Three territorial male vireos were detected at a new location about 1.5 mi from the nearest known colony. As a result, we now concentrate our searches on about half of the refuge area each year. When we're not busy bird surveys, we do general reconnaissance of other biological resources anywhere we happen to find ourselves. This year, I've been concentrating on rounding out the list of vascular plants found on the refuge. As of July 1, the plant list was approaching 475 taxa.
Exciting times are ahead.
Bob Simpson came on board as the refuge's Fire Management Officer late last year. Together, Bob and I are making plans to institute an ambitious schedule of prescribed burning to rejuvenate and enhance key habitats on the refuge. However, creating good habitat for the black-capped vireo will involve carefully planned burns through secondary brushlands. We also have considerable areas of oak and elm savannah and hundreds of acres of prairie grasslands in which fire will be an important management tool. Together, this interagency team will be embarking on an annual program to put fire back into the Hill Country ecosystems.