The 2024 Fall Lights Out, Texas! campaign is officially underway, with millions of migratory birds already making their way across the state. As Fall migration reaches its peak, these numbers are anticipated to grow, highlighting the critical importance of minimizing light pollution and taking other proactive measures to ensure migratory birds’ safe passage. 

From hummingbirds and warblers to sparrows and geese, millions of birds migrate across North America every year, covering hundreds to thousands of miles. Most of these birds make their journey at night, visualizing the magnetic pull of the earth and using the moon and stars to set their course. By taking part in Lights Out Dripping Springs and reducing skyglow over Dripping Springs, residents and businesses can help them make it to their destinations safely!
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Accessible Birding

Birdwatching or “birding” is one of the fastest growing hobbies in the United States. Birds are accepting of everyone – they don’t mind your age, socioeconomic status, gender, physical ability, or appearance. According to a 2022 report by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, an estimated 96 million people labeled themselves as birders – that’s almost 1 third of the U.S. population! Read more about the Terry Hershey Texas Women in Conservation honoree, Virigina Rose, Founder and CEO of Birdability. Birdability creates spaces for people with mobility challenges, blindness or low vision, chronic illness, intellectual disabilities, mental illness, neurodivergent, deaf or hard of hearing, or who have other health concern to experience the joys of birding.  
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Westcave Preserve Events

Bird Hikes

Join us for a fun and informative bird hike through Westcave Preserve. These hikes are led by a local expert avian biologist. Westcave Preserve hosts over 170 species of birds throughout the year with both beautiful resident and migrant bird species. All levels of birders are welcome. Binoculars are provided, if needed.
Bird Hikes

Star Parties

Tour the night skies at Westcave Preserve, a dark sky location convenient to Austin. Star Party nights are an ideal opportunity to enjoy an evening gazing at the stars through a high quality telescope.

With local astronomers on hand to answer questions, you'll be delighted and amazed by what you see and learn! The star party will occur in our parking lot on pavement.

Star Party

Guided Tours

Your guide will take visitors along a 1.5-2 hour guided hike through an arid savanna through a limestone crevice down a 100 foot staircase into a sheltered canyon of lush plant life. You will reach the head of the canyon where water falls along a stunning 40-foot cliff that stands replenishing the grotto pool below.
Guided Tours

Christmas Bird Count

 The Christmas Bird Count occurs December 14 to January 5 every season. The practice dates back to Christmas Day 1900, as a way to promote conservation by counting rather than hunting birds. Some counts have been running every year since then, and the CBC now happens in more than 20 countries in the Western hemisphere! This provides an early-winter census of birds over a 24-hour window within a 15-mile radius to inform species populations trends. 
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Keeping Birds Safe from

Outdoor Cats

Protecting wildlife, especially birds, from outdoor cats is a great initiative and can be very beneficial! Here are some helpful tips:

  • Keep Cats Indoors at key times: Encourage cat owners to keep their pets indoors, especially during dawn and dusk when birds are most active.
  • Build Catios: Suggest building outdoor cat enclosures (catios) so cats can enjoy fresh air and sunshine without posing a threat to birds.
  • Use Bird-Safe Collars: Recommend that cat owners use breakaway collars with bells or other bird-safe designs to alert birds of their presence.
  • Install Birdhouses: Encourage the installation of birdhouses that are designed to keep cats out, such as those with entrance holes that are too small for cats.

Destination Dripping Springs-City of Dripping Springs | PO Box 206 509 West Mercer | Dripping Springs, TX 78620 US

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