Hill Country Birding

Join top Texas birders to look for special Hill Country birds that nest on the Refuge. This tour makes multiple stops along one of the quietest, birdiest country roads in western Travis County, and then brief stops at Doeskin, Flying X and Simons Tract, affording participants the opportunity to see and hear many of the breeding and spring migrant birds of the eastern edge of the Edwards Plateau. The trip leader is intimately familiar with these birds and their vocalizations, and will strive to get scope views for all participants of most of the target birds on the route. We do not specifically target Golden-cheeked Warbler, but occasionally encounter them on this route. In addition to the targets mentioned below, we also often see spring migrants including raptors, flycatchers, and various smaller birds.

Targets: Wild Turkey, Cave Swallow, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Summer Tanager, Painted Bunting, Blue Grosbeak, Bell's Vireo, Blue-headed Vireo (migrant, but singing), Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Rufous-crowned Sparrow, Lark Sparrow, Grasshopper Sparrow and occasionally Vermilion Flycatcher, Canyon Towhee and Black-throated Sparrow.
*stop between locations

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U.S.Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) The primary purpose of the refuge is to protect the nesting habitat of the golden-cheeked warbler and black-capped vireo, two highly endangered migratory birds.

SCOTT ROWIN

Scott was hired in March 2011 as the Wildlife Biologist for the Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge. Scott grew up in the Austin area where he graduated from Westwood High School. He then attended Sul Ross State University and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Management. Since graduating he has worked as a Wildlife Biologist for over 20 years, most of which was with the US Fish and Wildlife Service where he helped with central Texas endangered species recovery efforts, particularly with the endangered golden-cheeked warbler and black-capped vireo. Most recently Scott worked for the City of Austin as the Program Manager for the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve, a partner to the Refuge. In his current duties as the Refuge Biologist, he is responsible for all aspects of wildlife and habitat management, with a particular focus on the golden-cheeked warbler, and black-capped vireo. Scott has lived in Lago Vista, Texas since 1999 with his wife Amy, and son Andrew. He enjoys spending time outdoors with his family.

JOHN HARRINGTON

John has been an active volunteer and member of the Friends of Balcones Canyonlands since 2002. His love of the outdoors naturally blossomed to an obsession for birding. He is also a member of the Travis Audubon Society and the American Birding Association. John leads field trips at the Refuge for TAS and FOB frequently and is actively involved in the USFWS Golden-cheeked Warbler surveys and assists the banding programs. John puts many hours into the Balcones Songbird Festival, the Balcones Christmas Bird Count and SparrowFest (where his other talent is cooking!). John is retired from AT&T where he was a Lab Manager. All the years at his desk, he dreamed of the great outdoors and visited it to hunt, hike or play whenever he had the chance. Since his retirement, he’s had time to take in all those dreams living in the Texas Hill Country with his wife, Cathy.