Originally the Nelson Farms Preserve was part of the 1220 Farms property, one of many historic
farms and ranches on the Katy Prairie. The Nelson family utilized the property for the production
of rice, soybeans, cattle and crayfish. Historically, these agricultural wetlands provided critical winter foraging and roosting areas for many species of wetland-dependent wildlife, particularly birds. Today, Nelson Farms Preserve encompasses more than 1,700 acres and still operates as a working rice farm to benefit wildlife dependent upon the agricultural wetlands present on this landscape. Cypress Creek flows through the preserve offering excellent habitat because of its perennial source of water and vegetative diversity. The unique combination of habitat types attracts significant numbers of waterfowl, waterbirds, migratory songbirds, raptor, beaver, white-tailed deer and other wildlife.
Warren Ranch
The Warren Ranch, one of the largest remaining working cattle ranches on the Katy Prairie, abounds with wildlife and native plants and grasses. There are large concentrations of Bushy Bluestem, Little Bluestem, Switchgrass, and Indiangrass as well as patches of more unusual species (at least for the Houston area) such as mesquite and yucca. Rare Neotropical migrants such as Swainson’s Warblers use habitat along Cypress Creek at the ranch’s southern end while at the northern end the Warren Lake serves as a major resting and roosting area for many species of ducks, including Blue and Green-winged Teal, American
Widgeon, Bufflehead, and Ruddy Duck, as well as for Snow, Canada and Ross Geese and Bald Eagle. Wood Storks visit the lake in the summer and flocks of American White Pelicans can be seen there in the winter. The open country also harbors hawks, Bobwhite quail, songbirds, jackrabbits, and deer.
Williams Prairie Preserve
Williams Prairie is a 10-acres remnant prairie full of little Bluestem, Brownseed Paspalum, and
Indiangrass. It wasutilized historically as a hay meadow, which allowed it to survive in its relatively
pristine state. Volunteers have already identified 59 species of grass on the property. Williams
Prairie is composed of mainly upland prairie with few shallow depressional wetlands that provide habitat for many species of butterfly, birds, and small animals. These two habitats work in conjunction to create the necessary diversity of species needed to maintain a productive native prairie seed bank. Egrets and herons can be found residing year-round in the depressions as long as they continue to hold water during the warmer months. The same can be said for ibises and spoonbills who frequently are seen probing and sifting out invertebrates such asworms and crayfish from below the water’s surface. Stilts and various rails, gallinules, and coots can also be found in the shallow ponds and depressions.
wildlife and native plants and grasses. There are large concentrations of Bushy Bluestem, Little Bluestem, Switchgrass, and Indiangrass as well as patches of more unusual species (at least for the Houston area) such as mesquite and yucca. Rare Neotropical migrants such as Swainson’s Warblers use habitat along Cypress Creek at the ranch’s southern end while at the northern end the Warren Lake serves as a major resting and roosting area for many species of ducks, including Blue and Green-winged Teal, American
many species of butterfly, birds, and small animals. These two habitats work in conjunction to create the necessary diversity of species needed to maintain a productive native prairie seed bank. Egrets and herons can be found residing year-round in the depressions as long as they continue to hold water during the warmer months. The same can be said for ibises and spoonbills who frequently are seen probing and sifting out invertebrates such asworms and crayfish from below the water’s surface. Stilts and various rails, gallinules, and coots can also be found in the shallow ponds and depressions.