Blogs

Texas Birders: Stop Taking ID Shots and Start Capturing Character & Personalities

Texas Birders: Stop Taking ID Shots and Start Capturing Character & Personalities

There is nothing wrong with a field guide shot. It is clean. It is sharp. It proves, beyond a reasonable doubt, that yes, that was in fact a Yellow-rumped Warbler and not “some kind of little brown job.” But if every bird photo we take looks like it belongs on page 47 of a laminated reference book, we are documenting feathers, not personality. And birds, despite their modest brains and questionable life choices during migration, absolutely have character. If we want to create bird photos that show their character rather than a clinical ID portrait, we must move from documentation…
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Field Notes From Someone Who Was There

Field Notes From Someone Who Was There

Learned the hard way, remembered the next time.The field is a remarkably efficient teacher. It doesn’t explain itself. It doesn’t slow down so you can catch up. It simply lets you get things wrong, sometimes repeatedly, until you either notice or move on. I’ve done both, though not always in the right order. Most of what I know about birds didn’t come from books or charts. It came from standing in the wrong place, at the wrong time, with too much confidence and not enough patience. The field has a way of correcting that. I once spent an entire morning…
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Welcome, Mags – Our Latest Blogger

Welcome, Mags – Our Latest Blogger

Welcome to our latest blogger, Mags Holloway. Stealing from her words, here is her background story. Mags Holloway came to birding the long way around. She grew up in East Texas at the edge of a hay field and a creek that never dried up, even in August. Birds were just “there” when she was a kid, part of the scenery, like cicadas and the smell of warm dust. It wasn’t until college, during a summer job doing habitat surveys, that someone finally handed her a field guide and said, “You should probably learn their names.” That did it. She…
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Texas Birds, No Hurry

Texas Birds, No Hurry

Birding at the speed the birds prefer. Texas is large enough to make people feel rushed. There’s always another county, another hotspot, another direction you could be driving if you weren’t standing where you are. I’ve felt that pull more times than I can count. The urge to cover ground, to “make the most of the day,” to treat birding like a task list instead of an experience. The birds have never shared that urgency. Some of my best mornings in Texas have involved very few miles and even fewer species. A patch of woods. A fence line. The edge…
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Beginner or Expert, Your Texas Birding Experience Matters—Write for Texas Birder

Beginner or Expert, Your Texas Birding Experience Matters—Write for Texas Birder

Texas is big. Really big. Big skies, big backyards, big wetlands, big migration days… and an even bigger supply of bird stories just waiting to be told. That’s where you come in. Texas Birder is actively looking for more bloggers who love birding in Texas and want to share their experiences, knowledge, photos, observations, or even the occasional “you won’t believe what I just saw” moment. If it involves birds, birding, nature, conservation, photography, gear, trips, or learning the ropes, it probably belongs here. Why Write for Texas Birder? Because your words won’t just drift into the internet void like…
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I Didn’t Start Birding to Be Impressive

I Didn’t Start Birding to Be Impressive

I didn’t start birding to build a list, collect accolades, or prove anything to anyone standing next to me on a trail. I started birding because one day I realized I was seeing birds but not actually seeing them. That moment usually sneaks up on you. For me, it happened years ago on a job site in East Texas. I was supposed to be evaluating land. Instead, I stood there far too long watching a bird flick its tail, drop to the ground, hop back up, and repeat the whole routine like it was trying to explain something important. That…
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Top Ten Best Places to Bird in Texas During September

Top Ten Best Places to Bird in Texas During September

September in Texas means two things: lingering summer heat and spectacular birding. As migration kicks into high gear, the Lone Star State becomes the ultimate crossroads for millions of birds heading south. I’ve been birding Texas for decades, and September is one of those months where you never leave the field without a story—and usually without a stiff neck from staring up at kettles of hawks. Here are my top ten best places to bird in Texas during September, based on years of binocular time, field notes, and the occasional sunburn. 1. Padre Island National Seashore (South Texas Coast) Padre…
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Birding at Davis Mountains State Park in August: Cool Nights, Hot Days, and Surprising Birds

Birding at Davis Mountains State Park in August: Cool Nights, Hot Days, and Surprising Birds

Discover cooler summer birding at Davis Mountains State Park. Spot Acorn Woodpeckers, Scott’s Orioles, and more in scenic West Texas. If you’re looking for birding in West Texas that doesn’t leave you feeling like you’ve been broiled in a convection oven, put Davis Mountains State Park at the top of your August travel list. Perched at over 5,000 feet in elevation, this scenic park offers warm but tolerable summer days and cool, refreshing nights—perfect conditions for both people and birds. In August, the Davis Mountains are alive with bird activity, making it one of the best birding spots in Texas…
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Birdwatching and Brain Games: The Joy of Bird-Themed Word Search Books

Birdwatching and Brain Games: The Joy of Bird-Themed Word Search Books

Birding and Word Searching: A Match Made in Feathered Heaven While birding is so much fun, it can also be a bit intense. Even the most die-hard birders need a break. A moment to sit down, relax, and not worry about missing that Lazali Bunting that everyone but you saw. Enter: Word Search Books — the underrated hero of quiet birding joy. Why Word Search Books Belong in Every Birder's Backpack Birding involves pattern recognition, quick observation, and the ability to concentrate. Word searches do the same thing, but with slightly less poison ivy. They're perfect for: Rainy days when…
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