The Naturalist July/August 2012
-
Upload
susan-billetdeaux -
Category
Documents
-
view
225 -
download
1
description
Transcript of The Naturalist July/August 2012
C e l e b r a t i n g 4 2 Ye a r s o f B i r d C o n s e r v a t i o n
NaturalistThe
Volume 31, Number 4 July/August 2012
Joanne Kamo
Saving a Natural Treasure: The College Park Prairie by Flo Hannah, Urban Sanctuaries Manager
Good news! An amazing prairie remnant has been found in Deer Park. It is called the College Park Prairie, named after an adjacent elementary school. This is a 52-acre prairie pothole
remnant with a full complement of pimple mounds and potholes. It supports an array of wildlife that includes pocket gophers, unusual and often elegant insects, grassland birds including Henslow’s, Le Conte’s and Grasshopper Sparrows, and nesting Eastern Meadowlarks and Loggerhead Shrikes.
A willing seller and a brief window of time to raise funds are providing a rare opportunity to potentially acquire this extraordinary property, the largest known high-quality prairie remnant for sale in Harris County. Houston Audubon is not currently accepting donations but is partnering with Houston Wilderness and the Coastal Prairie Partnership to find acquisition funds from corporations and environmental agencies. Individual donors can make a contribution at http://savecollegeparkprairie.ning.com.
Coastal prairie is the “rarest of the rare” of North America’s ecosystems (D. Ladd, TNC). Coastal prairie was once the dominant ecosystem of Harris County’s sprawling 1.1 million acres. Now, only a few fragmented remnants are left of our local prairies where cowboys, cattle drives, saltgrass trails, and rich farmlands once prospered. The vast local prairies of Harris County once teemed with grassland birds and supported countless other wildlife species. Except for the abundance
of prairie-associated names, little remains of that rich heritage.
To date, more than 240 native species have been recorded, indicating an extremely diverse, high-quality prairie. TPWD botanist and plant ecologist, Jason Singhurst, has surveyed College Park Prairie three times. He describes the site as a Texas-Louisiana Coastal Prairie that is extremely rare in both Louisiana and Texas. This prairie community has only been documented in Chambers County (Winnie and Middleton Prairies) and Harris County (Deer Park Prairie) in Texas. Its status is: Global Rank: G1S1. G1 means it is at very high risk of extinction due to extreme rarity, with often 5 or fewer known populations; S1 means there are fewer than 5 occurrences known in Texas.
Coastal prairies are so rare that most Houstonians have never seen one.
I’m often asked how it is different from all the open pastures and fields lining the roadways of Harris County. One distinction is that a high quality prairie still has its original topography of pimple mounds and prairie potholes. It has not been overgrazed or plowed or converted to “improved” non-native range grasses. Quality prairie remnants are almost always hayfields. Regular mowing or fire is necessary to maintain a balance of native grasses and flowers. Otherwise, tallows and other alien plants will dominate.
continued on page 3
Thalia dealbata (Powdery alligator-flag) dominates a wetland depression near a large prairie pothole at College Park Prairie (Don Verser)
The Naturalist is made possible by a generous gift from Terry Hershey.
I had a wonderful experience on April 21 taking 14 Red Hatters (women over 50 who like to do things) on a trip to High Island for a day of birdwatching. Most of the women
were not birders, but were game to try. We arrived at 9:00 a.m. at Boy Scout Woods, and Julia Garrett was waiting for us to be our tour guide, telling us about High Island, the story of migration, and, of course, pointing out the birds. Julia shared these duties with Peggy Boston, and the women learned a tremendous amount about this special place and the phenomenon of migration. Very special thanks to Julia and Peggy.
It was unseasonably cold and windy that morning, and spring migrants were hard to come by. So we decided to go to a sure winner—The Rookery. It was indeed special. We fantasized about the “singles tree” where the Roseate Spoonbills were hanging out, perhaps looking for the right mate. We also fantasized about the male Snowy Egret bringing the perfect stick to his mate, and she saying, “Thanks honey, please get another.”
