Austin Nature & Science Center

This one wasn't at the Nature & Science Center, but we saw it on the same trip. It's the Treaty Oak.

The Treaty Oak in Austin, Texas is estimated to be about 500 years old. In 1989, in an act of deliberate vandalism, the tree was poisoned with the powerful hardwood herbicide Velpar. Lab tests showed the quantity of herbicide used would have been sufficient to kill 100 trees. The intensive efforts to save the Treaty Oak included applications of sugar to the root zone, replacement of soil around its roots and the installation of a system to mist the tree with spring water. Although arborists expected the tree to die, the Treaty Oak survived. Still, almost two-thirds of the tree died and more than half of its crown had to be pruned. (Before its vandalism, the tree's branches had a spread of 127 feet.) In 1997, the Treaty Oak produced its first crop of acorns since the vandalism. City workers gathered and germinated the acorns, distributing the seedlings throughout Texas and other states. Today the tree is a thriving, though lopsided, reminder of its once-grand form. Many Texans see the Treaty Oak as a symbol of strength and endurance.   

William fell on his face and got a major goose egg. He says he has a turkey on his head. (Goose... turkey... get it?) ;)

We got a tour of the birds of prey. (Can you spot 2 owls in the cage?)