may-june 2010 naturalist newsletter houston audubon society

8/9/2019 May-June 2010 Naturalist Newsletter Houston Audubon Society

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Merriam- Websterde nespartnership asa relationship involving aclose cooperation betweenparties having speci ed jointrights and responsibilities. This year, InternationalMigratory Bird Day iscelebrating the partnershipsthat promote and result inbird conservation acrossour globe. InternationalMigratory Bird Day (IMBD)is the only internationaleducation program thathighlights and celebrates the migrationo nearly 350 species o migratory birdsbetween nesting habitats in North Americaand non-breeding grounds in Latin America,Mexico, and the Caribbean. Each year IMBDexplores a di erent aspect o migratory birds

Naturalist

May/June 2010

Contents:

The Power o Partnerships 1

2010 State o the Birds 2

Festival on the Bayou 3

Bolivar Partnerships 3

Birdathon Sponsors & Prizes 4

B i rd ing Even t s 5

Species Pro leOvenbird 5

Exceptional Volunteer Awards 6

Birding Trip to Idaho 6

Fun on the Flats 7

Mission Possible 7

Summer Family Activities 7

and their conservation. IMBDis the signature program o Environment or the Americas(EFTA) and in conjunction withthe 20th anniversary o Partnersin Flight; EFTA chose to ocuson the Power o Partnershipsin bird conservation as the 2010theme.

Partnerships across thehemisphere have resulted inconservation success stories orbirds as varied as the AtlanticPu n, Wood Duck, SwainsonsHawk, Tu ted Jay, PeregrineFalcon, and the Whooping

Crane. Partnerships can be ound workinge ectively rom the local community level to alllevels o public and private organizations andgovernment entities. It truly takes a globalvillage to save our native birds and providelasting species conservation in the uture.

continued on page 3

hiking, and camping. She graduated rom theUniversity o Texas with a degree in ChemicalEngineering. She discovered the wonder ulworld o birds about 8 years ago and has beenhooked ever since.

Pam is currently Chairman o the HoustonOrnithology Group. She is an active volunteer

or Houston Audubon. She is a member o theBirdathon committee and participates in manycoastal work days. Pam contributes to HoustonAudubons Citizen Science Program as theleader o the Houston Chimney Swi t Count.

The Houston Audubon Board Election will precede the program. Our next membership

meeting will be in September.

Membership Meeting and Birdathon Celebration: May 12

Location:United Way Center50 Waugh Drive

Schedule:6:00 p m Re reshments6:30 p m Birdathon Prizes announced7:00 p m Social7:30 p m Meeting

Program: Swifts Over HoustonSpeaker: Pam Smolen

Chimney Swi ts chatter over the Houstonarea rom March to October everyyear, consuming massive amounts o mosquitoes and other bugs. In the spring

Celebrating 40 Years of Bird Conservation

Naturalist

International Migratory Bird Day 2010

Celebrating the Power of Partnerships by Mary Anne Weber, Education Director

and all we enjoy watching swi ts gather atcommunal roost sites. In the summer ChimneySwi ts build their nests, raise their amilies, androost just eet rom where we live. During thispresentation we will explore the ascinating andsecretive home li e o these aerial acrobats andwhat Houston birders are doing to conservetheir declining numbers.

Pam Smolen was raised an army brat, living inAlaska, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and nally settlingin Texas. She grew up enjoying the outdoors,

Swifts Over HoustonSwifts Over Houston


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Vol 29, No 3 May/June 2010

Houston Audubon Societyis a chapter o the National Audubon Society

BOARD OF DIRECTORSPRESIDENT Jim WinnPAST PRESIDENT Joy HesterPRESIDENT-ELECT Mary CarterCORPORATE SECRETARY Judith Boyce TREASURER Andrew LopezDIRECTORSJohn Bartos Ginger ColemanLynn Forster Richard Gold arbKathryn Hale Bernice HotmanBen Hulsey Je rey MillsGeo rey Newton Laurie WilliamsJe rey Woodman

Galveston GroupRepresentative: Alice Anne ODonell

BOARD OF ADVISORSGerard A. Bertrand Sara BettencourtPeggy Boston Caroline CalleryClaire Caudill Gary W. Clark Fred Collins Scott DavisVictor Emanuel Ted Eubanks, Jr.

