Creating Space for Birds and People at BJ Bishop Wetlands

BJ Bishop Wetlands is located a few miles east of Presidio, TX. Fed by the city’s treated wastewater, the wetlands have become a sanctuary for thousands of migrating birds since the site was established in 2015. The site, which is privately owned by Terry Bishop and open to the public for year-round visitation, has become a critical wetland environment—one that is scarce in the region, as wetlands around the Rio Grande and the river itself are drying. 

The project helps enhance the site with a pollinator garden, installation of a bird blind, and works to increase public participation through various programming opportunities. The pollinator garden will help create an even more diverse habitat, a bird blind will protect the birds while allowing for greater public engagement, and public programs will work to create an engaged group of community stewards for monitoring and ongoing care.

Shopping for pollinators at Twin Sisters Natives in Alpine, Texas with nursery owner Patty Manning and Jeff Bennett from Rio Grande Joint Venture.

Press

Big Bend Sentinel, “Pollinator garden project underway at BJ Bishop Wetlands” by Sam Karas. November 2, 2022.

The project is made possible through a Great Texas Birding Classic Conservation Grant with additional support from Audubon Texas, El Paso/Trans-Pecos Audubon Society, and American Bird Conservancy through the Rio Grande Joint Venture.

The Great Texas Birding Classic Conservation Grants are awarded by teams of birders who competing in the Great Texas Birding Classic. Big Bend Conservation Alliance is honored that our project "BJ Bishop Wetlands: Creating Space for Birds and People" was selected by the Upper Texas Coast Regional team, the Free Falling Falcons in the 26th annual event.