Presenter: Lydia Saldaña

Commission Agenda Item No. 8
Briefing
The 1999 Great Texas Birding Classic
April 1999

I. Discussion: The third annual Great Texas Birding Classic is scheduled from April 17-25. It’s the longest, wildest birdwatching competition in the U.S. and will draw more than one hundred competitors from around the world, during the spectacular Spring migration of songbirds through Texas. The competition is held along the 500-mile Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail, which has become a national model for nature tourism. Competition among the teams to spot the most birds is fierce, and when the dust and feathers settle, it’s the birds that win. The $50,000 grand prize is earmarked for avian habitat conservation projects in Texas.

The Classic is underwritten by corporate and community sponsors and has become a nature tourism boon for coastal communities. It’s an innovative partnership between government, industry and local communities.

This year’s effort is enhanced by a special 42-page insert in the Texas Parks & Wildlife Magazine, which features the Spring Migration Calendar. 30,000 additional copies of the insert have been distributed to state parks, chambers of commerce and convention and visitors bureaus along the coast. This year’s enhanced effort by the Wildlife and Communications Divisions will make this year’s Classic the best yet!


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