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Central and South America. We are fortunate that Texas is such a great place for seeing migrants, both in Spring and Fall, and so we should take advantage of our good fortune and enjoy our bird-spotting opportunities.
We should also consider our responsibilities and make bigger efforts to provide habitat for migrating birds. As the human population of Texas grows, the habitat shrinks, and more trees are cut down, water sources are drained, and pesticides poison the plants and insects that the birds rely on. Migrating is a perilous undertaking: out of the huge numbers of birds that migrate south in the Fall, less than half will return next spring, many dying at sea on the way south. Waterfowl have it even harder—out of the 100 million birds that migrate south, about 20 million are shot by hunters, and 40 million die from accidents, predation, disease, and other fatalities. Leaving large areas of nature alone is the best way of assisting our migrating birds, as well as the resident birds that try their best to live alongside us.
Osprey
Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park, TX
October 2012
-Susan Decker
by hunters, and 40 million die from accidents, predation, disease, and other fatalities. Leaving large areas of nature alone is the best way of assisting our migrating birds, as well as the resident birds that try their best to live alongside us.
Not all birds migrate at the same time or in the same way. Birds that are predatory, such as raptors, swifts, and swallows, tend to migrate during the day, and some can eat on the fly. The large predators often follow river valleys which provide easy topographical landmarks, and also good rest stops. The raptors and other soaring/gliding birds often fly beside mountain ranges to take advantage of the updrafts. Waterfowl usually fly in flocks during the day and can often be heard before they are seen flying overhead. Herons, pelicans, finches, and hummingbirds also fly during the day. To see these diurnal migrants it is good to find a hawk watch tower or location that provides a clear sky view. The hawk watch in October at Hornsby Bend in Austin can be an amazing location when the weather is just right.