After viewing The Rookery, some of the women opted for the church barbecue, and then back to the warmth of their cars and Houston. The hardier souls had a picnic at the tables near The Rookery which was delightful. The sun came out, the sky cleared and a Northern Parula sang its heart out. So, fortified with lunch and the sun, we returned to Boy Scout Woods and resumed birdwatching. We were rewarded with sightings of Summer Tanagers, Indigo Buntings, Eastern Kingbird, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and others. Perhaps most importantly, these women participated in one of the most enthusiastic crowds I’ve ever seen at High Island. It was as if it was a giant party, with everyone enjoying the adventure. The following are some of the emails I received after the trip:
“I am looking forward to getting more involved with birds and birdwatching. I loved The Rookery. I could have spent hours looking at the spoonbills and the other birds. I am going tonight to look for binoculars.”
“What a privilege to be at such a special place, hurray for the birds and for the Houston Audubon Society for their great work, and to Mary for leading a great trip. I’m a great Roseate Spoonbill and Indigo Bunting fan, and so I was stoked that Mary arranged for us to see them. And a Summer Tanager too. I’m worried about the warblers though, did they ever arrive? Poor little guys, it was a heck of a north wind.”
So, it may not have been the best day for birdwatching, but it was a great day to showcase our beautiful sanctuaries and the dedicated people who care for them.
I also recently spent a delightful sunny morning in Central Park (NYC) birdwatching with my brother-in-law. Phil is an excellent birder, and it was a treat to stroll through Central Park looking for birds. The previous evening we had gone to the roof of his apartment building to get a close view of two Red-tailed Hawks perched on the tower of the building—a spectacular sight especially when one of the hawks floated off the point buoyed only by the wind—no flapping needed. We were primed for the morning. We started early and pretty much had the trails to ourselves and Phil’s wonderful dog. As the morning progressed and got warmer, more birders arrived. We all shared our information and sightings, definitely a friendly and well-informed group.
What does all this mean? To me, it means that birdwatching has a fascination for many sorts of people with many interests and many skill levels, beginners to “lifers.” Thank goodness for wonderful organizations such as Houston Audubon that promote and help nurture birds and the pleasure of watching them.
Houston Audubonis a chapter of the National Audubon Society
BOARD OF DIRECTORSMary Carter, PresidentJim Winn, Past PresidentBen Hulsey, President-ElectBernice Hotman, Corporate SecretaryKay Medford, TreasurerJudy Boyce Cy ClarkMatthew Easterly Jeff EvansEd Hickl Lynne JohnsonDavid Lummis Donna RybiskiJoseph Smith Jeff WoodmanMartha WrightBarbara Railey, Galveston Group Representative
BOARD OF ADVISORSGerard A. Bertrand Sara BettencourtJim Blackburn Peggy BostonRichard Brooks Dale BushCaroline Callery Claire CaudillGary W. Clark Fred CollinsScott Davis Victor EmanuelTed Eubanks, Jr. Julia GarrettStephen Gast Gene GrahamTerry Hershey Tracy HesterFord Hubbard, III Ann Wier JonesMavis P. Kelsey, Jr. Robert McFarlaneJeff Mundy Donal C. O’Brien, Jr.Heidi Rockecharlie Rob RowlandAndrew Sansom Steve SmithKathryn Smyth James R. Stewart, Jr.Lucie Wray Todd Lettalou WhittingtonLaurie Williams
STAFFGina Donovan, Executive DirectorFlo Hannah, Urban Sanctuaries ManagerMarc Reid, Coastal Sanctuaries ManagerMary Anne Weber, Education DirectorVicki Vroble, Environmental EducatorJessica Jubin, Development DirectorBarbara Thompson, ControllerJuanita Perkins, Office Manager/Volunteer Coordinator
CONTACT INFORMATIONHouston Audubon Office 713-932-1639Education Office 713-640-2407FAX 713-461-2911E-mail [email protected] County Group 409-772-3126
AUDUBON DOCENT GUILD Bethany Foshée, [email protected] 713-464-4900
FOLLOW USLike us Tweet us
www.houstonaudubon.orgwww.narba.org
The Naturalist is published bimonthly.Editor: Susan Billetdeaux
The Naturalist is also available in digital format.Naturalist E-News is published monthly.
To receive The Naturalist by e-mail, sign up for Naturalist E-News on our website.
Birdwatching: A Shared Pleasureby Mary Carter, President
2 THE NATURALIST • JULY/AUGUST 2012
Indigo Bunting at High Island Spring, 2012 by Joanne Kamo
Species Profile
White Ibisby Glenn Olsen, GO Birding Ecotours
I Iike the White Ibis because it’s an odd-looking bird. In breeding season, the
White Ibis has bright white feathers and crimson-red facial skin, bill, and legs. Its colorfulness and its long, de-curved (or downward-curving) bill give it a strange appearance as it wades in the shallow waters of marshes, ditches, and bayous in search of marine worms, snails, young crabs, crawfish, and other tasty morsels.
