Hornsby Bend Bird Observatory

Nature is busting at the seams here. Partly due to the biosolids program which makes the ponds hyper nutrient rich. There is a blind there to view the ponds. Many folks drive around the ponds and look. But the Colorado River and riparian trails are a highlight and that is what I like to do.

Great place to go see birds and walk in the trail but if you get to close to the ponds the smell is just awful.

Pros: peaceful, lots of deer, birds and even an armadillo, easy to get to.

Cons: occasional jet noise and if the wind is blowing east you get a not so nice fragrance from the wastewater plant.

Overall a great place to hike!
My wife and I only saw 1 other person on Thanksgiving morning.

Real nice place! Lots of water birds, especially in December and January! It's pretty quiet too, which is nice compared to a lot of other Austin parks that can get really busy. I say quiet, but actually the sound of airplanes overhead and highway traffic isn't quite "quiet." Anyway, it's lovely.