Checklist of the Fauna & Flora of the Ranch consists of over 7500 acres, and can be located on BIG SPRINGS RANCH the Circle Bluff and Sabinal Canyon USGS Quadrangle FOR CHILDREN maps. It lies in proximity to the H.E.B. Foundation Camp near Leakey, Real County, Texas and Lost Maples State Natural Area to the north and east respectively. Research by a survey conducted in 2002 by tony gallucci found that the Ranch overlays the Segovia and Fort Terrett v.4.4.2 – 28 April 2010 Members of the Edwards Limestone formation. The contact zone between the Edwards and Upper Glen Rose aquifer This is a work in progress based on current surveys and layers occurs on the Ranch resulting in the many seeps and historical information. All currently known data has been springs for which the area is known. These in turn give rise added to this document, however much work remains, to endemism among plants and aquatic creatures isolated in especially in the realms of identifying most invertebrates, the wet canyons. fungi, and microbes; and in properly sorting the plants based on current taxonomy. The best known groups at this The Hill Country is on a massive uplift known as the time are Butterflies, Odonates, Molluscs, Amphibians, Edwards Plateau. Eroded by millennia of glacial outfall, Reptiles, Mammals, Birds, and Plants. Fish records are in followed by recurrent climate shifts, the deeply cut canyons flux until sampling is completed. Invertebrates other than and topography have resulted in an area renowned for its those listed above are very incomplete at this time. Higher endemism and extreme diversity. It is the ultimate North order levels are in the process of being sorted according to American faunal and floral melting pot, having a mixing current systematic theory and as used here are only for zone of Eastern, Western, Northern and Tropical species tentative organizational purposes, especially as regards unrivaled elsewhere on this continent. Elements of the plants. Blacklands, the Subtropical Thorn-scrub, the Southern Plains, and the Chihuahuan Desert all are easily found here, Summary as well as numerous species found nowhere else. The only Record-keeping was initiated on 27 April 2006. Certain past bird endemic to a single state of the US is also found here, records are included, especially those derived from ranch as are numerous small endemic vertebrates, notably records, including hunting logs, wildlife surveys by salamanders and turtles. The Ranch offers an intriguing professionals, and sightings of guests and staff, plus slice of this faunal and floral nirvana, with canyons littered records of captives; significantly odd records, and with typical Hill Country trees, shrubs and flowering plants, unconfirmed or uncertain specific identities are appended as which in turn attract typical birds and insects of the region. hypotheticals. This survey is into its fourth year but is still relatively new, The Site and will be updated as time passes to reflect increased The Big Springs Ranch for Children is located in east- knowledge of the flora and fauna of this fine location. Many central Real County along the major headwaters of the Frio thanks to Oma Bell Perry for the stewardship her family River, widely known as the Country of 1100 Springs. The undertook of this fine piece of property, and her donation of 1 the property to the Hill Country Youth Ranch to further its Valenzuela, and Robert Hammond in 2009; and Chantelle goals of helping children in need. To Gary, Carol and Boatright, John Ramirez, Bre'Ann Hansen, and Ashley Michael Priour for their founding and continued Sanchez in 2008. Their work has been added to the eBird management of the Ranch, and for offering me the database. We are also most grateful to a number of online opportunity to understand its natural features, and to the contributors, who via direct communication or identifications many staff and residents who continue to provide on Bugguide.net have helped clarify the identifications of a stewardship of this endangered range of habitats. And to number of species: Bob Behrstock, Keith Bayless, Norm these participants in the regular faunal and floral surveys for Woodley, Matt Bertone, Eric Eaton, Peter Diaz, and Tim their time, effort, expense and expertise: Brandon Best, Ken Loh. Cave, Tom Collins, Marcy Dorman, Mike Gray, Kathy and Mitch Heindel, Greg Lasley and Cheryl Johnson, Mike The Big Springs Ranch for Children and the Hill Country Overton, Jason Penney, Susan Sander, Bob Thomas, Tripp Youth Ranch are residential foster family facilities housing Davenport, Zac Loman, Jill Wussow, Terry Hibbitts, Joshua up to 130 children and young adults from orphaned families Rose, Garrett Whitten, and Derek Muschalek. Texas A&M and abusive situations. The