Bird Behavior Walk at Karst Canyon Preserve in Hays County

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

Walk Description

Join Travis Audubon and Hays County Park staff for a sneak peek at our new Preserve! Karst Canyon Preserve (opening soon) is a 174-acre tract of land in Wimberley, TX. The Preserve is located just north of and almost adjacent to Jacob's Well Natural Area. Karst Canyon Preserve was acquired to protect groundwater recharge and habitat. The Preserve encompasses a portion of Dry Cypress Creek, several miles of trails, and numerous karst features including the Wimberley Bat Cave. Multiple habitats are represented in this preserve, including Mixed Oak/Juniper Woodlands and Savannah/Prairie. Due to the presence of Juniper and Oak, as well as the size of the Preserve, this site has been deemed acceptable habitat for the Golden-cheeked warbler. Several Golden-cheeked warblers were identified on property last spring. Check out the website for more details. In addition to identifying the birds we find, we’ll also watch for interesting bird behavior, so we can potentially see birds hunting for and acquiring food, avoiding predators, singing to establish their territories and attract mates, building nests, and other interesting behaviors.

Duration/accessibility: The hike will last approximately three hours, during which we will walk an approximately 1.5 mile loop. Some portions of the trail are wide and flat, however, some parts of the trail will be rocky and slightly vegetated. The trail is not considered accessible. The hike is easy/moderate in difficulty. Hikers will ascend and descend several inclines. Accessible restrooms are located at the meeting location, Jacob's Well Natural Area. Admission and parking are free.

Meet: We will caravan/carpool from Jacob's Well Natural Area, approximately 10 minutes to the entrance of Karst Canyon Preserve. No restrooms or running water are located at Karst Canyon Preserve. Please plan to meet at Jacob's Well Natural Area, Parking Lot C, at 7:00 am. We will carpool to Karst Canyon Preserve.

Bring: binoculars, drinking water, snacks, good walking shoes, and a hat.

Walk Leader

Shelia Hargis has been birding for over 25 years and was inspired early on by Travis Audubon field trips, developing a passion for both bird identification and behavior. A past president of Travis Audubon and the Texas Ornithological Society and recipient of Travis Audubon’s 2020 Victor Emanuel Conservation Award, she brings deep experience, enthusiasm, and a love of all birds—common or rare—to every walk she leads

Email Policy
The email used to register for this field trip will be used to communicate any changes or cancellations due to weather or other factors. Please ALWAYS check your email inbox on the morning of the walk, prior to leaving your home, in case of last-minute changes in the trip plan. Please also check to be sure our emails do not land in your spam folder. When in doubt, please call or email your trip leader. We encourage participants to put the leader’s email address in their safe sender list. Their contact information is included in this trip description.