E. Dan KlEppEr`s portraits of winter birds in the state`s southern

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E. Dan Klepper’s portraits
of winter birds in the
state’s southern reaches
*
buff-bellied hummingbird (see page 39)
To order a print of this photograph, call 866/962-1191, or visit www.texashighwaysprints.com.
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Text and photographs by E. Dan Klepper
South Texas offers the best birding opportunities
in the state. Hundreds of species pass through the region during their
seasonal migrations, making South Texas, and the Rio Grande Valley
in particular, a great spring and fall destination for birding enthusiasts.
But the birding is especially great in winter, as the region hosts dozens
of species of birds that take advantage of South Texas’ mild temperatures
to overwinter here while waiting for spring.
A year or so ago, I spent a morning photographing some of those birds—about 60 in
fact—just outside the city limits of Victoria. As
an artist and lifelong birder, I was interested in
capturing close-up, intimate portraits of some
of the state’s winter birds. But rather than using
a telephoto lens to capture the birds against natural backgrounds, I wanted to photograph the
birds in-hand and against the patterns of tapestries and other fabrics. To do so, I contacted
Brent Ortego, a South Texas wildlife biologist
A Buff-bellied Hummingbird in hand.
who spends a few days each winter netting,
banding, and recording as many hummingbirds and songbirds as he can during the
early morning hours. Ortego, a conscientious scientist who keeps the birds’ welfare at
the forefront of his mind during banding sessions, agreed to allow me to photograph
his newly banded birds just before he released them.
Before dawn on the scheduled morning, Ortego set up dozens of mist nets (delicate,
thread-like netting) across several acres. Then, every few minutes he would check the
nets, carefully remove any birds caught in them, carry the birds to his on-site documentation station, record the birds’ statistics, and secure a tiny band stamped with a unique
number around one of their legs. The process, familiar to research biologists across the
globe, is a methodical and cautious one, focused on minimizing handling but maximizing the amount of information gleaned from the brief human/bird encounter. Prior to
release, Ortego’s birds would pay a quick visit to my photography stage, set up alongside
the documentation station, to “sit” for their portrait before flying away unharmed.
Ortego has gathered an impressive database of avian information over his years of netting and banding, providing naturalists with a more robust understanding of the state’s
southern ecosystem. My results are more
artistic than scientific. The images in this
portfolio, a selection of compositions that
illustrate singular moments as well as layered composites, represent a tiny portion
of the number of species that can be found
overwintering in South Texas. Along with
the art, I’ve included some facts about the
birds represented here, followed by prominent locations in South Texas to spot winter
hummers and songbirds, and suggestions for
birder-friendly places to stay along the way. Brent Ortego examines a Rufous Hummingbird.
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Texas Highways | december 2010
blue-gray gnatcatcher
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bird brief
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
(Polioptila caerulea)
The Blue-gray Gnatcatcher is a tiny, elegant bird,
averaging around four inches in length, and fea­turing a beautiful, blue-gray body, a long tail with
white edges, and a noticeable white eye ring. The
female and immature birds tend to be paler than
the male. Males are especially blue during mating
season. A year-round resident of coastal Texas
and the far southern Rio Grande Valley, the bird
flicks its tail from side to side with frequency,
a move that may be used to startle its favorite
food—small spiders and insects—making them
easier to detect. The Gnatcatcher’s call sounds
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like a squeak-toy squeezed at random and its song
often mimics songs of other birds. The Blue-gray
Gnatcatcher is the northernmost occurring species
of gnatcatcher in North America.
where to look
Santa Ana National
Wildlife Refuge, seven
Alamo
miles south of Alamo on
FM 907, 956/ 784-7500;
www.friendsofsouthtexasrefuges.org.
This 2,088-acre federal wildlife preserve along
the Rio Grande contains some of the last re­maining native thornscrub, resacas, and riparian
forests in South Texas and hosts almost 400
species of birds. The refuge has 12 miles of trails.
During the winter, the seven-mile Interpretive
Drive is closed to traffic but can be explored via
a ride on the refuge’s tram. The refuge is also a
great place to spot the vibrant Green Jay.
where to stay
Casa Santa Ana, 3239 South Tower Rd.,
Alamo, 956/783-5540; www.casasantaana.com.
