POINT COMFORT, TX (Jan. 23, 2023) – Formosa Plastics Corporation, Texas Annual Christmas Bird Count (CBC) in Jackson and Calhoun counties yielded 194 different species. On Dec. 27, 2022, 34 volunteers made up of feeder watchers, landowners and counters surveyed properties throughout Jackson and Calhoun counties many owned by Formosa Plastics. Formosa Plastics provided access and escorts to its properties for the sixth year in a row and provided participants with meal at its Formosa-Tejano Wetlands. Volunteer participants spent sunrise to sunset surveying a 15-mile diameter search area.

Local Audubon CBC Compiler Bob Friedrichs said, "The 194 species tallied is our best result since the inception of the count in 2016.  Species diversity was a little above normal for the count; we added seven species that we have not previously seen.  These included Summer Tanager and Brown Creeper found by our teams on Formosa properties. We also found Canada and Cackling Goose, Black Scoter (a duck), Common Tern, Lesser Black-backed Gull and Black-headed Grosbeak for the first time.”

The Formosa-Tejano Wetlands section of the count had six bird species exclusive to that site. The Bell Tract and Sea Lakes properties also produced some unique species like Cackling Goose, Wood Duck and Black-and-white Warbler. 

Friedrichs said, “It appears many of the bird species have 'bounced-back' from the February 2021 freeze, recent drought and tropical storms that impacted their numbers in previous years. This is good news.”