Spring has arrived in North Texas, and with it comes one of the most exciting seasons at Dogwood Canyon. As trees leaf out, wildflowers bloom, and insects begin to buzz, migratory birds return to the region to claim territory, find mates, build nests, and raise the next generation.

Among the most anticipated arrivals each year is the Golden-cheeked Warbler, a striking black, white, and yellow songbird that nests only in Texas. Its return to Dogwood Canyon is more than a seasonal milestone, it is a reminder of why habitat protection matters. The warbler depends on a highly specific habitat that includes old-growth Ashe juniper, oak trees, hilly terrain, and the limestone escarpments that make Dogwood Canyon such an important breeding area.

Birders from across North Texas visit for the chance to hear the Golden-cheeked Warbler sing and, with luck, catch a glimpse of one moving through the canopy.…