Mike and Teresa's Bird Oasis

Wildlife

There is a lot of wildlife in the area. Large animals include:

• Gray Fox- Hear at night, see periodically. Excellent pecan shellers and tree-climbers.
• Coyote- Hear at night.
• Armadillo- Front yard resident.
• Opossum
• Racoons (big suprise!)
• Deer (ditto)
• Ringtail cat- One lived in greenhouse for a while- loved pears.

Lots of bird species including:

Lots of hummingbirds through the summer. Feeders are not necessary due to the large number of flowering plants- but they bring them close to the windows. Flame Acanthus provides nectar through the hottest, driest part of the summer. There is a 1 or 2 Rufous hummers that stay through the winter. Freeze-proof feeders are kept up to keep them alive.

• Gold-Fronted Woodpeckers- Regulars at feeders.
• Cardinals
• Eastern Bluebirds- 1 to 3 clutches of babies each year
• Great Blue Heron- Like goldfish
• Eastern Screech Owl- Nest in front yard box each winter, and regularly watch us in yard. Two very curious babies last winter.
• Painted Buntings- Lots of visitors during migration, usually 2 pair stay from late April to early August. Very interesting to watch them shell millet. Dedicated Painted
• Bunting feeder frequented by the regulars all summer.
• Eastern Towhee- winter regulars
• Mexican Scrub Jays
• Indigo Bunting
• Lazuli Bunting
• Red-tailed Hawk- Visit the back-yard buffet periodically.
• Roadrunner
• Cedar Waxwings- Large flocks in winter.
• Mockingbirds- Had to move the feeders away from the yaupons the mockingbirds were guarding.
• American goldfinch
• House Finch
• Snipes
• etc..

A list of the birds identified on the property can be seen here.