Texas offers some unparalleled bird watching opportunities and with 613 documented birds sighted, Texas exceeds all other states in opportunities to see a wide variety of birds. Bird watching in Texas varies from spotting Golden Eagles, Scaled Quails, or Greater Roadrunners in the Texas Panhandle to catching several bird varieties stopping for a break at South Padre Island before migrating further south. Birding is much more than a simple hobby and there are many benefits of birding that can be enjoyed by both novice and experienced birders. There are more than 50 million birders in the United States and millions more throughout the world, making it one of the most popular and most rapidly growing hobbies in the world. Because birding is easy for all ages to enjoy, it is a popular family activity that can lead to a lifelong hobby. So what are you waiting for, pick up the binoculars and go bird watching.

Aransas National Wildlife Refuge is host to an exotic array of wildlife, including alligators, javelina (collared peccary), snakes, bobcats and whooping cranes. A 16-mile one-way driving tour takes visitors through the refuge’s grassland, oak thicket, freshwater pond, and marshland habitats, providing excellent wildlife viewing opportunities. Additional activities include hiking, birding, picnicking, and fishing. Six hiking trails totaling 4.3 miles are available, please bring insect repellent as mosquitoes are usually abundant.

Aransas has a reputation as one of the prime birding locales in Texas, and was originally named Aransas Migratory Waterfowl Refuge. Over 392 bird species have been cataloged in the area, including ducks, herons, egrets and other waterfowl. The refuge’s most famous visitor is the endangered whooping crane, one of the rarest animal species in North America. Each year from late-October to mid-April, the only wild flock of whooping cranes in the world makes its long journey south from Canada to winter in the protected habitat of Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. As recently as the 1940’s, only sixteen birds remained, but according to the 2003-2004 winter census at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge and surrounding areas the population rose to 194 cranes! Taking a commercial boat tour of the bays and Intercoastal Waterway, offered by operators such as Whooping Crane Boat Tours and Rockport Birding & Kayak Adventures, provides an excellent opportunity to view whooping cranes and other bird species.

Throughout April and May, large numbers of migratory songbirds come to the Texas coast. Ducks and geese are present from August through March, and year-round birding opportunities exist for roseate spoonbills, ibises, herons, and egrets.

Texas Bird Watching Tours and Excursions
Port Aransas Bird Watching Tours Port Aransas	One of the highest bird counts on the Gulf Coast
Colley’s Fins To Feathers South Padre Island	By boat or by van up to 60 species native to the area. We get up close for great photos.
King Ranch Nature Tours Kingsville	3-9 hour tours seeing anything from pygmy owl to white tail hawk
Roma Bluffs Birding Center Roma	A riverside nature area of three acres: The gateway to unforgettable birding adventures across Starr County
Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center Port Aransas	A raised boardwalk extends out into the cattails for a close-up encounter with Mother Nature. An observation tower halfway down the boardwalk permits a panoramic view of the pond and the surrounding flats.
Hill Country Casitas Dripping Springs	Surrounded by 13 acres of Junipers and Oaks trees, Hill Country Casitas is the ideal lodging destination for bird lovers. Guests have experienced multiple sightings of the endangered Golden-Cheeked Warbler, colorful Painting Buntings, hummingbirds, and more than 25 other species of birds. With bird feeders at every Casita, guests can enjoy a cup of coffee while watching birds from the peace and privacy of their Casita porch. While staying at Hill Country Casitas, be sure to take a hike along our scenic trails, take some photos at the bird viewing station, and then cool off by jumping into our crystal-clear swimming pool!
Joan and Scott Holt Paradise Pond Birding Center Port Aransas	The only natural, permanent freshwater wetland on Mustang Island which has long been recognized by birdwatchers as an important stopover site for migratory birds
South Padre Island Birding & Nature Center South Padre	Learn about the interactions between the location, the plants, and the animals of South Padre Island that all intertwine.
Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge Los Fresnos	Choose from different tours provided by the Center on the most southern tip of Texas, along the shores of the Laguna Madre.