Birdathon: The Nature Conservancy's Davis Mountains Preserve (FULL)

Registration for this event opens at 10 AM CT on Friday, March 6.

Monday, April 13 – Wednesday, April 15

$350 per person, max. 8 attendees

Join James Giroux and Rachel Zierzow on an unforgettable trip to west Texas featuring The Nature Conservancy’s Davis Mountains Preserve! This beautiful property, which boasts nearly 33,000 acres of rugged sky-island landscape, is closed to the public most of the year for research and conservation efforts. This is your chance to experience the preserve and the incredible birds that inhabit it.

The itinerary:

Monday, April 13 – Travel day; plan to arrive at the Preserve by late afternoon or evening. After dinner, we will take a short walk to listen for owls and nightjars. Targets: Common Poorwill, Elf Owl, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Mexican Whip-poor-will, Western Screech-owl.

Tuesday, April 14 – Up early to get to the canyon for some morning birding in high elevation montane forest habitat. Later in the afternoon, we may explore the more accessible pine forest in some of the middle elevation canyons. In the evening, we will have a special opportunity to do a night hike in upper elevation habitat (Targets: Common Poorwill, Elf Owl, Flammulated Owl, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Mexican Whip-poor-will, Western Screech-owl).

Wednesday, April 15 – Based on how we fare on Tuesday, there could be options to visit more high elevation habitat or target species in other parts of the Preserve. We will need to leave the Preserve by evening, so plan to make lodging arrangements at the State Park or in Fort Davis if you are not starting your journey home.

The McIvor Conservation Center where we will be staying is at nearly 6,000’ elevation and our explorations will take us to nearly 8,000’ elevation.  While birding around the McIvor Center and in the mid-elevation pine forest in Madera Canyon, terrain will be more or less level. However, when we access the high country, we will be hiking steep, sometimes rough, uneven trails that can rapidly gain elevation. Depending on the trails we opt to take, we could have 1-6 mile round trip hikes. It is also an arid environment with low humidity, so be wary of dehydration. The sun can also be intense. Temperatures could easily dip into the 40s (occasionally lower) at night and days can be warm and sometimes downright hot. From a physical standpoint, conditions could range from moderate to strenuous.  

Western target birds: Western Bluebird, Say’s Phoebe, Gray Flycatcher, Hepatic and Western Tanagers, Violet-green Swallow, Common Black Hawk, Zone-tailed Hawk, Varied Bunting, Black-chinned Sparrow, Broad-tailed Hummingbird, Plumbeous Vireo, Chihuahuan Meadowlark, Mexican Duck, Black Phoebe, Acorn Woodpecker, Bushtit, Cassin’s Kingbird, White-breasted Nuthatch, etc.

Higher elevation targets could include Band-tailed Pigeon, Colima/Virginia’s Warbler, Western Flycatcher, Dusky-capped Flycatcher, Grace’s Warbler, Painted Redstart, Mountain Chickadee, Stellar’s Jay, and White-throated Swift. If we get really lucky, maybe we will come across some rarities like Greater Pewee, Flame-colored Tanager, Red-faced Warbler, Spotted Owl, Short-tailed Hawk, Slate-throated Redstart, etc.

Registration for this trip is $350 and includes bunk lodging or camping at the McIvor Conservation Center on Monday and Tuesday. Folks who would prefer to lodge elsewhere are welcome to do so but should expect to pay the full registration cost. $50 of every registration will go to The Nature Conservancy for their hospitality. Please direct any questions about this trip to James Giroux at jamesagiroux@gmail.com.

Black-headed Grosbeak by Jeff Davis

Grace's Warbler by Greg Meszaros

Photo by Jeff Davis

BIRDATHON POLICY
Payment for Birdathon events is due at registration. If you change your mind about attending an event, you may be able to transfer your registration to another Birdathon 2026 event. We sincerely appreciate your generous support! Event registration payments are non-refundable and non-deductible. Events will occur rain or shine. Please contact the Travis Audubon office with your questions.