#birdwatching

#birdwatching

It's time for the Audubon Society's Christmas Bird Count, held each year from Dec. 14 through Jan. 5. The citizen science tradition dates back to 1900, when an early officer of the society, ornithologist Frank M. Chapman, proposed a bird census rather than a hunt over the Christmas holiday. Today, tens of thousands of participants across the Americas participate in one of the longest-running wildlife censuses, which is designed to assess bird populations.

Measuring in at just under 270,000 square miles, the state of Texas is home to sprawling cities and dazzling natural sites alike. And when it comes to experiencing both in one fell swoop, it's tough to find a better destination than Corpus Christi. While this Gulfside city comes equipped with a thriving dining scene and top-tier aquarium, it's also renowned for its high level of avian biodiversity, thanks to its location on the Central Flyway migration path, earning it the nickname "America's Birdiest City."

Garner State Park, located in Concan, Texas, about three hours southwest of the Live Music Capital of the World. It's a popular destination for tubers who like to float the Frio River, but come fall, the park dazzles as trees turn from green to golden, orange, and red. Founded in 1941, Garner State Park is one of many parks built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, a program created by President Franklin Roosevelt to combat the unemployment crisis of the Great Depression.

Touch a Truck event at Great Mall on Aug. 23 features diverse vehicles and personnel, offering families interactive experiences with police, fire, sanitation, and medical teams.