Outings

Outings

Many Bexar Audubon South Central Texas outings take place in Bexar County, but we regularly venture farther afield to explore the other counties we serve, state parks, and natural areas.
Wherever we go, we hope you’ll join us!
Bird walk at D’Hanis Ranch

Coordinates to the ranch gate

RESCHEDULED DUE TO WEATHER: Feb. 21, 2025
8:30 am - after lunch

Please join Allison Hayne at her private ranch to see the many birds that live there, including a variety of shorebirds and waterfowl that winter on the several large tanks on the property. The bird walk starts at 8:30 AM until after lunch unless people still want to bird afterwards.

The ranch is located south of D’Hanis in the South Texas Plains region in Medina County. It takes over an hour to get to the ranch from central San Antonio. Take HWY 90 W like you are going to Uvalde; D’Hanis is 9 miles west of Hondo. Those who sign up for the outing will receive additional instructions.

There will be 2 ATVs that have a total capacity of 12 people including the drivers to take birders around the ranch. There will be some walking involved to get to the tanks quietly.  We may decide to walk the some of the roads or creek bottom, which can be very rocky.

Please bring a lunch; we will eat at the ranch house on outdoor tables. There are restrooms available. Dress for the weather and bring binoculars, water, and sun protection.

For questions or cancellations, contact Allison Hayne at 210-289-6477 or Sherie Gee at [email protected] or 210-367-1625 

Sign up HERE


Birds in the Park at Phil Hardberger Park
sponsored by the Park in its Oak Loop Trail

Urban Ecology Center
8400 NW Military Hwy, San Antonio, TX 78231

Saturday, February 22, 2025
7:45 am -10:00 am

Our event’s purpose is learning about those birds likely to be seen in the park at this time of the year. This two-part event starts with an illustrated talk showing photos of common birds and their defining characteristics followed by a ¾ -mile bird walk around the savanna area. The event will be led by experienced local birder, Patsy Kuentz. She will share her extensive knowledge of local birding to offer you an opportunity to see, identify, and appreciate many of the common winter and year-round birds in the area.

Bring bird identification apps or books and also binoculars if you have them.

Please arrive at 7:45 am SHARP to register so we can start the talk promptly at 8:00 am. After the talk, we will walk in areas close to the Urban Ecology Center conducive to sighting birds. There will be brief explanations at the start and along the way with ample time for participant questions.

Minors welcome but only when accompanied by an adult parent/guardian. Dogs are not appropriate for this event. DIFFICULTY: Easy, definitely suitable for families with older elementary school children. The short walk will be on flat terrain and slow-paced. The event will end back at the Urban Ecology Center by 10:30 am.


Bird Walk at Land Heritage Institute
sponsored by San Antonio Audubon Society

Land Heritage Institute
1349 Neal Rd, San Antonio, TX 78264

Saturday, March 15, 2025
9:00 am - 11:30 am

Meet Patsy and Alan Kuentz (210/493-2673 or 210/749-7196) at the Land Heritage Institute Headquarters Building. Take Exit 46 off Loop 410 on the south side of San Antonio and turn south on Moursund Blvd., which turns into Pleasanton Road. Turn right onto Neal Road about 5 miles south of 410.  Follow Neal Road 2.3 miles to the open gate on the right. Follow the LHI road into the property to the first right turn to the HQ building. 

A $3 donation is requested. Bring snacks and water.


Visit our Conservation ACTION page to sign up our conservation events including Birding with a Purpose Surveys.

 


Other Places to Visit for Outings


Mitchell Lake Audubon Center


Seasonal Hours
October 1 - June 10
Tuesday through Sunday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Last entry is one hour before closing.
Center is closed on major and/or Federal holidays.
Free for Mitchell Lake members, $5 non-members, $3 National Audubon members.

Ten Best Hiking Trails in San Antonio

From the rocky hills of the far north side to the riparian areas near the Spanish Missions on the south side, San Antonio offers a variety of topography to explore while hiking and birding. Check out these recommended trails from the AllTrails.com website.


Best Ways to Preserve Nature While Hiking 

Getting outdoors to hike is a fantastic way to reap the benefits of spending time in nature. Studies have shown that spending time in nature will cause your stress level to drop. And the physical exercise of hiking will keep your heart healthy and give you a great workout without the boredom of working out in the gym.

Every year more than 40 million people go hiking, and that number is increasing rapidly. But, all of those people hiking can cause serious damage to the natural world if they’re not careful. Even hikers who don’t mean to can damage the ecosystem of the trail or cause damage in the area without knowing it. Read the rest of the article here.


 

Visit Warbler Woods

Warbler Woods Bird Sanctuary, located just northeast of San Antonio, is open year-round. Click here for visitor information.

Use iNaturalist to Post Observations, Help with IDs

 

You can take pictures of plants, birds, insects, and other animals to upload to iNat for identification. Or, you can help identify others’ photos. The observations in iNaturalist uploaded by others always have species in need of identification. If you need instructions on helping with the IDs, please read this helpful guide. Watch our iNat presentation by Craig Hensley of TPWD and Texas Nature Trackers.