Austin Nature & Science Center Exhibits

The Austin Nature & Science Center offers a variety of educational science and art exhibits all year-round. Exhibits are open to the public during regular visitor hours with no entry fee, but donations are accepted. For more information, please call Visitor Services staff at 512-974-3888.

Banner that read "Wildlife", with a picture of an owl's face.

Wildlife Exhibits

Learn about a wide variety of native wildlife in our outdoor and indoor exhibits. Meet the animals that call ANSC home and earn how you can help our animal ambassadors.

Visitors can meet and learn about a wide variety of amazing Texas wildlife here at the Austin Nature and Science Center. Some of these animals are former pets that have imprinted on humans and have not developed the proper skills needed to survive in the wild, while many others have sustained injuries or illness that prevent them from successfully returning to life in the wild. We partner with licensed rehabilitators to provide a permanent, safe, and comfortable home for the remainder of these animals' lives. Here we can provide them daily care, quality food, enriching experiences, and veterinary assistance that all promote optimal welfare while they serve as Animal Ambassadors for their species.

Wildlife Exhibits are open to the public during regular visitor hours.

Through a federal permitting system, we have the great privilege to provide homes to injured Central Texas birds. Many have suffered life changing injuries caused by hunting accidents and habitat degradation from urbanization. Here they can serve as animal educators, helping the public connect with and learn about their wild counterparts. Visitors get the rare opportunity to experience them up-close and learn how to coexist with these incredible birds of prey.

There are so many wonderful small creatures that call Austin home, and you will meet some of them here in the Small Wonders exhibit! These critters can all be found in the wild within 100 miles of Austin, and some of them can even be found right here at the Austin Nature & Science Center. Sometimes hidden, camouflaged, or just small enough to miss, here you can catch a glimpse of these special creatures and learn about their role in our ecosystem.

We are home to a variety of animals that can no longer live on their own in the wild. Many were imprinted on humans, orphaned, or injured and need our help to have a safe and healthy life. Here they receive dedicated daily care from our wildlife keepers. Visitors can learn all about Austin wildlife and how to respect them and their habitat by being good neighbors.

How to support our resident wildlife:

Monetary donations are always welcome!

When making a monetary donation please specify that it is for "ANSC Wildlife Supplies." Mail or drop off your donation to: Austin Nature & Science Center, 301 Nature Center Drive, Austin, TX 78746

Supply donations are always welcome!

We are always in need of supplies to support wildlife care. Donations of new (never used) items may be dropped off at the Visitor Pavilion during business hours. Receipt for donation available on request. See list below for most needed supply donations. For questions, please call 512-974-3894.

Food

Dry Dog Food (Purina adult maintenance)

Canned Cat Food (Purina ProPlan EN Gastroenteric)

Canned Cat Food (Friskies multi-flavors, HEB multi-flavors)

Timothy Rabbit Pellets (Mazuri, Oxbow, Kaytee)

Aquatic Turtle Food Sticks (Mazuri or Tetra ReptoMin)

Pigeon/Dove Seed (Mazuri, Hagen)

Wild Bird Seed Mixes (Wagner’s Deluxe Blend)

Tropical Fish Food Flakes (TetraMin)

Bloodworms (Frozen)

Meal Worms (bagged)

Super Worms (bagged)

Timothy Hay (bagged)

Red Wiggler Worms

Nightcrawlers

Consumables

REScue Disinfectant Cleaner & Deodorizer

Chlorhexidine Gluconate 2% (Durvet)

Distilled White Vinegar

Laundry Detergent (not HE type)

Dawn Dishwashing Liquid

SeaChem Prime Aquarium Water Conditioner

Dish Sponges

Dish Brushes/Scrubber

Supplies and Equipment

2’ x 4’ Plywood Sheets

2” x 4” Wood Beams

Carefresh Pet Bedding

Pine or Aspen Wood Shavings

Brown Butcher Paper Rolls

Pine Cones (bagged, unscented and not decorated)

Cypress Mulch (2 or 3 cubic foot bagged)

Organic Topsoil (2 or 3 cubic foot bagged)

Seashells (bagged, pre-cleaned)

