Birding a year-round activity in Burnet County

Bird-watching in Burnet County is hard to beat: It’s free, easy, and simply incredible year-round. The diverse landscapes found in the Texas Hill Country are as attractive to birds as they are to people.

The endangered golden-cheeked warbler nests specifically in Central Texas. In fact, Burnet County is home to a 27,000-acre national wildlife refuge created for the specific purpose of protecting the habitat of the golden-cheeked warbler and the black-capped vireo.

Burnet County abounds with birding parks, bird blinds, and observation decks for watching this wonderful avian world. Pick up a pair of binoculars and a bird identification guide and get outside.

Here are the who, what, when, and where for a successful birding experience in bird-friendly Burnet County. Some birds are year-round residents, while others are seasonal visitors. Check this link to see what has been spotted in Burnet County lately.

WHO

Spring — golden-fronted woodpecker, Carolina wren, scissor-tailed flycatcher, yellow-throated vireo, summer tanager, dickcissel, golden-cheeked warbler, blue grosbeak, greater roadrunner, rufous-crowned sparrow

Summer — yellow-billed cuckoo, black-chinned hummingbird, canyon wren, white-eyed vireo, painted bunting, summer tanager, Mexican violet ear hummingbird, yellow-billed cuckoo, verdin, northern cardinal, ringed kingfisher, eastern bluebird, painted bunting, greater roadrunner, doves

Fall — ruby-throated hummingbird, ringed kingfisher, black-crested titmouse, merlin, eastern phoebe, Lincoln’s sparrow, great egret, Canada goose, pine siskin, sharp-shinned hawk, loggerhead shrike, zone-tailed hawk, broad-tailed hummingbird, western meadowlark, vermilion flycatcher

Winter — eastern towhee, verdin, rufous-crowned sparrow, LeConte’s sparrow, vermilion flycatcher, mountain bluebird, black-throated sparrow, Townsend’s solitaire, ladder-backed woodpecker, Bonaparte’s gull, osprey, northern cardinal, pine warbler, golden eagle, Canada goose, grasshopper sparrow, cedar waxwing, song sparrow, red-shouldered hawk, crested caracara, gadwall, American wigeon, spotted towhee, western meadowlark, ruby-crowned kinglet

WHAT TO BRING

Expert birders recommend a good set of binoculars, a field guide or a knowledgeable friend, and dressing for seasonal comfort — layers to add or remove.

WHEN TO GO

Local experts recommend early morning viewing but say it all depends on your birding list. Songbirds are early birds, vultures do their soaring on mid-day thermals, and night owls are active after sunset. Birding is doable year-round. Spring brings a great variety of birds into the area for a season or two, waterfowl visit in the fall, eagles are known to nest each winter, and wading birds prefer a summer visit.