Friday 29 August 2014

By Ernesto Berturand





Millions of Americans have embraced the hobby of watching birds according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Most people choose to observe birds around their homes but many travel away from home to bird watch. There are many publicly accessible birding locations within a short drive of Sun City Texas, located in Georgetown. Texas boasts the highest number of species of all the states at 636 and Williamson County has over 400 species of birds. Many water birds such as great blue herons, varieties of egrets, wood ducks, and teals are attracted to the water retention ponds built around town to drain rainfall from parking lots.



The numerous water features, streams and wetland areas found in Sun City Texas provide an outstanding ecosystem for indigenous as well as migratory birds. There are many chances to relax and watch birds while in the community. Belonging to the Sun City Nature Club, the Birding Special Interest Group supports the enjoyment of wild birds, especially those native to the Hill Country. Many kinds of research resources are available in their library for club members to borrow which includes books, digital video disks, cassette tapes.



Birding club participants assemble for field outings, bird watching hikes and keep an eye on nests for birds in indigenous habitats. Sun City Texas has so many different species of birds. The flocks of wild turkeys may frequently be seen feeding on the wild grasses that thrive in the roughs of the golf greens. The Berry Pond bridge which spans Del Webb Boulevard, is home to a large community of cave swallows. The swallows make their mud nests between the cement spans below the bridge.



Roosting communally in groups along the banks of Berry Creek, is a large population of turkey vultures that glide over the bridge just in front of White Wing Golf Course. The turkey vultures are the largest scavenger birds in the United States. Turkey vultures prefer open areas which provide nearby woods for nesting. This area preferred by the turkey vultures has many dead, leafless trees that were victims of several years of drought and overlooks the creek bed, an open field and further on, the golf course. Squirrels, rodents, snakes and rabbits that fall victim to road traffic in Sun City Texas, become a meal for turkey vultures.



Sun City Texas really is a bird watcher's heaven due to the plentiful wooded areas, water supply and food choices accessible to birds. For individuals that love to monitor the growth and progress of newly hatched birds, there are lots of residents who welcome nest construction by simply setting up bird houses, offering bird seeds, and blooming plant life to beckon them. Furthermore there's a wide range of hawk species attracted to the fields of natural vegetation, hummingbirds attracted to feeders in addition to vibrant flowers, and owls that track small vertebrates in the evening.



Lucky Sun City Texas residents have spotted the numerous huge road runners that are native to our area. Their habitat is shrubby country and road runners build a nest on a platform of sticks low in a cactus or a bush. They can be up to 2 feet in length, about half of which is tail. These are particularly valuable birds that feed on reptiles such as snakes, small rodents, spiders, scorpions and road kills. Two roadrunners will sometimes attack a relatively large snake cooperatively.



Sun City Texas Birding Club bird walks are held twice monthly for members to get out and share their love of birds.









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