Mini Ceramic Heat Emitter bulbs (150 W)

Mercury Vapor Bulbs - Arcadia D3EVO

50W Halogen Basking Spot Lamps

Small Mammal Chew Toys (gerbils/rabbits)

Naturalistic Reptile Water Bowls (various sizes)

Pet Food Bowls (stainless steel)

Heavy Duty Plastic Plant Saucers

Boomer Ball (10" -20” size of smaller)

Kong Toys (small or medium size)

Bird Toys

Rabbit Toys

Reptile Hides

Digital Kitchen Scale

Handheld Vacuum (cordless)

Towels (hand or bath sized)

Storage Containers (various sizes)

Aquarium Supplies:

Gravel and Stones

Air Pumps (battery powered or plug-in)

Air Stones (with or without power supply)

Algae Scrapers

Glass Scrubbers

Natural-looking Decorations

Plastic Plant Decorations

Thank you for your donation and support!

Banner that reads "Dino Pit" with a picture of sand and shovels and a fossil.

The Dino Pit

The Dino Pit is an outdoor paleontology exhibit, built for permanent display at the Austin Nature & Science Center (ANSC) located in Zilker Park. The project was developed and built through a collaborative effort of the ANSC, The University of Texas at Austin´s Texas Memorial Museum, the Austin Community Foundation, and the architectural firm of Graeber, Simmons & Cowen, which also served as project manager. The exhibit is designed to instruct visitors about paleontology through hands-on educational experience.

Dino Pit stone sign and wall with mastodon rib cage sculpure

Artist John Maisano was instrumental in the development and completion of the Dino Pit project, working to transform a large area at ANSC into an educational dig site for finding fossil casts. Maisano modeled the casts using many of the important and unique specimens from the collections of the Texas Memorial Museum. He created an 8' x 6' mammoth rib cage cast in bronze, for the children’s entrance to the site, as well as 19 oil paintings depicting the creatures the children will find as they explore the pit.

Other features of the exhibit include dinosaur trackways, a field collection display that highlights fossils found at the 301 Congress Avenue construction site several years ago, and an observation deck. The exhibit is incorporated into the visitor programs currently offered at ANSC including youth programs, school field trips, camps, birthday parties, adult workshops and teacher training.

Exhibit Sponsors

Paleontologists Circle

Ernest and Sarah Butler
Natural Science Guild of Austin
The City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department
The University of Texas at Austin

Explorers Circle

Ben and Joanie Bentzin
Paul Koehler Brown
The Webber Family Foundation
Energy Engineering Associates
H-E-B
Texas Gas Service

Curators Circle

Austin Commercial, LP
The Kodosky Foundation
Crescent Real Estate Equities
Graeber, Simmons & Cowan
Robert and Bettie Girling
Austin Community Foundation
Mattson-Mchale Family Foundation
William and Bettye Nowlin
Anne Elizabet and Will Wynn

Diggers Circle

Austin Natural Science Association

Platinum Sponsors

i2i
Fugro
Convergence Institute
TBG Partners Baker-Aicklen & Associates, Inc.

Gold Sponsors

McKinney Drilling
Steel Design, Inc.
Tri DalStephen and Stefani Griffith
BAiley and Beverly Griffith

Silver Sponsors

Capital Equipment
Capital Aggregates

Bronze Gold Sponsors

Texas Industrial Mechanical
Bank of America

Support

Austin Bridge and Road
SBC Foundation
Aaron Concrete
Seasha Pools
Barton Springs Nursery
Capital City Steel
TXI

Take a virtual tour of the Dino Pit

Banner that reads "Naturalist Workshop" with a picture of a natural history museum exhibit.

The Naturalist Workshop

The Naturalist Workshop at the Austin Nature & Science Center is unlike most natural history museums you've visited. Here you are encouraged to touch, investigate, and learn about the many different collections we have on display. How much does a sugar pine cone weigh? Can you fit together a cow femur and pelvis? How many kinds of minerals can you see in one rock? Tables laden with rocks, minerals, fossils, bones, plants, insects, and more provide opportunities for all ages to get in touch with items straight from nature. Investigation tools and activities are available to help you learn more about what you see. Displays rotate so make sure you come back to see what new collections are out in the Naturalist Workshop.

