Birds of southeast Texas in photos

Something as simple as feeding birds can change their biological fate, and even seed the formation of a new species.

Central European blackcap warbler that spend the winter in the birdfeeder-rich United Kingdom are on a different evolutionary trajectory than those that migrate to Spain. The population hasn’t yet split into two species, but it’s headed in that direction.

read more Feeding birds could create new species

More information:
British bird-feeders may be splitting species
Contemporary Evolution of Reproductive Isolation and Phenotypic Divergence in Sympatry along a Migratory Divide ( pdf $ )

The Bird Book

The Internet Archive has made ‘The Bird Book’ available for free download.

‘The Bird Book’ was published in 1917 and contains color and black and white drawings and photographs of over 700 North American Birds as well as images of many of their nests and eggs.

This bird is tough to photograph, he’s very shy.  He showed up at the feeder about two weeks ago.  He hovers at the suet cake, grabs a bite, lands on the ginger to eat it, then comes back for another bite.  After two weeks of that he finally started landing on the suet cake feeder, but only about half the time.  The other birds and I frighten him, he eats and runs every time.

He also keeps trying to enter the house through the window.  He can be heard tapping on the glass for several minutes at a time. I think he feels the heat escaping through the crappy windows we have and is looking for some place warm.

Photos take at High Island, near Houston, TX

Photo taken Brazo’s Bend State Park, Texas