BIG AND DIVERSE!

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Dark-eyed Junco

Cedar Waxwing

The Lone Star state is home to more kinds of birds than any other state in the union. Over 600 species live here!  That includes the beautiful Cedar Waxwing, whose first-of-season local sighting was east of Denton. It also includes the Golden-crowned Kinglet, sighted by friends near Northlakes Park. And an American Woodcock, in a friend’s yard south of here. This is mainly because Texas takes in so many ecological zones. Many of these birds can be seen around Denton County, because this area includes several of these zones. We even have cold & snow – when the birds are exceptionally active, fighting through the weather and trying to get warm. At these times, birds are especially grateful for the high-energy seeds (and such) you provide.



Great-crested Flycatcher

 

A Real Pane.    Research has proven what I strongly suspected – it’s OK for you to put feeders directly on or near windows. In the study feeders directly on, or within 3 ft., of a window resulted in NO bird deaths from flying into a window. It seems that the real “danger zone” is when feeders are 3 to 5 ft. from a window, especially a reflective one.

 

 Owen Yost, in addition to blogging, is a Landscape Architect emeritus from here, who‘s worked in north Texas for over 30 years.  He is a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), International Society of Landscape Architects, the National BirdFeeding Society, National Wildlife Federation and the Audubon Society. He was honored with a Lifetime Achievement award by the Native Plant Society of Texas. His design office is at northwestern68@yahoo.com