Songbird- Into the Wild: Birds of the Eastern Edwards Plateau Friday April 24, 2026

Into the Wild: Birds of the Eastern Edwards Plateau with Dr. Robin Miskimins and Dr. Paul Kosnik

Balcones Songbird Tours offer expertly guided, intimate access to the refuge and serve as one of our largest annual fundraisers. All proceeds directly support refuge management and conservation efforts.

This tour will take you into some of the best birding tracts in the Balcones National
Wildlife Refuge that are not normally open to the public, offering a unique opportunity to
observe some of the special Hill Country birds that use the refuge.

We will explore the extraordinary variety of birds on the eastern edge of the Edwards Plateau that are not normally open to the public.

Your enthusiastic trip leaders are very familiar with the local birds and their vocalizations
and will strive to get great views of target species for all participants. Golden-cheeked
Warblers use this habitat. It is likely that we will hear them and may get a view. The
habitat is also highly suited to the Black Capped Vireo which we hope to get multiple
views of!

We expect to see a variety of spring migrants like raptors, flycatchers, and other smaller
birds. There is a good chance we will see Red-Tailed and Red-Shouldered Hawks,
Mississippi Kite, Broad-Winged Hawk, Swainson’s Hawk, Crested Caracara, Summer
Tanager, Painted Bunting, Blue Grosbeak, Bell's Vireo, Red-Eyed Vireo, Yellow-
Throated Vireo, White-Eyed Vireo, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Black and White Warbler,
Nashville Warbler, Rufous-crowned Sparrow, Lark Sparrow, and Grasshopper Sparrow.
We will target difficult to see species like Zone-Tailed Hawk, Canyon Towhee, Greater
Roadrunner, Scott’s Oriole, Canyon Wren, Common Raven, Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay,
and Black-throated Sparrow, all of which are possible on these tracts!

If you love the idea of exploring areas that are less frequented, listening to the songs of
Hill Country birds, and getting views of some of Central Texas’s most elusive species,
this tour is for you!

Space is limited, so register soon to secure your spot.

Meeting spot: Doeskin Ranch Trailhead Parking Lot, 10645 FM 1174, Bertram, TX
Tour: 7:00 AM – 12:00 PM