WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT

The BPRC Web site notes that “North Texas is home to many different species of birds of prey.”  It lists about 30 species that reside in our area at various times throughout any given year.  BPRC’s mission is to provide facilities and expertise to collect, rehabilitate, and release raptors that are injured.   They collect birds from all around North Texas and well beyond.  They are supported entirely by donations, grants, and educational programs to carry out their important work.  They provide valuable educational programs at their facilities (such as our visit) and in schools throughout North Texas.  Finally, they are all about conserving and restoring the blackland prairie around their facilities on the shores of Lake Lavon.  Most of their work is done by volunteers, such as our own Lisa Wilkins.

Charlotte, A Great Horned Owl

We will arrive at about 7:00 a.m., and the photo shoot with the birds should begin around 8:00 a.m.  That gives us some time to get sunrise landscape and waterscape photos and to set up for the raptor photos.  The staff will bring out a variety of raptors that will sit on perches, sit on handlers’ gloved hands, and we will have opportunities to shoot bird-in-flight photos much closer than one normally gets to experience out in the wild.  You will be able to fill the frame with these birds “up close and personal.”  We will have about two hours to photograph the birds after which we will have one additional hour to wander the grounds to photograph the pond, the lake, plants, wildlife, or whatever strikes your fancy.

The cost for the morning’s photo shoot is $450. The Heard Nature Photographers already has paid for member to participate, Since the Club paid for this terrific opportunity, and since the BPRC depends on donations to fulfill its mission, you are encouraged, in lieu of admission, to make a dontation.

Genesis, A Harris’ Hawk

TRAVEL

Your car or cell phone GPS should get you to BPRC, but it’s easy enough to find without it.  Whether driving northbound or southbound on U.S. 75 (Central Expressway), take exit 33 (Bethany Drive) and go east.  After Angel Parkway in Allen, Bethany Drive becomes Lucas Road.  Continue east on Lucas Road until shortly before it reaches a bridge across an arm of Lake Lavon.  If you end up on the bridge, you’ve gone too far and need to turn around.  From Lucas Road, turn south onto Brockdale Park Road.  It will curve around to the east.  At the point where Brockdale Park Road makes a 90-degree turn to the south, we will turn left into the parking lot.  Once you’ve parked, take your gear on the paved trail toward the lake.  We will be just south of the pond on the east side of the park.  Tripods and monopods are welcome.

Mississippi Kite

LUNCH

TwoRows restaurant has been an Allen landmark for at least two decades.  It is right along the east side of Central Expressway about ten minutes from BPRC a little north of Bethany Drive.  They have a varied menu that should satisfy most of the culinary interests of field trip participants.  They open at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday’s, so we can drive straight from BPRC to TwoRows for a delicious lunch. 

The Pond at Blackland Prairie Raptor Center

SUGGESTED EQUIPMENT

• ·Wide-Angle Lens for sunrise, landscapes, and waterscapes.  (A zoom lens adds flexibility.)

• Macro Lens, Extension Tubes, or Close-Up Diopters (For close-up shots of plants, or insects, if there are any out in December.)

• Telephoto lens to fill the frame with the beautiful birds we will be photographing.  (A zoom lens adds flexibility.)

• Tripods and monopods are welcome.  (If you have one, a gimble head may be useful for bird-in-flight shots.)

• Extra Batteries

• Extra Memory Cards

• Water

• Long Pants, Long-Sleeved Shirt, and Jacket to protect against December cold.
  Hat to Protect from the Sun or the Cold.

Cleo, An American Kestrel

CONTACT INFORMATION: Contact me if you have questions:

Tom Martin
HNP Field Trip Coordinator
(469) 261-3045
hollyfox07@gmail.com

Blackland Prairie Raptor Center Map