Remove hazard limbs from mature old-growth Ashe juniper, site 2, 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)

The survey above flagged dead or hazard limbs on a mature, nesting-quality Ashe juniper, and careful removal by a credentialed crew keeps the tree healthy and its canopy structure intact for the warbler's nesting bark without risking storm-driven limb failure. 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: breeding season timing confirm plus before after photos plus limbs removed record plus GPS 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. Confirm the work plan, breeding-season timing, and identified mature juniper cluster with park staff before starting; work is scheduled outside the golden-cheeked warbler and black-capped vireo breeding season only, roughly March through July. 2. 2. Photograph the mature juniper and its dead or hazard limbs before starting, from the same vantage used in the survey. 3. 3. Using hand tools or a chainsaw operated by a credentialed crew member, remove only dead or hazard limbs, preserving the mature canopy's overall shaggy-bark structure and never felling or topping the mature juniper itself. 4. 4. Photograph the treated juniper from the matching before vantage and record the limbs removed. Done when: Confirmation the work was scheduled outside the March through July breeding season window; Before photo of the dead or hazard limbs on the mature juniper; Confirmation only dead or hazard limbs were removed, mature canopy structure and shaggy bark preserved, no felling or topping; Record of the limbs removed; After photo of the treated juniper from the matching vantage

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

$320 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

breeding season timing confirm plus before after photos plus limbs removed record plus GPS

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

Level

advanced

Open until

2026-09-03

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

• Confirmation the work was scheduled outside the March through July breeding season window
• Before photo of the dead or hazard limbs on the mature juniper
• Confirmation only dead or hazard limbs were removed, mature canopy structure and shaggy bark preserved, no felling or topping
• Record of the limbs removed
• After photo of the treated juniper from the matching vantage

Proof is measured against these, not judged by taste.