Texoma Connect

The Friends of Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge and the Audubon society invites everyone to participate in its annual Christmas Bird Count.  The 2017 count will take place at Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge on Saturday, December 16^th.  Meet at the Visitor Center at 7 am.

You will be assigned to a team.  You may volunteer for half a day or all day.  Bring binoculars, water, and snacks.  Teams will drive to an assigned sector.  Email  friendsofhagerman@gmail.com to sign up.  At the end of the count, a social time and supper will be sponsored by the Friends of Hagerman at 5 pm.

The Audubon Society describes this event as the nation’s longest running citizen science bird project.  The count, which began in 1900 as a replacement for the tradition of bird hunting on Christmas Day, provides important data about the state of the bird population throughout the world.  To date, over 200 peer-reviewed articles have resulted from analysis of the data gathered, and federal agencies use the data in decision making processes that impact bird populations.

Audubon’s 118th Christmas Bird Count will be conducted this coming season, with all counts held between the dates of Thursday, December 14, 2017 through Friday, January 5, 2018.

A map view of the circles expected to be included in the completed 118th CBC can be found here. If you’re interested in participating this season, check out the map to find a count near you; more circles will be added as they are approved for the 118th CBC and beyond. Green and yellow circles are open for new participants, and red circles are full. Please note online registration will not be available for the 118th Count—please contact compilers by email using the information from the pop-ups on the map.

If you are a beginning birder, you will be able to join a group that includes at least one experienced birdwatcher.

If your home is within the boundaries of a CBC circle, then you can stay at home and report the birds that visit your feeder on count day as long as you have made prior arrangement with the count compiler. Check out the sign-up link above during the sign-up season for information on how to contact the compiler.  For information about nesting boxes, contact friendsofhagerman@gmail.com

Since the Christmas Bird Count began over a century ago, it has relied on the dedication and commitment of volunteers.  You may participate in as many counts as you wish.  Participation is free.

On December 2, 2017, hundreds of North Texas high school students will compete in the Texas High School Bass Association fishing tournament on Lake Texoma.  Hosted by Gunter Bass Club, sign in and weigh-in location will be Highport Marina.  The​ ​North​ ​Texas​ ​Division​ ​on​ ​Lake​ ​Texoma​ ​will​ ​be​ ​a​ ​trailering event​. Boats may leave the ramp of their choice at the time of their choice on tournament day with running lights on, life jackets zipped or buckled, kill switch properly attached and students seated properly in the boat.  First cast will be at 6:45 am.  All lines must be out of the water at 2:30 pm.  Teams must be in the weigh-in line by 4:00 pm.

Online registration is available at the THSBA website or onsite registration will be Friday,​ ​December​ ​1,​ ​2017​ ​ at​ ​Sherman​ ​Academy.​ ​Located​ ​at 3939​ ​N​ ​Hwy​ ​75,​ ​Sherman,​ ​TX​ ​75090.​ ​From​ ​4pm-7pm.​ ​Saturday​ ​morning​ sign in ​will start​ ​at​ ​5​ ​am,​ ​at​ ​Highport Marina.​ Students MUST sign in to receive flight number at this time (Tyvek Wristband), however, an advisor, captain or parent may sign in for team(s) if student is not available to do so. Any changes MUST be made at this time.

The Texas high School Bass Association, a 501( c) (3) tax exempt corporation,  is the largest  high school tournament bass fishing organization in Texas.  Last year the association presented 114 scholarships which totaled over $130,000 for students to start their college careers.

One of the primary goals of the THSBA is to promote education through fishing. A critical piece of this movement is encouraging our student anglers to excel in the classroom as well as on the water.  To be eligible to compete in any THSBA tournament, contestants must have passing grades in all subjects enrolled. Team Advisors are accountable to ensure all competing student anglers from their respective schools are meeting this requirement for eligibility.

North Texas Division schools include Grapevine, Bowie, Denton Bass Club, Lucas Lovejoy, Gainesville, Highland Park, Decatur, Sanger, Princeton, Flower Mound, Ponder, Denton Ryan, Van Alstyne, Prosper, Marcus, Melissa, Allen, Gunter, Celina, Argyle, Lakeland Christian Academy, Paradise, Lake Dallas, Jesuit, Plano, Pottsboro, Sacshe, Tioga, Pilot Point, Denison, Northwest HS (Justin), Lindsay, Ector, North Texas Bass Cats, Texoma Christian, Trinity Christian, Collinsville, Whitewright, Rowlett, Valley View

In September a North Division THSBA fishing tournament was held on Lake Ray Roberts with 242 teams landing a whopping 249 pounds of fish.  In October a North Division THSBA fishing tournament was held on Lake Lewisville with 250 teams weighing in 299 pounds of fish.

The upcoming fishing tournament schedule for the North Texas Division:

December 2, 2017 – Lake Texoma (Highport Marina) Entries must be postmarked by November 24,2017

February 10, 2018 – Ray Roberts (Ray Roberts Marina)

March 10, 2018 – Ray Roberts (Ray Roberts Marina)

April 14, 2018 – Lake Lewisville (Regionals) (Lake Park)

May 19 -20, 2018 – Lake Sam Rayburn THSBA Championship

Matt Tolnay is the Director of the North Texas Division and he can be reached at 972.978.0487 or matthew.tolnayu@gmail.com for more information.  Rules and entry forms can be found on the THSBA website.