Jump to content

Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail: Difference between revisions

Add links
Coordinates: 28°16′N 96°49′W / 28.267°N 96.817°W / 28.267; -96.817
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
mNo edit summary
→History: explanation: why the Tex.coast is so popular
Line 25: Line 25:
[[Image:Great texas coastal birding trail logo.png|right|thumb|Logo of the trail system.]]
[[Image:Great texas coastal birding trail logo.png|right|thumb|Logo of the trail system.]]


The Texas coast has been popular among bird watchers in the United States for decades.<ref name="NWF: Trail"/> A 1991 American Birding Association (ABA) study by Roland Wauer showed that Texas was the top bird watching destination in the United States for its members.<ref name="Cornell">{{cite web | title=The Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail: A Tool for Avitourism | author=Lindsay, Madge (Texas Parks and Wildlife) | publisher=Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Cornell University | accessdate=10 Nov 2009 | url=http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pifcapemay/lindsay.htm}}</ref> In 1993 the [[Texas Parks and Wildlife Department]] began a $1.5 million project to develop public and private resources to utilize as bird sanctuaries and observation sites. The plan and the concept were largely developed by Ted Eubanks and Madge Lindsay.<ref name="ABA: North America">{{cite web | url=http://www.aba.org/resources/birdingtrails.html | title=Birding Trails in North America | publisher=American Birding Association | accessdate=11 Nov 2009}}</ref> Site improvements included trail markers, trail development, boardwalks, observation stations, and many others. The goal was both to encourage environmental protection and to establish a tourism network that would benefit businesses throughout the Texas Gulf Coast region catering to [[ecotourism|ecotourists]].<ref name="Cornell"/>
The Texas coast has been popular among bird watchers in the United States for decades.<ref name="NWF: Trail"/> Located where the [[Central Flyway]] meets the Gulf coast and the [[Mississippi Flyway]], the region sees a large number of [[Migration|migrants]]; in addition, the southern part of the Texas coast is far enough south to host a number of tropical species.<ref>Roger Tory Peterson, ''A Field Guide to the Birds of Texas and Adjacent States'' (Peterson Field Guide Series), Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; expanded edition 1998. ISBN-10: 0395921384, ISBN-13: 978-0395921388.</ref> A 1991 American Birding Association (ABA) study by Roland Wauer showed that Texas was the top bird watching destination in the United States for its members.<ref name="Cornell">{{cite web | title=The Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail: A Tool for Avitourism | author=Lindsay, Madge (Texas Parks and Wildlife) | publisher=Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Cornell University | accessdate=10 Nov 2009 | url=http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pifcapemay/lindsay.htm}}</ref> In 1993 the [[Texas Parks and Wildlife Department]] began a $1.5 million project to develop public and private resources to utilize as bird sanctuaries and observation sites. The plan and the concept were largely developed by Ted Eubanks and Madge Lindsay.<ref name="ABA: North America">{{cite web | url=http://www.aba.org/resources/birdingtrails.html | title=Birding Trails in North America | publisher=American Birding Association | accessdate=11 Nov 2009}}</ref> Site improvements included trail markers, trail development, boardwalks, observation stations, and many others. The goal was both to encourage environmental protection and to establish a tourism network that would benefit businesses throughout the Texas Gulf Coast region catering to [[ecotourism|ecotourists]].<ref name="Cornell"/>


The Central Coast section of the trail network was opened in 1994 with more than 95 sites. The other sections opened soon afterward.<ref name="Cornell"/> The trail system was completed in 2000.<ref name="BWD">{{cite web | title=North America's New Birding Trails | publisher=Bird Watcher's Digest | accessdate=11 Nov 2009 | url=http://www.birdwatchersdigest.com/site/travel/trail_flyways.aspx}}</ref> Markers featuring a logo with a [[black skimmer]] are present on each of the viewing sites.<ref name="BWD"/> Soon other wildlife trail networks were developed in other parts of Texas, and other states established their own wildlife trail systems patterned after the Texas model.
The Central Coast section of the trail network was opened in 1994 with more than 95 sites. The other sections opened soon afterward.<ref name="Cornell"/> The trail system was completed in 2000.<ref name="BWD">{{cite web | title=North America's New Birding Trails | publisher=Bird Watcher's Digest | accessdate=11 Nov 2009 | url=http://www.birdwatchersdigest.com/site/travel/trail_flyways.aspx}}</ref> Markers featuring a logo with a [[black skimmer]] are present on each of the viewing sites.<ref name="BWD"/> Soon other wildlife trail networks were developed in other parts of Texas, and other states established their own wildlife trail systems patterned after the Texas model.