You can find these birds year-round in freshwater and saltwater marshes, such as at Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge, Brazos Bend State Park, Addick’s Reservoir, or at any of the bay marshes along the coast. The adult is all white, with black-tipped wings.
Immature birds are mottled white and brown, and otherwise resemble the adult birds. In flight, the way to distinguish a White Ibis is to look for its down-curving bill, long neck, narrow body, and legs that extend beyond its tail. You will most often see White Ibis flying in flocks numbering from 5 to 25; their flap, flap, flap, glide flight
pattern will help you identify them.
Whereas most species of birds use only one habitat for breeding, the White Ibis is unique in that it requires two habitats: brackish marshes and freshwater marshes. Adult birds feed in brackish water marshes and along the shoreline of bays, looking for young crab, small mollusks, and other aquatic food. White Ibis chicks are unable to digest salts found in saltwater food organisms, so its parents must hunt for crawfish in freshwater marshes such as those found at Brazos Bend State Park and Addick’s Reservoir, as well as in ditches and bayous around Houston.
Every time a bayou is cemented or a development supplants seasonal wetlands in or near Houston, the numbers of White Ibis diminish. The White Ibis is a beautiful bird worth preserving, and provides yet one more important reason for us to speak up for protecting their habitat when we see it being threatened in our neighborhoods.
White Ibis (Eucodimus albus) with a Crawfish by Joanne Kamo
White Ibis at College Park Prairieby Don Verser
Saving a Natural Treasure: The College Park Prairie
Although not open to the public, the only way to really experience the complexity and excitement of the prairie is to walk through it and see all that is happening and changing every day. Since the College Park Prairie is located in Harris County, it is an ideal location for the public to visit and experience what prairies once looked like. When you step into the prairie you turn back the clock to a less stressful time.
I have had the opportunity to visit the site multiple times, and have a new appreciation for the complexity and interrelatedness of the coastal prairie. Each time I visit, new wildflowers, grasses, insects, small mammals and birds are discovered.
Finding and preserving prairie remnants is now at a critical stage if we want to save a window into our past. Each quality remnant we find should be saved because every site has a unique combination of wildflowers, grasses, insects, reptiles, mammals, and amphibians
and consists of one-of-a-kind topography, microorganisms, and soil types. Sadly, native wildflowers and grasses once common are now very rare. When a prairie remnant is lost to development, an entire and complex wildlife community is lost. The delicate balance of the prairie cannot be reproduced.
Our efforts to date have been to relocate or propagate native plants for restoration or
reconstruction projects. Many plants survive relocation, but rare site-specific plants do not. Generally only 10 to 20 species can be targeted for relocation but quality remnants consist of 150 to 300 plant species adapted to the particular soil and moisture conditions of that site. The best plan is to preserve an intact coastal prairie.
The current threat to the College Park Prairie is
urban development. The property owner is a developer who plans to build a residential subdivision on top of the prairie. He has, however, given until November 1, 2012 for a commitment to be made to acquire the
property.
Normally we locate a prairie remnant with only days or weeks before bulldozers arrive. For decades we watched the last coastal prairie disappear before we could act, but we have the gift of time to save this one. There is a sense of urgency to reverse the trend of constant loss, and it is important to not lose even one more of the prairies that are part of our natural heritage. It is not likely another sizable remnant of this quality will be found in Harris county and so this may be the last opportunity to save a prairie this close to Houston.
For further information and to donate, visit http://savecollegeparkprairie.ning.com.
Alophia drummondii (Purple pleat-leaf ) This rare iris was found in May at College Park Prairie. (Don Verser)
Liatris pycnostachya (Prairie blazing star) An ocean of liatris is ready to bloom at
College Park Prairie. (Don Verser)
4 THE NATURALIST • JULY/AUGUST 2012
Houston Audubon’s fearless field trip leader, Bill Saulmon, is
moving to Austin this summer. We wish him well in his new city, but we sure will miss him!
