Birdlife Thrives Between Houston And San Antonio In A Peaceful Texas Prairie With Stunning Trails
Despite what you might think, the Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge is not actually a haven for chickens. Well, it is the home of the Attwater's prairie-chicken — a beautiful wild grouse the size of a football with a striped white and brown plumage and golden-hued air sacs that is sadly endangered. But this coastal prairie is also home to many other bird species, like sandhill cranes, owls, and dickcissels as well as mammals like white-tailed deer and jackrabbits. The Attwater Prairie is located between the cities of San Antonio and Houston, two and a half and one hour away from each city respectively.
The Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge is a 10,541-acre area created back in 1972. The refuge is composed entirely of coastal prairies that once stretched all the way into Louisiana. It is also an endangered ecosystem, with only 1% of it remaining, and the refuge regularly conducts controlled burns to maintain it. Thanks to the establishment of this refuge and ongoing breeding programs, the Attwater's prairie-chicken population has begun to recover, although the species is still considered critically endangered.
Due to the still-recovering population of the chicken, it can be hard to spot this bird when visiting. However, this refuge is still a great place to enjoy some bird watching surrounded by Texas' beautiful nature. The closest major airports to the refuge are the San Antonio International Airport (SAT) and Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) — one of the best airports in America for enjoying live music — as well as the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) two hours away. Because of its close proximity to these major Texas cities, the refuge makes for a perfect day trip on a longer visit to Texas.
Bird and wildlife watching at the Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge
Just like in the bird lover's paradise of the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, bird and wildlife watching are the main activities you can enjoy when visiting the Attwater refuge. Bird enthusiasts are most likely to find the prairie-chicken as well as species like burrowing owls during January. According to the refuge's website, it's a good idea to search for these birds in recently burned areas — many bird species thrive in burned habitats, as they offer food and other resources.
The spring and summer months will carpet the refuge in blooming wildflowers. This creates wonderful sceneries for nature photographers, and if you're lucky, you might even spot the courting male prairie-chickens during your visit. Expect to run into jackrabbits, coyotes, deer, and even skunks while you're exploring the refuge as well. Then, as the year passes and summer turns into autumn, Attwater becomes the temporary home of migrating monarch butterflies.
A word of advice though, alligators enjoy swimming in the waters at the Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge. As such, please be on the lookout when exploring the trails, and be sure to keep any dogs on the leash at all times.
Other activities to enjoy while visiting the Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge
Wildlife and birdwatching are not the only activities available at Attwater. The refuge's staff also offers guided van tours on the first Saturday of each month. The tour lasts for about an hour and a half; however, due to limited space, reservations need to be made in advance. If you don't want to do a van tour or can't book one, you can also drive on the refuge's 4.2-mile auto tour on your own. The loop road takes you around the prairie and is open year-round. Hikers and bikers can also enjoy this road.
Two other trails can be found at the refuge — the Sycamore Trail and the Horseshoe Lake Trail. Both are open only for hikers — no biking or driving allowed here. The Sycamore Trail lasts just a little more than a mile and takes you toward the rivers and creeks found in the area. As for the Horseshoe Lake Trail, you'll have an even easier time, as the trail stretches for less than 1 mile. This trail takes you toward a blind and an observation platform, which are great if you're interested in bird and wildlife watching and photography.
Finally, be sure to pay a visit to the Visitor Center for more information on upcoming events, tours, and other educational activities like conferences. The center will also help you learn which birds you're most likely to see throughout the day. The center is open Tuesdays through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. from November to May, and Thursdays through Saturdays from June to October.