FOR THE BIRDS
Migration draws to a close

Birding enthusiasts Nan Dietert and Lyndon Holcomb are reporting on local and area birding. To report a sighting, contact them at lyndonholcomb@yahoo.com.

Well, it's over or basically over. Of course, the spring migration is what I am referring to. It is an event all birders look forward to and hate to see end. Two times a year, once in the spring and again in the fall, the migratory birds of North America are on the move, and a significant percentage of these birds travel to, or through, the Coastal Bend of Texas.

In the spring they will travel from their wintering grounds to their breeding grounds, and in the fall they will move back again to their winter homeland. Individual birds show a great tenacity for specific areas in both spring and winter, although recent studies show that a bird's ties to its wintering ground may be the stronger of the two. A bird certainly spends more time on its wintering ground. A winter home must provide shelter and food; not only adequate food, but high quality food. The demands made on birds during the breeding season are rigorous and stressful. They need a safe and bountiful place to rest and rebuild their reserves if they are to make another successful migration and breed again the next year.

Our own breeding birds are very busy, some incubating, most feeding young, and some starting a second clutch. Breeding bird surveys will be going on to monitor the stability of many populations, try to stay informed on any dangerous declines, and note any change in populations that were already in trouble.

Last Wednesday and Friday mornings were busy at the Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center. We had 50 fifth-grade students from Lago Vista (west of Austin) each day. We spotted all kinds of birds and one group was even visited by a magnificent frigate- bird! The nesting birds always get the kids' attention, and we had pied-billed grebe, common moorhen and blacknecked stilt nests to view. The male ruddy ducks in full breeding plumage were "quite the hit," and the big pink birds (roseate spoonbills) always seem to bring the most screaming. But all the students were very disappointed not to see the alligator. Many boys were on "alligator look-out" the whole time and "saw no birds at all"! But, they all appreciated their time at the birding center. What a great learning experience.

The Lago Vista students also benefited from a boat trip. They were able to go out on the University of Texas Marine Science Institute's research vessel, the R/V Katy. While on board, they experienced a plankton tow and a shrimp trawl directed and taught by Dr. Rick Tinnin. Anyone able to spend time with Tinnin is lucky indeed -- his insights, enthusiasm and teaching abilities are renowned.

"Things" at the Joan and Scott Holt Paradise Pond have slowed down recently, with only a handful of migrants still coming though seeking bed and breakfast. We did have some interesting sightings last week, though. One was a "cross-billed" eastern wood-pewee. His bill had either been injured or was genetically "tweaked," and was very misaligned. The lower mandible grew left and was very long, and the upper mandible went right; the two tips missed meeting by almost a quarter of an inch. However, the bird seemed strong and was catching insects easily.

The second sighting was of a plumbeous vireo, a western vireo fairly rare to our area. Check him out in your field guide. In the past, three of our vireos were thought to be one species, and it was called the solitary vireo. However, they were found to be very different in range and plumage and were split into the blue-headed, plumbeous, and Cassin's vireos.

We were on the Fennessey Ranch Sunday, May 25, and had yellowbilled cuckoos and white-tipped doves calling everywhere. Many painted bunting males were seen busily proclaiming ownership and territorial boundaries. The brown-crested flycatchers seemed more numerous than ever; one has his nest in the head of a working oil pumping unit! The juvenile bald eagle was lying low until an adult brought in a meal. The meals must be getting fairly large and some may be brought in still alive so the big youngster can get a feel for "the kill." He was standing on the meal and pulling and tearing with his wings going, presumably for balance, though much-needed muscle building will soon be a priority.