Author: bdowdy

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Events Family Fun

Kyle’s Pie in the Sky Day Celebration

What’s that up in the sky? It’s a bird? It’s a plane? It’s a… nope, not Superman. It’s a fleet of hot air balloons! 

 

It’s time for the Kyle Pie in the Sky Hot Air Balloon Festival. Whether you come out to see the hot air balloons or your main focus is eating as much pie as possible, this is one end-of-the-summer event that you’re not going to want to miss!

 

Pie in the Sky 101

If you’re new in town or have simply never heard of this pie-themed hot air balloon festival, allow us to fill you in. The festival has only been around a few years, but since the first festival in 2017, it’s proven to be popular with residents as it gives folks a chance to see more than a dozen hot air balloons inflate and take to the skies, as well as enjoy a variety of pies from the savory to the sweet. 

 

When and Where?

All the pie-eating and balloon action happens on Saturday, September 3 from 12 to 8 PM. While in previous years the event has taken place at Lake Kyle, this year’s festival has been moved to Gregg-Clarke Park (1231 W Center Street) due to construction at Lake Kyle.

 

Entry to the event is completely FREE, and while there is a limited amount of free parking, there will be on-site paid parking available. Free shuttles will also be running to take attendees from nearby St. Anthony’s Church to the event. 

 

An even better alternative may be to leave the car at home and take advantage of UberKyle. The program is available through the City of Kyle phone app and includes a voucher for just $3.14 that allows for a trip anywhere within the Kyle city limits. 

 

Balloons, Pie, and so Much More

A sky full of colorful hot air balloons may be the big draw, but they’re hardly the only reason to mark this event on your calendar. A vendor market will be set up where guests can peruse and purchase local crafts as well as food and drink. And speaking of food, pie is on the menu in a big way at this festival. 

 

Dozens of pies will be available to try and there will even be a pie-baking contest for home bakers who think they might have a blue ribbon-worthy recipe. Previous festivals have included some irresistible pies with names like Rainbow Balloon Pumpkin Pie, Dark Side Chocolate Fudge Pie, and Chinese New Year Pineapple Pie. 

 

There will also be pie-eating contests, live music, and a play area for the kiddos to run around and burn off some energy. For guests who want to get a view of the action from up above, tethered hot air balloon rides will be available. Who knows, maybe you can even have your pie in the sky. 

 

The Pie in the Sky Festival is just one of the many aspects that makes Kyle such a great place to live. If you’re interested in finding a home here, connect with the Crosswinds team today. 

 

Categories
Lifestyle

Beekeeping in Hays County

 

Honey is probably the first thing that comes to mind when you think about the benefit of bees. But these tiny pollinators are responsible for a variety of food products we enjoy such as blueberries, almonds, and tomatoes. 

 

Then there are the wildflowers. The Texas Hill Country is home to some of the most beautiful wildflower species on the planet, and bees play a HUGE role in this. Despite bees being crucial to our local and global ecosystems, all is not right in the world of bees and several factors ranging from habitat loss to pollution, disease, and invasive species (murder hornets, no thank you!) threaten our native bee populations. 

 

The good news is that Hays County residents can take action to help save the bees in several ways. 

 

Join the Hays County Beekeepers

 

Beekeeping can be an incredibly rewarding hobby and a pretty good way to ensure you’ll never have to buy honey from the grocery store ever again! The easiest way to get involved is to stop by one of the Hays County Beekeepers’ meetings. The group meets every third Tuesday of the month at Suds Monkey Brewing in Austin and has a Q&A session for beekeeping newbies from 6:30 to 7 PM. 

 

This beekeeping 101 session before the regular meeting gives curious newcomers a chance to ask about everything from how honey harvesting works to how to relocate swarms. 

 

Adding Pollinator-Friendly Plants to Your Yard

 

While Crosswinds isn’t zoned for agriculture and beekeeping, residents can still be a friend to bees. One of the best ways to do so is to plant flowering and pollinator-friendly plants in your yard. Bees are drawn to a wide variety of flowers, shrubs, and trees, and by planting even just a few of these in your Crosswinds home’s yard, you’ll be providing bees with a sanctuary and resource for food. 

 

Reduce Your Use of Harmful Pesticides

 

Now that you have your gardening gloves on and are ready to plant some bee-friendly plants, we need to talk about pesticides. Science has caught up with our use of pesticides and it’s not good for bees. Pesticides that fall in the sub-group of neonicotinoids can be incredibly harmful to bees, inhibiting their ability to reproduce and ultimately leading to smaller and smaller bee populations. 

