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The walks are twice a month April through June, and then again in September and October. Normally, there are around a dozen resident Birders — the right number for good participation and hearing Jim said. The Birders start in the morning at 9 a.m., and the walk is normally under a mile in length.

“Once we make our way out of the bus, we go at a slow pace so everyone can participate,” Jim said.

When the bird walks began in 2020, the group just walked around the campus of Dallas Retirement Village. The next year, the community provided a bus and driver. Now, the group goes to a variety of local, city, county, and state parks — those recognized as area Hotspots by ebird.com where Jim submits all his birding observations. (Jim also registered Dallas Retirement Village on the national eBird Hotspot.)

“I’ve come to realize the bus ride is a primary motivation — birding is secondary,” Jim joked. “Almost 100% of our residents would never go for a bird walk on their own — it’s socialization that’s the draw!”

Jim originally started collecting wildlife data in the early 1980s on high mountain lakes for fly-fishing. It grew to include hiking and skiing destinations, and then information on everything from wildflowers to birds and animals. You can check out Jim’s Cascade Ramblings website at http:// cascaderamblings.blogspot.com and see photos depicting all the fun The Village Birders have on his excursions.

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