Dear Friend,
Here are the latest happenings at Houston Audubon.
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Celebrity Piping Plover Monty was seen at Bolivar Flats in January! Monty and his mate Rose were the first Piping Plovers to nest within the Chicago city limits since 1955, and made headlines for stopping a beach concert near their nest site. The Great Lakes Piping Plovers are an endangered species, so we are glad to hear that Monty, Rose, and their offspring are doing well!Â
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| | High Island and Bolivar Flats
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We can't wait to see you this spring and introduce you to our brand new facilities at High Island.Â
Visitor Information
The High Island visitor kiosk will be open from March 26 - May 2. Sanctuaries are open daily from dawn to dusk. Construction at Smith Oaks Bird Sanctuary is complete and restrooms are now open.Â
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Admission
Patches are $30/person for unlimited access for the year. If you purchased a 2020 patch, it is valid through the end of 2021 due to the 2020 season closure. Day passes are sold on-site for $8/person.
Reservations are open for the photo blind at Boy Scout Woods. Following social distancing guidelines, each reservation is for an entire day and you may invite up to 3 additional people to join you. The registration fee is $100/day with a limit of 1 registration per person. Spots are available daily between March 26 and May 9, but they're filling up fast! Book here »
COVID-19 Precautions
Masks are required at kiosks and strongly encouraged throughout the sanctuaries. We will be selling masks with commemorative 2021 patch artwork by Linda Feltner. Limited merchandise will be available to reduce contact, so we strongly encourage you to stop by our Raptor and Education Center in southeast Houston and visit the nature shop.Â
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| | Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary
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Mindful Mondays in the Forest are back! Start your week off right with mindfulness classes in nature. This program is held entirely outdoors and masks are required. Participants may also join via Zoom.
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The Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary is open daily from 7 AM to 7 PM. The parking lot and restroom remain closed, but there is access and parking available in the Memorial Drive United Methodist Church's west parking lot. Visitor Information »
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| | Raptor and Education Center
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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: February 19, February 27, March 6, March 18
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Volunteer at a Raptor Center Work Party on the second Saturday of each month from September - May. Activities include trail maintenance, filling bird feeders and baths, litter pick-up, native gardening, and invasive species removal.Â
Upcoming Work Parties: February 13 (full), March 13, April 10
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Did you know that Houston Audubon members get free admission to the Raptor and Education Center? Learn More »
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.Â
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| | VIRTUAL PROGRAMS & RESOURCES
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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: January 27, February 24, March 24
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| Go birding from the comfort of your home with our bird cameras!
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Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary
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Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary
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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: February 8, March 13, May 22
Upcoming shoots at Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary: February 24
Enjoy free classes with HANPA! The Houston Audubon Nature Photography Association (HANPA) is an informal photo club for Houston Audubon members. Meetings are held monthly on the first Wednesday from September - May. Learn more »
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Super Bird 55
Join our annual team birding competition held the day before the Super Bowl. Each year, two teams compete to identify the most species at Archbishop Fiorenza Park. Free; All experience levels welcome.
February 6: Archbishop Fiorenza Park Phase II
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Wetland Walkabout
Join us at Exploration Green's Wetland Walkabout to learn about birds and wildlife and enjoy small-group bird walks or self-guided wetland tours. Ritter's Food Truck will be on site. Family & dog-friendly. Free to attend.
February 13: Exploration Green
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Owl Prowls
Meet and learn about our live, rehabilitated owls, and then join us in search of wild owls on the wooded trails. For all ages.
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| February 26: Raptor and Education Center
February 27: Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary
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Educators can sign up for Flying WILD program training on March 17 and June 4. Flying WILD encourages environmental stewardship among youth with hands-on classroom and outdoor field experiences connected to bird biology, conservation, and natural history.Â
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While we're all looking forward to spring migration, be sure to catch some of the interesting species that winter on the Upper Texas Coast in our latest blog post by Glenn Olsen.
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Masks up, gloves on! Read one volunteer's reflections on giving back during a pandemic and how she navigated the challenge of volunteering while staying safe. Read more »Â
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From supporting our staff at our headquarters and maintaining trails at our bird sanctuaries, to increasing appreciation and understanding of birds throughout Houston and more, volunteers are the lifeblood of Houston Audubon!
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All members are welcome to join us on a half-day field trip to Cullinan Park and Sugar Land Memorial Park on February 20.
Members 50 and older are invited to join our bus trip to Cattail Marsh Wetlands in Beaumont on February 25.
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Your donations and memberships make these programs possible, and allow us to continue our mission to advance bird conservation and positively impact their supporting environments.
Join or Renew your Membership »
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