We contacted the TPWD local expert to visit and advise on some questions. Key questions are brush management (cut or no cut) grassland management (mow or no mow, or mow on what schedule), grass seed most effective in this area, and selective cactus removal.
Song bird population is way down this year. Observations to date:
- Cardinals are about half of a normal year.
- Very few sparrows, no blackbirds, no hawks
- One pair painted buntings
- Two pairs nesting wrens
- One pair phoebes. (note on the phoebes: they successfully took over the barn swallow nest from last year and even ran off the returning swallows.
- One nesting pair of titmouse
- Turkeys seem okay as we hear them a lot.
- Still hear the quail, but have not seen any
- Poor will sings most evenings
- The roadrunner is scarce, but then we saw them only in droughty times coming for water at the trough.
Deer are limited in number. Never see more than three. And, have not seen any fawns this year so far. All this may be explained by the fact that neighbors seem to be feeding them, something that should not be done in this wet weather when so much natural food is available.
Week 19
Very quiet, the wet weather has a suppressing effect on all the wildlife---it seems
Have not seen but one snake this year so far, and that was a coachwhip. Encouraged it to go find some mice.
Week 20
Two loads of brush to the main pile to the west. Pile keeps settling due to decay, etc.
Its about time to take the purple martin house done for cleaning and refurbishing. There has been no activity in this bird house this year.
Its about time to take the purple martin house done for cleaning and refurbishing. There has been no activity in this bird house this year.
Plenty of giant swallowtail caterpillars on the dill.
Provided information to the community about preserving (not mowing) the antelope horns milkweed and, it appears as if the message was taken seriously.
Planning a second round of prickly pear cactus removal, after consulting with TPWD
Week 21
Plenty rain, everything is growing wildly. All the wildlife have enough water and brouse so that they are "on their own" for awhile.
Occasionally detect that skunks and raccoons have visited overnight.
Turkeys are heard frequently.
No deer seen all this week on this property, but have seen some on adjacent lands.
Week 21
Plenty rain, everything is growing wildly. All the wildlife have enough water and brouse so that they are "on their own" for awhile.
Occasionally detect that skunks and raccoons have visited overnight.
Turkeys are heard frequently.
No deer seen all this week on this property, but have seen some on adjacent lands.
