Population Growth in Austin
A number of threats affect the survival of the endangered species in this area, including the Golden-cheeked Warbler. Fragmentation and population growth is the main reason for the Golden-cheeked warbler to be on the endangered species list. Fragmentation due to new subdivisions and some for agriculture in the Austin, TX have led to a population decline since the 1970’s for the warbler. Fragmentation and habitat loss affects the warbler by not having enough habitat for nesting. As mentioned earlier, male warblers create territories, these territories can only support one breeding pair of warblers. Habitat loss is inhibiting the warbler to reproduce. With Austin being in the heart of Golden-Cheeked warbler habitat, many residents are choosing themselves over the warbler. Austin is a rapidly growing city in central Texas and throughout the United States. As a matter of fact, according to Forbes.com Austin is America’s fastest growing city. The estimated population of is 1.8 million residents and growing. The projected economic growth rate between 2011 and 2016 is 6.1%. The 2nd fastest growing city in America is the Dallas/Fort Worth area. This area is already a very populated urban area in Texas, with 6.23 million residents (Forbes, accessed April 29, 2014). With the oil industry booming these numbers will be growing at an exponential rate for years to come. Austin almost doubles in population every 25 years. According to the City of Austin Population History, Austin started collecting population data in 1840, when 553 people lived in Austin; by 1900 over 22,000 people were calling Austin home. The population data was taken every 5 years until 1960, then it was taken every year. The only year the ever had a negative population growth was 1990 at -0.2%, (Austintexas.gov, accessed April 29, 2014). Figure 7 is a chloropleth map presented by the U.S Census showing the population growth in Texas counties from 2000-2009 by percent. The Golden-Cheeked Warbler is located in roughly 33 counties in Central and Southern Texas where the population has been growing at the highest percent. The counties with the highest population growth area Williamson, Burnet, Hays, Comal, Guadalupe, and Kendall. These counties are right in the middle of Golden-cheeked warbler prime habitat. Continued effort is being made by many organizations such as the City of Austin, Travis County, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife services to conserve land to protect the many endangered species located in Central Texas.
A number of threats affect the survival of the endangered species in this area, including the Golden-cheeked Warbler. Fragmentation and population growth is the main reason for the Golden-cheeked warbler to be on the endangered species list. Fragmentation due to new subdivisions and some for agriculture in the Austin, TX have led to a population decline since the 1970’s for the warbler. Fragmentation and habitat loss affects the warbler by not having enough habitat for nesting. As mentioned earlier, male warblers create territories, these territories can only support one breeding pair of warblers. Habitat loss is inhibiting the warbler to reproduce. With Austin being in the heart of Golden-Cheeked warbler habitat, many residents are choosing themselves over the warbler. Austin is a rapidly growing city in central Texas and throughout the United States. As a matter of fact, according to Forbes.com Austin is America’s fastest growing city. The estimated population of is 1.8 million residents and growing. The projected economic growth rate between 2011 and 2016 is 6.1%. The 2nd fastest growing city in America is the Dallas/Fort Worth area. This area is already a very populated urban area in Texas, with 6.23 million residents (Forbes, accessed April 29, 2014). With the oil industry booming these numbers will be growing at an exponential rate for years to come. Austin almost doubles in population every 25 years. According to the City of Austin Population History, Austin started collecting population data in 1840, when 553 people lived in Austin; by 1900 over 22,000 people were calling Austin home. The population data was taken every 5 years until 1960, then it was taken every year. The only year the ever had a negative population growth was 1990 at -0.2%, (Austintexas.gov, accessed April 29, 2014). Figure 7 is a chloropleth map presented by the U.S Census showing the population growth in Texas counties from 2000-2009 by percent. The Golden-Cheeked Warbler is located in roughly 33 counties in Central and Southern Texas where the population has been growing at the highest percent. The counties with the highest population growth area Williamson, Burnet, Hays, Comal, Guadalupe, and Kendall. These counties are right in the middle of Golden-cheeked warbler prime habitat. Continued effort is being made by many organizations such as the City of Austin, Travis County, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife services to conserve land to protect the many endangered species located in Central Texas.