Tours & Programs

Shelia Hargis:

Shelia Hargis has been birding for over 25 years, sparked by early Travis Audubon field trips. Her passion for birds is evident in her deep interest in bird behavior, which she incorporates into her field trips alongside species identification. She finds joy in all birds, even the common ones.

Shelia leads field trips, teaches Travis Audubon classes, and gives birding presentations. She also surveys birds for the City of Austin and the North American Breeding Bird Survey and participates in multiple Christmas Bird Counts each year. A Past President of both Travis Audubon and the Texas Ornithological Society, she remains active with both groups. Shelia received Travis Audubon’s Victor Emanuel Conservation Award in 2020 and became a Capital Area Master Naturalist in 2022.

Bill Reiner / John Chenoweth:

Bill Reiner and John Chenoweth have been birding together since they worked as a team on the refuge from 2001 to 2004. In those years, they mapped territories of the refuge’s two endangered bird species, though their primary task was monitoring and control of the oak wilt fungus. Today they are both employed as biologists with the City of Austin, where they continue to monitor and protect Golden-cheeked Warblers and Black-capped Vireos on lands of the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve. They enjoy challenging each other’s bird and plant identification skills, and sharing with refuge visitors their passion for exploring the natural communities of the Texas Hill Country.

Dennis Palafox: 
Dennis Palafox is a native Texan who moved to Austin in 1975. He holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in Biology and has 40 years of experience in natural resources. Dennis became passionate about birding about 15 years ago after taking Byron Stone’s Sparrow Class. He has expanded his birding knowledge through classes, workshops, and bird surveys, and has birded across Texas, the U.S., Central America, and Europe. Dennis has led field trips for the Travis Audubon Society (TAS) and served as TAS Field Trip Committee Chair. He enjoys helping new birders and believes birding should be a fun, collaborative learning experience. Recently, he has taken up bird photography and aims to photograph every species he sees.

Lee Kothmann: 

Lee Kothmann is a dedicated naturalist and the founder of Restore Texas, a land and wildlife company focused on native habitat restoration. His lifelong love for the land began early on his family’s ranch and through camping adventures across Texas, where he developed a deep appreciation for the state’s natural beauty and ecosystems. Lee’s interest in birds was sparked during his first undergraduate class in ornithology, setting the foundation for a career centered on conservation and wildlife management. For over 15 years, he has conducted bird surveys for leading organizations, including Plateau Wildlife, Audubon, Hill Country Conservancy, The Nature Conservancy, Concordia University, Vanishing Texas River Cruise, and the National Park System. His work has contributed valuable data to support bird conservation and habitat preservation efforts.

Through Restore Texas, Lee combines his expertise in land and wildlife management with a passion for restoring native landscapes. He is committed to helping landowners and conservation groups improve habitat quality, support native species, and promote sustainable land stewardship.

Byron Stone: 

Byron Stone is an Austin physician and dedicated naturalist with a lifelong passion for the natural world. A central Texas native, he has been an avid birder for over four decades, traveling extensively across Texas and beyond to observe and photograph birds and other wildlife. His deep appreciation for nature has driven him to study bird behavior, migration patterns, and habitat conservation.

Byron is an active educator, teaching birding classes for the Travis Audubon Society on sparrows, hummingbirds, and raptors. He is widely recognized for his expertise in sparrow identification and has helped many birders refine their skills in distinguishing these often-challenging species. His commitment to birding education extends beyond the classroom, as he frequently leads field trips and shares his knowledge with both new and experienced birders.

His passion for sparrows led him to develop SparrowFest, a signature winter event at Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge that celebrates the diversity and abundance of sparrows in the region. This event has become a beloved tradition for birders, offering unique opportunities to study these birds in their natural habitat. Through his teaching, leadership, and dedication to conservation, Byron has made a lasting impact on the birding community and the refuge.