DECEMBER 2024

Dear friend,

Here's what's happening at Houston Audubon this month.

Our FY2024 Annual Report is here!

Discover the incredible work of Houston Audubon this past fiscal year. From sanctuary improvements to conservation successes to new community connections, we couldn't have done it without you. We're so proud of all we've accomplished with our staff, volunteers, and partners. We sincerely thank our members, donors, and community members for another fantastic year.

FEATURED EVENTS

SANCTUARY SNAPSHOT

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. 

Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary

Leaves fall gently on worn trails, as cool autumn breezes hint at the frosty months to come. Taking advantage of the cooler weather, staff and volunteers have been working hard on restoring heavily used trails by applying loads of mulch. Restoration efforts are underway as staff plant native trees around the property; the cooler weather prevents the young trees from dying as they would in hotter months.

More temperate migrants have made their way into the nature sanctuary, including Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers and Orange-crowned Warblers. Believe it or not, there are still a few Neotropical migrants too, including some recently spotted Scarlet Tanagers and Wilson's Warblers! Notable sightings include a Grey Fox, Great Horned Owls, Barred Owls, and Bald Eagles.

On the Coast

The warm weather that persisted into mid-November has seemingly resulted in a scarcity of waterfowl (particularly geese) on the coast so far this fall. Other late fall migrants and winter species have settled into the coastal sanctuaries. Our first waves of American Robins, Golden-crowned Kinglets, Brown Creepers, and even a Red-breasted Nuthatch or two have been seen in High Island. American Avocet numbers are climbing at Bolivar Flats where we routinely support 8,000 to 10,000 each winter, though only about half this number may be readily visible on any given visit. We are eagerly awaiting more cold fronts and the exciting birds they may produce as we enter the winter season.

Thank you to those who braved the wet weather and participated in our November High Island workday. Our next volunteer workday will be Saturday, December 14th from 8:30 AM to noon. We also want to thank those that helped us bump up over 300 plants from trays to larger pots in the Coastal Natives Nursery this month. These plants will eventually find homes within Houston Audubon’s Coastal Sanctuaries. Our next Coastal Nursery Volunteer Workday will be Thursday, December 12th from 9 AM to noon. Those interested in learning more about our Bolivar Flats sanctuary and the myriad of shorebirds, herons, terns, and other waterbirds it supports, may wish to attend our monthly Bolivar Flats Beach Ramble on Saturday, December 7th from 10 AM to noon. These walks occur on the first Saturday of each month and are led by our coastal staff. They're also a good opportunity to learn more about shorebird identification.

December means Christmas Bird Count (CBC) season. There are two counts that include many of the coastal sanctuaries. The first will be the East Galveston CBC for which staff cover Bolivar Flats and Horseshoe Marsh sanctuaries in addition to other spots in Port Bolivar. This count will be on Tuesday, December 17th. The second will be the Bolivar Peninsula CBC which includes Anahuac NWR and High Island, likely on Thursday, December 19th (please check the Houston Audubon CBC page for updated count date). Those interested in assisting Houston Audubon staff during these counts can contact Wyatt Egelhoff at wegelhoff@houstonaudubon.org to arrange logistics, or contact the count compiler directly if interested in counting in other areas of the count circle. 

CONSERVATION CORNER

Resource Partitioning: Birds of Many Worlds

By Schyler Brown, Conservation Specialist

Conservation land management is incredibly difficult, because birds occupy extremely diverse habitats. Decisions must be made that could help one species, but harm others. Indeed, there is no "one size fits all" management strategy, because every bird uses different resources. Ecologists call this phenomenon resource partitioning - better defined as the division of resources due to evolutionary adaptations that allow different animals to occupy a similar space. Think about a time you have gone birding, and witnessed two very similar looking species doing two very different activities. The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and the Red-bellied Woodpecker for example have similar characteristics: similar size, similar shape, both cling to the sides of trees, but upon closer inspection, one will find the sapsucker drilling rows of holes for sap, while the Red-bellied woodpecker drills where it finds grubs! Differences like these are why each species requires specially tailored conservation practices to best help them succeed.

NEWS & BIRDING

2024 Birdy Holiday Gift Guide

'Tis the Season for Christmas Bird Counts

Welcome to Theresa Kelly, Coastal Conservation Technician

Featured Beak: Long-billed Curlew

WAYS TO HELP

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