Julia Garrett Stephen GastGene Graham Terry HersheyFord Hubbard, III Ann Wier JonesMavis P. Kelsey, Jr. Robert McFarlaneJe Mundy Donal C. OBrien, Jr.Heidi Rockecharlie Rob RowlandAndrew Sansom Steve SmithKathryn Smyth James R. Stewart, Jr.Lucie Wray Todd Lettalou Whittington

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

CONTACT INFORMATIONHAS O ce 713-932-1639Education O ce 713-640-2407FAX 713-461-2911E-mail in [email protected] County Group 409-772-3126

AUDUBON DOCENT GUILD COORDINATOR Bethany [email protected] 713-464-4900

www houstonaudubon orgwww narba org

The Naturalist is published bimonthly.Editor: Susan Billetdeaux

A ull color version o The Naturalist in PDF ormatis available on our website.

Naturalist E-Newsis published monthly. To receive The Naturalist by e-mail, sign up or

Naturalist E-Newson our website.

The Naturalist is made possible by a generousgi t rom Terry Hershey.

For decades, wildli e experts havesounded the alarm about actorsthreatening bird populations habitat loss,

degradation, and ragmentation, pesticidesand other toxic chemicals, invasive species,wetlands loss. Numerous bird species areon the threatened, endangered, or specieso conservation concern lists. These days,climate change is being added to the tallyo threatening actors.

In mid-March, U.S. Secretary o the InteriorKen Salazar released the rst-ever climatechange vulnerability assessment o U.S.bird populations in the 2010 edition o TheState of the Birds . The report shows nearlya third o the nations 800 bird species areendangered, threatened, or su ering rom

population decline.

Vulnerability scores posted in the reportcon rm Houston Audubon sanctuariesprovide vital habitat to over 50 birdspecies listed as having Medium toHigh Vulnerability to climate change. The American Oystercatcher, Royal andSandwich Terns, Red Knot, SemipalmatedSandpiper, Hudsonian Godwit, RoseateSpoonbill, Yellow-throated Warbler, Scarlet Tanager, Ruby-throated Hummingbird,Cerulean Warbler, and scores o others topthe list.

The report, a collaborative e ort throughthe U.S. North American Bird ConservationInitiative between the U.S. Fish and Wildli eService, National Audubon, American BirdConservancy, The Nature Conservancy,Cornell Lab o Ornithology, and numerousother groups, synthesized data rom threecontinent-wide monitoring programs tocreate bird population indicators or majorU.S. habitats.

Key ndings o The State of the Birds include:

All 67 U.S. oceanic bird species, such aspetrels and albatrosses, are among the

most vulnerablebirds on Earth to climate change.

Hawaiian birds already ace multiple

threats and are increasingly challengedby mosquito-borne diseases and invasivespecies as climate change alters theirnative habitats.

For bird species that are already o conservation concern such as the Golden-cheeked Warbler, Whooping Crane, andSpectacled Eider, the added vulnerabilityto climate change may hasten declines orprevent recovery.

The report identi ed common bird speciessuch as the American Oystercatcher,Common Nighthawk, and Northern Pintail

which are likely to become species o conservation concern as a result o climatechange.

The plan is also a call to action and recommendsstrategies to mitigate greenhouse gas emissionsand to assist birds and other wildli e in adaptingto changing habitat conditions. To review the

ull report, please visit Houston Audubonswebsite and click on The State of the Birds: 2010Report on Climate Change under Hot Topics.

Birds are important indicators o the overallhealth o our environment. Just as the canaryin the coal mine warned miners o deadly gasbuild-ups, our birds are warning us o threatsto our air, water, natural resources, climate, andmore. I we do not heed the warnings, we may

nd ourselves going the way o the birds.

