Week 13 Placed one front end loader full of brush on the front brush pile.
No evidence of feral hogs on this property, but neighboring properties are experiencing some damage to plantings.
Week 14 We seem to have heard the painted bunting, but have not seen it. The barn swallows are back in the same nest built last year.
No reports of quail yet.
Four oaks are up and leafed out. These are the monterrey-looking oaks that produce a lot of acorns.
Week 15 Yes, did hear the Painted Bunting, now showing up at the water trough in front.
And, yes, quail are back in good strength according to their calls from different directions at the same time, so perhaps have several nesting pairs.
Water situation looking good, so none of the wildlife need any special attention regarding water or food, as the rains are producing edible forbs in good supply.
Week 16 The Wildlife Plan for the next five years has been approved by the Central Appraisal District. There were no big changes made to the Plan submitted 5 years ago. New plan puts a bit more emphasis on native grasses, clearing some prickly pear where it is getting to dominant, and continued building brush piles.
Since deer supplemental feeding has stopped for the year, deer are less visible, which is good--they need to stay wild.
Week 17 All is quiet except for the grass which is growing like wildfire. This is definitely the best spring grass growth we have had since we started the wildlife plan 6 years ago. Three factors are important here: Timed mowing to make sure seed has matured, ample rain, no cattle grazing on the front half. It is too early to check for results of hand sewing of the on-site collected native summer grasses in the previous two years.
