Hello, everyone! I hope you all had a fantastic April and got to enjoy the peak of spring migration. May is here, and migration is still in full swing, offering more chances to get outside and enjoy the season. I was lucky enough to spot a Blackpoll Warbler—a lifer for me!—at Boy Scout Woods Bird Sanctuary. We hope you enjoy reading the Owl Post and are able to attend some of the great events coming up. Happy birding!
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- Jed Aplaca, President & CEO
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Houston Audubon owns and manages 17 bird sanctuaries totaling over 4,100 acres, many of which are open to the public! Our most frequented sanctuaries include the Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary in west Houston and our High Island and Bolivar Flats sanctuaries on the coast.Â
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Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary
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By John LeaRussa, ELMNS Sanctuary Lead
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Greetings from the Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary. April has been a lovely month here at the sanctuary as the recent rains have really perked up the foliage and all wildlife species have been very active stirring about. ELMNS continues to play a vital role as a rest and refuel station for our feathered friends continuing their journey northward on their migration. It is a wonderful spot for observing first hand this very active time for birds!
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Our tried and true volunteers continue to show their colors by volunteering on “Trail Crew Tuesday” every week. The beauty of our sanctuary is a testament to their hard work and dedication, and we are very thankful for their contributions. If you would like to be part of this awesome group, just show up on Tuesday mornings at 8 AM. That’s all it takes, and you, too, can feel the sense of pride and accomplishment this group feels each week.
Join us for our last volunteer work day of the season on Saturday, May 17. Learn more and sign up »
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That’s all for now, see you next month!
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On the Coast - High Island and Bolivar Flats
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By Wyatt Egelhoff, Sanctuary Manager
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An uptick in mosquitoes and biting flies usually means May is here, and this year is no exception. As visitation tapers off, staff are able to shift their focus to summer monitoring and other projects. However, there are still a few activities and volunteer opportunities before the heat of the Texas summer really sets in. Our monthly Bolivar Flats Ramble will be Saturday, May 3 from 10 am – noon. Our next Coastal Nursery Workday will be Thursday, May 8 from 9 am – noon.
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It’s no secret that April is our busiest month of the year within the coastal sanctuaries. It takes an army of volunteers to staff our admissions kiosks and canopy walkway to ensure the thousands of visitors throughout the season get what they need to maximize their visits in one of the birdiest regions in the United States. We would like to thank those who donated their time and energy this spring. From braving mosquitoes and dust at the kiosks, to the heat and sun on the canopy walkway, it isn’t always easy, but we hope the birds and community of like-minded people will keep you coming back. And for those who missed out on joining our fun this spring, we always have room in our flock for those interested in helping us run things next March and April!
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For those brave enough to enter the woods, birding in May can be quite rewarding. The first week in May historically has hosted many of the most unprecedented vagrants to our region, including first US records such as Greenish Elaenia, Yucatan Vireo, and Double-toothed Kite. It is also when most Empidonax flycatchers arrive on our shores. Certain warbler species such as Canada, Mourning, and (unlikely in Texas but not unprecedented) Connecticut, do not begin arriving in the US in earnest until May. Similarly, many arctic-breeding shorebirds don’t pass through our region in their maximum abundance until now. It is also the month when the rookery and its colonial nesting birds are the most abundant. Early nesters still have older chicks in the nest as the later nesters are incubating eggs or feeding young chicks.
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May is also often the busiest month for our beach-nesting birds. Please be mindful while visiting the beach this summer and walk in the wet sand, giving a wide berth to the dunes and temporary beach fencing and signage designating important areas for nesting Wilson’s Plovers and Least Terns.
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Scales as feathers-a Jurassic fact!
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By Schyler Brown, Bird-Friendly Communities Program Manager
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Many millions of years ago, a dinosaur with odd looking scales rapidly climbed a tall tree in the hopes of avoiding a predator chasing behind. The dinosaur leapt and glided from the tree to another tree, and was out of reach of the predator. This dinosaur, with its odd-looking scales, was an early bird! That's right, birds are modern dinosaurs (therapods), whose scales have evolved over millions of years into the feathers we see today.
Birds still do have scales as we know them today too - just take a close look at their legs and feet. The scales there help with insulation and protection from rough or sharp objects, while the feathers help the birds with flight. As it is spring migration, remember to turn your lights out to help these birds use their feathers to fly north!
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Learn more about early birds from the Natural History Museum
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Photo credit: Natural History Museum
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By Christine Wehrli, Community Outreach Programs Manager
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Houston Audubon is thrilled to continue to participate in The Witness Series this year. The Witness Series is Artist Led, Nature Centered and Community Driven. It is led by Kristi Rangel, Houston-based multi-disciplinary artist and education advocate, and co-curated in partnership with artists from the Native American, African American, Latinx, Pacific Islander and Asian communities. Every Witness experience is designed to bring communities together through the power of nature and provide historically under-served communities with greater access to nature-based opportunities.
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In March, the Witness Series took place at E.R. & Ann Taylor park in the Sunnyside neighborhood of Houston. “Bear Witness” is held each year during the week of Ann Taylor’s birthday; this year marks the 180th anniversary of her birth. In addition to loaning out binoculars and giving away native plant seeds, Houston Audubon set up mobiles along the trail where attendees learned about the importance of birds in African American literature and history. Further along the trail, participants left messages of love and goodwill for their ancestors, did walking meditations, and planted native plants (all from Houston Audubon's Natives Nursery) alongside Houston Parks and Rec Department. Houston Public Library Gregory School was also on site to collect the oral histories documenting the lives of African American women and their impact on their descendants that will go into the City of Houston’s official archives.
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Click here to read more about the incredible story behind E.R. and Ann Taylor park.
The next Witness Series event, “Drawn to Nature” will take place on Saturday, May 17 at Yolanda Black Navarro Buffalo Bend Nature Park. Houston Audubon will be there to help lead drawing of birds found along Buffalo Bayou. Learn more »
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Become a Member
Become a Houston Audubon member today to receive great benefits like members-only birding trips, early access and free admission to certain events, discounts on our merchandise, and more!Â
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Conservation License Plate
Show your love of birds when you hit the road! Order your specialty license plate to support bird conservation while driving around town. $22 of the $30 annual fee comes to Houston Audubon.
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Make a Donation
Individual donations are the backbone of Houston Audubon's programs. Donations from individuals such as yourself are the driving force behind all of our work. Make a donation today to support the conservation of birds in the Greater Houston Gulf Coast region.
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