Document mature old-growth Ashe juniper bark condition, site 1, the maintained East Trail through the relict bigtooth maple stand, Lost Maples State Natural Area (Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, public state natural area), Vanderpool, TX 78885, Bandera and Real Counties (2026-08-04)

Mature, shaggy-bark old-growth Ashe juniper is the golden-cheeked warbler's required nesting-bark source, and this stand's mature-versus-young juniper mix has no recent record to protect the old growth while flagging any safe hazard-limb work. Standard: US Fish and Wildlife Service golden-cheeked warbler recovery habitat guidance plus USDA NRCS conservation practice standard 666 forest stand improvement, applied here to oak-juniper woodland canopy structure and mature Ashe juniper nesting-bark habitat, Lost Maples State Natural Area, Bandera and Real Counties, TX, observation and management of habitat structure only, never nest search. SDG 15.5. Proof: document only observation log plus bark maturity note plus GPS plus ranked follow on note Method (US Fish and Wildlife Service golden-cheeked warbler recovery habitat guidance plus USDA NRCS conservation practice standard 666 forest stand improvement, applied here to oak-juniper woodland canopy structure and mature Ashe juniper nesting-bark habitat, Lost Maples State Natural Area, Bandera and Real Counties, TX, observation and management of habitat structure only, never nest search. SDG 15.5.): 1. 1. From the maintained trail, photograph individual Ashe juniper trunks and note bark texture and shagginess, distinguishing mature old-growth juniper from young, smooth-barked encroaching juniper, without leaving the trail. This is observation of habitat structure only, never a search for, approach to, or attempt to locate an active nest at any point; do not use playback or calls, and do not leave the maintained trail. 2. 2. Note whether the stand's mature juniper carries dead or hazard limbs that could be safely removed without opening the canopy. 3. 3. Photograph the site from a fixed reference point for future comparison. 4. 4. Record a ranked follow on note naming the mature juniper cluster for the credentialed hazard-limb-removal crew, and flag the breeding-season restriction. Done when: Photo of mature, shaggy-bark old-growth juniper trunks distinguished from young, smooth-barked juniper; Note of any dead or hazard limbs on mature juniper suitable for future safe removal; Confirmation this was habitat-structure observation only, never a nest search, no playback or calls used; Ranked follow on note naming the mature juniper cluster for the credentialed crew, flagging the breeding-season restriction; GPS waypoint of the surveyed stretch

Where

the maintained East Trail through the relict bigtooth maple stand, Lost Maples State Natural Area (Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, public state natural area), Vanderpool, TX 78885, Bandera and Real Counties

Pay

$95 proposed

This packet is not funded yet, so this figure is a proposed price and not money waiting in escrow. If a buyer funds it, approved proof settles that price onchain. If nobody funds it, approved proof earns provable credit toward the work instead of cash. You see which before you claim, never after.

Proof

document only observation log plus bark maturity note plus GPS plus ranked follow on note

This is exactly what gets it approved. Nothing settles without it.

Level

entry

Open until

2026-11-03

How this work is done

A documented method, so this packet comes out the same whoever does it. Typically 45–120 minutes. Method of record: Point-count / transect species survey (Breeding Bird Survey + Xerces pollinator-count protocols)

Bring

• binoculars
• field ID guide or app
• GPS phone
• data sheet / recorder
• timer
• camera

Steps

1. 1. Navigate to the first survey point; record GPS; note start time, weather, and wind (surveys pause in rain/high wind).
2. 2. Wait a settling minute, then run a fixed-duration count (e.g., 5 min) within a fixed radius; record every species seen/heard and the count of each.
3. 3. Photograph the habitat and any species you can; note any threatened/target or invasive species.
4. 4. Move to the next point along the transect (keep points >=200 m apart) and repeat the count.
5. 5. Record total effort (points, duration) and observer.
6. 6. Enter the per-point species lists + counts, GPS, weather, effort, and photos into the proof record; sign.

If it does not match the plan

• Threatened/at-risk or target species observed -> flag for the land steward (with location) for protection planning.
• Invasive species dominant / native diversity very low -> flag for a management plan.
• Rain or high wind -> pause/reschedule; counts under poor conditions are not valid.

What counts as done

• Photo of mature, shaggy-bark old-growth juniper trunks distinguished from young, smooth-barked juniper
• Note of any dead or hazard limbs on mature juniper suitable for future safe removal
• Confirmation this was habitat-structure observation only, never a nest search, no playback or calls used
• Ranked follow on note naming the mature juniper cluster for the credentialed crew, flagging the breeding-season restriction
• GPS waypoint of the surveyed stretch

Proof is measured against these, not judged by taste.