Location: Big Webberville to Howard Lane, Bastrop, US-TX
Observation date: September 7, 2013 – 9:00 AM to 2:30 PM
Number of species: 41 (+ 2 other taxa)
EPISODE 88: International Vulture Awareness Day
Did you hug a vulture today? Why not? They do so much for us. Have you ever wondered why it doesn’t stink when you go fishing or hiking in the woods? Thank a vulture. Vultures help to control the spread of diseases and other bio-hazards because the acid in their stomach is so powerful it kills the microbes. If you did not do so today then get out tomorrow to hug a vulture. Thank you.
For more information about Vulture Day, click here.
In the regular bird department we had some really good species and some good sightings. There seems to be an invasion of Yellow Warblers. The entire way down stream we were seeing Yellow Warblers and Blue-gray Gnatcatchers. We were also treated to three Barred Owls. I always mention them because we do not get them very often. I also mention Pileated Woodpeckers when we get them. Today there were three. We also found a Tricolored Heron and a Greater Roadrunner.
However, the best of the day–and the first time we have listed one on this survey–was a Great Kiskadee. Normally a bird found in the valley, this one managed to find its way to Bastrop County.
There was also a staging of Eastern Kingbirds and we found them clustered in one area.
We totaled 44 species today.
In the other critter department, we found several turtles of various species. There were swallow-tailed butterflies.
Also in huge numbers were damselflies and dragonflies.
Our Iron Man team of volunteers who came out to brave the heat, slow moving water, long distance, and at time a wind in our faces were Bob West, Ron Armbruster, Chris Masey, John Barr, and Stuart Bailey. Thanks for the help on a long day.
The information at this link is important because it establishes existing federal laws regarding our rights to access rivers and river banks. This would be great information to print and carry with you at all times, especially in areas where your rights to navigation may be challenged by local landowners and law enforcement officials.
Don’t forget to like the Austin Bastrop River Corridor Partnership Facebook page. Here you will find more information about the river and water issues in central Texas. I also post more photos than I send with the email.
Also, these surveys are posted on the Travis Audubon web site.
(Click any image below to view larger. Photos by Claude Morris.)
Number of species: 41 (+ 2 other taxa)
Wood Duck 6
Great Blue Heron 5
Great Egret 8
Little Blue Heron 3
Tricolored Heron 1
Cattle Egret 21
Green Heron 23
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron 2
Black Vulture 62
Turkey Vulture 27
Red-shouldered Hawk 7
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Killdeer 1
Spotted Sandpiper 6
White-winged Dove 4
Mourning Dove 12
Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1
Greater Roadrunner 1
Barred Owl 3
hummingbird sp. 1
Belted Kingfisher 3
Red-bellied Woodpecker 8
Downy Woodpecker 3
Pileated Woodpecker 3
Crested Caracara 2
Eastern Phoebe 4
Great Crested Flycatcher 1
Great Kiskadee 1
Eastern Kingbird 18
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher 7
White-eyed Vireo 29
American Crow 9
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 6
Barn Swallow 16
Carolina Chickadee 27
Tufted x Black-crested Titmouse (hybrid) 8
Carolina Wren 17
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 25
Northern Mockingbird 2
Northern Parula 1
Yellow Warbler 26
Summer Tanager 1
Northern Cardinal 32
House Finch 1
