Birdathon

A fundraiser and celebration during spring migration.

Two billion birds will fly overhead these next few months, and they need our eyes, ears, and hearts. So grab your binoculars and head outside—we’ve got some birds to see and protect!

Protect

Explore

Migrating species must stay on course to reach their spring destination, but habitat loss, light pollution, and collisions with buildings make their journey a dangerous one.

We won’t let these threats to birds go unchecked. Travis Audubon is taking action to protect habitat and make our cities a safer place for birds. And you can join us.

Spend some time birding and you may spot a species you’ve never seen before. Take a guided walk with one of our experts, and your chances are even higher.

We offer paid trips and free bird walks during spring migration. Trip fees support our year-round programming, most of which is no or low-cost for members.

Spring into action for migrating birds.

Donate or start a fundraiser

Grow your life list.

Browse events

Protect 770 Acres of Habitat

• Native plants—Protecting the food chain birds depend on
• Limited disturbances—Creating a safe, quiet space for birds to rest and raise their young
• High-quality nesting sites—Providing clean housing for growing families
• Population surveys—Keeping tabs on species in need

Serve as a Voice for Birds

• Finger on the pulse of legislative threats to birds
• Expert testimony in government hearings
• Bringing issues to the attention of local leaders

Engage the Community

• Public awareness campaigns, like our popular Lights Out signs
• Community events tied to conservation concerns
• Free bird walks to foster appreciation for wildlife

Turn Out Your Lights

Did you know that most birds migrate at night? They often use the moon, stars, and sun to navigate. Light pollution can interfere with these signals and cause a serious problem for birds: they might be thrown off course or become so disoriented that they circle until they fall to exhaustion or collide with buildings.

Turn out all non-essential lights from 11 pm – 6 am every night March 1 – June 30. Join the Lights Out, Texas! movement.

Dress Your Windows

Each year, billions of birds take to the skies for spring and fall migration. This is a great time to see the species that pass through Central Texas; however, millions of our feathered friends will never arrive at their destinations. The culprit: the buildings that dot our horizons. Their deceptive window reflections and disorienting night lighting all too frequently lead to bird injury and death.

Big buildings are not just to blame: Most bird-window collisions happen in residential areas. Your home could be putting birds at risk—but there’s a way to fix it.

• Disrupt window transparency and reflections. It is difficult for birds to distinguish between our windows and the open sky. Decals or window films can help them avoid an unfortunate collision.
• Placing your feeder less than 3 feet or more than 30 feet away from the building has proven to be safest for birds.

Garden for Birds

Make your yard bird-friendly by adding native plants that provide food and shelter. Native plants are hardier, easier to grow, and come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors; see our list of favorites and the birds they attract.

Keep Cats Indoors

Travis Audubon agrees that domestic cats can make wonderful pets. But when allowed to roam outdoors, these introduced predators have a serious negative impact on the environment. Now numbering well over 100 million in the United States, cats kill approximately 2.4 billion birds every year in the U.S. alone, making cat predation by far the largest human-caused mortality threat to birds. We therefore strongly support a “Cats Indoors Only” policy.

We encourage cat owners to look into constructing “catios,” protected patios that allow your pet to enjoy the outdoors without incurring harm to themselves or wildlife.