Birds of the Texas Panhandle


Book Description

The vast, open plains of the Texas Panhandle appear deceptively void of bird life, but subtle regional variations provide rich and varied avifauna. Of the approximately six hundred species of birds sighted in Texas, more than two-thirds have been confirmed on the Texas Panhandle. The wooded waterways of the plains of the eastern Panhandle attract such eastern nesting species as the Red-headed Woodpecker and Carolina Chickadee. The gently rolling terrain of the High Plains and its scattered rainwater lakes, or playas, provide a winter habitat for a variety of migrating waterfowl. Canyons etched deeply into the otherwise flat terrain create sheltered places where such western birds as the Western Scrub-Jay and Bushtit thrive and breed. For each of the more than four hundred species found in this region, author Kenneth D. Seyffert provides information on the bird's status, occurrence, and nesting habits. Ten elegant line drawings also accompany the text. Birds of the Texas Panhandle is a must for those already familiar with the avifauna of the Panhandle and an eyeopener for those skeptical of the abundance of bird life in the region. Residents fo the Panhandle will find this a handy reference to places where they can view their winged neighbors.




Birding Trails Texas


Book Description

Also called Texas birding trails (p. [4] of cover).




Chasing Birds across Texas


Book Description

On the morning of January 1, 2000, Mark T. Adams started counting birds. His goal was to find the largest possible number of species in one year in Texas, an undertaking known in birding parlance as a Big Year. By the evening of December 31, he had tied the record of 489 species seen or heard within the state’s borders in a single calendar year. Traveling 30,000 miles across Texas by car and 18,000 miles by plane, Adams alone saw 92 percent of all bird species reported in the state in 2000. In Chasing Birds across Texas, Adams invites birders and others with a broad interest in the outdoors to join him in exploring Texas’ varied habitats on his quest for birds—from the upper coast to the lower coast; into the Hill Country, the Panhandle, and the Chihuahuan Desert; and up the Davis, Chisos, and Guadalupe Mountains. As he happily celebrates the bounty of the Valley’s spring migration or desperately searches for a Panhandle rarity, we watch him grow as a naturalist, exult in the Texas landscape, and benefit from the company of some of the world’s best birders. Informative, inspiring, and great fun, Chasing Birds across Texas conveys as perhaps no other bird book can the humor, obsession, dedication, and adventure that are all part of the sport of birding.




A Field Guide to the Birds of Texas


Book Description

Covers 542 species of birds, emphasizing distinguishing characteristics visible in the field.




Birds of Texas


Book Description

"W.L. Moody, Jr., natural history series ; no. 14." Guide to 622 birds found in Texas with information on habitat preferences, abundance, seasonal occurance, and more.




Mastering Bird Photography


Book Description

In Mastering Bird Photography: The Art, Craft, and Technique of Photographing Birds and Their Behavior, acclaimed bird photographer and author Marie Read shares techniques and stories behind her compelling images, offering fresh insights into making successful bird photographs, whether you’re out in the field or in the comfort of your own backyard.

In this richly illustrated book, you’ll learn how to be in the right place at the right time and how to obtain tack sharp portraits. Marie then teaches you to take your skills to the next level in order to capture action shots, illustrate birds in their habitats, and portray birds in evocative and artistic ways.

Building on basic technical topics such as camera choice, lens choice, and camera settings, Marie reveals how fieldcraft, compositional decisions, and knowledge of bird behavior contribute greatly to a successful bird photograph. Captions for the over 400 images contained in the book provide details on the equipment used, as well as camera settings. Throughout the book, bird behavior insights provide bird photographers of all skill levels a wealth of essential insider information that will help you produce images that stand out from the crowd.

Topics include:

  • Equipment and accessories
  • Focus, exposure, and light
  • Composition and creativity
  • Bird photography ethics
  • Capturing bird behavior
  • Storytelling images
  • Action and in-flight shots
  • Backyard photo studio
  • Weather, water, and mood
  • Top bird photo sites in North America
  • Basic image editing
  • …and much more

    Foreword by Tim Gallagher, Editor-in-Chief Emeritus, Living Bird magazine. p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Cambria} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 15.0px} p.p3 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Cambria; min-height: 14.0px} p.p4 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Arial} span.s1 {font: 11.0px Verdana} span.s2 {font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'}




  • The Tos Handbook of Texas Birds


    Book Description

    The TOS Handbook of Texas Birds provides authoritative annotations on the abundance, status, and distribution of all species encountered in Texas; lists rare, introduced, and hypothetical species in the appendices; and offers a comprehensive reference section.




    Birds of the Southwest


    Book Description

    The American Southwest is famous for its dramatic vistas & the exotic animals & plants that inhabit the region.




    Texas Waterfowl


    Book Description

    In this beautifully illustrated guide, two practicing wildlife biologists describe the life histories of forty-five species of ducks, geese, and swans that occur in Texas. For common species and those that breed in the state, each account begins with an interesting fact (such as, “Red-breasted Mergansers have been clocked at over 80 mph, the fastest recorded flight speed for a duck . . .”) and provides information on Texas distribution and harvest, population status, diet, range and habitats, reproduction, and appearance. Exquisite photographs, informative distribution maps, and a helpful source list accompany the species descriptions, and the book offers a glossary and full bibliography for those who want to explore the literature further. With the degradation and disappearance of the inland and coastal habitats that these birds depend upon, the natural history of these waterfowl species provides a vital reminder of the interconnectedness and crucial importance of all wetlands. Birders, biologists, landowners, hunters, outdoor enthusiasts, and all those interested in the health and preservation of our coastal and inland wetland resources will enjoy and learn from this book.




    Parking Lot Birding


    Book Description

    Texas boasts greater bird diversity than almost any state, with more than six hundred species living in or passing through during spring and fall migrations. Jennifer L. Bristol’s Parking Lot Birding speaks to people who would love to observe a wide variety of birds in easy access locations that don’t require arduous hikes or a degree in ornithology. As she explains, “I have personally trudged down hundreds of miles of trails in Texas, loaded down with gear, searching for birds, only to return to the parking lot to find what I was looking for.” Drawing on her experience as a former park ranger and lifelong nature enthusiast, Bristol explores ninety birding locations that are open to the public and accessible regardless of ability or mobility. Divided by geography, with each of the nine sections centered on a large urban area or defined ecoregion, Parking Lot Birding: A Fun Guide to Discovering Birds in Texas will take readers to birds in locales from the busy heart of Dallas to the remote Muleshoe Wildlife Refuge in the plains north of Lubbock. Each birding stop includes the name and address of a specific birding location, number of species that have been recorded, and types of birding amenities offered. Locational accounts end with a “Feather Fact” that provides interesting and relevant details about selected birds in a particular region. You never know what you might see when on the beaten path, especially in a state as big and ecologically diverse as Texas. So grab your binoculars and let’s go birding!