The Birds of Utopia - List
Actually it should be birds of the Sabinal River Valley
(SRV), but that just doesn't have the ring Utopia does.
The list covers the area from the north end of the valley
at Lost Maples, the Sabinal River's headwaters, in the
true canyon, south through the broad flat valley the river
meanders down to Clayton Grade. Utopia is about midway from
the north end to the south end of the valley, which is at
the very edge of the Balcones Escarpment. These valleys are
also known as "canyonlands," and are intermediate between
brushlands off the plateau, and the "top" of the plateau.
They have faunal characteristics of both as well as some of
their own unique flavors. In fact each canyon is unique.
All of the land in the (Sabinal) valley is private, though
many (Uvalde or Bandera) county dirt roads transect many areas
allowing at least some visual access, besides Hwy. 187 that
traverses the valley north to south.
This list replaces the "yard list" pages, with the entire
area list. Besides an idea of seasonality and abundance,
several codes or abbreviations are behind the bird's name
to indicate where it has been seen. The (former) yard list
is now indicated with the "TC" designation (see below), and
the Utopia Park birds are found easily with a UP
behind those species seen there.
If a species is so far unrecorded around Utopia, but is
on the Lost Maples list, it is included here as
occurring in the Sabinal River Valley/Utopia area.
Not all species found at Lost Maples are called out however.
Knowing what "different" has been seen "just up the road a piece"
helps complete the picture of what occurs here.
Note that Lost Maples has had thousands of hours of birder
coverage, primarily during a three month period in spring
and early summer. Most of the 20 or so species listed from there,
only, so far, are accidentals or very rare migrants, and surely
came or went via the SRV, and probably have occurred nearer Utopia.
And most will be recorded in Utopia with a little bit of coverage.
Be sure to pick up the great TPWD park bird list for Lost Maples SNA
by Roy Heideman, May 2002.
To complicate things the valley is cut in half politically.
The northern half with the canyon and Lost Maples are in
Bandera County (as is "TC" and the S.LC ponds). The southern
flat open half of the the SRV (e.g., Utopia and Utopia Park)
are in Uvalde County. So, I have to keep two county lists,
and a "Sabinal River Valley" list!!! What a pain!
Here we have as of April '08 about 285 native species listed
known from the Sabinal River Valley biophysiogeographic area.
A remarkable total for a small inland lakeless habitat. There are
4 introduced non-native species additionally. There are a
number of unverified hypothetical reports not included, but
it is clear over 300 species occur in the SRV !! Which is about
what, 20 miles long top to bottom and averages a mile +- wide?
The birds are listed "more or less" in Taxonomic Order of the 7th AOU,
which is the order used on most bird lists or books, to help
ease finding a given species. They are also mostly grouped
into family groups. Some small families have been joined though.
If you've seen a bird species locally, that is not on the list,
please let me know so we can add it, if approved by the
Utopia Rare Birds Records Committee. Rarities need documentation.
That means a picture, video, tape recording, pencil sketch, or
a description of field marks noted while watching the bird.
A crummy digital picture is often enough to prove identity.
The list consists of the species name, followed by an indication
of its local abundance and seasonality, followed by initials
denoting sites of occurrence and nesting status (N = nests).
THE BIRDS OF UTOPIA
Including the Sabinal River Valley vicinity
If you see something in the area that is rare or even
not on the list, please please let us know! :):)
A link to our e-mail is below.
I saw about 245 species of birds in the Sabinal River Valley,
in the 19 months from Nov. 03 to May 05. 98% of it within
5 miles of Utopia. (Update: 11/05 now 255 in SRV in two years)
Adding the 25 Lost Maples accidentals I haven't seen in the
SRV yet, that equals a total list of over 280 species from the SRV!
Significantly more than the 215 or so on the Lost Maples list,
which has had "tons" of coverage by comparison, over the last 25 years.
A couple "tanks" (farm or flood ponds) with water make the biggest
difference in the lists - waterbirds. Ducks, herons and egrets,
sandpipers, etc. (especially at the "South Little Creek ponds"
(historic buffalo wallows - WHEN they have water), are better represented
in the valley, than in the canyons at Lost Maples SNA, of course!
The TC list (our first yard here) finished at 170 or so
from within about an acre or so of 22, for 16 months.
I left the original notes below, but added updates to show growth.
WAS: The UP list (Utopia Pk.) is at about 155 for 18 months.
NOW: The UP list (Utopia Pk.) is at about 185 for 44 months.
There is little doubt if I were there more it would be over 200.
WAS: The SR (current yard) list is 150+ for the first Year.
NOW: The SR (current yard) list is 203+ for 27 months from one spot.
UPDATE: As of July 07, my SRV (Sabinal River Valley) bird list
is 285 or so, and there are at least 15 species on the Lost Maples
list that I haven't seen, so that equals 300+ species now known locally!
Not bad for little ol' Utopia and vicinity.
Content & Design
© www.utopianature.com 2006
|
