From Texas Parks and Wildlife press release.

Great Texas Birding Classic Awards $25,000 in Conservation Grants

AUSTIN—The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Great Texas Birding Classic, an all ages statewide birding event, has generated $844,500 for 95 on-the-ground habitat acquisition, restoration and enhancement projects during the last 19 years. This year’s tournament, which saw a record 530 participants representing 100 teams, contributed $25,000 from registration fees and sponsorships to fund conservation grants.

. . . The $5,000 Lower Texas Coast Regional Big Day Conservation Grant was awarded by the independent team Trogan Men, who won with 179 species recorded in a single day of birding. The team chose to dedicate their grant towards the construction of an accessible path at the Salineño Bird Refuge in the Rio Grande Valley for Friends of the Wildlife Corridor. This walking path will improve access for birding and wildlife viewing while protecting critical habitat for birds.