High Island & Quintana, Tx., April 2009

In the spring, bird watchers and photographers descend on High Island, Texas (on the upper Gulf coast) to see a wide variety of colorful migrating birds under ideal conditions. On their approach to Texas after crossing the Gulf on an exhausting non-stop trip, many birds first notice tiny High Island, which is elevated by a natural salt dome underneath. They gather in amazing quantities during April and May for rest and food. Normally cautious species are more easily approached at this time, as they too exhausted to be on full alert while gorging themselves on berries, bottlebrush and other available food sources. Texas is a funneling point on the massive North American migration corridor where many millions of birds annually return to the East and Midwest, including Canada. Birds that do not cross the water, but follow the coastline, stop here as well. At the same time all this is going on, a nearby rookery is in full swing containing dozens of Blue and Green Herons, Snowy and Great Egrets and Roseate Spoonbills, adding to the viewing pleasure.