National Audubon Society

Spring migration is in full swing and so are the programs at Audubon Texas nature centers! We invite you to learn more, through this spring newsletter, about these 3 nature centers that are hubs that connect individuals and communities to Audubon. These lands and sanctuaries are living laboratories where we test and pilot innovative conservation projects. Through the centers and other statewide programs, we demonstrate that Audubon’s bird agenda is for people and the planet as well.

We are better together! The centers bring people together to appreciate and understand birds. Enabling science-based conservation projects and educational programs, visitors can learn about the importance of planting native plants and habitat conservation around their community and beyond. Enjoy walking the trails, view the flora and fauna, and of course birdwatch!

Audubon is growing a diverse community of millions of bird lovers working across the hemisphere, improving the world for birds and people. We invite you to experience everything that the Texas centers have to offer. Let’s take a look at what’s happening this spring and how to plan your visit!

Adult Green Jay - Jeff Meaux / Audubon Photography Awards

Trinity River Audubon Center - Dallas

Connecting with the Community through Conservation Education

At Trinity River Audubon Center (TRAC), a ‘typical’ day is anything but. Curious what goes on at TRAC from day to day? Take a peek:

7 AM - The morning kicks off before sunrise as a local ornithologist sets up mist nets near the wetland trails, preparing for a seasonal research study of avian behavior in urban areas. TRAC sits in the Central Flyway, an important travel corridor for migratory birds, making it an ideal research area.

10 AM – Field trip time! The education team greets the students and chaperones as they arrive for a three-part TEKS-aligned educational program. During their visit, students will explore trails during a guided hike, become researchers in the wet labs and learn about adaptations in nature through an interactive storytelling activity.

12 PM – A group of architects checks in for a guided building tour where we’ll discuss our site history as a former illegal landfill and how that influenced the sustainable design and materials choices for our LEED-Gold Certified building.

1 PM – Students from University of Texas, Dallas arrive with their professor for their weekly Environmentalism class that’s meeting onsite at the Center. This semester they’re learning about habitat restoration with our education team through stewardship of approximately 1 acre of land in the TRAC prairie.

3PM – TRAC educators load up the van with interesting natural artifacts like samples of animal fur, bones and seed pods from native Dallas animals and plants. They’ll use these items as part of a free community education program at a local library in the evening.

As you can see, TRAC days often include many different activities! This sample schedule is just one example of how the center connects with the local community as a resource for conservation education. Every month we offer multiple programs, many free of charge, designed to bring you into deeper relationship with this wonderful North Texas habitat we call home.

From casual guided hikes to in-depth birding adventures to student programs for pre-K through college – let us help you find new ways to explore nature in Dallas!

Check out some of the upcoming programs and events below:

World Migratory Bird Day Celebration – Sat., May 10 – Celebrate the joy of birds with us! The day’s events include guided bird walks, a birding competition, bird banding demonstrations, crafts for kids, a bird-themed scavenger hunt and exhibits from local partners. Register for this FREE event here!
Scissor-tails & Cocktails Event – Wed., May 14 – With tasty treats from celebrity chefs, signature cocktails, music, and so much more, Scissor-tails & Cocktails is a fun and festive celebration in honor of spring bird migration, benefiting Trinity River Audubon Center. Learn more and purchase tickets here!
Moth Night at TRAC! – Thurs., July 3 - The biggest event in Dallas night life is back! Join us and Texas Parks and Wildlife's Sam Kieschnick as we get up close and personal with moths, beetles, and more! We'll set up stations around the center with special lights that attract nocturnal insects for your viewing pleasure and for scientific documentation! Last year we documented nearly 300 species, including on that had never before been recorded on iNaturalist!  Sign up here!
View the full events calendar here!

An ornithologist gives a bird banding demonstration during TRAC's 2023 World Migratory Bird Day Festival.

Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center - Cedar Hill

A Small Bird Brightens a Community

Why does a diminutive black and white bird with bright yellow cheeks and an unmistakable song bring excitement to Cedar Hill? Because it’s the Golden-cheeked Warbler (GCWA) and it has been consistently showing up for the last four years at Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center (DCAC). Each GCWA that comes north in the spring is a native Texan and can only be found in a very specific habitat that includes old growth Ashe Junipers. While it is entirely possible the endangered GCWA has been visiting this canyon for decades, it has only recently been getting the documentation needed to ensure that its habitat here remains intact through conservation.

