Texas Bird Sites
The Texas Panhandle lies within the Central Flyway, a major north-south migration route for birds. It is located at 1020 West longitude within the divide area between the arid regions to the west and the better-watered landscapes to the east. Because of its location, the Texas Panhandle enjoys an exciting bird migration and a plant diversity that includes representatives from both arid and humid regions.
Near the cities of Amarillo and Canyon (combined population 200,000) are several publicly-owned and managed natural areas:
- Buffalo Lake National Wildlife Refuge (14 miles southwest of Canyon)
- Caprock Canyons State Park (100 miles southeast of Amarillo),
- Lake Meredith National Recreation Area and Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument (35 miles northeast of Amarillo),
- Palo Duro Canyon State Park (12 miles east of Canyon), and
- Wildcat Bluff Nature Center (northwest edge of Amarillo).
There are, in addition, several smaller natural areas such as the Taylor Lakes Wildlife Management Area in Donley County, Lake McClellan in Gray County, and the Gene Howe Wildlife Management Area in Hemphill County.
For the naturalist, these public recreation areas provide opportunities for hiking, camping, birding, photography and other non-consumptive uses of the natural landscape.
Buffalo Lake National Wildlife Refuge
Buffalo Lake National Wildlife Refuge consists of 7,664 acres of lake, marshes, woodland habitats, and short-grass prairie habitats. The lake is an important wintering and stopover area for migrating waterfowl in this semi-arid region. Because the lake level is dependent on precipitation events and, therefore, unreliable, water sources for wildlife and habitat for waterfowl include artificial ponds, water tanks, and the artificially-maintained Stewart Marsh. Stewart Marsh is flooded in the Spring and again in the Fall, just before the migrating waterfowl arrive.
The Refuge contains some of the best remaining short-grass prairie in the U.S. and includes 175 acres designated as a National Natural Landmark. This ecosystem has been maintained by grazing cattle. A walking trail through a Black-tailed Prairie Dog Town, located on Farm-to-Market Highway 168, is an unexpected aspect of the Refuge.
Hiking, Picnicking, Photography and Birding are encouraged at the Refuge. Additional information is at
http://www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/texas/buffalo.html
The Refuge contains some of the best remaining short-grass prairie in the U.S. and includes 175 acres designated as a National Natural Landmark. This ecosystem has been maintained by grazing cattle. A walking trail through a Black-tailed Prairie Dog Town, located on Farm-to-Market Highway 168, is an unexpected aspect of the Refuge.
Hiking, Picnicking, Photography and Birding are encouraged at the Refuge. Additional information is at
http://www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/texas/buffalo.html
Caprock Canyons State Park
Caprock Canyons State Park is a scenic 15,314 acres of canyons, caprock escarpments, rolling plains grasslands, and riparian habitats. The park, located just north of the town of Quitaque, in the southeastern quarter of Briscoe County, opened to the public in 1982. Lake Theo, a manmade lake in the park, provides deepwater habitats for migrating waterfowl and a permanent water source for other birds and wildlife. In 1998, the descendants of the Charles Goodnight Bison Herd came to live at the park. The park is also home to a herd of Pronghorn.
The cultural and natural history of Caprock Canyons is provided at www.tpwd.state.tx.us/park/caprock/caprock.htm.
The cultural and natural history of Caprock Canyons is provided at www.tpwd.state.tx.us/park/caprock/caprock.htm.
Lake Meredith National Recreation Area and Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument
The National Recreation Area and the Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument lie along the shores of Lake Meredith, which was created by the constructed Sanford Dam on the Canadian River. The area surrounding the lake includes scenic buttes, pinnacles, sand hills, and grass-covered slopes, as well as the streams and riparian areas of the Canadian River’s tributaries. Soapberry, willow and cottonwood trees are prominent along the watercourses while yucca, cacti and mesquite predominate on the drier slopes and upland areas.
Additional information about the Recreation Area is located at www.nps.gov/lamr/ and about the Alibates Flint Quarries at www.nps.gov/alfl/index.htm.
Additional information about the Recreation Area is located at www.nps.gov/lamr/ and about the Alibates Flint Quarries at www.nps.gov/alfl/index.htm.
Palo Duro Canyon State Park
The State Park consists of 16,402 acres in Armstrong and Randall counties and begins 12 miles east of the city of Canyon. The land for the original park was deeded by private landowners in the early 1930's and the State Park officially opened on July 4, 1934.
The park is located near the head of Palo Duro Canyon, an 800 ft deep canyon incised into the caprock of the southern High Plains. The walls of the canyon expose several rock formations dating back to the late Permian, more than 230 million years ago. The rim of the canyon is formed by a resistant unit called the Ogallala Formation.
Although little of the High Plains short grass prairie is found within the park, the tall grasses of the Rolling Plains flourish in the floor of the canyon. Large cottonwood, hackberry, and soapberry trees demarcate the Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River and its tributaries. Drier upland areas support an expanse of grasses, shrubs, and two species of junipers.
Additional information about Palo Duro Canyon State Park can be found at www.tpwd.state.tx.us/park/paloduro.
The park is located near the head of Palo Duro Canyon, an 800 ft deep canyon incised into the caprock of the southern High Plains. The walls of the canyon expose several rock formations dating back to the late Permian, more than 230 million years ago. The rim of the canyon is formed by a resistant unit called the Ogallala Formation.
Although little of the High Plains short grass prairie is found within the park, the tall grasses of the Rolling Plains flourish in the floor of the canyon. Large cottonwood, hackberry, and soapberry trees demarcate the Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River and its tributaries. Drier upland areas support an expanse of grasses, shrubs, and two species of junipers.
Additional information about Palo Duro Canyon State Park can be found at www.tpwd.state.tx.us/park/paloduro.
Wildcat Bluff Nature Center
Wildcat Bluff was established in the early 1990's to provide a readily accessible natural area for residents of Amarillo to enjoy, treasure, and learn from. The area consists of about 600 acres of grasslands, bluffs, and ephemeral streams, including groves of large cottonwoods along a stretch of West Amarillo Creek.
The nature center offers guided hikes by trained volunteers, scheduled trips for students and youth groups, lectures and workshops, and research opportunities. Additional information about Wildcat Bluff Nature Center can be found at www.wildcatbluff.org.
The nature center offers guided hikes by trained volunteers, scheduled trips for students and youth groups, lectures and workshops, and research opportunities. Additional information about Wildcat Bluff Nature Center can be found at www.wildcatbluff.org.