Room and window with natural history items

The Trade Counter

Trade Counter sign and cases with nature items

If you find yourself regularly discovering loose fossils, shells, rocks, or insect boxes clattering about in your washing machine, you or your loved one may be a naturalist.

The Trade Counter is where naturalists of all ages are welcome to sit down and share their discoveries with our Trade Counter volunteers, staff, and fellow nature enthusiasts. One can bring nature items, science reports, or scientific illustrations and art in exchange for points, which may then be used to buy a host of other things—rocks and minerals, fossils, insect collections, bones, shells, crafts, etc. For a list of what is accepted for trade at the Trade Counter please refer to the Trade Counter brochure (PDF) or call 512-974-3888. Points may also be earned by reporting a nature sighting from the ANSC grounds, entries on iNaturalist (see following section) or for accomplishing the monthly puzzle (questions relating to one or more specimens, rotating monthly).

The Trade Counter is open:

Wednesday - Friday 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Saturday 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Sunday 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Trade counter Policies

Daily Trade Limit: Traders are limited to 5 unique objects per day.

Things we CANNOT accept:

Anything from our site. We are a Nature Preserve and you cannot collect from preserves.
Anything from birds. Many birds are under a variety of legal protections and are prohibited from being collected, so we discourage visitors from bringing any bird objects to trade. This protects us and our visitors.
Anything from humans (including anthropological artifacts, such as arrowheads). Similar to birds there are many laws prohibiting the trade, sell, and collection of human artifacts.
Anything purchased or endangered.
Anything that was intentionally killed for bringing to trade.

Trade Counter Points System:

Why an Urban Forest is Vital

Austin’s urban forest—its tree canopy—is vital to water and air quality and helps mitigate the urban heat island effect. It’s a healthy and sustainable mix of trees, vegetation, and other components that comprise a contiguous and thriving ecosystem valued, protected, and cared for by the City and all of its citizens as an essential environmental, economic, and community asset.

Funding for the trail is generously provided by a City of Austin - Urban Forest Grant. The Urban Forest Grant (UFG) has been established to promote conservation and improvement projects that benefit Austin’s urban forest.

The Forest Trail Trees

American Smoke Tree

American Smoke Tree (Cotinus obovatus)

6' - 12' (1.8m -- 3.7m)
Large flower clusters resemble "smoke"
Deciduous Caducifolio

Racimos de flares grandes que semejan ''humo''

Artwork © Robert O’Brien.

American Sycamore

American Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis)

75' - 100' (22.9m - 30.5m)
Tallest deciduous tree in the United States
Deciduous Caducifolio
2nd generation "Moon Tree" from Apollo 14 Mission

Árbol caducifolio más alto en los Estados Unidos
Generación "Arbol de la Luna" de la Misión Apollo 14

Artwork © Robert O’Brien

Anacacho Orchid Tree

Anacacho Orchid Tree (Bauhinia lunarioides)

10' - 15' (3m - 4.6m)
Unique foliage and showy white, sometimes pink, flowers
Deciduous Caducifolio

Follaje único con flores blancas vistosas, algunas veces rosas

Artwork © Robert O’Brien

Anagua

Anaqua (Ehretia anacua)

25' - 40' (7.6m - 12.2m)
Great source of nectar for pollinators and fruit for birds
Semi-evergreen Semi-perennifolio

Gran fuente de néctar para polinizadores y fruta para los pájaros

Artwork © Robert O’Brien

Ashe Juniper

Ashe Juniper (Juniperus ashei)

25' - 35' (7.6m - 10.7m)
High wildlife value; can be used for a windbreak and screening
Evergreen Perennifolios

Gran valor para la fauna silvestre
Puede ser usado como rompe-vientos y protección

Artwork © Robert O’Brien

Bald Cypress

Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum)

75' - 100' (22. 9m - 30.5m)
Conifer that thrives in moist, deep soils; known for their "knees" that are a special kind of root
Deciduous Caducifolio

