U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service A Finding Guide to Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge

Recognized as one of the best birding There is an entry fee of $3.00 per vehicle, Shoveler, Gadwall, Blue-winged, Green- spots in the United States, Santa Ana bicycle or pedestrian. Holders of a winged and the occasional Cinnamon National Wildlife Refuge has more valid Federal Senior, Annual or Access Teal, and Mottled Duck. Tiny Least than 400 bird on its checklist, Pass, or a Migratory Bird Hunting and Grebes, a south specialty bird, the second highest total in the entire Conservation Stamp (Duck Stamp) are usually present year round, but National Wildlife Refuge System. The enter for free. Purchasing Duck Stamps populations fluctuate from year to year. most popular time to visit the Lower is an easy way for birders to contribute Several kinds of herons and egrets Rio Grande Valley in Texas is from to habitat acquisition for the National are usually on the lake, and Green late November through April, when Wildlife Refuge System. In the case of Kingfishers are sometimes observed temperatures are mild and the birding Santa Ana NWR, 94.9% of the land was here. Wintering Eastern Phoebes join opportunities are excellent. From May purchased back in 1943 with Duck Stamp Common Yellowthroats (year round) until October, temperatures heat up funds! searching for insects on the lake borders. and the crowds depart, but the birding remains outstanding year round. Santa Ana NWR Birding Hotspots Pintail Lakes Trail/Pintail Lake Visitor Center Complex Tips for an Enjoyable Visit Feeders outside the visitor center are The two-mile Pintail Lakes Trail Most trails are less than two miles. Allow filled from November through mid- generally is the most productive birding a minimum of two hours to look for . April, attracting a number of Refuge trail at Santa Ana NWR. The sprawling Carry a trail map if possible. specialty birds. Look for Green Jay, Pintail Lake Complex consists of several Plain Chachalaca, Golden-fronted different habitats, including Call ahead to confirm scheduled Woodpecker, several species of doves, lakes, marshes, and moist soil units. interpretive programs, recent Altamira Oriole, Long-billed Thrasher, Great Blue Heron, Great and Snowy bird sightings, and other current Buff-bellied Hummingbird, and Olive Egret, Tricolored and Little Blue Heron, events. Birds reported during the Sparrow competing for space with the White-faced Ibis and Black-necked past week can be found at www. always present Great-tailed Grackles, Stilt are relatively common all year. friendsofsouthtexasrefuges.org Red-winged Blackbirds and House In winter, look for up to twelve species Sparrows at the feeders. Check the trees of ducks, grebes, coots and moorhens. Always bring water and sunscreen, surrounding the parking lots for Great Some combination of Green, Belted and and dress in layers. Take frequent Kiskadee, Couch’s Kingbird, Clay- Ringed Kingfishers is reported almost rest stops and drink plenty of water as colored Thrush and other songbirds daily here. Most waterfowl species depart temperatures rise. moving together in mixed-species flocks. in the spring, but Mottled Ducks, Least and Pied-billed Grebes, and Black-bellied Always carry insect repellent, and Chachalaca Trail/Willow Lake Whistling Ducks remain during the remember to spray around your socks This short (1/2 mile), accessible trail is summer to raise their young. Summer and waistband to discourage chiggers. an excellent introduction to Santa Ana also is the best time to look for Least Check yourself for ticks after you leave. NWR. The subtropical and Bitterns and Purple Gallinules. These moss-covered trees provide habitat for secretive birds are tough to find, and your Wear sturdy and comfortable footwear. forest-dwelling species. Birds commonly best bet is to walk along the lakes just Trail surfaces generally are flat and there found year-round along the trail include after sunrise. is little elevation change, but exposed Olive Sparrow, Long-billed Thrasher, roots can cause falls. Great Kiskadee, Plain Chachalaca, In winter, other birds to look for in or Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Green near the include Wilson’s Santa Ana is best explored on foot. Jay, Clay-colored Thrush, Northern Snipe, Long-billed Dowitcher, American The thirteen miles of walking trails Beardless-Tyrannulet, Common Avocet, Stilt Sandpiper, Double-crested lead through a variety of habitat types, Pauraque, and Black-crested Titmouse. Cormorant, American Kestrel, White- from arid brushlands to wetlands to In winter Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher, Blue- tailed Kite, Harris’s Hawk, Loggerhead subtropical riparian along headed Vireo, Ruby-crowned Kinglet Shrike, and Vermilion Flycatcher. the Rio Grande. Most of the best birding and Orange-crowned Warbler are often locations on the refuge are no more than seen here and almost anywhere there are Groove-billed Anis are late spring a two mile round-trip walk from the medium to tall trees. arrivals, and usually nest in trees visitor center. surrounding Pintail Lakes. Occasionally Willow Lake is a shallow lake that Refuge the anis spend the winter at the Refuge in For those who prefer to drive, there staff actively manages, manipulating small to moderate numbers, but summer is a seven-mile wildlife drive open on vegetative cover and water levels birders have a very good chance to find weekends from May through October, seasonally for different bird species. them in appropriate habitat. 