One very diverse area that would be great to go bird watching is in Texas at Big Bend National Park. It is located at the Southwestern part of Texas, somewhere in the middle of Laredo and El Paso. It is the Rio Grande which divides this reserve from the rest of Texas.
Big Bend has a mixed landscape of mountain, river, and desert settings sprawled upon an area of 1,200 square miles. It offers a multitude of backcountry experiences to enjoy and among these is bird watching. This mix of environments gives way to a habitat which supports over 450 species alone of bird life, around 75 species for mammals, and maybe 70 species of reptiles and amphibians. This area is also a migratory pass-through, so there are chances that you may spot some species of birds that fly along to their destination at the appropriate times of year.
What you may get to see commonly around this reserve are Crissal Thrashers, Elf Owls, Black-chinned Sparrow, Band-tailed Pigeons, and Mexican Jays. It is also here that you will find the Mexican long-nosed bat, which is one of those on the endangered species list.
With this size of a nature reserve, there are numerous bird watching areas that will provide excellent view. Perhaps you can try Chisos Basin and hot springs for a glimpse of the Colima warbler. Maybe if you are lucky, the golden fronted woodpecker.
Another beautiful place to do bird watching is in Ojito Adentro which is near wayside stop #4. Around March to September, it is in this area that you could hear Bell’s Vireo’s humming while walking down the paths. The Vermillion flycatchers and zone tailed hawk you can usually catch around spring time.
A number of species that can be found around in a window each year are the ash-throated flycatchers, some canyon wrens, acorn woodpeckers, greater roadrunners, and spotted sandpipers among some.
You may also chance upon some rock squirrels, Merriam’s kangaroo rats, and some desert cottontails among some of the mammals around the area. With diversity of beauty also comes that of danger, this grand reserve is also abundant in some of the most poisonous snakes in the world. These include diamondbacks, rattlesnakes, and the Mojave. There are also black bears and mountain lions in the area, so it is really advised to let the park rangers know where you plan to be or which areas you will be roaming so they can advice and monitor your whereabouts.
