Brison Park
© Bert Frenz, 2001
The most accessible, most concentrated and most prolific migrant trap in the county, Brison Park is the best place to be during spring migration. Although its name has changed several times in the last century, this small city park has been known since the 1920s as a great little place to find birds. Although you are likely to find birds there year-round, the best time is during April and early May, the peak of spring migration. Only a few acres in size, nonetheless it sports a species list of 6 flycatchers, 6 vireos, 6 thrushes, 27 warblers as well as Summer and Scarlet Tanagers, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and Orchard and Baltimore Orioles. Both Black-billed and Yellow-billed Cuckoos have been found there and a pair of Eastern Screech-Owls has been nesting in a dead tree limb for years. Located on Dexter Road, less than a block from George Bush Drive, Brison Park is within easy walking distance of the Texas A&M University campus, across from the Association for Former Students building.
Great Blue Heron, Cattle Egret, Green Heron, Osprey, Mississippi Kite, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Broad-winged Hawk, Mourning Dove, Inca Dove, Black-billed Cuckoo, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Eastern Screech-Owl, Common Nighthawk, Chimney Swift, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Rufous Hummingbird, Red-headed Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Acadian Flycatcher, Least Flycatcher, Great Crested Flycatcher, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, White-eyed Vireo, Yellow-throated Vireo, Blue-headed Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Philadelphia Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue Jay, American Crow, Barn Swallow, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Carolina Wren, House Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Veery, Gray-cheeked Thrush, Swainson's Thrush, Hermit Thrush, Wood Thrush, American Robin, Gray Catbird, Northern Mockingbird, Brown Thrasher, European Starling, Cedar Waxwing, Blue-winged Warbler, Golden-winged Warbler, Tennessee Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Northern Parula, Yellow Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Pine Warbler, Bay-breasted Warbler, Cerulean Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, American Redstart, Swainson's Warbler, Ovenbird, Northern Waterthrush, Louisiana Waterthrush, Mourning Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Hooded Warbler, Wilson's Warbler, Canada Warbler, Yellow-breasted Chat, Summer Tanager, Scarlet Tanager, Chipping Sparrow, Field Sparrow, Lark Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Painted Bunting, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, Great-tailed Grackle, Brown-headed Cowbird, Orchard Oriole, Baltimore Oriole, House Finch, Pine Siskin, American Goldfinch, and House Sparrow. (102 species).