Migrating through the big picture

As exciting and memorable as spring migration is, it’s safe to say that much of what defines a “successful” migration for birding comes down to seeing just a handful of individuals during the month or two that they pass through the area. Of the numerous highlights Sarah and I had last year, one sighting in particular that was especially thrilling: a Cerulian Warbler at Washington-on-the-Brazos State Park. One bird. One individual. ONE! That’s all it takes to make the month, season, year and life (etc etc etc) lists.

Looking back over my list from last spring, there were several birds like this- Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Black-headed Grosbeak, Blue-winged Warbler, and Blackpoll Warbler. There were others where I saw so many that they became unremarkable, like Chestnut-sided Warblers, Nashville Warblers or Black-throated Green Warblers. Not that these birds aren’t beautiful and exciting to see, but they became regulars on our daily or weekly excursions.

But neither of these cases really capture what’s going on, does it? I say that Chestnut-sideds were common, but our Ebird data says we saw 28 birds. Nashvilles? 49. Black-throated greens? 24. That’s still not really anything when it comes to the birds that passed through the area. We surely don’t see every last on of them! And it doesn’t even start to describe the population! It’s really quite a challenge to get your mind around what’s really going on with this spring migration: tens (hundreds?) of millions of individuals across 500+ species moving north all in the span of 2-3 months.

Lick Creek Park Nature Center and Rio Brazos Audubon

At a recent meeting of the Friends of Lick Creek Park, David Schmitz from the City of College Station Parks Department described the plans to finish the design and start construction of a Nature Center at Lick Creek Park. This center was part of the long-term master plan and a bond for the construction was approved by voters in 2008. 

After enduring the economic downturn, the City is ready to allocate the funds to build the building. At this time, there are no hard and fast plans for the buildings and structures- David Schmitz presented several renderings made by the architectural firm (below), but final plans won't be made until City Council OKs it.

We at RBAS, as well as the birding community in the Brazos Valley and beyond, realize the uniqueness of LCP as a birding hotspot (187 birds in Ebird) and prime habitat for birds year round- from nesting neotropic migrants, to over wintering sparrows and towhees. We use the park formally for our monthly Birding 101 program, BioBlitz with TAMU in April, North American Migratory Bird count in May, North American Butterfly Count in July, and the Christmas Bird Count in December. Not to mention all of the times we go out as individuals to get into a natural, wooded area. In addition to our uses, TPWD recognizes LCP as a hotspot on their Birding Trails List along with other important birding destinations across the state. So what’s going to happen? A lot of good things I think...

What is planned?

There are a lot of details still in the air, as City Council hasn’t given final go ahead to generate specific plans- but we do have some ballpark rendering to give us an idea:

- Expanded parking

- LEED certified building (potentially)

- Indoor and outdoor classrooms

- Restrooms

- Storage for classroom materials

- Office for staff

- WiFi?

- Pond?

- Butterfly gardens? With an emphasis on Monarchs (milk weed)?

Rendering of potential LCP Nature Center and parking area

Side-view of LCP Nature Center

Other notes:

- Building sight and expanded new parking lot will tie in to current parking lot

- Current chimney swift tower, butterfly gardens, and memorial bench will be untouched

- They are planning on having a capacity of 60-100 people for a class (think school field trips)

- Some lighting will have to go in, but they are conscious of the stars and darkness

- Central open air breezeway will have some displays (flat poster types)

- Rain water harvesting and solar power are planned

- ADA compliant

Blow-out view of Nature Center- classroom/storage on left, facilities
and office on right, breezeway in middle

Side-view of Nature Center

Outdoor teaching space and storage

So what is RBAS’s roll in this?

We have the opportunity to provide our knowledge and expertise to help the City in the implementation of their plans. In teaming with Friends of Lick Creek, Brazos Valley Texas Master Naturalist , and potentially others, we will be able to have a conversation with the City to help work in some of the ideas, desires, wants and needs that we see as valuable. 

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The knowledge base that our groups bring together has significant breadth and depth- we have the people that know the things that make a center like this work- and what would work for this specific center in this specific place. We need those voices- the people that use and enjoy this park the most- to share their ideas- what would we like to have? Where would we like to have it? How much? Too much? More? When? What can we do to help?

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Firstly, we will need people to show up to the City Council meeting when this item comes before the board to voice our support for the project.

As for the bigger question of what can we contribute to this project and what do we want this park/Nature Center to look like… Well? It’s up to us to get our ideas organized and start the conversation with them before the planning is done. 

Time is of the essence as we will need to collaborate with these other groups and speak to the City with more or less one voice. They are optimistic that they can get an up or down vote to go ahead with the bidding process in the coming month or two. 

Leave a comment below with some of your ideas or things you would like to see at (or close by to) this facility (or send an email to riobrazosaudubon@gmail.com if you have a lot on your mind).