What is the Texas Century Club?

The Texas Century Club is a challenge sponsored by the Texas Ornithological Society to its members to record 100 species of birds in 100 Texas counties. Texas is big, 254 counties and majority of the birders in Texas probably spend the majority of their time in less than 20 Texas counties. This is just under 8% of the Texas counties!.

To stimulate the exploration of the birdlife in the other 92% of Texas counties The Texas Century Club was created. The idea is to get birders to record the birds in more than the traditional hot spots. To "bird your own patch". To explore the road less traveled.

There are several levels of award; 5, 10, 25. 50. and 75 counties before you reach the goal of 100 species in 100 counties. The five county award level is open to all birders. The higher levels of awards are open only to Texas Ornithological Society Members

Achieving 100 counties will take hard work and dedication, but its going to be fun. You'll find all birds become important to you, no more "trash birds". You'll see more and explore more of the state than you ever dreamed.

Join me, it's going to be fun!

David Sarkozi

How Many Birds Have been Reported in Each County? (upd 7/13)

That's a hard question, because records have been kept in so many places. eBird is just about the only source of recent consolidated records available to everyone.  A record 7,719 lists were submitted in Texas to ebird in Jun 2008. eBird also does a very good job of keeping your county records.

Above is a map of Texas colored by number of species reported to Ebird. Counties in Blue have 200+ species reported. Counties in Green have 100-199 species reported.

Counties in   Yellow have 25-99 species reported. Counties in White have 0-24 species reported

Below is a table originated by David Sarkozi of all the total species repored to each county through eBird. Thanks to all who have added species to Ebird since March 28. JMB: (Updates as of 6/1 in red) (Counties with increases since 6/1 in green)

223 Counties have added species since Mid May!

Also see categorized lists at bottom.