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Descrição
Smith Oaks is the largest reserve in the famous town of High Island on Texas's Gulf Coast. At just over 70 hectares, the reserve contains live oak forest, several large ponds and a small patch of open field, all of which are excellent habitats for migrating and nesting birds. Like other wooded parks in High Island and nearby coastal towns, Smith Oaks is a magnet for songbirds as they cross the Gulf of Mexico during spring migration, providing food and shelter for tired birds after their nonstop overnight flight. Many species of warblers, vireos, thrushes, flycatchers, grosbeaks and tanagers can be found in these woods on good migration days (see below) during spring. The open space along the entry road can also provide good habitats for other migrants such as Blue Grosbeak and Dickcissel.
Beyond migrating songbirds, Smith Oaks' main attraction is a heron rookery on a small island in Clay Bottom Pond, which in spring and summer is crowded with nests of tropical waterbirds. The most common nesting species are Anhinga, Neotropic Cormorant, Roseate Spoonbill, Little Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, Snowy Egret, Great Egret, but many other species of herons and other waders can easily be seen along the pond edges and in nearby suitable habitats. A boardwalk along the edge of the pond allows for eye-level viewing of the birds and nests, and allows for excellent opportunities for photography throughout spring and early summer when courtship and nesting is at its peak.
The ideal weather for finding spring migrants are adverse conditions that make crossing the Gulf of Mexico more challenging. These include winds from the north (blowing southwards) or stormy conditions at or just past the coast (in any direction). Heavy rain or strong winds immediately offshore are the best conditions to produce the rare but famous "fallout" phenomenon, though migrants are still likely to make landfall in the woods even if conditions are not so severe.
Only strong winds from the south and clear skies will lead to poor birding, as migrants ride the winds deep into the interior of the continent. Migrating birds depart northwards from the Yucatan Peninsula at sunset, and arrive in the woods in the early-mid afternoon, typically before 3PM/15:00. Many birds will also often rest overnight in the woods, meaning that birding the site at dawn can be quite productive if the previous day's weather led to a good migration event. A recently-built elevated walkway can provide excellent views of migrating birds as they recover in the trees.
Detalhes
Acesso
Smith Oaks is located in the town of High Island, which can be accessed from the north by taking TX-124 south from the I-10 freeway, or from the west by TX-87 from the Bolivar Peninsula. The main entrance to the sanctuary is located off Old Mexico Rd.
The sanctuary is open year-round, 7 AM -7 PM, except during spring migration when it is open dawn to dusk. The entrance from Old Mexico Road is only open February 15 – June 15 and weekends in the fall: September 15 - October 15. The park can also be accessed from Winnie St. on the park's southwest side. Parking is available year-round at the Winnie St. entrance. The Old Mexico Rd. entrance is open daily during spring migration and on weekends the rest of the year.