First, our quarterly meeting will be at 10 a.m., Monday, May 13, in the Wimberley Community Center. Our speaker will be Cecilia Riley, executive director of Gulf Coast Bird Observatory in Lake Jackson. A native Texan, biologist and avid bird watcher, Cecilia's presentation is titled "Now 16 Years Old - GCBO Marches On." She will update us on current field research as well as plans for building the new Avian Conservation Science Center this year.

Second, our annual salad supper will be from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. On Thursday, May 16, at the home of Sandy Wallace, 700 East Summit in Wimberley. Bring either a large salad or large dessert and adult beverage of your choice.

WBS Overview

The Wimberley Birding Society promotes the watching, protecting and enjoying of birds in and around Wimberley and other locations.

It was founded in 1986, as the TLC Bluebird Society, with the aim of protecting and restoring the local bluebird population. Each member was given two bluebird houses upon paying membership dues; hundreds of nest boxes were erected and many are still in service throughout the area. (TLC stood for the tender loving care required to bring back the bluebirds.)

The club currently has some 130 members. Meetings are held quarterly, generally on the third Monday of May, August, November and February. An active trip schedule is maintained -- excursions have ranged from half-day excursions around Wimberley to an 18-day African safari. For a look at upcoming trips, check our Calendar.

Donations from the club have supported such endeavors as the Adopt-a-prairie-chicken program of the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, Driftwood Wildlife Association, Gulf Coast Bird Observatory, Audubon Texas and similar avian programs. A current major project of the club is the Patsy Glenn Refuge, a Wimberley bird sanctuary which has been developed with a Chimney swift tower and information kiosk, paths, wildflower areas, native tree plantings, bluebird nest boxes, bird viewing platform, and feeding and watering sites.

In addition to trips around Texas, the club takes at least one major trip each year. Past journeys have been to Costa Rica, Panama, Peru and the Amazon River, Trinidad and Tobago, Maine, Hawaii, Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands, Orcas Island, California, and Africa.

"We enjoy birds and we also enjoy eating," said Sandy Wallace, former club president. "Our annual salad supper is always a treat." Club members come from Houston, Justiceburg, Wimberley, San Marcos, Dripping Springs, Kerrville and Austin.

Annual dues are five dollars per person. If interested, make check payable to Wimberley Birding Society and send to:
            WBS
            P. O. Box 1526
            Wimberley, Texas 78676.

Additional Information: Jerry Hall, publicity chairman at publicity@wimbirds.org or 512 847-3730