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Dreaming of a Big Year

Dec10
2011 Leave a Comment Written by admin

I doubt that I will get a chance to do a Big Year this year, because it seems like when I think about it, I never get around to starting one. I have thought about just doing a state Big Year, or perhaps just a county one, but the one I want to really do is be out there for an entire year, doing nothing but birding.

I don’t really have a species target number in mind for any kind of Big Year, to me I think it would be more about being out there, doing something and enjoying myself. I do not think that I have a reliable vehicle at the moment to attempt one though. Actually, it isn’t that I don’t think I have a reliable vehicle, I know for a fact at the moment I do not have one of those. I am not even sure if it would get me around the state of Texas, so it may be best to not do one this year.

I know that it is a main point that a Big Year start on the first of January and continue until the end of the year it was begun. I haven’t even done any planning for a Big Year if I were really going to do one this year anyway, but then again, that is what I prefer sometimes, to not plan my trips and just see what happens.

I just got back home this week from being out of town for two months and did not really get any of the birding I wanted done, done during that trip. I did; however, get to add two new species to my life list while I was gone. Burrowing Owl which I was finally able to see in Florida was a treat. I had been wanting to see this species for a long time and up until a couple weekends ago, I had not been successful.

It is not that I have not tried to see one before, just that by the time I got there to find it, it was no longer there. I got to spend a few days at the home of a friend who happened to have a Burrowing Owl living in the empty lot next to their house. It was a wonderful owl to finally see and I am thankful that I was able to see this bird and add it to my life list.

I also got to see Common Ground Dove while I was in Florida. I know we have those here in Texas too, but as far as I know, I had not ever seen one of them before either. I think it is strange sometimes to know I can see something here near home, but then never seem to be able to find them, or never recognize them for what they are.

This year was not too bad though, I added six new lifers to my list this year, increasing the number of species I have seen since I started birding to 319. The birds that I added this year are the Yellow-faced Grassquit, Golden-cheeked Warbler, Black-capped Vireo, Swallow-tailed Kite, Burrowing Owl and the Common Ground Dove.

I wish I could that many new species or more to my list every year, but I would have to spend more time in the southwest, west and northwest to get many more species that I currently have. I know there are also some that can be found in South Texas that I have not seen yet either, but I have not been down there in years either.

Maybe this coming year I should start making plans to maybe do a Big Year in 2013, but then again I say that around this time every year and just never seem to get around to doing it. One of these years I will do it and just enjoy things as I wander around for the year. I can continue to dream of a Big Year for myself until that happens and it will have to sustain me until then.

Posted in General - Tagged , , ,

Wildfire Burns Bastrop and Buescher State Parks in Texas

Sep07
2011 1 Comment Written by admin

Near Bastrop, Tx a wildfire that started Sunday has burned all but 100 acres of the 6000 acres that encompass Bastrop and Buescher Stae Parks. They are still trying to preserve the historic buildings that were built by the CCC in the 1930’s in Bastrop State Park.  They have been building fire breaks, soaking buildings with water and everything that they can to ensure that the buildings do not burn. They are also trying to save the cabins which campers use as well, but the primitive camping area has been burned.

The main concern for the State Park is that the already endangered Houston Toad may be in even more danger with this wildfire. The toads have already been stressed, having had to deal with the major drought that we have been having here in Texas as well as destruction of habitat. The area surrounding Bastrop, especially the area of the state park had one of the largest populations of Houston Toads still remaining.

The Houston Toad once ranged across twelve counties in Texas, but is now reported in being in nine counties. The truth is, that choruses of the Houston Toad  have only been reported from three Texas counties since 2000, representing a decrease of seventy-five percent in the range and population of the species.

Posted in Announcements - Tagged , , ,

Birds are changing their tune

Aug30
2011 Leave a Comment Written by admin

I ran across an interesting article yesterday, about how some birds are changing the pitch of their mating calls, because of the noise pollution around them.  The bird that the study was done on is the Great Tit found in the UK. I thought that it was rather interesting and think that in some ways it makes a lot of sense.

I wonder if any of the birds here in the US have done something similar and have found it too noisy for them to be attractive to a mate. I also wonder, that as time goes by and noise pollution is not lessened, if birds will be able to adapt to these higher frequency calls and if they will ever decide that the male’s singing is better than the songs that other males sing.

