Today’s Forecast

69º | Rainy | 87% chance of rain | Sunrise 7:28 a.m. | Sunset 5:42 p.m.

Little bird, big deal

How to help Central Texas’ Golden-cheeked warbler

Although only 4.5 inches long, Golden-cheeked warblers require 5-20 acres of nesting territory. | Photo via U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters

Warm days, bluebonnets patches, the return of paddle boarders to Lady Bird Lake — Austin, spring is here. And that means a very special Central Texan is making his way home.

The Hill Country’s Golden-cheeked warbler is the only bird who nests entirely in Texas. In honor of his homecoming, we’re telling you a little about the tiny gold-and-black resident.

A birdwatcher’s dream

Golden-cheeked warblers nest in juniper-oak woodlands, especially those in ravines and canyons. They survive on bugs and spiders, and rely on thin strips of cedar bark to build their nests.

The birds may be small — 4.5 inches, to be exact — but they can live a surprisingly long time. The oldest known warbler was recorded as almost 11 years old, before being released back into the wild.

In addition to being highly sought after by birdwatchers, a warbler even played a guest role in the television series “Will & Grace.”

Male warblers return to Central Texas starting in late March, and typically stay until summer time before flying south for their vacation homes in Mexico and Central America.

A shot of the Hill Country hills with the sun in the upper left corner — The Golden-cheeked warbler prefers pristine Hill Country habitat with oak, juniper, and cedar trees. | Photo by ATXtoday

Conservation efforts

Golden-cheeked warblers are currently on the Endangered Species List, and have been losing their habitat since the late 1800s, as trees were cleared for local development. Although the birds are small, each pair needs a nesting territory of 5-20 acres.

The largest loss has been in Travis, Williamson, and Bexar counties — no surprise there, as the Austin metro population has grown 1,500% since 1950.

Although the bird’s population has grown in recent years, it is still endangered. Here are some ways you can help them:

Make your windows bird-safe
Maintain old-growth junipers on your property
Participate in Lights Out actions
Support local conservation groups
More tips here

Asked

Have you spotted a Golden-cheeked warbler?

A. Yes, and it was amazing
B. No, but I’d like to

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Events

Thursday, March 23

Bourbon & Biscuits: Rare Whiskey and Biscuit Pairings | Thursday, Mar. 23 | 4-10 p.m. | Stella San Jac, 310 E. 5th St., Austin | $31-$50 | What’s more southern than a tasting menu of bourbon, whiskey, and house-made biscuits?
Elle King: “A-Freakin-Men Tour” | Thursday, Mar. 23 | 8 p.m. | ACL Live, 310 W. Willie Nelson Blvd., Austin | $40 | Grammy nominee Elle King will perform her signature country music sound onstage.
Joanne Shaw Taylor | Thursday, Mar. 23 | 8 p.m. | The Paramount Theatre, 713 Congress Ave., Austin | $39-$59 | Get ready for a soulful Thursday with hits from Joanne’s latest, “The Blues Album.”

Friday, March 24

Jason Cheny: Live In Austin | Friday, March 24-Saturday, March 25 | Times vary | Vulcan Gas Company, 418 E. 6th St., Austin | $20-$25 | Cheny’s comedy resumé includes opening for Ronny Chieng and Iliza Shlesinger.

Saturday, March 25

Work In Progress Fitness and Wellness Festival | Saturday, Mar. 25 | 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. | The Long Center for the Performing Arts, 701 W. Riverside Dr., Austin | Free | Learn about fitness, mindfulness, and recovery at this daylong workshop.
House of San José | Saturday, Mar. 25, Saturday, Apr. 15 | 7-10 p.m. | Hotel San José, 1316 S. Congress Ave., Austin | Free | Dance to DJ Just Jim at this party in the hotel’s courtyard.

We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

Click here to have your event featured.