Conífera que crece mucho en suelos húmedos, profundos
Conocida por sus "rodillas"que son una raíz especial

Artwork © Robert O’Brien

Bigtooth Maple

Bigtooth Maple (Acer grandidetatum)

25' - 45' (7.6m - 13.7m)
Three to five-lobed leaves turn bright shades of red, gold, or orange in the fall
Deciduous Caducifolio

Hojas con tres a cinco lóbulos que toman tonalidades brillantes de rojo, dorado o anaranjado en el otoño

Artwork © Robert O’Brien

Blue Ice Arizona Cypress

Blue Ice Arizona Cypress (Hesperocyparis arizonica)

50' - 75' (15.2m - 22.8m)
This cultivar sports intense, smoky blue foliage; makes a good windbreak or screen

Esta variedad de cultivo muestra un follaje azul, grisáceo
Constituye un buen rompe-vientos o protección

Artwork © Robert O’Brien

Bubba Desert Willow

Bubba Desert Willow (Chilopsis linearis)

15' - 25' (4.6m - 7.6m)
This cultivar's large purple flowers attract pollinators; not a true willow.
Deciduous Caducifolio

Las flores grandes moradas de esta variedad cultivada atraen polinizadores
No es un árbol de sauce en sí

Artwork © Robert O’Brien

Bur Oak

Bur Oak, (Quercus macrocarpa)

50' - 75' (15.2m - 22.9m)
Largest acorn of all oaks
Deciduous Caducifolio

La bellota más grande de todos los robles

Artwork © Robert O’Brien

Caroline Buckthorn

Carolina Buckthorn (Frangula caroliniana)

6' - 12' (1.8m - 3.7m)
Showy small tree with glossy foliage; berries for wildlife
Deciduous Caducifolio

Pequeño árbol vistoso con follaje brillante
Frutas del bosque para la vida salvaje

Artwork © Robert O’Brien

Cedar Elm

Cedar Elm (UImus crassifolia)

50' - 70' (15.2m - 21.3m)
Adapted to a variety of landscape conditions; yellow fall color
Deciduous Caducifolio

Adaptado a una variedad de condiciones del bosque
Color amarillo en el otoño

Artwork © Robert O’Brien

Chinkapin Oak

Chinkapin Oak (Quercus muehlenbergii)

40' - 50' (12.2m - 15.2m)
Excellent shade tree adapted to limestone soils
Deciduous Caducifolio

Excelente árbol para proporcionar sombra adaptado a los suelos de piedra caliza

Artwork © Robert O’Brien

Common Hackberry

Common Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)

25' - 75' (7.6m - 22. 9m)
Rarely planted but often present; high wildlife value
Deciduous Caducifolio

Rara vez plantado pero presente muy a menudo
Gran valor para la fauna silvestre

Artwork © Robert O’Brien

Eastern Cottonwood

Eastern Cottonwood (Populus deltoides)

65' - 100' (21.3m - 27.4m)
Fast growing and short lived; best planted in a large rural landscape
Deciduous Caducifolio

De rápido crecimiento pero de vida corta
Es mejor plantado en un área o entorno rural grande

Artwork © Robert O’Brien

Escarpment Black Cherry

Escarpment Black Cherry (Prunus serotina var. eximia)

20' - 35' (6.1m - 10.7m)
High wildlife value; attracts pollinators
Deciduous Caducifolio

Gran valor para la fauna silvestre
Atrae polinizadores

Artwork © Robert O’Brien

Escarpment Live Oak

Escarpment Live Oak (Quercus fusiformis)

35' - 65' (10.7m - 19.8m)
Popular oak that is smaller than Q. virginiana; better fit for home landscapes
Evergreen Perennifolios

Roble popular menor al Q. virginiana
Más adecuado para jardines caseros

Artwork © Robert O’Brien

Eve’s Necklace

Eve's Necklace (Stryphnolobium affine)

15' - 25' (4.6m - 7.6m).
Lovely pink spring blooms followed by interesting seed pods
Deciduous Caducifolio

Bonitas flores rosas durante la p·rimavera, seguidas por vainas de semillas interesantes

