We have met several times at Bird and Bee Farm to harvest seeds for our newest El Camino Real Master Naturalist project.
Yesterday, November 26th, we met at the Cameron Public Library to start packaging the seeds. Our project has been embraced by Elena Berkes, the library’s Director. She even joined us yesterday!
Elena is letting us use the beautiful card catalog cabinets at the library to store our seeds and make them available to the public.
We made 275 seed packets yesterday! I was thrilled! I want to thank all the volunteers who have come to harvest seeds and those who came yesterday to package the seeds.
This will be an ongoing project and you will receive volunteer hours under Community Outreach- Indirect, as well as travel time.
I would love for you to collect seeds, native and adapted, to contribute. Just put your seeds in a brown paper bag or envelope, the name of the plant, and the date you collected the seeds.
I would like to say special thanks to Catherine Johnson (an expert in native and adapted plants)! She has helped me immensely.🎉
Come join us at our next gathering to package seeds, which will be on Tuesday, December 17th, at the Cameron Public Library.
Saturday , the Little Free Seed Library group met at Milam Wildscape to discuss the new project and collect seeds. Coordinator Linda Burgess gave updates and Jackie Thornton and Ann Collins collected seeds including Turks Cap, Coneflower, Texas Rock Rose, and Button Bush. We enjoyed the cooler weather.
Ann finding goodies to share with others
We also discussed how the Wildscape, Wild Wings Bird Sanctuary, and Little Free Seed Library projects are going to benefit the community in our outreach efforts.
Jackie finding seeds for sharing
Construction of user-friendly pathways and permanent weed control continues at the Wildscape. A recently installed water feature for birds and pollinators is the top of a pedestal sink from Facebook Marketplace.
Sink for the birds/Autumn beautyLinda harvests seedsJackie in the jungle
This month’s bird count at the Wild Wings Bird Sanctuary took place on September 14. Ann Collins, Sue Ann Kendall, and Phyllis Shuffield not only looked for birds with their eyes, binoculars, and ears, but they practiced their Merlin Bird ID skills. We identified 25 different birds in the two hours we spent at the sanctuary. Highlights were a juvenile and adult male Eastern Bluebird and a chatty Downy Woodpecker. Merlin identified other new birds, Alder Flycatcher, Blue Grosbeak, Lark Sparrow, Upland Sandpiper, and White-breasted Nuthatch. These are all plausible birds to have around this time of year in Milam County.
Eastern Bluebird. Photo by Skyler Ewing on Pexels.com
The group decided to take an informal forest walk in the wooded part of the sanctuary (not an official Shinrin-yoku walk, since we were identifying plants and birds. It’s quite pretty back there, where a creek often flows when it’s wet outside. We found some late wildflowers, such as Marsh Fleabane (Pluchea odorata) and Late Boneset (Eupatorium serotinum). We observed lots of berries for the birds, including many coralberry plants (Symphoricarpos orbiculatus). There was evidence of animals who hang out in the sanctuary, especially deer who had been there very recently judging from the fresh scat and urine.
Ann and Phyllis head into the woodsThe pasture behind the woodsMarsh FleabaneLate BonesetVelvet ant, not sure which kindCedar elm leaves are fallingDeer evidence
Ann and Phyllis refilled some of the hummingbird feeders, which were primarily being used by the local honeybees of Bird and Bee Farm and a few butterflies. There are now many feeders, and it appears that the birds (primarily Carolina Chickadees and Tufted Titmice) are eating out of them all. There were dozens of Northern Cardinals flying around, but they were not coming to the feeders.
Bird feeders and the seating area
Since our last visit to the bird sanctuary, the intrepid Gene Rek has put in more raised beds and planted some new shade-loving plants in them, including beautyberry and Turk’s cap. They have drip irrigation to help get them established. The new bird bath is still working great, too. There’s lots of progress being made.
Drip irrigation and beautyberryTurk’s cap
And as a bonus, Sue Ann left with two new Cochin hens! It was a good morning at the Wild Wings sanctuary!