The State o the Birds

2010 Report on Climate Change by Gina Donovan, Executive Director

Hudsonian Godwit (male breeding plumage)

Hudsonian Godwits can be ound in thespring in fooded rice elds around Anahuac

and Winnie

The Naturalist May/June 2010


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Houston Audubon presents5th Annual

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Houston Audubon sanctuaries receivedtremendous help rom some amazingpartners this past all and winter. Becauseo their assistance, many o our habitatrestoration projects were realized. The NaturalResources Conservation Service (NRCS)provided over 4,000 native plants and grassesto restore our bird thickets adjacent to Ft. Travis a ter Hurricane Ike and FEMA clean-up

destroyed the habitat. Over 100 hours o volunteer service came to us rom GalvestonBay Area Master Naturalists (GBMN) and theNative Plant Society o Texas-Houston Chapterat the Ft. Travis project site.

Our Trees or Bolivar native plant give-awayproject is supported by TogetherGreen, anAudubon program with unding rom Toyota.It was also made possible with unding romERM Foundation, BP America, and Apache Tree Foundation.

Ducks Unlimited and Houston Endowmentunds have enabled us to continue Hurricane

Ike debris clean-up as well as restoringhurricane damaged areas to their pre-Ikeconditions.

We have made improvements to our HighIsland sanctuaries that human and avianvisitors will appreciate. Projects includedrestocking Smith Pond in High Island withnative sh and rebuilding the wood encessurrounding the Smith Oaks parking lot. With

unding rom the McCullough Foundationand the Smith Foundation we were able toimprove the system o boardwalks and trails

and add roo s over the rookery observationdecks. We are now working to diversi y SmithOaks woods with native plant species. Last butnot least, the Farm Service Administration (FSA)has helped us rebuild over 10 miles o barbwire

encing at Horseshoe Marsh and Bolivar Flats.

Volunteers contributed three outstandingwork days on the peninsula in February. Ourregular High Island work day was attendedby over 50 people! We ocused on removingprivet in Boy Scout Woods in order to promotebird- riendly native plants. Joining us werethe young energetic workers o Barbers HillHigh School Key Club, who had come all theway rom Mont Belvieu, and a group rom theStudent Conservation Association (SCA). Oursecond work day was at Horseshoe Marsh onFebruary 16 with the Galveston Bay MasterNaturalists. They have chosen to help with ourprairie restoration project at Horseshoe Marshthis year. We kicked o the project by planting

Partnerships on the Bolivar Peninsula by Andrew Beck, Sanctuary Steward

ERM Work Day

Popular olktales rom the past o tenclaimed that hummingbirds wouldride the backs o geese in order to migrate.Some stories explain how this partnershipbene ted both species. The small birds wouldget a ree ride while the geese would enjoyconversation along the way. Well, in todaysworld we know that hummingbirds donthitchhike to get where they are going, butthey do need partners. We are those partners.

Partners can educate about habitat protectionon large scales and across borders. Partnerscan educate local communities about theimportance o planting natives to sustainbiodiversity. Partners can join orces witha multitude o organizations to ensure theprotection o high quality habitat or the

uture. Houston Audubon has been thesuccess ul bird conservation organization that

it is or the last 40 years because o partnerships.

Over these past 4 decades we have worked withgroups such as the U.S. Fish and Wildli e Service, Texas Parks and Wildli e, Nature Conservancy,U.S. Forest Service, Katy Prairie Conservancy,Gul Coast Bird Observatory, Houston Parks

and Recreation, Houston Wilderness, NationalAudubon, and many more. The birds and theirhabitats have also bene ted rom the manycorporate partners who have helped bothmonetarily over the years and by providing bothpeople and resource power. On a local levelwe are ortunate to have dedicated volunteersand local businesses that partner with us toaccomplish conservation goals.

