Choosing Your Neighbors

When buying a home, there are many factors we consider. We think about the lay of the land, whether the empty lot next door will turn into a shopping center, or how close it is to work. But how often do we consider our neighbors? I don't mean The Jones'. Think smaller...

We share our world with tens of thousands of unique species, and Austin is a wonderfully biodiverse area filled with creatures that may not even be aware of. When looking for your next residence, consider who else might already be living there. It might end up being a driving factor in your decision.

Here, I'm going to focus on a couple endangered birds in the Austin area, and some key locations for sharing your neighborhood with them.

Liberty Hill in Williamson County would be a great place to start if you wanted to catch a glimpse of the Black-Capped Vireo (Vireo atricapilla). This tiny bird has been listed as vulnerable on the endangered species list since 1987, and it ranges from Mexico to Texas. As many as 5 territories have been sighted during breeding season around the Shin Oak Observation Deck in the Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge.

Black-Capped Vireo

The Golden-Cheeked Warbler (Dendroica chrysoparia) has become sort of an emblem of conservation in the Austin area. The Nature Conservancy in Texas uses it's image on many of it's advertisements and publications as a mascot. It was added to the endangered species list in 1990 and is found in just 33 Texas counties. Just southwest of the Austin metro area, over 4,000 acres of land have been preserved, of which 1,800 acres is prime warbler habitat. It's also a good place to spot the black-capped warbler.

If you wanted to be close to the action at the Barton Creek Habitat Preserve, you don't have to sacrifice convenience.

The golden-cheeked warbler is the only warbler with a breeding range restricted to Texas. Since they make their nests exclusively in a small range of Texas, the chances of catching a few notes even with a view of the sparkling downtown are fairly high.

Travis county is also no stranger to the rarest bird in North America, with less than 500 birds known to exist in the wild. The Whooping Crane (Grus americana) is also the tallest bird in North America, standing at 5 feet with a wingspan of 7.5 feet. The crane migrates back and forth between the southern coast of Texas and northern Canada, so they don't usually stop in the Austin area. They have been known to pass through. If you're lucky enough to sight one of these rare birds, it warrants sending a message to the Wildlife Diversity Program.

You have many things to consider when buying a home or a piece of property. It is our responsibility to preserve and protect all of the lifeforms we share the planet with, and if you decide that the Austin area is your home, then you have a great opportunity to experience the beauty of nature and the splendor of even the most common birds in the area. If you want more information about the habitats of certain endangered plants or animals in relation to residential property in the Austin area or surrounding areas, please contact me.

The Pennant-Winged Nightjar (Macrodipteryx vexillarius)

There are, perhaps, much more frightening birds than the male pennant-winged nightjar (Macrodipteryx vexillarius), but few live a more poetic lifestyle.

A native of African woodlands south of the equator, and a connoisseur of scarab beetles and other flying insects, they are active at dusk and dawn. The photos shown here are of males in breeding season. The second primary feather on each wing is elongated, and each year it grows longer, up until the point where it more than doubles the birds' body length. The feathers are shown during display flight "dances", of which females often join. The female lays one or two pink eggs on the full moon in a bare nest on the ground. Although the are most often solitary birds, they take on multiple mates.