The

Naturalist Celebrating 40 Years of Bird Conservation

Make Your Plans for High Island This Spring!

March/April 2010 by Winnie Burkett, Sanctuary Manager

Contents:
T
here are already migrants at High Island
– when are you coming? We have lots
Storms and Dikes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 of great things happening this spring.
The guides from Tropical Birding will be back
High Island Spring 2010 . . . . . . . . . 2

Photo: Greg Lavaty

Trees for Bolivar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Birdathon 2010 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Bringing Nature Home Lecture . . 3
HAS Board Nominations . . . . . . . . . 4
Birding Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5
Species Profile
Ruddy Turnstone . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Festival on the Bayou . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Birding Trip to Idaho . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Vounteer Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Spring Portraits at ELMNS . . . . . . . 7
leading free bird walks from April 1 to April 30.
There will be 4 bird walks every day. It is great
fun to go birding with those knowledgeable
fellows.
Helpful HAS volunteers will staff the Boy Scout
Woods kiosk from March 24 to early May. They
This female Blackpoll Warbler was one of many
will be ready to answer your questions, sell
you a patch, or help you purchase t-shirts and migrants that enjoyed High Island hospitality
birding supplies. Of course the High Island last spring. Who will turn up this spring?
sanctuaries are open year round from dawn
to dusk so you don’t have to wait until March
farthest from the parking lot with a large photo
24 to go birding. Remember the proceeds of
identifying and numbering the nests. He takes
admissions and sales at High Island support
pictures so that he can compare the birds and
Houston Audubon’s 3000+ acre sanctuary
nests from one visit to the next. You will also
system.
notice that Andrew has a foreign accent. He is
When you visit the Rookery, watch for Andrew Australian and was born in Papua New Guinea.
McInnes. He is a Texas A&M University at He is definitely interesting to chat with if you
Galveston graduate student who is studying and he can break away from watching the birds.
Great Egret productivity in the Rookery. He
is usually found on the observation platform continued on page 2

Membership Meetings
with an update of the new initiatives being existence of the Aransas
Place: United Way Center
50 Waugh Drive taken to conserve and enhance habitat for birds Whooping Crane flock and
Time: 7:00 p.m. Social and other wildlife on the Yucatan Peninsula. the challenges facing the
7:30 p.m. Meeting She will also give a brief demonstration of the Upper Texas Coast after
2 interactive CDs, 200 Birds of the Yucatan Hurricane Ike. Aspects
March 10
Peninsula. The bilingual CDs will be on sale of the Ike Dike and the
Bird Conservation in the Yucatan with the proceeds going to Niños y Crías A.C., possible Bolivar National
Speaker: Barbara MacKinnon an education program about birds for children. Seashore will be presented along with the
The Yucatan Barbara is a founding member of Amigos potential litigation against officials of the Texas
Peninsula is de Sian Ka’an, a biosphere south of Tulum. Commission on Environmental Quality for their
vitally important She is also a member of the Alliance for the role in the “take” of Whooping Cranes last winter.
for birds in both Conservation of Birds of the Yucatan Peninsula. Blackburn will conclude by reading a poem or
hemispheres. two from Birds: A Collection of Verse and Vision. A
April 14 discussion will follow his presentation.
About 50% of
all of Mexico’s Coastal Update 2010: An attorney for more than 30 years, Jim is a
bird species and Ike and the Whooping Cranes partner in Blackburn Carter, P.C., a firm devoted
some 58% of all North American birds are Speaker: Jim Blackburn to environmental law and planning. He is
found in the Yucatan. Over 128 species also a Professor at Rice U., teaching courses in
Jim Blackburn will present an overview of the
from North America regularly overwinter sustainable development and environmental law.
two major issues facing the Texas coast as we
in the Yucatan. With spring migration fast
start the second decade of the 21st century. Find out more about our speakers and programs at
approaching, Barbara MacKinnon will return
He will discuss the threat to the continued www.houstonaudubon.org
Vol. 29, No. 2 March/April 2010 Storms and Dikes
Houston Audubon Society by Jim Winn, President
is a chapter of the National Audubon Society