Join us as we celebrate birds and celebrate ourconservation partners at this years InternationalMigratory Bird Day event Festival on theBayou!

Festival on the BayouMay 8

Sims Bayou Urban Nature Center

Activities or all ages, live animals, cra ts,games, special guests, ood, and un!

Tickets available at our o ceand at the gate.

$5 per ticket. Kids 3 and under are ree.

Festival on the BayouFestival on the Bayou

Coastal ResilienceSymposium

May 26, 2010Rice University

Shell Auditorium

This symposium gathers regional,national, and international experts tohelp begin an important dialogue onhow to build a more resilient Houston

region. Find ull details and registration

in ormation on the Coastal ResilienceSymposium website:

www.rpts.tamu.edu/CoastalResilience/

over 70 native grasses and distributing littlebluestem seeds throughout the mowed area.A ter planting grasses, we moved over to ourlots at Ft. Travis Seashore Park and plantedan important line o yaupons delineating ourproperty rom the neighbors. More events arescheduled with GBMN this year to restore theHorseshoe Marsh prairie.

Environmental Resource Management (ERM)o ered 48 o their North American managers,including the North American CEO, to helpwith more habitat work at High Island. Moreprivet was pulled and over 50 trees andshrubs were put in place in the newly clearedareas.

This has been an exceptional year o projects,and it has proven how important ourrelationships with partnering organizationsare to accomplish conservation goals.

Celebrating the Power o Partnerships by Mary Anne Weber, Education Director

www.houstonaudubon.org


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Grand Prize DrawingRustic Four Mile Ranch in Colorado

Fabulous get-away or our people toPagosa Springs in southwestern Colorado.Spend our days and three nights at TerryHersheys magni cent 2100-acre Four MileRanch, which is protected or wildli e byconservation easements. Pick your season:travel in the winter or skiing or in thesummer to nd your avorite Western birds! The ranch bird list has over 120 species. TerryHershey and Audubon Colorado welcomedocumented additions to their bird andplant lists. Air are included.

Oberholser CupMost Birds Identifed

1st Place: Ramsey Canyon Inn, AZ onenight stay; Casa de San Pedro, AZ two

nights stay or two; and Cave Creek Ranch,AZ - two nights stay or our

Whittington AwardMost Money Raised

1 st Place: Neals Lodges three night stay

Most Pledges Received

1st

Place: Fite Ranch Bed & Break ast, NM andBreathe Inn Lodge, NM two rooms two nights

Best Bird1 st Place: Peace ul Pelican Bed and Break ast,Palacios one night stay or two with wine hourand ull break ast

Most Great Blue Herons Seen1 st Place: Big Thicket National Preserve Tour

or our o Franklin Lake

HAS Bird Sightings 1 st Place: Attwater Prairie Chicken NWR Hal -day behind the scenes tour or 4

Magic Moment/Funniest Story

1 st Place: Anahuac NWR Behind the Scenes Tour

Birdathon 2010

First Place Prizes

Thanks to Our Generous Sponsors or Their Support!

Find the ull list o prizes on our website:www.houstonaudubon.org

Blue Willow Bookshop

Terry Hershey

Glenn OlsenCin-Ty Lee

Gretchen & Mike Thoman

Big Thicket National Preserve

Attwater Prairie Chicken NWRAnahuac NWR

Trinity River NWR

Cave Creek Ranch The Club at ConCan

Fite RanchHouston Symphony

Houston Ballet

Pen eathers

Luna Engineering

Green Team Award

1st

Place: Matagorda Bay boat trip or ourSitting Duck 1st Place: Cin-Ty Lee Guided bird trip or a day

or a team

Rookie Award 1st Place: Pen eathers Tour Hal -day trip or onperson

Mentor Award1st Place: Eagle Optics Ranger 8x42 binoculars

Best Flyer or Letter1st Place: Seven Blu s cabin or 4

The Whistler Bed & Break ast Inn Sponsors as o April 5, 2010

James Coney Island

Gul way Motel & Grill

Winnie Burkett



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Species Profle

Ovenbird by Glenn Olsen

This beauti ul warbler is o ten neglectedand overlooked. The brightly coloredand more exotic warblers tend to be moresought a ter. Take time to nd and observean Ovenbird and you will discover the subtle

beauty and distinctness o this uncommonlyattractive bird.

