Galveston Bay refinery creates home for wildlife

“In early 2017 we held a H.E.A.R.T. (Habitat Enhancement Awareness & Recycle Team) meeting where we discussed the vast wildlife diversity that could be seen in the Texas City area,” explains Senior HES Professional Allen Hardee of the Galveston Bay refinery (GBR). “During the meeting, GBR General Manager Rich Hernandez suggested that we utilize a new retention pond under construction as a wildlife management project.”

The pond is located just outside the GBR fence line, where 5^th Avenue North and 29th Street intersect. H.E.A.R.T. members met with the construction team and implemented a few changes, with the primary objective to encourage local wild duck species to nest in or around the pond. A secondary objective was to provide a wild space so that other animals, such as shore birds, wading birds, turtles, dragonflies and other animals would have a place to live and be easily observable by refinery employees.

CHANGES INCLUDE:

• Installing a low protective barrier instead of a tall fenceand a circular drive to allow easier wildlife viewing.
• Changing the management of the pond to allow for some standing water to encourage duck nesting, and installing three aerators to oxygenate the water and preventmosquito growth.
• Installing four Black-bellied Whistling Duck nesting boxes.
• Implementing a controlled mowing and vegetation maintenance plan to allow for the growth of aquatic plants, which provide food and cover for pond wildlife.

The project has been a great success. Within days of adding water to the pond in late March, migrating ducks arrived, says Hardee. Aquatic plants began to grow; shore birds like Black-necked Stilts and wading birds like Snowy Egrets also arrived. In late April, a Purple Gallinule stayed at the pond for three days. “Purple Gallinules are beautiful birds that are rarely found in urban settings,” comments Hardee. “Their numbers have reduced drastically in recent years.”

Then, in late May, a Black-bellied Whistling Duck was roosting on top of a nesting box, which is often an indicator that birds are nesting in the box. A few days later, four baby ducks were seen swimming behind their parents. In addition, Eastern Bluebirds seem to be using a duck nesting box. “Bluebirds are cavity nesters that usually occupy much smaller homes,” adds Hardee. “OnJune 8, we saw a juvenile bluebird along with an adult bird.”

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