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
PRESIDENT Jim Winn
H urricane Ike came ashore on 9/13/08
and with it a realization of vulnerability
to life and property here on the Upper
while also eliminating a
destructive storm surge
up the Channel is one
PAST PRESIDENT Joy Hester
PRESIDENT-ELECT Mary Carter Texas Gulf Coast. The search for a solution of the thorny issues
CORPORATE SECRETARY Judith Boyce to eliminate this threat is underway. The confronting planners.
TREASURER Andrew Lopez solution chosen will have long term While some commercial interests are supporting
DIRECTORS implications for the ecology of the area – dike protection, with no mention of the
John Bartos Ginger Coleman the economic health of Galveston Bay, the
Lynn Forster Richard Goldfarb ecological cost, there are studies underway
suitable habitat for birds and wildlife, and the which may suggest a more long term
Kathryn Hale Bernice Hotman
beaches and ocean views. sustainable solution involving wetlands to
Ben Hulsey Jeffrey Mills
Geoffrey Newton Laurie Williams The initial suggestion was for an all- cushion storm effects and restricting activity on
Jeffrey Woodman encompassing dike stretching from west of some portions of barrier lands to recreation and
Galveston Group San Luis Pass to east of High Island. It would storm buffering.
Representative: Alice Anne O’Donell stretch across Galveston Island (GI) and Assuming the final solution will involve dikes,
BOARD OF ADVISORS
Bolivar Peninsula (BPe) with gates at San Luis how might birds, fish, shrimp, and other wildlife
Pass and the Houston Ship Channel to be be affected? Habitat on both sides of any dike
Gerard A. Bertrand Sara Bettencourt
Peggy Boston Caroline Callery closed in front of an oncoming storm. on land will potentially be impacted.
Claire Caudill Gary W. Clark Since then many questions have been
Fred Collins Scott Davis And if there is a gate across the ship channel,
posed – design, financial, economic, political, Bolivar Flats and Horseshoe Marsh could be
Victor Emanuel Ted Eubanks, Jr.
environmental, and social. Populations and substantially impacted depending upon the
Julia Garrett Stephen Gast
Gene Graham Terry Hershey industry exist in the vulnerable low elevation gate location and the anchoring structure.
Ford Hubbard, III Ann Wier Jones areas on GI, BPe and north on the mainland.
Mavis P. Kelsey, Jr. Robert McFarlane Should nature be challenged head on with The governor has created a six county
Jeff Mundy Donal C. O’Brien, Jr. dikes protecting the status quo, or should government corporation to provide a regional
Heidi Rockecharlie Rob Rowland the barrier island status of GI and BPe be solution. A study of options by this corporation
Andrew Sansom Steve Smith recognized and more limited protection is yet to be made.
Kathryn Smyth James R. Stewart, Jr. given to selected / critical areas such as
Lucie Wray Todd Lettalou Whittington The final solution will have broad ramifications
