Pedernales Falls State Park Prothonotary Warbler Nest Box Study: Wolf Mountain Biking & the Bird Blind

Prothonotary Warbler Occurrence In Texas

Central Texas draws the western line for the Prothonotary Warbler range. This species occupies much of eastern North America up to the southern boarder of Ontario Canada.
Prothonotarys' nest in natural cavities but also readily use nest boxes located on or near water. Flooded swamps represent ideal habitat but they will also nest along rivers or small bodies of water.
In May 2007 I saw a brightly colored male Prothonotary Warbler at Pedernales Falls State Park bird blind. After some research I learned male birds have been seen building nests in neighboring counties to Blanco County. Further research revealed a pair of Prothonotary Warblers successfully nested at Heard Wildlife Sanctuary in McKinney, Texas.
In December 2007 I decided to undertake a nest box study at the park. January through February 2008 I hiked the entire Pedernales River and tributaries within park boundaries, in an effort to choose the best sites. Habitat selection proved a challenge do to high flood levels along the river.
Five sights were eventually selected where two nest boxes each were placed. Most boxes were attached to trees however two were attached to metal poles. These boxes were monitored from March through June 2008 on a weekly basis. A Breeding Bird Study was conducted at each nestbox location in 2008 and will be continued in 2009.

Saturday, September 13, 2008

Wolf Mountain Biking & the Bird Blind

I arrived at the park just past sun-up and discovered at the Primitive Camp parking lot not a soul had chanced camping overnight with Hurricane Ike bearing down

on Houston. I biked under cloudy skies and strong winds along the 7.5 mile Wolf Mountain Trail without crossing paths with anyone except a Fox Squirrel and a few butterflies.
The park is so beautiful under overcast skies when the sun is not zapping water out of every pore of my body on these hot, humid, late Summer days. There really are some

nice vistas along the trail, as well as bike balancing acts traversing rock fields along the way. I usually opt to get off my bike and walk through some of these

areas.

At the bird blind I found one migrant male Ruby-throated Hummingbird along with the usual resident birds. This blind really is layed out nicely with the water structures at the back of the enclosed feeding area.