September 2019 Activity

Still no rain of any merit and the temperatures are still high---which is normal for this time of year.
We have stopped irrigating plants as this is an endless game.  To keep them alive, we need to water every day and that is not possible.  So, with all our plant endeavors, start over again next year.
Therefore, all of our watering activities are geared to wildlife.  On average, the 30 gallon tub is filled every other day from our rainwater supply tank.  Wildlife use as much water as we use in the house.
The same goes for supplemental feed.  Since there has been little rain, the growth of forbs has been cut way back, so supplemental feed for deer and other smaller wildlife is critical.  We are not advocates of feeding wildlife, but in tough times, some help is needed.
Brewster County ranchers have a proverb on rain, it goes something like this.  But first, know that ranchers build stock tanks on runoff areas to catch rainwater.  It takes skill to build a stock tank by digging the hole and building the dam in such a way that the rain does not wash the whole thing away.  And, I think in this regard, stock of the stock tank refers to the stored water not the livestock.
"When it rains you can't stock it and when it doesn't rain, you sure can't stock it".  That saying reveals that their rain either comes as a gully washer, or not at all.

Lets hope for some rain in October.

August 2019 Activity

Still no rain for any benefit.
The whole effort is to supplement the food supply (and to not have to put kitchen vegetable scraps in the landfill) of the deer.  All the other animals seem to be able to cope with lack of forbs.  Water is a different story.  Not sure how many watering spots there are around the 2000 acres, but 15 gallons of water per day is about the consumption we see here.
We observed a "never before" this morning.  Five mature bucks were walking single file in the back yard, all with their nice racks of antlers.  No sparring, just meandering along.  Could not get the camera fast enough before they disappeared into the brush.

The herd, if one wants to call it that, is 4 does.  One doe has two fawns, the other doe has one fawn.
No other activity

July 2019 Activity

Lack of rain has been the big news here and with the wildlife as well.  Not only is it dry, but hot too and when the ground dries out the temperature of the soil rises.   Often I think that the high soil temperature is what destroys young plants more than the drought.  Anyway, food for thought.
The usual routine is to feed the deer the table vegetable cuttings, plus a bit of sweet feed, and of course water.   The challenge with water is to keep the raccoons from using it as a swimming hole.

Hauled two loads of brush to the pile, which is starting to recover the size it needs to be in order to shelter the wildlife.

Wildflowers are quite scarce due to the lack of rain.

No trees have shown up as a result of the planting of at least 100 acorns.  This is definitely one subject we will have to research more to find out why they will not get started.  As a result, we have concluded that the cover of the land in the area today is about what it looked like 100 years ago, as not new tree growth has occurred.

Bought one bag of sweet feed, 6 gallons of diesel fuel and one 20 lb sack of sunflower seeds.

June 2019 Activity

The animals have there sights set on getting the mustang grapes before we do, but I am not going to bet on who wins.
Hauled two loads of brush to the main brush pile.
It appears that we had one doe produce two fawns as the fawns are always together with the one doe
I forgot to mention last fall that we had three bucks dueling with their horns in the back yard.  Never did get a picture, dang it.
I have not seen "hide nor hair" of any of the bur oaks acorns planted last fall.   However I did stick on in a pot in the breezeway and it has sprouted and making a nice tree.   Conditions are harsh here in central Texas with regard to sprouting new trees. I think that these conditions are so typical that if one were to transport back in time, the trees that are here were here then and the open areas were open then.   Its tough for natural propagation of trees.  That make conservation of trees we already have so important.
Hauling water to the watering trough for all the wildlife.

We need rain.

May 2019 Activity

I am sufficiently recovered to do some work outside.
Bought 50 pounds of sunflower seeds for the birds.   Its interesting to watch how the sunflower eating birds will thrash the millet out of the feeder to get to the sunflower seeds.
A tad dry here so making sure the deer and other creatures have enough water.

April 2019 Activity

Still recovering but taking it cautiously, day by day to make sure my recovery is going well.

