Friends of Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge

08/27/2026

It's hard to believe, but fall Migration is already in full swing! Check out birdcast.org for live maps, migration alerts, and forecasts, and sign up for Email Migration Alerts - https://birdcast.org/migration-tools/local-migration-alerts/. Dim lights at night, Treat your window by day to help migrating birds avoid glass collisions, and make it to their destination safely.

08/26/2026

08/26/2026

Hummingbirds.

08/17/2026

🦆 UPDATE: More than 200,000 people spoke up for Prairie Pothole wetlands, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says that, at this time, no further action is planned while it reviews the information received.

This is welcome news for the voluntary wetland easements that protect some of North America’s most important waterfowl habitat. The existing rule provides a clear, science-based process for calculating drain tile setbacks, protecting conserved wetlands while providing certainty for landowners.

Thank you to everyone who submitted comments and urged USFWS to uphold the integrity of these longstanding conservation agreements. The response made clear that people across the country expect these investments to continue delivering lasting benefits for wildlife, landowners, communities, and future generations.

The Refuge Association will continue following this issue closely and advocating for strong, lasting protections for the wetlands of the Prairie Pothole Region.

08/12/2026

NICE!! Wildlfowers are wonderful. The Marble Falls area often has such great shows of Wildflowers.

One of the informational displays at Mormon Mill Nature Park, Marble Falls. These displays feature photos by Meghan James.

The park surrounds a palustrine wetland.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palustrine_wetland

08/11/2026

Local Organization, Save our Streams is activitily working to help protect the Golden-cheeked Warbler. Follow them for updates on the White Rock Project.

📣 Chris Milam and White Rocks Entertainment LLC want to build a 10,000-seat amphitheater, luxury hotel, and 650 condos on Dittmar Hill — surrounded on three sides by the 4,000-acre Barton Creek Habitat Preserve, home to the endangered Golden-cheeked Warbler. 🐦

This isn't Milam's first try — Austin already rejected his "Violet Crown Amphitheater" plan in 2022. Now, partnering with UMusic Hotels (backed by Universal Music Group, the world leader in music entertainment), he's back under a new name with the same footprint, seeking city water service and a TCEQ wastewater permit to irrigate treated sewage onsite.

Concert noise and light pollution next to critical warbler habitat? Not on our watch. 🐦‍⬛💚

TCEQ Commissioners approved a contest case hearing request last month. Save Texas Streams, SOS Alliance, The Nature Conservancy, and local landowners are fighting back.

Stay tuned for ways YOU🫵 can help stop this project.

08/10/2026

I admit it is hard right now to imagine the end of summer and cooler temperatures- but school is starting, summer highs will drop below 100 and our favorite time of year will be here before you know it- Fall. Fall at BCNWR means it is the official start of Hiking Season!

Most of our events are FREE because this is your Nearby Nature.

We will officially kick off our fall events in October and you are needed to make that happen. You can ensure 1,000's of others can explore and appreciate the Refuge that you love.

https://secure.friendsofbalcones.org/forms/84?utm_source=facebook

Donate by August 31st to support Fall event needs.

Thank You