The

On April 15, Dr. Benjamin Tuggle, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Regional Director for the

Southwest, presented the Recovery Champion Award to the Audubon Texas wardens. This award was given to them in recognition of their efforts in the recovery of Brown Pelicans in Texas. By the mid-1960s due to the effects of DDT, the Brown Pelican population in Texas had dropped to just a few pairs that nested on the lower Texas Coast. Outlawing DDT and the protection of waterbird colonies by Audubon wardens have enabled the recovery of Texas Brown Pelicans. Now more then 5,000 nest on the Texas Coast, with most on islands owned or managed by Audubon Texas. The wardens’ work to manage the islands and educate the public are part of the reason that the population has rebounded so successfully.

Naturalist

July/August 2010

Contents:

Audubon Texas Wardens. . . . . . . . . . . 1

A Welcomed Challenge . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Joy Hester NAS Board Nominee . . . . 2

Birds and Bluestem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Sanctuary News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Birdathon Prize Winners . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Summer Birding and Counts . . . . . . . 4

Katy Prairie Field Trip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Species Profile Black Tern. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Festival on the Bayou Report. . . . . . . 7

Audubon wardens have watched over Galveston Bay waterbird colonies since the early 1920s when wealthy Houston lumberman James Carroll became interested in photographing waterbirds and developed a passion for protecting their breeding colonies. First he personally patrolled the bay checking for problems with colonies, but later he hired Audubon wardens to do the job, paying their salaries and expenses out of his own pocket.

Early wardens protected islands from fishermen who used chicks to bait crab traps and burned island vegetation to provide large open areas to dry and mend their nets. Carroll, a photographer himself, recognized that the new hobby of nature photography presented special problems for bird protection. Photographers often landed on the islands, keeping adults off nests while the eggs and helpless chicks broiled under the hot sun.

There are currently 10 Texas Audubon wardens protecting Texas waterbird colonies. We have two in Galveston Bay. Bob Gallaway takes care of waterbird colonies in West Galveston Bay including North Deer, South

Celebrating 40 Years of Bird Conservation

NaturalistAudubon Texas Wardens Receive Recovery Champion Award by Winnie Burkett, Sanctuary Manager

Deer, Jig Saw and several small islands used by skimmers and terns. Joe Whitehead lives on Smith Point and takes care of the East Bay colonies including Vingt-et-un, Smith Point Island and the islands in Rollover Bay. Bob and Joe, both hunters and fishermen, have developed a great appreciation for birds during their time outdoors and have felt compelled to do something to protect them.

Pelicans disappeared from Galveston Bay in the 1950s. Breeding birds returned in 1991 when 6 pairs nested on Little Pelican Island. This year 2,500 pairs of Brown Pelicans are nesting in Galveston Bay on islands watched over by Audubon Wardens. The Recovery Champion Award is well deserved.

Bob Benson, (Audubon Texas ED), David Newstead (Coastal Bend Warden), Joe Whitehead, Benjamin Tuggles,

Winnie Burkett, and Bob Gallaway.

This image, taken by Andrew Beck on May 24, 2010 during a colonial waterbird survey at North Deer Island, shows part of the thriving Brown Pelican colony. Visit our website for full results of the survey.

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Vol. 29, No. 4 July/August 2010

Houston Audubon Societyis a chapter of the National Audubon Society

BOARD OF DIRECTORSPRESIDENT Jim WinnPAST PRESIDENT Joy HesterPRESIDENT-ELECT Mary CarterCORPORATE SECRETARY Bernice HotmanTREASURER Andrew LopezDIRECTORSJohn Bartos Judy BoyceGinger Coleman Lynn ForsterRichard Goldfarb Kathryn HaleBen Hulsey Jeffrey MillsGeoffrey Newton Laurie WilliamsJeffrey Woodman

Galveston Group Representative: Alice Anne O’Donell

BOARD OF ADVISORSGerard A. Bertrand Sara BettencourtPeggy Boston Dale BushCaroline Callery Claire CaudillGary W. Clark Fred CollinsScott Davis Victor EmanuelTed Eubanks, Jr. Julia GarrettStephen Gast Gene GrahamTerry Hershey Ford Hubbard, IIIAnn Wier Jones Mavis P. Kelsey, Jr.Robert McFarlane Jeff MundyDonal C. O’Brien, Jr. Heidi RockecharlieRob Rowland Andrew SansomSteve Smith Kathryn SmythJames R. Stewart, Jr. Lucie Wray ToddLettalou Whittington

STAFFEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Gina DonovanSANCTUARY MANAGER Winnie BurkettSR. SANCTUARY STEWARD Flo HannahSANCTUARY STEWARD Andrew BeckEDUCATION DIRECTOR Mary Anne WeberENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATOR Vicki VrobleCOMMUNITY RELATIONS DIRECTOR Robin LeonardCOMMUNITY RELATIONS ASSOCIATE Andrea RitchieCONTROLLER Barbara ThompsonOFFICE ADMINISTRATOR Juanita Perkins

CONTACT INFORMATIONHAS Office 713-932-1639Education Office 713-640-2407FAX 713-461-2911E-mail info@houstonaudubon.orgGalveston County Group 409-772-3126

AUDUBON DOCENT GUILD COORDINATOR Bethany Foshéedocent@houstonaudubon.org 713-464-4900

www.houstonaudubon.orgwww.narba.org

The Naturalist is published bimonthly.Editor: Susan Billetdeaux

A full color version of The Naturalist in PDF format is available on our website.

