Cedar Gap Farm
Cedar Gap Farm is a great place to bird year round! There is a large climate-controlled building with large windows for observing birds and wildlife. Feed and water is provided year round at the bird house and several other locations along trails. Several trails loop through oaks, mesquite, junipers, and other native vegetation providing opportunities to see wildlife in its natural setting. Trails vary in length and difficulty to please all hikers.
A mix of western and eastern birds hang out here in all seasons. The following species have been recorded: White-crowned Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Eastern and Spotted Towhee, Scrub Jay and Gray Catbird, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Painted, Indigo, and Lazuli Buntings, Canyon Towhee and Brown Thrasher. The spring and summer months bring hundreds of Black-chinned Hummingbirds to this area and in the fall Rufous, Ruby-throated, and an occasional Allen’s Hummingbird will put in an appearance. A small pond is located near the observation room and birds can be seen coming to the water here. Hummingbirds arrive around March 15 and stay through November. Painted and Indigo Buntings arrive around mid April and leave around September 1. Wild Turkeys put on a show with their spring mating rituals.
Directions from Abilene: Take Hwy. 83/84 south out of Abilene. Turn left onto CR 150 and take the first dirt road to your left (CR 563). You should see the Cedar Gap Farm sign directing you to the observation house. Take the first road to your right and continue until you see the house nestled in among the oaks. No fee is charged but donations are appreciated. The daily cost of bird seed, nectar, and suet (in the winter) is expensive.
The Bird House is open all day, every day from dawn to dusk. For more information call Homer, Earlene, or Mark Hutto, 325-572-4738 or 325-669-2879 or e-mail: cedargapfarm@aol.com. For more pictures of Cedar Gap Farm, click here.