Artwork © Robert O’Brien

Goldenball Leadtree

Goldenball Leadtree (Leucaena retusa)

15' - 20' (4.6m - 6.1m)
Fragrant yellow puffball flowers throughout the growing season
Deciduous Caducifolio

Flores en forma de bolas de algodón fragantes de color amarillo durante la temporada de crecimiento

Artwork © Robert O’Brien

Honey Mesquite

Honey Mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa)

25' - 35' (7.6m - 10.7m)
Heat and drought tolerant; thornless selection available
Deciduous Caducifolio

Tolera el calor y la sequía
Existe una selección sin espinas

Artwork © Robert O’Brien

Huisache

Huisache (Vachellia farnesiana)

20' - 35' (6.1m - 10.7m)
Fragrant yellow spring flower clusters; a source of perfume since the 19th century
Deciduous Caducifolio

Racimos de flores fragantes de color amarillo durante la primavera
Una fuente para fabricar perfume desde el Siglo 19

Artwork © Robert O’Brien

Lacey Oak

Lacey Oak (Quercus laceyi)

15' - 25' (4.6m - 7.6m)
Summer foliage takes on a bluish smokey appearance
Deciduous Caducifolio

El follaje durante el verano cambia a una apariencia azul grisácea

Artwork © Robert O’Brien

Little Gem Southern Magnolia

Little Gem Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora)

15' - 25' (4.6m - 7.6m)
Dwarf cultivar with a dense pyramid shape; fragrant large white flowers
Evergreen Perennifolios

Variedad enana cultivada con una forma de pirámide densa
Flores blancas grandes y fragantes

Artwork © Robert O’Brien

Mexican Buckeye

Mexican Buckeye (Ungnadia speciosa)

12' - 20' (3.7m - 6.1m)
Not a true buckeye, but has similar large seeds; showy pink spring blooms
Deciduous Caducifolio

No un castaño de indias en sí, pero tiene semillas grandes similares
Flores rosas vistosas durante la primavera

Artwork © Robert O’Brien

Mexican Pistachio

Mexican Pistachio (Pistacia mexicana)

12' - 20' (3.7m - 6.1m)
Ornamental tree with white spring blooms and showy red growth
Evergreen Perennifolios

Árbol ornamental con flores blancas en la primavera y que crecen hasta mostrar un color rojizo vistaoso

Artwork © Robert O’Brien

Mexican Plum

MEXICAN PLUM Mexican Plum (Prunus mexicana)

15' - 25' (4.6m - 7.6m)
Fragrant white flowers in early spring; provides tasty fruit
Deciduous Caducifolio

Flores blancas fragantes al inicio de la primavera
Da una fruta de sabot agradable

Artwork © Robert O’Brien

Mexican Redbud

Mexican Redbud (Cercis canadensis var. mexicana)

15' - 20' (4.6m - 6.1m)
More drought tolerant than other reginal redbuds with smaller, glossy, wavy-edged leaves
Deciduous Caducifolio

Tolera la sequía más que otros árboles de ciclamor con hojas más pequeñas, brillantes y con orillas onduladas

Artwork © Robert O’Brien

Mexican White Oak

Mexican White Oak (Quercus polymorpha)

30' - 40' (9.1m - 12.2m)
Adapted to a variety of landscape conditions; resistant to Oak Wilt disease
Semi-evergreen Semi-perennifolio

Adaptado a una variedad de condiciones de paisajismo
Resistente a la enfermedad llamada "Oak Wilt"

Artwork © Robert O’Brien

Montezuma Bald Cypress

Montezuma Bald Cypress (Taxodium mucronatum)

Unlike·bald cypress, does not produce root "knees"
45' - 70' (13.7m - 21.3m)
Evergreen Perennifolios

A diferencia del ciprés de los pantanos
No produce raíces en forma de "rodillas"

Artwork © Robert O’Brien

Oklahoma Redbud

Oklahoma Redbud (Cercis canadensis var. texensis 'Oklahoma')

15' - 25' (6.1m - 4.6m)
This cultivar sports darker pink flowers; vigorous, healthy growth habit
Deciduous Caducifolio