UTMB at Galveston, NASA, the east end of for these low lying areas, including a potential
STAFF GI, and industries along the Houston Ship restructuring of the ecological landscape.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Gina Donovan Channel. (FEMA has recently made funds Houston Audubon is participating along with
SANCTUARY MANAGER Winnie Burkett available for purchasing tracts on BPe from other environmental organizations in these
SR. SANCTUARY STEWARD Flo Hannah willing sellers.) discussions. The solutions chosen will be of
SANCTUARY STEWARD Andrew Beck
Sustaining the essential mix of ocean water great interest to all residents of the Upper
EDUCATION DIRECTOR Mary Anne Weber
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATOR Vicki Vroble and fresh water flows into Galveston Bay Texas Gulf Coast, and certainly to members of
COMMUNITY RELATIONS DIRECTOR Robin Leonard Houston Audubon.
COMMUNITY RELATIONS ASSOCIATE Andrea Ritchie
CONTROLLER Barbara Thompson
OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR Juanita Perkins High Island Spring 2010
CONTACT INFORMATION
HAS Office 713-932-1639
Education Office 713-640-2407
Bird Walk Schedule High Island Plant Sale
FAX 713-461-2911
E-mail info@houstonaudubon.org Boy Scout Woods: 8 a.m. If you want to attract more hummingbirds and
Galveston County Group 409-772-3126 Meet at the kiosk. butterflies to your yard, plan to visit the annual
High Island Plant Sale at Boy Scout Woods. The
AUDUBON DOCENT GUILD Bolivar Flats: noon sale will start April 1 and last until the plants
COORDINATOR Bethany Foshée Meet the guide at the vehicular barrier.
docent@houstonaudubon.org 713-464-4900 are gone. The plants on sale are selected
Smith Oaks: 4:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. because they are beneficial to butterflies and
www.houstonaudubon.org Meet in the picnic area at the end of the hummingbirds. Gardening for wildlife helps to
www.narba.org extend areas of habitat in our over-developed
parking lot. These walks are to look for
The Naturalist is published bimonthly. migrants and check on the progress of the world. Shop early for the best selection.
Editor: Susan Billetdeaux nesting season in the Rookery.
A full color version of The Naturalist in PDF format
Barbecue Lunches
is available on our website. Eagle Optics Those great cooks at St. Mathew’s Methodist
Naturalist E-News is published monthly. Church will once again be serving delicious
The folks from Eagle Optics are coming to
To receive The Naturalist by e-mail, sign up for
Boy Scout Woods in April to help you pick barbecue lunches at the church every Saturday
Naturalist E-News on our website.
out new binoculars and/or scopes. Part in April. They start serving at 11 a.m. and are
of the income from sales goes to Houston usually sold out by 1 p.m. Having lunch at the
The Naturalist is made possible by a generous
Audubon. Check our website for the exact church is a gastronomic treat and a good way to
gift from Terry Hershey.
date. support the community.