March 2019 Activity

Not much activity as I am recovering from head surgery.  In doing maintenance in the wooded area, hit my head on a very large (immovable) tree trunk as I fell sideways.   Developed a hematoma that shoved my brain off to the side.   Surgery was to fix that.

February 2019 Activity

We are continuing to produce a monthly nature newsletter for the community in which we live.  The purpose of the newsletter is to make everyone (including ourselves) aware of the importance of nature in our surrounding area.  This takes on the form of identifying plants and animals that are a bit unusual.  We plan to drift into historical stuff because history and our respect for it is important.
Rain is adequate but not great.
All is quiet
$14 of diesel fuel bought this month for tractor work around the place
Hauled two loads of brush to the main brush pile
As usual, kitchen scraps of vegetables to the deer yard.

January 2019 Activity

We collected about 30 bur oak acorns and planted them in tall grass in inconspicuous areas so if they do  sprout next spring, they might have a chance to avoid the deer.
An early morning roadside hunter wounded a large  buck which the died in a neighbors yard.  Illegal in several ways.
Doing well on rainfall, but the grass seed production can be forgotten for this last calendar year.
Flocks of robins and cedar waxwings have moved through the area.
Kestrals are back on the telephone wires.
We  are intrigued (again) with the prospect of getting Texas Madrone to grow here as it did on our property in Bandera County---more on that later.

December 2018 Activity

The big event this month was the Christmas Bird Count.  The bird count was conducted on nine different properties,  each property being about the same size of 20 acres.  In total, 54 species were observed and 1869 individuals counted.  This property showed more species and more individuals than any of the other eight.  Would like to think that this is a reflection on the preservation of the natural elements of the site.  Leave a note or send an email if a detailed listing is needed.
Several does have been spotted, but no bucks---maybe they sawed off their horns.
Two loads of brush to the brush pile.

November 2018 Activity

Deer hunting season is upon us. There seems to be a lot of hunting activity.  The deer herd is getting pretty large---as many as 9 does and 3 bucks have been observed on many occasions.

Otherwise, all seems quiet, especially with the recent hard freeze.

October 2018 Activity

The weather has been very erratic this year and it seems to have affected the grass seed production.  Over the last month, we  have collected only a dozen handfuls of seed for reseeding in the areas where the particular variety of grass is scarce.
We are reconsidering the value of mowing.  recalling that we once mowed several times per year, then once per year in order to  maximize seed production, now we are considering not mowing at all unless weed production gets an upper hand on the grass growth.  So, thus far in 2018 we have not mowed.  First notable observation is that the birds have benefitted during the cold weather.   Walking through the grass, many small birds are flushed.
At least 100 red oak acorns were planted this month.  Expectations are low for their growth, but lets see what happens.  Also planted an equal number of live oak acorns, they should do better as this is demonstrated live oak  country.
We are developing our approach to controlling the many small prickly pear cactus that are sprouting up in many places.
The deer get no food as there is plenty for them to eat given the rains of last month.
Two loads of brush to the brush pile.

September 2018 Activity

Weeks 36, 37, 38, 39

Rain, finally go some rain.  In fact, over a two week period, received more than 10 inches.  It was a perfect rain in that all of it soaked in as evidenced by no runoff whatsoever.

Cut way back on deer supplemental food and water.

No sign of the bucks recently.

The bird population has shifted.  It will be interesting to make see how the October census looks compared to the one in the spring.

We have cut way back on mowing, mainly because of the drought, but some new thoughts are emerging on mowing at all.  But we still need to get at the prickly pear which seems to be spreading.  Maybe when it gets to be cooler weather we can do some experiments on selective eradication.  Selective as some of the wildlife need the prickly pear for hiding and for the fruit.

The rain rescued the mustang grape crop, and puffed up the grapes to the point where now the animals might find them as food.

August 2018 Activity

Weeks 31, 32, 33, 34, 35

Drought continues.

Two buck deer often show up in the south field.  Good racks on both of them.  Every once in a while they spar with their horns.