Revision as of 16:08, 16 November 2009

Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail

The Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail is a state-designated system of trails, bird sanctuaries, and nature preserves along the entire length of the Texas Gulf Coast in the United States. As the state of Texas hosts more bird species than any other in the U.S. the trail system offers some of the most unique opportunities for bird-watching in the world.[3][4] The "trail" is actually 43 separate hiking and driving trails that include 308 birding sites. The sites themselves feature a variety of viewing opportunities with boardwalks, observation decks, and other amenities. The trail boasts more than 450 bird species.[5]

Apart from bird watching the trail system includes many nature preserves which feature a wide variety of wildlife. In addition the various sites cover many types of natural terrain and flora including forests, marshes, and beaches.

This trail network was the first of its kind in the U.S. though many states have since followed.[6][7][3][4] The trail system remains the nation's largest.[2][8] One of the most well-known locations along the trail system is the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, which holds the winter home of the only natural flock of whooping cranes in the world.[1]

History

File:Great texas coastal birding trail logo.png
Logo of the trail system.

The Texas coast has been popular among bird watchers in the United States for decades.[7] Located where the Central Flyway meets the Gulf coast and the Mississippi Flyway, the region sees a large number of migrants; in addition, the southern part of the Texas coast is far enough south to host a number of tropical species.[9] A 1991 American Birding Association (ABA) study by Roland Wauer showed that Texas was the top bird watching destination in the United States for its members.[10] In 1993 the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department began a $1.5 million project to develop public and private resources to utilize as bird sanctuaries and observation sites. The plan and the concept were largely developed by Ted Eubanks and Madge Lindsay.[2] Site improvements included trail markers, trail development, boardwalks, observation stations, and many others. The goal was both to encourage environmental protection and to establish a tourism network that would benefit businesses throughout the Texas Gulf Coast region catering to ecotourists.[10]

The Central Coast section of the trail network was opened in 1994 with more than 95 sites. The other sections opened soon afterward.[10] The trail system was completed in 2000.[11] Markers featuring a logo with a black skimmer are present on each of the viewing sites.[11] Soon other wildlife trail networks were developed in other parts of Texas, and other states established their own wildlife trail systems patterned after the Texas model.

Sites along the trail systems are today popular among birding enthusiasts, both domestic and international.[12] Events such as the state's Great Texas Birding Classic continue to build interest in the trails among nature lovers.[13]

Geography

Further information: Gulf Coastal Plains, Piney Woods, and Western Gulf coastal grasslands
Snow geese over the wetlands of Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge.

The region covered by the trail network is part of the Gulf Coastal Plains. With about 20 to 58 inches (510 to 1,470 mm) annual rainfall, this is a nearly level, drained plain dissected by streams and rivers flowing into estuaries and marshes. Windblown sands and dunes, grasslands, oak mottes and salt marshes make up the seaward areas.[14]

The region stretches from the Piney Woods of East Texas to the Texas Coastal Prairies that dominate the majority of the coast south of Houston. The Piney Woods area features forests of pine and other hardwood trees such as oak, magnolia, and sweet gum. This wooded area which has supported Texas' lumber industry since the 19th century is now considered one of the most critically endangered ecosystems in the world.[15] These woodland areas of the trail netwok stretch from the Big Thicket area in the east to Sam Houston National Forest in the west, with pockets of woodlands stretching down into the area around Galveston Bay near Houston.

The Prairie regions feature a variety of grass types, particularly Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans), Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), and Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum).[16] The grasslands around the Laguna Madre near Corpus Christi are considered some of the most important.[16]

The areas around Zapata and Laredo, which though significantly inland are considered part of the "Coastal" trail system, feature a semi-arid climate as they lie near the eastern edge of the Chihuahuan Desert.[17] Scrub vegetation dominates the area with the Rio Grande and lakes supporting substantial wildlife diversity.

