Wells Branch Neighborhood Association

by Tammy DeWitt Le

As the mother of a 9 and 12 year old, I am always looking for ways to avoid “Mom, I’m bored!” over the Summer. The following list highlights some of our favorite boredom-busters. Look for the FREE!  sign to find fun events that don’t cost anything.

• FREE!  Relax at a natural outdoor amphitheater while you enjoy a music or dance show at Zilker Hillside Theater.  This is one worthwhile trip to South Austin.  The Zilker Hillside Theater is located in Zilker Park across from Barton Springs swimming pool (also a great Summer activity). The stage is located in a natural amphitheater under a stand of 100 year old pecan trees.  Shows typically begin around 7:30 – 8:00pm and you can bring a cooler & snacks.

• Kick it old school style at the Playland Indoor Skate Center in North Austin. Not much has changed here since I use to skate as a teenager in the 1980s.  But my family always has fun grooving to the disco and current tunes and I like that we all work up a good sweat.  Join in when they do the Hokey Pokey. Affordable prices: http://www.austinconventioncenter.com/calendar/calendar2.htm

• Cool off at the Rock ‘N River water park in Round Rock. My family discovered this gem a few years ago which is a great alternative to the pricey and crowded Schlitterbahn. It is located near the Dell Diamond on Highway 79 about 15 minutes from Wells Branch.  With 2 slides, a lazy river, and multiple pools for young children, it’s a good deal at under $5 per ticket. You can also bring in your own cooler and snacks. http://www.roundrocktexas.gov/pools

• Watch a movie at the IMAX theater at Bob Bullock Museum, featuring Austin’s only IMAX Theatre. This 400-seat, state-of-the-art theatre makes your ticket really worth the price and 3D movies really do jump out at you. Current flicks include Tornado Alley & Flight of the Butterflies. They also play regular feature films. http://www.thestoryoftexas.com/

• FREE!  Splash around at the Brushy Creek Lake Park. This park was named “Best Place to Play in a Fountain” by the Austin Chronicle. Let your kids run around the splash pad while water shoots up at them.  They also have a playground, picnic tables, lake, and hike/bike trails.  Located at 3300 Brushy Creek Road near the intersection of Parmer & Brushy Creek Rd.
  

•  Tour the LBJ Presidential Library and Museum. If you are new to Austin, you may not know about this fantastic museum.  It’s an air-conditioned way to sneak in some education.  Notable current exhibits include Texas Vietnam Heroes and 11/22/63. FREE ADMISSION on July 4^th and August 27^th (LBJ’s Birthday). If you have enjoyed the wildflowers on Texas highways, learn why you have Ladybird Johnson to thank.  http://www.lbjlibrary.org/

ENJOYABLE DAY TRIPS

•  Visit Enchanted Rock in Fredericksburg. Your kids will love the feeling of climbing to the top of the rock.  Enchanted Rock was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1970 and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. The Rock is a huge, pink granite exfoliation dome that rises 425 feet above ground, 1825 feet above sea level, and covers 640 acres. It is one of the largest batholiths (underground rock formation uncovered by erosion) in the United States. The park reaches capacity (in terms of parking) and frequently closes on weekends (sometimes as early as 11 a.m.). http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/state-parks/enchanted-rock

• Relish 70 degree temperatures at Natural Bridge Caverns in New Braunfels. Only about a 45 minute drive from Austin (70 miles), this cavern is one of the largest in the state of Texas, making it a top attraction.  The outdoor climbing tower and zip lines will give your kids some exercise. http://www.naturalbridgecaverns.com/(S(yk1euha34ax3tputkoovpoux))/Index.aspx

• Take a day trip to the Mayborn Planetarium & Space Center in Killeen.  With a full-dome planetarium and laser light and star shows, this trip is a must for any child interested in space (and even those who aren’t). It has a full 60-foot dome. Experience a unique and artistic mix of light, color and sound with 3D laser light shows set to music. Affordable ticket prices. http://www.starsatnight.org/

• Take a dip in Krause Springs!  Just 45 minutes from Austin, step back in time and let the kiddos enjoy flying off the rocks via  on old-fashioned rope  swing while adults float the day away on a spring fed creek. Bring a picnic and stay all day or plan on camping out! http://www.krausesprings.net

by Betsey Harper

As most of you have seen, the geese are gone from Mills pond.  After the first and second round up of waterfowl, there was only one lone goose left.  His name is “Baby G” and he is a cross-breed possibly between a Brown Chinese and a White Embden or Czech.  He was younger and a bit more determined than the others and stayed away.  This story is about him.

His mom tried for years to have goslings and made nest after nest on the side of Mr. and Mrs. Berksan’s house across from the pond.  Over several years, she sat on various nests of eggs through times of heat and cold weather, covered them from predators when she needed nourishment and exercise, and had Papa Goose and Uncle Goose close by for help too.  One morning in July 2011, she came off the nest to proudly show off her baby to the Berksans.  They named him appropriately, “Baby G”. 

Baby G grew quickly and by spring 2012, the four were seen daily in Mills Pond.  They are an unusual family, with mom in all white with an orange straight bill, and Dad and Uncle in a greyish coat with a black strongly developed basal knob on the upper side of their bills.  Baby G has traits of both Mom and Dad and proudly swam with them.

After Baby G’s parents were relocated to my fowl ranch in Elgin, Baby G told all the passing pond visitors that he was upset about it. Boy, did he have a lot to say on the matter too! He was lonely and left all alone. The crew from USDA put in a tremendous amount of effort trying to capture him, but Baby G was not going to have it.

I received a phone call from a very concerned trail walker one weekday afternoon so I went to check on Baby G.  I too was concerned by Baby G’s mannerisms and vocal tones.  He was really missing his family.  This is the day I met the Berksans.  We arranged to follow up in a couple days to see what we could do to reunite Baby G with his family.

Thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Berksan, we were able to lure Baby G out of the pond, up the grass, to the side of the road, close to his home.  Within just a couple minutes of sweet-talking Baby G, we were easily able to pick him up and pet him.  This was the first time in over a year the Berksans were able to pet him, and Baby G liked the attention.  We gently caged him and I immediately drove off to Elgin.

It was dark when I arrived at the ranch.  I opened the gate, pulled out the cage, and set Baby G free.  He honked and honked again.  In the distance, I heard a return honk, and then another.  Then out of the darkness, came three or four running, wing-flapping geese.  Mom and Dad stepped forward, honking turned to excitement, this led to some head rubbing (goose hugs) between them and off they all went to roost. All in all, it was a happy reunion.

Since then, Baby G, has been inseparable from both parents, and his mom has a new nest with 3 eggs.  Both Dad and Baby G stand guard. 

With 9 new goslings hatched in the past two weeks from our other geese, and more to come; next year,maybe Baby G will find his own soul mate and have a family of his own.

Thank you Wells Branch for being passionate and caring about our water fowl.  Rest assured, our Wells Branch ducks are being well cared for as well.