which mark the trail.Big Thicket National Preserve
Birding Hot Spots
Big Thicket National Preserve was designated as a "Globally Important Bird Area" in July 2001 by the American Bird Conservancy. This designation underscores the significance of the Preserve in this region of Texas as protected public lands offering habitat for avifauna.
Bird migrations peak between late March and early May in and around the Preserve. Dense tree canopies throughout most of the Preserve make birding a challenge and just that much more rewarding. The last reported sighting of an Ivory-billed Woodpecker in the Big Thicket area was May 1971. The Ivory-billed Woodpecker is officially listed as extinct.
Big Thicket National Preserve is part of "The Great
Texas Coastal Birding Trail - Upper Texas Coast." The Upper
Texas Coast map of this trail lists the Big Thicket Loop
with 19 stops. Look for the "bird in flight" road signs which mark the trail.
Birdwatcher's Trail: At the confluence of Menard Creek and the Trinity River, Menard Creek Corridor Unit. Travel 3.1 miles north of Romayor on FM 2601 to Oak Hill Drive. Panoramic views from high bluffs of expansive sandbars on the east bank of the Trinity River. This site offers good birding opportunities for shorebirds, raptors, and migrant songbirds.
Collin's Pond: The Woodlands Trailhead, Big Sandy Creek Unit, is located on FM 1276 3.3 miles south of U.S. Highway 190 (or 5.9 miles north of Dallardsville). This site offers a variety of sang birds and waterfowl like thrushes, warblers, herons, and egrets.
Cook's Lake: Cooks' Lake is a backwater area just to the north of Pine Island Bayou about one half mile west of the confluence with the Neches River. You will need a boat - preferably a canoe or kayak. This is a visually exciting area, the swamp and floodplain forest communities provide great habitat for herons, egrets, raptors, and swallows.
Kirby Nature Trail: The trailhead is 2.5 miles east of the junction of U.S. Highway 69 and FM 420 on FM 420. The trail will take you through slope forest, baygall, floodplain, cypress slough and stream bank communities. Good place for warblers, vireos, woodpeckers and resident song birds.
McQueen's Landing: Three miles east of Martin Dies Jr. State Park, take FM 777 south to Beech Grove. At Beech Grove take the dirt road toward East End Park until it ends at the Neches River - McQueen's Landing. This small boat launch area just below Steinhagen Reservoir has been a good viewing area for Bald eagles in the winter.
Pitcher Plant Trail: Take FM 1943 4.3 miles east from Warren, Texas. Go south 1.9 miles on the dirt road that follows the eastern Preserve Boundary along the Turkey Creek Unit. This small trail goes through wetland savannah and upland pine habitats with great access to a floodplain community. Good place for woodpeckers and warblers.
Sundew Trail: Take FM 2827 one half mile west off U.S. highway 69 (Big Thicket National Preserve Parkway) and then the dirt road south to the trailhead. This open wetland savannah is good habitat for pine warblers and brown headed nuthatches.