Palmetto Parula Minibox

Texas Birding Trail Series

Northern Parula

Placed By: Silver Eagle
Date: 01/15/09
Nearest Town: Ottine, TX
County: Gonzales
Terrain Difficulty: Easy (flat, 400 yards RT)
Recommended Ink: blue & yellow
Status: alive (01/15/09)

The Northern Parula is a small, compact warbler with blue-gray upperparts, yellow breast, and white belly. It breeds from southeastern Canada to the Gulf coast and its preferred breeding habitat includes wet, coniferous woods along lakes and ponds, and in swamps. Since this is a good description of Palmetto State Park, you have a good chance of seeing one there, along with this box. It is part of the Guadalupe Loop described on the Central Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail map. Activities include camping, picnicking, hiking, fishing, birding, nature study, pedal boat and canoe rentals, swimming, tubing, and canoeing.

Directions:

From I10 near Luling, go 2.5 miles southeast on US 183, then 2.5 miles southwest on Park Road 11 past Ottine to Palmetto SP. Pay fee, get a map and continue to the southern section of the Park. Park near the Palmetto Trail at the CCC building.

Clues:

Walk back down the road, passing the Palmetto Trail exit, until you come to its entrance by the old tower. Walk the trail to marker #11 and continue 22 steps. Turn left and walk 7 steps off trail to a large tree with a hollow on the left side 6 feet high. The Minibox is within, tied to a branch. The box is a pill container and is permanently attached to the tree, so remove the top by pushing down while turning counter-clockwise. When replacing the top, make sure to screw it on all the way and check to make sure it doesn't come off if you lift up on it.

NOTE: Always take adequate precautions (such as prodding with a stick and/or wearing gloves) before reaching into dark crevasses and holes in the wild. Before you set out read the waiver of responsibility and disclaimer.

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Last updated on 01/19/2009

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