Your land, their home: Bird habitat expert to speak

With bird populations plummeting at an alarming rate over the past five decades, your backyard or farmstead might just be the front line in the fight to save them. By adopting thoughtful land stewardship practices, you can transform your property into a thriving bird habitat and play a crucial role in reversing this troubling trend.

Rufus Stephens, coauthor of Land Stewardship for Birds: A Guide for Central Texas, will discuss conserving and enhancing local habitats—such as live oak savannas, grasslands, and residential yards—at the next meeting of the Fredericksburg Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas on Tuesday, Aug. 27, at 6:30 p.m. at St. J o s e p h’s Halle in Fredericksburg.

Deborah Simmons, president of the plant society’s Fredericksburg chapter, emphasized the critical role birds play in the local ecosystem.

“Birds are an essential part of our ecosystem,” Simmons said. “They pollinate our plants and crops, disperse native plant seeds, and help control pests by feeding on a variety of insects, rodents, and other small animals, naturally keeping those populations in check and ensuring a proper balance in our ecosystem.”

Stephens, retired from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, said land stewardship can be deeply rewarding. “Land steward ship can be profoundly satisfying as you marvel at the beauty and complexity of the ecosystems around you,” Stephens said.

He added that he is looking forward to sharing tips on attracting birds to properties of all sizes, whether it’s a city lot, a large ranch, or something in between.

Stephens co-authored “Land Stewardship for Birds: A Guide for Central Texas” with Jan Wrede, author of “Trees, Shrubs, and Vines of the Texas Hill Country”. Together, they have more than 75 years of practical land stewardship experience. Signed copies of their book will be available for sale at the meeting.

Stephens retired in 2017 from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department after a 23year career, where he worked as an urban wildlife biologist, a district wildlife biologist, and most recently as the district leader for the Edwards Plateau Wildlife District. He has developed and conducted numerous workshops for landowners on writing their own plans for wildlife tax valuation, with a particular interest and expertise in helping small-acreage landowners manage their properties for a variety of wildlife.

The lecture and meeting will be held at St. Joseph’s Halle, 212 W. San Antonio St., in Fredericksburg. A social time with snacks begins at 6:30 p.m., followed by the meeting at 7 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. The lecture will also be available via live stream on YouTube at youtube.com/@ fredericksburgtexasnativeg4884.