NASCC Environmental hosts Partners In Flight committee

Naval Air Station Corpus Christi Environmental hosted the Partners in Flight Annual Steering Committee meeting from April 23 to 26, which coincided with the peak of spring bird migration.

The City of Corpus Christi is known as the “Birdiest City in North America,” acting as a rest stop for migrating birds traveling between as far north as the Arctic Circle to as far south as Chile. During peak migration an estimated 300 different bird species pass through Corpus Christi.

At an active naval air station with over 60,000 aircraft flights per year, it is important to know and understand what birds are in the area to reduce the chances of a bird air-strike hazard.

Knowing the animal populations on the base also helps tailor construction plans to minimize adverse impacts to the animals.

Working with Partners in Flight in bird conservation helps both organizations work toward safer skies for both pilots and birds.

On April 25, participants conducted a bird survey on the airfield, Ocean Drive waterfront, behind the RV park, golf course, Catalina Club, and near the weapons compound.

After two hours, 106 species were observed. Eight additional species were observed throughout the week. The most common birds observed were Franklin’s Gulls, Laughing Gulls, Brown Pelicans, and Broad-Winged Hawks.

Participants also identified Piping Plovers during the Bird Survey. Due to their declining population, the State of Texas designated critical habitat for Piping Plovers in July of 2001.

The Laguna Madre is home to the largest population of Piping Plovers in the United States. Extra precautions for construction work in the critical habitat are in place to protect the plovers.

If you are interested in birding or natural resource conservation, come join the Environmental Department and volunteers on Friday, June 14, to clean the Piping Plover critical habitat on Ocean Drive.

Registration will be between 7 and 7:30 a.m. followed by briefs and transportation to the Ocean Drive cleanup site. Please meet at the Hangar 41 parking lot.

For more information, contact Diana at diana.maimone1@navy.mil.

Additional information on birding and natural resource conservation can be found at: https://tpwd.texas.gov/ and https://www.coastalbendaudubon.org/.