Naturalist E-News is published monthly. To receive The Naturalist by e-mail, sign up for

Naturalist E-News on our website.

The Naturalist is made possible by a generous gift from Terry Hershey.

Most challenges are problems to be solved and often looked upon

with dread; however, Houston Audubon recently received a different type “challenge,” which is most welcomed!

The organization has received a $35,000 gift to underwrite a Board of Director’s Spring Fundraising Challenge. All contributions to this campaign will be matched dollar for dollar up to $35,000. It’s not often one’s investment can be doubled so quickly. Each dollar received becomes two dollars for Houston Audubon! WOW! We started working on this challenge right away!

This fundraising challenge is all about the birds, and supporting the people working to preserve them. All members of the HAS Board of Directors, as well as the Helm and Wortham Foundations, are contributing to the challenge. To date,

$20,200 has been pledged, so we are $14,800 away from the $70,000 goal. The campaign is coming to an end soon, and we need everyone’s help now to reach the goal. We hope you will join us in this campaign.

These gifts will help us continue educating the next generation, advocating for support of the natural environment, and providing the necessary habitat for birds and wildlife.

Thank you. Hope you are having a good summer!

Donations can be made online by using the Donation Form at www.houstonaudubon.org, by calling the office at 713-932-1639, or by mailing a check to Houston Audubon, 440 Wilchester Blvd., Houston, TX 77079. Please note your donation as a Challenge Gift.

A Welcomed Challenge by Jim Winn, President

The National Audubon

Society has announced the results of the Southwest Regional Election of a nominee to the NAS Board of Directors. Houston Audubon Past President and former Audubon Texas board member, Joy Hester, has been elected. Joy will be included on the slate of Board nominees voted upon at the Annual Meeting of Members in January, 2011. Her three year term begins with the January, 2011, Board Meeting.

In her Statement of Candidate, Joy wrote that since birding brought her to Audubon and bird conservation, she values the efforts of chapters to provide quality birding experiences for the public as a way to bring new converts to bird conservation. Her experience in working with Audubon at the chapter and state level during the past ten years has prepared her to take on this role with understanding and enthusiasm.

In addition to serving on the Houston Audubon Board as Past President and a member of its Executive Committee, Joy

was a Director-at-Large (2000-2001), Executive Director (2001-2005), President-elect and President (2005-2009). She has also served on the board of directors for Audubon Texas (2006-2009) and on the boards of Texas Land Trust Council and Galveston Bay Foundation. In 2005 she was awarded the Founders Award by the Citizens Environmental Coalition.

We are excited about the experience, capability, and interest that Joy will bring to the National Audubon Board. Chapters in the Southwest Election Region - Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas – will be well served. Congratulations Joy!

Joy Hester Elected to be a Nominee to the National Audubon Board of Directors

Database Volunteer Needed

The Community Relations Department needs a Database Volunteer to process donations, thank you letters, update donor records, and run reports. Periodic administrative duties will also be part of this volunteer position. Previous data-base experience is desired.

Please contact Juanita Perkins at jperkins@houstonaudubon.org or713-932-1639 for more information.

The Naturalist • July/August 2010The Naturalist • July/August 2010

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Shirley Adams • Beverly Adderholt • Skip Almoney • Mary Lou Anderson • Ann BarbNorma Barnes • Betsy Black • Peggy Boston • Marcie Brown • Debbie Burnett

Richard Carey • Ginger Coleman • Richard Conner • Sue Davison • Donna DiggonsNancy Dobbs • Dianna Eickhorn • Mike Fredericksen • Lou Fowler • Joanna FriesenShirley Garies • Julia Garrett • Carol Beth Gore • Lucille Gottschius • Doris Graham

Jean Hackney • Mary Hannigan • Jean & Bill Harwell • Betsey HarwoodBarbara & Ed Hickl • Lisa & Gary Holmes • Bernice Hotman • Fae Humphrey

Bernice & Ed Jackson • Linda Kuhnen • Bette & Paul Lester • Carol Lynn & Andy LokerCaroline Marcos • Barbara & Dick Massey • Sandy McHone • Sandra Moore

Celeste & Paul Newton • Maureen O’Conner • Pat Park • Pat Pease • Glenda PerryAnn Richardson • James Saxon • Lillian & Jim Skogsberg • Elsie Smith • Becky & Sam Smith

Jim Stewart • Billie Strickland • Gretchen Thoman • Barbara Tilton • Debbie ValdezLettalou Whittington • Jana Whittle • Sherry & Carl Wilkerson • Betty Williams

Laurie Williams • Mary Yurkovich • Liz Dear-Zivley

Volunteers Make It Happen!