It is not your typical tree dwelling warblerbut one o the several warblers that are

ound primarily on the ground. So, look or this bird in the understory especially

where the ground is covered with leaves.In migration, it may be seen in a variety o habitats, and, when spotted in the openalong a trail, the distinctive color pattern o olive upperparts and white underparts withdark brown streaking and spotting makesthe bird stand out. But on its breedinggrounds this plumage pattern providesgreat camou age or birds, and they blendsurprisingly well with the dappled light anddrab lea litter o deciduous orest oors.

Early April through early May is a goodtime to nd the Ovenbird along theUpper Texas Coast as they migrate to theirbreeding grounds in the northeastern

and central states and Canada. In the all, look orthem rom mid-September to mid-October as theyare returning to their primary wintering ranges o Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean region.

The common name Ovenbird is derived rom theact that its nest is dome-shaped and similar in

appearance to a Dutch oven. The genus nameSeiurus is derived rom Greek and means to shaketo and ro, which is a re erence to the way theOvenbird sometimes quickly raises its tail and thenslowly lowers it. The species name is derived romLatin and is a re erence to the golden orange crown

stripe. Even the song has an interesting mnemonico TEA-cher TEA-cher TEA-cher.

In the deep, silent, north woods o Wisconsin andMichigan I heard the sharp, bell ringing clear song o the Ovenbird, and it was magical.

Find this profle in the Bird Gallery o our website:www.houstonaudubon.org

Ovenbird Seiurus aurocapilla

P h o t o :

G r e g

L a v a t y

with Glenn Olsen

Breeding Birds of the UpperTexas Coast

May 4 May 22, 2010

This consists o two in ormal classroom

meetings and two eld trips.Details and Registration Form at


Birding Classes

Bird CountsGalveston Bird Count: May 1Everyone is welcome! You may bird inteams or on your own. To participate,please contact Norma Rubin,[email protected]

Houston Bird SurveyJoin us or the next survey during themonth o June! Details and report ormsare in the Birding section o our website.

Swifts Over HoustonWeekly swi t counts in Houston (led byPam Smolen on Tuesdays) and Dayton(led by Barbara Tilton). This seasonPam plans to monitor the Whole Foods,Pershing, St. Pauls, and Sugar Land sites.Check our website or details.

Armand Bayou SurveyLeader: Andrew HamlettMonthly on the second Saturday

Hogg Sanctuary Bird SurveyLeader: Aaron StoleyMonthly on the rst Monday

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

Willow Waterhole SurveyLeader: John Schneider

Monthly on the third Saturday

Katy Prairie Bioblitz: May 8Sponsored by Katy Prairie Conservancy

U.S. Nightjar SurveyApril 21 May 6, May 20 June 4

Check our website or details and any last minute updates

Houston Audubon Field Trip

Sheldon Lake State Park

Saturday, May 22, 8:00 a mLeader: Damien Carey

Well start in the woods around theold shery ponds or late migrantpasserines and an up-close look at an activeheron and egret rookery recently establishedin one o the ponds. On the prairie wellcheck the newly created prairie restorationponds or shorebirds, hoping or UplandSandpiper, and established prairie wetlands

or nesting Marsh Wren and Least Bittern. Thesky over the prairie is a good spot or raptorsincluding Bald Eagle. Painted Buntings nest

in the woods at the edge o the prairie. Thereis a line o willow and hardwoods along theaqueduct road which has proven a avoritespot or migrants. A ter a break, its o tocheck o the open water o Sheldon Lake. The 30+ spoil islands hold an extensivewaterbird rookery which includes nestingAnhinga and Roseate Spoonbill. Theresa good chance well spot nesting PurpleGallinule there too. Well nish up on theYellow-rump Trail which winds through acypress swamp or nesting and migratory

neotropic passerines including Willow Flycatcher.Lets hope we spot Lou the leucistic Red-tailedHawk whos known to nest in the SLSP environs. Those with scopes will nd them put to good use.

