We invite you to join us April 21-24, 2022, for Birding the Hill Country! In place of our usual Birding the Border, this year’s birding experience will be based out of beautiful Fredericksburg, Texas and take us to several private and restricted access properties in the Texas Hill Country. Spring is an incredible time to bird this area as we are right in the middle of the Central Flyway and you never know what we might find during migration!
Cost: $650, which includes transportation, private ranch access, a professional guide, and all lunches and dinners
Target species: golden-cheeked warbler, black-capped vireo, Hutton’s vireo, black-and-white warbler, yellow-throated warbler, northern bobwhite, green kingfisher, painted bunting, indigo bunting, Scott’s oriole
Lodging: YO Ranch Hotel, Kerrville | 1 king or 2 queen beds, $129
Must call and ask for TAMU AgriLife room block, or book through this link.
Hotels in Fredericksburg can be found here, and there are also B&Bs, RV parks, and rental houses (e.g., Vrbo, Airbnb).
Sites: Hershey Ranch, Giles Ranch, Old Tunnel State Park (bat roost), Llano River Field Station (mist nets and banding), South Llano River State Park, Roeder Ranch
Special activities: Bird banding station at Llano River Field Station, bat roost emergence
Meet the Team: Bryan Calk, NatureScape Tours; Barbara Pankratz, local birding buddy; Dr. Maureen Frank, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service; and Emily Grant, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
Special Guests: Romey Swanson, Audubon Texas; Dr. Ben Skipper, Angelo State University
Registration is full!
Please note: A minimum of 8 participants must register for the event to be held, while the maximum is 13 participants. If we do not meet our minimum, a full refund will be given. If the event is sold out, we will keep a waiting list in case a spot becomes available.
Refunds: If the event is cancelled by AgriLife Extension for any reason, including health regulations, participants will be issued a full refund. If a registered participant chooses to cancel before March 1, $600 will be refunded (registration cost minus $50 processing fee). Cancellations from March 1 to April 1 will be refunded $300. After April 1, no refunds will be given.
Questions? Contact Teri Gaston, (830) 988-6157 or teri.gaston@ag.tamu.edu.
Tentative Schedule:
| Thursday | |
| 4-5pm | Check-in at Gillespie Co. Extension Office |
| 6-8pm | Welcome Dinner |
| Friday | |
| Morning | Birding on the Hershey Ranch |
| Lunch | In the field, guest speaker: Romey Swanson |
| Afternoon | Birding on the Giles Ranch |
| Dinner | Alamo Springs |
| Evening | Old Tunnel State Park bat roost |
| Saturday | |
| Morning |
Bird banding station and birding at Llano River Field Station |
| Lunch | In the field, guest speaker: |
| Afternoon | Birding at South Llano River State Park |
| Dinner | Silver Creek |
| Sunday | |
| Morning | Birding on the Roeder Ranch |
| Lunch | In the field |