Blog

PANAMA!!! How could I not go? It was to be a trip of a lifetime, of which I’ve already had several and hope for any number more. Last year, I saw the alluring narrative posts and photos of the 2023 TOS guided trip to Panama and promptly sought info on the next one by contacting trip leader Susan Foster to add my name to the prospective participant list. It all came together f ...

Aug. 26, 2024:  Good morning from Canopy Tower and the first day of the Texas Ornithological Society 2024 Panama Tour. It’s been fantastic already.       Private trail in Panama with guides Carlos Bethancourt and Danilo, Sr. of Canopy Family. So many highlights including a family of Spectacled Owls. Go Sox. Introduction to the wonderful Canopy Lodge. Aug. 27, 2024: Day ...

On August 27, TOS received an email from a visitor to our Sabine Woods Sanctuary recounting a hair-raising encounter with an alligator at that location.  Here is her story, followed by a response from Dr. John Whittle, our Sabine Woods consultant: I was at Sabine Woods at – is it “Howard’s”—mister and water feature at about 2:20 or 3:00 p.m.  I sat there for several minutes, o ...

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 ...