 

If you’re going to use a pesticide in your garden, do a little research beforehand to ensure it doesn’t fall under the neonicotinoid grouping of pesticides. The bees will thank you!

 

Come Out for National Honey Bee Day

 

The Kyle Parks and Recreation Department is all about bees and will be honoring the food-producing insects as part of National Honey Bee Day on August 20th. 

 

The public is invited out to Mary Kyle Hartson Park from 10 AM until 2 PM to learn all about bees from local naturalists. The first 100 attendees will also get a free hanging flower basket. 

 

Now that you know all the buzz when it comes to beekeeping in Hays County, all that’s left to do is prep your yard to become a bee haven. 

 

If you’d like to find your dream home, complete with a dream yard then contact the Crosswinds team today. 

Categories
Area Attractions Family Fun

How to Beat the Heat: Indoor Family Fun in Kyle, TX

By August, just about everyone has had it with the heat. You’re sweaty, the kids have been to the pool more times than you can count, and you’re running low on sunscreen. Clearly, this calls for some indoor relief. We may be in the middle of the dog days of summer, but there are still plenty of fun things to do right here in Kyle – all from the comfort of air conditioning!

 

Head to the Movie Theater (or bowling alley) – Yes, you can stream from an endless selection of movies without getting off the couch, but there’s just something magical about the movie theater that can’t be replicated in the living room. 

 

If it’s been a while since you packed the kiddos in the car and went to the movies, now is the perfect time to spend a day at EVO in Kyle. With VR games and a full bowling alley, the entertainment megaplex has plenty of ways to keep the family entertained long after the credits roll. 

 

Bounce, Climb, and Swing – Urban Air bills itself as “the ultimate indoor adventure park and a destination for family fun.” The keyword here is “indoor.”

 

This indoor trampoline park in Austin is a guaranteed way to help the kids burn off some of that summer energy before the school year starts. In addition to the trampolines, there are climbing walls, go-karts, and laser tag. A range of price options also gives parents some flexibility in regards to their child’s ability and skill level.  

 

A Place Just for the Littles – With numerous locations throughout the Hill Country, Little Land is a popular indoor gym and play space geared toward helping children grow. The play space offers a variety of programs and activities ranging from open play-gym to pediatric physical therapy, music programs, day camps, and parents’ night-out events. 

 

Become a Ninja… a Code Ninja – You won’t find any throwing stars or nunchucks here, but what families will discover is an environment that fosters creative thinking and problem-solving. Instead of simply playing video games, Code Ninja centers teach kids how to build their own video games through a fun coding curriculum. The centers offer programs for children ages 5 to 14 with a variety of camp and at-home programming from basic coding to robotics. 

 

Shoot Some Zombies and Create a Masterpiece – Blasting zombies and creating stunning art probably don’t have a lot in common, but kids can do both at Uncharted Adventures. This multi-activity center is geared more toward older children and teens but is sure to be a fun indoor activity for both kids and parents. 

 

With everything from rage rooms that allow guests to smash and break things to their heart’s content to escape rooms, splatter paint sessions, ax throwing, and yes, a zombie airsoft arena, this place is anything but boring. 

 

Hopefully, this will provide you with a little inspiration on the next hot summer day when you need a way to beat the heat and kill a few hours indoors.  

 

As you can see, Kyle has a lot to offer when it comes to family fun. If you’d like to find the perfect home here for your family, reach out to the Crosswinds team to learn more about our home builders. 

 

Categories
Area Attractions Education Family Fun

Kyle Public Library

If you thought Kyle’s Public Library was merely a place to check out books (though you can certainly still do that), then you owe it to yourself to explore this local institution. 

How about catching a movie? What about learning the drums or a foreign language? Anybody need to look up a long-lost relative? All of these things and what almost seems like a never-ending list of other activities are available in one single spot – the Kyle Public Library. 

 

Programs and Classes That are a Little Off the Beaten Path 

 

One of the coolest things about Kyle’s Public Library is the assortment of classes and programs available. You never know what you’re going to find here, but you can bet that it will be interesting! The library’s calendar has something happening six days a week and offers classes for learning French, studying astronomy, chess club, and crafting sessions. Other programs include a percussion jam session, the Kyle writer’s group, and a program all about reptiles fittingly dubbed Snakes in a Library!

