Melani Howard, the city's watershed protection manager, reports that golden-cheeked warblers have been sighted in the Spring Lake Preserve area. Further investigation is ongoing. U.S. Fish and Wildlife requires that the ADA trail they helped fund be closed during golden-cheeked warbler nesting season (beginning of April through May) to avoid disrupting reproduction of this endangered species. The trail closure will occur annually on those dates. Email Melani Howard with questions MHoward@sanmarcostx.gov.
Meanwhile, thanks to Texas State geography student Stephen Ramirez for posting golden-cheeked warbler photos at http://birdsiview.org/Birds/PerchingBirds/Warblers/GoldenCheekedWarbler.html (taken in Austin). Check out these great photos and keep your eyes peeled for these charmers.