Sanctuary Wish List

Dos Vacas Debris CleanupHurricane Ike left a great deal of debris throughout the back portion of Dos Vacas Muertas Bird Sanctuary. With some help from Blackman Mooring, a large pile of debris was consolidated in an open area but was never actually removed off site. Houston Audubon needs to remove this pile of debris from the tide affected area. We will hire a cleanup contractor to remove the debris in roll-off dumpsters.

Pickup TruckWe are collecting funds for a pickup

truck to be our work truck on the coast. We’ve made a great start – please help

us reach our goal!

Mulching LawnmowerSims Bayou Urban Nature Center is greatly in need of a new or gently used mulching mower.

Power ToolsEdith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary needs to replace a recent theft of our power tools in May. Our Tuesday Trail Crew does magnificent work in building boardwalks and maintaining the trails and grounds, but they need their tools! Approximately $1,000 is needed.

Contact Andrew Beck at 713-932-1639, abeck@houstonaudubon.org for details.

2010 High Island Kiosk Volunteers

2009-2010 High Island Work Day VolunteersSkip Almoney • Nabil Bani • Barbers High School Key Club • Norma Barnes

Mary Ann Beauchemin • Betsy Black • Peggy Boston • Judy Boyce • Vicky BrionesMarcie Brown • David Burkett • Debbie Burnett • Carlton Collier • Sue Davison

Matt Ellsworth • ERM INC • Harlan Evans • Joanna Friesen • Julia Garrett • Doris GrahamGary Gray • Milton Gray • Veda Hackell • Jean & Bill Harwell • Denise Herzberg

Jenny Herzberg • Erik Heyman • June Hill • Bernice & Ed Jackson • Andy JordanJohn Kirschner • Kulsoom Kishwar • Kristen Kondra • Cynthia Kwik • Eleanor KwikKen Kwik • Sheryl Maruca • Sandra Moore • Janet Neath • Frank Ohrt • John Old

Erica Post • Alice Richardson • Jane Rierson • Lauren Rollins • Sean RubinoStudent Conservation Association Houston • Judith Schott • Richard Senechal

Kulsoom Shah • Sam Smith • Pam Smolen • Gail Sondergaard • Virginia SquiresMike Stelling • Aaron Stoley • Jane & Jay Stormer • David Swaim • Barbara Tilton

Debbie Valdez • Arturo Vale • Don Verser • Kelly Walker • Jim Winn

Spring Planting Events

Project Blazing Star

Houston Audubon is actively involved in the Coastal Prairie Partnership (CPP) and its projects. On April 17, CPP reintroduced coastal prairie to Hermann Park with 1300 1-gallon

rescued or grown-out native grasses and wildflowers. The CPP event was in cooperation with the Hermann Park Conservancy, Houston Zoo, Katy Prairie Conservancy, Texas Master Naturalists, Native Plant Society of Texas-Houston Chapter, Student Conservation Association, and the Clinton Foundation. The planting day was hugely successful.

Take a walk in the park or ride on the zoo’s train to see phase 1 of a long term project to restore coastal prairie to Houston’s park system. Please watch for website and newsletter notices of additional planting dates.

On the Coast

In April, Houston Audubon sanctuary staff and volunteers worked with the Bolivar

community on habitat and outreach projects. Together we planted over 60 trees in Port Bolivar Park and Ft. Travis Seashore Park. The trees had been purchased with funds from a grant from Ducks Unlimited. On April 21, we worked with Denise Parsons and the students at Crenshaw Elementary School in Crystal Beach planting native oaks, mulberries, elms and yaupons. The habitat will help educate students about the importance of native plants for migratory songbirds. All of the kids did a wonderful job planting and caring for the trees. During the morning, we planted over 25 trees for birds, insects, and students to enjoy for years to come.

Earth Day Planting Event at Crenshaw Elementary School.

Save the Date

Celebrating Birds and Their Environments

September 30, 2010www.houstonaudubon.org

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Birdathon 2010 Prize and Award Winners

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Once again Birdathon was a huge success, raising over $38,000. We could not have

done this without the wonderful teams and their members, and without our generous donors who pledged to the teams. I also want to recognize the various businesses and individuals who donated their time and/or prizes to help make Birdathon so successful. I have enjoyed being involved in Birdathon, by being on a team, leading a Youth Team, and being the Chairperson. But the real credit go to each of you for participating, and to my committee members who helped so much: Pam Smolen, Robin Leonard, Andi Ritchie, and Juanita Perkins.

