Scissor-tailed Flycatchers by Sebastian Casarez

*Photo by Sebastian Casarez, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, Male

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (Tyrannus forficatus) is the state bird for Oklahoma but, seen prominently all over Texas during migration. These beautiful, magnificant birds can be seen flying over fields displaying their sommersauts and hovering over the fields searching for insects. They frequently perch on fences, electric/light poles, and trees to fly catch. They are called Scissor-tailed Flycatchers because, when they take off from their perch they will spread their tails looking like a pair of scissors in the air. Scissor-tailed Flycatchers spend the Summer (March-November) here in Texas and the winter in South America. They nest in trees or power lines. 

*Photo by Sebastian Casarez, Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly

Scissor-tailed Flycatchers love to eat flies, dragonflies, and butterflies. Ways to identify Scissor-tailed Flycatchers is very distinctive. They are the only birds with super long scissor-like tails. Males have longer tails and have salmon-pink sides and are very pale white. Females have shorter tails than the males and lack the salmon-pink sides. Immatures have the shortest tails. You can find Scissor-tailed Flycatchers roosting in big flocks in trees during the evenings. Sometimes you can see Scissor-tailed Flycatchers hovering over parking lot lights at night time catching moths. 

So the next time your driving around Texas in the Summer look out for Scissor-tailed Flycatchers hovering or somersaulting in the air. It is a beautiful site to see! Don't forget they will leave for South America in November for Winter!

Happy Birding,

Sebastian Casarez

The Texas Blue Jay Project

#Take The Texas Blue Jay Pledge

Birding at Colorado Bend State Park by Sebastian Casarez

I decided to visit Colorado Bend State Park with my parents to see what birds they get there during the Summer. We first started birding around the entrance of the park. We saw lots of Inca Doves, Painted Buntings, and Orchard Orioles around there. There were so many trails to hike, so I decided to take the Gordan Falls Hike to see what birds are in that area. This was a strenuous hike but, it's worth it.

*Photo by Sebastian Casarez, Gorman Falls Colorado Bend State Park

You can hear and see Northern Bobwhites around the fields. Also, you can find Black-capped Vireos, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Field Sparrows, Lark Sparrows, Black-throated Sparrows, Rufous-crowned Sparrows, and Canyon Towhees. Orchard Orioles are common to find throughout the whole state of Texas during the summer (April-October). Males have a black back, black head, and a red belly. Females are all yellow and immature males have a black face. Orchard Orioles spend the winter at South America.

*Photo by Sebastian Casarez, Orchard Oriole male

There were other types of wildlife there to see. When I was hiking around the trail I got excited when I saw a centipede crawling around the ground. They are beautiful centipedes! But, DON'T touch them! Their venomous!

*Photo by Sebastian Casarez, Centipede

 Now on my way back to the parking lot I saw a hard working Dung Beetle carrying poop bigger than him. What was interesting, the Dung Beetle was mostly using it's back legs to push the poop inside his burrow.

*Photo by Sebastian Casarez, Dung Beetle

So next time you're in the Hill Country stop by Colorado Bend State Park!

Happy Birding,
Sebastian Casarez

#TakeTheTexasBlueJayProjectPledge
                                       
                                                             
                          

Birding at Davis Mountains State Park by Sebastian Casarez

This summer, if you are in West Texas I recommend you to check out Davis Mountains State Park. There's lots of birds you can find there. Acorn Woodpeckers can easily be seen throughout the whole park. Males have bright red crowns and females have less red on the crown. They are called Acorn Woodpeckers because they make small holes all over trees and they store their acorns on each one of their holes.

*Acorn Woodpecker, male photo by Sebastian Casarez

At the bird feeders you can find White-winged Doves,  Acorn Woodpeckers and Ladder-backed Woodpeckers, Woodhouse's Scrub-Jays (formerly known as Western Scrub-Jays), Black-crested Titmice, Bewick's Wrens, Canyon Towhees, Rufous-crowned Sparrows, 

Black-headed Grosbeaks and Blue Grosbeaks, House Finches, and Lesser Goldfinches. Around the parking lots you can find tons of Say's Phoebes and Canyon Towhees.

*Black-headed Grosbeak, male photo by Sebastian Casarez

 Besides, the diversity of beautiful birds in Davis Mountains State Park you can also find other wildlife there, too. Like the Black-tailed Jackrabbits, Rock Squirrels, Mule deer and much more! I highly recommend you to visit Davis Mountains State Park and enjoy the beautiful scenery!

*Me birding at Davis Mountains State Park photo by Sandra Casarez

Happy Birding,

Sebastian Casarez

#TakeTheTexasBlueJayProjectPledge #GoneTexasBirding #DavisMountainsStatePark #WestTexas

New to Birding (Birdwatching) by Sebastian Casarez

New to birding can sometimes be a little overwhelming! Trying to remember all the bird names, birdwatching ID tips, bird calls, and not to mention tons of Bird Field Guide Books to choose from.   But, don't let all the confusion that goes with birding make you quit.

