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Birding in the Park

Birders come here from all over Houston and surrounding areas and are often rewarded with sights not typically seen in their own backyards. Some birds seen in the park are very rare in the Houston area. When: Seasonal guided bird walks are offered monthly (winter) or weekly (fall, spring), but birders visit year round to enjoy our birds on their own as well.

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Russ Pitman Park, with its towering trees, abundant vegetation, food and water resources, offers visitors a wonderful place to bird watch. Year round resident birds include Eastern Screech Owls, Cardinals, Downy and Red-bellied Woodpeckers who nest in the park. In spring and fall migration a variety of warblers, orioles, tanagers, vireos and grosbeaks pass through the park.  Winter visitors include Pine, Orange-crowned and Yellow-rumped Warblers as well as Northern Flickers, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, Ruby & Golden Crowned Kinglets. Summer visiting birds who nest here include Chimney Swifts. We have often seen occasional birds in the park that are not common in the Houston area as well.

If you are uncomfortable joining us for our guided birding opportunities during the ongoing pandemic, you are more than welcome to just stop by to bird on your own! Be sure to check out the Beauchemin Bird Board on the chimney for updated lists of birds seen in the park.

Great Backyard Bird Count

Join us for the 2024 Great Backyard Bird Count! Sunday, February 18, 9 am – 10:30 am

The Nature Discovery Center will again take part in the Great Backyard Bird Count. Join us on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024 from 9:00 to 10:30 am for the count here at the Nature Discovery Center.  Families are welcome.  We will meet at the front porch of the Nature Discovery Center.  If you are a little late, just find us in the park.

Bring a pair of binoculars, but if you don’t have any, we have some here you can borrow.  Please call or e-mail the Center (713.667.6550) at least a day ahead of time so we can have a pair ready for you.

Join us for our Spring Lunch with the Birds Program

Day & Time: Wednesdays at Noon

2024 Dates: March 6 – May 1

Program Location: Meet in front of the Center

Cost: FREE

Registration: No registration is required. This is a drop in program.

Bring or Borrow: Binoculars (call us in advance if you need to borrow a pair 713-667-6550)

Monthly Winter Bird Walks

Mary Ann Beauchemin or Eric Duran will lead a monthly bird walk in Russ Pitman Park throughout the winter. In addition to our “Winter Texan” songbirds we have sometimes had interesting “migrants” stay and overwinter. Most winters we have some western hummers like Rufous & Black-chinned, and less commonly a few Calliopes visit the park.

Day & Time: Select Wednesdays at Noon

2023-2024 Dates: December 6, January 10, February 7

Program Location: Meet in front of the Center

Cost: FREE

Registration: No registration is required. This is a drop in program.

Bring or Borrow: Binoculars (call us in advance if you need to borrow a pair 713-667-6550)

 

 


Swift Night Out Events

Resources for Birding in the Park

Bird Checklist for Russ Pitman Park (PDF)

Resident & Migrant Birds of Russ Pitman Park
The Bird Sighting Board – Bird sightings are updated regularly on a large dry erase board in the south end of Russ Pitman Park, near the nature play area.
eBird – Russ Pitman Park is listed as a Hot Spot, visit this site for updated sightings as well.
Binoculars – a limited number of binoculars are available for use on our bird walks from the Nature Discovery Center. Call us at 713.667.6550 before your visit to arrange to borrow a pair.