Cathy the hen is much happier now that she’s in a hen house.
We took another bench to Wild Wings Sanctuary that we secured for $5 from Facebook Marketplace. Note for the future: be prepared to pick up the free or nearly free items the day they are listed.
New bench and birdbath.
While at the sanctuary, we saw bees, hummingbirds, and chickadees. Cindy found a new water fountain, as well, and more drip lines have been installed.
Then we worked in the Wildscape to keep improving pathways and seating areas. We are also planning where more native trees will go. The weather is great now.
Small native trees pictured are Texas Kidneywood, Southern Wax Myrtle, and Button bush. The cat is sleeping in Buffalo Grass. Soon to be added are Texas Redbuds and Possumhaws.
I bribed my little sidekick (not really so little at a bit over six feet and weighing well over two hundred pounds. Anyway, he’s my baby boy, so he will always be “little” to me) to drive me out to Wild Wings Bird Sanctuary to refill the hummingbird feeders. Anthony/sidekick had hung the feeders and of course he “hung ’em high!” I couldn’t reach them, anyway!
The feeders had only a token amount of nectar, so it’s a good thing we went. When we filled them the week before, the hummers were all over them. no hummers were circling this trip. Just FYI, if you go out to the bird station and think the mix looks a bit off, please note that I do not use bleached sugar. If you have ever seen my sugar cane juice, you know it is a dark brownish yellow in color. The color doesn’t make a lot of difference as long as it isn’t colored red with Red 44. Please don’t ever put that poison in your nectar mix.
The hummers are migrating now, so please be faithful to keep your feeders clean and full at all times.
The Wild Wings Bird Santuary
Ruby-throated are the most prevalent in our neck of the woods, but Black-chinned might visit if you have a more open area. You could see a Rufous during migration if you are so blessed.
The Caracara
Just before we turned in to Bird and Bee Farn, there was a Crested Caracara perched on the side of a cattle water trough across the road. He posed nicely for us. I say “he” but there is no difference between the sexes. The juveniles are brown with no distinctive white markings.
When we arrived at the gate to the bird station, a caracara came sailing in. There was another one in one of the tall oaks, and “he” can flying out, so we got to witness a bit of a back-and-forth chase. So special! They really are magnificent creatures, even if they do enjoy some freshly killed carrion.
Caracara. Photo by Felipe Gonu00e7alves on Pexels.com
Locally, some folks call the caracara a “Mexican Eagle.” Sorry, but they are not related to eagles at all. In fact, they aren’t related to hawks, falcons, or vultures, either. They seem to be in a class by themselves. They are birds of prey, so I guess that means they can kill if necessary. They are frequently seen feeding with vultures, so maybe they are opportunistic of just plain lazy.
They are regal birds, for sure. Photo by Marek Piwnicki on Pexels.com
A black crest adorns their heads and part of their beak is orange-red, giving them the appearance of having a red face. The chest, tail, and wing tips are white, so they are often descrivved as “white on all four corners.” They are the only species of caracara in the US, but there are probably more to the south of us.
The Bird Bath Saga
There is a lovely little bird bath at the santuary that the rain chain drips into. We had hoped to be able to keep a steady drip for the birds to have a safe souce of water for drinking and bathing. It’s barely a couple of inches deep, but the heifers or raccoons think Gene put it out exclusively for them. Sadly, they dismantle it and knock the bowl on the ground so that the rain chain just makes a damp spot on the ground. Cindy and Catherine have been diligently seeking a larger, heavier one to put in its place. Lots of dead ends and “sorry, you’re too late” have put quite a damper on the search. Of course, we want one cheap or free.
Ann with the original bird bath.
Update: I just heard from Cindy, and she actually has one for us! Yay! Good job! I know the birds will be happy, too. Pay attention to their tweets for the next few weeks.
Please come for a visit and sit a spell. Even if the birds are still shy, there is always a cool breeze and blissful quiet.
Nature Along the El Camino Real 