Texas is blessed with an abundance of wild diversity. Nowhere is this more evident than in the bird life associated with Texas’ wetland resources. Whether it is migrating warblers and vireos along the Gulf Coast in spring, southward migrating shorebirds in July, hummingbirds staging along the coast in fall, or waterfowl in the panhandle and on the coast in winter, bird enthusiasts from duck hunters to birders regard Texas’ bird resources as world class. However, the rich diversity of Texas avifauna comes with an awesome responsibility to conserve the diversity of habitats they require to survive. Conservation of these diverse habitats is the sole purpose of Texas CARE (Conservation of Agriculture, Resources, and the Environment).

The partnerships formed through Texas CARE are focused on the conservation of Texas’ precious wetland resources and the birds and other wildlife that call these habitats home.

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The goal of Texas CARE is to protect and restore 62,500 acres during the next five years. The North American Waterfowl Management Plan and Ducks Unlimited’s Conservation Plan recognize the necessity of federal, state, and private partnerships to fulfill the mission of restoring and enhancing wetland habitat. Ducks Unlimited partners with many public agencies and with the private sector to complete habitat conservation projects for waterfowl and other wildlife.

There are three major focus areas in Texas. Together they provide winter habitat for nearly 10 million ducks and geese. In fact, Texas winters 90% of the Central Flyway population of ducks. In order for Texas to provide for the wintering and migration needs of these birds, Ducks Unlimited and our partners are working to increase the quantity and quality of their foraging habitats. Restoring wetlands will increase the carrying capacity of the habitat, increase the birds’ over-winter survival rate, and improve their ability to reproduce successfully by facilitating good health and condition before their long migration back to the breeding grounds.