Purple Martins gather in the sky over Greenlawn Crossing Shopping Complex on Friday, July 31, 2026. Purple Martin Parties, hosted by Travis Audubon, are being held behind the Wendy’s on Friday, August 7th and Saturday, August 8th from 8-9pm. Numbering in the thousands, birds nest here before continuing their journey to a winter home in South America. Photo by Andy Sharp

Martin Byhower, who also advises people on native planting for their lawns, led the bird watching group for the Sun City Nature Club on May 8. (Photos by Kaitlyn Wilkes)

Egrets gather at the rookery in Murphy Park on a cloudy night, Monday, April 20, 2026. These migratory birds were slow in arriving at their nesting area this year, but their numbers are growing. Photo by Andy Sharp.

A Great Egret flies over the rookery area at Murphy Park on Friday, March 6, 2026. More egrets are beginning to find nesting sites on the island, but cormorants still are the primary residents, for now. Photo by Andy Sharp

Starlings fill the sky above pastureland at the Lutonsky Farm on Saturday, November 15, 2025. The farm is located on County Road 405, south of Taylor.

Kendall Britt, right, and Donna Kinney, front, check the birdhouses for Purple Martin nesting activity. The structure is located on the Katy Crossing Trail in San Gabriel Park. (Photos by Kaitlyn Wilkes)

Cormorants gather at Murphy Park's rookery as a full moon wanders in and out of clouds on Thursday evening, March 13, 2025. Photo by Andy Sharp.

Golden-cheeked warbler (Sun Archive)

Large numbers of egrets gather around the rookery at Murphy Park on Thursday evening, September 5, 2024. Photo by Andy Sharp.