Top Ten Best Places to Bird in Texas During March
March is the month when Texas birding really begins to buzz. Winter residents are still hanging around, early migrants are on the move, and the first warblers and shorebirds begin trickling in. It’s the sweet spot where winter abundance overlaps with spring excitement. Personally, I love March—it’s the month when you feel the birding year shift into high gear. Here are my Top 10 Best Places to Bird in Texas During March, based on years of muddy boots, binocular neck strain, and a couple of sunburns I pretended were “field badges of honor.” 1. High Island (Upper Texas Coast) March…
Top Ten Best Places to Bird in Texas During February
February may be the shortest month of the year, but it’s long on birding opportunities in Texas. Migration hasn’t quite revved up yet, but winter residents are still thick, waterfowl are dazzling in their full plumage, and early spring stirrings keep things exciting. I love birding Texas in February—it’s cool enough to spend the whole day outside, and there’s always a surprise waiting. Here are my Top 10 Best Places to Bird in Texas During February, based on years of muddy boots, goose-chasing mornings, and enough coffee to keep a Barn Owl awake. 1. Aransas National Wildlife Refuge (Central Coast)…
Choosing the Best Bird Seed for Texas Backyard Feeders (Without Starting a Squirrel Uprising)
One of the questions I am asked most often--right after “What’s that bird?”—is what is the best bird seed to use in bird feeders in Texas that will attract more birds. For many people, this may seem to be a very simple matter. They merely go to Tractor Supply or a local feed store and buy one of the simple mass produced commercial birdseed mixes. While these mixes usually have a wide variety of different seeds, they often contain both poor quality seeds and seeds that do not always attract the types of birds most people want at their feeders.…
A Glimpse of Joy: The Moment a Bird Changed Everything
I’ve led more birding trips than I can count—some small and quiet, others lively and full of eager new faces. Whether it’s with the Tyler Audubon Society, Birds of East Texas, Birds of Lake O’ the Pines, or the Bald Eagles group on Lake O’ the Pines, I’ve been lucky to spend time with folks who find joy in birds the same way I do. And truth be told, I’ve never been on a birding trip where I didn’t have a good time. There’s just something about walking the woods or the edge of a lake with people who share…