Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge (Texas)
Posted by: 
Raven
N 30° 30.332 W 098° 01.537
14R E 593499 N 3375208
Balcones Canyonlands NWR in central Texas is one of the last habitat left in the US for two endangered birds types. The posted coordinates and default image are at the entrance of the National Wildlife Refuge's headquarters.
Waymark Code: WMMFW1
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 09/14/2014
Views: 1
About an hour Northwest of Austin, TX, and established in 1992, the 72 sq-mile Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge is located at the juncture of the Great Plains and the Gulf Coast bioregions, and straddles the Colorado and Brazos watersheds divide. Along its lands lies a labyrinth of caves and an unusual limestone geology known as the Edwards Plateau, resulting in an unique flora and fauna found nowhere else: at least a third of the state of Texas' threatened and endangered animal species live or migrate through this particular region.
Per the "OhRanger" website: (
visit link)
"The refuge offers some of the best bird watching and habitat left in Texas for two endangered songbirds-the Black-capped Vireo and the Golden-cheeked Warbler.
When Spanish explorers first saw the terraced hills northwest of what is now Austin, Texas, they named the land Balcones. These limestone hills and spring fed canyons make up most of the Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge. The primary purpose of the refuge is to conserve the nesting habitat of the endangered Golden-cheeked Warbler and Black-capped Vireo. The vegetation found in this area, known as the Texas Hill Country, includes various oaks, elm, and Ashe juniper trees (commonly called cedar). The Golden-cheeked Warbler and Black-capped Vireo depend on different successional stages of this vegetation. Both of these birds nest in central Texas, the warbler exclusively."
Within its 72 sq-mile border are 3 relatively small zones open to the general public:
(1) The Warbler Vista visitor area, located in the Southeastern edge of the Refuge and not far from the park's headquarters, include several miles of foot trails, one of which traverses more than a half mile of scenic, prime Golden-cheeked Warbler habitat. Another hiking trail descends onto some terraces with views of Lake Travis and the surrounding terrain. The area also include a "Sunset Deck", offering a view of Lake Travis while providing the opportunity to hear or see Golden-cheeked warblers and other birds.
(2) The Shin Oak Observation Deck, located in the central Northern part of the NWR, was specifically set up to provide a close-up view of a large stand of shin oaks from which one can observe and hear Black-capped Vireos during their nesting season. It is also a place to look for other nesting species such as Painted Bunting, Yellow-breasted Chat, Field and Rufous-crowned Sparrows, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, and Black-chinned Hummingbirds. One can also spot Golden-cheeked Warblers, Northern Cardinals and Northern Mockingbirds, depending on the season.
(3) The Doeskin Ranch is located in the middle of the NWR (not from from the Wikipedia page's posted official coordinates) and just a few miles South of the Observation Deck. Designated as a National Recreation Trail in June 2005, this area offers several miles of foot trails through prairie, woodland forest and the top of a plateau where one can enjouy spectacular panoramic views of the Texas Hill Country.