A quiet bed and breakfast specially designed for
birding and wildlife enthusiasts, Casa Santa Ana
sits on seven acres of landscaped thornscrub
and is only a 10-minute walk from the Santa Ana
National Wildlife Refuge headquarters. Rooms
have private baths, and guests share common
areas, including kitchen and laundry facilities.
december 2010 | Texas Highways
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northern cardinal
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Texas Highways | december 2010
www.texashighways.com
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bird brief
Northern Cardinal
(Cardinalis cardinalis)
Cardinal males are brilliant red from tuft to tail,
and females, although
predominantly brown, have
red present in their wings,
top crest, and tail. The
males maintain their red
plumage through molting,
thus they are red year
round. Both sexes have
bright, red-orange bills
capable of cracking seeds.
They also eat a selection of
insects, including beetles,
crickets, moths, as well
as spiders. Cardinals are
aggressive birds and often
fight with their own reflections on shiny surfaces. They like shrubby forest borders, ornamental landscaping, thickets,
and overgrown fields. Cardinal song is a loud, two-note slide, either upward or downward,
sometimes followed by a long trill or a repeated “chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp.” Cardinals are
year-round Texans, usually seen singly or in pairs, but in winter, they provide a visual treat
in the southern part of the state by flocking there in large numbers.
where to look
Quinta Mazatlan, 600 Sunset Dr., McAllen,
956/681-3370; www.quintamazatlan.com.
McAllen
One of nine World Birding Center sites, Quinta Mazatlan features a
Spanish Revival-style mansion that sits on a 20-acre Tamaulipan
thorn­forest sanctuary in downtown McAllen. Built as a private residence in 1935, the mansion
was rescued from the wrecking ball by concerned McAllen citizens in 1998. The city bought
the structure and surrounding gardens and, under stew­ardship of the Parks and Recreation
Department, transformed the mansion into an am­bassadorial center for environmental
education. Quinta’s frequent programs focus on bringing the South Texas community and
its surrounding natural world together. The grounds’ extensive manicured gardens are also
a good place to spot the Green Parrot, a Tamaulipan interloper from across the border.
where to stay
Casa de Palmas, 101 N. Main St., McAllen, 956/631-1101; www.renaissancehotels.com/mfebr.
Featuring colonial architecture replete with arches and fountains, this renovated 1918
Rio Grande Valley classic is a full-service hotel located in the historic city center.
bird brief
Buff-bellied Hummingbird
(Amazilia yucatanensis;
shown on pages 34-35)
This beautiful hummer sports
emerald-green upperparts, a buff
belly, and a rufous tail, and averages around four-anda-quarter inches in length. The red, slightly decurved
bill is darkest, almost black, on the tip. The male and
female are similar but the immature birds of this species
are not as flashy. Buff-bellied hummers like woodland
edges as well as scrub brush and are often seen buzzing
gardens. Although they express a broad vocal repertoire,
their typical song sounds like low-pitched, rapid-fire
“chits” or electronic snaps. Their breeding territory
includes South Texas, yet they are perhaps the least
studied hummer occurring in the U.S. Buff-bellies are
nectar feeders and will guard feeding locations with
aggression, fending off interlopers. One of their favorite
meals includes the nectar of the turk’s cap, a native
plant with small, deep-red flowers.
where to look
Edinburg Scenic WetlandS
AND WORLD BIRDING CENTER ,
Edinburg
714 S. Raul Longoria Rd.,
Edinburg, 956/381-9922;
www.EdinburgWBC.org.
The 40-acre wetland preserve lies deep within the Lower
Rio Grande Valley and is surrounded by an urban landscape.
The site features groomed paths and viewing platforms
above freshwater lagoons. A 3.5-acre garden has been
planted with flower­ing natives selected to attract butterflies and hummingbirds. The Interpretive Center has
floor- to-ceiling windows for easy wildlife viewing in
com­fort. The site also offers a good opportunity to spot
overwintering ducks.
where to stay
Echo Hotel, 1903 S. Closner Blvd., Edinburg,
800/422-0336; www.echohotel.us.
