Texas Cooperative Wildlife Collection

Accipiters

On Saturday, Aug. 19th our Intermediate Birding Class went on a field trip to the Texas Cooperative Wildlife Collection at Texas A&M Univ. in College Station. We went there to take advantage of their extensive collection of bird skins. The skins we studied were all birds we studied in class, and were notable for their ID challenges. The collection is curated by Dr. Keith Arnold, a retired professor from the college. He met us there and opened the collection for us on a day when the museum is usually closed.
What an astounding and unexpected experience! Our class was able to hold and compare around 80 skins. From accipiters to terns, finches to vireos and more.
I feel so fortunate to have had this experience, one that I suppose very few hobbyist birders have the opportunity to do.

Our instructor, Cliff Shackelford, did a very good thing for some very lucky birders.Orioles

Loggerhead Shrike

I said I would tell you more about the Loggerhead Shrike, and this seems like as good a time as any. It is the bird that is responsible for my interest in all birds and in birding as a life-long pursuit.
In high school I had a biology teacher, Al Schwan, who was interested in birds. He was my favorite teacher, and when I had taken all of the classes from him that were available, he made up a research assistant position for me so I could spend more time with him. During that time, while I was growing bacteria in agur and learning about mutations, he gave me a bird field guide. It was the Birds of North America, A Guide to Field Identification and I devoured it as soon as he gave it to me.
For some reason, the Loggerhead Shrike just seemed to jump off the page at me. I have no explanation for it. I was obsessed with seeing that bird. The book called them uncommon and declining. They stored food for the winter, for heaven's sake! Birds do that? What else didn't I know about birds? What do you mean they migrate? How do they know to do that? They sing too? Different songs in different places and at different times of the day? I need to know more!
Shortly after I got the book, a flock of Pine Grosbeaks settled in a cemetary next to my school. I was able to identify them! And they were migrating - I read about them in my new book. This was like magic. A new world opened to me when I found out that there were so many beautiful birds all around me and I could know them.
Since then I have always been aware of the birds around me, even when I couldn't "go birding". Now that I can be a devoted birder again, I have fallen in love with the birds all over again.
And my first Loggerhead Shrike? I have Camille to thank for that. I saw him on my birthday field trip to Pace Bend Park on April 24, 2004.