There's been a Groove-billed Ani sighted by several birders recently that
hangs out in the southern portion of F.M. Law park. At least three of those
sightings have all been in the same clump of brush - over a week apart -
despite the clear-cutting in the adjacent field. I've been there looking
for it three times, and the third time was the charm. On the first two
visits, I encountered other birders who'd also made several unsuccessful
attempts. Fellow (and more experienced) birder James R. gave me a tip that
proved useful, so I thought I'd pass it along.
Because the bird is tropical, it likely wants to sun in the morning after a
cold night (and the nights have been cold recently for Houston). He
recommended I come during sunrise when the bird is likely to be warming
itself and not skulking deep in the brambles (and also when there hasn't
yet been much activity and noise). On Sunday 1/24, I arrived at 8am, and
the bird was conspicuously sunning itself in the very same shrub sighted by
several others.
The bird is in Phase II of the park (which does NOT show up green-colored
on Google maps). To get there, turn off of Mykawa onto Scarlet Dr. (south
of Vasser Dr., the main entrance to the park), and the park's south
entrance will be on your right. Walk past the ball-fields, and you'll come
to a bridge over Sims Bayou. Walk north across the bridge, then turn west
(left), and walk along the south face of the brushy treeline, with the
Bayou immediately to your left. You should see the bird along there
somewhere. I found it in the same spot as James: about 5 to six feet up in
the very last shrub in the row, right at the corner where there's a gap to
the deep gully that feeds into the bayou. I heard second-hand that the bird
was also reported perched in the tree coming up out of the gully, about 30
or 40 yards from the end end-bush. Others have seen it in the treeless
"dip" filled with tangled brush.
The bird was not shy and seemed unconcerned at my presence, only about 15
or so yards away. There was a Mocker a few feet above it in the same bush,
and an Accipiter perched about 30 yards away. The Ani seem unconcerned
about all of these as well.
I hope you find these tips helpful as I did.
Nicholas DeMaio
Houston, TX
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