WBC - Betsen-Rio Grande Valley
In the cultures of many lands, the owl holds a special place of mystery and awe. This spring, the World Birding Center will host special nighttime field trips – “Owl Prowls” – at one of the best places to see these fascinating creatures in South Texas: Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park in Mission.
Headquarters of the World Birding Center, Bentsen is also home or migratory host to at least four species of these nocturnal creatures, as well as other night birds such as the Common Pauraque. World-class birding expert John Arvin, with 22 years experience in the challenging art of owl-spotting, will lead a series of Tuesday and Thursday Owl Prowls in February and most of March.
“People like owls. Owls are birds that are somewhat mysterious because they’re out at night, and associated with a good deal of superstition in certain cultures,” says Arvin, who is a program specialist with the WBC. “Bentsen is an excellent place for owl-spotting, with a high population of the species that occur there.”
The Rio Grande Valley, home or seasonal host to more than half of the North American continent’s bird species overall, has recorded as many as 11 species of owls, with seven regularly reported here. Those seen reliably at Bentsen include the migratory Elf Owl, the world’s smallest owl; the resident Great Horned Owl, the largest of the New World species; as well as the Barn Owl and Eastern Screech-owl. (Other South Texas owl species that turn up less reliably there include the sought-after Ferruginous Pygmy-owl, which is found rarely in the United States and is active by day, and the Burrowing Owl.)
Arvin, who visits Bentsen almost daily, has heard as many as 30 mating pairs of Eastern Screech-owls, smallish cavity dwellers who love deserted woodpecker holes, or the cozy hollows under dried palm tree skirts.
“The density of Eastern Screech-owls at Bentsen is the most I’ve ever seen,” says Arvin. “The pairs generally sing a duet. Their call is a kind of quavering trill, with the males deeper-voiced than the females. Sometimes the males will start and the females will chime in half way. You almost always hear them before you see them.”
Despite the generous numbers of owls in South Texas, however, actually finding these creatures to admire is not so simple.
“One reason people are so intrigued by owls, besides their mystique, is that they are birds the average birdwatcher doesn’t see,” says Arvin. “Because they are nocturnal, it takes some considerable effort to find them. It takes a technique, and that’s where I come in.”
Arvin, who has traveled the Western Hemisphere as a birding guide, has tracked Snowy Owls near the Arctic Ocean, and tropical owls in rain forests of the Amazon. He knows the owl haunts of Bentsen equally well.
“Owls that live in woodlands are territorial like a lot of birds. If you know their territories, you know where to go seeking them. I’m going to take people where I know they hang out.”
Another owl-spotting challenge is bringing them out in the open.
“You can’t go into the woods. What you do is bring the owls out to see you. I choose a spot so that, when they come to investigate the intruder, their only choice in where to land is where you can see them. When you do see them, it’s a great crowd pleaser.”
The Owl Prowls will be offered twice weekly at Bentsen State Park on Tuesday and Thursday evenings during February and most of March. Prowls will begin at 6:30 p.m., and last roughly one to 1 ½ hours, coinciding with the owls’ most active and vocal period. Participants should register and pay the tour fee of $5 (plus $3 park entry fee if necessary) in advance, since group size is limited to seven per evening.
Participants should bring their binoculars, a small flashlight, and should dress appropriately for the weather.
Arvin also will conduct Walking Bird Tours of Bentsen State Park on Wednesday mornings between 8:00 and about 11:00 a.m. during February and March. For reservations on either tour, call Bentsen-Rio Grande State Park in Mission, (956) 519-6448. For details on the World Birding Center, visit us on line at www.worldbirdingcenter.org. |
