NATURE'S SIGNS:  WHAT DOES THIS BIRD'S PRESENCE SIGNIFY?

Healthy Grasslands

This season, East End Park has attracted the rare and secretive LeConte's Sparrow in large numbers. An estimated one hundred individuals are wintering here after migrating from their summer range the North Central U.S. and South Central Canada.

These birds prefer relatively dry fields with a dense cover of short grasses. Due to June mowing last year, the park's 45 acres of meadows have produced a bumper crop of such grass with abundant seed.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey web site, the LeConte's Sparrow "is one of the most secretive grassland birds. During most of the year, it quietly skulks through dense grassy cover and can be observed only with great effort." The bird is so secretive that although it was first discovered in 1790, the first nest was not found until nearly 100 years later!

This photo was taken by Ken Beeney, a member of the Lake Houston Nature Club which has birdwalks the second Saturday of each month from September through June. There is no charge for the walks which start at 7:30 AM at the park entrance on Kingwood Drive.

Learn more about: LECONTE'S SPARROW