AUSTIN – McKinney Falls State Park in southeast Travis County
has lured mankind to the waters of Onion Creek for centuries.
Now another natural phenomenon is drawing modern day humans from
near and far, especially people who like to watch birds. This
week on a routine bird count, members of the Travis County
Audubon Society were the first to discover a lone, Forked Tail
Fly Catcher, a small bird indigenous to Argentina and parts of
Mexico. “It got blown off of course, probably overshot its
migration path and ended up in Texas,” said Amber Conrad, a Park
Ranger at McKinney Falls State Park. The Forked Tail Fly Catcher
was seen numerous times this week, the latest on Thursday.
Wildlife experts aren’t sure how long the rare bird will stay in
the area until it corrects its migratory path, however, some
anxious bird watchers are hoping to get a glimpse nevertheless.
“People have come from as far as Illinois and across the U.S. to
get a glimpse of this bird in our park,” Conrad said.