Bird Census
The Central Texas Hill Country is teeming with birds, some of which are year-round residents, while others live here only in the spring or only in winter. Others migrate through in spring and fall, stopping here briefly to feed or wait for a good wind. Most people know the usual suspects, like the pretty red cardinals, the cute little fluff-ball chickadees, the chattery titmice, and the ominous vultures, but there are many birds that are less noticeable or are here for a short time and keep to themselves. Birding in Central Texas requires hearing as much as seeing; getting the hang of bird calls can be tricky, but is essential for a bird census.
Survey Fees
Up to 100 acres: $150 per survey
100-200 acres: $250 per survey
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Fees for larger properties and late afternoon/evening surveys determined on request.
Owners are welcome to walk the property with us during all or part of the survey.
Bird Census Data Provided to You
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Complete list of all bird species seen and heard during the survey time.
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Common and species names provided on the list.
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Counts of all bird species seen and heard.
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Comments on all bird Species of Concern on both Federal and State Lists.
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Information on how to protect species of concern.
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Comments on all non-native and invasive bird species.
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Digital photographs of birds caught on camera during the survey provided on request.
​​This list satisfies the bird census activity on many county Wildlife Tax Exemption forms.
Census Dates and Times
Sunny Mornings in Spring or Winter are Optimal
Our Bird Census Surveys are conducted on sunny mornings when the birds are most active and vocal, and when they are easiest to spot. Starting time depends on time of year and size of property; we try to get done by 11:30-12:00, when the birds go quiet over mid-day.
The best time of year is in the spring from March to early June. Early in Spring we can find the winter birds that have not left yet, while throughout Spring the summer residents arrive and are vocal as they look for mates. There is no single day when you can find all the winter and summer birds together, but if you want a complete survey you can book multiple days over the year.
Winter surveys from late November through February are a good counterpart to the Spring surveys, since there are species that arrive late in the Fall and leave early in Spring, including many sparrows and ducks.
While bird surveys from June through November are available and can make the census complete, in the summer months many nesting birds go quiet to protect their nests and fledglings. Late August to early September days can be good for counting families with juveniles. September through October is best for the year-round residents, as the summer ones have usually gone and the winter ones have not yet arrived.
Bird Facts
Golden-cheeked Warblers arrive in March and are vocal for a few weeks before going quiet on the nest until the young ones fledge. They feed on insects, from which they also get the moisture they need. They require mature stands of hardwoods and junipers (cedars) for nesting.
Scissortail Flycatchers are also a species of concern on the Edwards Plateau. They are summer residents of open meadows and pastures and feed on insects, so pesticides used on plants and insects are harmful to these graceful, long-tailed birds.
Night feeding birds like owls and chuck-will's-widows are best heard in the evening, as they are hard to find during the day when they are roosting in camouflage. We can help you learn to identify your night bird calls for yourself. At dusk in the summer watch for swooping Common Nighthawks with their bold white wing stripes.
Sparrows are not as hard to identify as you think. While we do have some summer sparrows, most of our sparrows are winter residents. The key to sparrows is to look at the face pattern. The wings, back, tail, and sides are too similar between species, but the presence or absence of chest stripes is helpful.
Ducks are only here for a short time in the winter and are usually gone by March. Some small flocks will spend time in smaller ponds, although most like large bodies of water where they can swim to the far side away from you.
Most birds become active again in late afternoon as they feed one more time before finding a good roost for the night but are not always as easy to see or hear as in the morning.