Built in 1958, this Mid-century Modern classic on 16
manicured acres is a full-service hotel that includes
a restaurant, Tropicana Lounge, and a barber shop.
To order a print of the Cardinal photograph above, call 866/962-1191, or visit www.texashighwaysprints.com.
www.texashighways.com
december 2010 | Texas Highways
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bird brief
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)
The Red-winged Blackbird’s abundance doesn’t make it any less spectacular in appearance. The males are a polished, silky-black with brilliant scarlet wing patches that, on
closer look, are trimmed with yellow. The females are often described as dull, oversized
sparrows, a description I would have agreed with until I saw one up-close. Red-winged
females are splendid, regal birds with their own beauty; the striated sienna-and-burntumber plumage is tinged with brown-orange highlights, particularly along the throat.
Red-wings like both freshwater and saltwater habitats, fields, feedlots, pastures, and
golf courses. They eat insects in summer and seeds in winter, including waste grains. The
Red-wings’ unmistakable song is a loud, brassy, three-note dip ending in a liquid spatter.
The call is a series of flat “chik-chik” sounds followed by a shrill whistle. Considered highly
social birds, Red-wings have been known to roost in great numbers during winter.
where to look
Roma Bluffs, 610 N. Portscheller St., Roma,
956/849-4930; www.worldbirdingcenter.org.
roma
Another World Birding Center site, Roma Bluffs encompasses a blend
of Texas ebony, anaqua, mesquite, and other tree species along the Rio
Grande. Easily accessed from US 83 Business, the site offers an interpretive viewing platform
overlooking the scrub canopy and the river below. The Red-winged Blackbird is a year-round
resident here. Also watch for the Altamira Oriole while you’re glassing the treetops.
where to stay
La Borde House, 601 E. Main St., Rio Grande City, 956/487-5101.
Located 12 miles south of Roma along US 83 in Rio Grande City, the no-frills
La Borde, with its National Historic Register designation, offers seven
simple rooms and a bougainvillea-covered courtyard.
!
For nesting info and
fun facts about the
Rio Grande Valley
area, go to www.
texashighways.com/
webextra.
bird brief
Orange-crowned Warbler (Vermivora celata)
Typically under five-and-a-half inches in length, the
Orange-crowned’s plumage is olive-gray along the up­per parts and a somewhat faded yellow underneath.
The actual orange crown of its name, a small patch on
top of the bird’s head, appears only when the crown
feathers stick up, a consequence perhaps of an excited
state. The Orange-crowned Warbler species is actually
divided into four subspecies, each with a slightly different
color, length, molting pattern, and location. Texans will
be most familiar with the subspecies they see in transit,
usually later in the migratory season, from its borealnesting and breeding site in Canada. It dines on insects
and spiders, bobbing and flitting amid vegetation at
a rapid pace. The Warbler’s call is a high-pitched chirp,
and its song consists of a brief trilling that crests and
troughs quickly at its ending.
where to look
South Padre Island
Birding and Nature Center,
South
Padre
6801 Padre Blvd., South Padre Island,
Island
956/243-8179; www.spibirding.com.
The easternmost World Birding Center site, this 50-acre
nature center on the southern tip of the island encompasses the four primary habitats found along Texas
coastal waters, including shrub and tree thickets, dune
meadows, salt marshes, and tidal flats. Birders have
the opportunity to explore all four up-close along boardwalks, in bird blinds, and atop a five-story viewing tower
at the Nature Center. It’s also an excellent place to catch
a good look at the Brown Pelican.
where to stay
Inn at Chachalaca Bend, 36298 Chachalaca Bend
Dr., Los Fresnos, 888/612-6800; www.chachalaca.com.
Just a 20-minute drive from South Padre, the inn sits on
40 private acres and offers seven elegantly appointed
rooms along with a lodge available for special events.
The grounds include a hiking trail, birding stations, and
a 27-acre prairie with a freshwater pond. TH
red-winged blackbird
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“It’s interesting to watch birds through the
binoculars,” says Marathon author and artist
E. Dan Klepper, “but the familiar becomes
the extraordinary when one is suddenly staring
back at you eye to eye.”
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orange-crowned warbler
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december 2010 | Texas Highways
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