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The Owl Post | Houston Audubon Monthly News

APRIL 2021

Dear Friend,

Here are the latest happenings at Houston Audubon.

LIGHTS OUT FOR BIRDS!

Spring migration is officially upon us and that means millions of birds will be flying through our region over the next couple of months! This also means that birds will be facing a number of challenges and obstacles along their journey from Central and South America. There is a simple way to help with one of these challenges, though – turn your lights out at night!
Sign up to receive Action Alerts to be reminded to turn off your lights on evenings when high migration is forecasted for our region.
Window Pains: Helping Birds Survive in a Human World
On March 11, we hosted a virtual speaker event with Heidi Trudell, who spoke about the challenges birds face and how we can take immediate action to reduce the human threats to their surival.

COUNT BIRDS BECAUSE BIRDS COUNT

Our spring fundraiser has begun! Now through May 7, you can support bird conservation by participating in Birdathon, a fun birdwatching competition. 
Raise money, go birdwatching, win awesome prizes!
You can participate solo or with a team! Just pick a 24-hour period to go birding and raise money for a good cause.

AROUND OUR SANCTUARIES

Spring Migration at High Island and Bolivar Flats

The air is buzzing in anticipation of spring migrants returning to the upper Texas coast, and we are excited to welcome you back to High Island for the 2021 migration season! Here's what you need to know for your visit. We hope to see you soon!
Bolivar Beach Clean-up
Saturday, April 3
Houston Audubon and Keep Bolivar Beautiful invite you to join us for a beach cleanup this Saturday from 9 am - noon to gather the trash and fishing line that is often a hazard to local wildlife. Volunteers are needed! Details »

Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary

Sanctuary Stewards are Back! 
You may see our Sanctuary Stewards out and about at the sanctuary. Feel free to approach them with questions, concerns, cool animal sightings, or just to thank them for their hard work! Volunteer to be a Sanctuary Steward »
Mindful Mondays in the Forest
Start your week off right with mindfulness classes in nature. This program is held entirely outdoors with an option to join via Zoom. Register »
The Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary is open daily from 7 AM to 7 PM. The parking lot and restroom remain closed, but access and parking are available in the Memorial Drive United Methodist Church's west parking lot. Visitor Information »

Raptor and Education Center

Get an inside look with a behind-the-scenes tour and learn about our native raptors, raptor conservation, and get up close and personal with our education birds.
Upcoming tours: April 2, April 23, May 8, May 14, May 29
Adopt a Bird
Eli and Ezra worked hard to raise money to adopt Simon, one of our Great Horned Owls. They had a great time meeting Simon and the other birds at the Raptor and Education Center last month. Adoption funds enable us to care for these amazing birds that help us spread the message of conservaton across the region. If you'd like to support our education animals, you can Adopt a Bird today »
The Raptor and Education Center is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 AM - 4 PM. In order to maintain social distancing while groups are on site, please call ahead to schedule your visit. Note that we will be closed April 3-4.

GET STARTED WITH NATIVE GARDENING

For many, spring means it's time to work on your garden. Planting flowers, grasses, and trees native to our region can support tons of bugs, birds, and other wildlife. Our Bird Friendly Houston website is a great resource to learn how to get started planting native and how you can take actions to help birds. Check out our blog to learn how you can start a native container garden, or read about one yard's transformation into a bird-friendly habitat. 

PHOTOGRAPHY

Photo by Joe V. Smith
Amateur and professional photographers can have a one-of-a-kind experience photographing our raptors in an intimate setting at a Raptor Photography Shoot.
Upcoming shoots at the Raptor and Education Center: April 24, May 22, May 31
Enjoy free classes with the Houston Audubon Nature Photography Association (HANPA), an informal photo club for Houston Audubon members. Meetings are held monthly on the first Wednesday from September - May. Learn more »
(Not a member? Sign up now for as little as $35.)

UPCOMING EVENTS

Trivia Night
Houston Audubon's Young Professionals Advisory Council is collaborating with the young professionals of Houston Parks Board and Buffalo Bayou Partnership to host a virtual trivia night in celebration of the new Confluence mural of migratory birds by Ink Dwell in downtown Houston. Special prize packages will be given to the top 3 winners. All ages welcome.
April 13
Flying WILD Program Training for Educators
Flying WILD encourages environmental stewardship among youth with hands-on classroom and outdoor field experiences connected to bird biology, conservation, and natural history. Workshops are for formal and informal educators; all participants receive CPE hours.
June 4 

VIRTUAL PROGRAMS & RESOURCES

Zooming with Raptors
Can’t get enough of hawks, owls and kites? Bring our education ambassador animals into your home and learn all about them during this virtual program for all ages.
Upcoming dates: April 28, May 26
Go birding from the comfort of your home with our bird cameras!
Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary
Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary

VOLUNTEER

Bird Collision Monitors are needed to help patrol downtown Houston to look for birds that have been injured or killed by building strikes and record data. Training will be provided.

MEMBER CORNER

Board of Directors Nominees
The Nominating Committee of the Houston Audubon Board of Directors has recommended a slate for election to the board. All active Houston Audubon members are invited to vote on the 2021 nominees. The election is typically held at the annual meeting in May, but it will be held online due to COVID-19 concerns for public gatherings. Details will be sent to all members. Learn more about the nominees »
Members-Only Trips
All members are welcome to join us on a field trip to High Island on April 17.
Members 50 and older are invited to join our bus trip to High Island on April 8.
Join the Flock!
Become a Houston Audubon member for as little as $35. Support bird conservation while receiving cool benefits, such as free admission to the Raptor Center, members-only field trips, discounts at our natives nursery and nature shops, and more!
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