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Welcome to our Blog, your one-stop shop to keep up to date with all the latest goings on. Are you interested in submitting an article for our blog? Drop us an email at info@texasbirds.org to learn how.

 

 

Join Us for GivingTuesday – the Global Day of Giving on Nov 28, 2023.

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 ...

October 2023 UTC Weekender - Our motto: "“Neither drought, fire, fog, hogs nor MOSQUITOS will deter us from our appointed rounds!”

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 ...

Panama with Susan Foster

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 ...

Abilene in Spring

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 Election Results

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 ...

Sabine Woods Sanctuary is Expanding!

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 ...

The Road not Normally Taken

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 ...

Winter Meeting 2021 - Day 1

Friday, January 13, was the first day in the field for attendees of the 2023 TOS Winter meeting which is being held in Abilene. It was a good day with great birds found by all the groups! Sparrow Identification at Maddin Prairie, Native Prairies Association of Texas property: We thought we might have a Baird’s Sparrow, but it turned out to be a very yellow Savannah Sparrow. T ...

Remembering Steve Gross

With the help of good friend Dave Dolan, TOS recently completed the Steve Gross Memorial at the TOS Hooks Woods Sanctuary in memory of our late past-president. I was asked to write this article as Steve was my friend and mentor, but that's just not true. Jim Hailey was my mentor; Steve Gross was my guru. Steve and I traveled throughout Texas and Idaho together birding, eating, ...

Learn Our History!

Under the “About Us” tab on the Texas Ornithological Society (TOS) website, the box at the top states that TOS was founded on, 1953. Its purpose is “to promote the discovery and dissemination of knowledge of birds; to encourage specifically the observation, study and conservation of Birds in Texas; to encourage the formation of local birding clubs; and to stimulate cooperation ...

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Texas Ornithological Society

Welcome to the Amazing World of Texas Birds!

If you love birds, Texas is definitely the place for you! With eight different geographical regions to explore, each offering its own, unique wildlife environment; more than 660 species to be discovered; and a location adjacent to the tropical regions of Mexico and Central America, you never know what you might see when you grab your binoculars and head out!

Texas Ornithological Society is proud to promote the discovery, knowledge, observation and conservation of birds in Texas since 1953.