100+ MORE EVENTS

News Notes

Weather

82º | Morning thunderstorms | 36% chance of rain

Award

The LBJ Foundation announced Willie Nelson will be the next recipient of the LBJ Liberty & Justice for All Award, a recognition of public service. The red-headed stranger is being honored for his philanthropy toward victims of natural disasters and food insecurity.

Civic

Since last month’s winter storm, Austin Resource Recovery has collected 166,000+ tons of debris — 27 times more than they would typically collect in a year. If you still have some debris to dispose of, here’s how to have it picked up.

Coming Soon

Holiday on 7th, a cocktail bar and restaurant from the team behind Olamaie, opens this Friday, March 24. The new East Austin location will offer a range of cocktails and a menu of sharing plates and entrees. (Austin American-Statesman)
Aaron Franklin’s latest project, a rehabilitation of Uptown Sports Club at 1200 E. 6th St., is almost ready for the public. The New Orleans-inspired bar and grill will open on Monday, March 27, and is opening in partnership with Mohawk Austin’s James Moody. (Austin American-Statesman)

Sports

Austin FC acquired 29-year-old defender Aleksandar Radovanović, a center back, on loan until June 30, 2023. The athlete began his career in Serbia, and is coming from Belgian club KV Kortrijk.

Ranked

Texas is the No. 3 best state for camping, according to a new ranking from yard care company Lawn Love. The Lone Star State earned its laurels in part for its number of campgrounds and camping supply stores.

Today Is

National Puppy Day. This is your sign to support Austin Pets Alive!, and maybe consider adopting a furry family member. If you already have a pup in your life, why not treat them to a new floofy bed?

Shop

It’s that time of year to freshen up your home’s aroma, and our online shop (Six & Main) has the perfect candles. Drift away to scents such as woods + berries by The Rustic House or ripe juniper in a reusable vessel by Plant Based Candles. That smells just about right.

Sports

🏎 Start your engines

Start your engines: NASCAR comes to COTA this weekend

A line of cars passing on a race track in front of a crowd at COTA.

Where else but COTA can you watch NASCAR and armadillo racing? | Photo courtesy of NASCAR at COTA & Adam Glanzman

Hear that roar? The EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix begins this Friday, March 24, and it’s promising an action-packed weekend at Circuit of the Americas.

Over the course of three days, attendees can expect to watch practice laps, qualifying rounds, and official races for the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series, and NASCAR Cup Series.

The race weekend boasts big names like seven-time NCS champion Jimmie Johnson, former F1 world champions Kimi Räikkönen and Jenson Button, and Ross Chastain.

Curious what else will be happening at the track? Here are just a few other spectacles on the schedule:

A Darius Rucker concert
Armadillo racing
Aquatic acrobatic show
A watermelon drop from the COTA tower
A Ricky Bobby impersonator
The ATX BBQ Showdown

Tickets are still available for the captivating COTA event, starting at $99 for a weekend package or $70 for a Sunday pass.

Answered

On Tuesday, we asked you about electric vehicles. Here’s what you said:

“Plug in EVerywhere allows us to barely use our home charger. Only issue comes when you drive outside Austin for day trips.” — Eddie

“I love my car. I never have a problem finding chargers locally or when traveling to large city. I do have to map out a route with chargers in case I need additional charge, but my car does it for me. I have saved a bundle not having to pay for gasoline.” — Paula C.

“Easily chargeable in Austin but not so outside of Austin. Driving to Houston is problematic because there are no charging stations after Bastrop (at the Buckey’s) until reaching Katy, Texas.” — Carmen A.

“The perfect city to own an EV vehicle!” — Ken B.

Share your thoughts

The Wrap

Today’s Edition By:
London

From the Editor

Believe it or not, I’d never heard of the Golden-cheeked warbler until I moved to Indiana. I met a birdwatcher who told me he hoped to someday check it off of his “life list.”

Are you a birder? I’d love to know your favorite local places for some morning birdwatching.

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