No, not because they are sick of Governor Rick Perry, but, it is believed, because warming temperatures are forcing them north. Species as diverse as American Goldfinch, Cedar Waxwing, American Robin, and White Ibis are heading north, and their numbers are declining dramatically in Texas.
Corey is a New Yorker who lived most of his life in upstate New York but has lived in Queens since 2008. He's only been birding since 2005 but has garnered a respectable life list by birding whenever he wasn't working as a union representative or spending time with his family. He lives in Forest Hills with Daisy and Desmond Shearwater. His bird photographs have appeared on the Today Show, in Birding, Living Bird Magazine, Bird Watcher's Digest, and many other fine publications. He is also the author of the American Birding Association Field Guide to the Birds of New York.
That’s alright, the REAL Texans are sticking around in spite of the heat. I’ve seen more hawks and vultures this summer than I have in a long time. Our summers are always hot though, and the heat/cold seems to come and go in multi-year cycles. Back in the late 80s / early 90s, we were having record cold seasons and milder summers than we’d seen in over a decade. Now it’s swinging the other way. Part of the joy of living in the Lone Star State.
One of the best things about a blog is that you can publish whatever self indulgent blather you want. Good for you. Actually, I hear that the hawks are moving to NY state because they love eating the rats swarming over Governor Paterson’s garbage dump of an administration. Have a nice day.
It seems the governor and Dubja have the same ghostwriters for their speeches and public appearances?
Anyway, the birds…
Isn’t that the logical consequence of climate change, that all and not just a few species move?
Come on, Texas, it might be an inconvenient truth but you can’t just wallow in the abundance of ABA firsts and code 4’s from the South for nothing, right? It’s a give and take: some come while some will have to go.
🙂
Quite so, you must be getting some replacements from down south? Over here in Blighty we’re getting new breeders in various egrets and we’re waiting to see what’s next.
I watched American Goldfinch, Cedar Waxwing, American Robin along the shoreline of Lake Ontario, Canada and in my garden, for many years. But the White Ibis caused quite a stir north of Toronto. A report on TV got my attention and after a short trip I found four birds. They felt quite comfortable in a small pond so far away from Texas;)
You have a very nice blog. Love to visit from time to time.
Gisela!!