The coastline features numerous bays and lakes including Sabine Lake, Galveston Bay, Matagorda Bay, San Antonio Bay, Copano Bay, Corpus Christi Bay, Baffin Bay, and the Laguna Madre.[18]

Sections

The trail system is divided into three major sections: the Upper Coast, Central Coast, and Lower Coast regions.[3] The Upper Coast section spans the Port Arthur and Big Thicket areas, the Galveston Bay and Houston areas, and the Brazosport areas.[19] The Central section spans the Matagorda Bay and Victoria areas down to the Port Aransas and Corpus Christi areas.[20] The Lower section spans the South Padre Island and Brownsville areas up the Rio Grande to Laredo.[21]

Within each section there are 43 "loops," hiking and driving trails containing specific birding sites ranging from parks and observatories to nature preserves and wildlife refuges.[3] Individual sites may contain any number of individual hiking trails through a wide variety of terrain. Some venues are particularly well-know for specific viewing opportunities. The Bolivar Flats area is especially well-known for its abundance of shorebirds.[11] The wetlands of Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge is known for the multitude of waterfowl.[11] High Island is known for its nesting colonies of spoonbills and herons.[11] The Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge is a major preserve created for the protection of the endangered Attwater's Prairie Chicken. The loops of the Lower Coast feature a variety of snowbirds from Canada and the northern U.S. which winter in the region.[11]

Major nature preserves along the trail system include the following:

Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge, Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge, Big Boggy National Wildlife Refuge, Big Thicket National Preserve, Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge, Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge, Texas Point National Wildlife Refuge.[22]

The Aransas National Wildlife Refuge is the largest of the national refuges in Texas.[23] The Big Thicket National Preserve features the largest number of wetlands boardwalks in the state (75).[24]

The trail systems lie in and around numerous communities along the coast many of which specifically cater to ecotourists. Annual nature festivals are held in Rockport, Port Aransas, McAllen, Galveston, Harlingen, and Mission attracting large numbers of visitors each year.[11][25] The system includes numerous important urban nature centers including the Armand Bayou Nature Center, Baytown Nature Center, the Corpus Christi Botanical Gardens and Nature Center, the South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center, and the Texas City Prairie Preserve.

Wildlife

Black Skimmer.

The trail network contains more than 450 species of birds.[5] Typical varieties of birds along the length of the system include ducks, geese, and seagulls with many other species found in particular locations.[26] The endangered whooping cranes that winter in Aransas National Wildlife Refuge are among the most famous.[1] The black skimmer, adopted as a symbol of the trail system, can be found throughout almost the entire coastline.[27]

The Piney Woods area of the Upper Coast section is home to species such as Red-cockaded Woodpeckers, Bald Eagles, Bachman's Sparrows, the Great Crested Flycatcher, the Pine Warbler, the Red-shouldered Hawk, and the Barred Owl among many others.[28] Along the coast near Port Arthur one can find pelicans, cormorants, Horned grebes, orioles, Cape May Warblers, Laughing Gulls.[29] The area around Galveston Bay and Houston is home to Henslow's Sparrows, Roseate Spoonbills, White-faced Ibises, Marsh wrens, Seaside sparrows, Snow geese, Yellow and Black Rails, and Northern Harriers.[30] The Smith Point peninsula contains a 20-foot observation tower offering views of Broad-winged Hawks and other hawk species.[31] Closer to the coast seagulls, Peregrine Falcons, and Seaside sparrows may be visible.[32]

The Central Coast section offers many bird species of its own. The Matagorda Bay area contains American Oystercatchers, Hudsonian Godwits, and White-rumped sandpipers. The Corpus Christi area features Groove-billed Anis, Olive Sparrows, Long-billed Thrashers, Couch's Kingbird, Black Skimmers, and Black-crowned Night Herons.[20]

The Lower Coast section which lies around the Rio Grande offers its own species diversity. South Padre Island and the Laguna Madre areas feature Magnificent Frigatebirds, Bridled Terns, and Cory’s Shearwater. Futher up the Rio Grande around Santa Ana and McAllen one can find Elf Owls, White-tipped Doves, Green Jays, Green Kingfishers, and Mississippi Kite.[20] The endangered Brown Pelican is found especially on South Padre Island in addition to other locations on the coast. The inland areas around Zapata are home to White-collared Seedeaters, Lesser Goldfinch, Ash-throated Flycatchers, and Black-tailed Gnatcatchers.[33]