2 The Naturalist • March/April 2010

Birdathon 2010
March 27 through May 2
Chase the birds you love, and help protect them too!
S pring is fast approaching and so is
Birdathon 2010! Every year, thousands of
people nationwide participate in Birdathon,
and we’d like to invite you to be one of them.
On your own or with a group of friends,
Birdathon is a great way to spend time
outdoors, add the excitement of competition
to your usual birding pursuits, and raise
money to support Houston Audubon’ s
mission to promote the conservation and
appreciation of birds and wildlife habitat.
The competition is simple. First, register
your team on our website or with Robin
Leonard (rleonard@houstonaudubon.org or
713-932-1639). Next, solicit donations from
family, friends, and local businesses. Pledges
can be per species or lump sums. Then,
pick any 24-hour period between March 27
and May 2, 2010, go birding, and count the
species your team encounters. Finally, file
your team report and collect your pledges. It
couldn’t be any easier.
To add to the fun, Houston Audubon is giving
Trees for Bolivar
by Andrew Beck, Sanctuary Steward
H ouston Audubon has been on the ground
since the first week after Hurricane Ike. Not
only did our sanctuaries suffer damage from
salt water, floating debris, and FEMA cleanup,
but the entire 46 square miles of the peninsula
were part of the same story. Luckily those early
days of cleanup are history now, which calls for
the ever important role of stewarding habitat
recovery in the present, for a thriving ecological
environment for the future.
In the spring of 2009, Houston Audubon
began putting a plan together that would
serve as a vehicle to realize the recovery of
Bolivar’s extensive wildlife habitat corridor,
while working to raise awareness of our efforts
and the importance of our goals. The Houston
Audubon sanctuary department came up
with Trees for Bolivar, a native tree distribution
program for peninsula residents who lost
trees during the storm. With grants from our
partners, Houston Audubon gave away over
1,500 trees to over 200 residents and business
owners, allowing yard landscapes and the
complex of empty lots to become wooded
corridors for birds.
The great enthusiasm Bolivar residents have
shown towards Trees for Bolivar has been
amazing. Everyone had storm stories they
www.houstonaudubon.org
Photo: Greg Lavaty
away great prizes based on how many species you
see and how much you’re able to raise through
pledges. The list of prizes includes guided birding
tours, overnight stays in exciting places, gift
certificates to fine restaurants, theatre tickets, and
much, much more. These fantastic prizes will be
awarded on May 12 as part of the Membership
Meeting at the United Way Community Resource
Center.
Last year, Birdathon raised more than $40,000 with
21 teams in the field. This year, we’ve joined forces
with the Gulf Coast Bird Observatory and the
Great Texas Birding Classic (see p. 5) to increase
participation. Whether you’re participating in
Birdathon or the Classic, you can use your birding
day observations to compete in both.
Cover the coast, plot a course through the urban
jungle, or chart a route combining both. Young
or old… novice or expert… team member
or financial supporter… we need everyone’s
involvement to make Birdathon 2010 a success.
So, register a team and go birding for a worthy
cause. We’ll see you out there!
Andrew plants a tree for a Bolivar Peninsula couple.
want to share, and everyone who lost their
trees has the skeletal remains looming above,
providing only roosts for birds. Many of the
old live oaks in Port Bolivar were planted from
acorns by children, who are now parents and
grandparents. Understanding the role the old
dead trees had in the community makes our
Trees for Bolivar campaign equally as important
for the people as it is for the birds.
Trees for Bolivar continued through January
and will resume next winter. With the help, of
Bolivar residents and generous contributions
by our allied conservation groups, Houston
Audubon is helping to realize real native habitat
recovery on the storm beaten peninsula for
birds, wildlife, and community.
Bringing Nature Home
Lecture by Douglas Tallamy
March 31, 2010
Social: 6:30 p.m. Lecture: 7-8 p.m.
Panel Discussion: 8-8:30 p.m.
Hamman Hall at Rice University
Douglas Tallamy, Chair of the University
of Delaware’s Entomology and Wildlife
Ecology Department, presents what
individuals can do to stem biodiversity
loss. Dr. Tallamy’s book, Bringing
Nature Home, has sparked a national
conversation about the link between
healthy local ecosystems and human
well-being.
This event is co-hosted by: Houston
Audubon, Center for the Study of
Environment and Society, Lynn R. Lowrey
Arboretum of Rice University, Outdoor
Nature Club, Ornithology Group, David
and Linda Knowles, Don Verser, Katy Prairie
Conservancy, Native Plant Society of Texas-
Houston, Nature Discovery Center, and
Shell Center for Sustainability.
Note that there is a $5 parking charge (credit
card only) for the lot next to Hamman Hall.
Partners: National Audubon & Toyota’s
TogetherGreen program, The Apache Tree
Foundation, and Environmental Resources
Management (ERM).
This project is one of the most rewarding and
wildlife beneficial projects I have participated in
for Houston Audubon. It was Winnie’s idea to
deliver the trees directly to each home, which has
made the individual contact with homeowners
possible. Andrew has been in the lead and has
born the weight of organizing and delivering
over 1,500 native trees in the last 3 months.
Although our main goal is to repopulate the
barren peninsula with wildlife habitat, we are
also giving the residents an opportunity to talk
about their terrible losses during Hurricane Ike.
It isn’t until you look at each individual lot that
you realize all the trees and shrubs are gone.
This project will go a long way towards restoring
future bird habitat on the peninsula.
Flo Hannah, Sr. Sanctuary Steward
3

