Congratulations to those receiving certifications and milestones for March, April, and May 2022.
Author: Justin Case
For me, this year’s City Nature Challenge (CNC) was the best. I began to feel the thrill that I suspect real birders feel when they add a rare species to a Life List, because I was dazzled by some out-of-the-ordinary birds. At least they were out-of-the-ordinary for me—this is also a story about my naïve enthusiasm.
Observers in the 15 participating Texas regions identified 7,500+ species over the two phases of the challenge. Phase 1 was four days to photograph and make observations. Then we had the next week to finish uploading and get things identified on iNaturalist. This year, 2022, was our best year by far in observations and species count.
Spring was back this year! There was so much missing in the landscape last spring after the “Big Texas Freeze” as the habitat struggled to recuperate through the season. I remember how the migratory birds had little to no food available for them in their passing. The insects were hardly there, and some of the plants didn’t have enough time to flower and fruit on schedule for the migration. There even were a few plant species that normally flower in the spring that never bloomed at all!
One late spring, I was volunteering at Hugh Ramsey Nature Park in Harlingen and noticed a man walking along the trail followed by his three sons. The boys were each about two years apart and were in stair step order, the smallest one trying to keep up. As they passed me, the man asked me what I was doing. I replied that I was removing Guinea grass (what else?) so the other plants would have less competition and a better chance to grow. I wished them a good day and off they went down the trail.
Since the opening of the South Texas Ecotourism Center (STEC) in Laguna Vista this past February, there has been a lot going on at the Center. We are receiving a steady amount of visitors to the Center as well as holding a number of events.