Eagle Eyes of Texas. (original) (raw)

Perched over doors of buildings � is it a coincidence that these are the very buildings (banks, courthouses and post offices) where we take care of our most personal business?

Dignity on the old Ft. Worth Post Office
TE Photo

In a state that often gets press for things un-natural; there�s still a lot of nature to be found in Texas. Ornithologically-speaking, the Lone Star State is beyond rich.

First, we have the ultimate songster for the state bird. But then again, something like eight other states claim the Mockingbird. For the exotic, we�ve got scissor-tailed flycatchers, caracaras, spoonbills, and blue herons. Let�s hear other states claim those!

Brownsville has its famed wild parrots and Corpus Christi has its air-force of white pelicans. Rockport has its whooping cranes and every highway overpass between Houston and San Antonio has its springtime colony of swifts. Mentone and Sanderson are overrun with roadrunners and from Beaumont to Fort Davis, everyone and anyone who can mix sugar and water is treated to the antics of migrating hummingbirds. Thanks to the people of Wills Point and Habitat for Ornithology, bluebirds of happiness migrating through NE Texas are positively delirious.

All of the aforementioned species share two basic traits (except grackles and seagulls).

They either want to be alone or want to flock together with their like-feathered brethren.

Grackles and seagulls just want to be fed.

But the species featured in this particular gallery are different. They don�t flock together (except on the McLennan County Courthouse dome) and they don�t want to be fed. They don�t catch flies or run roads. They are not the subject of birdwatchers and indeed � (here�s our point) - they are watching us!

Perched over doors of buildings � is it a coincidence that these are the very buildings (banks, courthouses and post offices) where we take care of our most personal business?

The unblinking eyes of these sandstone seers, limestone voyeurs and marble eavesdroppers are in every county of the state. While a complete census has yet to be made, we�re beginning an inventory starting with this very page.

McKinney's First National Bank Building
"...cast stone and a gilded eagle."
Photo courtesy Mike Price, December 2007

A watchful eye on the Federal Courthouse in Austin
TE photo

Tradition in Beaumont
TE photo, July 2003

Eagle or Winged Platypus?
Jefferson County's Sub-courthouse in Port Arthur
TE photo

Sitting on a fasces - same eagle as above straight on - Port Arthur
TE photo, June 2003

Overly-saturated Eagle on the Runge, Texas Former Post Office
TE photo, 2001

Pretending to look distracted on the Taylor, Texas Post Office
TE photo, 2005

Zig Zag Deco on Waco's Mvnicipal Bvilding
TE photo, 2004