Residents of the Rio GrandeValley and other areas that feature a significant appreciation of nature have noticed changes in wildlife behavior in recent years. Most evident is the observation of birds in places they hadn’t been seen before.
Drought, floods and other extreme weather conditions have always pushed wildlife out of their normal areas, leading to deer sightings on streets in northern HidalgoCounty or alligator invasions in eastern CameronCounty, but such encroachments traditionally have been infrequent and temporary. Now the creatures are coming more often and staying longer.
Birdwatchers increasingly are reporting bird species that had never been seen in the Valley before. While that could be attributed to the growing population of birdwatching, meaning more eyes that might be able to see more birds including individuals that have strayed from their normal flock or habitat, other factors likely are at play.
Many local residents have seen a growing presence of white-winged and mourning doves in Valley cities. The birds are common to South Texas — this already is a favorite destination for dove hunters — but their encroachment into cities is a recent development that some might consider an acclimation to human presence while others see it as a necessary adaptation to a loss of habitat and food sources.
Certainly both are true. Some birds have been urban dwellers for ages, having followed their diet of insects that themselves are attracted to city lights. Doves and other species on the other hand might have been displaced as farms become housing developments and sorghum fields give way to high-school campuses.
Wildlife experts say the changes also are a clear sign of climate change. The American Bird Conservancy notes that reviews of the annual Christmas bird count, in which many Valley residents participate, shows that migratory patterns are shifting. Upper boundaries are creeping north steadily for migratory species. Timing also is affected; flocks are leaving later and returning north earlier along North American flyways as temperatures on this continent steadily rise.
Experts also are reporting physical changes. The bodies of many species are getting smaller while their wings are getting larger, which researchers say could be evolutionary adjustments to warming temperatures as they enable the birds to disperse body heat in warmer climates.
Many animals simply are adapting to the world around them.
Residents should consider their own changes as well. We aren’t going to push animals back into more pristine areas; lost habitat probably is gone forever. However, we can recognize that our daily actions affect the world around us. People who see a growing presence of birds or even small animals can consider reducing or eliminating the use of pesticides and other poisons. Many residents already put out watering bowls and feeders to help nourish visiting creatures; others maintain gardens for beneficial insects and other pollinators.
These steps and others are small, but helpful to the many creatures that share our neighborhoods. And in return residents will be able to enjoy the cries and calls of diverse birds and animals, revel in the din of parrots or parakeets nesting in a nearby tree or marveling at the patterns of swarming martins and other birds.
Such rewards should be well worth the effort.
