Learn more about the “how’s” and “why’s” of using eBird and Merlin to help identify and record your observations of birds. Jane Patterson will present information designed for beginners and those whose initial experiences with the apps have proven to be more frustrating than helpful. Participants are asked to have a basic familiarity with Merlin and eBird to help clarify the questions that they wish to ask.

Both the Merlin and eBird apps are free from Cornell Lab of Ornithology, but require creation of an account with Cornell. After installing the app(s), participants will want to install a "bird pack" that is appropriate to the area. Participants may also find it helpful to review the eBird Essentials course for an introductory tutorial.

To access this online event, registration is required in advance.

Guest speakers Dawn Davies, Harold Vanicek, and Amy Sugano will explain what light pollution is, why night skies matter, and simple steps that can be taken to protect and preserve night skies. This is one of three opportunities to learn more about night sky conservation, but it is the only session that is ONLINE ONLY. Please register here to attend one of these information sessions.

The deadline for all HLBWS members to submit their photos for this fall’s Photo Bingo Challenge is 9:00 p.m. tonight. The results will be tallied to determine whether the North Burnet County Bulldogs or South Burnet County Mustangs scored the most Bingos to win the competition.

Each Sunday (except for any 5th Sunday in a given month), for $10/person, an expert guide leads a bird walk around the various habitats of Mitchell Lake Audubon Center. Participants may see as many as 30-50 different bird species. The bird walk can last up to 4 hours and is best suited for those aged 15 and up. Tours are limited to a maximum of 10 participants each. For full information and the link to purchase tickets, please see the list of events on this page.

Each Wednesday morning, the team at Birding with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service hosts a Facebook live event with guest speakers who talk about birds and birdwatching. The speakers frequently present current research findings that are absolutely fascinating. Grab a cup of coffee or your favorite morning beverage and settle in to learn about our feathered friends!

Guest speakers Dawn Davies, Harold Vanicek, and Amy Sugano will explain what light pollution is, why night skies matter, and simple steps that can be taken to protect and preserve night skies. This is the last of three opportunities to learn more about night sky conservation. Please register here to attend one of these information sessions.

Please note: This month, the speaker will begin his remarks promptly at 10:00 a.m. The business meeting will commence after the speaker has concluded (approximately 11:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.). Members are asked to plan for the atypical and likely extended time frame of this meeting.

Invited speaker Mike Mitchell will talk about Screech Owls, the design and proper placement of owl boxes, and the installation and use of owl cameras. He will focus on Eastern Screech Owls, in particular. These small owls are native to the Americas, mostly solitary, and strictly nocturnal. Yet “screech” seems to be a bit of a misnomer for these little birds, whose call is most often described as sounding a bit like a horse’s whinnying.

Mike Mitchell has served 17 years as a Texas Parks and Wildlife game warden, dedicated to conserving the state’s natural resources. His career spanned roles from field warden in Cameron and the Gulf Coast to Assistant Commander at the Austin Headquarters. He also instructs at state, national, and international conservation academies. Mike also is a Master Gardener and Texas Master Naturalist.

As per our usual procedures, the meeting room doors will open at 9:30 a.m. for social time and light refreshments.

If the weather permits, there will be a pre-meeting bird walk at 8:00 a.m. at Haley Nelson Park in Burnet.

Diya Balagopal is a junior in high school and the founder of Preserve the Prairie, an award-winning initiative focused on restoring and protecting the Blackland Prairie and other endangered ecosystems. She will talk about one of Texas’s particularly endangered ecosystems, the Blackland Prairie. Once spanning over 13 million acres, this biodiverse grassland has been reduced to less than 1% of what it had been. Her presentation will highlight the ecological importance of the prairie, the consequences of its decline, and what individuals and communities can do to help preserve it.

Social time is provided at 6:30 p.m. The business meeting will begin at 7 p.m. and the presentation will follow immediately afterwards. Registration, here, is required to access the online version of this meeting.

On the second Monday of each month, the Friends of Inks Dam National Fish Hatchery conducts a bird survey led by a team of experts. All HLBWS members are welcome to help with the survey. Be sure to dress for the weather and bring all that you will need for the morning (water, sunscreen, bug spray, binoculars, etc.). For more information about the bird surveys, please use the “Contact Us” form found here.

Burnet County AgriLife Extension Agent Kelly Tarla will give a talk about plant varieties that are ideally suited for fall gardening. The HLMGA business meeting will take place after this presentation.

This bird and plant walk, suitable for ages 8 and up, will be led by birders from the Travis Audubon Society and horticulturists from the Wildflower Center. The registration fee is $15/adult or $8/youth (ages 8-17). The guides will help participants to identify both native and migratory birds and the native plants they rely on for food and shelter. Please bring your own binoculars.

Here is where you can find the link to register for this event.

