News from Not So Creepy Critters

I am excited about the approaching fall. There are many different species of birds that come to Corpus Christi when it gets colder. This coming fall I will start looking for American Kestrels, Northern Flickers, Pine Siskins, Cedar Waxwings, Green-winged Teals, Golden Eagles, and the Mourning Dove, my favorite species of birds. Mourning Doves are in Corpus Christi all year long. I love to hear them sing. Birds are amazing! Take some time out of your day to embrace nature. And always remember, you can learn so much by just sitting in a tree!
~ Courtney

Visit the Port Aransas Birding Center. Learn about the birds that fly to Corpus Christi in the Autumn. Take pictures of all the birds that live in our beautiful city full time and our visiting birds. Make a bird photo journal.

http://www.portaransas.org/birds.html

Make a temperature chart. Check the temperature each morning for a month and record the information on your chart. Are the temperatures falling? Predict the lowest temperature of the month.

Go on a nature walk, and look for signs of autumn! Make a list of critters you see. What are the different critters doing? Take a clip board, paper and a pencil. Journal your adventure by drawing pictures of trees, leaves, rocks, or critters. Collect leaves, acorns, sticks and make an autumn collage.

Courtney and I visited with Linda Fuiman at the Marine Science Institute in Port Aransas. Mrs. Fuiman gave us a tour and taught us more about marine life and birds in our area. We learned about migratory birds. Mrs. Fuiman suggested that we take binoculars and a field guide book about birds with us when we hike. Courtney and I've spent a few afternoons birdwatching this week.

I enjoy bird watching and cataloging the birds I see. My list after one afternoon looks like this:

Laughing Gulls 9

Great White Egret 1

Brown Pelicans               4
Pigeons                           3
Barn Swallows                4
Osprey                            1
Great Tailed Grackle       4
Great Blue Heron            1
Royal Tern                       2
Inca Dove                        1
Mourning Dove                3
Hummingbird                   1
Spoonbills                        7

White Ibis 8

This month I'll be watching for Savannah Sparrows. They are in Texas from mid-September until April. The Savannah Sparrow has a dark gray back, while its underside is light blue. Look for Savannah Sparrows around fresh water, bays, estuaries and all along the coast.

Many birds travel long distances without stopping when migrating. The Ruby-throated Hummingbirds fly 600 miles across the Gulf of Mexico nonstop. They travel from the United States and up into Canada all the way down to Panama. You think that's far? The American Golden-Plover travels 2400 miles nonstop from the arctic tundra of Alaska and Canada down to Brazil where it spends the winter. You think that's far? Arctic Terns fly nonstop 11,000 miles from the northern regions of Asia, Europe, and North America down to the southern Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. Arctic Terns spend winters at the edge of the Antarctic ice pack!

If you're interested in learning more about birds,click here. The link will take you to the Texas Parks & Wildlife website where you can learn about birds, fishing, freshwater habitats and more.
~Erik