NATURAL RESOURCES
EDUCATIONAL POND Funded by the Pearland Rotary Club and the Forever Parks Foundation, the new educational pond outside the Delores Fenwick Nature Center provides great opportunities for education and engagement. With a gentle slope to the water’s edge, the pond is easily accessible to all visitors, providing a close and clear view of what our natural pond habitats look like when undisturbed. A series of shallow shelves provide areas for native plants to grow and those plants help to create a habitat for a variety of animal species. When viewing the pond, you can expect to see wetland plants, fish species, insects and other invertebrates and maybe even some birds and turtles! SHADOW CREEK RANCH NATURE TRAIL – PRAIRIE RESTORATION The Shadow Creek Ranch Nature Trail is a great place to explore nature and see a variety of local wildlife right here in Pearland. Recently, a large-scale habitat restoration project was initiated to bring back the historical prairie that once thrived prior to land use conversions and invasions of non-native plants took control. A prairie habitat once dominated the greater Houston landscape but in recent years has suffered a tremendous loss through factors such as urbanization, farming, invasive species and lack of management. Returning this site back to prairie will help provide a much needed habitat for countless animals including pollinators, birds and more.
JOHN HARGROVE ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLEX ROOKERY
A rookery is a site where many birds group together to breed and nest, often seeking out islands as a refuge from predators. Pearland is fortunate to have one of these critical sites within the John Hargrove Environmental Complex (JHEC). Every year around late May, the colony is counted in conjunction with the Texas Colonial Waterbird Survey. This survey is conducted during a two-week period across the state to best count all know rookery sites in Texas. These sites are heavily monitored because they support many species that require unique conditions and whose populations have declined. The JHEC site supports nine species of colonial waterbirds including Neotropic Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, Cattle Egret, White Ibis and Roseate Spoonbill. During the 2020 survey, 446 nests were counted at JHEC. Keep in mind that each nest represents a breeding pair of adults and two to five chicks. That’s a lot of birds!
Pearland in Motion / Fall 2020 / 27
Made with FlippingBook Online newsletter