Esta variedad de cultivo muestra flores rosas de color obscuro
Con un hábito de crecimiento sano y vigoroso

Artwork © Robert O’Brien

Pecan

Pecan (Carya illinoinensis)

50' - 75' (15.2m - 22.9m)
State Tree of Texas with tasty fruit and high wildlife value
Deciduous Caducifolio

El árbol del Estado de Texas con fruta de sabot agradable y de gran valor para la fauna silvestre

Artwork © Robert O’Brien

Peve Minaret Bald Cypress

Peve Minaret Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum 'Peve Minaret')

8' - 12' (2.4m - 3.7m)
This conifer's dwarf cultivar is better suited to a home landscape
Deciduous Caducifolio

Este conífero enano de variedad cultivada luce mejor en un proyecto de paisajismo de casa

Possumhaw

Possumhaw (Ilex decidua)

12' - 20' (3. 7m - 6.1m)
Orange-red berries throughout winter; high wildlife value
Deciduous Caducifolio

Frutos del bosque durante todo el invierno; de gran valor para la fauna silvestre

Post Oak

Post Oak (Quercus stellata)

Root disturbance and overwatering can be detrimental; mature trees are majestic with large, curving branches
Deciduous Caducifolio

El perturbar la raíz o regar en exceso puede ser perjudicial
Los árboles maduros son majestuosos con ramas grandes y curvas

Red Mulberry

Red Mulberry (Morus rubra)

25' - 45' (7.6m - 13.7m)
High wildlife value; tasty fruit
Deciduous Caducifolio

De gran valor para la fauna silvestre
Fruta de sabot agradable

Scarlet Buckeye

Scarlet Buckeye (Aesculus pavia)

5' - 15' (1.Sm - 4.6m)
Gorgeous large red bloom clusters in mid-spring; summer leaf drop occurs in dry cqnditions
Deciduous Caducifolio

Grupos de flores grandes de color rojo con una aparienca atractiva a mediados de la primavera
La caída de hojas ocurre durante el verano en condiciones de sequía

Texas Ash

Texas Ash (Fraxinus albicans)

30’ - 45’ (9.1m - 13.8m)
Excellent medium sized tree for a smaller landscape with yellow fall foliage
Deciduous Caducifolio

Excelente árbol de tamaño mediano para un paisajismo pequeño con follaje amarillo durante el otoño

Texas Mountain Laurel

Texas Mountain Laurel (Sophora secundiflora)

12' - 20' (3.7m - 6.1m)
Fragrant purple grape candy scented blooms in the spring
Evergreen Perennifolios

Flores fragantes con olor a dulce de uva morada
Crece en la primavera

Texas Persimmon

Texas Persimmon (Diospyros texana)

10' - 20' (3m - 6.1m)
Bears fruit attractive to wildlife; peeling bark reveals smooth, colorful trunks·
Deciduous Caducifolio

Da una fruta que es atractiva para la vida salvaje
Al pelar la corteza revela troncos suaves y coloridos

Texas Redbud

Texas Redbud (Cercis canadensis var. texensis)

15' - 20' (4.6m - 6.1m)
Light pink blooms early spring; more drought tolerant than eastern redbud species
Deciduous Caducifolio

Flores rosas claro a principios de la primavera
Más resistente a la sequía que las especies de árboles de ciclamor de la zona este

Texas Red Oak

Texas Red Oak (Quercus buckleyi)

35' - 45' (10.7m - 13.8m)
Beautiful orange and red fall leaf coloration
Deciduous Caducifolio

Bella coloración de hojas naranjas y rojas durante el otoño

Wafer Ash

Wafer Ash (Ptelea trifoliata)

6' - 15' (1.8m - 4.6m)
Sweet nectar attracts many pollinators; the seed "hops" were once used for brewing beer
Deciduous Caducifolio

Un néctar dulce atrae muchos polinizadores
Los "lúpulos" de la semilla se usaron en algún momenta para la preparación de cerveza

Western Soapberry

Western Soapberry (Sapindus saponaria var. drummondii)