Guide : Damien has birded Texas extensively since1991 and has led numerous eld trips or Houstonarea bird and nature clubs. Damien is the oundero the Lake Houston Area Nature Club. For thepast several years, he has served as president and adirector o the Friends o Sheldon Lake State Park,which he also ounded. A ter completing a veyear bird census, he rewrote the Birds o SheldonLake SP.

Directions : From the intersection o BusinessUS90 and East Beltway 8, go east on Business US

90 2 miles to Park Road 138 on your le t. Turn le tonto PR 138 and ollow it to the Sheldon LakeEnvironmental Learning Center. Parking will be onyour le t.

Reservations : Sign up at the HAS MembershipMeeting or with Skip Almoney ([email protected])at 713-524-4285. Reservations are required or allHouston Audubon eld trips. For more in ormationabout the eld trips and resource links, see thedescription in the Birding section o our website.Participants, check the website or any last minuteupdates.



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$5,000+George and Mary Josephine Hamman Foundation National Audubon Society

$1,000-$2,499

ExxonMobil Foundation Betsy & Jim Winn

$500-$999Wayne Webb Connie & Je Woodman

$100-$499Debbie & Rick Armes Chapelwood United Methodist Church Catherine & Louis Delgado Carrie Dortch El Paso CorporationSusan Gardner & Phillip Scott Angie George Jaime Gonzales Marie & Brad Hartman Mary Gwen & Ben Hulsey Betty & Henry KeithDavid Kring Helen Lane & Roger Rowe Jacqueline Mineo Native Plant Society Of Texas: Houston Chapter Nature Discovery CenterAnn & Thomas Nix Ornithology Group of the Outdoor Nature Club Outdoor Nature Club R. Shermer The Sharp GroupGinny & Joseph Toler

$1-$99Aladdin Villas Property Owners Association, Inc. Debbie & Jack Burnett Rayne & Larry Castle Chevron Humankind Matching Gift ProgramJane Coppola Martha & Robert Coyle Davis Hoyte Silvia & Tom Gederberg Halliburton Global Impact Elizabeth & Dale Hauck

Sharon & Albert Hendricks Ellen & Jed Howard Russell Je ords Richard Jewett Bob Johnson Bette & Paul Lester Debra LogsdonVickie Lowe Peggy & Joseph Martin Leslie Prochaska June Russell & Robert Ulrich Michael Schell Laurie Sines Martha & Stephen SmithKimberly Tope Doug Wetzel Janie Wilson Judy & Tom Young

Gi ts In-KindAlley Theatre Blue Willow Bookshop Breathe Inn Carmelos Italian Restaurant Eagle Optics Fite Ranch Bed & BreakfastHotel Derek Houston Ballet Houston Symphony James Coney Island Linda & David Knowles Seven Blu Cabins and R.V. Park The Peaceful Pelican, LLC Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge

And nally, we thank all our new and renewing Members, the li eblood o Houston Audubon

Donations received and processed by March 19, 2010

Thanks to Houston Audubons Generous Donors!

Birding in IdahoJune 5 - 13, 2010

Houston Audubon is sponsoring abirding trip to Idaho this comingJune. The leader will be Steve Gross.Steve has birded Idaho extensivelyand holds the record or the Big Dayin Idaho. The trip will be limited to12 people. Destinations includeMcCall, Snake River, Pocatello, andIsland Park, as well as near Boise. There will be excellent owlingopportunities, with the possibility o Great Gray Owl.

Costs are estimated to be about$1200 $1500 per person, notincluding air are to Boise. The tripwill begin and end in Boise. Includedwill be a donation o $200.00 toHouston Audubon. Please contactSkip Almoney, HAS Field TripCoordinator, (713-524-4285) i youare interested in joining the trip.

