Saturday, February 21, 2015: hiked to qualify for Bull Creek Preserve permits

I'm legal!  I can now hike in the Bull Creek Preserve from March through August, during the golden cheeked warbler and black capped vireo nesting season.  Both are endangered species.  Not likely to see one though; usually only one pair nest per 5-acre parcel.  The preserve covers 30,000 acres, surrounded by the City of Austin.

 

City biologist Darrell Hutchison met us at the beginning of the trail for our 3-hour class.  Lots of info!

OK, at least one good use for cedar trees, purveyors of the annoying cedar fever when they pollenate:  the golden cheeked warbler is partial to cedar bark when it comes to nest building.

The warblers feed on caterpillars that feed on live oak leaves.

Warblers also feed on caterpillars that feed on red oak leaves.



Old cedar stump.  The forest has gone through two or three cuttings.  Central Texas cedar trees were used for railroad ties across the nation decades ago.

Papa Tom, at a limestone escarpment estimated to be 70-80 million years old.  Endangered salamanders live in the holes in the limestone.

Bull Creek.  This is a rather special place for our family.  Ryder and Brandy had their first date at the Bull Creek dog park.  Marley was there too.  And the rest, as they say, is history.