FRP_BirdGuide

Welcome to the Field Research Park The Edwards Aquifer Authority (EAA) established the Field Research Park (FRP) in 2020 as a protected site for the long- term study of soil restoration and land management practices and processes designed to improve groundwater quality and quantity. The FRP is located over the sensitive Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone in northeastern Bexar County and consists of approximately 151 acres within in the Cibolo Creek watershed. Habitats Are More Than Homes Urbanization has transformed millions of acres of woodland, brush, and grassland habitat into industrial, housing, and agricultural areas. Habitats are the physical settings of ecosystems that support communities of living organisms like plants and animals. The relationship between plants and animals is an important part of maintaining the balance of an ecosystem. In ecosystems around the world, reliable sources of food and water and availability of habitat are key to the continued survival of living organisms, including humans. Birds act as important indicators of ecosystem health and perform essential functions such as pollination of flowering plants and pest control. At the FRP, a variety of habitats support a diverse and seasonally changing bird population. Many of these birds use several habitats, nesting in one and foraging in others. Food for Many Tastes The FRP is home to a diverse array of plant life that provides berries, insects, nectar, nuts, and seeds for hungry birds. Trees like Ashe Juniper, Buckeye, Cedar Elm, Hackberry, Mulberry, Live Oak, Texas Persimmon, and Walnut offer rich stores of energy in their berries and nuts. Wildflowers like Black-eyed Susan, Honeysuckle, and Sunflower provide nectar and seeds. Native grasses like Gramma grass, Indiangrass, and Texas Cupgrass are important seed sources. Painted Buntings, like those pictured on the cover, thrive on seeds available throughout their nesting season. Texas Cupgrass, like many native grasses, blooms and produces seeds from May through October. In addition to providing nectar and seeds, some wildflowers like Mallow and Sida host butterfly larvae, which become food for insect-eating birds like wrens. Similarly, trees such as Pecan, Hackberry, and Cedar Elm provide food, shelter, and act as hosts to insect larvae. Pecan trees bloom and attract insects in the spring. In the fall,

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EDWARDS AQUIFER AUTHORITY

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