About the Heard Museum
Spanning 289 acres, the Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary in McKinney offers a unique blend of public access and protected areas dedicated to conservation and research. Visitors can explore five diverse ecosystems:
• Blackland Prairie: Once a vast ecoregion covering tens of millions of acres from San Antonio to Texarkana, the Blackland Prairie is now endangered, with less than 1% remaining worldwide.
• Bottomland Forest Habitat: A crucial yet declining habitat.
* Wetlands: Constructed in the early 1990s, in partnership with the EPA and TPWD, for flood mitigation and water filtration, these wetlands play a critical role in environmental health. These wetlands and Wilson creek, one of our property’s borders, are part of the Lake Lavon Watershed.
• Upland Forest: A thriving ecosystem supporting various wildlife.
• White Rock Escarpment: A unique geological feature.
Wildlife Research & Preservation
Located within a migratory bird path, the Heard Sanctuary is a haven for various bird species. The rookery serves as a breeding ground for blue herons, great egrets, snowy egrets, and more The Heard Sanctuary is also active in multiple scientific endeavors, including:
• Bird Banding Station: The longest continuous running station in Texas, in partnership with the Prairie and Timbers Audubon Society since 1978.
• Frogwatch: Monitoring frog populations to gather ecological insights.
• Nest Watch and Monarch Tagging: Tracking and studying bird nests and monarch butterflies.
* Box Turtle Tracking: Tracking the movement of box turtle populations.
As an oasis amidst increasing urban development, the Heard Sanctuary offers refuge for wildlife and a peaceful retreat for humans. Notable species include the prothonotary warbler, pileated woodpecker, the endemic park-hill prairie crayfish, various bat and frog species, river otters, and even visited by bald eagles.
Rare species lists for Collin County can be accessed via the TPWD website, and iNaturalist and eBird are valuable resources for wildlife sightings at the Heard.
Founded by Bessie Heard in 1967
Philanthropist Bessie Heard (1886-1988) purchased land in southeast McKinney and founded th Heard Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary in order to preserve the natural beauty in McKinney. Her life-long vision of a museum and wildlife sanctuary that would provide education and community engagement came to fruition in 1967. With an annual visitorship of over 100,000, including around 20,000 students from Pre-K through grade 12, the Heard is a vital educational resource covering the natural world. The Heard also collaborates with colleges and universities including, Collin College, UNT, UT, UTD, and SMU for various research projects.
The Heard is home to the following wildlife:
250 bird species
14 snake species
8 turtle species
6 lizard species
8 amphibian species
11 fish species
23 mammal species
821 insect species
25 tree species
Help us fight to protect North Texas.
Your membership helps preserve our natural heritage for generations to come.