A Local Gem: The Yellow-Crowned Night Heron

While biking around the neighborhood Copperfield Nature Trail area this morning, I stopped for a short break. There was a bench near a small pond, and with the heat index already reaching 99ºF (37ºC) at 11 AM, I took advantage … Read More

Feathered Fiesta: Cedar Waxwings Throw a Birdbath Party

This week, I. J. Khanewala’s Bird of the Week invitation reminded me of Cedar Waxwing birds found in Texas. Although Small Pratincoles (Glareola lactea) and Cedar Waxwings (Bombycilla cedrorum) are not related, I saw some resemblance, particularly in the feather … Read More

Deceptive Name and Secret Weapon

In a previous post, I outlined the differences between Mourning Doves and Inca Doves. Today, I want to offer more details about this lovely bird. Their name, Inca Dove (Columbina Inca), is deceptive because the species does not live in … Read More

Is it a Mourning Dove or an Inca Dove?

Yesterday, I noticed a couple of birds sitting quietly in the bird bath. At first, I thought they were baby mourning doves. When I photographed them and looked at the image I captured, I knew I had a different kind … Read More

Would you Like to Have Breakfast with Me?

— Since the Fall of 2023, I have started volunteering at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, Texas. I joined the Fauna Project at the Center. That project began in March 2010 to create an inventory of non-human … Read More

Striated Heron

— When we were in Brazil this past April, we spent an afternoon at the Ibirapuera Park, São Paulo‘s first metropolitan park. With 158 hectares (approx. 390 acres), you can think of it as Brazil‘s equivalent to — though much … Read More

Baltimore Oriole

— Imagine my surprise when I looked out my kitchen window and noticed a different bird was drinking from the hummingbird feeder. The surprise got even better when I realized I was looking at a couple of Baltimore Orioles. I … Read More