Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge

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Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge

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The Balcones Canyonlands NWR was established to provide critical habitat for two endangered songbirds, the Golden-cheeked warbler and the recently delisted Black-capped vireo. The Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge is home to an incredible variety of wildlife species that depend on the diversity of habitat conserved and protected on the refuge.

09/02/2026

🎃 REFUGE ROUND UP 🎃

Join us at Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge for a day of family-friendly FUN at our annual Refuge Round Up! 🦅🎯🎃

📅 October 31, 2026
⏰ 10:00 AM–2:00 PM
📍 24518 FM 1431, Marble Falls, TX 78654

👻 Costumes are welcome! 👻
Come dressed up and enjoy a fun-filled day celebrating wildlife, conservation, and the great outdoors!

Bring your family, bring your friends, and come Round Up some fun with us! 🤠🎃

We can't wait to see you there! 🦅🎃🌿

08/20/2026

🐛🦋 GOING BUGGY! — Homeschool Field Trip 🦋🐞
Calling all homeschool families! Come explore the amazing world of insects at Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge!

📅 November 5th
⏰ 10:00 AM–1:30 PM
📍 Doeskin Ranch
10645 FM 1174, Bertram, TX 78605

Students will rotate through 6 hands-on stations exploring the fascinating world of insects:
🐜 What Is an Insect?
🐝 Beneficial Insects
🌱 Insect Habitats
🔬 Studying Insects & Insect Families
👀 Insect Senses
🥾 Insect Safari Hike

Geared toward 3rd–5th grade, but all ages are welcome!

⚠️ REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED — THIS EVENT IS BY REGISTRATION ONLY.

To register your homeschool group or individual student, please email [email protected] and include:
• Your name
• How many students will attend
• Ages of the students

Come learn, explore, and get a little BUGGY with us! 🐛🌼🦋
We can't wait to discover the incredible insect world at Doeskin Ranch! 🌿🔍

07/31/2026

🌀 A Chimney Swift’s Busy Day at Balcones Canyonlands NWR! 🌀

Ever wondered what’s happening inside that chimney? 👀

This little Chimney Swift is making a quick trip into the chimney to feed its hungry babies—and then right back out into the sky! 🐦

🔊 Turn up the sound! You can actually hear the babies calling from inside the chimney as mom arrives with a meal. Those little voices are basically saying, “Mom! We’re hungry!” 🐣

Chimney Swifts spend much of their lives flying, catching insects right out of the air. When it’s time to raise their young, they often build their nests inside chimneys, where their specialized feet and claws help them cling to vertical surfaces.

And just like that… delivery complete! 🐛

🎥 Watch (and listen!) as this busy parent disappears into the chimney, feeds her babies, and heads right back out to continue the hunt.
Nature is happening all around us at Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge—sometimes you just have to look up… and listen! 🌿🐦

06/29/2026

What an incredible morning at Doeskin Ranch! 🦅

A huge thank you to the Austin Area Wildlife Rehabilitation for joining us last Saturday for an unforgettable raptor presentation. They brought 11 amazing raptors, and our visitors had the opportunity to learn about these incredible birds, their unique adaptations, and the important work that goes into rehabilitating injured wildlife. It was truly an outstanding program!

We'd also like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our amazing volunteers who gave their time to help make the event run smoothly. We couldn't have done it without your support, and we truly appreciate everything you do for the refuge.

Finally, thank you to everyone who came out to spend the morning with us. We were thrilled to see such a great turnout and so many people sharing their enthusiasm for wildlife and conservation.
Based on the wonderful turnout and positive feedback, we're already looking forward to doing it again in the future! Stay tuned for more exciting programs at Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge.

06/17/2026

📢 NOTICE: TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF DOESKIN RANCH
Doeskin Ranch will be closed to the public on Saturday, June 27, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. due to a fully registered special event.
We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding as we host this program. Doeskin will reopen to visitors at 12:30 p.m.
Thank you for your support of Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge!

06/16/2026

🌿 BECOME A GUIDED HIKE LEADER
Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge

Do you love hiking, wildlife, and sharing nature with others?

