A Prairie and Timbers Audubon Society Project

Funded by Audubon Foundation of Texas

 
Prairie and Timbers Audubon Society (PTAS) joined up with the Blackland Prairie Raptor Center (BPRC) to construct a bird blind around BPRC’s drip feature for birds.  The feature was tucked deep into a wooded area on a hill overlooking Lake Lavon in Collin County.   The drip feature had become popular with the birds where they waited for water to drop into their beaks.  But they had no privacy from the viewing public and would not stay around to be observed.
 
Open to all visitors to BPRC, the fence provides a screen along the winding path as the visitors approach the observation area which contains two wooden benches previously constructed.   The blind continues between the observation area and the drip feature.   The length of the screen is forty feet.  Small view ports allow the visitors to see the birds but largely screened from the view of the birds.  The ports are at different heights to allow both adults and children sitting and standing to observe.
 
The blind materials were purchased with funds from a grant by Audubon Foundation of Texas.  Volunteer labor was provided by PTAS and BPRC.   Activities included clearing a path clear of tree limbs sufficiently high for the eight foot blind, setting the fence posts, connecting fence rails and nailing on the slats.  The ports were then cut into the blind and framed.
 
The Blackland Prairie Raptor Center site is located in a former Corp of Engineering park and therefore has all the amenities for holding public events.  BPRC has monthly events for the public featuring their birds of prey which are trained to be ambassadors for public education.  Although BPRC would like to see all raptors fly free, they cannot release their birds since they are unfit to survive in the wild.    Their monthly events also feature entertaining educational activities for adults and children with the theme changing monthly.  The new bird blind gives them the opportunity to observe birds naturally in addition.