Find the ull itinerary in the Birdingsection o our website.

Laura Singleton Exceptional Volunteer Awards

At Houston Audubons Volunteer AppreciationPicnic, held on February 6, President-ElectMary Carter announced the recipients o theLaura Singleton Exceptional Volunteer Award. Thisaward is an annual tribute and memorial to LauraSingleton, a long-time Houston Audubon volunteerwho passed away in 2002. The criteria or the award

mirror what Laura hersel represented - the best o volunteerism.

This years recipients are Joy Hester and Don Verser.

In her tribute, Mary said: Don has the interestso Houston Audubon and conservation always inhis heart and mind. He is handy with a chain sawclearing hurricane debris, attacking invasive plants,clearing trails, building wonder ul additions to thesanctuaries, in addition to being an expert birderand an inspiring volunteer. He is a hard worker andsel -motivated in his devotion to helping HoustonAudubon.

Joy has been a role model to me and many others

involved in Houston Audubon in her activities asBoard member, Executive Director, President as wellas volunteering at sanctuary work days and being anall-around advocate or Houston Audubon. Joy hasattended countless meetings on behal o Houston

Audubon, and worked on behal o HoustonAudubon with other organizations to preserveColumbia Bottomlands, Whooping Crane habitat,Spring Creek Greenway project and many otherprojects in her quiet and e ective manner. To

quote one o the nominators, in addition tobeing a wondrous volunteer, Joys grace, andcharm under re are awesome!

Congratulations to you both!

Joy Hester and Don Verser



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Summer Camp

Join Mary Anne Weber and Vicki Vroble(plus assorted animal riends) at librariesthroughout Houston this summer! The generalpublic is invited to these ree programs.

Tuesday, June 1 10:30 a.m.Heights Incredible Insects

Wednesday, June 2 10:30 a.m.Smith Incredible Insects

Wednesday, June 16 10:30 a.m.Smith By the Light of the Moon

Wednesday, June 16 3:00 p.m.

Robinson Go Wild for Texas

Would you like to get your kids or grandkidshooked on birds?

Check out the Educator Resources on our FlyingWILD page in the Education section o ourwebsite. We have a wide variety o materialsavailable or download.

Opening Ceremonies

PLEASE SAVE THE DATE

Saturday, May 15 1:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m.Discovery Green has graciously agreed to hostOpening Ceremonies once again this year.Families will have the opportunity to visit with allparticipating sites, collect participating materialsand t-shirts, and complete their rst mission atDiscovery Green. Last year over 150 amilies took part in the nature challenge!

All missions will be posted in Spanish as well asEnglish on the new Mission Possibile website,

thanks to Tamberly and Los Amigos Del Bosque!We are also creating a acebook an page.

Volunteers : We are looking or volunteers tohelp out with opening and closing ceremonies helping to set up and close down, recruit passersby, help with sign in, judge scrapbooks and other

contest materials and more. Please contact MaryAnne Weber, [email protected], tovolunteer.

Prizes : Thank you to all that are able to donateprizes or the Challenge and or related rafes. Weappreciate your generosity. Please let us know i you have any additional items that you are ableto donate.

Closing Ceremonies : Closing ceremonies arescheduled or Saturday, August 14th rom 2:00 -5:00 p.m. Location TBA.

Saturday, June 19 1:00 p.m.Southwest Express By the Light of the Moon

Tuesday, June 22 1:00 p.m.Pleasantville Silent Hunters

Wednesday, June 23 10:30 a.m.Ring Hatch

Monday, June 28 5:30 p.m.Flores Wild About Houston

Saturday, July 3 1:00 p.m.Discovery Green By the Light of the Moon

Summer Library Programs

Resources to Introduce Kids to Birds

Introductory Field Guide to the Birds o

HoustonIntroductory Field Guide to Birds o the

Bolivar PeninsulaGames and Activities

Coloring Books

Houston Audubon Presents

Celebrating BIRDS and their HABITATS

Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary June 12 10 a.m NoonActivities or all ages, native plant sale, birding,educational games, seining, and much more!