The article can be found here.

http://news.discovery.com/animals/noise-pollution-birds-110829.html#mkcpgn=rssnws1

Posted in Birds - Tagged , , , ,

TNC Photo Contest

Aug24
2011 2 Comments Written by admin

I received this and thought that I would pass it along.

I’m hoping you’ll let your readers know that The Nature Conservancy is holding its 6th Annual Digital Photo Competition. This year, it’s easier than ever to enter using your Facebook log-in info – http://photocontest.nature.org/ or through The Nature Conservancy’s Flickr Group – http://my.nature.org/photography/flickr.html.

Original digital photos that feature the natural wonders of the lands, waters, plants, animals and people around the world are all eligible for the competition.

This year at least 35 photos will be selected as honorable mentions and finalists, and our online community will vote for their favorite images to determine the winners. The grand prize winner will be featured on the cover of the 2013 Nature Conservancy calendar. Proceeds from calendar sales help support our many programs to protect wildlife and their habitats.

Photographers will retain the rights to all their submissions. This competition is open to all photographers age 18 years or older regardless of residence or citizenship, as long as the laws of their jurisdiction allow participation. You can find more details at http://my.nature.org/photography/rules.html. Photo submissions must be uploaded by 11:59 pm PST Monday, September 12, 2011.

For more details, please visit http://photocontest.nature.org/

Posted in Announcements

Eastern Cougar declared extinct

Mar03
2011 Leave a Comment Written by admin

Some bad news this morning. It seems the U.S. Fish and Wildlife department has declared the eastern subspecies of the mountain lion to be extinct. There is no wild population of them anymore. There have been many reported sightings from Maine to South Carolina; however, these sightings are thought to be either escaped or released animals. There is also possibilities that they could be animals from the west, or Mexico as well. The researchers have also said they think this subspecies has been extinct since the 1930s.

The decision to declare the eastern cougar as extinct does not affect the status of the Florida panther, another endangered cougar subspecies.

It always makes me sad to hear when something is declared extinct, it makes me feel like there is little hope out there. Maybe someday it will be found to be a mistake and maybe there is a population of them out there somewhere, but I wonder if we will ever know for sure. I also wonder if there is a large enough collection of eastern cougars in zoos, or private collections to breed them and maybe some day introduce them into the wild again, as they did grey wolves and other such things.

Today is a sad day..

Posted in Mammals - Tagged , ,

Texas Panhandle Pronghorn get new home.

Feb27
2011 Leave a Comment Written by admin

This past week five hundred Pronghorn were moved from the Texas panhandle to the Marfa Plateau to increase the number of animals in the Trans-Pecos herd. They are also hoping that by doing this they will be able to figure out why the Trans-Pecos herd has been in decline over the last several years.

The panhandle herd is estimated to be ten thousand animal. The Trans-Pecos herd only numbers around four thousand seven hundred, which is a record low.

 

Posted in Mammals - Tagged ,

Mammal mailing lists

Feb09
2011 Leave a Comment Written by admin

I have been wondering for a while now, but have not had much luck finding one on my own. Does anyone know of any US wide, or state specific mailing lists for mammals out there somewhere on the net? I know there are bird ones for every state and such. Though, not sure if anyone even reads my blog, other than getting comments from spammers that don’t even read the entries, but that’s beside the point.

Posted in Mammals - Tagged ,

Chasing Birds- Yellow-faced Grassquit

Feb09
2011 Leave a Comment Written by admin

Monday afternoon I decided to get out of the house and drive down to Rockport, Tx, so I could hopefully get a glimpse of the Yellow-faced Grassquit that has been seen at Goose Island State Park, since the end of January. I did not make it down there in time to stop and look for it Monday, but I figured I wouldn’t and knew that Tuesday would be the day I would go looking. Well, I got to the state park at 8 in the morning when it opened and asked the person at the office if they knew where it was being seen. I did not follow his directions right and could not find the spot.

I stopped at the restrooms and asked a nearby lady with binoculars at one of the bird host sites and she told me it had been seen over by the dump station near the entrance to the park. I didn’t think that sounded right, but I went there and waited for a little while, looking for the bird. I thought that it was strange that no one else was there looking for the bird, so I was certain it was not the right place. I looked out the window of my car and saw something on the ground, that I thought was a bird hoping around. I focused my binoculars on it to see what it was. I soon found it was not a bird, but some dirt that was being pushed up by a gopher. I am not sure what species it was and I will post pictures soon.

