2026 Birding Weekend in Alpine

TOS is thrilled to invite you to attend our winter 2026 birding weekend in Alpine, Texas, “the Gateway to Big Bend.”  Dates for our event are January 15-18, 2026, and registration runs from December 1, 2025, through January 9, 2026.

Field trips will take you to iconic locales such as the Christmas Mountains Oasis and Big Bend National Park, plus private ranches, and hot spots like the Lawrence E. Wood Picnic Area and the University of Texas’ McDonald Observatory. The famous Rarity Round-up and three Texas Century Club trips top off an unforgettable experience.

We have booked rooms at the Quality Inn, 2401 US-90. Alpine. Because of limited availability, a list of alternate lodging options appears in the registration section below.

All events take place at the Alpine Civic Center, 801 W. Holland, Alpine, TX 79830. On Thursday you’ll hear Stephen Falick’s talk on what to expect in this area. On Friday, Sul Ross students will recap their research projects, which are partly funded by TOS, and Saturday’s keynote speaker is Stephen Hummel, Dark Skies Initiative Coordinator at the McDonald Observatory. The Friday and Saturday talks will be preceded by reports of the day’s birding results and Texas Century Club awards will be presented on Friday evening as well, so be sure to attend!

Trip caravans will depart from the Civic Center each morning. Please be prepared to carpool to birding locations and remember to bring your reusable drink containers and walkie-talkies! A map has been created with pins marking the birding locations to be visited to give you an idea of distance from Alpine. We also ask that you bring your reusable beverage containers as there will not be drinks available with the boxed lunches.

Our TOS merchandise will be on sale (new shirts and hats!) and David Sarkozi will have his book, Birds of Texas, on sale. We’ll have a prize drawing at each evening’s presentation, and you’ll have lots of time to network and socialize.

We are eager to explore these West Texas counties and look forward to seeing you there!

-Bob White, TOS Region 3 Director and Planning Committee Co-Chair