Nature's Neighbors ~ Black-chinned Hummingbird

A small green-backed hummingbird of the West that has no brilliant colors on its throat except a thin strip of iridescent purple bordering the black chin, which is only visible when light hits it just right. Black-chinned Hummingbirds are exceptionally widespread, found from deserts to mountain forests. Their breeding range is broad with the highest concentration of birds being in central Texas.

                     

Most often seen at feeders or perched on dead branches in tall trees. This hummingbird is a habitat generalist, found in lowland deserts and mountainous forests, and from natural habitats into very urbanized areas as long as there are tall trees and flowering shrubs and vines and nectar feeders.

Male Black-chins usually arrive on breeding grounds one to two weeks prior to the females to establish territories which they will defend by perching themselves on a high branch to keep watch for intruders. If food supply in their area is abundant, they will share a territory with several other males.

                     

Being small, hummingbirds have a large surface area to volume ratio, thus lose heat quickly, like a car running constantly, but with a very small gas tank.  To replace the lost heat energy, hummingbirds must eat great quantities of high energy foods about 15 times an hour.  Hummingbirds may consume nectar weighing over 8 times their body weight per day! Because nectar is mostly water, this actually is equivalent to close to their body weight in solid food each day.  Hummingbirds will starve to death in just two hours when their engines are running, so at night and other times they cannot feed, they must enter a state of torpor in which they slow down their heart rate and let their body temperature drop close to the outside temperature.  During torpor, hummingbirds reduce their energy and water expenditures dramatically, allowing them to survive.

Nature's Neighbors ~ Texas Rat Snake

This large non-venomous snake is found from the bayous of Louisiana through the prairies and Hill Country of Central Texas. It can also be found in cities such as Dallas, Fort Worth, or Houston. The single most important factor influencing the occurrence of this snake is the presence of oak trees, which they use to hunt in and also escape predators that may eat them.

It’s color is highly variable throughout it’s range and adults usually measure from 3.5 - 6 feet in length, the record length for this subspecies of Elaphe is 86" (7 feet 2 inches).

Wild Texas Rat snakes are considered to have a cranky temperament, and will often react defensively to handling by aggressively biting.  However, some individuals can be fairly docile (only biting if you move too fast), and captive-raised specimens that have been handled are usually fairly tame. 

Mr. Dave and a wild Texas Rat snake found in his yard

This species is a voracious predator of rodents of all sizes, with large adults being able to take prey up to the size of a fox squirrel.  They also prey on wild birds and their eggs, lizards, frogs and some individuals frequent chicken coops in search of eggs and chicks, earning it the local nickname “Chicken snake”.  This subspecies is a very skilled climber, able to climb trunks of trees vertically by clinging to cracks in the bark.  They are also capable swimmers, frequently hunting riverbanks from the water.  

 Most snakes in Texas are not venomous and are only trying to mind their own business and find food, water and safety, just like you!   

Nature's Neighbors ~ Dusted Skipper

Is it a moth? Is it a butterfly? No, it’s a Skipper!

This separate family in the Lepidoptera order has approximately 275 species in North America, many of which are found only in Arizona and Texas. Most skippers are small to medium size, usually orange, brown, black, white, or gray.  A few have iridescent colors. Skippers have large eyes, short antennae (often with hooked clubs), stout bodies, and three pairs of walking legs. Their flight is often rapid, making wing movement appear blurred.

Found mainly in grasslands, prairies, barrens, and old fields, adults of most species have long proboscises and feed in gardens and wild areas on floral nectar, but some also take up nutrients from bird droppings.

Caterpillars eat leaves of the North American native grasses Little and Big Bluestem, and live in tents of silked-together leaves. Fully-grown caterpillars hibernate and pupate in a sealed nest at the base of the host plant.

Just one of many reasons to reintroduce and preserve our native prairie grasses, why not plant a small plot in your yard today?  Your “Neighbors” will be glad you did!

Nature's Neigbors ~ Fence Lizard

There are many subspecies in this family, separated by range and physical characteristics.

In the eastern side of it’s range, this lizard is primarily arboreal, seldom far from a tree or wall up which it will flee to avoid danger. In the prairie states it is more terrestrial, sheltering under brush or in burrows. It will eat almost any insect including bees, and also spiders, centipedes, or snails, but beetles seem a favorite food.

Found generally in sunny locations, except during the hottest part of the day. They favor rotting logs, open woodlands, open grassy dunes, prairies, and exteriors of homes.

Fence lizards are diurnal, although they may seek shade during the hottest hours of the day, and they hibernate during the winter. They are highly territorial and  male lizards display by doing pushups and flashing their blue throats. Both sexes sun themselves near trees, on rocks, fences or walls, but remain highly alert, moving quickly for cover if disturbed.

They are very beneficial to have around your home, helping to control many “pests”.      Domestic cats are a main predator, so keeping them indoors for their benefit, and that of the wildlife around your home, would be a good choice.

Nature's Neigbors ~ Texas Toad

This 2 to 3.5 inch plump toad is a common site around homes, hunting at night for insects. They breed April to September after heavy rains, using temporary pools, livestock tanks or man-made waterholes and ditches.

Adapted for dry conditions, they are found mainly in Texas, but range into southern New Mexico, Oklahoma, Mexico and extreme south central Kansas, preferring grasslands and open woodlands.

An effective burrower, when threatened the Texas Toad disappears rapidly in loose soil, but if it cannot, it often flattens itself against the ground to avoid detection.

This toad has adapted well to living near humans, and will to soak in water bowls left outside for pets.