According to the birds, spring is almost here!
One of the most interesting things about birds is how they change with the seasons. It is somewhat amazing how a birds beak can turn from pale yellow to a bright orange its legs can turn from black to bright red. It is a little easier to comprehend the changes in their plumage.
The good news is that it is again that time of year when all of the coastal birds are getting naturally all dressed for the spring breeding season. The bellwether bird for this part of the world is the Great Blue Heron; this magnificent bird is pretty much the first one to start changing its feathers, coloring and habits. About three weeks ago we started noticing the long stringy feathers showing up on the GBHs breast. Then, we started seeing their bills turning orange.
It seems as though someone threw a switch and the show begins. Last Sunday (January 30th) we had a beautiful day, 70 degrees in the morning with light winds, and we noticed 50 + Great Blue Herons perched in the treetops along Bloodworth Island. According to Richard Gibbons, a Master Ornithologist, the GBH colony on this island on the eastern edge of the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge has started to stake out their territory in preparation for the spring breeding season. “The other birds will follow their lead,” says Gibbons. “ The Great Blue Heron is one of the few birds that can defend a nesting area from predators such as Coyotes and Raccoons.’ Once the majority of predators in the area have been convinced by the GBH colony that there will be no easy meals, other species such as Reddish Egrets, Snowy Egrets, and Tricolor Herons will start to nest in the vicinity.
A few of the Laughing Gulls already have black heads and most of their heads are turning gray and should be fully black within a week or two. The Forsters Terns started showing their breeding plumage “about 10 days early” said local ornithologist and Master Naturalist, Ray Little.
The Brown Pelican’s pouches are turning black, as are backs of their necks. The bumps on top of the White Pelican’s beaks are starting to show. The Seaside Sparrows are beginning their mating calls. The Great, Reddish and Snowy Egrets are all getting their wispy breeding plumage.
The Whooping Cranes should start their mating dances toward the end of March and could remain in the area as late as the end of April.
All of these changes are leading up to a crescendo that is sure to make any birder smile as they head into the field, soon the rookery islands will be populated with these and other colonial waterbirds. The small islands up and down the coast will be a mass of activity as each species starts ramping up for the new breeding season. These islands provide some of the most interesting bird watching opportunities available. With the unique mating rituals of each species in full swing there is no greater concentration of activity anywhere.
So grab your birding gear and come catch one of many boats available in the Rockport area. Come see the wonders that nature has to offer in the months of March, April, May, and June. You will be glad you did!
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