WILD TEXAS

Raucous calls outside my photo blind alerted me to a pair of green jays, an extremely colorful songbird. To photograph them, you must travel to the Rio Grande Valley in south Texas. This songbird is one of many wildlife species found only in Texas.

Texas is the largest state in the continental U.S., so you’ll want to plan your trip there thoroughly to maximize your photo opportunities. One of your first decisions should be when to go. Many unique species are year-round residents, but a few are only present in spring to mate. The golden-cheeked warbler nests in old-growth, Ashe juniper woodlands in the “Hill Country” of central Texas. Kickapoo Caverns State Park near Brackettville is a destination for breeding birds that begin arriving in early March. Contact the park to see if there may be an opportunity to photograph. Transition Ranch, near Brackettville, has golden-cheeked warblers, and the owner can help you find them. The ranch has tremendous songbird