I have never seen a gopher pushing up dirt before and I would never have gotten a chance to watch it, if I had not been in that spot in the first place. I thought it was a rather amazing sight to see and it also meant I got to see my first gopher ever. I think I sat there in my car watching it for a good 20 or 30 minutes, snapping pictures every once in a while. I had my video camera with me as well, but the battery was dead, so I did not get to video it, which would have been even better than being able to get photos.

I then decided to continue driving and trying to find where the grassquit was being seen and eventually I did find the area, with very little trouble after all. I knew I had found the right place, since there were others birding the area and then upon asking them if that was the spot they told me that it was. It did not take too long, before we found the bird and even though I did not get good looks at it through binoculars, I did get to see it briefly with the naked eye.

Going to look for this bird reminded me of other times I have hit the road to go chase down a rarity that I have seen posted about and many of those times have not paid off; however, a few of them have. I remember years ago, when a Streak-backed Oriole was found at Brazos Bend State Park and going to get a glimpse of that bird. I did finally see it, but only for half a second or two, but it was enough to feel the thrill of seeing a bird not usually found in the area. I was also reminded of the time in 2005, when the Crimson-collared Grosbeak and Elegant Trogan were being seen at the Frontera Audubon site down in the Valley of south Texas. I went down there with a friend and we saw the Grossbeak, but did not see the Trogan and after leaving there, I found out later the Trogan was seen 30 minutes after I left.

I was determined to see the Grassquit and I was not going to leave until I had and I was not disappointed this time. I know I have been before, when I have gone looking for a bird that is rare for the area it has been seen in and then not being able to find the bird. It was a great feeling to once again have a successful outing and I know I will do it all over again, when the chance arises.

Posted in Birds - Tagged , , , , ,

Groundhog Day

Feb02
2011 Leave a Comment Written by admin

Well, today is groundhog day! Just like it is on this day every year. Also known as the Woodchuck, it is a member of the squirrel family and a very interesting and cute little fellow.

Here are some other creatures called hogs or pigs, that aren’t actually either one.

 

The guinea pig isn’t really a pig either, but they are cute little critters that a lot of people like to have as pets, they are also called cavy.

The Hogfish isn’t a hog either, it is a member of the wrasse family and found in good numbers in the Florida Keys, the Bahamas and Caribbean. They have even been found as far north as North Carolina and Bermuda and into the Gulf of Mexico.

Posted in Mammals - Tagged , , ,

Reading and ponderings

Feb02
2011 Leave a Comment Written by admin

Over the last couple weeks, I have read Kingbird Highway by Kenn Kaufman and Mariposa Road, by Pyle.. Reading these two books, makes me want to get out there on the road and do something similar as they did in these two books. I miss taking trips and going out on the road, but there has been a few things that have kept me from doing so. I do not think those reasons will go away, but I am glad to have read these book, because through them I can imagine doing something like that and it is somewhat like being there and doing it myself.

Yeah, I said it kind of made me feel like I was there, but it still is not quite the same thing as actually getting out and doing something like it myself. I can hear the road calling to me and its call is like that of a siren, calling to sailors, trying to lure them in to their doom. It is almost too strong of a call to resist, yet I do resist it. I find that I am in a constant fight with myself about getting out there and seeing and experiencing things I have never experienced before. There is also the part of me that says I should stay home and not get out there and that is the part that usually wins.

I wont go into any details here, because that is not what this blog is about and I do not want to put it all out there for people to read. Maybe one day the part that tells me to get out there and do these things will win, but for now it will not and I will do as I always do I suppose and just sit here and not do anything different at all. I am not sure I would leave Texas anyway if I did attempt something like this and besides, even if I did stay inside Texas there is a lot to see and experience just in this state alone and I cannot think it would be all that much different.

So, I will leave it at that I suppose and be happy with what I do get out to do and treasure it as I would anything else, but I will leave off with something that has been running through my head since I have read these two books.

The road calls to me like a long lost lover

Calling me with its siren’s song

Telling me everything will be alright

Taunting me to leave everything behind

Begging me to come along and follow it

Going wherever it leads.

Posted in General - Tagged , , , ,
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Calendar

January 2012
M T W T F S S
« Dec    
 1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
3031