Bill led trips for Houston Audubon and the Ornithology Group for many, many years. This past year he not only led monthly trips to areas around Houston (Smith Point, Baytown Nature Center, Attwater Prairie Chicken NWR, San Bernard NWR, Brazoria NWR, Lake Anahuac, Quintana and Brazos Bend), but he also headed up a trip to Big Bend, organized a birding trip for seniors to San Bernard NWR and led a guided Birdathon team for rookies.
Bill is a great organizer and communicator, and almost every one of his trips was filled to capacity! Perhaps we can get him to agree to lead a trip around Austin after he
gets settled? Hope so!
Vicki Vroble, Houston Audubon’s Environmental Educator, will organize next year’s field trips. Vicki will have big shoes to fill, but Bill promised to sit down with her and tell her all his secrets!
Thanks, Bill and sincere best wishes!
Houston’s Loss, Austin’s Gain by Juanita Perkins, Volunteer Coordinator
Spring migration at High Island was once again a treasured memory for all who participated. A very special
THANK YOU is in order to our dedicated force of volunteers. Without the support, commitment, and professionalism of each of you, High Island would not be what it is today. So many people contributed so much it is impossible to list everyone’s name and what they did.
Every minute you contribute to Houston Audubon is greatly appreciated. Thank you for your continued support.
Volunteers Make It Happen! by Marc Reid, Coastal Sanctuaries Manager
Volunteer Scrapbook
Bill lounging with some of the participants
during a seniors’ bus trip this past winter.Some of the spring High Island volunteers
taking a break at Boy Scout Woods
Calling All Birds?? by Winnie Burkett
Iam always tempted to pish when I want a better look at a bird. But I often have to
stop myself when I think about the effect on the bird. Calling birds always affects the birds you call. In Texas in the winter calling up a bunch of wintering Swamp Sparrows most likely doesn’t have much impact on them if they are slowed down from feeding or resting for a little while. But you are most likely one of the few birders they will encounter.
Calling up nesting birds is an entirely different matter. Males defending their territories may spend time looking for the invading male. Depending on the species, that male bird may be feeding young or his mate. Now if you are the only birder that calls up that male, the impact is most likely negligible, but if a Swainson’s Warbler is nesting near a road on the Upper Texas Coast and the word gets out and many birders visit the area each calling the birds out so they can get a good look, it has the potential to negatively affect that pair’s nesting.
I don’t know the difference in the energy
use of birds responding to a tape of their call compared to pishing or a Screech Owl call but when they look for the source of the call they use energy that they need for other purposes.
Energy use means more food is needed which takes more time. Do they have the time?? Can they find the food?? How much disturbance can the nesting pair endure before nesting fails?? There are lots of stories about nesting birds abandoning areas because of the use of bird calls. Do birders think about the possible impacts of using bird calls?
Migrating birds can also have problems with bird calls and energy use. Often migrants on the coast in the spring don’t respond to calls; their priority needs to be feeding and/or resting after their trip across the gulf. But some migrants do respond. Can they afford to use the energy that way??
It is easy to say, “My pishing/bird call/owl tape really doesn’t make that much difference. After all there are cats and buildings killing millions of birds.” But more and more it is the cumulative impacts that are responsible
for the decline of bird populations: cats, buildings, cars, towers, wind turbines, disturbance, and habitat destruction.
With the availability of great birding apps for our phones, it is easier and easier to have very good bird calls at our finger tips. How we use them depends on how much we care about birds.
For a thoughtful article by David Sibley on this topic, see his website: tinyurl.com/3pzzqy7.
Swainson’s Warbler by Greg Lavaty www.texastargetbirds.com
Bird Call Policies
Houston Audubon SanctuariesThe use of playback devices is prohibited at all Houston Audubon sanctuaries unless special permission is obtained.
Texas State ParksIt is not allowed to use playback devices in Texas State Parks and many other birding sites including several in the Lower Rio Grande Valley.
National Wildlife RefugesMany refuges consider playback devices a harassment and prohibit their use. It is best to check with staff first before using one.
In the FieldCitizen Science
THE NATURALIST • JULY/AUGUST 2012 5
History, Community, and Chimney Swifts the old Jefferson Davis Hospital has it all! by Vicki Vroble, Environmental Educator
Chimney Swift season is in full swing! Thanks to a
growing number of dedicated volunteers, the swift watch team has expanded, allowing us to monitor more roosting sites including the stack at the old Jefferson Davis Hospital. Towering above the dilapidated boiler room with shattered windows, the site evokes an eerie atmosphere. Built on a Confederate graveyard, the location is rumored to be haunted. While the swift watch team has yet to encounter any ghosts, they have met several residents of the Elder Street Artists Lofts which the hospital was renovated into in 2005.
