Ocelot Update | Wildife to Watch for in Winter | New Hybrid Bird Discovered | Native Passionflower | Upcoming Events | + More!





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A New Hope for Ocelots
Ocelot walking, link [ [link removed] ]

Ocelots were once found across much of Texas, but it's likely there are less than 100 of these little wildcats remaining. A new project is now underway in Kingsville to change that – the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Center of Texas A&M University-Kingsville is a new facility for ocelot breeding and rewilding. 

The aim of this effort is to increase the total number of Texas ocelots to at least 200 for 10 years – one benchmark needed to take it off the endangered species list. Find details and more photos in the "Texas Parks & Wildlife" magazine story Bold New Kingsville Breeding Facility Aims to Give Texas Ocelots a Second Chance [ [link removed] ].

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Rare Hybrid Jay Discovered in Texas
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L to R: blue jay, hybrid grue jay and green jay

A cross between a male blue jay and a female green jay has resulted in a rare hybrid bird, nicknamed a grue jay. It was first spotted by a backyard bird watcher in San Antonio. She posted a photo of the bird on social media, which caught the eye of a University of Texas researcher who I.D.'d it.

The range of green jays had never before overlapped with the blue jays' range. But shifts in weather patterns probably pushed the green jay north, the blue jay west, and... grue jay! Will we see more hybird birds? Maybe – keep an eye out.

More About Grue [ [link removed] ] 

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Winter Wildlife Watching
Great blue herons with multiple nests in a tree, video link [ [link removed] ]

Great blue herons nesting in an American sycamore tree

Try wildlife watching in winter, when you can spot small mammals, birds that are only here in winter, and nesting birds. The bonus is trees are bare – giving you a clear view. Use iNaturalist [ [link removed] ] to find where to look for your favorites and these 5 winter winners: 


* Thousands of sandhill cranes [ [link removed] ] overwinter at Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge [ [link removed] ].
* A variety of waterfowl [ [link removed] ] is all over Texas, including at Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge [ [link removed] ]. 
* Bald eagles [ [link removed] ] nest in winter – report nest sightings [ [link removed] ].
* Great blue herons [ [link removed] ] nest in winter. Watch for trees on waterways with multiple nests, and see our short video Urban Nests [ [link removed] ].
* Endangered whooping cranes [ [link removed] ] spend winter in Texas – report sightings [ [link removed] ].

When you report wildlife sightings, you support conservation as a citizen scientist. Find out more in the "Texas Parks & Wildlife" magazine story Citizen Scientists Are an Essential Part of Research in Texas [ [link removed] ].




NEW Category + Art Contest for Birding Classic



Great Tx Birding Classic 30th Anniversary, link [ [link removed] ]

Texas biggest and best bird-watching competition, the Great Texas Birding Classic [ [link removed] ] (GTBC), is celebrating its 30th year with 2 exciting additions:

1. The new GTBC Art Contest [ [link removed] ] gives artists a chance to be named the official artist of next year's GTBC, have their design featured on the 2027 t-shirt, and more.

2. A new 2-person team option [ [link removed] ] has been added, the Lone Star Duo Tournament. 

 



young bird watchers looking up, video link [ [link removed] ]

Registration [ [link removed] ] is open now until *April 1*. Get a team together and join us! Your participation makes a real difference – registration fees directly support conservation grants.

The tournament runs *April 15-May 15*. Watch a group of young people compete in our video Birding Classic [ [link removed] ]. We'll see you out there!

Join the 2026 GTBC [ [link removed] ]











Horned Toad license plate Now Available [ [link removed] ]
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Vine for Wildlife: Passionflower
Bumble bee on passion flower, link [ [link removed] ]

American bumble bee on purple passionflower

Passionflower vine is a drought-resistant Texas native with exotic flowers that look like they belong in a tropical jungle. There are many types [ [link removed] ], including purple passionflower [ [link removed] ] which has edible fruit and is a butterfly favorite.

Gulf fritillary [ [link removed] ] caterpillars feed primarily on passionflower vine. It's also a host plant for zebra longwing [ [link removed]. ] and other butterflies. Bumble bees [ [link removed] ] are big fans of the flowers, which bloom spring through fall.  

Plant passionflower in spring from seed or cuttings. Some varieties can spread, and if that doesn't suit you, cut down the sprouts or grow it in a pot. Find out more in Pull It or Plant It: Passionflower [ [link removed] ].

Growing Tips [ [link removed] ]

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Conservation Hero J. David Bamberger

J. David Bamberger and his dog, video link [ [link removed] ]

Texas recently lost visionary J. David Bamberger. He became a thought leader for land restoration after he purchased 5,500 acres of worn-out Texas scrubland and brought it back to life as the Selah, Bamberger Ranch Preserve.

Find out more in our magazine story Repairing Mother Nature: J. David Bamberger [ [link removed] ]. Then see Selah for yourself on a public tour [ [link removed] ]. J. David Bamberger was 97. 



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Join the Backyard Bird Count Feb. 13-16

Winter bird watcher on pond with ducks, video link [ [link removed] ]

Join the worldwide birding community for the free and fun Great Backyard Bird Count [ [link removed] ] (GBBC) anytime from *Feb. 13 to 16*.

Take as little as 15 minutes to note the birds around you, I.D. them and submit your count. Your contribution as a citizen scientist helps biologists better understand and protect birds around the world.

If you already use the free apps eBird [ [link removed] ] or Merlin [ [link removed] ], your submissions to them over the 4 days will count toward GBBC. Find out more in this short video [ [link removed] ], then join in and help show the world the extraordinary birds in Texas! 



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Definitions: Hybrid

A hybrid animal is the offspring of two animals that are different species. A mule is a hybrid of a donkey and a horse. A "grue jay" is a hybrid of a green jay and a blue jay. A hybrid animal rarely becomes a new species, but it's possible. 




"Messages from Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine advertisers:"

Wildlife Weekend 1/30-2/1 in Alpine, link [ [link removed] ]
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Laredo Birding Festival Feb. 4-7, link [ [link removed] ]
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Feather Fest in Galveston April 16-19, link [ [link removed] ]

"Our Wild Texas is made possible in part by the generous support of Toyota."

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