Holland Park Wildlife Habitat Conservation Area

About the Program
The Holland Park Birding site, managed by the Marathon Petroleum Corporation in collaboration with the city of Texas City, was established in March of 2018. The site is located on the southeastern coast of Texas, adjacent to the Galveston Bay. The forested area was previously an unmanaged forest, but with the help of Marathon employees and partners such as B&A Botanists and Biologists and WHC, the site has become a viable habitat for native avian species.

Practices and Impacts

• The forested area spans 4.7 acres and includes a variety of mostly native tree and plant species. Activities on the ground include reducing mowing, which reduces disturbance, as well as removing invasive species by hand-weeding and using herbicides. 
• Management of the site to improve its utilization by birds and other wildlife includes leaving dead trees and brush piles in place to provide habitat. Allowing native plants to grow will help to ensure a healthy supply of food such as seeds and insects to attract birds.
• The avian project targets native birds such as songbirds and raptors. Ten nest boxes have been put in place for use by cavity-nesting birds, and a diversity of birds has already been observed at the site, including nesting great horned owls. 
• The team encourages employees to visit the site and document their observations of pollinator species, birds, plants and other wildlife via forms or photographs. The team also keeps employees informed about wildlife found at the site via emails and presentations.