Priours have spent their lives University has had a survey crew for Golden-cheeked trying to enrich the lives of these emotionally impoverished Warblers, under the direction of Michael Morrison, which children. For more information on the Ranches check out provided additional information, including regular reports our presence online at http://www.youth-ranch.org. from Zachary Loman (Humboldt State University), Jill Wussow (Texas A&M University),Melissa Lackey (Texas The Hill Country Youth Ranch, the parent facility, is located A&M University), and Laura Stewart (Texas A&M in Ingram, Kerr County, and a similar Checklist of the Flora University). These participants in the first biological survey and Fauna is available from that location. of the ranch cannot be underestimated or underthanked for their initial contribution to the understanding of Ranch flora: Codes and Classification Bill Carr, Lee Elliott, Gay Gilbert, Bea Harrison, Jim * Feral, Introduced, Adventitious, Invasive and/or Exotic, but Harrison, Jackie Poole, Susan Sander, and Tom Taylor. free-ranging Special thanks to Marshall Johnston for lending his much ** Exotic, but captive or cultivated needed expertise to vegetative survey field trips on 28 April *** Native, but captive or cultivated 2007, 15 September 2007, 26 April 2008, and 25 April 2009. ☼ Breeding or nesting on the property Folks with a history at the Ranch who have provided much ₪ Migrant species, including local winter movements – birds valuable information and discussion relating to this checklist and insects include Ken Cave, Dean Mitchell, Susi Mitchell, Tripp ∞ Threatened, Endangered, specially protected, and Davenport, Courtney Ward, John Gross, Sue Gross and organizationally designated species other than Ken Wade. Students of the Ed Brune Charter School have native game animals and all native bird species which conducted regular bird surveys onder the direction of Tripp are protected by state and federal law Davenport, including Rudy Fuentes, Destini Evans, Kyle ◘ Endemic to Real County, the Hill Country, Edwards Millegan, Thomas Whitely, Amanda Pina, Carlos Plateau or Central Texas 2 Documented by photograph (photographers: Greg confirm based on the material available Lasley, Mike Overton, Jason Penney, Tom nr. Near: It is not this species, but this is the closest relative, Collins, Ken Cave, Tony Gallucci, Susan Sander, Mitch in a superficial sense, that i can assign Heindel, Bob Rasa, Sue Wiseman, it to LoSharris Cunningham, Tripp Davenport, LeAnn Sharp, [ ] Bracketed species are considered hypothetical – ones for Stephen Ramirez, Zac Loman, Jill which identification is not 100% Wussow) positive, for which observers are not certain, or for which s Species (notably plants) identified by one authority, but documentation is lacking later questioned by another authority NCR New County Record Documented by film Documented by audio-recording and/or sonogram KINGDOM ¥ Voucher collected; deposited in a professional or PHYLUM/SUBPHYLUM/SUPERCLASS/CLASS/INFRACL academic collection ASS/ORDER/SUBORDER FAMILY □ Common Name, Scientific name, Codes ♆ Remains only, possibly fossil, if so, likely Pleistocene Fossilized, likely Cretaceous Poisonous, toxic, venomous, allergen-producing There has been in use a Bird Checklist of the Big Springs Invertebrate identifications by experts listed in Ranch that was printed by Ranch Management. In initial acknowledgments research for this project it was determined that this list was Plant identifications by Susan Sander entirely co-opted from the neighboring property of the Plant identifications/confirmations by Marshall Johnston H.E.B. Foundation Camp, which has a long history of Identified via old photos in addition to modern records keeping bird records. For the purposes of this survey, which F Species attracted to feeder trees is based on actual records for BSRC, this other checklist Ubiquitous, endemic in medical parlance has been ignored, although its value as a predictor of Information derived from old file information potential species cannot be dismissed. However, none of Information via knowledgeable Ranch staff, largely Dean the records appearing on that list appear on this one. and Susi Mitchell, and from collections (and classroom denizens; and herbarium; plus library There is also a hunting brochure for the Ranch that lists native aquarium) of Tripp Davenport, Ed available game. The actual presence of these species on Brune Charter High School Science teacher, and surveys the Ranch has not yet been verified. conducted by his students for eBird’ also Michael Priour and Ken Wade Location Details Information via references as listed TX: Real County, Big Springs on the Frio River, Big Springs □ Checkbox Ranch for Children, 9 miles N of Leakey