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Oklahoma

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher Tyrannus forficatus ŠPeter LaTourrette http://www.stanford.edu/~petelat1/

Looking for a great way to spend a vacation? Oklahoma is a land of friendly people, diverse eco-regions and fantastic birding all year long. Oklahoma has many locations to bird. Plan to visit one of the 50 state parks. You`ll find any number of activities, including camping, hiking, swimming, fishing, water skiing and even cave exploring, as well, of course, as birding.

And if birding only is your wish, check out a few of our most popular areas: Great Salt Plains, Ouachita Mountains and the vast open prairies.

Black Mesa: Rocky Mountain foothills
Western High Plains: Shortgrass prairie
Southwestern Tablelands: Shinnery oak scrub
Central Great Plains: Mixed grass prairie
Flint Hills: Tallgrass prairie
Central Oklahoma/Texas Plains: Crosstimbers
Central Irregular Plains: Tallgrass prairie; caves
Ozark Highlands: Oak hickory forests
Arkansas Valley: Prairie; bottomland hardwood forest
Ouachita Mountains: Pine savanna; moist hardwood forest
South Central Plains: Moist forest; cypress swamps
Big Rivers: Large, wide sandy rivers

Check out the Audubon Society of Central Oklahoma for free birding trips and programs...

contributor

Donna Mackiewicz
President - Audubon Society of Central Oklahoma
auduboner@cox.net

numbers

Number of bird species:454

useful reading

Distributions of Oklahoma Birds

DS Wood and GD Schnell 232 pages, 382 maps. University of Oklahoma Press 1984
ISBN: 0806118873
Buy this book from NHBS.com

Guide to Birding in Oklahoma

Tulsa Audubon Society
ISBN: 126571
Buy this book from NHBS.com

Oklahoma Bird Life

Frederick M. Baumgartner, A. Marguerite Baumgartner Hardcover - 443 pages (April 1992) University of Oklahoma Press
ISBN: 0806117923
Buy this book from NHBS.com

Oklahoma Birds : An Introduction to Familiar Species

(Pocket Naturalist) Waterford Press Paperback (May 1999) Waterford Press
ISBN: 1583550089
Buy this book from NHBS.com

Oklahoma Breeding Bird Atlas

Edited by Dan L Reinking 528 pages, 222 col illus, 230 col maps. University of Oklahoma Press 2004
ISBN: 0806134097
Buy this book from NHBS.com

useful information

State Bird

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher Tyrannus forficatus

clubs

Audubon Society in Oklahoma

http://www.audubon.org/chapter/ok/
Usual list of local chapters.

Audubon Society of Central Oklahoma

mailto:asco2004@cox.net
Our chapter serves the greater Oklahoma City metropolitan area. We invite you to participate in all our chapter activities. While focusing on birding in many of our programs and field trips, The Audubon Society of Central Oklahoma is an active conservation organization and not just for the birds! Our current membership serves 800 families.

Nature Conservancy in Oklahoma

http://nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/oklahoma/
Saving the last great places of oklahoma. The Nature Conservancy of Oklahoma owns and manages over a dozen preserves, such as the Tallgrass Prairie, and assists with the management of approximately half as many other protected natural areas (Black Mesa, for example). In addition, the Oklahoma Chapter provides an ambitious registry program in which private landowners can voluntarily protect unigue natural features. Clicking the Welcome ! link above (or here) will display a map of Oklahoma containing clickable icons for these various preserves. (And clicking the waving flag on that page will reward you with a rousing rendition of the state song: Oklahoma!)

Oklahoma Bird Records Committee

http://www.okbirds.org/
Overview and historical perspective - Studies of bird populations, bird distribution, and bird migration have been a mainstay of ornithology for some time. In the 1800s, museum specimens were relied upon as observations, and bird collections were effectively the database. Egg collections also added to the data we had on birds and breeding distributions. Early ornithologists made these extensive collections, partly to obtain voucher specimens verifying the existence of the species in an area, partly to study geographic variation of species and subspecies, and partly because they did not have good identification materials or visual equipment...

