Changing Habitats and Birdlife of the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas

The lowest stretch of the Rio Grande hosts a unique subtropical avian community, including many species not present in the United States outside of South Texas. Originally a mosaic of forest, woodland, thorn scrub, savannah, and wetlands, this land that often saw floods, droughts, heat, and occasional freezes, supported a versatile bird community. But conditions today are very different—the Rio Grande is an endangered river, and the habitats it supports are highly vulnerable. Ranch and farmlands that spread widely in the early to mid-twentieth century are suffering; forests and wetlands have declined substantially; and thorn forest habitats are experiencing significant, though less extreme, declines. Learning more about the habitats birds need necessitates knowledge of foraging requirements, patterns of habitat use, and nesting ecology to help us understand how birds are responding to these changes and to take steps to help declining species. In Changing Habitats and Birdlife of the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas, Timothy Brush evaluates bird species’ responses to a warmer and drier climate, continued lack of riverine flooding, and rapid urban development that drives habitat destruction. He highlights sensitive riparian habitats and the avian communities most impacted by humanity and analyzes why some species are doing well while others are not. Building upon his earlier book, Nesting Birds of a Tropical Frontier: The Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas, Brush updates the status of the Valley’s breeding bird species, concluding with ongoing research and conservation needs, as well as suggestions to improve local and regional habitats and their avian communities. Conservationists and bird aficionados alike will find an informative resource in Changing Habitats and Birdlife of the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas.