Among the many activities available in Big Bend National Park that highlight the region's diversity of wildlife, birding can be enjoyable and promising. Big Bend engulfs a vast area, bounded by the the rushing Rio Grande valley to the south, containing high peaks in the Chisos Mountains, and boasting both desert and forest climates between the two. It embodies the very diversity that makes America great, providing countless opportunities to spot more than 450 birds in one area.

What are your new year's resolutions for 2012? Did you keep your resolutions for 2011? While the top resolutions each year include losing weight, learning something new, traveling, or getting out of debt, here's a new challenge you can take on this year: spot all the bird species in Big Bend National Park.

Big Bend has some of the most spectacular scenery in Texas, if not the entire US.  Our big sky country rivals any other state and our night skies are as dark as anywhere for excellent star gazing. The beautiful light and great scenery make for a photographer’s paradise. 

There are many things you may love to do in Big Bend National Park in the heat of summer, but running or jogging is probably not one of them. With 90+ degree temperatures, there simply is no such thing as a nice July run in West Texas. With the dry weather we've had this year, you have truly hostile workout conditions. That all changes this time of year, though, as temperatures drop and the sun gives us a break for a few months. What a great time to get out on some trails in Big Bend!

There's been only a very little bit of internet chatter about the proposed Boquillas border crossing, which will connect Boquillas del Carmen on the Mexican side with the visitors' center on the U.S. side. Now, we bring you the exciting news that the construction of the crossing is underway!

If you think that Big Bend is only all about roughnecks trekking out into the wilderness to prove just how tough you are, you're missing out on an awful lot. Aside from the camping, hiking, and being one with nature, there is a completely different side to this national park that you may very well enjoy even more. For now, we'll call it the softer side of Big Bend — the artsy side.

Planning a vacation means making a lot of decisions all at the same time. You have to settle on a destination, secure lodging, plan meals and activities, mark out a traveling route, buy supplies, figure out what to pack—and all this while keeping a close eye on your budget. But if you're preparing for a vacation to Big Bend, we can make some of those decisions a little easier. All you have to do is check out Where to Stay.

The USGS (US Geological Survey) has released a new geological map for the Big Bend National Park area. Nature and rock enthusiasts, as well as historians and geologists will likely jump at this opportunity to explore the preserved geology found in the Chisos Mountains and Chihuahua Desert. Are you among them?

Last week we talked about making sure you bring enough water on camping and hiking trips and ways you can more easily carry that water on your back. However, in the Daily Report, we are asked to conserve water, due to the continuing danger of fires. How can one conserve water, even in an area where water is hard to come by? Let’s look at a couple of useful suggestions.

There may be more than enough water in the northeast, thank to Irene, but if you plan on trekking around Big Bend, you’ll likely need to carry your own water with you. How much water does one need to take along to stay hydrated? What’s the best way to carry water? Let’s take a look.

This weekend is supposed to be the peak time to the Perseid meteor shower in Texas. And what better place could you be than in Big Bend and the surrounding area? The mornings of August 12 and 13, just before dawn, are going to be the highlights of this light show, so don’t miss it!

A mountain lion was recently sighted in Big Bend, causing a little commotion in the process. Imagine walking into the public restrooms and finding a big cat drinking out of the toilet! If you’d run out of their screaming, then you’re not alone. That’s exactly what two park visitors did.

Did you know that Big Bend is not the largest National Park in the US? And yet this “Small” Big Bend has some huge features that make it well worth a visit. Let’s look at a few interesting facts about big-little Big Bend. How many of these things did you already know?

This week, independence is in the air, as Forth of July celebrations ring across the country. For many dedicated Big Benders, that meant visiting our favorite National Park for some fireworks-free fun. Let’s look at some pictures and other goodies, just to remind us of how beautiful Big Bend really is.

Resting comfortably in Southwest Texas along the Rio Grande, Big Bend National Park provides a glimpse into America’s geological and evolutionary past. Mine shafts abandoned long ago and dilapidated dwellings whisper echoes of the taming of the Wild West. Just a quick perusal of the terrain, however, informs the viewer that the land was never fully tamed. The sparse vegetation, rugged rock formations, and ancient lava flows have left many at a loss for words ever since settlers and explorers first began delving into this part of the country. How then did this seemingly incongruous section of the United States become an integral part of the National Parks System?

Not to scare anyone off, but black bears are a common enough sighting in the Big Bend area. This last week, park officials had an interesting run-in with some of them, and the experience could be worrisome for park biologists.

In the mountains, desert, and river valleys of Big Bend, you’d expect to find the usual camping and nature features, such as river rafts, tents, rocks, trees, and so on. But the truth is, what can be found in the park is next to limitless. This week, we bring you two examples of what people have found in and around Big Bend.

Okay, it’s a little bit of an understatement to say that West Texas has been in a dry spell lately, and one could argue that some of this year’s brush fires are good for the environment, but enough is enough. We need rain, and fast!

Lately, more and more people are turning to star gazing as a hobby and as a recreational activity. Is this a reaction to increased light pollution given off by cities that seem to become busier by the day? Or is it simply a desire to engage in a peaceful pursuit that is as awe-inspiring as it is relaxing? Whatever the reason, one would be hard pressed to find a more suitable location from which to view the cosmos than in Big Bend and the surrounding area.

Visiting the Bid Bend area any time soon? Try out Marathon, the town that brags at being “your gateway to Big Bend!” Sounds great, right? Let’s take a closer look at just what there is to do in and around Marathon.