Blog

TOS is proud to partner with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, which delivers research-based educational programs and solutions for all Texans. We enthusiastically endorse their youth camps and educational opportunities. and hope you will partake in some of them. Enjoy their Spring 2024 newsletter, The Flycatcher . ...

By Karen Carpenter, Dallas Sunday, May 5   I write this as I’m frantically researching new county target lists on eBird, counting all the new birds I saw for my Texas list as I reach for 500, and plotting which counties I can get over 100 on our way home.  Today is the last day of my first TOS meeting in Weslaco, an experience I won’t soon forget.  One of my birding friends, ...

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension offers a youth birding experience each year, and TOS is pleased to share an opportunity to become a sponsor and help a student attend. This year the event takes place on June 11-17.  Beginning in San Antonio, the group travels to Big Bend, the Davis Mountains, Devils River SNA, a private ranch, Fort Clark Springs, and Kickapoo Caverns. Camp ...

We know you are passionate about birds in Texas, and devoted to preserving their habitat.TOS is working to raise $10,000 to expand and improve our Sabine Woods Sanctuary. Your kindness and generosity will help TOS realize our goal of enhancing this important migratory stopover in Texas.You can also follow us on Facebook for updates on the fundraising progress that day, and shar ...

Our Weekender started out a bit slowly on Friday afternoon with our trip to Cattail Marsh. Temperatures were in the mid-90’s and all the ponds we visited were at least 80% covered in vegetation. A huge difference from when I was here in April. We persevered and managed to find 21 species, the best of which were 2-3 female Northern Harriers. We ended the day with 21 species. Af ...

Day 1: August 25, 2023 Kathie Holder and I arrived at the Canopy Tower around 4:00. We saw a family of TEN coatimundis on the drive into the compound. After being greeted by our guide, Alex, we explored the roof views, then decided to sit outside at the hummingbird feeders. We had seven lifer hummingbirds plus Gray-breasted Martins. My first Panama bird was a Turkey Vultur ...

One of the many pleasures of birding is seasonal change. You can visit the same location at a different time of year and experience a new landscape with some new birds. After enjoying the winter TOS meeting, I was excited to return and see what pleasures Abilene in May might offer. According to the total trip report, our group observed 186 species May 4-7, 2023. In addition, th ...

TOS is pleased to announce the results of our 2023 election:    - Lynn Thompson of New Braunfels is our newest Director At-large.   - Lorrie Mathers of Allen is Region 2 Director   - Pam Pipes of Forney will act as Region 4 Director   At the May 5 board meeting, the directors chose the executive positions:   - President - Byron Stone   - Vice-president - Romey Swans ...

The Texas Ornithological Society's Sabine Woods Sanctuary has long been considered one of the most productive migrant stop-overs along the entire Texas Coast for spring and fall migration. Spring brings warblers, thrushes, tanagers, vireos, orioles, flycatchers, etc. Large oaks, mulberry trees, ponds and areas of thick undergrowth provide a protected stopping point on the Gulf ...

Abilene Texas might not be the first location a birder would think to take a birding trip. It might not even rank in the top 50 for most Texas birders. But, why do we bird in the first place? Ask ten birders that question, and you will get ten different sets of answers. For most of us, it boils down to the following reasons: 1) birds are just fun to watch 2) finding a rarity is ...