As we step into March, we leave behind the chill of winter and welcome the vibrant arrival of spring. Nature is awakening-bluebonnets will be in full bloom soon, trees are budding, and birds are starting their journey northward on their spring migration. It’s a season of renewal, reminding us of the importance of protecting the habitats that support these incredible natural cycles. It’s also the perfect time to get outside and enjoy the brief window of mild temperatures before the heat of summer arrives!
- 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.
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Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary
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Meet our new Edith Moore Nature Sanctuary Lead - John LeaRussa! John will be providing the Edith Moore updates for our Owl Post each month.
Hello everyone, I’d like to take this opportunity to introduce myself. My name is John LeaRussa and I have joined the staff at Houston Audubon working as the Edith L Moore Sanctuary Lead. My role primarily consists of planning, coordination and execution of projects and maintenance activities on the trails and infrastructure around the sanctuary. This work is mostly executed through the various volunteer groups who support the sanctuary, and one cornerstone group is our Tuesday Trail Crew volunteer group. Each week, this group of volunteers works on keeping the ELM sanctuary a safe and beautiful facility for all visitors. One of our recent accomplishments was installing a safety handrail along one of our recently completed boardwalk projects - a nice finishing touch to our lovely new boardwalk! Please consider coming out Tuesday mornings from 8 - 11 AM and being part of our team.
Our next community workday will be on Saturday, March 15 from 9 AM – 12 PM. Join us to assist with trail maintenance, litter pick-up, gardening, and various other tasks around the sanctuary.
- John LeaRussa, Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary Lead
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We had a productive High Island workday this February as staff and volunteers cleared privet from five acres of Eubanks Woods Sanctuary. This 9.5 acre woodlot is one of the High Island sanctuaries that doesn’t often see as many visitors as our other more famous properties.
Early March is crunch time for final preparations to trails and facilities for Spring Migration season. Our next High Island Workday will be Saturday, March 8 from 8:30 AM to noon. This is also the first day our Smith Oaks kiosk will be open to sell day passes and annual patches, as well as some merchandise (including insect repellent). At the Rookery, we have several dozen Great Egrets and Neotropic Cormorants already sitting on eggs, with many more building nests.
During our February Coastal Nursery Workday, volunteers and staff bumped up over 100 Red Mulberry cuttings that we had started last fall. These mulberries came from the trees near the kiosk at Boy Scout Woods that have fed and protected tens of thousands of migrating birds over the years. We look forward to being able to plant these cuttings in other parts of our coastal sanctuaries in about a year or so after they sufficiently root. The next Coastal Nursery Workday will be Thursday, March 13 from 9 AM to noon.
We’d also like to thank those who braved the dreary weather and assisted us in cleaning the North Jetty on Saturday, February 22nd.
March signifies the beginning of Spring Migration in earnest as waterfowl begin moving north, additional colonial waterbirds arrive, and the southern breeding species begin popping up on our shores. It also marks the return of several of our beach-nesting bird species. Staff will be installing symbolic fencing this month to designate protected areas for Least Terns, Wilson’s Plovers, and other species that seek the protected dune habitats to nest. Please respect the fencing and stay back from signed areas at Bolivar Flats, the Port Bolivar Ferry Landing, and East Beach on Galveston Island.
Notable unseasonal sightings in High Island from February included a Prothonotary Warbler (first winter record), a Chuck-will’s-widow (second or so record), and a very early Purple Gallinule (present since January).
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By Schyler Brown, Bird-Friendly Communities Program Manager
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Did you know that many birds have a third eye? Well, not exactly an eye, but a region in the brain that is highly sensitive to light that can penetrate a thin area on the top of the bird's skull. The result of this unique evolutionary trait is the ability to detect seasonal changes and navigate better at night. When daylight gets longer towards the spring season, the amount of light entering this region of the skull will trigger reproductive changes in birds to ready them for the mating season. In large cities, too much exposure to light can lead to misaligned timing of reproductive activities - another unfortunate side effect of light pollution. You can help by turning your lights out at night during bird migration.
Sources:
Birds Light Meter Discovered, Science https://www.science.org/content/article/birds-light-meter-discovered
Keunzel et al. 2015 https://doi.org/10.3382/ps.2014-4370
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BIRDATHON SPRING FUNDRAISER
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Dust off your binoculars and prepare for some feathered fun! Houston Audubon's annual Birdathon is just around the corner, and registration opens on March 25th! Join us for a day of birdwatching, friendly competition, and supporting Houston Audubon's conservation efforts. More details about the event, including how to register and team information, will be available soon. Keep an eye on our website and social media for updates!
Learn more about Birdathon »
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We’re thrilled to introduce you to the 2025 Young Professional Advisory Council (YPAC)! YPAC is a passionate group of volunteers that help advance Houston Audubon’s mission of bird conservation through outreach and community engagement efforts, the coordination of Houston Bird Week, hands-on habitat restoration, community science, and more. With 24 members, this is the largest YPAC group we’ve ever had. They held their first meeting on Thursday, February 6 and are ready to take flight. Meet our 2025 YPAC »
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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!
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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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