Road-tripping to bird-watch at Anahuac

You can't tell me this isn't cool and peaceful. Photo: Shafaq Patel/Axios

Go outside and look up. It's fall migration season , and Houstonians are lucky enough to be in the route of the Central Flyway.

Why it matters: Over a million birds have crossed Harris County each day this week, according to BirdCast , a collaboration with the EPA and several research groups.

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• Fall migration runs through November, with peak activity through the end of this month. Houston Audubon is urging residents to turn off lights at night during this time.

I've been slowly getting into birding . Not sure if I'm even considered a "novice birder" yet, but the enthusiasm is all there.

Driving the news: Recently, I drove down to Anahuac for some bird-watching and a bit of nature time.

• It was a gem .

Eeek! Hummingbirds at the Smith Point Hawk Tower. Photo: Shafaq Patel/Axios

The Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge was incredibly peaceful — I spotted all kinds of birds, butterflies and dragonflies (even a hot pink one!).

• At Smith Point Hawk Tower, I saw clouds of hawks migrating. A couple dozen people were camped out in lawn chairs, binoculars in hand, buzzing with excitement as they logged the raptors in their daily report.

Yes, but: You don't have to travel far to bird-watch in Houston.

• On a recent walk through a neighborhood park, I saw droves of Canadian geese as the sun set.

My thought bubble: When life is good, nature offers peace and reflection. But when life is not going your way, birding and just being outside can be a dose of medicine as you focus on something else — like nature's beautiful pattern.

• So even if you, like me, can't really identify the birds yet, go spot them. Point. And be in awe.

There were dozens and dozens of Canadian geese that night. Pure magic and beauty. Photo: Shafaq Patel/Axios