Through coordinated efforts, a two-pronged approach has been put into action to document this species. First, Autonomous Recording Units (ARUs) have been placed around the canyon that is easily accessible from the trails with audio recordings captured at varying intervals throughout the day. The bonus here is that the ARUs are recording all bird sounds (as well as insects, wind, and people) that will improve DCAC staff’s knowledge of what species are utilizing this habitat. Second, volunteer birders are providing detailed bird observations on most days that the center is open. Photos, recordings, locations, and bird behavior are either noted in eBird or reported to staff. This dual effort provides a more complete picture of how the GCWA is thriving in this canyon. Of course, the cherry on top would be evidence of not only a female GCWA, but juveniles as well.

This little warbler brings excitement to the community of Cedar Hill because of this science-based project that brings people together. Birders, hikers, naturalists, and families alike, appreciate this small wonder in this special canyon. Cedar Hill’s master plan includes preserving 25% of its land mass as greenspace. Finding the GCWA at Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center has encouraged the city and birders to search for this species in similar habitat nearby. DCAC provides guided walks for birders and non-birders to listen and hopefully, see the Golden-cheeked Warbler. It could be that the GCWA can spark a love for birds that will inspire the protection of natural areas that this and so many other bird species desperately need.

Come visit Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center for yourself! Check out some of the upcoming programs and spring events:

Sound Bath and Forest Bathing Mini-Retreat – Saturday, April 5 – Join Laurence and Erin from Slow Trails Nature and Forest Therapy for a harmonious union of sound and nature as they immerse you in a transformative experience of Sound Bath and Forest Bathing! Learn more here
Bird-Friendly Beef and Audubon Conservation Ranching w/ Anita Gilson – Saturday, April 5 - Bird Friendly Beef? What is that? Great question! Join us for a presentation on Audubon Conservation Ranching to find out how Texas Audubon and cattle ranchers are working together to create space for beef production and native birds. Register here
Foraging Walk – Sunday, April 13 - Have you ever seen a mushroom growing wild and wondered 'Can I eat that? Join Nathan May, Educator at Trinity River Audubon Center, for a foraging Walk. He'll stroll the trails pointing out plants that people can safely eat. Register here
View the full calendar of events here

Golden-cheeked Warbler, seen March 25, 2025 at Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center - Photo: Dana Sudborough

Mitchell Lake Audubon Center - San Antonio

Migratory Bird Fest was a success, introducing over 1,000 people to birds and the perils they face along their migration journey. Exhibits featured Lights Out, native plants for birds, and so much more. Visitors walked away with concrete conservation actions they can take for birds and the places they need. In addition to staff, over 20 volunteers came together to take direct action to help during the festival, contributing over 100 hours of service combined. One student volunteer wrote: “I had a very fun time talking to the vendors and people who are very passionate about birding and nature conservation as a whole. I learned a lot of new things and will definitely be making some personal changes to help birds migrate safely!”

March kicked off with Spring Break Activity Week, with different activities geared towards Creating Bird Friendly Communities, which is the theme for World Migratory Bird Day for 2025. Over 450 people attended for free during the week, with almost half being families who made crafts like a bird feeder, to directly impact birds in their own backyards.

Upcoming events in April include the City Nature Challenge Community Science event, where anyone can contribute to science if they have a smart phone. Document nature in your local green space and see how many species you can find.

Come visit Mitchell Lake Audubon Center for yourself! Check out some of the upcoming programs and spring events:

Pollinator Picnic - Saturday, April 12, 11:00am-12:30pm - Pollinators provide countless ecological benefits to our world! Learn about these benefits and enjoy food made possible by these amazing insects during our Pollinator Picnic!
Guided Bird Tours - Sunday, April, 6, 13, 20, 27 - Every Sunday morning at 8:00am – Guided bird tour around the various habitats of Mitchell Lake Audubon Center. Guests will see at least 30-50 different bird species with an expert guide. Travelling by both car and by foot to access as many areas as possible, this tour is best suited for the birder age 15+ as it can last up to four hours. Register here
Stone in the Stream Presents: Words for Birds - Presented by Stone in the Stream, Co-sponsored by Mitchell Lake Audubon Center -Sunday, April 13 – Register here
View the full calendar of events

Garden at Mitchell Lake Audubon Center

Thank you for your continued support of Audubon. The National Audubon Society protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow, throughout the Americas using science, advocacy, education and on-the-ground conservation. Audubon's state programs, nature centers, chapters and partners have an unparalleled wingspan that reaches millions of people each year to inform, inspire and unite diverse communities in conservation action. Since 1905, Audubon's vision has been a world in which people and wildlife thrive. Audubon is a nonprofit conservation organization. For more information, events, and to find your local chapter visit https://tx.audubon.org/. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Connect

CONNECT WITH US

Audubon Texas
2407 S. Congress Ave., Ste. E - #477, Austin, TX 78704 USA
512-488-1266 | tx.audubon.org

© 2025 National Audubon Society, Inc.

Unsubscribe