 

An Office, Computer Lab, and Research Station All Under One Roof

 

While it may not be quite as exciting as live reptiles, one of the best aspects of the library is its function as an all-in-one research and workstation. All you need is a library card and you can use the library’s free computers or Wi-Fi as well as other services such as printing, copying, scanning or faxing (a small fee may apply) documents. 

 

The library also offers several community rooms that can be reserved for anything from a baby shower to a class presentation. Not only is the Kyle Public Library the ideal place to get a little work done, but it’s perfect for really diving into some research. With access to the TexShare Database, guests can access a sea of information including articles from more than 27,000 journals, 171,000 eBooks, and 15 million images, videos, and interactive resources. 

 

The library is also part of the Ancestry Library Edition network, allowing guests to explore their family history through Ancestry’s databank of birth, marriage, and death records, among other documents.

 

Entertainment for Both Young and Old

 

The library not only maintains a full class schedule, but always keeps a variety of fun events on its calendar for guests of all ages. In August, guests can drop in for trivia nights, family skating sessions, a program celebrating the honey bee with local naturalists, and several movie screenings. 

 

The library also offers programming geared toward parents with small children including Toddler Time, Pajama Storytime, Little, Yogis, and Preschool Express Storytime. These programs include interactive songs, play, and stories to encourage courage developmental skills in children ages 0 through 6 years.

This only scratches the surface of everything that can be found in the Kyle Public Library. From a thrift store to Little Free Libraries scattered throughout the city that allows citizens to share old books, there’s a lot to love about our library. 

The public library is just one of the many places that make Kyle such a special place to live. If you’re looking for a home here, reach out to the Crosswinds team to learn more about our home builders.

Categories
Area Attractions Lifestyle

Kyle Day Trip: Canyon Lake

Canyon Lake is known as “the jewel” of Texas Hill Country and it truly is a gem with all that it offers, including some of the best water recreation activities in the area and a whole lot more. 

 

If you’ve never visited Canyon Lake, you owe it to yourself to schedule a day trip this summer (or even a long weekend) and check out all there is to do. 

 

Hit the Water

Developed as a reservoir back in the 1960s and fed by the Guadalupe River, Canyon Lake is one of the largest lakes in the area, spanning 8,000 surface acres of water and 80 miles of shoreline. All that shoreline means that there are plenty of ways to beat the heat and have some fun on the water. 

 

The lake has several designated swimming beaches that are open to the public from 9 AM to 7 PM during the summer. Another summer highlight that beats any waterpark lazy river is renting an inner tube and floating down the Guadalupe River. Local outfitter TubeHaus will provide your inner tube as well as shuttle you back to your car at the end of your float. 

 

Enjoying a relaxing day in a boat on the water is one of the best ways to see the lake with both boat and jet ski rentals available at Canyon Lake Marina. After you dock, be sure to check out the marina’s Baja BBQ Shack for its all-you-can-eat catfish on Fridays and a truly stunning sunset. 

 

Now, if you’re the more adventurous type and want something a little more daring, then strap on your fins because Canyon Lake is one of the best places in the area to scuba dive. While you probably won’t find pirate treasure, you will see a side of the lake many never experience. 

 

Hiking, Golfing, and so Much More

While the water itself is enough to draw thousands of visitors each summer, Canyon Lake offers a range of activities to be enjoyed throughout the year. 

 

Nature enthusiasts will want to check out Canyon Lake Gorge, a rather recent “geological wonder” that was created only 20 years ago when 34 inches of rain fell on the Guadalupe River and carved out the gorge. The result is a series of beautiful rock formations that have attracted both professional and novice geologists eager to study the uncovered layers of limestone. 

 

Other parks around Canyon Lake that are popular with both hikers and birding hobbyists include Overlook Park and Comal Park. 

 

Canyon Lake is also a popular destination for golfers, with Lakeside Golf Club offering an 18-hole course and pro shop. If the history of the prehistoric kind is more your speed, then be sure to check out The Heritage Museum of Texas Hill Country. The museum features dinosaur fossils and footprints discovered right here in Texas!

 

With so much to offer and less than an hour’s drive from Kyle, a day trip to Canyon Lake is a great summer highlight. If you’re interested in finding a home in Kyle, reach out to learn more about available homes at Crosswinds.

Categories
Area Attractions

Unchartered Adventures: Kyle’s Original Rage Room

Shattered plates, old TVs smashed to smithereens, home appliances beaten to a pulp, and broken glass – literally everywhere. Usually, a scene like this would be concerning, but it’s actually the aftermath of a whole lotta fun for visitors of Unchartered Adventure’s Rage Room in Kyle! 

