Birding Texas: Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary

The Heard Wildlife Sanctuary in Texas, located north of Dallas, is a wonderful, award-winning bird watching area. It has almost 300 acres of outstanding bird watching habitats, including forests, grass prairies, wetlands, and many more. There is also a bluebird trail, as well a bird banding station (over 25,000 birds have been banded at the Heard Wildlife Sanctuary, which is the oldest station in Texas). The museum operates a raptor rehabilitation center, and guided tours are available on the second Saturday of the month from September through May. For tips on finding and identifying just a few of the species you may see while bird watching at Heard Wildlife Sanctuary in Texas, see below.

Wood Duck. Identify this little tree duck while bird watching from its amazing array of colors. It has a brown back, a white throat, a purple breast, yellow flanks, and a green and purple head with white stripes. Look for it in the wetlands of the Heard Wildlife Sanctuary in Texas, where it comes to nest in the spring.

Hooded Merganser. This small merganser is easy to identify while bird watching from the striking contrast between its black upperparts and white underparts. It also has rust colored flanks. Look for the large white patch on its crest when it is raised, as well as the white shoulder patches which you will see when it is in flight. Hooded Mergansers can be found in the wetlands of the Heard Wildlife Sanctuary in Texas, swimming and diving underwater for prey.

Prothonotary Warbler. You'll recognize this warbler from its olive green back and bright yellow head, neck and underparts. It also has a black bill, and black legs and feet. Look for its nests in the tree hollows of the forests at the Heard Wildlife Sanctuary in Texas, where it prefers the wet, swampy areas. You may hear these little birds referred to as Golden Swamp Warblers.

Red-eyed Vireo. Identify this pretty vireo while bird watching from the gray cap on its head, as well as its white eyebrows, black eyestripes, and red eyes. It also has bluish-gray legs and feet, and an olive back. Look for it while bird watching in the forests of the Heard Wildlife Sanctuary in Texas, where you will see it foraging for berries and insects.

Dickcissel. Look for this stocky, sparrow-like bird while bird watching in the open areas of the Heard Wildlife Sanctuary in Texas, where you will find it foraging for seeds and insects. It is easy to identify while bird watching from its dark gray back and head, along with its gray face and yellow eyestripe and breast. It also has a V-shaped bib. As Dickcissels migrate they form larger and larger flocks, eventually ending up in gatherings of millions by the time they reach their wintering residence. Look for them while bird watching in the spring and summer at the Heard Wildlife Sanctuary in Texas.

Source list:

Personal experience

http://www.heardmuseum.org

http://www.identify.whatbird.com

http://www.allaboutbirds.org