Apart from the the many varieties of bird species many other types of animals can be found along the trails. American alligators, bobcats, coyotes, and nutria are common in areas of the Upper Coast.[22][34] Javelinas, the Texas Spiny Lizard, and the Texas Indigo Snake can be found further south.[21] In the Central Coast the Western Cottonmouth snake is prominent, not to mention dolphins and other marine mammals along the Gulf. Armadillos and deer can be seen throughout.[26] The Rio Grande Valley is particularly known for the many varieties of butterflies that inhabit the area (celebrated by the annual Texas Butterfly Festival in Mission).[25] Resident species include the Julia, Zebra, Mexican Bluewing, and the White Peacock.[35][36]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b c Schultz (2007), p. 780.
  2. ^ a b c "Birding Trails in North America". American Birding Association. Retrieved 11 Nov 2009.
  3. ^ a b c d Schultz (2007), pp. 779–780.
  4. ^ a b Wauer (1998), p. 1.
  5. ^ a b White (2003), pg. 2.
  6. ^ "Visitors Flock to Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail". NOAA Coastal Services Center. May/June 2000. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ a b Stewart, Doug. "Getting on the Trail of America's Birds". National Wildlife Federation. Retrieved 11 Nov 2009.
  8. ^ Bigony, Mary-Love. "DESTINATIONS: Hail to the Trail!: The Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail". Orbitz Away LLC. Retrieved 12 Nov 2009.
  9. ^ Roger Tory Peterson, A Field Guide to the Birds of Texas and Adjacent States (Peterson Field Guide Series), Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; expanded edition 1998. ISBN-10: 0395921384, ISBN-13: 978-0395921388.
  10. ^ a b c Lindsay, Madge (Texas Parks and Wildlife). "The Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail: A Tool for Avitourism". Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Cornell University. Retrieved 10 Nov 2009.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g "North America's New Birding Trails". Bird Watcher's Digest. Retrieved 11 Nov 2009.
  12. ^ "Bird Watching". Chambers County. Retrieved 11 Nov 2009.
  13. ^ "Great Texas Birding Class". Gulf Coast Bird Observatory. Retrieved 11 Nov 2009.
    "Great Texas Birding Class". Texas Parks and Wildlife. Retrieved 11 Nov 2009.
  14. ^ "LoneStarInternet". Retrieved 2006-07-14.
  15. ^ "Piney Woods forests (NA0523)". WWF Ecoregion Reports. World Wide Fund for Nature. Retrieved 2009-06-14.
  16. ^ a b "Western Gulf Coastal grasslands". World Wildlife Fund. Retrieved 11 Nov 2009.
  17. ^ "Laredo, Texas Birding Guide". City of Laredo. Retrieved 11 Nov 2009.
  18. ^ Blackburn (2004), p. 61–63.
  19. ^ "Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail - Upper Texas Coast (UTC)". Texas Parks and WildLife Division. Retrieved 10 Nov 2009.
  20. ^ a b c "Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail - Central Texas Coast (CTC)". Texas Parks and Wildlife Division. Retrieved 10 Nov 2009.
  21. ^ a b "Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail - Lower Texas Coast (LTC)". Texas Parks and Wildlife Division. Retrieved 10 Nov 2009.
  22. ^ a b "Great Texas Coastal Birding Trails". Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Retrieved 10 Nov 2009.
  23. ^ "Annual Report of Lands Under Control of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service" (PDF). U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 30 September 2008. p. pp. 15-27. {{cite web}}: |page= has extra text (help)
  24. ^ Smith-Rodgers, Sheryl (July 2006). "Top 10 Boardwalks". Texas Parks & Wildlife Magazine. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  25. ^ a b Wauer (2004), p. 19.
  26. ^ a b "Texas Coastal Bend: Land of the Birds (Texas Less Traveled)". Lost Planet Media. Retrieved 11 Nov 2009.
  27. ^ Lockwood (2007), p. 154.
  28. ^ White (2003), p. 13–14, 17.
  29. ^ White (2003), p. 23–26.
  30. ^ White (2003), p. 23–32.
  31. ^ White (2003), p. 30.
  32. ^ White (2003), p. 36.
  33. ^ "Lower Texas Coast Wildlife Trail (LTC): Zapata Loop". Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Retrieved 11 Nov 2009.
  34. ^ Ramos (2004), p. 141.
  35. ^ "Santa Ana Loop". Texas Parks and Wildlife. Retrieved 11 Nov 2009.
  36. ^ "Texas Butterfly Festival". Mission Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved 11 Nov 2009.

References

28°16′N 96°49′W / 28.267°N 96.817°W / 28.267; -96.817

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Great_Texas_Coastal_Birding_Trail&oldid=326176573"