A morning at the Baker Preserve

On April 14th, a group of us spent the morning at the Travis Audubon Baker Preserve. The temperature was cool, perfect for a spring morning hike. The 715-acre preserve is managed by Audubon and the preserve director Chris Murray, who led us on our tour. The land was donated by the Baker Preserve after the passing of Chell Baker. The Bakers lived on this property for many years and Chell had left the property for Audubon because he wanted to keep the land preserved and not left to be developed.

Trail on Baker Preserve. Photo by Jackson Becker

This habitat is important golden-cheeked warbler habitat. The GCW was listed as an endangered species in the 1990s and has since been the reason for a lot of land preservation in the Hill Country. The GCW needs old-growth ashe juniper forest to create nesting for the breeding season. They only breed in Central Texas, so their habitat protection is very important here. A lot of research has been done on GCWs in the Hill Country but not as much has been done on their migration path and wintering grounds of Southern Mexico. Developing studies are important for protecting these birds all year round.

The Baker Preserve has about 70 pairs of golden-cheeked warblers. Chris Murray surveys 100-acre plots for 3 years to study how GCWs interact and return to the property. They need a 70:30 ratio of ashe juniper to hardwood trees on this land for proper habitat. There has been a decline in hardwoods here. A study revealed that deer were a problem, so there were cages put around growing hardwoods to promote growth.

Invasive species are a problem on this land as well. Chris Murray said he has removed over 25,000 individuals since he started the invasive removal project. The Tree of haven is a prominent invasive. 30 tree of havens were growing by a drain which led to seeds flowing into the water and dispersing across the preserve. Chris pulled 3,000 individuals the first time he went out, and is still removing them, having pulled 50 the last time he did, about a decade after starting. Another invasive is the KR bluestem. To manage this species, they mow down plots to get seeds before they grow and then seed natives.

Cowbird cage. Photo by Olivia Prior

Cowbird cage. Photo by Olivia Prior

 

 

 

Cowbirds are an issue on this land during GCW breeding season because they lay eggs in other birds’ nests. To deal with this issue, the preserve has a cage to trap the cowbirds during the breeding season.

 

 

 

 

Golden-cheeked warbler in a hardwood tree. Photo by Beckett Postiglione 

We had the rare opportunity of spotting TWO golden-cheeked warblers on the tops of hardwood trees. We had a clear view of them for a couple of minutes. I was very grateful to experience the beautiful songbird I have been learning so much about. The golden-cheeked warblers are banded to track the GCWs that return or where they go the next season around the Hill Country. Chris explained that there is a “Banding Czar” at Fort Hood who manages what combination of bands to put on the birds. To band GCWs, you must get permission from the Fish and Wildlife Service, the Fort Hood bird banding lab, and TX Parks and Wildlife. Chris and other preserve managers around the area report their data to the bird banding lab.

 

 

 

At the end of our trip, we got to see the inside of the Baker Cabin on-site and observed the Baker Family cemetery. We learned about the interesting history of the family living on the property. 

This was a wonderful way to spend my morning. I hope to see more golden-cheeked warblers in the future. Thank you to Chris Murray and Travis Audubon for having us on the preserve and providing an educational tour.

 

Written by Olivia Prior

4/19/23