30' - 50' (9.1m - 15.2m)
Fruit used to make soap, adaptable to harsh conditions; has high wildlife value
Deciduous Caducifolio

La fruta se usa para hacer jabón, adaptable a condiciones climatológicas agresivas
Tiene gran valor para la fauna silvestre

Wright Acacia

Wright Acacia (Senegalia wrightii)

10' - 20' (3m - 6.1m)
Most cold hardy of the Texas; acacia species; very resistant to pests and diseases
Deciduous Caducifolio

La más resistente al frio de las especies de acacia en Texas
Muy resistente a plagas y enfermedades

Yaupon

Yaupon (Ilex vomitoria)

10'-20' (3m-6.1m)
Popular small tree with red berries; has weeping, columnar, and dwarf forms
Evergreen Perennifolios

Árbol pequeño popular con frutas del bosque rojas
Tiene formas de ramas caídas, en columna y enanas

Banner that reads "Honey Bee Hive" and a picture of honey bees in a clump.

Summer 2024 Update: Our last colony of Bees swarmed and left the hive. Our volunteer Beekeepers are maintaining their home in their absence and are looking for a new colony that would like to live in this hive. "Bee" on the lookout for the return of the honeybees sometime soon.

Fascinated by the European honey bee? Check out our indoor exhibit in the Visitors Pavilion to view the inner workings of a living hive. You might even locate the queen bee herself! Bees and care provided by Austin Bees.

Take a virtual tour of the Honey Bee Observation Hive

Banner that reads "Human Sundial" with a picture of a child standing as the gnomon to a large sundial in a garden.

Our human sundial was created through a partnership with MathHappens, UTeach, and the Austin Parks and Recreation Department. Let your body tell the time as it plays the role of the gnomon, or the piece that casts the shadow on the blocks.

Take a virtual tour of the Human Sundial:

Banner that reads "Pond Walk" with a picture of people walking along a trail surrounding a pond with lots of plants.

Take a walk around our site to learn more about our pond system. Look for basking turtles at the Upper Pond. Watch the water flow below from the bridge at the Creek. Meet curious fish at the dock of our Lower Pond.

Take a virtual tour of the Pond

Banner that reads "Seed Library" with a picture of a library card catalog.

Are you an enthusiastic seed saver? Interested in learning about our native plants? The Seed Library is a place for the community to share and exchange seeds to grow at home. Bring in seeds you've collected to share and check out different seeds brought in by other members of the community. Learn more about how to save seeds and find other seed saving and exchanging resources HERE.

Take a virtual tour to learn about our native plants

Banner that reads "Pollinator Gardens" with a picture of monarch butterflies visiting native flowers.

Across ANSC, native and adapted plants are placed for wildlife. Our Pollinator Gardens are home to a variety of plants that bloom throughout the year, creating ideal habitats for native pollinators.

Take a virtual tour of our Pollinator Gardens:

Banner that reads "Art in Public Places" with a picture of a nature inspired artwork.

The Art in Public Places program (AIPP) requests proposals from visual artists to design, fabricate, and install artworks at city-owned locations around the city, including ANSC. More information about temporary exhibition of public art across Austin can be found on the AIPP website.

Permanent Installations

Arboreal Passage

Colin McIntyre, 2011. Forged Steel, stainless steel, copper, bronze, limestone, and oak. Courtesy of Art in Public Places.

Big Snake

Kathleen Ash and Elena Eidelberg, 1997. Ceramic, glass, and wood. Courtesy of Art in Public Places.

Land Before Us

Steffany Bankenbusch, 2019. Acrylic on wood panels. Courtesy of the TEMPO 2D 2019 program.

How to support our resident wildlife:

Monetary donations are always welcome!

Supply donations are always welcome!

Thank you for your donation and support!

The Trade Counter is open:

Trade counter Policies

Why an Urban Forest is Vital

The Forest Trail Trees

Summer 2024 Update: Our last colony of Bees swarmed and left the hive. Our volunteer Beekeepers are maintaining their home in their absence and are looking for a new colony that would like to live in this hive. "Bee" on the lookout for the return of the honeybees sometime soon.

Arboreal Passage

Big Snake

Land Before Us