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| American Goldfinch (winter feathers) |
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| White-throated Sparrow |
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| Yellow-bellied Sapsucker |
Lots of birds have arrived
in north Texas (or are coming), and will stay here all winter. Among them is the
Goldfinch, which is not a bright yellow right now – it’s a dull yellow,
almost tan because it's growing winter feathers. Other winter birds here are the Junco, Chipping Sparrow, Spotted Towhee,
Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Yellow-rumped Warbler, White-throated Sparrow and
several others. These join the "regular" birds that are here all year long.
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| Yellow-rumped Warbler |
Bats’ diet in Texas Very few bats are vampires – none of
the ones in north Texas. There are over 1100 species of bats in the world, and
only three are what’s called vampire bats. They are limited only to Latin America. Vampire
bats don’t “suck” blood like in the movies – they lap it; being careful never
to kill, or even weaken, the “donor” (it makes no sense to harm your source of
nourishment).
The other bat species (1097 or so)
eat insects, fruit, pollen and nectar. The bats here in north Texas can eat
about 5000 flying insects per night, per bat! Lots of them have migrated south
for the winter. Many, however, remain in
north Texas, inactive for the winter – often disguised as dead leaves on trees.
OWEN YOST, in addition
to being a blogger, is a licensed Landscape Architect emeritus who has lived
and worked in north Texas for over 30 years. He is the recipient of a Lifetime
Achievement Award of the Native Plant Society of Texas, and is a member of the
American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), International Federation of
Landscape Architects, National Wildlife Federation and the Audubon Society. His
office is at Yost87@charter.net in Denton.
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