Huth Avian Services

01/03/2025

I'm late in reminding you to tune in to this week's Squawk Talk; you can still catch this episode until Sunday. I'm sharing our adventures on my Hawaii birding trip, so I hope you find it interesting and are entertained by my pronunciation of the Hawaiian species! https://www.kwvh.org/archive-vault

01/01/2025

Happy New Year from Montemorelos, Mexico!

12/29/2024

Start the New Year birding! I will be leading a bird walk on Tuesday January 7, meeting in the parking lot of the Wimberley Community Center at 7:15AM. Look for the red RAV4 with the big antenna.
We will then drive to our destination. The birding usually goes until
10:00 or 11:00, at which point we can depart or have an early lunch.
The cost is $10 a person.
This month we will be going to Spring Lake/Meadows Center in San
Marcos. We will look for Wood Duck, Pine Warbler, Lincoln's Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Field Sparrow, Marsh Wren, Green Heron, Blue-headed Vireo, Sora, and maybe American Bittern among other species.
A map to the location can be found here:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/GzQ79ucZ2N6b4qCf9 We should arrive around 7:45AM, and will meet in the parking area in front of the main building.
My phone is 979-422-7061 if you need to contact me.
RSVPs are not required if you meet us at the Community Center, but they are appreciated. PLEASE let me know if you plan to meet at the birding location.

★★★★★ · Nature preserve

12/28/2024

Amy & I are on our way to Montemorelos, Nuevo León, Mexico for the next week. I may not reply to emails, texts, etc until we return home. In the meantime, Happy New Year to all!

12/28/2024

"Natural Chicken Keeping for Homesteaders and Others" and "Birding in Chernobyl: and other Radioactive Experiences" are my classes for the upcoming Wimberley Community Civic Club Spring Event this year. Catalog will be printed and inserted in the Jan 9 Wimberley View & posted on WCCC website. Ticket sales will begin online 9:00 am Jan 13 https://www.wimberleyccc.org/ Register early to be sure and get a seat!

12/23/2024

I've been on the road a lot lately so Squawk Talk has been running a lot of "repeat shows". But this weeks show is a brand new one and it's all about Winterizing your Backyard Chicken Flock. It's officially winter, so tune in to the KWVH 94.3 Wimberley Valley Radio Archive Vault and catch the latest program. https://www.kwvh.org/archive-vault
And from my Flock to you and yours, Have a Very Merry Christmas!

12/22/2024

Time to hang your missile toad!

12/14/2024

Hoping for "birdy" weather tomorrow as I'm doing the annual CBC with the greatest team around! (I'm being partial!) Been participating for as long as I can remember. What is it all about? Click link for info: https://www.audubon.org/magazine/christmas-bird-count-turns-125-beloved-birding-tradition-looks-future

12/14/2024

Adding 3 new hens to the flock tomorrow. Going to try out Hendrix Azurs. They are described as "...having turquoise blue egg shell color, good shell strength and excellent silver feather cover. The Azur is a robust and friendly bird, ideal for small scale and backyard egg producers, producing attractive and good quality eggs. They have the advantage of having 50% of the genes coming from White Leghorns making them highly productive, with excellent feed conversion, egg quality and livability." Pickup tomorrow from April at H and H Poultry !

12/12/2024

Yep it was cold but hearts were warm last night! We had a great time co-hosting the Yule Log and sharing the Christmas Spirit with everyone who visited the EmilyAnn Theatre & Gardens Trail of Lights last night! Merry Christmas!

12/11/2024

To clarify it's not been found in TX and a link from USFWS in the post has further information, which says: “Feeding Birds at bird feeders is unlikely to result in increased spread of avian influenza since the species of bird that tend to come to feeders are not commonly infected.”

🚨 𝗛𝟱𝗡𝟭 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝘆 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗰 𝗔𝘃𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗹𝘂𝗲𝗻𝘇𝗮 (𝗛𝗣𝗔𝗜) 𝗶𝗻 𝗟𝗼𝘂𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗮

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) is once again impacting wild birds in Louisiana due to this year’s fall migrations. LDWF urges vigilance as HPAI-induced waterfowl disease resurges in the state.

