Photography at Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge

While living in Texas, I spent much of my free time looking for new places to enjoy wildlife photography. I explored several bird sanctuaries, nature preserves, and state parks along the Texas Gulf Coast. One Sunday, I decided to check out Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge. Even though there are 21 National Wildlife Refuges in the state, I’d never been to one before. After visiting Anahuac, I quickly fell in love with the wildlife refuges and started visiting as many as possible. This page features my Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge photos.

One of my favorite parts about Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge is the Big Slough Auto Tour. Driving along this route provides some of the best opportunities for birdwatching and photography. The paved road takes visitors past several acres of salt marsh and freshwater sloughs. Here, visitors will encounter a wide variety of species.

Like many nature preserves in the area, the American alligator dominates the land. Alligators commonly rest on the banks or swim in the water nearby. In addition to alligators, other common critters found along this route include coyotes, crayfish, and the western cottonmouth.

Although numerous animal species thrive in this wetland, birds are by far the most common. The wildlife refuge provides a sanctuary for hundreds of bird species, including falcons, songbirds, shorebirds, and waterfowl. A few common species spotted at the refuge include the black-bellied whistling duck, crested caracara, loggerhead shrike, and snowy egret.

Support Brazoria NWR

I’m forever grateful for the USFWS and their effort to maintain the land that makes up the National Wildlife Refuge System. If it wasn’t for their hard work, I wouldn’t have this gallery to show off. Therefore, it’s important to get involved to ensure wildlife sanctuaries like this one are preserved for years to come.

There are several ways individuals can get involved, including volunteering. Volunteering for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service can be both fun and rewarding. For more information about the refuge or to learn how you can give back, check out the resources below.