Bird Watching Paradise Can Be Found In Sun City Texas

By Ernesto Berturand


As stated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, an enormous number of U.S. citizens have embraced the hobby of birdwatching. The majority of enthusiasts view birds in areas near their homes but some travel from home in order to bird watch. There are a lot of freely reachable bird watching spots within just a quick drive from Sun City Texas. With over 400 kinds of birds found in Williamson County, Texas has got the greatest number of species of all the states at six hundred thirty-six. The drainage ponds placed around town to empty water coming from vehicle parking lots, lures in many water fowl particularly great blue herons, many species of egrets, wood ducks, and teals.

The numerous water features, streams and wetland areas found in Sun City Texas provide an outstanding ecosystem for indigenous as well as migratory birds. There are many chances to relax and watch birds while in the community. Belonging to the Sun City Nature Club, the Birding Special Interest Group supports the enjoyment of wild birds, especially those native to the Hill Country. Many kinds of research resources are available in their library for club members to borrow which includes books, digital video disks, cassette tapes.

Wild birds are particularly abundant in Sun City Texas and club members get together for bird watching hikes, trips into the field and to check on homes for birds in native habitats. One can typically see the flocks of wild turkeys grazing in groups on the native grasses which thrive in the roughs of the golf courses. The bridge that crosses Berry Pond on Del Webb Boulevard is home to a sizable community of cave swallows which assemble their mud nests inside the cement spans under the bridge.

Perching together in groups on the shoreline of Berry Creek, there is a big population of turkey vultures near the bridge to the White Wing Golf Course. The largest scavenger birds in the United States, turkey vultures give preference to broad open areas which provide nearby woods for nesting. The dead and leafless trees, victims of several years of scarce rainfall, are ideal for vultures to keep keen eyes over the creek bed, an empty field and further down, the golf course. Feeding mostly on carrion, turkey vultures eat armadillos, turtles, squirrels and rabbits that often become a victim of road traffic throughout Sun City Texas.

Because of the plentiful wooded areas, water as well as food sources readily available to birds in Sun City Texas, it really is a birder's paradise. For folks that love to observe the growth and progression of baby birds, there's lots of homeowners who welcome nest establishment by simply erecting bird houses, furnishing bird seeds, and flowering garden plants to lure them. There are a number of kinds of hawks drawn to the fields of indigenous grasses, hummingbirds attracted to bird feeders and vivid flowering plants, and owls which track little vertebrates in the evenings.

Lucky Sun City Texas residents have spotted the numerous huge road runners that are native to our area. Their habitat is shrubby country and road runners build a nest on a platform of sticks low in a cactus or a bush. They can be up to 2 feet in length, about half of which is tail. These are particularly valuable birds that feed on reptiles such as snakes, small rodents, spiders, scorpions and road kills. Two roadrunners will sometimes attack a relatively large snake cooperatively.

Sun City Texas Birding Club wild bird hikes are organized two times during each month in order for participants to get out and easily share their own love of wild birds.




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