Hello, everyone! September is here, and with it comes the change of seasons and the start of fall migration. Birds of all kinds are making their way through our region right now—it’s a great time of the year to get outside and enjoy birdwatching!
It’s also a time of action. Our Save Bolivar Flats campaign is underway, and the response has been inspiring—nearly 200 people have already stepped up to support this effort from across Texas and beyond. Bolivar Flats is a truly irreplaceable sanctuary, used by half a million birds each year to rest and refuel on their journey. Protecting the final piece of this globally important site is critical, and with your help, we can make it happen.
So as you get out to enjoy the wonders of fall migration, I encourage you to also be part of this historic conservation effort. Together, we can ensure Bolivar Flats remains a sanctuary for the birds—and for all who love them—for generations to come. Happy birding!
Â
- Jed Aplaca, President & CEO
|
|
|
|
Get ready for Houston Bird Week: September 20 - 27
|
Join us for this celebration of the important role Houston plays in the lives of billions of resident and migratory birds. Along with our partners, we've arranged a week of events centered around our region's birds and wildlife, such as bird walks, yoga, movie night, trivia, socials, and more. Check out the calendar and register for a birdy event today!
|
|
|
Avian Affair Fundraising Dinner
|
Individual tickets are now on sale for our annual Avian Affair fundraiser, which will be held at the Post Oak Hotel on October 23rd at 6 pm. This year’s event will focus on Bird-Friendly Communities: Supporting Habitats for Birds and People - and we are thrilled to welcome renowned author and Extraordinary Birder host, Christian Cooper, as our keynote speaker. The evening program will include a paddle-raise for the Save Bolivar Flats campaign. Join us as we celebrate our achievements in bird conservation and help us raise funds to continue our mission for years to come. We hope to see you there!
|
| |
|
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
|
| |
|
Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary
|
By John LeaRussa, ELMNS Sanctuary Lead
|
|
|
We’re showing some love to a true gem within our sanctuary! Built in 1931, the Moore Log Cabin is a Texas Historical Landmark and the cornerstone of the Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary. Its unique character and insight into life a century ago attracts visitors from all across the region. Beginning in August and continuing throughout the rest of this year, we will be investing a lot of love and sweat into keeping the cabin the true gem that it is for our sanctuary. There will be no major changes to the appearance of the cabin, just good old-fashioned upkeep and maintenance. Come out to the sanctuary and experience the joy of this historic landmark!
Â
Strolling through the sanctuary in August treated us to lovely hummingbird chatter along the trumpet vines and Turk’s cap. The Downy and Red-bellied Woodpeckers have been quite spirited as well, producing resonating melodies throughout the sanctuary.
|
| |
|
On the Coast - High Island and Bolivar Flats
|
By Wyatt Egelhoff, Sanctuary Manager
|
|
|
September brings more migrants and our first fall activities at our coastal sanctuaries. We will be having a beach clean-up at Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary on Saturday, September 27th from 9am to noon. Due to staff schedules, there will not be a Beach Ramble at Bolivar Flats this month, but we look forward to seeing folks at the Flats on October 4th.
Â
Many flycatchers (Pewees, Olive-sided, and Empidonax), warblers (Yellow, Black-and-white, Canada, Mourning and a few others) and other migrants have begun pouring into the High Island Sanctuaries daily. Other species such as Purple Martins have now departed for South America. Random rainstorms coming in off the Gulf have acted to temporarily ground migrants some days, including an impressive flock of 27 Mississippi Kites near Smith Oaks on August 22nd. As is the case many years, late-summer rains have created ideal conditions for mosquitoes. With our first cold snap still months away, visitors should plan on sharing the sanctuaries with many of these hungry insects.
|
| |
|
What Balding and Casual Wear Have to do with Fall Migration
|
By Schyler Brown, Bird-Friendly Communities Program Manager
|
|
|
Have you ever seen a Northern Cardinal in late summer and noticed that it’s missing feathers on its head? Well, just like some humans, some birds go bald! Usually this “molt” happens at the end of the breeding season, just before birds begin to migrate. Fortunately for the cardinal, the balding doesn’t last forever and within days it’ll have a fresh set of feathers covering its head. Additionally, many birds molt their entire plumage before they return to their wintering grounds. You might notice that a lot of fall migrants look rather casual compared to how they looked in the spring – this is because they have molted their breeding plumage and have grown a fresh set of feathers until the next breeding season. Why not keep the beautiful plumage year round? Well, just like for humans, it takes a lot of energy to put on fancy clothes (or plumage) full of color and pizazz. Remember, birds just need the flashy feathers in the breeding season to attract a mate. In the fall, these southbound birds grow an energy efficient outfit that will suit their needs in the southern hemisphere!
|
| |
|
By Christine Wehrli, Community Outreach Programs Manager
|
This month, we want to highlight our community partner, Frost Town Brewing. Together for Houston Bird Week, we've organized several fun bird-themed events for the community to enjoy at their space. This includes the Young Professionals Flock Social, Birdy Yoga, Birdy Trivia Night, the Freaks Fun Run and Social, and of course, the highly anticipated Birdy Beer Debut.
As part of this collaboration, Frost Town has brewed up a very special beer, the Shorebird Shandy. It is a tart and sweet shandy brewed with persimmon and lemon. This beer was created to raise awareness for Houston Audubon's habitat conservation efforts. With every purchase of Shorebird Shandy, you're supporting our land conservation work; 15% of the proceeds will go directly toward acquiring the last remaining piece of land to complete our largest preserve, the Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary, home to hundreds of thousands of shorebirds and other wading birds. Frost Town will also be selling a limited-edition shirt during Houston Bird Week that celebrates this special beer.
Cheers to Frost Town for promoting community, land conservation, and great beer. Read more about Frost Town and their sustainability efforts »
Click here for more information on our Bird Week events, including all the fun events planned at Frost Town!
|
|
|
Become a Member
Join or renew your Houston Audubon membership to receive great benefits like members-only birding trips, early access and free admission to certain events, discounts on our merchandise, and more! Membership levels start at $40/year.
|
| |
Attend Avian Affair
Join us for an unforgettable evening celebrating birds, conservation, and community on Thursday, October 23rd at the elegant Post Oak Hotel. Purchase your ticket or table today!
|
| |
Donate to Save Bolivar Flats
Please help us protect critical habitat on the Upper Texas Coast! Funds are needed to purchase a property slated for a housing development that is surrounded by our Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary. This purchase represents the final piece needed to complete this sanctuary that is home to hundreds of thousands of shorebirds.
|
|
|
Manage your preferences | Opt Out using TrueRemove™
Got this as a forward? Sign up to receive our future emails.
View this email online.
|
440 Wilchester Blvd. | Houston, TX 77079 US
|
|
|
This email was sent to .
To continue receiving our emails, add us to your address book.
|
|
|
|