Grass still not showing any seeds.  This is important as we try to collect and redistribute native grasses seed every year, but so far have found nothing.

Watering and feeding deer.  We have not seen any more axis deer.  Rancher about two miles to the west said he has seen them on numerous occasions over the last two years.  I think most ranchers are probably harvesting them as they find them.  That's good.

Bought 20 pound sack of black oil sunflower seed.

Using milled cottonseed as a food, but so far it seems to be too difficult for animals to eat without making it into a mush.

Watering the oak (for acorn production in the future) trees planted in recent years to get them started successfully.

July 2018 Activity

Weeks 27, 28, 29, 30

The ground is getting very dry and the grass, especially has shown no tendency to make seed.

The deer are watered daily and they seem to be getting more desperate as they come to the front of the house and drink from the birdbath.  The two birdbaths need refilling on a daily basis.

Hauled two loads to the brushpile.  In spite of building this brushpile, it slumps a lot in between dumpings.  That's normal, I guess, but the whole idea of the brushpile was to keep it open underneath for small animals.  Perhaps I need to start putting some bigger diameter stuff  in it to support the top better.

No sightings of much this month, all seems rather quiet.

Yes, have been putting out kitchen vegetable trimmings for the deer.

June 2018 Activity

Weeks 23, 24, 25, 26

Special note:  First ever axis deer spotted this month.  Hope these critters are not moving in to the area.
Mid Year inventory of birds observed here:

1. chickadee
2. titmouse
3. lesser goldfinch
4. mocking bird
5. phoebe
6. towhee
7. purple finch
8. bluebird
9. caracara
10. turkey vulture
11. cardinal
12. painted bunting
13. summer tanager
14. Carolina wren
15. bewicks wren
16. house sparrow
17. humming bird
18. barn owl
19. bobwhite quail
20. Poor will
21. rio grande turkey
22. raven
23. crow 
24. roadrunner
25. cuckoo
26. white wing dove
27. inca dove
28. mourning dove
29. scissor tailed flycatcher
30. barn swallow
31. purple martin
32. red tailed hawk
33. kildeer

May 2018 Activity

Weeks 18,19,20, 21, 22

Bluebirds are raising a batch of birds.  Important now to see that they have water, because the rain has been really short so far.
Water in the feeder tanks disappears each night, so we are getting a lot of visitors at night at the troughs.
See only 2 to 3  deer on occasions. No fawns observed yet. (early part of  May).
Painted buntings have arrived.  One pair has always nested in the area for the past 8 years.
There must be a fawn nesting somewhere close by as a doe keeps moseying around the area to the north in the middle of the day.
No mowing, in fact if we don't get some rain, there may be any mowing soon.
Watering new oak trees on regular occasions as we need the acorn production in future years.

April 2018 Activity

Weeks 14,15,16,17 of 2018

Holding off from mowing the greater portion of the grassland.  The winter grass is doing well, but I need to see some progress of the warmer season grasses before I mow.  We always need the seed and so it has to develop and mature.

Two more loads of brush to the pile nearer the road.  This is a small pile located in the brushy area and may not offer good refuge as the larger pile to the west.  Will have to evaluate it to see if it is worth continuing to build it.

Since the 2 inches of rain in March,  we have had no other rain to amount to any good.  Soil is looking dry and the grass is not developing.

Quail have arrived.

Bluebirds are staying, purple martins never show up.  Barn swallows make many passes in the area, but the phoebes drive them off.  Next to the mocking bird, these small birds are quite domineering.

Not much show from the 4 footed creatures such as skunk, raccoon and possum.

March 2018 Activity

I have modified the format so that there is posting of activity for the whole month, as it has seemed that there was not enough activity to make it worthwhile for a weekly posting.

Weeks 10,11,12,13 in March 2018

Seven large cactus plants pulled out and stacked on the brush pile.  All these were taken out of the area to the west of the gully where the grass has more trouble than it does to the east side of the gully.