Bolivar Flats is a unique area combining salt marsh,mud ats and beach, each habitat quite di erent

rom the other. Every year hundreds o thousands o birds discover that Bolivar Flats is a special place. Wewant you to discover how amazing this ecosystem is.

FUN on the FLATS celebrates the birds and theirhabitat on Bolivar and highlights the critical need orprotection and appreciation o this special place.

This Project is supported by TogetherGreen, anAudubon program with unding rom Toyota.Support is also received rom ERM Foundation.

FUN ON THE FLATS

Woodland & Wildli e Expo

May 12

ConroeA one-stop shop or homeowners and

landowners in Texas, hosted by the TexasForest Service. In ormation booths, live

demos, ree tree give-a-ways.

Special Family Outdoor Zone!

Mary Anne Weber and Flo Hannah willmake presentations during this ree

expo. Hours are 9-5 each day.

Details at www.houstonaudubon.org

Dont miss outon the excitingadventuresawaiting kids at the

Houston Audubon camps atSims Bayou Urban Nature Centerand the Audubon Docent camps atEdith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary!

Sign up today!

Details at www.houstonaudubon.org .

NestWatch This Cornell Lab project is all aboutcollecting in ormation about nesting

birds in North America.

Their website is a great resource onhow to nd nests, build nest boxes,and how to monitor birds without

disturbing them.Live Nest Cams!

Details at www.nestwatch.org

Juvenile Tricolored Heron: Joanne Kamo



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Naturalist

20 A ter-School Nature Explorers Club, ELMNS

22 Breeding Birds o the UTC eld trip (see p. 5)24 28 Come Along Camp, ELMNS

26 Coastal Resilience Symposium, Rice U. (see p. 3)

JuneWeekly Swi ts Over Houston, Swi ts Over Dayton

1-30 Houston Bird Survey

5 13 Birding Trip to Idaho (see p. 6)

7 Hogg Bird Sanctuary Survey

7 11 Nature Explorers Camp, ELMNS

12 Armand Bayou Nature Center Survey

12 Fun on the Flats (see p. 7)14 18 Nature Detectives Camp, SBUNC


15 W. 11th St. Park Bird Survey

19 Willow Waterhole Survey


28 2 WILD about ART Camp, SBUNC


Nonpro t OrgU.S Postage

PAIDHouston, Texas.Permit No. 9349

The

Solicited mail Time-sensitive material

DO NOT DELAY

Address Service Requested

Houston Audubon Society440 Wilchester BoulevardHouston, Texas 77079-7329

May/June 2010

Houston Audubon Membership Form

Bulletin BoardMay

Weekly Swi ts Over Houston, Swi ts Over DaytonWeekly Titmouse Club: Tuesday & Wednesday through May 12, ELMNS

1 Galveston Spring Bird Count (see p. 5)

1 Discover Oceans! at NOAA Galveston Facility (see website)

1 2 Texas Woodland & Wildli e Expo (see p. 7)

2 Houston Audubon Birdathon ends

3 Hogg Bird Sanctuary Survey

4 Breeding Birds o the UTC rst class

8 Festival on the Bayou, SBUNC (see p. 3)

8 Armand Bayou Nature Center Survey

8 ELMNS Log Cabin Open House12 Membership Meeting & Birdathon Celebration Swi ts Over Houstonwith Pam Smolen (see p. 1)

15 Flying WILD Workshop

15 Willow Waterhole Survey

15 Mission Possible Opening Ceremonies (see p. 7)

18 W. 11th St. Park Bird Survey

19 HANPA Meeting, ELMNS. Joe Smith, President o HoustonPhotochrome Club will discuss his participation in the2009 Coastal Bend Wildli e Photo Competition.

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Naturalist

may-june 2010 naturalist newsletter houston audubon society

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