Dear Friend,
Here are the latest happenings at Houston Audubon.
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| | HOUSTON BIRD WEEK CALENDAR ANNOUNCED
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Houston Bird Week is almost here, and we've lined up a fantastic week of virtual and in-person events with our local conservation partners. We have birding opportunities, educational programs, trash clean-ups, virtual trivia, movie night, and more fun for the whole family! View the calendar »
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| | LIGHTS OUT FOR FALL MIGRATION
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Did you know that 1 out of every 4 birds migrating through the U.S. in fall passes through Texas? Because most migratory birds fly at night, bright lights of commercial and residential buildings attract and disorient birds, causing collisions and leaving birds vulnerable to threats on the ground. Here’s how you can help: turn out all non-essential lights outside and inside from 11 pm - 6 am every night through November 30, especially during the peak migration period of September 5 - October 29.
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| | Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary
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Announcing Wild Wednesday - where nature-loving children ages 3-6 learn about the natural world through outdoor adventures, direct instruction, crafts, and educational games. Learn more »
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Join us for our brand new Guided Tours at Edith Moore! Take the "Tour de Moore" and learn all about the history of this sanctuary, including a private visit to the historic log cabin built by Edith Moore in 1931 and an interpreted hike through the forest. Register »
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Mindful Mondays in the Forest return this month! Join us for weekly mindfulness classes in-person at the sanctuary or online via Zoom. Learn more and sign up »
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The Natives Nursery will be open for visitors for the first time since 2019 at our Plants and Popsicles: Natives Nursery Open House on September 25 from 8 - 11 AM. Members will receive a 20% discount on plants. Details »
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Volunteer at our next Habitat Hawks Work Day on September 11 from 9 AM - 12 PM for a morning of invasive plant removal to keep the sanctuary thriving for birds and people! Register »
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The Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary is open daily from 7 AM to 7 PM. Access and parking are available in the Memorial Drive United Methodist Church's west parking lot. Admission is free; if you enjoy your visit, you can help preserve nature in the city by making a donation. Visitor Information »
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| | Raptor and Education Center
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Announcing Family First Fridays - where nature-loving children ages 3-6 learn about the natural world through outdoor adventures, direct instruction, crafts, and educational games. Learn more »
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Help us keep the sanctuary beautiful! Volunteer at an upcoming Raptor Center Work Party or Maintenance Monday to help with trail repair and maintenance, litter pick-up, invasives removal and native gardening, cleaning aviaries, and more.
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The Raptor and Education Center is open Tues-Sat from 10 AM to 4 PM. Admission is free for members and $5/person for non-members. Visitor Information »
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| | High Island and Bolivar Flats
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The coastal sanctuaries are seeing more and more migrating birds heading south. Bolivar Flats is getting great numbers of shorebirds with more than 100 Piping Plovers in a recent eBird report. Marbled Godwits, Long-billed Curlews, and Whimbrels are some of the more impressive waterbirds that have returned to Bolivar after the breeding season. Migratory songbirds are passing through the wooded sanctuaries as they make their way south to the tropics.
Different from most years, the nesting activity at Smith Oaks is still going strong, although mostly waning. The exception is a handful of Neotropic Cormorants that have started nesting, a little earlier than their now-usual October nesting start date. Finally, several reports have noted Wood Storks in Smith Oaks. These post-breeding dispersers from the tropics are always a special sight.
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Bolivar Flats Adopt-A-Beach Cleanup
Join us at Bolivar Flats on September 18 from 9 AM - 12 PM as part of a state-wide effort to turn the tide against marine debris and clean up our coastline! Register »
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Enjoy camping and birding? We're seeking RV Volunteer Caretakers at High Island. Learn more »
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Photographers of all skill levels are welcome to join us for a Raptor Photo Shoot at the Raptor and Education Center! Photograph these beautiful birds of prey in an intimate and natural setting. Register »
Announcing Raptor One-on-Ones, a new and unique opportunity for photographers to have a private session shooting a raptor of their choice. Learn more »
Mirrorless Cameras: Bird Photography Loves & Hates with Kathy Adams Clark
Join the Houston Audubon Nature Photography Association (HANPA) tonight, September 1, at 7 PM for a virtual program about mirrorless cameras. Register now »
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Houston Audubon is seeking an Education Programs Manager and Staff Naturalist.
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Support birds by purchasing our brand new license plate, featuring an Eastern Meadowlark.
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Purple Martin Migration Madness Watch Parties
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Join us to watch the amazing spectacle of Purple Martin migration!
September 4 & 19
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Save the date for our annual fundraising dinner honoring Jim Winn with the Lifetime Service Award and Western Academy with the Lucie Wray Todd Education Award. Featuring keynote speaker Sneed B. Collard III, Author and Naturalist
October 21 | 6:30 PM
The Revaire
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Volunteer Opportunities
Houston Audubon values and relies on volunteers to help us achieve our mission. From sanctuary maintenance to education to community science, there are a variety of ways you can get involved. View all volunteer opportunities »
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Feathers aren't Forever by Ryan Call
"About this time every summer, we receive questions about ridiculous-looking birds: birds with oddly mismatched feathers, birds without feathers, birds that seem bedraggled or undernourished or sickly-looking. For the most part, these birds are perfectly fine!" Read more »
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Houston Audubon members 50 and older are invited to join our September 9 field trip to the Smith Point Hawk Watch. Register »
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Join the Flock!
Support bird conservation and get great benefits, such as free admission to the Raptor Center, members-only field trips, discounts at our nature shops and nursery open houses, and more!
Don't miss our Houston Bird Week discount of 15% off all membership levels from September 18 - 24. Discount automatically applied at checkout.
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