Let's Go Birding Together (LGBT)

Let's Go Birding Together welcomes everyone in the LGBTQIA2+ community who is curious about nature, birds, and birding to come enjoy a free monthly nature walk together. Everyone deserves to spend time in nature without fear about their safety or wondering if they will be welcome and accepted. With a primary focus on community and connection, our walks offer space for everyone to experience the joys of nature in a safe, affirming, and inclusive space.

Since October 2021, Travis Audubon has been offering Let’s Go Birding Together (LGBT) walks nearly every month (we take a break during the hot summer months). This allows us to witness the wonderful diversity of bird species in Central Texas throughout the year, from colorful spring warblers and unassuming fall migrants to subtle winter beauties and stunning summer residents, including our unofficial mascot, the stunning rainbow-colored Painted Bunting. Walks usually include a short nature poem written by a queer writer and a brief discussion about some aspect of queer ecology, such as a book, a research project, or natural history info about a particular species of bird or other animal or plant.

Walks are queer-led by a knowledgeable birder with Travis Audubon. All experience levels are welcome, from those who are curious about nature to those who have been birding for years. All ages are also welcome, from elders to youth (please note that anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent, guardian, or parental figure). In very rare instances, a walk might have a lower age limit, if designated by preserve rules.

While the walks prioritize creating space for the LGBTQIA2+ community, allies, friends, and family are also welcome to participate.

For more general information, including information about accessibility needs and accommodations, walk dates and times, and registration, please go to the main Travis Audubon Let’s Go Birding Together walk page.

This field trip is free for everyone, but registration is required.

Blair Woods Nature Preserve Walk Information

Walk Description:

Blair Woods Nature Preserve supports a total of almost one mile of nature trails, which loop around a pond and a spring and through prairie and woodlands. Along the way, signs featuring Rusty the Lizard describe local habitat and the many birds, plants, insects, and animals that call Blair Woods home.

There are packed gravel trails starting at the parking lot and connecting to the barn, around the pond and the pollinator garden, and along the northern boundary of the property adjacent to MLK Blvd. This trail is medium-wide with ample shade and slopes ranging from flat to moderate. The rest of the trails are mulched, and these trails are also medium-wide trails with ample shade and slopes ranging from flat to moderate. Due to damage from recent rains, the trails are not currently wheelchair friendly.

There is a clean, wheelchair friendly port-a-potty restroom available in the parking area. There are also occasional benches along the trails. Drinking water is not available at the park. Please plan to bring your own water.

The preserve is located along MLK Jr. Blvd., and some traffic noise can be heard in different parts of the property, but traffic is generally not visible due to the preserve being mostly wooded. Because the preserve is currently closed to the public on the weekends, seeing or hearing other people or groups is not expected. There is no max cap on the number of people for this walk, and the size of the group is typically between ten and twenty-five participants.

Questions? Please email the walk organizer, Amy Sugeno, at amysugeno (at) gmail (dot) com.