Birdwatching to me is about spending time in the peacefulness of nature surrounded by the visual beauty of birds and uplifting songs of birds. This is why I encourage people who are interested in birding to start first by watching the birds in their own backyards or if you don't have a backyard how about at your front porch or local park. Seeing the birds daily coming in and out of your bird feeders will help you with improving your birdwatching ID skills. Learn your common backyard birds in your area first. When you get further in your birding you will be amazed how many different common backyard birds vary from each region in Texas. So, start with a simple, inexpensive, easy to read specialized bird field guide book for your region/county. Your local Texas Audubon Society in your county sale or offer it free a Texas Bird Checklists for their county. Even your Texas State Parks have birding checklists of the birds they have in their park location. Texas State Park Checklists can be found at each individual Texas State Park headquarters office.

If you don't have binoculars yet...Don't worry! Start with birding by ear. Listen to the songs and calls of the birds. Study the color, size, songs, and behavior of the birds everytime you are outdoors. Once, you start feeling more comfortable with birdwatching and would like to further your birding knowledge. Then, I would recommend you to start binocular shopping. 

Take time today to get to know your feathery friends!

#GoneTexasBirding

Happy Birding,

Sebastian Casarez

The Texas Blue Jay Project 

Founder/Coordinator

The Texas Blue Jay Project Launch! by Sebastian Casarez

On June 13, 2017, I launched The Texas Blue Jay Project and I am happy to annouce we have 45 new Texas birders that pledged to explore birding (birdwatching) in their backyards, city & state parks! That is AWESOME! We need to keep the momentum going...We still need 955 Texans to take the The Texas Blue Jay Project Pledge! My goal is to reach 1,000 Texans throughout the Great State of Texas that will pledge to explore birding. Please spread the word about The Texas Blue Jay Project Pledge. 

If you are interested in taking the The Texas Blue Jay Project Pledge here are ways to Pledge:

1. You can email me at thetexasbluejayproject@gmail.com with the below information provided: 
-.First name and First letter of your last name
 -The name of the Texas city you live in
-Finally, the Date you Pledge to Explore Birding(birdwatching) at your backyard, city & state parks

2. You can attend one of my bird presentation talks or bird walks to sign The Texas Blue Jay Project Pledge. I will post upcoming events on Twitter : texasbluejayproject@TXBLUJayProject

3. You can post on Twitter a photo of you birding in your backyard, city or state park  @TXBLUJayProject

4. You can post a comment on The Texas Blue Jay Project Blog with the same info from Step 1.

5. Any Texan can sign The Texas Blue Jay Project Pledge! If you have a child or you are under the age of 18 years old ALL I ASK FOR IS THEIR FIRST NAME ONLY PLUS THE CITY IN TEXAS YOU ALL LIVE IN AND DATE OF PLEDGE. Thank you!

Once I reach 1,000 signature pledges I plan to visit with local cities park and recreation departments and Texas State Parks to show them Texans do LOVE and support birds and birding(birdwatching) in Texas. I prepared several proposals to present to them on ways how they can increase birding programs for kids and adults in ALL city parks and state parks in Texas.
 
Keep checking The Texas Blue Jay Project Blog for the progress of The Texas Blue Jay Project Pledge. I will also post about birding tips on where to bird in Texas, birding ID tips, ways to protect Birds Habitats, Bird of the Month, Birding events and birding festivals in Texas, and many birding related topics.

#GoneTexasBirding

Happy Birding,
Sebastian Casarez
The Texas Blue Jay Project 
Founder/Coordinator

Take The Texas Blue Jay Project Pledge Today!

#GoTexasBirding!

The Texas Blue Jay Project Pledge is to get outdoors and birdwatch at your backyard, city & state parks. Whether you’re a First time, Novice, or Expert Birder TAKE THE PLEDGE! Support Texas Birds!

#GoTexasBirding

For more information: Contact: Sebastian Casarez, The Texas Blue Jay Project Founder/Coordinator

thetexasbluejayproject@gmail.com

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER

TexasBlueJayProject@TXBLUJayProject

The Texas Blue Jay Project by Sebastian Casarez

As Texans, we are very fortunate to live in our state that has more than 600 birds that either live all year in Texas or migrate to Texas. The diversity of habitats in Texas welcomes many birds to call Texas home and it also attracts many migratory birds that visit Texas during migration. Especially, the Endangered Golden-cheeked warbler and the Endangered Black-capped Vireo. Both birds migrate once a year to Texas from Central and South America to breed and raise their young. The Endangered Golden-cheeked warblers nests in Central Texas, because of it's Ashe Juniper cedar trees that they use to build their nests with the bark of the Ashe Juniper cedar trees. Unfortunately, the Texas General Land Office recently filed suit to delist the Golden-cheeked warbler from the endangered species list.*sources from Audubon Texas & National Audubon Society Facebook post on June 7, 2017. 

Protect the Endangered Golden-Cheeked warbler! For more information on ways to help the Endangered Golden-cheeked warbler contact Travis Audubon Society or your local TX Audubon Society.

Lots to see in Texas! Besides, the beautiful and diverse habitats in Texas we have endangered birds that visit Texas, several types of warblers, herons, and much more! 

This is why I started The Texas Blue Jay Project Pledge! I believe it is our responsibility as Texans to protect and preserve habitats that many birds call Texas home, too! #GoTexasBirding! 

Explore your Texas birds!

Visit The Texas Blue Jay Project blog:

thetexasbluejayproject.blogspot.com

Follow us  on Twitter:

TexasBlueJayProject@TXBLUJayProject

Happy Birding,

Sebastian Casarez

The Texas Blue Jay Project

Founder & Coordinator