By Karen Gleason
On Thursday, I had the amazing opportunity to visit the Dan Hughes Unit of the Devils River State Natural Area for a day of bird watching.
I was part of a team participating in this year’s Texas Birding Classic, a competitive event with many different categories whose aim is to raise money, through registration fees, for bird conservation and birding projects across the state. I appreciate Sarah Howard of the National Park Service for inviting me to participate.
Our local team of birders included Howard, Lupita De La Paz from the Casa De La Cultura, Nora Padilla from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and myself.
Our birding locale was the Devils River State Natural Area – Dan Hughes Unit. This part of the state natural area is closed to the public as the state continues to prepare it for opening.
Our outing to the Devils River had another purpose: The staff and administration of the state natural area is working to develop a birding checklist for this unit in preparation for the day when it opens to the public and hosts birders from around the country.
The species we recorded on Thursday will help form the foundation for the park’s future checklist.
We didn’t record a huge number of birds, but we were able to see one of the park’s specialties, the Tropical Parula, which was quite easily found in oak motts along the Devils River. These trees also hosted several species of sparrows, vireos, Black-crested Titmouse, Summer Tanager, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher and Carolina Wren.
A lone Osprey patrolled the clear spring sky above the river proper, scanning the incredibly crystal-clear water for signs of fish.
Around the park headquarters, we found Cassin’s Sparrows singing from the tops of mesquites, yuccas and cenizo, as well as several species of orioles and a lingering group of Lark Buntings.
I was also able to determine that Black-capped Vireos are probably nesting in the park.
We found one of the vireos singing in the center of a live oak, but were never able to draw it out for a photo. Instead, I recorded the bird’s song and later compared it to vireo songs on the Audubon Society’s web site. The song I recorded matched Audubon’s recording of the Black-capped Vireo song.
Further, I learned from the web site that these vireos usually sing in defense of nesting territories. From this, I deduced there is probably a Black-capped Vireo nest somewhere in the vicinity of where we heard this bird sing.
The best moment of the day, though, was having Lupita De La Paz see her first-ever Painted Bunting and sharing her delight at this gorgeous bird.
All in all, a great day and a place I hope to visit again soon.
