eBird is a cool tool for comparing what birds I’m seeing to what everyone else is seeing. The coolest thing about eBird, though, is the citizen science aspect. By enlisting recreational birders to submit their sightings, there is much more data recorded than could be collected by a research team of designated birders. All the data submitted goes to a central repository. All that data is available for study. Check out one of the results, a migration animation: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/about/occurrence-maps/swainsons-hawk Sightings reported year-round, from all over the planet, are helping researchers put together patterns for what birds do and why. They put up occurrence maps for 15 species to start, and will add 5 more birds every month.
Vermilion Flycatcher
One of the more striking birds we see.
Green Parakeets
There is a population of wild Green Parakeets that flies in to roost on the wires at a particular intersection in McAllen every evening.
It is not a quiet process.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzGhHBAvy5UParakeets aren’t the only birds coming in. The wires and trees are filled for blocks with grackles, blackbirds, starlings, cowbirds, and parakeets. In the video clip, some of the birds on the top wire are grackles. The rest are parakeets.
Rough Weather
South Texas
Home of Black-bellied Whistling Ducks.