Located in the middle of Blanco County, Ranch Rio Vada is a private ranch owned by Jeff and Pam Autrey and nestled in the Live Oak-Ashe Juniper hills of the Edwards Plateau, just west of Johnson City. With nearly a half-mile of access along the Pedernales River, a nice diversity of migrating birds, as well as summer residents, could be present during this Birdathon. The river crossing on the property also boasts a bit of interesting history, as it was an important crossing for stagecoaches and horses.

During this Birdathon, we will target Osprey, Painted and Indigo buntings, Crested Caracara, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Summer Tanager, Rufous-crowned and Black-throated sparrows, and Bell’s Vireo. We will also keep our eyes and ears open for neotropical migrants, such as Nashville, Wilson’s, and Yellow warblers; Mourning and Magnolia warblers have also been recorded on the property. If we’re lucky, other possibilities include: Orchard Oriole, Zone-tailed Hawk, Blue Grosbeak, Pyrrhuloxia, Inca Dove, Common Ground-Dove, and Northern Bobwhite.

This team will bird on Tuesday, April 21, 7:30 AM – 11:30 AM. Registration for this team is $50, but you are welcome to provide an additional donation. Limited to 15 registrants. Further details will be provided to registrants prior to the Birdathon. Please contact Amy Sugeno at amysugeno@gmail.com for questions.

About the Leader: Amy Sugeno was a wildlife biologist for over 16 years before changing careers to become a mental health therapist. She spent most of her biology career working with bats, songbirds and waterfowl, and rare species. Amy leads regular birding walks with TAS and Westcave Preserve, and leads a tour each year at the Balcones Songbird Festival. Amy primarily works as an ecotherapist, leading mindfulness in nature walks and retreats and speaking and teaching about ecotherapy, both in Texas and out-of-state.

Register here!
Note: When you are prompted to credit the registration to a fundraiser, please pick the team for which you are registering.

See this team’s fundraising page here!