Curled-up raccoon sleeping in the hollow of the live oak tree.
Purgatory Creek Needs Your Help
Many of you are devotees of the Purgatory Creek Natural Area (PCNA) and are well aware of recent efforts to expand its acreage. The City of San Marcos has an opportunity to commit $500,000 for a tract in PCNA, called Wildenthal (read more below and
in this PDF). This funding would supplement support from Hays County. Of
course expanding this natural area will bring many benefits to San Marcos,
including a way to connect trails with future land acquisitions to the north
under consideration through the Hays County Habitat Conservation Plan.
What You Can Do to Help
This issue is a discussion item on the City Council agenda on Tuesday, January 20th. Send an email to the mayor and council
indicating your support for funding of the Wildenthal tract. Send
your email to Mayor_Council_Info@sanmarcostx.gov.
Wildenthal Tract
The Trust for Public Land, together with Hays County and the
City of San Marcos, are now working to preserve the contiguous 312-acre parcel
known as the Wildenthal Tract. An acquisition of a portion of the property
deemed “Phase One” by February 28, 2015 is required to extend the right of
purchase to the “Phase Two” portion of the property through December 31, 2015.
Once completed, the project will expand the area of the PCNA by almost half of
its current acreage, for a total of 1,065 acres. View larger map.The Wildenthal Tract includes Purgatory Creek frontage along its southern boundary, and is fully within the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone – the primary drinking water source for residents of central Texas. The property’s addition to PCNA will further preserve water quality by protecting two significant canyons that drain into Purgatory Creek. The Wildenthal Tract also provides critical habitat for endangered species, including the Golden-cheeked warbler and Black-capped vireo.
Save the Date: SMGA Annual Meeting, February 8
Join us for food and drink to celebrate this year's accomplishments at the 2015 San Marcos Greenbelt Alliance (SMGA) annual meeting.
Renew or become a member of SMGA at our annual meeting and receive a free t-shirt while supplies last.
Food and drinks at 3 pm; meeting begins at 3:45 pm.
Invite your friends, family, and neighbors. We look forward to seeing you there!
CORRECTION: Date: Sunday, February 8
Time: 3:00 - 5:00 pm
Place: San Marcos City Park Recreation Hall, 170 Charles Austin Dr., San Marcos
Image from Dante's Trail in Purgatory Creek Natural Area
Large live oak tree along the trail, hollowed-out area on the right.
Schulle Canyon bird walk first of the year
 |
| Blue Jay atop Chinaberry tree. [Colton Robbins photo] |
Schulle Canyon is listed as number 061 on the Texas Parks, "Heart of Texas - Wildlife Trail East." While not teeming with numerous species, the densely wooded, 16 acre site can be a dependable source for cardinals, titmice, wrens, sparrows and woodpeckers.
Ten hearty souls joined Stephen Ramirez for the January birding walk held on the first Saturday of each month. Colton Robbins assisted and provided the list of birds seen. The morning walk did not disappoint as the birders were treated to a sighting of a Golden-crowned kinglet that remained visible long enough for everyone to view the beautiful yellow feathers that add to the name through the spotting scope.
The wooded walk required knowledge of bird vocalizations as many birds remained sheltered among the branches and leaves of the trees. Calls gave hint to location but movement and flight aided in observation.
Contact Stephen at www.birdsIview.org to be added to the notification list. --LJ
15 species total
1
|
Black Vulture
|
3
|
White-winged Dove
|
1
|
Golden-fronted Woodpecker
|
4
|
Blue Jay
|
1
|
American Crow
|
2
|
Carolina Chickadee
|
1
|
Black-crested Titmouse
|
3
|
Carolina Wren
|
2
|
|
1
|
Golden-crowned Kinglet
|
4
|
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
|
3
|
|
1
|
Orange-crowned Warbler
|
5
|
Northern Cardinal
|
1
|
House Sparrow
|
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