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When Spanish explorers first saw the terraced hills northwest of what is now Austin, Texas, they named the land Balcones. These limestone hills and spring fed canyons make up most of the Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge. The primary purpose of the refuge is to conserve the nesting habitat of the endangered Golden-cheeked Warbler and Black-capped Vireo. The vegetation found in this area, known as the Texas Hill Country, includes various oaks, elm, and Ashe juniper trees (commonly called cedar). The Golden-cheeked Warbler and Black-capped Vireo depend on different successional stages of this vegetation. Both of these birds nest in central Texas, the warbler exclusively.

Comprehensive Conservation Plan 2001-2016(PDF,177M)  (Because of it's size, this document is currently being converted into a screen reader accessible document and will post soon.)

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