Apr 17-19 : Frio River Renewal

Sometimes the best reset is a weekend by the river

Concan, Texas | April 17–19

Camp Riverview and Riverbend on the Frio are pairing up to host this April 17 - 19 for the Frio River Renewal : Women’s Retreat. Busy-Birding will head up...well you guessed it.....the birding part of the fun. Please contact Camp Riverview for more details.

Step away from the noise of everyday life and join us for a weekend designed to help you slow down, reconnect with nature, and enjoy meaningful time with other women in the beautiful Texas Hill Country. Spend your days paddling or tubing the clear Frio waters, practicing riverside yoga, bird watching, hiking scenic overlooks, and enjoying great conversation with like-minded women. In the evenings, gather around the campfire for acoustic music, stargazing under the Hill Country sky, and a peaceful atmosphere that invites you to truly unwind.

Your registration includes:
• Friday evening dinner
• Acoustic music & star-gazing party
• Saturday breakfast and lunch
• Sunday breakfast
• River activities like tubing and paddleboarding
• Yoga on the Frio
• Coffee tasting & roasting experience
• A private shopping event at Loca

Optional add-on experiences will also be available, including wine tasting, guided birding hikes, nature sketch classes, sound baths, and more. Whether you come with friends or arrive solo, you’ll leave refreshed, inspired, and connected to the beauty of the Hill Country.

We hope you’ll join us for a weekend of renewal on the Frio. Grab a friend and come spend a beautiful weekend on the Frio River.

Lodging is booked separately, with discounted options available at Riverbend on the Frio and Camp Riverview.

THANKS all for hanging out with us and our quick intro to the birding / naturalist lifestyle.

Next time, warmer weather will keep us exploring longer through the binoculars :>

But at least the rain drops held up until we found the Painted Bunting, Lesser Goldfinch and many, many Golden-fronted Woodpeckers

... and big thanks to Camp Riverview for letting us be a part of what we hope becomes an annual tradition.

KEEP LEARNING

Just a few notes to remind you of the resources we discussed.

eBird.org

eBird is based in lists. See what birds have been seen where, submit your own sightings and if desired, managed your life lists, targeted species and more functions than you could ever imagine. There is also a free eBird mobile app to populate a bird list of species and numbers of birds while in the field. The app also offer other functions but I'll leave it to you to explore.

Merlin

This free mobile app listens for birds and their ID pops up on your phone. A great tool for learning to bird by ear.

iNaturalist.org

iNat is based in observations and covers not only birds but anything alive - plants, fungi, and all animals including birds. It is a community for both citizen and 'real' scientists. It too can be accessed online or via free mobile app. Seek is the sister app to iNaturalist that is designed specifically for kids but is also popular with adults.

Binoculars

The binocs we used were Vortex Triumphs 10x42. The bottom of their line but a great way to get into birding for $99 and an excellent warranty should you find the need. They focus at 15 feet minimum. The next ones up are Diamondback which focus at 6 feet. Cost twice as much but useful if you get into butterflies or dragonflies.

Nature Journaling

John Muir Laws has many great free and paid resources on his website for yourself or for use in a teaching environment.