharing? Note that individuals and organizations can download, print and distribute the Bayou City Birding Zines, Posters, Flashcards and Cheat Sheets without restriction, as long as no fee is charged for them. We’d love to hear how you have put the Bayou City Birding resources to use and invite you to join with us in efforts to project and nurture the birds and other wild creatures who live among us. Please look at the other pages of this website to learn more about our work.
Click on the first link to find directions for printing and folding the zines. Click on the next set of links to download the zines and/or posters for printing.
HOW TO PRINT AND FOLD A ZINE
#1 HERONS & EGRETS ZINE #1 POSTER # 1
#2 HAWKS & OSPREYS (PERCHING) ZINE #2 POSTER # 2
#3 HAWKS & OSPREYS (FLIGHT) ZINE #3 POSTER # 3
#4 NEIGHBORHOOD BIRDS ZINE #4 POSTER # 4
#5 PIGEONS & DOVES ZINE #5 POSTER # 5
#6 DIVING BIRDS ZINE #6 POSTER # 6
#7 THE AERIALISTS ZINE #7 POSTER # 7
#8 WOODPECKERS ZINE # 8 POSTER #8
#9 FLYCATCHERS & SHRIKES ZINE #9 POSTER # 9
#10 BLACKBIRDS ZINE #10 POSTER # 10
#11 WILD DUCKS & COOTS ZINE #11 POSTER # 11
#12 DOMESTIC GEESE & DUCKS ZINE #12 POSTER #12
#13 WINTER WARBLERS & FRIENDS ZINE #13 POSTER #13
#14 MIGRATORY WARBLER SAMPLER ZINE #14 POSTER #14
#15 SPARROW SAMPLER ZINE #15 POSTER #15
#16 A FEW MORE WATERBIRDS ZINE #16 POSTER #16
INTRODUCTION TO THE WARBLER FLASHCARDS
WARBLER SONG CHEAT SHEET
TWO-SIDED WARBLER CHEAT SHEET
WARBLER FLASHCARDS #1 Yellow below with a light tail
WARBLER FLASHCARDS #2 Yellow below with a dark tail
WARBLER FLASHCARDS #3 Masked marvel warblers
WARBLER FLASHCARDS #4 Black-throated warblers
WARBLER FLASHCARDS #5 64 box crayon warblers
WARBLER FLASHCARDS #6 Undercover warblers
WARBLER FLASHCARDS #7 Rare in Houston warblers
TWO-SIDED SPARROW CHEAT SHEET
SPARROW FLASHCARDS #1 12 cards
SPARROW FLASHCARDS #2 8 cards and info about bird jargon
Note that individuals and organizations can download, print and distribute the Bayou City Birding Zines, Posters, Warbler Cheat Sheet and Warbler Flashcards without restriction, as long as no fee is charged for them. We’d love to hear how you have put the Bayou City Birding resources to use!
The following link was sent to us from the children members of The Bird Watching Club of Arizona. Making Bird Houses With Unused Material At Home.
Maybe this is something you can do with the Junior Bayou City Birders of your household or children's volunteer group.
Looking for the prime birding “Hotspots” in Harris County - Click Here
Build Your Own Birdhouse for Your Backyard Birding Hobby - from Porch.com