-
Bird of the Week: Northern Cardinal
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) Northern Cardinals are one of the most popular birds in North America, and many people confess that the Cardinal is the bird that got them started…
Continue reading -
Reflections on an Endless Summer
Yellow-breasted Chat on American beautyberry By Jaya Ramanathan. Summer has been relentless, with 100+F temperatures, and heat persisting until late evening. So I was delighted to spot early fall…
Continue reading -
Book Review: The Search for King
“The Search for King” by Thomas Smith is a birding book for all ages. The story follows the birds from the bird…
Continue reading -
Travis Audubon Gives Thanks to Departing Board Members Dennis Palafox and Mark Wilson
The Board of Directors said goodbye this summer to two of our most dedicated board members, Dennis Palafox and Mark Wilson, as they left the board after several years…
Continue reading -
Bird of the Week: Brown-headed Cowbird
The Brown-headed Cowbird is aptly named. The male is, well, a brown-headed cowbird. They have a glossy black body, an entirely brown head, and are frequently seen around cow…
Continue reading -
Vote to Grow Texas Parks on November 7
Every year, Texas loses nearly one quarter of a million acres of farms, ranches, and open space to development. To protect habitat crucial for the survival of birds and…
Continue reading -
First Year Purple Martin Hosts
This was our first year as official Purple Martin Landlords. For those that don’t know, Purple Martins are secondary cavity dwellers (they make their nests in pre-existing holes), and…
Continue reading -
Bird of the Week: Green Heron
Photo by Daniel VanWart Let me introduce you to the Green Heron, my favorite bird. The few times I’ve mentioned this fact to my friends after we…
Continue reading -
August Bird Forecast
What to watch for in August: Miscellaneous Migrants It’s hard to believe, but several bird species have already started migrating south from their breeding grounds to their wintering grounds. August…
Continue reading -
Bird of the Week: Ladder-backed Woodpecker
Ladder-backed Woodpecker (Dryobates scalaris) Like their name suggests, the Ladder-backed Woodpecker has stripes of alternating black and white running along their backs, and the males sport a striking red cap…
Continue reading -
Raptor Moments
By Jaya Ramanathan Over the years, I have observed raptors, experiencing their beauty, tenderness, ferocity, and playfulness. Red-shouldered Hawk, an all-year resident, has been a constant…
Continue reading -
Catios: Bridging the Gap Between Feline Needs and Bird Well-being
The Impact of Domestic Cats on Bird Mortality Domestic cats are one of the most significant threats to bird populations in the mainland United States. It may seem hard…
Continue reading -
Ethel Kutac Memorial Bench Installed at Blair Woods
By Jane Tillman Ethel Kutac was a long-time Travis Audubon member who passed away in 2021. She was a regular fixture at Travis Audubon meetings and participated in many field…
Continue reading -
Bird of the Week: Pyrrhuloxia
Adult female Pyrrhuloxia. Courtesy of Mike Charest. Pyrrhuloxia (Cardinalis sinuatus) Often called the Desert Cardinal, the Pyrrhuloxia is gray or brown with…
Continue reading -
Bird of the Week: Belted Kingfisher
Photo credit: Johann Schumacher Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) By Abby West There’s no shortage of gorgeous photos of kingfishers on the internet. These peculiar birds fly sort of like a…
Continue reading