🦆 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗡𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄:
▪ Geese and waterfowl are particularly susceptible, with some birds showing neurological symptoms before succumbing to the disease.
▪ Raptors, like vultures, are also at risk when scavenging infected birds.
▪ While rare, mammals such as dogs, cats, foxes, and even dolphins can be infected. Louisiana has reported 𝗻𝗼 𝗱𝗼𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, but avoid contact between pets and sick birds.
▪ This strain poses 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘀, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘀𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗯𝗶𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗹𝗲𝗱.

🐦 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗵𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗛𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀:
▪ Avoid bringing potentially infected birds into facilities or homes.
▪ Clean clothing, gear, and other items thoroughly after contact with birds.
▪ Never consume birds showing signs of disease or found dead.

📞 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗦𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝗿 𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗕𝗶𝗿𝗱𝘀:
If you observe sick or dead birds, contact your regional LDWF office:
▪ Hammond: 985-543-4777
▪ Lake Charles: 337-491-2575
▪ Lafayette: 337-262-2080
▪ Minden: 318-371-3050
▪ Monroe: 318-343-4044
▪ Pineville: 318-487-5885

🌐 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗛𝗣𝗔𝗜:
CDC: https://buff.ly/3ZypJn5
USFWS: fws.gov/avian-influenza

12/10/2024

I'm co-hosting the Yule Log at Emily Ann Trail of Lights tomorrow night. Come out and let us serve you hot chocolate & marshmallows and wish you a Merry Christmas! The Trail is incredible this year, as always!

12/07/2024

Merry Christmas!!

We've had a few questions about Christmas decorations and night skies. The outdoor lighting codes for both Woodcreek and Wimberley exempt holiday decorations from November first through January fifteenth. Happy Holidays to the Wimberley Valley!

12/07/2024

Today thru tomorrow night (Dec 8) last chance to bid on my birding day in the GCBO fundraiser auction (item #135). This is a great cause, please bid it UP!

Gulf Coast Bird Observatory Bid throughout Nov 15, 12PM through Dec 8, 7PM Gulf Coast Bird Observatory Directions www.GCBO.org Online only qtego.com Find us on Facebook.

12/07/2024

Texas anglers now have free, temporary access to a half mile stretch of the southernmost trout fishery in the United States.
From Dec. 6 to March 2, bank and wadefishing is allowed on the Guadalupe River at Camp Huaco Springs from 30 minutes before daylight to 30 minutes after dusk. The area, which is near New Braunfels, can also be used to launch rafts, kayaks and canoes for fishing. The location is one of five along "the Guad" that will be stocked with rainbow trout throughout the winter.

leased public access area on Guadalupe River

12/03/2024

Activity was slow at Charro Ranch this morning; we watched Cardinals, Titmice, etc that were just sitting stationary for quite awhile. Shortly before we left we had our "aha" moment. There had been a Sharp-shinned Hawk sitting nearby, watching for breakfast, who suddenly gave up and took flight. Always fun to see the raptors! Species count around 30.

12/03/2024

I was late getting my donated trip in to the Gulf Coast Bird Observatory's Experience Auction this year, so it was just added to the site. It is open for bidding through December 8 at 7PM. This is a great way to support their conservation work, while also having some amazing experiences. Take a look at the list of Auction Items below and bid high and often, especially on #135! Your bids help the birds and I look forward to guiding the winners of my trip! https://qtego.us/qlink/gcbo

11/29/2024

Hope you had a great Thanksgiving! Now let's "work off" some of that pie and go birding! I will be leading a 1st Tuesday Bird Walk on Dec 3rd, meeting in the parking lot of the Wimberley
Community Center at 7:15AM. Look for the red RAV 4 with the big antenna (or maybe a gray Prius). We will then drive to our destination. The birding usually goes until 10:00 or 11:00, at which point we can depart or have an early lunch. The cost is $10 a person.
This month we will be going to Charro Ranch Park just south of Dripping Springs. The bird blind and grassland area makes this a wonderful site to look for returning winter sparrows and other species. We will be on the lookout for Chipping, Field, Lincoln's, Song, Savannah, Vesper, White-crowned, White-throated, and maybe Harris's Sparrows, Spotted Towhee, Lesser Goldfinch, Inca Dove, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Hermit Thrush, Woodhouse's Scrub-jay, and more!
A map to the location can be found here:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/D1rVwEANGtvinbxL6 You can meet us at the Wimberley community center to bird beforehand, or meet at 8AM at the park.
My phone is 979-422-7061 if you need to contact me.
RSVPs are not required if you meet us at the Community Center, but they are appreciated. Please let me know if you plan to meet at the birding location.

★★★★★ · Park