I only hope you all had as much fun as I have had, and continue to enjoy being a part of Birdathon in the coming years.

Good luck to each of you, and enjoy the summer. I’ll see you in the fall.

– Leslie Calvert, Birdathon Chairperson

Grand PrizeWinners: Baker Blue Jays

Oberholser Cup – Most Birds Identified1st VENT Vagrants – 230 species2nd High Island Crew – 181 species3rd Phab Phour Phalaropes – 149 species

Whittington Award – Most Money Raised1st Three Cranes and a Curlew2nd Baker Blue Jays 3rd High Island Crew4th Muddy Buddies 5th Avid Avosits

Most Pledges Received1st Three Cranes and a Curlew2nd Katy Prairie Puddle Ducks

Best Bird1st Baytown Birders – Fork-tailed Flycatcher2nd Raven Maniacs – Bachman’s Sparrow

Most Great Blue Herons Seen1st The Ducksters

HAS Sanctuary Bird Sightings1st Muddy Buddies

Magic Moment / Funniest Story Phab Phour Phalaropes Cheep Tricks

Green Team Award1st Tweety Dee Tweety Dums

Sitting Duck Award1st Avid Avosits

Best Flyer or Letter1st Tweety Dee Tweety Dums2nd Cheep Tricks

Best Team Photo Ever Katy Prairie Puddleducks

Find the full list of award and drawing winners at www.houstonaudubon.org.

Bird Counts and Summer Birding

Houston Bird SurveyThe last day for the Houston Bird Survey is June 30. Please remember to send us your reports!

Swifts Over HoustonWeekly swift counts in Houston (led by Pam Smolen on Tuesdays) and Dayton (led by Barbara Tilton).

Armand Bayou SurveyLeader: Andrew HamlettMonthly on the second Saturday

Swift Awareness Eventsin August and September at locations

throughout Houston!

Bellaire: Tuesday, August 31Sugar Land: TBA

St. Paul’s: Friday, September 24

There are some great birding opportunities in July and August on the Upper Texas Coast!

On the Bolivar Peninsula, shorebird migration starts around the first of July, and landbird migration is not far behind. Not to be missed is experiencing the magic of the Rookery at Smith Oaks at sunset when thousands of birds come to roost. Bolivar Flats is spectacular at sunrise; evenings the flats are full of young birds being fed by parents. The Smith Point Hawk Watch begins in mid-August.

Take part in one of our bird counts! You never know what will be found, even within Houston’s city limits. Last spring birders at Edith Moore Nature Sanctuary were treated to a family of Hairy Woodpeckers and nesting Wood Thrushes. Summer evenings in the city are meant for relaxing in a lawn chair and watching the Chimney Swifts and Nighthawks overhead.

Make your own summertime discoveries! Details and links to resources are in the Birding section of our website.

Hogg Sanctuary Bird SurveyLeader: Aaron StoleyMonthly on the first Monday

West 11th St. Park SurveyLeader: Mary DodsonMonthly on the third Tuesday

Willow Waterhole SurveyLeader: John SchneiderMonthly on the third Saturday

Sunrise at Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary

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Check the Swifts Over Houston section of the Houston Audubon website in August for details.

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Species Profile

Black Tern

by Glenn Olsen

We have eight species of terns that can be easily observed on the Upper

Texas Coast at the proper time of year and in proper habitat for each species. Some species, like the Forster’s and Royal Terns can be seen throughout the year. Others, such as the Common Tern or Black Tern must be observed during the few months that they are here. For the Black Tern, the best months to see this species are May, and July through September.

Although the plumage of this species is not brightly colored, it is nonetheless a stunningly beautiful tern. One would not think that the basic, dull colors of black, white, and dark gray could combine to produce such an attractive bird.

In breeding plumage the head, nape, mantle, breast, and belly are black. The wings are dark gray, and the under tail coverts and vent area are white. In non-breeding plumage the back is dark gray and the under parts are white and only the nape is black. We may see the bird in either of those plumages or in one of several stages of molt in between.

The Black Tern is a small tern, larger than a Least Tern but smaller than a Forster’s Tern with a small bill and rounded head. It breeds in small, loose colonies in freshwater marshes, ponds, and lakes of the northern United States and southern Canada. The primary winter range is along the coast of northern South America. We see the species primarily during migration.

In flight, the species has a buoyant, slightly erratic flight pattern as it searches for food. Rarely does this species dive into the water but most often drops gracefully and plucks prey from the surface of the water or marsh.

I encourage you to make a trip to the coast and spend a few minutes enjoying all of our terns and look for a few of the Black Terns that will be in with a mixed species group of resting birds.

Find this profile in the Bird Gallery of our website.

Black Tern – Chlidonias niger

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with Glenn Olsen

Hawk Identification 101August 24 – September 12, 2010

Introduction to BirdwatchingNovember 2 – November 13, 2010

Sparrow IdentificationNovember 16 – December 4, 2010

Each class consists of two informal classroom meetings at Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary and two field trips.

Details and Registration Form at www.houstonaudubon.org

Birding Classes

Houston Audubon Field Trip

Katy Prairie Natural History

Saturday, July 3, 5:00 p.m. till darkGuide: Bob Honig

Leave the hot concrete of the city behind and spend a few hours on the Katy

Prairie, only an hour or so west of Houston, where summer evenings can be very comfortable. This is the third consecutive year that HAS will visit the Katy Prairie on Independence Day weekend.

We’ll explore grasslands, wetlands, and tree lines to observe the diversity of life on the prairie – on properties owned by the Katy Prairie Conservancy (KPC, www.katyprairie.org), which has helped protect almost 18,000 acres in west Harris County and east Waller County. We hope to see a variety of birds (possibly Painted Buntings and Orchard Orioles), butterflies visiting flowers, and dragonflies cruising over ponds. At sunset we plan to be near a wetland where thousands of White-faced Ibis, as well as other waterbirds, may settle in to roost for the night; and we hope to be treated to a chorus of frogs and toads, insects, displaying Common Nighthawks, and maybe even King Rails and Least Bitterns.

Guide: Bob Honig – As a member of the KPC’s Board of Directors and a frequent KPC volunteer, Bob is very familiar with the Katy Prairie, and he co-authored a checklist of Katy Prairie birds. Bob has been an avid naturalist for many years, regularly leading field trips and lecturing (in recent years on dragonflies in particular) for southeast Texas conservation groups. Bob was Compiler of the Buffalo Bayou Christmas Bird Count for 21 years, was co-founder and an initial Co-Compiler of the Brazos Bend CBC, and has served as Chairman of the Outdoor Nature Club’s Ornithology Group. Bob and his wife, Maggie, live on the Katy Prairie just down the road from our field trip meeting site on property bordered by KPC land.

Directions: Meet at KPC’s Field Office in Waller County at 5:00 p.m. From Houston go west on Interstate 10 – Take Exit 737 Pederson Rd. and turn right (north). Go north on Pederson Rd. about ½ mile until it tees into US 90 (note: no sign for US 90 here). Turn left (west) on US 90 and go about ½ mile to the first right (turn north) which is FM 2855. Go 6 miles north on FM 2855 to the intersection with FM 529. Continue straight across FM 529 – you are now on Morrison Rd (which gets a little bumpy).

After 1 mile, Morrison makes a sharp left turn to the west – continue on Morrison 1 more mile to Pattison Rd. Turn right (north) onto Pattison Rd and go 3 miles to where Pattison tees into Hebert Rd. Turn left (west) on Hebert Rd.; go 1 mile to the Katy Prairie Conservancy Field Office sign on the left – 31950 Hebert Rd. Turn left (south) through the entrance gate and go about 400 yards to the office. See our web site description for a link to other directions.

Reservations (required): Contact Skip Almoney (skipalm@aol.com or 713-524-4285). You must sign a KPC release of liability form to get on KPC property. A link to this form and other information are in the field trip description on the HAS website. Bring a flashlight (with a red filter if you have it); also wear footwear that you don’t mind getting a bit wet, in case we have a rainy spell; and don’t forget water, a hat, sunscreen, and insect repellent. Regardless of the weather, please wear long pants and closed-toe shoes. It may be buggy, so you may also want to wear long sleeves. Participants, please check the website for any last minute updates.

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Black Terns – nonbreeding plumageApril 4, 2010: High Island

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$5,000+Anonymous • Sara & Mark Bettencourt • The Brown Foundation, Inc. • Farm Service Agency • National Audubon Society • Connie & Jeff Woodman

$2,500-$4,999Audubon Foundation of Texas • Betsy & Jim Winn

$1,000-$2,499

ExxonMobil Foundation • Rick Goldfarb • Kathryn Hale • Mary Gwen & Ben Hulsey • Kay & Larry Medford • RR Family Foundation

$500-$999Judy Boyce • Patricia Cravens • Carolyn & Scott Davis • Nancy & Richard Dixon • Jean & Bill Harwell • Joy & Bill Hester • Ann & Arthur JonesPaula & Geoffery Newton • Alice Anne O’Donell • Victoria Rosenfield • Joanne Wilson • Elizabeth Zivley