Oklahoma Ornithological Society

http://www.okbirds.org/
Bird Records Committee - Studies of bird populations, bird distribution, and bird migration have been a mainstay of ornithology for some time. In the 1800s, museum specimens were relied upon as observations, and bird collections were effectively the database. Egg collections also added to the data we had on birds and breeding distributions. Early ornithologists made these extensive collections, partly to obtain voucher specimens verifying the existence of the species in an area, partly to study geographic variation of species and subspecies, and partly because they did not have good identification materials or visual equipment.

Payne County Audubon Society

http://www.paynecountyaudubon.org/
Typical site entry: Sanborn Lake is a small park near the Stillwater Airport that hosts a nice variety of birds typical of central Oklahoma. Breeding birds include Green Herons, Canada Geese, Red-tailed Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Bobwhite, Mourning Dove, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Downy Woodpecker, Eastern Kingbird, Scissortail Flycatchers, Barn Swallow, Blue Jay, American Crow, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, Bewick`s Wren, American Robin, Brown Thrasher, Loggerhead Shrike, Warbling Vireo, Northern Cardinal, Field Sparrow, Yellow-billed Cuckoos, Baltimore Orioles, Red-winged Blackbird, Eastern Meadowlark, and House Finch. Migration brings in a wide variety of warblers, flycatchers, thrushes and sparrows. The small prairie on the east side of the lake is home to number of prairie wildflowers and butterflies.

Tulsa Audubon Society

http://www.tulsaaudubon.org/
The purpose of the Tulsa Audubon Society is to foster appreciation, enjoyment and stewardship of our natural world. We work to achieve this in four ways: Promote the conservation of wildlife and the natural environment. Provide the opportunity for study and observation of birds and all wildlife Contribute to research in the fields of conservation and ornithology by monetary support and active participation. Educate the public on the need to protect the environment, and to promote a better public understanding of these natural resources. All Tulsa Audubon Society events are free and open to the public. Society meetings and many field trips meet at the Tulsa Garden Center, 2435 S. Peoria.

festivals

Great Salt Plains

http://www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/saltplains/festival.html
The Great Salt Plains Lake area of NW Oklahoma is rich with natural wonders to discover. We offer you Nature Tourism at its finest! Crystal & Birding Festival-April...

observatories

George Miksch Sutton Avian Research Centre

http://www.suttoncenter.org/index.html
The George Miksch Sutton Avian Research Center is dedicated to finding cooperative conservation solutions for birds and the natural world through science and education. The scope of our projects ranges from the reintroduction of Southern Bald Eagles, intensive field research on declining grassland birds, captive breeding of endangered species, raptor surveys world wide, to the use of NASA thermal-imaging cameras to study incubation temperature. The Sutton Research Center is a private, non-profit organization affiliated with the University of Oklahoma`s Oklahoma Biological Survey.

museums

Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History

http://www.snomnh.ou.edu
1899, the Territorial Legislature of the future state of Oklahoma mandated the founding of a natural history museum on the campus of the University of the Territory of Oklahoma in Norman, now the University of Oklahoma. Since that time, the existing museum has had a long and distinguished history, acquiring over 5,000,000 objects that belong to the people of the state of Oklahoma...

reserves

Konawa Reservoir and Recreation Area

http://www.konawa.k12.ok.us/community/wildlife/wildlife.html#wild
One of the migratory summer residents of the Konawa Reservoir area is the scissor-tailed flycatcher, the state bird of Oklahoma. Scissor-tails migrate to Oklahoma and Texas for the spring and summer from their wintering grounds ranging from southern Mexico to Panama. This flycatcher has a pale gray back, white belly and pink sides. Coloration is the same for both males and females...

Martin Park Nature Center

http://www.okc.gov/query.html?parks/martin_park/index.html
The Martin Park Nature Center is a 140 acre wildlife preserve and nature museum located in northwest Oklahoma City in the state of Oklahoma. The Park is open to the public and admission is always free.

Salt Plains Lake

http://www.cherpub.com
BirdCount, Maps, Weather at Salt Plains Lake - an all year rounf birding spot.

Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge

http://refuges.fws.gov/profiles/WildHabitat.cfm?ID=21670
No trip to the Lawton area would be complete without a visit to the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge north of the city. The 60,000 acre refuge is maintained by the National Wildlife Refuge System in a wild and natural condition.

trip reports

Travelling Birder
http://www.travellingbirder.com
The Travellingbirder.com birding trip report search engine guides you to 7,000+ birding trip reports on the Internet. You can search for trip reports from a specific country and time of year. Not all these reports are in English. So, if you cant find the trip report you want on this Fatbirder page give them a try!

1997 [February] - Mike Collins - Sooner Lake

http://www3.ns.sympatico.ca/maybank/USA/TX/TX-02-97-A.htm
I just returned from a great birding trip to Texas and Oklahoma. Although the weather was lousy at times, I was able to see many of my targets thanks to RBAs and tips from local birders. I started and ended the trip in Dallas and drove 2600 miles, including a loop that went through the Lower Rio Grande Valley and a one-day excursion up to Sooner Lake in Oklahoma. I saw the 144 species listed at the end.

2005 [May] - Mary Beth Stowe

http://miriameaglemon.com/Trip%20Reports/Oklahoma/Oklahoma%20Title%20Page.htm
What a delightful day the Lord gave us! I was wide awake a little after three, so decided to go ahead and get started, and ended up leaving around 5:30 or so, which made it fun looking directly into the sun at times, but we made it! But the wind: holy socks! I was afraid for those trucks going over the pass!

tour operators

Birding Pal

http://birdingpal.org/ok.htm
Local birders willing to show visiting birders around their area...

places to stay

Arcadian Inn B&B

http://www.bbonline.com/ok/arcadian/
The beautiful Oklahoma sun rises again on the glory of the historical home of Dr. Arthur M. Ruhl, sitting on the hill west of the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond. Now known as The Arcadian Inn Bed and Breakfast, Dr. Ruhl`s home still retains its golden glow with a blush of peach to give it the radiance of an Oklahoma sunrise or sunset...

Heritage Manor B&B

http://1aj.org/
Enjoy the vintage decor and ambiance of a Victorian or country appointed guest room. Roam the peaceful gardens, wander eighty acres of watchable wildlife habitat or read and search in 5000 volume library!

mailing lists

OkBirds

http://www.suttoncenter.org/okbirds.html
To post to list:listserv@lists.ou.edu
List contact:GMSARC@AOL.COM
To subscribe to list:listserv@lists.ou.edu
To unsubscribe:Blank
subscribe OKbirds your name
The Sutton Avian Research Center is sponsoring a discussion list (listserv) for those interested in Oklahoma birds! If you have an e-mail address and you are interested in Oklahoma birds and birding, then the OKbirds listserv is for you.

Birding in Oklahoma

http://birdingoklahoma.com
All about bird watching in the great state of Oklahoma

Birds of Oklahoma

http://www.birdsofoklahoma.net/
Welcome to Bill Horn`s Birds of Oklahoma Web site. Featured on these pages are images of both native and migratory Oklahoma birds. These bird photos are intended to aid in bird identification. We hope you enjoy Bill`s bird images and find the birding information at this site to be resourceful and educational.

Buckskin`s Diary

http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/buckskinhawk/
Birding BLOG from Oklahoma

Christophers Ltd

http://www.birdbino.com
Binoculars - and all about them!

Hotspots for birding in Oklahoma

http://www.birdsofoklahoma.net/Hotspotsbirding.htm
List with maps and etc...

Oklahoma Bird Checklist

http://www.birdsofoklahoma.net/OKbirdcklist.htm
Full checklist...

Oklahoma Bird Specimen Records

http://www.biosurvey.ou.edu/birddesc.html
This database contains information on bird specimens collected in Oklahoma and housed at various museums in the state and around the world. The database does not include records currently in the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History...

Winter Bird Survey

http://www.wildlifedepartment.com/2007winterbirdsurvey.htm
Participating in the Winter Bird Survey is easy, especially if you already have a bird feeder in your yard. Choose two days between Thursday, Jan. 11 and Saturday, Jan. 14 to pay special attention to the birds that visit your feeder. Fill out the survey form and mail your results to the address at the bottom of the form by Feb. 12...

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