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. In winter, scan the lake for American Coot and Common Moorhen, Northern When the trail is adjacent to the Rio the winter and early spring every Tropical Parulas, Couch’s Kingbirds, Grande, there is the possibility to hear morning. This is a good place to take and Northern Beardless-Tyrannulets, or see any of the three U.S. kingfishers, pictures at close range of some of the singing on breeding territories. Least plus Altamira Oriole, Green Jay, and specialty birds at Santa Ana. Grebes, Purple Gallinules, Least possibly a soaring Hook-billed Kite or Bitterns, Mottled Ducks and Black- Gray Hawk. Start or add to your Seasonal Birding Calendar bellied Whistling Ducks tend to their life list, counting birds in two countries WINTER (December – February) young in Refuge ponds and marshes. at once. For an enjoyable and interesting Mild weather plus lots of birders equals Groove-billed Anis disperse on the bi-national birding experience, consider great winter birding opportunities. Look Refuge in family groups, and young taking a guided canoe trip on the Rio for flocks of mixed wintering songbird Harris’s Hawks learn to hunt with their Grande. A partnership program between species (warblers, vireos, kinglets and parents and older siblings. Yellow-green the Refuge and the nonprofit group gnatcatchers) anywhere there is good tree Vireos, a rare but annual visitor, are most Friends of Santa Ana NWR, the half-day cover; colorful residents such as Altamira often found in early to mid-June. Some canoe trips (offered December to April) Oriole, Green Jay, Great Kiskadee, shorebirds and a few songbirds return offer a unique perspective of the Refuge, Golden-fronted Woodpecker and Plain as fall migrants as early as late July and the Rio Grande, and the international Chachalaca near feeding stations; and August. border. waterfowl, wading birds and three kinds of kingfishers in wetland areas.Purple FALL (September – November) Tree Tower/Willow 1/Old Headquarter’s Martins, which are among the earliest Fall migration can be very productive, Area “spring” migrants, are first spotted in but more protracted than in spring. This small area, located 1/3 mile south mid-February. Partly due to the large Swallows and songbirds pass through of the visitor center, is well known numbers of visiting birders, winter is Santa Ana during most of autumn, with among birders as a very productive often the best season to see rare Mexican different species on their own schedules. birding location. The small pond and other tropical bird species, though Shorebirds peak early, Ruby-throated (known as “Willow 1” – part of the rarities can turn up at any time of year. Hummingbirds pass through in large Willow Lake Complex) doesn’t hold numbers in mid-September, followed by water very often or for very long, but SPRING (March – May) the bulk of the Broad-winged Hawks it and the surrounding areas often Spring migration brings thousands during the last few days in September, harbor Clay-colored Thrush, Tropical of raptors, shorebirds, songbirds and and songbirds come through steadily all Parula, Plain Chachalaca, Couch’s waterfowl for brief stays, and summer season. Ducks, grebes and coots start to Kingbird, Great Kiskadee, Green Jay, residents move back to refuge breeding arrive for the winter in October, and most Altamira Oriole, Harris’s Hawk, Great territories. Shorebirds and ducks start have returned to Santa Ana NWR and Horned and Eastern Screech Owl, moving early in March, and several the lower Rio Grande Valley by the end of Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet, Olive species of swallows fill the morning and November. Sparrow, Buff-bellied Hummingbird, evening skies searching for insects. The Brown-crested Flycatcher (summer), Santa Ana Hawk Watch operates daily For Further Information Black-crested Titmouse, and Golden- (weather permitting), 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Call 956/784-7500 or visit www. fronted Woodpecker. Every few years from March 15 to April 15. Uncommon fws.gov/refuges/birding and www. Rose-throated Becards nest at Santa Ana, but resident Hook-billed Kites are friendsofsouthtexasrefuges.org for and Willow 1 is a known nesting location. occasionally counted on the spring Hawk current sightings, directions, maps and Watch, along with up to 12 additional general refuge information. One of the newest birder-friendly raptor species. Swainson’s Hawks structures at Santa Ana NWR is the and Turkey Vultures begin migrating Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge Tree Tower (also known as our Fire through in March, and Broad-winged Route 2, Box 202A Tower), located 1/3 mile south of the Hawks peak in the first week in April, Alamo, TX 78516 visitor center. The 40-foot tower was with 20,000 to 30,000 counted in a single 956/784-7500 constructed for Refuge staff to monitor day some years. Songbirds – vireos, vegetation, conduct raptor surveys, flycatchers, warblers, thrushes, swallows, November 2008 and as a fire tower, but it is open to the etc. - begin trickling through in mid- public most days of the year for wildlife March, slowly but steadily increasing in observation. September - October and number until they peak around the first March - April can be very productive for week of May. Resident birds start nesting migrating raptors. Early in the morning in earnest in late March, with most and in the evenings are the best times to species nesting by May. Nesting birds look for migrating hawks, falcons, kites that are usually easy to see in late spring and vultures, either lifting off for the day include Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Great or setting down for the night. Soaring Kiskadee, Clay-colored Thrush, Olive Hook-billed Kites, a tough bird to see in Sparrow, Brown-crested Flycatcher, any season, is always a possibility to see Groove-billed Ani, White-winged Dove, from the tower during the mornings from Altamira Oriole, and Couch’s Kingbird. 8:30 to 10 a.m. SUMMER (June – August) A photo blind and feeding area is located Resident birds complete their nesting a short distance from the tower. There season in summer, with many raising is a water feature operating year round, two broods. June is a good time of and staff sets out fruit and seed during year to findClay-colored Thrushes,