Attwater Prairie Chicken NWR Attwater Prairie Chicken NWR was established in 1972 to preserve and restore gulf coastal prairie habitat for the endangered Attwater's prairie chicken (Tympanuchus cupido attwateri)(APC). Historically, the APC occupied an estimated 7 million acres of gulf coastal prairie grasslands from southeastern Louisiana to the Nueces River in Texas. It was estimated that the APC numbers reached 1 million birds though its historic range. Loss of APC habitat is due to agriculture development, urban and industrial expansion, over grazing and invasion of woody plant species. Lost of habitat coupled with several years of inclement weather during the nesting season is blamed for the bird's decline. Today, only 58 birds exit in the wild in three stragetic locations and less that 200,000 fragmented acres or 3% of the original habitat remains. Of these 58 birds, 24 reside on the refuge, 22 at The Nature Conservancy Galveston Bay Prairie Preserve and 12 on private lands. Attwater prairie chickens are mostly herbivorous, eating more green foliage and flowers than seeds or insects even though insects are the most prevalent food consumed in the summer. The refuge protects over 8,000 acres of habitat utilized by the APC and many other animals. The prairie is dominated by perennial bunchgrass species such as little bluestem, Indiangrass, switchgrass and big bluestem. The land is relatively flat, poorly to moderately well drained and supports many pothole depressions, one lake and two marshes. The refuge has identified over 250 different flowering plants and 266 bird species. Although the refuge is dedicated to the Attwater's prairie chicken, access to their concentrated habitat is not allowed because of their critically low numbers. It is only though successful APC captive breeding efforts, reintroductions into the wild and protection of more habitat that this species will have a change to survive for future generations to see. Besides preserving a very unique species we are also preserving the gulf coastal prairie, part of Texas' history.
Balcones Canyonlands NWR When Spanish explorers first saw the layers of hills northwest of what is now Austin, Texas, they named the land Balcones. These limestone hills and spring fed canyons make up most of the Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge. The primary purpose of the refuge is to conserve the nesting habitat of the endangered golden-cheeked warbler and black-capped vireo. The vegetation found in this area, known as the Texas Hill Country, includes various oaks, elm, and Ashe juniper trees (commonly called cedar). The golden-cheeked warbler and black-capped vireo depend on different successional stages of this vegetation. Both of these birds nest in Central Texas, the warbler exclusively.
Bardwell Lake Close to the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan areas. From Ennis, 4.5 mi S on county paved road and TX 34.
Belton Lake Historical sites include the old "Charter Oak" on the Leon River, just below the dam, and the Stage Coach Inn in nearby Salado. From Belton, 3 mi N on TX 317, 1 mi NW on FM 2271.
Benbrook Lake Benbrook Lake is located in the scenic open countryside of rolling hills and prairie meadows southwest of Fort Worth, Texas. Conveniently accessible from the Fort Worth / Dallas metroplex, the lake is only 2.5 miles (4 km) south of Interstate Highway 20 on US Highway 377. Picnicking, camping, fishing, hunting, boating, hiking and birdwatching are just the beginning of the activities available in the parks and other public lands at Benbrook Lake. Nearby Fort Worth also offers the attractions of an annual stock show and rodeo, a lovely botanical gardens and zoo, and two world reknowned museums, the Amon Carter and Kimball Art Museums. Please visit the Benbrook Lake Web Site in the list to the right for additional information.
