The Endangered Ones

This tour will span the refuge in search of its two endangered songbirds. Experts on the species will take you to shady, relatively moist woodlands of oak and juniper to listen and look for Golden-cheeked Warblers. At the other end of the refuge, we will listen for the raspy songs of Black-capped Vireos in and around thickets of scrubby oaks, sumacs, and greenbriars. Along the way we hope to spot other Hill Country birds,

Targets: Golden-cheeked Warbler, Black-capped Vireo

*stop between locations

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TRAVIS AUDUBON SOCIETY (TAS) Travis Audubon was founded in 1952 by visionary central Texans who recognized the vital connection between conserving wildlife habitat and the ecological balance necessary for healthy, sustainable and habitable human communities.

RICH KOSTECKE

Rich Kostecke has spent the last 16 years birding and conducting ornithological research in Texas.  He earned his PhD in Wildlife Science from Texas Tech University in 2002, where his research focused on wetland management and migratory waterbirds.  Rich’s first job after completing his PhD was with The Nature Conservancy’s Fort Hood Program, a cooperative effort with the Army to monitor and manage endangered species (Black-capped Vireos and Golden-cheeked Warblers) and their habitats. In 2011, Rich assumed his current state-wide role as Associate Director of Conservation – Research & Planning for The Nature Conservancy in Texas. His recent research projects include assessing the status of Black-capped Vireos and Golden-cheeked Warblers on Nature Conservancy preserves, assessing the impacts of large-scale wildfires on the birdlife of the Davis Mountains, and the winter ecology of Sprague’s Pipits on the Texas Gulf Coast. Rich is often accompanied by his wife, Veena Mohan, on his birding adventures.
ASSISTANT: VEENA MOHAN