Join our team of volunteer Guided Hike Leaders and help connect visitors with the incredible landscapes, wildlife, and conservation stories of Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge.

As a Guided Hike Leader, you will:

✔ Lead visitors on guided hikes through beautiful Refuge lands
✔ Share information about local wildlife, plants, geology, and conservation
✔ Help visitors experience areas of the Refuge not normally open to the public
✔ Inspire the next generation of conservationists and outdoor enthusiasts

What We're Looking For:

• Enthusiasm for nature and conservation
• Comfortable speaking with groups outdoors
• Ability to hike varying terrain and distances
• Commitment to volunteer service and public education

Training Provided

Selected applicants will participate in our annual Guided Hike Leader Training Program and learn about:
• Refuge history and mission
• Local flora and fauna
• Interpretation and public engagement skills
• Hiking safety and leadership techniques

Make a Difference

Our Guided Hike Program offers visitors unforgettable experiences while helping support the Refuge's conservation mission. Guided Hike Leaders play a vital role in connecting people with the natural world and protecting these special places for future generations.

Apply Today!
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScyQ2-NMwlkVKDH9Az9Sia3Qc5mdv5hvpZtN2U6RW9A7owETQ/viewform

Questions?
Stephanie Jones
Volunteer Coordinator
[email protected]

06/02/2026

We recently had a wonderful time celebrating our incredible volunteers during our Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon at Blue Corn Harvest! It was a great opportunity to come together, enjoy delicious food, wonderful company, and recognize the amazing individuals who make such a difference at our refuge. Volunteers were presented with certificates, volunteer hour pins recognizing their dedication, and gifts as a small token of our appreciation for all they do.
We would also like to give a special congratulations to our Volunteer of the Year, Marjie Palmer!

06/01/2026

🌟 VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT 🌟

This month, we are proud to recognize Paula Richards for her incredible dedication and service to Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge!

Paula has been volunteering with the refuge since 2015 and has become an invaluable member of our volunteer family. As an avid guided hike leader, Paula has shared her passion for nature and conservation with countless visitors over the years. This year alone, she led an impressive 17 guided hikes — the most hikes led by any volunteer this year!

Her impact extends far beyond the trails. Paula has played an important role in helping rebuild our Bridges to Birding field trip program and Going Buggy program, helping create meaningful opportunities for kids to connect with wildlife and the natural world. She also consistently lends a helping hand with every field trip, always stepping up wherever needed.

Paula’s enthusiasm, dedication, and willingness to serve make a lasting difference for our visitors, students, and refuge community. Thank you, Paula, for everything you do for Balcones Canyonlands NWR! 💚👏

05/19/2026

***EVENT REGISTRATION IS FULL***
🦉🦅 Join us for a special Raptor Presentation at Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge!
Austin Area Wildlife Rehabilitation will be bringing live raptors, including hawks and owls, for an up-close educational presentation at Doeskin Ranch. This is a great opportunity for families, bird lovers, and wildlife enthusiasts to learn more about these incredible birds of prey and the important role they play in our ecosystem.

📅 June 27, 2026
⏰ 10:00 AM
📍 Doeskin Ranch
10645 FM 1174
Bertram, TX 78605

⚠️ By registration only due to limited parking. Registration is per vehicle. Register at https://www.friendsofbalcones.org/events

We hope to see you there!

05/01/2026

🌟 MAY VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT 🌟
This month, we're thrilled to recognize Bob Crow at Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge! Bob has been volunteering with us since October 2017 and is truly a jack of all trades—he cleans trail restrooms twice a week, leads our Cowbird trapping program, helps on every school field trip, works in the visitor center, and jumps in wherever needed.
In 2024, Bob was named Volunteer of the Year, and last year he surpassed 2,000 hours of service! If you see Bob around the refuge, be sure to give him a huge THANK YOU for all his hard work and dedication! 🙌

Address

24518 E FM 1431
Marble Falls, TX
78654

Telephone

+15123399432

Website

http://www.fws.gov/refuge/balcones_canyonlands/

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