If you enjoy birding in the great State of Texas, then you know that the biggest birding event in the area is just around the corner! The Great Texas Birding Classic (GTBC) is coming up April 24-May 2, aligning perfectly with the spring bird migration in Texas. This birding competition is a sport witha serious [...]
Nest parasitism by the brown-headed cowbird is one of the reasons for the decline in songbird numbers across North America. Trapping of cowbirds has proven to be effective in increasing successful reproduction of many songbird species including the black-capped vireo. As such, participants in EQIP or WHIP may receive payment for trapping cowbirds according to [...]
Quail hunting is really fun when the birds are thick coming off a good nesting season, but it can be downright challenging when there are few quail to be found. In December 2009, I had the opportunity to hunt quail on two South Texas ranches. My expectations were low because the 2009 nesting season was [...]
When it comes to quail management, proper techiniques for increasing quail populations includes predator control and habitat enhancment. However, on-going research suggests that coyotes may be beneficial to quail populations that thought in the past, at least if the preliminary results pan out. The research, which takes place in Texas, involves putting GPS tracking devices [...]
White-winged doves begin breeding during March and April depending on environmental conditions. As the breeding season begins, males begin calling and displaying for potential female mates. When a male white-winged dove finally attracts a female, she will fly to him, they copulate, and afterwards they preen each other. Within a few days, the pair will [...]
Bobwhite quail are an amazing upland game bird species with dynamic populations. Research has found that annual cumulative rainfall from April through August is a predictor that explains over 92% of the variance in annual bobwhite quail productivity, based on juvenile:adult ratios obtained from hunter bags in South Texas. Basically, annual reproduction is highly correlated [...]
This duck and goose hunting report wraps up the end of the duck hunting season across Texas, but things are still going strong for geese across the state. Overall, the season was good and decent hunting weather did it’s part to puts birds across the landscape. Duck season ended on January 24 in the High [...]