$100-$499Anonymous • Mary & Wayne Alfred • Mary Lou Anderson • Anita Woods • Judy Bailey • Norma Barnes • Cindy & John BartosKaren & Phil Beekman • Katherine & Howard Bell • Susan & Brad Billetdeaux • Beth & David Black • Esther Boxall • BP Fabric of America FundBP Foundation, Inc. • Sara & Thomas Braud • Joan Brennecke • Melanie Brook-Lander • Cheryl & Johnny Burns • Caroline & Charles CalleryLeslie & Roger Calvert • Richard Carey • Linda Carey • Jeanne Chaffee • Ginger Coleman • Carol Coleman • Anne Conner • Craig DamuthJohn Dickinson • Marilyn & Arthur Dickinson • Mary Dodson • David Dolan • Deborah Douglas • Terzah & James Doyle • Christopher EckertEl Paso Corooration • Shelli & Steven Ellerbe • Marie & Charles Ferguson • Lynn & Robert Forster • Julia & Phil Garrett • Larry Gibson • Beverly GriceRita & John Hannah • Betsy & Harry Harwood • Wanda & Sergio Henao • Terry Hershey • Denise Herzberg • Ann & Joe HightowerB.J. Hollingsworth • Hollis Energy Resource Services • Albert Hoppe • Bernice Hotman • Steve Huddleson • Bernice Jackson • Leslie & Doug JoyceArlette Keene • Lynn & Tynan Kelly • Mavis Kelsey, Sr. • Wendy & Mavis Kelsey Jr. • Nancy Kerby • Garland Kerr & Jim Blackburn • Bette & Paul LesterJanet & Bill Lindemann • Linscomb & Williams, Inc • Dwayne Litteer • Todd Little • Kathy & Andy Lopez • Marilyn MacInnes • Paul MansfieldStuart Marcus • Sheryl Maruca • Barbara & Dick Massey • William McCullough • Marilyn Gore McGill • Margaret McNealy • Cathleen McQuillanMarjorie & Charles Milby • Barbara & Jeff Mills • Rick Mock • Joe Moody • Elayne & James Morgan • Sally & Don Munford • Celeste & Paul NewtonBobbye & Andy Parson • Emilee Peters • Marjie Pierce & John Miers • Gayla & Michael Pomykal • Natalie Ponder • Pamela & James PoolHelen & Rush Record • Betty & Harry Reed • Donna Rybiski • Safeway, Inc. • Evelyn & Kevin Shanley • Nancee & Dan Sherick • Laurie SinesNina Sitra • Vicki & Steve Smith • Joyce Arrington Smith • Pam Smolen • James Stewart • Jane & John Stormer • David SwaimSwede’s Beach Properties, Inc. • Nancy Syler • Barbara & James Tilton • Stephen Turnipseed • Judith Vollbrecht • Miriam VylesLettalou Whittington • Heidi & George Wilkinson • Betty Williams • Glenn Wils

