Waterfowl, including Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Plain Chachalaca, Northern Bobwhite, Least Grebe, Common Ground Dove, White-tipped Dove, Greater Roadrunner, Clapper Rail, Black-necked Stilt, Long-billed Curlew, Wood Stork, Anhinga, herons and egrets including Yellow-crowned Night-Herons, White-tailed Hawk, Green Kingfisher, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Crested Caracara, Aplomado Falcon, Gret Kiskadee, Tropical and Couch's Kingbird, White-eyed Vireo, Verdin, Cave Swallow, six species of wrens, Curve-billed and Long-billed Thrasher, Olive Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Eastern Meadowlark, Orange-crowned Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Northern Cardinal.

The parking area for this loop trail is on the south side of General Brant Road (Texas Farm Road 106). It is just west of a small bridge over a creek and wetland. From the bridge, check for herons, egrets, rails, and Green Kingfishers as well as Swamp Sparrows. The four-mile loop trail passes varied habitats including wetlands, brush, mesquite, ponds, and meadows. The exotic nilgai antelope is a non-avian bonus often seen along the trail.

Laguna Atascosa was established in 1946 to provide habitats for wintering waterfowl and other migratory birds, principally redhead ducks. Today, there is an expanded emphasis that includes endangered species conservation and management for shorebirds. The refuge is a premiere bird-watching destination with more recorded species of birds than any other refuge in the National Wildlife Refuge System.

The refuge is open 365 days a year from sunrise to sunset. There is something for everyone, with over 60 miles of hiking and biking trails. Maps and a self-pay station are located on the right-hand side of the visitor center door. The refuge has five bird feeding stations and four water features around the visitor center. The visitor center trails are ADA accessible, and at 0.8 of a mile, with plenty of bird viewing areas, the trails are a birder's must! Once you get your birding in, take a beautiful scenic bike ride around the 14.2-mile loop of Steve Thompson Wildlife Drive (STWD). The only driving trail is Lakeside Drive. This trail will take you to Osprey Overlook; Osprey Overlook overlooks our 3,500-acre freshwater lake named after the refuge. There are multiple trailheads near this location, Gator Pond, Scum Pond, and County Trail. One of our most popular hikes is going south on the Gator Pond, turning east on Mud Trail, and then north on Scum Pond; this short 3-mile hike is excellent for every outdoor enthusiast.

Prairie Trail is loop trail of nearly 4 miles.