Birds & Bloom - Volume 13

Welcome to the Birds & Blooms e-newsletter!

Here we focus on wildlife and nature, important environmental updates, and events at Dripping Springs area parks. After years of diligent work to help people protect birds and their habitat, Dripping Springs has been certified as an official “Bird City” by the Texas Audubon Texas and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD). With only seven other designations throughout the state, this is an honor for the city and its partnering organizations. This designation is exciting news for the nearly 2.2 million Texas enthusiasts looking for their next bird watching destination. Throughout the year, Dripping Springs will hold a variety of events, activities, and initiatives to help protect birds and their habitats, including its bi-annual Lights Out Dripping Springs campaign and the Festival of Flight event in May that celebrates World

Migratory Bird Day.

*Above photos by Bill Vancak

Hummingbird Season in Texas

These tiny jeweled birds never fail to impress with a dash of speed and magnificent hovering skills and Texas is a great place if Hummingbirds is what you want to see. Many Hummingbirds are migratory and spend winter in Mexico or further south and so have to pass through the border states such as Texas to reach their breeding grounds. There are no species of hummingbirds classed as residents in Texas. However, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, Black-chinned Hummingbirds, Buff-bellied Hummingbirds, and Rufous Hummingbirds have all been recorded as remaining all year.

How do I attract Hummingbirds?

Set up a Hummingbird feeder! Hummingbirds do not eat seeds, instead use a fresh, constant supply of nectar (sugar water)
Choose the feeder location carefully - place it close to shelters/shrubs and keep

out of the sun

Don't put honey or other sweeteners in the nectar (4 parts water, 1 part sugar)

Texas Monthly Article

Your Guide to the Texas Hill Country Wildflowers

The spring brings beautiful wildflower fields spreading across the Hill Country.

Texas Bluebonnets, Indian Paintbrushes, Redbuds are making appearances on Texas highways and roadsides. You'll find splashes of flowers along Mercer Street, Founders Park, Dripping Springs Ranch Park and more! Check out our blog to identify the various flowers and find the most picture-perfect spot!

Wildflower Guide

Visit the Park

Folks in the Field - Jeffery Jackson

Milton Reimers Ranch Park

1. Would you tell our readers a bit about yourself & where your passion for birds came from?

I was born and raised in South Austin. I started birding around ten years ago after taking a family trip to Rocky Mountain National Park. While at the visitor center, I bought a small pair of binoculars that came with a field guide of some of the birds you could see while at the park. When leaving the visitor center we saw a group of people looking at a family of Great Horned Owls and that became my "spark" bird. I soon started submitting my bird checklists on eBird.org, and the rest is history!

2. What made you decide to get involved with Reimers Ranch? What do you love most about the park?

I started working for Travis County Parks at Reimers Ranch and Hamilton Pool seven years ago. I found out there were bird walks at Reimers and I asked if I could start leading them. Since then I have been leading the monthly bird walks out at Reimers that people can sign up for on the Travis Audubon Website.

I love that Reimers Ranch is home to a wide variety of species, including the endangered Golden-cheeked Warbler.

3. What bird are you most excited to encounter?

Reimers is one of the best parks in the area for Sparrows in the fall and winter months. In the Spring I always look forward to our returning Black-capped Vireos and Golden-cheeked Warblers that nest in

our park.

Golden-Cheeked Warbler

The golden-cheeked warbler is a small bird with a big reputation, the only bird species that breeds exclusively in Texas. This bird is very striking, with its bright yellow cheeks offset by a black throat and back, but it is most often found by its distinctive buzzy song rising out of the wooded canyons in which it breeds. Birdwatchers from around the world travel to the Texas Hill Country for a mere glimpse of this rare songbird. Listed as endangered in 1990, the warbler has gained fame in the Hill Country. The golden-cheeked warbler is best known for the brilliant yellow markings on its face with a black stripe through the eye.