3-05-15 Hi TexBirders, Good birding at Bentsen-RGV State Park continues - with regular sightings of resident birds and a couple of rarities. Blue Bunting A female Blue Bunting was photographed yesterday (Mar 4) bathing at Green Jay Blind water feature, around 10:30 am. Hook-billed Kite: A dark-morph individual continues its routine over Bentsen State Park HQ each morning around 9 am. It flies in a northwesterly direction, gaining altitude over the levee as it heads over the fields. Where to look for birds of interest at Bentsen RGVSP: Parking lot and Park HQ/Store Gardens & Courtyard - __Plain Chachalaca __Greater Roadrunner __Ruby-throated Hummingbird __Black-chinned Hummingbird __Buff-bellied Hummingbird __Clay-colored Thrush __Long-billed Thrasher __Curve-billed Thrasher __Olive Sparrow __Lark Sparrow __Altamira Oriole Levee/canal right outside HQ/Park Store - __Hook-billed Kite __Green Kingfisher __Ringed Kingfisher __Black Phoebe __Cave Swallow __Long-billed Thrasher Nature Center feeding stations - __Plain Chachalaca __White-tipped Dove __Black-crested Titmouse __Clay-colored Thrush __Long-billed Thrasher __Curve-billed Thrasher __Green Jay __Hooded Oriole __Altamira Oriole Kingfisher Overlook - __Gray Hawk __Ringed Kingfisher __Green Kingfisher __Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet __Cave Swallow Green Jay Blind - __Gray Hawk __Plain Chachalaca __White-tipped Dove __Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet __Black-crested Titmouse __Clay-colored Thrush __Long-billed Thrasher __Green Jay __Olive Sparrow __Lincoln's Sparrow __Blue Bunting __Hooded Oriole __Altamira Oriole Acacia Loop - __Gray Hawk __Plain Chachalaca __White-tipped Dove __Eastern Screech-Owl __Common Pauraque __Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet __Black-crested Titmouse __Verdin __Olive Sparrow __Black-headed Grosbeak __Lazuli Bunting __Indigo Bunting Hawk Tower/Rio Grande Trail - __Gray Hawk __Greater Roadrunner __Verdin __Curve-billed Thrasher __Lark Sparrow __Pyrrhuloxia __Indigo Bunting Bird Feeding at Bentsen-RGV State Park Every year, we have questions from visitors & birders about our feeding schedule. We have 10 feeding stations in the park, active from October to April. Many folks believe we should feed birds year-round, but there are several reasons we do not feed in late spring or summer here at Bentsen: * There will be a regular drop in feeder activity as soon as our local breeding birds begin nesting and defending territories. When this happens, the numbers of local birds visiting our feeders will drop off considerably. * Many nesting birds will need protein (insects) or other natural foods and may not travel out of their way to seek feeders as they do in winter. * By March 15th, migrating Red-winged Blackbirds take over our feeding stations and promptly consume all available inventory. * By the end of March, Bronzed Cowbirds begin moving into the park. These nest parasites are not encouraged as they have been a major nuisance in recent years. We will continue feeding in the mornings, but will stop bird feeding in the afternoons on Sunday Mach 15. We plan to stop regular bird feeding on or near the last day of March except for the Nature Center and Bird Blinds. March 15 - No PM feeding March 31 - End to regular feeding (except Nature Center and Bird Blinds) Thank you. Good Birding. Roy at Bentsen Roy J Rodriguez Park Ranger I - Park Interpreter Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park World Birding Center 2800 S Bentsen Palm Drive Mission, TX 78572 956-584-9156 ext 234 956-584-9126 fax Roy.Rodriguez@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:Roy.Rodriguez@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> www.theworldbirdingcenter.com<http://www.theworldbirdingcenter.com/> Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at //www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission from the List Owner