Things You'll Need:
- Bird watching guide
- Spotting scope or binoculars
- Sunscreen
- Water
- Notebook
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Step 1
Begin birding in Texas at the Bentsen–Rio Grand Valley State Park. It is among the best birding spots in America. The valleys and floodplain forests of the park are home to several bird species that are found no where else in America. Just a few of the more interesting bird species in the park are Ferruginous Pygmy-owl, Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet, Green Jays and Plain Chachalacas.
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Step 2
Go to the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge and enjoy the abundance of bird species. The coastal marshes of the Refuge provide critical habitat for waterfowl, wading birds, shorebirds and migrating species. Numerous bird species have been identified in the refuge, including Purple Gallinule, Marsh Wren and American Bittern.
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Step 3
Enjoy the High Island Bird Sanctuary which is famous in birding for its "fallouts" of warblers. The island offers a much needed rest stop for Neo tropical migrants during spring migration. The fall migration period also offers some bird watching opportunities.
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Step 4
Follow one of the Great Texas Wildlife Trails. The Wildlife Trails are divided into four sections with each featuring distinct habitats and related bird species. The Trails are a great way to enjoy Texas birding. See prairies species like Grasshopper Sparrows and Dickcissels, or an east Texas specialty like the Red-cockaded Woodpecker.
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Step 5
Print out maps, guides, checklists and directions. Texas is a large state and first time visitors should select a region on which to concentrate their bird watching. This article's resources provide detailed and updated information on current Texas birding opportunities.