Tenant Lucy Ivanovo enjoys watching the
swifts. Originally thinking they were bats, Lucy researched and realized that Chimney Swifts inhabited the stack. She claims they are her favorite creatures and deems them a treasure. Lucy and many other loft residents volunteer to maintain a community garden on the property. Their work is evidenced by the abundant herbs, fruits, vegetables, and flowers growing in assorted plots. Picnic tables in the garden
provide a serene vantage point to observe and count the swifts.
The highest number of swifts we’ve counted at the site was 136 on April 10. Recently the
number has dropped to about 85 swifts. This year all the swift counters in our region are recording data in a standardized form that includes the number of swifts as well as information about the temperature, cloud cover, and wind to capture a more comprehensive view of factors affecting the swifts.
Besides me, the Jefferson Davis Hospital swift watch team includes Flavio and Linda DelAngel and Victoria Bartlett, who is looking forward to sharing the swift counting experience with her grandchildren when school is out. Sometimes we are joined by Lucy or other tenants. I hope to engage as many residents as possible and educate them about the amazing birds residing in their backyard. Another goal is to work with the building manager to plan a Swift Night Out event for all loft residents this fall.
Bird Counts
Houston Bird SurveyThe summer survey ends June 30. Remember to send us your reports! Find the online forms on our website.
Monthly CountsArmand Bayou SurveyLeader: Andrew Hamlett
Hermann Park Bird SurveyContact for summer counts: Harlan Evans
Hogg Sanctuary Bird SurveyLeader: Aaron Stoley
Willow Waterhole SurveyLeaders: Joy Hester & Mark Meyer
Woodland Park Bird SurveyLeader: Jason Bonilla
Purple MartinsPeak numbers occur in July and August when Purple Martins form large flocks and roost together as they prepare to migrate. Last summer there was a martin-extravaganza at The Fountains shopping center in Stafford. Check the Purple Martin page on our website for details and this summer’s sightings.
Swifts Over HoustonThis year we have regular swift counts at locations in Bellaire, Sugar Land, and Dayton. Please join us for a count. This summer you can also check out nesting swifts on the swift cam at the Nature Discovery Center in Bellaire.
Please report information on new roost sites. We invite you to start your own swift count. We have sites that you can choose from or you can add your own site. Check the Swifts Over Houston section of our website for count locations and times.
Swift Awareness Eventsin August and September at
locations throughout Houston!
Pershing/Whole Foods Market: August 21 Russ Pitman Park: August 24, Lakeview Elementary: September 14
Details at www.houstonaudubon.org
Bluebird History at the Champions Golf Club: A Success Story
The Champions Golf Club has sent Houston Audubon a history, written by Ted Shetzer, of their efforts to increase the Eastern Bluebird population on their golf course. Houston Bird Survey Coordinator Robert McFarlane wrote, “This is an excellent example of a conservation measure, dedication over the years, adaptive management (moving the houses after the initial failure), and persistence. The Eastern Bluebird is a species that has definitely suffered from human population growth and habitat loss.” The article is available on our website.
Eastern Bluebird: Greg Lavaty www.texastargetbirds.com
Birdathon2012
Greg Lavaty, www.texastargetbirds.com
6 THE NATURALIST • JULY/AUGUST 2012
Over $26,000 was raised for Houston Audubon during Birdathon 2012! Wow!
There were 11 new Birdathon participants this year. Many youth were introduced to birding at the Branch School. Everyone enjoyed hearing about each team’s Birdathon adventures during the May celebration at Jax Grill.
This success would not be possible without the hard work and passion of the Birdathon teams and youth leaders.
The donors who pledged to the teams are also a key for the success of Birdathon. Donors also include the businesses and individuals who donated time and/or prizes for the teams.
Birdathon would not be possible without the help of the committee: Andrea Ritchie, Juanita Perkins, Cindy Bartos, and Judith Schott. Thanks also go out to the HAS webmaster, Susan Billetdeaux.
Many thanks for all your hard work!