This area was really "beat up" when we first excluded the cattle from the area.  The grass was so poor that the first Ag appraiser thought maybe that there was only rock on this hillside, that is, the soil was so thin that it would not support grass.   Now, 5 years later, the grass is making a good comeback and looks pretty good.  That's the reason for a bit more care to remove some of the cactus.

It is important to not remove all the cactus however, because these established stands of cactus provide good cover, especially for birds in the winter.

No quail sounds yet

All the kitchen vegetable scraps are going to the deer for feed, cutting back on the sweet feed.

Looks as if the bluebirds will nest in the box.  THIS IS A FIRST FOR THIS SITE.  It would be interesting to know why they nested here, in this new box, and never nested in any of the boxes in the past 7 years.

Nothing in the purple martin house yet.  It would appear that purple martins do not find enough bugs in the area to make this there home.

Lots of bees on the rosemary bushes.

Had two inches of rain---needed it.

February 2018 Activity

Weeks 6,7,8,9
Purchased a 40 lb bag of sunflower seed and a 50 lb bag of sweet feed.  I am using sweet feed instead of corn since the hunters fill the deer up with corn, which is attractive to deer but not very nourishing.
Finished cleaning out the vegetable garden, moving all the compostable material to the compost pile.  Whenever I add material to the compost pile, the animals (whoever they may be) pull it apart looking for anything good to eat.

The rufous sided towhee was back again. It appears that the name rufous sided  towhee is out of date with the bird folks.  Its now the eastern towhee or the spotted towhee.  If the bird shows up again, we will try to make a specific species identification.
Cleaned out the purple martin house.  Not sure why I keep attending to this because we have not seen a purple martin here in years.
Cold and dreary weather.

Bluebirds are investigating the nest box.
No quail sounds yet, seems as if they are late.

Rain is in short supply.  The area has had rain, but spotty, so it misses us here.

Two front end loader stacks of brush to the brush pile.

January 2018 Activity

Week 1
Cold and dreary weather, seems to be keeping wildlife quiet
Spotted the band of turkeys that are known to rove the area.
Songbirds for the winter time seem to be the usual ones.  Cardinals, an occasional wren, phoebe, titmouse, chickadee, some sparrows.
Vegetable scraps are eaten everytime and completely whenever we put them out.  This is a dilemma for us, as we would prefer provide supplemental food for only those conditions when natural food is scarce.  On the other hand, we need to keep kitchen waste out of the landfill.  If we compost the vegetable scraps, the animals raid the compost pile so the end result is the same:  the animals get the scraps.

Week 2
Deer season is coming to a close.  Has not had any effect on the doe population, but we don't see the two bucks anymore.  With the range of deer, if these bucks were killed on the neighboring ranch or on this one, its hard to tell, without conducting a query. Cold and damp, but ground still dry.  Deer seem to need the food as they are grazing on the green grass next to the house.

Week 3
Hogs, raccoons, and skunks seem to be a minimal visitor in the last six months..  In fact the hogs have not made any appearance in the past six months.
Saw a rufous sided towhee scratching  around in the grass.  Both a male and a female were observed.
Heard the redtailed hawk again.

Week 4
Three loads of brush to the main brushpile.  Considering building a new brushpile in another location.
Keeping the main water trough filled with water as the next nearest water is about half mile distant.
The cat spotted a small gray fox creeping through the high grass.  She is a good observer.  Glad to see a gray fox even though they seem to be hated by some and treasured by others.
Spotted 5 turkeys crossing the roadway.  Their flocks seem to be smaller in size than usual, maybe they are getting to the mating season when they are loners.

Week 5
No activity this week.

December 2017 Activity

Week 49
Hauled two loads of brush to the brushpile, keeping it low and full of voids for a good habitat for small animals.
Still putting out kitchen vegetable scraps for whomever comes to the dinner table.  Not sure if more than the deer show up, but good feed for rabbits as well.
Water maintained in the big tub to the west.  Keeps the deer from watering at the bird feeder in front.

