We do activities
We gather occasionally and informally to watch birds, share knowledge, and enjoy the rhythms of West Texas. Whether you're new to birding or have a life list as long as a scissor-tail flycatcher, you're welcome here. Check below for upcoming activities.
Marfa Bird Club @ Casa Piedra
Marfa Bird Club has an exciting event coming up in a couple of weeks. Susan Kirr has kindly invited us to her property in Casa Piedra on Sunday, May 3rd, to check out the birds who are flying through, nesting in the area and hanging out at the pond! It should be a lovely morning!
Because the property is about an hour from Marfa, we will caravan down to make sure no one gets lost, and carpool as much as possible. We will leave Marfa at 8am so that way it's not too early, but we can still catch some of the morning birds.
Susan reports that the ocotillos are green and blooming, plus the catclaw acacia, claret cup and prickly pears are in bloom. We will start out looking for birds in the cactus and then make our way to the pond where there is usually a good amount of bird activity in the trees and in the reeds. We can then follow the water out of the pond to the willow grove and the riparian area beyond. Finally, we'll visit the cottonwood grove along Alamito Creek and head back to the house. Please pack a lunch so we can eat and visit before heading back to Marfa. We will return to town around 1pm.
Sunday, May 3rd, 2026
8:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Meet in Marfa to carpool to Casa Piedra. Details forthcoming.
Lannan Park Birds and Books
Monthly on the last Thursday of the Month
5 pm (winter) 7 pm (summer)
Lannan Park - Marfa, Texas
A gentle evening walk through Lannan Park and a casual reading under the trees. Bring binoculars and a book or notebook to trade sightings, swap stories, and share sketches.
Highest Golf Course in Texas
Monthly on the first Monday of the Month
8 am (winter) 6:30 am (summer)
Marfa Municipal Golf Course in Marfa, Texas
The Marfa municipal golf course offers open skies and tree-lined fairways that are home to owls, flycatchers, and the occasional surprise migrant. We’ll walk slowly, listen closely, and enjoy the long desert light as the day winds down. Bring binoculars, layers, and a sense of calm.
Another activity will be coming soon
Date, time & location - TBD
Join the MBC or check back soon to hear about our next group outing. It’ll be happening in August. It will be a very cool location, with some awesome folks. Stay tuned.
IDEAS FOR FAR WEST TEXAS BIRDING? TELL.
IDEAS FOR FAR WEST TEXAS BIRDING? TELL.
Past Events
Bird walk at DMSP
April 4th, 2026 at the Davis Mountains State Park Interpretive Center, Charlie Ewing, the Interpretive Ranger at Davis Mountains State Park guided us on a bird walk through the park’s several bird blinds, helped us to point our migratory species, and explained the relationships between birds and this unique habitat. Thanks to all the club members and campers that made this activity excellent!
Marfa Bird Club Annual Social
We hosted our first annual Marfa Bird Club Social on Saturday, February 28th, 2026. Thank you to everyone who came out! We loved sharing drinks and plans, and enjoyed hearing everyone’s ideas for the 2026 season.
If you’d like to share additional ideas, please Contact Us.
Marfa Christmas Bird Count
The MBC’s first ever National Audubon Society’s annual bird count took place on December 22, 2025.
Thank you to the 25+ people that came out, the volunteers that took charge, and our partners at Sul Ross’ Borderland Research Institute!
78 species and 5,139 individual birds were counted – notable rarities included Couch's Kingbird, Brown Thrasher, Red-breasted Nuthatch, and Lark Sparrow.
This is a new count circle and we were happy to accept participants of all experience levels, residents and visitors alike.
The Chihuahuan Desert grasslands of the Marfa area provide key wintering habitat for many of North America's grassland birds. Routes covered grasslands, urban parks, water features, neighborhoods and rural roads.
Hike with a Ranger
Saturday, October 18 - Davis Mountains State Park, Texas
The Marfa Bird Club and visitors met at the interpretive center and communed with park guides, then commenced a guided hike and bird watching through the state park to the park’s two bird blinds. NOCS graciously provided lots of great optics for members to use.
Sightings
acorn woodpecker
ruby-crowned kinglet
ladder-backed woodpecker
canyon towhee
woodhouse scrub jay
yellow-rumped warbler
lesser goldfinch
blue grosbeak
black crested titmouse
Chinati Presents: Talk & walk with Tiffany Kersten
August 15 & 16 - CDRI - Fort Davis, Texas
The Chinati Foundation and the Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute (CDRI) invite you to join renowned birder Tiffany Kersten for her “Birdie Big Year: Elevating Women Birders” talk and a birding walk on Friday and Saturday, August 15 and 16. We were so excited to be involved with this experience. It was inspirational to hear about Tiffany’s adventures across the US, overcoming adversity and finding her way as a solo birder. Thanks to all the intrepid birders who came out!
Sightings
cactus wren
turkey vulture
black-throated sparrow
western kingbird
rufous hummingbird
broad-tailed hummingbird
black-chinned hummingbird
lesser goldfinch
house finch
blue grosbeak
Bird Hike on Mimms Ranch
July 23 - Marfa, Texas
Mimms Ranch of the Dixon Water Foundation promotes healthy watersheds through sustainable land management to ensure that future generations have the water resources they need. We had a special guided hike an area of the ranch – not visible from town – with water and diverse bird habitat, perfect for sunrise viewing.
Thanks to all the intrepid birders who came out!
Sightings
scaled quail
loggerhead shrike
western kingbird
barn swallow
red-winged blackbird swainson’s hawk
blue grosbeak
killdeer
blue-winged teal
More past events
Bikes and Birds on 2810
Monthly - Marfa, Texas
Monthly on the last Sunday we ride bikes out Pinto Canyon Road, 10 to 20 miles, and stop along the way to look for Chihuahuan Meadowlarks, Swainson’s Hawks, and Loggerhead Shrikes. Bring snacks, water, binoculars and your bike.
Colima Warbler Backpacking Expedition
May 2025 - Big Bend National Park
Three days and two nights backpacking into the Chisos Mountains, exploring Boot Canyon and Colima Trail, in search of the elusive Colima Warbler. Challenging hiking, limited water, and volatile weather likely. Exciting!
New Year Birding in Hot Springs Arroyo
January 2025 - Chinati Hot Springs
A morning walk through the arroyo below these remote hot springs to observe the local winter birds – Canyon Towhees, Varied Buntings, Vermillion Flycatchers and more – and time to relax and reflect in the healing waters of Chinati Hot Springs. Overnight.