Reservations are required for all Houston Audubon field trips. Remember to bring your binoculars, scope, camera, sunscreen, insect protection, sturdy
shoes, hat, raingear, water, and snacks or a lunch if you want to bird into the afternoon. For more information about the field trips and resource links, see
the description in the Birding section of our website. Participants, please check the website for any last minute updates.
Gulf Coast Bird Observatory
Saturday, March 27, 8:30 a.m.
G CBO personnel will be doing their
monthly bird banding on this day. This
will give everyone an opportunity to observe
banding, see some good birds up close, and
do some photography. Banding starts at
8 a.m., but we will not meet until 8:30 a.m.
At about 10 a.m. Cecilia Riley will lead the
group on a birding hike through the forested
trails looking for resident and migratory
birds of the bottomlands till lunch time. We
will then lunch in the GCBO Pavilion. After
lunch, for those who wish to continue, the
group will either drive to Quintana, or stay in
the bottomlands, perhaps visiting Hudson
Woods (FWS) and/or the new FWS tract in
Lake Jackson out on Old Angleton Road.
Kevin Poling will determine which area will
be birded after lunch.
Cecilia Riley is the GCBO Executive Director.
A native Texan, biologist, and avid bird
watcher, she has committed her life’s work
to avian research and natural history in both
North America and Latin America.
Reservations: Sign up at the HAS
Membership Meeting or with Kevin Poling
(kevin.poling@gmail.com) at 832-689-6956.
Nominations to the HAS Board of Directors
T he nominating committee of the HAS
Board of Directors recommends the
following slate for election to the Board of
Directors on May 12, 2010. Elections will be
conducted at the May membership meeting.
Also, according to the Bylaws, nominations
will be accepted from the floor.
Bernice Hotman, Corporate Secretary:
Bernice fell in love with bird watching during
spring migration 1999. Since that time
she’s birded across the country and around
Texas. Bernice participates in both Houston
Audubon and the Ornithology Group (OG).
She served on the board of OG as Secretary,
Programs Vice-chair, and as Chairman.
Bernice currently does accounting for a
commercial wall covering wholesaler
John Bartos Director-at Large: John is a
Houston attorney who enjoys canoeing,
kayaking and of course birding. He serves on
the board of the Galveston Bay Foundation
and is a member of the Region H Water
Planning Group and is vice-chair of the
Galveston Bay Basin Stakeholder Group.
4 The Naturalist • March/April 2010
Houston Audubon Field Trips
Directions: From Houston, take 288 south to
Lake Jackson. As soon as you arrive in Lake
Jackson, take a right onto 2004 west. Continue
on 2004 west to the 2nd traffic light, which will
be HWY 332, turn west (right). On 332 you will
see the Girl Scout camp on the left, then just
before you get to the bridge over Buffalo Camp
Bayou take a left onto a semi-paved road. Look
for the large white sign with the GCBO name in
blue letters. Drive down through the red gate
and through the woods to the GCBO building
on the right. You cannot see the building from
the road. Plan on at least 75 minutes from
downtown Houston.
High Island
Saturday, April 24, 8:00 a.m.
W innie Burkett will lead this trip through
the HAS High Island sanctuaries. We will
meet in the grandstands in Boy Scout Woods and
then will bird where the birds are. Planned stops
include the old home site in Smith Oaks to look at
historical remains of the former residents in Smith
Oaks, and the Rookery to check out the progress
of the nesting season.
Winnie Burkett is Houston Audubon’s Sanctuary
Manager. Her main interests and concerns are
habitat protection and bird conservation.
Judy Boyce, Director-at Large: Judy Boyce
began volunteering at Houston Audubon in
the late 1980s and has served on the board
in various capacities since 1996. She most
recently served the last four years as Corporate
Secretary. Professionally, she is Executive Director
of the Jacob and Terese Hershey Foundation, an
environmental grantmaking foundation. She
brings to Houston Audubon a knowledge of the
local environmental and philanthropic community.
Ginger Coleman, Director-at Large: Ginger’s