 

You could say that rage rooms are all the rage, as they’ve recently been popping up in cities from coast to coast. Before we get into why grabbing a baseball bat or sledgehammer and reenacting the printer scene from Office Space is a whole lot of fun, let’s explain what a rage room or smash room is. Basically, it’s a room full of donated junk where, for a small fee, guests get to break, smash, and pulverize anything in the room. 

 

The items in the room to rage on can range from things as small as a coffee mug to as big as an old car. Once guests suit up in coveralls, face shields, eye protection, and gloves, they’re free to grab their weapon of choice and smash away. Some people opt for baseball bats and old golf clubs while others test their might with sledgehammers. Feel like simply throwing plates at a wall? You can do that too! 

 

Besides being great fun, it’s also an easy way to blow off some steam. “I actually left feeling better and less stressed,” reads a review from Joshua Ortiz. And because smashing things to a soundtrack is just more fun, the Unchartered Adventures team has equipped the room with a sound system so guests can put on whatever music they want to rage out to. 

 

Not only does Unchartered Adventures offer a place to break old electronics without getting in trouble or having to clean up the mess (the staff handles that), but it offers several other adventures worth checking out. 

 

Guests can choose from ax throwing, escape rooms, or a zombie air soft arena where visitors hunt for the undead in a post-apocalyptic maze of splattered neon paint under black lights. 

 

One of the most popular offerings that are certain to be a hit with guests of all ages is the splatter paint room. The entire room is a canvas under a blacklight that brings to life a palette of neon acrylic colors. Guests can use brushes, sponges, stencils, and other tools to channel their creative spirit and create their own messy masterpieces. (Don’t worry, protective ponchos and shoe covers are provided to keep your clothes mess-free.)

 

It’s no surprise that killing zombies, smashing up old cars, solving escape room riddles, hurling axes, and creating art can make a person thirsty. Guests can unwind before or after their adventure in the bar/lounge area that’s stocked with both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and outfitted with several flatscreen TVs. 

 

With its anything-but-boring entertainment options and perfect chill-out area, it’s no wonder that Unchartered Adventures is such a hit for date nights, birthday parties, company outings, and so much more. 

This entertainment destination is just one of the many businesses that are a testament to Kyle’s economic growth. If you’d like to find a home here, reach out to learn more about our home builders at Crosswinds.

Photo from https://uncharteredadventures.com/gallery/

Categories
Area Attractions Events Family Fun Lifestyle

Volunteer opportunities in and around Kyle

Volunteering is one of the most rewarding ways a person can put their free time to good use. Volunteers are the glue that holds so many organizations together and it’s the service of volunteers that enriches a city like Kyle as a community and helps to make it such an enjoyable place to live. 

 

Check out these opportunities in Kyle and the surrounding area if you’d like to give back. Who knows, you might just make a few new friends in the process!

 

Austin Disaster Relief Network: Loving people and coming to their aid when they need it most is a spiritual calling for members of ADRN. Composed of members from over 200 area churches, the nonprofit’s mission is to “mobilize the body of Christ in times of disaster.” This entails providing families and individuals with food, clothing, emergency housing, and transportation, as well as emotional support in times of disaster. Volunteer opportunities range from providing a cleanup response to helping with deployment coordination and social media ambassadors. 

 

Hays-Caldwell Women’s Center: Since 1978, HCWC has been dedicated to helping women escape abusive situations and rebuild their lives. To create an environment where there’s no room for abuse in the community, the nonprofit provides crisis intervention services for victims of violence and child abuse. Volunteers are key to HCWC changing lives for the better and both direct and non-direct opportunities with clients are available with the organization. 

 

PAWS:  Perhaps you’re looking to volunteer and make a new friend of the four-legged variety. Founded right here in Kyle in 1986, PAWS is a no-kill shelter dedicated to providing quality care to homeless animals in the area with the ultimate goal of finding them a forever home. This includes rescuing animals from overcrowded municipal shelters, providing spay and neuter services, and pet education. The number of animals saved would be drastically reduced without PAWS volunteers, and volunteer opportunities include office work, dog walking, kennel cleaning, fundraising, animal foster care, and many more. 

 

Southside Community Center: Through the United Methodist Church, SSCC is a nonprofit that is committed to putting Christ’s love into action by giving back to the underprivileged and needy in Hays County. With a mission of “meeting the needs of families,” the organization provides housing support for low-income and elderly residents, as well as neighborhood housing improvement services, emergency assistance, and food support. 