$1-$99Steven Abbey • Annette Abernathy • Shirley Adams • Lynne Aldrich • Barbara & John Arnett • Marie & Odie Asscherick • Helene BairdAnn & David Barb • Timon Barr • Glenda & Hugh Barrett • Judith Behrens • Christina Bell • Ellen Bell • Tom Benbrook • Nina & Mark BikMelissa & Michael Blessington • Bernadette Bonnivier • Ann Bradford • David Bradford • Carol & Gene Bruggeman • Richard BryanDebbie & Jack Burnett • Brian Cain • Theodore Campbell • Connie & Mike Carden • Mary Carter • Alta & Richard Cate • Florian ChalfantLois Chanslor • Lorraine Cherry • Peter Coleman • Greg Collins • Alan Conway • Marilyn Crane • Helen & Warren Crawford • Ron CudeJulie & Gerrit D’Ablaing • Bruce Darlow • Cathy & Jeff Day • David Dean • Bebe Descoteaux • James Dick • Donna & William DiggonsEdith & Michael Dillon • Brenda Donaloio • Peggy Duke • Anne Ekblad • Sandy & Karl Elers • Ruth Elvig • Katy Emde • David EspinozaVirginia Estrada • Marjorie Farmer • David Feigelson • Gene Feigelson • Wanda Fenoglio • Graham Fleming • Martha Foster • Mary Lou FowlerMichael Francis • Mildred Fredricksen • Sarah Frewer • Kathy Fry • Lori & William Gouldin • Bill Graber • Doris Graham • Melanie GravesLouann & Milton Gray • Ginny & Michael Gremillion • Mary & Edward Hannigan • Babette & Tod Harding • Eleanore & Warren HarringtonMary & Robert Heath • Billy Heinze • Elizabeth Henderson • Carolyn & Walt Hesson • Sandy & Ted Hicks • High Island RV ParkMaggie & Bob Honig • Ann Hoover • Jody Hornback • John Hottovy • Elizabeth Houston • Dee Howell • Grant Jense • Jun Jiang • Philip JohnKathleen Johnston • JPMorgan Chase Foundation • Betty & Henry Keith • Shirley Knott • Sharon Kohout • Marina & Sergej KonoplevaSteven Kornblau • Sara & Michael Kowalski • Linda & Carl Kuhnen • Carol Labreche • Phuong Le • Helen Legrand • Barbara & Joseph LesakRichard Lieber • Karl Long • Deborah & Gene Luhn • Lauren Luke • Barry Lyon • Robert Macgregor • Deborah Martin • Pattie McBridePolly & Andrew McCullough • Michael McGinity • Kathrine McGovern • Sandra McHone • Sam McManus • Joanne Mills • James MinerSandra Moore • Pamela & Robert Moore • Tina & James Murray • Janet Neath • Virginia & Roger Norton • Andrea & Edward Nove • Brent OckerRobert Ohmart • Nancy Oliver • Winifred Oliver • Caroline Parks • Quinn Passey • Nancy & A.D. Patton • Marion & Frank Peace • Patricia PeaseJan & Edward Peine • Carolyn Peterson • Mark Phillips • Ellen Pickett • Mary Porter • Ella Prewitt • Dee & John Rafferty • Kathy & John RambeauPatricia Rankin • Nancy Red • Sharon & Bruce Reed • Ken Reed • Janice & Kenneth Roberts • Ellen Rodriguez • Rosanne & Bob Romero • Lisa RoyVicki Ruman • Bertha Rutherford • Clarence Sanders • Kay Scanapico • Susan Schaezler • Rebecca Scheer • Joan Scheuer • John Schneider Dixon Schultz • Shirley & Mark Seale • Cheryl Sedivec • Richard Senechal • Margaret & Barry Shanler • Phyllis & Tom Sherrick • Frank ShonkaDelrena & Jim Sides • Lillian & James Skogsberg • Donna & Houston Sliger • Jay Smallwood • Elsie Smith • Becky & Sam Smith • Sybil StephensAaron & Karen Stoley • Billie Strickland • Gerald Syler • Alicia Talley • Jeanne Taylor • Gretchen & Mike Thoman • Laura Tolic • Susan TourtellotCheryl Travis • Lawrence Chun Chui & Twee Tsao • Sarah Tyler • Sue Tyrone • Marilou & Benigno Valdez • Kevin Van Winkle • Janice VanlierePaul Vejvoda • Nancy Vicklund • Lidia Vogelsang • Brigitte Von Wolf • Janet & Henry Wagner • Kefei Wang • Kay Warhol • Robert Waterbor Ron Weeks • Mary & Thomas Whitworth • Sherry & Carl Wilkerson • Laurie Williams • Cynthia Young • Sylvia & Norman Young • Richard Yuill

Gifts In-KindAlamo Inn • Anthony’s by the Sea • Casa De San Pedro • Corelli’s Italian Cafe • Haynes and Boone, LLP • Hill and Parker, P.C. • Houston Grand OperaHouston Museum of Natural Science • Mockingbird Bistro • Phil Norton • Park at Chalk Bluff • Picnic • Sloan Sisters Ranch • William Tabb The Raven Grill • Utopia on the River • Elizabeth Witte

And finally, we thank all our new and renewing Members, the lifeblood of Houston Audubon

Donations received and processed by May 19, 2010

Thanks to Houston Audubon’s Generous Donors!

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This club is for “family” members of Houston Audubon and meets

each month at Sims Bayou Urban Nature Center or another natural area for birding, hiking, crafting, discovery, and much more. The club is geared towards families with children ages 3 to 12. Please join us for all the fun and learning! Registration is open now!

2010-2011 ScheduleAugust 31: FNEC Kick Off - 7p.m.Swift Night Out at Pershing Middle School

September 11: 9:30 a.m. – noonBring sack lunch for picnic after.

October 9: 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.SBUNC – By the Light of the Moon – Owls, Bats, Spiders – OH MY!

November 20: 9:30 a.m. – noonKleb Woods Nature Preserve Field Trip

December 4: 5 – 8 p.m.SBUNC – Holiday at the Cabin

January 8: 9:30 a.m. – noonSBUNC – All Creatures Cold-Blooded

February 12: 9:30 a.m. – noonBrazos Bend State Park Field Trip

March 19: 9:30 a.m. – noonSBUNC: – Wild for Wildflowers and Butterflies

April 9: all dayBolivar/High Island Field Trip

May 14: 9:30 a.m. – noon SBUNC – Celebrating Migratory Birds

Family Nature Explore Club

The annual celebration of International Migratory Bird Day was another big

success at Sims Bayou Urban Nature Center. This was the 5th Festival on the Bayou, and each year it gets better. For this year’s May 8th festival, the grounds of the nature center were converted into an outdoor classroom about birds and the struggles they face on migration.

As always we had a fantastic team of volunteers who helped us put on a great event. Vicki and I would like to thank all our great volunteers!

