Passport to Texas

Blue Mockingbird

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Vagrant birds are those who stray from far outside their expected range. But why do these birds end up so far from home?

04— There are various reasons why a bird might show up in an odd place.

Noreen Damude, wrote an article about vagrant bird sightings for the May issue of Texas Parks and Wildlife magazine.

31— Weather has definitely a lot to do with it. Storms, hurricanes – things like that. Or, extended droughts in certain areas. There was one in Northern Mexico that drove many birds up across the border that we usually don’t see, like white throated robins and masked tyras, and things like that.

But Noreen says Mother Nature can’t take all the credit. Birding is one of the fasted growing hobbies in the US, and more eyes in the sky mean more surprises.

23— There are more birders. And the technology that’s been developed: computers and camcorders, and internet, and there are sites like eBird…. Let’s say you’re going to take a trip to Washington, DC, you can right away find out what’s been seen (besides politicians) in Washington that might be worth looking at.

You’ll find Noreen Damude’s article on vagrant bird sightings in the May issue of Texas Parks and Wildlife magazine.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

TPW Magazine May 2013 Issue

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Sometimes, for reasons we cannot explain, birds end up in Texas that don’t belong here. They’re called vagrants.

16— Basically a vagrant is defined as a bird that strays far outside its expected breeding, or wintering, or migrating range. In other words, it’s a bird that shows up unexpectedly because it’s not supposed to be here.

Noreen Damude, retired from Texas Parks and Wildlife, is a birder, and wrote an article about vagrant bird sightings, called Unexpected Guests, for the May issue of Texas Parks and Wildlife magazine.

31— One of the ones that struck me is the Stygian Owl. It has a very large range in Central and South America, but it’s very hard to see even where it’s supposed to be. And it was seen in Benson Rio Grande State Park in 1996; this young boy and his parents were just going through the park, and he saw this little ‘fuffing’ in a mesquite tree. And he discovered it. He was a kid! That was very exciting.

We’ll have more with Noreen Damude on vagrant bird sightings in Texas tomorrow.

Support provided by Ram Trucks. Doing what’s right and good regardless of the degree of difficulty — takes guts. Those are the people who build Ram trucks. RAM.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

Birding: Harris Hawk

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The month of May is especially great for those who enjoy birding. TPW magazine Editor, Louie Bond, says the magazine’s May issue highlights birds not normally found in Texas.

66 –Vagrants, they call them. They come from all over the world and the pass through and stop through here to have a drink or get a little rest. One of our features this month is an incredible story on what they call the star vagrants. And these are like the rarest of the rare birds; names you’ve probably never heard. But, if you get out there with your binoculars, you might even see them. Now, another thing I always like to do in the spring was to take my kids to what was then called Aquarena Springs, which was very famous for its kitschy appeal. But what you didn’t really realize was what a gem Spring Lake is. Hidden underneath the lake, in those Aquarena Springs, are some of the endangered species that are endemic only to that particular body of water. And former TPWD executive director, Andy Sansom, has taken over there. It’s now called the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment. They’ve stripped away all the kitsch, and the hoo-ha, and have left a natural treasure where you can still go out on glass bottom boats and look beneath and see the real wonder, the real show of nature. This spring, whether you’re a birder, or you like to look under the water, there’s something special for you to do.

Thanks, Louie.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

TPW Magazine April Cover

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April is a gorgeous month in the state. The blue skies and mild weather always gets Texas Parks and Wildlife Magazine Editor Louie Bond thinking about the outdoor places she’d like to be.

61— This inspired our first article a couple of years ago called best of Texas Naturally. And that first year we just did staff picks. Last year we decided to expand that a little and we went throughout Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and asked for their nominations for their favorite natural things in Texas. So, this year, we’ve spread our circle even a little wider, and we’ve gone to the natural partners for Texas Parks and Wildlife. We have one called the best historical font, that’s not Times Roman, nominated by Andy Sansom, former Executive Director of the agency. And he nominated Aquarina Springs Resort, which is now called the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment. Another one is from another former TPWD guy, Larry McKinney at the Hart Institute. And he nominated the Devil’s River as The Best River to Know Where – which is the K-N-O-W kind of know where. So, you get where we’re going with this. And it’s all meant to inspire you for some new places to go and visit in this great state ours. So, we hope April inspires you to get out the rest of the year and enjoy Texas.

Thanks, Louie.

The April issue of Texas parks and Wildlife Magazine is on newsstands now.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

White Bass, Colorado Bend State Park

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This is Passport to Texas

Largemouth bass give fishermen a good fight, but the smaller white bass is just as capable of providing anglers with an adrenaline kick.

14— Ounce for ounce, they are a real strong fighter. But they’re not as big as largemouths. If they grew as large as largemouth bass, I think we’d have to fish for them with surf rods and heavy lines.

John Jefferson is an outdoor writer, and crafted an article about this species for Texas Parks and Wildlife magazine’s February digital fishing special.

11— Most people that fish for whites will use lightweight tackle, a medium to lightweight spinning rod, and four to six pound test line – and then they’re fun!

Late winter and early spring white bass begin schooling in tributaries to spawn. Whether from a bank or a boat, fishing for whites in open and running water is your best bet for success.

21— Middle of the creek, and then draw the lure back to the shore. And you’ve covered water from the deeper water in the middle up to the shore. You’ll probably hang one. It’s not uncommon, and a neat thing to see [that sometimes] you’ll hook one fish and as you’re reeling it in and playing it, there will be two or three others schooling right along with it.

They’re probably offering moral support. Read the February digital fishing special, free online, at www.tpwmagazine.com.

That’s our show…with support from the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program…funded by your purchase of fishing and hunting equipment and motor boat fuel…

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.