 

Hays County Food Bank: The Hays County Food Bank receives hundreds of requests regularly for food assistance from area residents and has seen that need skyrocket in the last two years. The local nonprofit is “passionately committed to improving lives through food assistance programs, nutrition education, and advocacy.” Opportunities to volunteer through the food bank and help Hays County residents include food sorting and stocking, food distribution, assisting with the mobile pantry, and special events coordination. 

 

This is merely a sampling of opportunities to volunteer and make a difference for the greater good in the Kyle area. Other organizations in need of volunteers include:

 

  • Alzheimer’s Association of Central Texas
  • Kyle Public Library
  • Habitat for Humanity
  • Kyle Historic Train Depot
  • Meals on Wheels
  • Women of Unity
  • Kyle Parks and Recreation

It’s the wonderful people that make Kyle such a special place to live. If you’d like to find a home here, reach out to the Crosswinds team to learn more.

Categories
Lifestyle

Ways to Stay in Shape This Summer

Getting in shape for the summer and staying fit all year long is easier than you might think… so long as you’re not afraid to sweat. Consider one of these options to burn some calories, tone up, and build some muscle just in time for the summer season. 

 

Join a Gym or Take a Fitness Class

Okay, so this might seem like an obvious choice, but hear us out. Joining a local gym is going to be one of your best strategies for getting in shape. For starters, there’s a gym out there for every fitness style from high-intensity workouts offered by Crossfit Hays to rowing and cardio classes offered by Orange Theory. If you’re looking for a variety of classes or simply want to exercise solo at your own pace, the Hays Community YMCA offers a range of membership plans.

 

Not only is joining a gym a great way to get in shape, but you can exercise regardless of the weather outside. Plus, air conditioning!

 

The City of Kyle also offers a range of fitness classes that residents can sign-up for depending on their interests. Classes include everything from pilates and yoga to bootcamp workouts and AquaFit exercise in the pool. Unlike a gym with monthly fees, most classes allow for drop-in attendance with a $10 fee per class. 

 

Get Outside

So maybe the gym isn’t your thing and you’re more of the outdoorsy type when it comes to staying in shape for summer. Kyle is fortunate to be home to an abundance of outdoor recreation that is perfect for getting in a thorough workout. 

 

If you’re into jogging or walking for exercise then lace up your sneakers and head to the Plum Creek Trail. With 8 miles of trails that wind through Kyle’s various parks, it’s a great way to get in some cardio. Cyclists will also enjoy the trail as it makes its way through many of the city’s neighborhoods and allows for a tour of Kyle while surrounded by natural beauty. 

 

Join a Rec League 

Summer recreation leagues can be a fantastic way to stay in shape for the summer. Not only are they often more casual than something like a Crossfit workout, but can be an ideal way to make new friends. 

 

Residents can sign up for Kyle’s Roller Hockey League and see if they have what it takes to take down 2021 league champions Floss N’ Sauce. The City of Kyle also offers an Adult Kickball League as well as an Adult Fishing Tournament. 

 

This really just scratches the surface of ways to get some exercise and stay in shape for the summer in Kyle. If you’d like to learn more about finding a home here, contact us today. 

Categories
Area Attractions Family Fun Lifestyle

Why Kyle Is a Great Place to Live

Kyle, Texas

It’s no surprise that Kyle is one of the most popular small cities in the Texas Hill Country. From its proximity to Austin and charming downtown to its great school district and beautiful parks, there’s a lot to love about living in Kyle, Texas. If you’re searching for the perfect place in Texas to call home, here are a few of the reasons why Kyle could be calling your name.

Kyle is a Stone’s Throw From Austin

Clocking in at just 20 miles away, Austin is a straight shot up I-35. This makes Kyle an ideal spot for folks who want to be close enough to all the action that Austin has to offer for both work and play, but prefer a smaller city with less hustle and bustle to call home. Kyle truly is a balance of the best of both worlds when it comes to location.

A Nurturing School District

A good school district is a must for many home buyers. The teachers and staff of Hays Consolidated Independent School District are dedicated to providing an enriched learning environment to help every student excel both socially and academically.

Students living in Crosswinds, a premier master-planned community in Kyle, attend Pfluger Elementary School, Chapa Middle School and Lehman High School. Hays CISD offers both technical and STEM-based education as well as specialized education for gifted students. The district also features a state-of-the-art Performing Arts Center.

Kyle’s Job Market is Growing

Kyle’s unemployment rate is below the national average and for good reason – the local economy is booming! Economic growth in Kyle isn’t slowing down, in fact, it is predicted to grow over 60% in the next decade.