This is the second year that Baker Hughes have sent a team of employees out to help us serve pizza and drinks and help the kids migrate along the “Great Migration Challenge.”

Mr. Clint the “snake man” wowed the kids with his collection of reptiles and gave a great talk about snake identification. Lucy Goldsmith organized another great group of folks from AARP to help with registration and activities. Rachel Gosch from Taylor High School in Katy brought her “Taylor Goes Green” club to run the bird house painting booth.

Rosalia Guerrero came out from Air Alliance Houston to teach simple ways to make non-toxic household cleaners and how we can all help improve air quality in Houston. Ross Markwort represented Houston Wilderness and provided Wilderness Passports for all the kids. SBUNC is one of the destinations in the passports so kids were able to get their first stamp. Ross also helped introduce all the Bayou Buddies during the graduation ceremony.

Rachel Schumann came out with her family to run the “Bird Danger Booth”. She is a great teen that we met through the Texas Nature Challenge last summer. Suzanne Dawkins brought her girl scouts to help them earn a Bronze Award. The girls created three unique “bird” crafts for festival participants to create. It was a very popular booth!

Tom Chambers brought one of the Raul Yzaguirre School for Success students and their fabulous photography display. Vicki and I had traveled with these students to Bolivar and the Big Thicket. The students did an amazing job with their photographs.

Sumita Prasad came out to teach festival goers all about bird banding. She brought out her equipment and helped “band” kids as they arrived and measured their “wingspan” to compare with our avian friends.

Cheryl Folkes and Ginger Coleman, both Texas Master Naturalists, provided two more fun activities. Cheryl ran the “Just Ducky” booth where the kids learned all about waterfowl migration and the National Wildlife Refuge system. They then had to throw rubber ducks through holes in a map and land on refuges along their migration. Ginger brought her great bird beak demonstration. Kids had to figure out what type of food a particular bird eats based on type of beak.

We also had two great volunteers from the University of St. Thomas. Karina and Luz Rocha helped wherever we needed them including at our nature store that we set up in the barn. Linda and Flavio Del Angel were once again a huge help at the festival. Flavio arrived at the crack of dawn to help set up tents and Linda manned the garden club booth where we offered tasty treats, and our garden club students led tours of the garden. Andy Lopez, who is a neighbor and member of the Board of Directors, came out early to help set up tables and activities. Barbara Thompson took care of the “Watch the Birdy” booth, Gina Donovan hosted our member-ship/information booth, and Juanita Perkins took care of the nature store.

This year we also had special guests – Glenn and Cherie McBride! Many of you are familiar with Cherie’s beautiful bird art. They gave kids tutorials all day on how to draw a bird. They even discovered some future artists. It was a great treat to have them at the festival!

Thanks to everyone for a spectacular festival!

An exciting series of badge workshops for Girl Scouts and Brownies at Sims Bayou Urban Nature Center.

Topics include Eco-Explorer, Animal Try-it, Junior Outdoor Creativity, Earth Connections, and more! We also offer the Birds and Bayous Badge!

The schedule for September through May workshops is now available. See the Girl Scout Workshop page in the education section of our website for more information.

Girl Scout Workshops

Festival on the Bayou 2010 by Mary Anne Weber, Education Director

The Naturalist • July/August 2010The Naturalist • July/August 2010 www.houstonaudubon.org

Naturalist

August

Weekly Swifts Over Houston, Swifts Over Dayton

2 Hogg Bird Sanctuary Survey

2 – 6 Art in Nature Camp, ELMNS

9 – 13 X-treme Pond Camp, ELMNS

14 Mission Possible Closing Ceremonies, SBUNC

14 Armand Bayou Nature Center Survey

15 Smith Point Hawk Watch begins

17 W. 11th St. Park Bird Survey

21 Willow Waterhole Survey

24 Birding Class: Hawk Identification 101

28 Birding Class Field Trip

31 Swift Night Out, Bellaire

September

8 HAS Membership Meeting

30 Birds and Bluestem Benefit Houston Country Club

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July/August 2010

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July

Weekly Swifts Over Houston, Swifts Over Dayton

3 HAS Field Trip to the Katy Prairie (see p. 5)

5 Hogg Bird Sanctuary Survey

5 – 9 Nature Explorers Camp, ELMNS

6 Birding Class: Ornithology

8 Armand Bayou Nature Center Survey

12 – 16 Backyard Bugs Camp, ELMNS

12 – 16 WILD about BIRDS Camp, SBUNC

13 Birding Class: Ornithology

17 Willow Waterhole Survey

19 – 23 Frontier Camp, ELMNS

20 W. 11th St. Park Bird Survey

20 Birding Class: Ornithology

26 – 30 Survivor Camp, ELMNS

26 – 30 Habitat Heroes Camp, SBUNC

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