Enjoy a FREE class with Chris Gunther, who will talk about the birds you are most likely to see in the Austin area, how to identify them, and how to encourage more to come to your yard.

The HLBWS Study Group meets at 11:00 a.m. on the third Monday of each month, from September through June. Participants are advised via group email about the focus of each month’s discussion. Come join in the fun and camaraderie, and gain a greater appreciation of the topic at hand.

This FREE hike will begin at the Quarry Canyon Trailhead. The hike is of moderate difficulty due to the inclines, descents, and rocky or slippery portions of the trail. Participants should bring their own binoculars, water, hiking poles, insect repellent, and sunscreen, and wear sturdy shoes appropriate for the terrain. Spaces on this hike are very limited.

Registration for the hike, which is required, opens on October 15, 2025. Find the full details here.

SAVE THE DATE: Golf cart birding, one of the most popular field trips for HLBWS members, is returning. There will be a “pass through” fee of $5/person (subject to change) to participate in this field trip. The fees cover the costs of renting the golf carts; HLBWS does not retain any of the money. Space is strictly limited on this field trip. Members should be on the look out for more specific information, including how and when to sign up for the trip, in the coming months.

Each Wednesday morning, the team at Birding with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service hosts a Facebook live event with guest speakers who talk about birds and birdwatching. The speakers frequently present current research findings that are absolutely fascinating. Grab a cup of coffee or your favorite morning beverage and settle in to learn about our feathered friends!

The Highland Lakes Birding and Wildflower Society meets on the first Thursday of each month from September through June. Meeting room doors open at 9:30 a.m. for social time and light refreshments. The business meeting starts at 10:00 a.m., and an invited speaker delivers a presentation immediately after the business meeting. If the weather permits, there is a pre-meeting bird walk at 8:00 a.m. at Haley Nelson Park in Burnet.

Please check back in mid-November for updated information about today’s program.

Each Sunday (except for any 5th Sunday in a given month), for $10/person, an expert guide leads a bird walk around the various habitats of Mitchell Lake Audubon Center. Participants may see as many as 30-50 different bird species. The bird walk can last up to 4 hours and is best suited for those aged 15 and up. Tours are limited to a maximum of 10 participants each. For full information and the link to purchase tickets, please see the list of events on this page.

On the second Monday of each month, the Friends of Inks Dam National Fish Hatchery conducts a bird survey led by a team of experts. All HLBWS members are welcome to help with the survey. Be sure to dress for the weather and bring all that you will need for the morning (water, sunscreen, bug spray, binoculars, etc.). For more information about the bird surveys, please use the “Contact Us” form found here.

This bird and plant walk, suitable for ages 8 and up, will be led by birders from the Travis Audubon Society and horticulturists from the Wildflower Center. The registration fee is $15/adult or $8/youth (ages 8-17). The guides will help participants to identify both native and migratory birds and the native plants they rely on for food and shelter. Please bring your own binoculars.

Here is where you can find the link to register for this event.

The HLBWS Study Group meets at 11:00 a.m. on the third Monday of each month, from September through June. Participants are advised via group email about the focus of each month’s discussion. Come join in the fun and camaraderie, and gain a greater appreciation of the topic at hand.

Welcome to 2026, everyone! The Highland Lakes Birding and Wildflower Society typically meets on the first Thursday of each month from September through June. Due to the New Year’s Day holiday, in January 2026 the meeting will be pushed to the second Thursday, January 8, 2026.

Meeting room doors open at 9:30 a.m. for social time and light refreshments. The business meeting starts at 10:00 a.m., and an invited speaker delivers a presentation immediately after the business meeting. If the weather permits, there is a pre-meeting bird walk at 8:00 a.m. at Haley Nelson Park in Burnet.

Please check back in mid-December for updated information about today’s program.

On the second Monday of each month, the Friends of Inks Dam National Fish Hatchery conducts a bird survey led by a team of experts. All HLBWS members are welcome to help with the survey. Be sure to dress for the weather and bring all that you will need for the morning (water, sunscreen, bug spray, binoculars, etc.). For more information about the bird surveys, please use the “Contact Us” form found here.

The HLBWS Study Group meets at 11:00 a.m. on the third Monday of each month, from September through June. Participants are advised via group email about the focus of each month’s discussion. Come join in the fun and camaraderie, and gain a greater appreciation of the topic at hand.

The Highland Lakes Birding and Wildflower Society meets on the first Thursday of each month from September through June. Meeting room doors open at 9:30 a.m. for social time and light refreshments. The business meeting starts at 10:00 a.m., and an invited speaker delivers a presentation immediately after the business meeting. If the weather permits, there is a pre-meeting bird walk at 8:00 a.m. at Haley Nelson Park in Burnet.

Please check back in mid-January for updated information about today’s program.