Pam Smolen, Birdathon Chair
Birdathon Awards and Prize Winners
Grand PrizeTexas Valley Trip: 2 night stay for four at Alamo Inn, Behind the Scenes tour of Bensten-Rio Grande Valley State Park, Guided tour of Sabal Palm Sanctuary
Eligible Teams: Baker Blue Jays (3 tickets), Cranes and Curlews (7 tickets), High Island Crew (5 tickets), Katy Prairie Cuckoos (2 tickets), Phab Phour Phaloropes (1 ticket), Swift Chicks (1 ticket), Wandering Warblers (2 tickets)
Winner of drawing: High Island Crew
Most Species IdentifiedEast Texas Birding Trip guided by Skip Almoney
Winner: High Island Crew (163 species)
Most Money RaisedRockport package: Whooping Crane and Coastal Birding Tour aboard The Skimmer for four and Gift Certificate to the Boiling Pot
Winner: Cranes and Curlews ($7,255.00)
Most Pledges CollectedHouston Hot Spots Birding Trip guided by Stephan Lorenz
Winner: High Island Crew (79 pledges)
Best Bird AwardHouston Audubon merchandise for each team member
Winner: Bitchin’ Birders (Cinnamon Teal) Judged by Steve Gross (“Harder and harder to find these days—I didn’t find one even in winter.”)
Mentor AwardTwo tickets to the Vanishing Texas River Cruise or Longhorn Cavern State Park
Eligible Teams: Bitchin’ Birders, Katy Prairie Cuckoos, Phab Phour Phaloropes, Wandering Warblers
Winner of Drawing: Phab Phour Phaloropes
Rookie AwardGift from REI
Eligible Rookies: Jennifer Lezak, Tom Eggert, Sandra Moore, Candy McNamee, Cindy Bartos, Judith Schott, Mary Mack, Michael Edkenfels, Margaret Frank, Lynda Pontecorvo, John Bartos
Winner of Drawing: John Bartos
Thanks to Our Generous Sponsors of Birdathon! Alamo Inn • Audubon Docent Guild • Baker Hughes • Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park • The Boiling Pot
Houston Audubon Education Department • Jax Grill • Longhorn Cavern State Park • Lower Trinity Valley Birding Club REI • Rockport Birding & Kayak Adventures • Sabal Palm Sanctuary • Skip Almoney
Stephan Lorenz • Vanishing Texas River Cruise • Wallcoverings International
WM is For the Birds by Jessica Jubin, Development Director
Thanks to Houston headquartered Waste Management, birds are benefitting from
an initiative that took flight in May. With contributions totaling just over $4,000, WM reached nationwide to encourage others to think green for the birds. All month long, WM pledged a gift to Houston Audubon when a small business client signed up for recycle services.
Special thanks to WM employees David Mayfield, Debbie Cano-Figueras, Downs Deering, and Kimberly Lock-Wah-Hoon. Kimberly signed up the most people during the promotion. She and her daughter flew in from Phoenix to enjoy their first birding experience and the chance to meet us during the Quintana field trip in April. Thank you, Waste Management! WM VP Downs Deering, Jessica Jubin, WM Sales
Associate Kimberly Loc-Wah-Hoon and daughter Jaelynn. Photo by Debbie Figueras-Cano
Dear Gina,
We will miss you. We have had the benefit of having you with us for five years. Those years have been filled with unexpected challenges, hurricanes, and economic difficulties, but you have persevered. Your enthusiasm, your presence, your cheerfulness, your leadership ability, your networking activities, your patience when faced with multitudes of tasks, your outstanding representation of Houston Audubon are some of the qualities that have helped make Houston Audubon the star on the conservation map that it is today.
I personally have enjoyed working with you; your organizational skills have kept me from falling into a hole on more than one occasion. So, Gina, we wish you good luck, good fortune, good health, and happiness. Please don’t lose touch.
On behalf of all of us who were touched by your devotion to Houston Audubon,
Mary
Field Trips
Houston Audubon Fall Event Thursday, September 27
Kevin J. McGowan of Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology Renowned expert on crows
Developer of All About Birds online bird guide
Art Classes for Adults
WILD about RAPTORS
September HANPA Meeting with Kathy Adams Clark
Houston Audubon is already busily planning a new exciting calendar for
members and the community as we move boldly forward advocating, educating, and stewarding land and future generations!
As announced at the May meeting, Houston Audubon’s Board of Directors felt it was in the best interest of the organization to move to three stellar events per year instead of the previous nine membership meetings. Staff is currently working on a couple of highly
sought-after speakers for the fall and spring events and the regular annual meeting will remain in the month of May.
