About Bird Oasis...

Our property is 35 acres west of Fredericksburg in the Texas Hill Country. It is mainly sheep and goat, and some cattle ranches in the area. This, together with too many deer, means there is not much good bird habitat. There are a lot of large trees- Live Oak, Cedar Elm, Red Oak, Escarpment Black Cheery, etc., but the livestock eat the undergrowth/bushes that birds and small animals need for food and habitat.

As soon as we bought the property, we fenced off over 2 acres from deer and livestock. We then planted over 1000 native trees, undergrowth, and perrennial flowering plants. With these plants and many native volunteers, the 2 acres that is deer-proof has turned into lush bird habitat.

We recently built a fish pond and large custom bird bath (the "Basin"). The Basin was designed specifically for birds. There is a small pump and a waterfall. It is very popular with birds! As more birds make Bird Oasis home, the sound attracts more birds. We have many year-round residents and others that return for the nesting season every year. The seasonal birds include:
-at least 6 pair of Painted Buntings
-Summer Tanagers
-Blue Grosbeaks
-Ash-throated flycatchers
-White-eyed Vireos
-over 1000 Ruby-throated and Black-chinned hummingbirds
etc...
There are typically around 20 pairs of birds nesting in the lush habitat that is deer-proof.

So, it is about making excellent bird habitat in a pretty barren part of the Hill Country....

This is what Bird Oasis sounds like in the spring.

"Before and after" photos.

Barren property when we bought it.	Bird Oasis now- no "views" any more...
Pond with large birdbath that we constructed (300 hours of work).