Hornsby Bend Bird Observatory

Hornsby Bend Bird Observatory is a birding site in Texas, part of the Austin Water Center for Environmental Research, dedicated to the study and enjoyment of the birds that gather along the Colorado River.

About Hornsby Bend Bird Observatory

Run as part of the Center for Environmental Research's public education program, Hornsby Bend welcomes birders to watch for purple martins, hawks and shorebirds across its wetlands and ponds. The site hosts monthly birding events, an annual World Migratory Bird Day celebration, and participates in the Christmas Bird Count each winter.

Location & getting there

The observatory sits east of Austin, Texas, on land also used as a wastewater treatment facility, which shapes its access rules.

Visiting Hornsby Bend Bird Observatory

The site is open daily from 6am to 9pm, though photo ID is required at the gate since it shares land with a working wastewater facility; the Center for Environmental Research building itself, with restrooms, is open 7am to 6pm. Dogs are welcome on a leash. Check the observatory's website for the current schedule of guided walks and events.

See your named star from here

After a day watching purple martins and shorebirds at Hornsby Bend, the same open Texas sky is a good place to look for a star named in someone's honour after dark. Find its coordinates in the star catalogue, or start a new dedication through Star Register's packages.