This program change allows Houston Audubon the opportunity to collaborate with other like-minded groups and have a broader more profound impact on conservation issues affecting birds and wildlife habitat along the Upper Texas Coast.
We will, of course, continue to offer member favorites such as monthly field trips, senior
bus trips, owl prowls, and family events, and we are also currently working on additional member opportunities. Among the new offerings already scheduled are Art in the Afternoon, a series of adult art classes at Sims Bayou Nature Center, and Saturdays in Nature at Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary.
Houston Audubon firmly believes that the new format will be a step in the right direction and definitely “something to crow about.”
THE NATURALIST • JULY/AUGUST 2012 7
Looking Ahead by Mary Anne Weber, Education Director
On the HorizonMarbled Godwit: Joanne Kamo
Coming soon ...
Nature Movie Nights
The September/October Naturalist will have details on these activities and many more!
Owl Prowls
Open Letter to Gina DonovanIt was with great regret that the Board of Directors accepted the resignation of Gina Donovan, who has been our Executive Director for five years. Gina is retiring from Houston Audubon at the end of June.
Board of Directors We are pleased to announce the election of our new Board members: Matthew Easterly, David Lummis, Joseph Smith, and Martha Wright who join the HAS Board of Directors effective July 1, 2012. We look forward to working with you, and we are extremely pleased you have chosen to join us.
At the same time, we want to give grateful thanks to the retiring Board members: John Bartos, Joy Hester, Kay Hale, and Jeffrey Mills. Thank you for your help in making Houston Audubon the wonderful organization that it is. We hope you will stay involved.
Senior Bus Trips
From the Desk of Mary Carter, President
American Crow by Greg Lavaty
Holiday at the Cabin
August
Weekly Houston Swift Counts on Tuesday
Weekly Dayton Swift Count on Thursday
6 Hogg Bird Sanctuary Survey
6–10 Survivor Camp, ELMNS
8 Flying WILD Workshop, Kleb Woods
11 Armand Bayou Nature Center Bird Survey
11 Woodland Park Bird Survey
13 Hermann Park Bird Survey
16 Horseshoe Marsh Work Day
18 Willow Waterhole Bird Survey
21 Swift Night Out, Pershing & Whole Foods Market
24 Swift Night Out, Russ Pitman Park
September
14 Swift Night Out, Lakeview Elementary School
Audubon Foundation of Texas represents Houston Audubon in the Earth Share of Texas payroll deduction plan for charitable giving.
Nonprofit Org.U.S Postage
PAIDHouston, Texas.Permit No. 9349
Solicited mailTime-sensitive material
DO NOT DELAY
Houston Audubon440 Wilchester BoulevardHouston, Texas 77079-7329
Address Service Requested
Bulletin Board
July
Weekly Houston Swift Counts on Tuesday
Weekly Dayton Swift Count on Thursday
2 Hogg Bird Sanctuary Survey
2–6 Nature Explorers Camp 5, ELMNS
9 Hermann Park Bird Survey
9–13 Slimy and Scaly Camp, ELMNS
9–13 Texas Time Traveler Camp, SBUNC
14 Flying WILD Workshop, Kleb Woods
14 Armand Bayou Nature Center Bird Survey
14 Woodland Park Bird Survey
16–20 Backyard Safari Camp, ELMNS
16 HANPA Meeting with Frank Farese, ELMNS
19 Horseshoe Marsh Work Day
21 Willow Waterhole Bird Survey
23–27 On the Trail Animal Detectives Camp, ELMNS
23–27 Trekking Across Texas Camp, SBUNC
30–3 Pond Camp, ELMNS
Join Houston Audubon
Name
Address Please check box to indicate address change
City State Zip
Telephone E-mail
$500 (Gold) $250 (Silver) $100 (Bronze)
$50 (Family) $30 (Individual) $15 (Student)
I’d like to receive a digital version of The Naturalist instead of the paper version.
Credit Card Number:
Name on Card: Exp. Date:
Send to: Houston Audubon Society440 Wilchester Blvd.
Houston, TX 77079-7329FAX to 713-461-2911 or sign up online at
www.houstonaudubon.org
All funds remain with Houston Audubonin support of its mission and local sanctuaries.
Houston Audubon promotes the conservation and appreciation of birds and wildlife habitat.
Location Codes: ELMNS: Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary SBUNC: Sims Bayou Urban Nature Center