BQ5 Ranch & Nature Retreat

04/27/2026

We had some welcomed guests show up at our Martz’s Guest House - Bobwhite Quail! Always fun to watch them.

04/23/2026

We hosted one of the tour groups yesterday. It was a fun group and the day was perfect. We saw 62 different bird species on the ranch.

04/20/2026

On Sunday we were blessed to host a birding tour group from England. They are on a tour of Texas birding sites planned by Naturetrek, UK - https://www.naturetrek.co.uk. They were a fun and exceptional group.

04/19/2026

We are looking forward to hosting another Tour Group from the Birdiest Festival. Always a great group.

.

04/10/2026

You don’t have to have a ranch to help out wildlife. Check out this post.

With proper construction and maintenance, backyard ponds can support valuable wildlife habitat and create a personal outdoor retreat.

04/08/2026

While moving my cattle this week, I found a spent helium filled balloon in my cattle pens. So time for me to do what has become my Annual Rant against releasing helium filled balloons. They will eventually come back to earth and pose a significant risk to wildlife and cattle. Please consider more eco friendly options. Here is a link to some great alternatives. https://balloonsblow.org/environmentally-friendly-alternatives/

04/03/2026

Despite the lack of rain, you can always count on our cactus to bloom. The Prickly Pear cactus is just starting to bloom and the honey bees are enjoying it. One of our important wildlife plants in South Texas.

https://www.npsot.org/posts/prickly-pear-cactus-a-good-choice-for-the-state-plant/

04/02/2026

My favorite cactus is blooming on the ranch - the Horse Crippler Cactus. The blooms are short lived, so always great to catch them blooming. Looking at their spines you can see how they got their name.

https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=ECTE

03/28/2026

Goliad County friends - please note the upcoming Town Hall Meeting. With all the water issues going on in Corpus and our ongoing drought, it is time to have a community discussion on our water issues.

🚨 GOLIAD COUNTY TOWN HALL – YOUR WATER MATTERS 🚨

With ongoing drought conditions impacting our area, now is the time to stay informed and be part of the conversation.

The Goliad County Groundwater Conservation District will be joining the Commissioners Court for a Town Hall Meeting to discuss:
💧 Current drought conditions in Goliad County
💧 Water supply concerns
💧 High-capacity water well permitting and its impacts

📅 Monday, April 6, 2026
🕕 6:00 PM
📍 Goliad County Memorial Auditorium

This is your opportunity to hear directly from local officials, ask questions, and better understand how water management decisions affect our community, our land, and our future.

We encourage all residents, landowners, and stakeholders to attend. Your voice matters.