professional career has been in the legal field
for more than 25 years. She has enthusiastically
supported Houston Audubon in a variety of
capacities, including serving on the Birdathon
and Benefit Committees, and is looking forward
to continuing that support. Ginger is an active
certified Texas Master Naturalist.
Dr. Kathryn Hale, Director-at Large: Kay is a
physician who first became fascinated by birds
on a trip to Africa in 1991. Since moving to Texas
in 1993, she has been active with the Gulf Coast
Bird Observatory, and her local neighborhood
Reservations: Sign up at the HAS Membership
Meeting or with Skip Almoney (skipalm@aol.com)
at 713-524-4285.
Directions: High Island is on the coast just off
Hwy. 87. It can be reached by taking I-10 east
from Houston, and then taking the exit at Winnie
to go south on Hwy. 124. Another option is to
use the free Galveston - Bolivar ferry and proceed
up the coast on Hwy. 87. Plan on at least 90
minutes from downtown Houston to High Island.
Galveston County Group
February 24: Meeting
Birds: A Collection of Verse & Vision with Jim
Blackburn
February 27: Field Trip
Quintana & Bryan Beach via Blue Water Hwy
March 24: Meeting
Spring Migration with Jim Stevenson
March 27: Field Trip
Justin Hurst WMA (Peach Point)
Preregistration required with Barbara Rapstein,
409-789-3811
May 1: Galveston Spring Bird Count
Details on our website or contact
Alice Anne O’Donell at 409-772-3126
association. Habitat conservation and birds are
her particular interests.
Ben Hulsey, Director-at Large: Ben has had a
lifelong passion for the outdoors and protection
of habitat. His interests include fly-fishing,
hiking, skiing, singing, and bird photography. He
has an MBA, and has spent over 20 years as an
automobile dealer in Houston. He is very excited
to have the opportunity to be involved with
an organization like Houston Audubon that is
impacting favorably not only future generations
of birds for years to come but many future
generations of Houstonians.
Jeffrey Mills, Director-at Large: Jeffrey is a
lifelong birder. He along with his family all are HAS
volunteers. A graduate of UT Austin, he works
through his company, IO Communications, as a
documentary filmmaker specializing in historical,
environmental, and preservation subjects. Jeffrey
has produced several of the recent Benefit videos
for Houston Audubon and hopes to use his media
and marketing skills to increase awareness and
community support for Houston Audubon.
Species Profile
Ruddy Turnstone
by Glenn Olsen
T
he Ruddy Turnstone derives its
interesting common name from the
reddish color of the upper parts in breeding
plumage and the feeding behavior of
walking along and using its stout bill to
turn over shells, stones, clumps of dirt or
seaweed, and debris in search of food that
may be hiding underneath.
In breeding plumage these birds are easy
to spot in their calico colors of reddish-
brown and black upper parts, black and
white head and facial pattern, white under
parts, and orange legs. Roughly the size of
a killdeer but with a compact, squatty look
rather than the elongated appearance of
the killdeer, turnstones can be observed as
they meander along the boulders of jetties
in search of food or rooting with its bill like a
pig in the beach sand for sand fleas, worms,
or other morsels.
Bird Counts and Competitions
Bird Counts
Swifts Over Houston
Weekly swift counts in Houston
(led by Pam Smolen) and Dayton
(led by Barbara Tilton) will begin in
mid-March. This season Pam plans
to monitor the Whole Foods, Persh-
ing, St. Paul’s, and Sugar Land sites.
Check our website for details.
Armand Bayou Survey
Leader: Andrew Hamlett
Monthly on the second Saturday
Hogg Bird Survey
Leader: Aaron Stoley
This new survey at Hogg Bird
Sanctuary (adjacent to Bayou Bend)
will start in March. Check website
or call Aaron at 713-781-1372 for
details.
West 11th St. Park Survey
Leader: Mary Dodson
Monthly on the third Tuesday
Willow Waterhole Survey
Leader: John Schneider
Monthly on the third Saturday
Check www.houstonaudubon.org for
details and any last minute updates
www.houstonaudubon.org
HAS Birding Classes
with Glenn Olsen
Spring Warbler Identification
Photo: Greg lavaty
March 23 – April 10, 2010
Breeding Birds of the Upper TX Coast
May 4 – May 22, 2010
