Maggie's Farm

Then and Now: A Natural Perspective

Bamberger Ranch’s original purchase of 3,000 acres in 1969 is where the majority of the cedar clearing took place. The remaining 2,500 acres was purchased in pieces over the next several years to what is now a 5,500 acre habitat restoration and wildlife preserve.

Birds

Early bird surveys 45 years ago documented under 50 species. As birds are good indicator species, you can glean an idea of what kind of condition your land is in. The current species list (PDF) is up to 213 species, demonstrating diversity and vast improvement in habitat conditions.

When the ranch was predominantly a cedar brake, that is basically one type of habitat: forest. When you clear out and add native grasses, you basically expand your habitat range to greater diversity: forest (as there is still about 5-10% of the ranch in a cedar brake type of condition), grassland, riparian, and then “edge” habitat — that transition area of one habitat type to the next, which is very important to wildlife.

Total counts now include the bald eagle and the golden eagle, but probably more important for the Texas Hill Country, we consistently have nesting pairs of two endangered song birds: the Golden Cheeked Warbler and the Black cedar thickets Capped Vireo — both of which were not documented here prior to habitat restoration. More than 25 total sightings of nesting pairs of the GCW were documented in 2005.

Deer

Deer harvested over 40 years ago had an average field dress weight of 55 pounds. The deer were very small and unhealthy, due to lack of forage diversity. Bucks now consistently field dress at an average of 115 pounds with the record in 2013 being 156 pounds....

Water
Most importantly, prior to habitat restoration, there was no surface water or live creeks on the ranch when Mr. Bamberger purchased the property. He even tried to start his own water well drilling business — drilling 7 wells around the ranch 500 feet deep and did not get a drop of water.

After restoration, there are now 27 stock tanks (or ponds and lakes) and countless springs. Eleven artesian springs are “cased” to utilize for domestic purposes or livestock.

Being at the top of its watershed, Miller Creek originates on the Bamberger Ranch. Our stretch runs year-round except in times of extreme drought conditions. But even in times of drought, the most important springs that supply all the water to four households, our center and two cabins have never gone dry since habitat restoration.