Week 50
Still spotting the 4 or 5 does, but the bucks we had seen earlier are not evident.
Adding sweet feed to the kitchen scraps as animal feed.
Keeping the bird feeder full of sunflower seeds.
Spotty rain but the soil is dry.
We have chosen to hold off mowing until spring gets closer as the wildlife, all kinds, seem to make use of the deep old grass.

Week 51
Observed a small group of turkeys this week.  No owls, no mice.  We always seem to have one rabbit, but never two, wonder what keeps them going when there must be a number of predators for small animals like rabbits.
It has been more than a year since we have had hog damage. I know the neighboring ranch conducts night hunts for hogs, so maybe this has had an effect on our experience.
Bought 50 lbs of sunflower seeds.

Week 52
There is some evidence that there is a redtailed hawk in the area, from the sound of its call.
Kinda quiet week so far.

November 2017 Activity

Week 45, 46,47,48
It appears I lost the November 2017 log made earlier, so this will have to be a gap in the log.

But, I do recall this.  This is now getting on to hunting season and it appears that there is less hunting activity planned in these 1600 acres than in the past years.  Several of the more avid hunters have left and non hunters seems to have replaced them.  None the less, there are two big bucks that show up on occasions.

October 2017 Activity

Week 40
Lot of coyote howls these last few nights.  As long as the cattle people don't seem to loose any calves, its good to have a few coyotes around to get rid of the feral cats.  The one feral cat we have seen in the past is not around anymore.
Our in-the-house cat seems to continue to have visitors at late night hours.  They must look at each other through the glass at the front entrance.
Cleared out a number of large prickly pear cacti this week.  I think they are growing faster than I am cutting them.  All the refuse went to the brushpile.
Replaced two blue bird houses that have become worn out.

Week 41
Started a new brushpile this week.  Same general location, but 100 yards apart.
Bought 6 gallons of diesel fuel.
Kestrels have returned, not sure to reside or to pass through.

Week 42
The feral hog activity has been very low the last few months.  Someone must be hunting them.
Bit of rain, that's good

Week 43
Three loads of brush to the second brushpile. Working my way through three more big cacti.
Five deer in the south boundary working their way to the west.  I think they circle around and end up at the watering trough on the west side.  The water stays cleaner in that trough because the coons do not seem to mess with it.
Saw a whole flock of quail, perhaps 15 in the bunch.  They were in the tall grass and I flushed them.  Shows the value of tall grass---they seem to like it for cover.

Week 44
Forecast of rain, but no rain.  The weather did turn colder, in fact, it was the first frost we have had this fall.
Kicked up two quail, so they are still around.  Not certain if they stay all year.

September 2017 Activity

Week 36
Birds are apparently migrating as the usual crowd of songbirds have moved out and new migratory species are appearing at the water and feeder.
The deer herd is maintained at about 5, all does except an occasional buck. One fawn is among the group.  The few number of fawns always amaze me as my experience at other locations would say that with five does, I should see at least 2 fawns
Still hearing the bobwhite, but far fewer calls.
I do not observe the gray fox anymore, so looks like mine has been done in.

Week 37
As reported earlier, have not seen any owls this year and only one redtailed hawk.
The raccoons are getting to be somewhat of a pest lately, they have discovered the sunflower seed in the feeder and realize that I have turned off the electric fence charger that was attached to the metal feeder.
We have been providing the deer and other small animals with water and kitchen vegetable scraps every other day.  The vegetable scraps are a big attraction.  Never once have the scraps been put out and not eaten by morning.

Week 38
It would be interesting if the same deer show up each day, or are the ones that show up randomly different.  No way to tell.  The well antlered buck was visiting this week.
The mouse population is near zero, in spite of loose sunflower seeds scattered around.  Also, have not seen any rattle snakes this year--that's not all bad.
Got some rain to ease the dry soil.

Week 39
Hauled three front end loader loads to the main brushpile.  I am trying to get this brushpile built so that it has plenty of room inside it for habitat--not been too successful yet as the weight of the pile keeps compressing it.
Bought more sunflower seed.
I have refrained from buying deer corn as it is basically poor nutrition, only an attractant useful to hunters.