I didn’t know what I was getting into when I signed up for my first birding trip. But after years of reporting on rare Texas birds—from the double-striped thick-knee to the cattle tyrant—it felt like time to stop writing about sightings and start chasing them.
Birding is suddenly everywhere: a new Hallmark rom-com (cheesy, if inaccurate) just dropped, and a wild documentary on extreme birding competitions is making the rounds. I’ve always loved birds. I grew up with parakeets and cockatiels as pets, and my grandmother still has a monk parakeet. Birds weren’t new to me—but going out into the field, binoculars in hand, definitely was.
When Houston Audubon announced its first bird survey at Pearland’s Shadow Creek Ranch Nature Trail, I decided this would be my starting line. I bought a cheap pair of binoculars, grabbed a field guide, packed my camera, and set my alarm for the 7 a.m. meetup.
The trail was still dark when I arrived, but light was beginning to break over the trees. A crisp, cool breeze cut through the morning—a welcome change from the crushing Texas heat that dominated the summer…