While many Kyle residents take advantage of the town’s quick jaunt to Austin for work, thousands of people not only live in Kyle but work here too. The city has attracted new corporations, including Toyota- and Tesla-supplier Plastikon, at its recently opened Plum Creek Industrial Park, which is expected to create 1,000 new jobs. This past fall, Costco announced plans to build a 150,000-square-foot store in Kyle along the I-35 Texas Innovation Corridor.

Hays CISD, Seton Medical Center, and H-E-B Plus are the biggest employers in Kyle, and with 2.5 million square feet of retail/mixed-use space under development, more businesses and jobs will follow.

Natural Beauty

One of the best things about life in Kyle is the surrounding natural beauty of the Central Texas landscape. With a warm climate that has mild winters, residents can enjoy the outdoors in Kyle nearly all year long.

You don’t have to search far for green spaces and parks to make the most of the outdoor recreation either. Lake Kyle, Bunton Creek, Steeplechase, and Plum Creek, are some of the most popular parks and residents love using the trails, waterways, sports complexes, and playgrounds found within these parks.

A Small City With Big Texas Charm

With a population of around 48,000, Kyle is a small city that offers a mix of both urban and small town appeal. The city has a growing restaurant scene where patrons can enjoy options ranging from barbecue to Italian, Mexican, and Asian. Kyle also happens to be the official pie capital of Texas and each year celebrates its title with the Kyle Pie in the Sky Hot Air Balloon Festival.

Local events such as Kyle Market Days are also an opportunity for the community to come together and enjoy food and crafts from area vendors and artists.

Reach out to the Crosswinds team to learn more about finding your perfect home in this wonderful little city.

Categories
Lifestyle

Bird Watching in and Around Kyle, Texas

With its winding rivers, limestone cliffs, and rolling hills of open grasslands, the Texas Hill Country is fortunate to be home to a variety of migrating bird species. In fact, next to California, Texas boasts more birds calling it home than any other state in the country. Over 600 birds spend part of their lives in the Lone Star state and many of them are right here in the Central Texas region. 

 

If you’ve never considered birding as a hobby, you owe it to yourself to give it a try. Bird conservation not only enriches one’s appreciation for nature but helps to foster environmental stewardship, plus bird-friendly habitats can increase property values. Whether you’re new to the area and looking for birding tips or simply want to throw yourself into a new hobby, here’s a rundown of what makes Kyle such a wonderful place for birds and bird fans alike. 

 

Birds You May See in Kyle

There’s just something about this area that birds love. Over 350 different species of birds have been recorded in Hays County, Texas. This includes everything from songbirds such as warblers, orioles, bluebirds, and chickadees to birds of prey such as barn owls, hawks, and eagles. Many migrating birds pass through the area on their way up to Canada or down to Mexico. So if you’re lucky enough, you just might see a fulvous whistling duck or green-breasted mango!

 

Where to Spot Birds Around Kyle

Kyle happens to be near some wonderful birding hotspots where you’re guaranteed to see some pretty cool feathered friends – no matter what time of year you visit. If you really want to put your binoculars to good use, consider these birding destinations. 

 

  • Lake Kyle
  • Plum Creek Reservoir
  • Stagecoach Park (Buda)
  • John Stokes Park (San Marcos)
  • Spring Lake (San Marcos)
  • Blue Hole Park (Wimberly)

 

Bring the Birds to You

It doesn’t take a lot to establish your own backyard as a bird-friendly oasis. The easiest way to start is by installing a bird feeder and birdhouse or two. You’ll want to get a bird feeder that is squirrel resistant and choose birdseed that appeals to birds in the area. A basic universal birdseed should be heavily composed of black oil sunflower seeds. This will be a hit with everything from cardinals and finches to showstoppers such as the vermillion flycatcher. 

 

Consider putting up a hummingbird feeder and you may just attract a few buff-bellies or ruby-throated hummingbirds. Many people think that you need to buy specialty nectar for hummingbird feeders but according to the Audubon Society, the best option is a solution of ¼ cup of refined white sugar to 1 cup of water. 

 

When it comes to birdhouses, it’s all about who you want to take up roost. Smaller birdhouses will attract everything from starlings and wrens to Eastern Bluebirds. While some people may have luck with hawks or owls settling into larger birdhouses, most often, these birds prefer to make their own nests high in the treetops or alongside cliffs.

 

Are you looking for a new home where you can create a birding space in your backyard? Reach out to the Crosswinds team to learn more about our builders. 

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