Educational Outreach

One primary goal of West Texas Research, Inc. is directed toward increased public understanding of  the unique birds of this region, bird conservation, bird banding research and the role of bird banding in conservation efforts. The volunteers of West Texas Avian Research, Inc. regularly provide educational outreach programs for public and private school students, birding clubs, service clubs, nature/birding festivals, and other interested groups. Programs include slide presentations, knowledgeable speakers, and bird banding demonstrations.
To inquire about a program provided by WTAR, Inc. for your organization,  please contact us through this site or by contacting  the bird banders listed on this site.

Charles Floyd continues to teach free hummingbird and songbird classes hosted by the Hummer House in Christoval each spring since 2012. The 2017 classes overflowed and additional classes were held. He also was the keynote speaker for San Angelo Master Naturalist Symposium in 2015. Charles spoke to the Williamson County Audubon Society and the San Saba Birding Club. Other recent speaking engagements includes the Abilene Master Gardeners Symposium, Midland Sibley Center Nature Series and Midland Country Club. During the spring and summer, Charles and his banding team do a monthly program of banding and education at the Hummer House in which the general public is invited to attend. The 2017 August program has been canceled to other engagement conflicts.

Kelly Bryan has been the keynote speaker and birding guide at the Laredo Birding Festival for the last several years. This winter, he did several programs along the Texas coast at Gulf Coast Observatory, Master Naturalist group of Weslaco, and South Padre Island.

West Texas Avian Research is one of the sponsors of the Fort Davis Hummingbird Festival. Charles Floyd and Kelly Bryan along with their banding team band hummingbirds during the festival. They have both served on the festival planning committee and Kelly will be presenting programs during the festival.

Both Kelly and Charles, have been keynote speakers at the Rockport HummerFest. They served as the hummingbird banders for the festival for several years. 


The Concho Valley Bird Banding team has provided educational programs for the following schools during the spring season : Ambleside, Grape Creek, Ballinger, Bronte, Christoval, San Angelo, San Saba, Veribest, Angelo State University, Panther Creek and home schooled groups. Several programs have been presented to adult groups throughout the Concho Valley.  

Charles was presenter and bird bander for the Ballinger/Bronte students at the HEB Foundation Camp in the hill country for several years. This was a three day event for 5th and 6th grade students from these schools.