Birding Hot Spots During Spring Migration
Altamira Oriole
This is Passport to Texas
Texans perk up as the monochromatic birds of winter give way to their colorful counterparts of spring.
Like the orange and black of the Baltimore Oriole, or the red and black of a Scarlet Tanager. So, all of a sudden you see this splash of color that you haven’t seen in months, and it’s very exciting.
Cliff Shackelford, Parks and Wildlife’s non-game ornithologist, says to witness these colorful migrants, location is only part of the equation.
Location is important, but if a storm hit – like a blue norther – in late April, that grounds those birds just like it would ground small aircraft. And so, they’re seeking shelter, and that could be your backyard.
Hot spots where you can view large concentrations of migratory birds are plentiful – the Texas coast is one of the best.
Places like High Island, Sabine Woods near Sabine Pass, Bleacher Park near downtown Corpus Christi, the South padres island Convention center. Birdwatchers go to those spots, typically in April and May. They can be very productive. Those are just a few of the really important hot spots we call “migrant traps” that are great for the birds and the bird watchers.
Find birding information on the Texas Parks and Wildlife website. The Wildlife Restoration program supports our series.
For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.
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