On the second Monday of each month, the Friends of Inks Dam National Fish Hatchery conducts a bird survey led by a team of experts. All HLBWS members are welcome to help with the survey. Be sure to dress for the weather and bring all that you will need for the morning (water, sunscreen, bug spray, binoculars, etc.). For more information about the bird surveys, please use the “Contact Us” form found here.

The HLBWS Study Group meets at 11:00 a.m. on the third Monday of each month, from September through June. Participants are advised via group email about the focus of each month’s discussion. Come join in the fun and camaraderie, and gain a greater appreciation of the topic at hand.

The Highland Lakes Birding and Wildflower Society meets on the first Thursday of each month from September through June. Meeting room doors open at 9:30 a.m. for social time and light refreshments. The business meeting starts at 10:00 a.m., and an invited speaker delivers a presentation immediately after the business meeting. If the weather permits, there is a pre-meeting bird walk at 8:00 a.m. at Haley Nelson Park in Burnet.

Please check back in mid-February for updated information about today’s program.

On the second Monday of each month, the Friends of Inks Dam National Fish Hatchery conducts a bird survey led by a team of experts. All HLBWS members are welcome to help with the survey. Be sure to dress for the weather and bring all that you will need for the morning (water, sunscreen, bug spray, binoculars, etc.). For more information about the bird surveys, please use the “Contact Us” form found here.

The HLBWS Study Group meets at 11:00 a.m. on the third Monday of each month, from September through June. Participants are advised via group email about the focus of each month’s discussion. Come join in the fun and camaraderie, and gain a greater appreciation of the topic at hand.

SAVE THE DATE! HLBWS members will be showcasing our organization at the Hill Country Lawn and Garden Show. Please check back in late January or early February for updated information.

The Highland Lakes Birding and Wildflower Society meets on the first Thursday of each month from September through June. Meeting room doors open at 9:30 a.m. for social time and light refreshments. The business meeting starts at 10:00 a.m., and an invited speaker delivers a presentation immediately after the business meeting. If the weather permits, there is a pre-meeting bird walk at 8:00 a.m. at Haley Nelson Park in Burnet.

Please check back in mid-March for updated information about today’s program.

On the second Monday of each month, the Friends of Inks Dam National Fish Hatchery conducts a bird survey led by a team of experts. All HLBWS members are welcome to help with the survey. Be sure to dress for the weather and bring all that you will need for the morning (water, sunscreen, bug spray, binoculars, etc.). For more information about the bird surveys, please use the “Contact Us” form found here.

The HLBWS Study Group meets at 11:00 a.m. on the third Monday of each month, from September through June. Participants are advised via group email about the focus of each month’s discussion. Come join in the fun and camaraderie, and gain a greater appreciation of the topic at hand.

The Highland Lakes Birding and Wildflower Society meets on the first Thursday of each month from September through June. Meeting room doors open at 9:30 a.m. for social time and light refreshments. The business meeting starts at 10:00 a.m., and an invited speaker delivers a presentation immediately after the business meeting. If the weather permits, there is a pre-meeting bird walk at 8:00 a.m. at Haley Nelson Park in Burnet.

Please check back in mid-April for updated information about today’s program.

On the second Monday of each month, the Friends of Inks Dam National Fish Hatchery conducts a bird survey led by a team of experts. All HLBWS members are welcome to help with the survey. Be sure to dress for the weather and bring all that you will need for the morning (water, sunscreen, bug spray, binoculars, etc.). For more information about the bird surveys, please use the “Contact Us” form found here.

The HLBWS Study Group meets at 11:00 a.m. on the third Monday of each month, from September through June. Participants are advised via group email about the focus of each month’s discussion. Come join in the fun and camaraderie, and gain a greater appreciation of the topic at hand.

The Highland Lakes Birding and Wildflower Society meets on the first Thursday of each month from September through June. This will be the last regular meeting of the 2025-2026 program year. Monthly meetings will resume on September 3, 2026.

Meeting room doors open at 9:30 a.m. for social time and light refreshments. The business meeting starts at 10:00 a.m., and an invited speaker delivers a presentation immediately after the business meeting. If the weather permits, there is a pre-meeting bird walk at 8:00 a.m. at Haley Nelson Park in Burnet.

Please check back in mid-May for updated information about today’s program.

On the second Monday of each month, the Friends of Inks Dam National Fish Hatchery conducts a bird survey led by a team of experts. All HLBWS members are welcome to help with the survey. Be sure to dress for the weather and bring all that you will need for the morning (water, sunscreen, bug spray, binoculars, etc.). For more information about the bird surveys, please use the “Contact Us” form found here.

The HLBWS Study Group meets at 11:00 a.m. on the third Monday of each month, from September through June. Please note that this is the last meeting of the study group for the 2025-2026 program year. Study group meetings will resume in September, 2026. Participants are advised via group email about the focus of each month’s discussion. Come join in the fun and camaraderie, and gain a greater appreciation of the topic at hand.