Remember also that Green Kingfishers are perhaps more sensitive that most species to harsh winters and historically have retreated southward after such climatic events. They are also highly sensitive to stream size/depth and water clarity for their foraging. Randy Pinkston Temple, Bell County ________________________________ From: "Collins, Fred (Commissioner Pct. 3)" <Fred_Collins@xxxxxxxx> To: "texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Tue, August 14, 2012 10:35:45 AM Subject: [texbirds] Re: Green Kingfisher at Palmetto State Park The Palmetto record is not noteworthy as the species has long been reported at the site. Comments about the distribution of this bird got me to wondering about how its status had changed. It does seem to have “spread north to the Temple” as Randy Pinkston recently documented breeding there. In the early years of the 21st century it was documented as breeding and a small population in the vicinity of Lake Conroe and along Spring Creek near Jessie Jones park here on the Upper Texas Coast. I was under the impression that it was on the move. However, when I checked Oberholser, I find that perhaps the species status has changed little if at all. The reference indicates a 1928 Howard County record (north) a 1916 Houston record, a 1935 Cove record (east) and south on the Guadalupe River to Dewitt County (just a bit below Palmetto) in 1905 and Victoria in 1928. They were always common on the upper Guadalupe River, one of their strongholds in Texas. Considering how many more observers and reports that come to us today compared to these early record periods perhaps the Green Kingfisher is not expanding its range at all. Its population may be a bit more robust as DDT may have depressed the population in the 1960s and 1970s. Dams on streams have created clear water on some eastern rivers that have not had clear water in almost 200 years and that may contribute to the birds reclaiming former areas as well. While it is certainly a general rule that many southern species are moving north, it seems that the Green Kingfisher is not following the general trend, certainly not in the fashion of many prominent species. Fred Collins (281) 357-5324 Director: Kleb Woods Nature Center Cypress Top Historical Park Commissioner Steve Radack Harris County Precinct 3 www.pct3.hctx.net From:texbirds-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:texbirds-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of jfabertx@xxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Monday, August 13, 2012 7:04 PM To: texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [texbirds] Green Kingfisher at Palmetto State Park Friends of mine had found and photographed a green kingfisher at the Palmetto State Park on July 26, 2012, at 10:30 AM (the park is north of Gonzales TX). Since we didn't know that you could find this kingfisher so far north of RGV area, I am posting this sighting to the listserve. However, I'd love if someone could chime in regarding population trends of this species. Thanks, John Faber Houston, TX