Each class consists of two informal classroom
meetings and two field trips.
Ruddy Turnstone – Arenaria interpres
Details and Registration Form at
The Ruddy Turnstone breeds along the northern www.houstonaudubon.org
coast of Alaska, the northern coast of Canada,
Baffin Island and other islands of the Arctic
Ocean. This species winters along the coasts If you are interested in learning more about the
of the United States, Mexico, Central and South identification and life histories of shorebirds,
America, and along the shores of Caribbean check out the Shorebirds Class co-sponsored by
islands. Houston Audubon and held at Rice University’s
Now is a good time to visit our gulf shores in Continuing Studies Department.
search of the Ruddy Turnstone to see the bird
in winter plumage. Make another trip in April Find this profile in the Bird Gallery of our website:
or May to see the calico colors of the breeding www.houstonaudubon.org
plumage.
Great Texas Birding Classic
by Carol Jones, Gulf Coast Bird Observatory, GTBC Tournament Coordinator
The 14th Annual Classic will be held April 24 - May 2. It is not too late to get your team registered.
The deadline for registering without late fees is March 22. There is a tournament for every
kind of birder from the casual backyard bird watcher to the serious and highly competitive. As
you may know, the conservation mission of the Classic is achieved through awarding grants.
Winning adult teams choose projects that have submitted proposals, and each was reviewed
and approved by a committee. There are many worthy conservation projects along the Texas
Coast and the Classic is proud to have contributed $686,000 dollars for on the ground habitat
conservation. Since 1997 Classic conservation grants have enabled the permanent protection
and restoration of over 3,000 acres and increased access for birding and nature viewing at dozens
of sites. There are many ways that you can support this effort. Your purchase of items from the
Classic online auction directly supports the conservation grant program. You could sponsor a
team, purchase an advertisement for the Winners Report, help out with a kids team, or donate
prizes for the teams or auction items. Find full details at www.gcbo.org.
Galveston Spring Bird Count: May 1
Come help us celebrate International Migratory Bird Day by participating in our Spring Bird Count.
Galveston County includes some great birding: High Island, the Bolivar Peninsula, Galveston
Island, Pelican Island, Texas City, and the mainland as far north as the Harris County line and as far
east and west as Chambers and Brazoria counties. Everyone is welcome! This is your opportunity
to learn about a part of Galveston County you might not know already.
Teams are organized to cover different areas, and participants can bird for part of the day or for
the entire 24-hour period. Beginning birdwatchers will be teamed up with more experienced
birders, so don’t be afraid to help due to lack of experience! If you are simply going to be birding
in Galveston County on May 1 and don’t want to be on a specific team, you can still participate by
getting the forms and keeping records of your sightings. Contact Norma Rubin at
nhrubin@utmb.edu, (preferred) or call 409-763-0667.
5
Thanks to Houston Audubon’s Generous Donors!
$5,000+
ERM Group Foundation, Inc. • Gulf Coast Bird Observatory • Houston Endowment Inc

Long-billed Curlew Joanne Kamo

HRH Foundation • Mary Gwen & Ben Hulsey • The Hillcrest Foundation
Kathrine McGovern • David Woodard

$1,000-$2,499
Amegy Bank • Susan & Brad Billetdeaux • Capricorn Foundation • Jean & Don Gray
Barbara & Edward Hickl • Ann & Arthur Jones • George B. and Irene Lindler Foundation
Elizabeth Mellor • Don Verser • Betsy & Jim Winn

$500-$999
Anonymous • Chevron Humankind Matching Gift Program • Patricia Cravens • Mary Decker • Francine Fleming • Bernice Hotman
The Hussey Foundation • Lynne Johnson • LaNell & James Neel • Edie & William O’Brien • Emilee Peters • The Powell Foundation
Christopher Runk • Shell Oil Company • Martha Ann Sloan • Lucie Wray Todd • Lettalou Whittington

$100-$499
Lee Abrams • Jane & Mike Allen • Debbie & Rick Armes • Cindy & John Bartos • Sandra & Walt Bates • Mary Ann Beauchemin & Gary Gray
Karen & Phil Beekman • Anastasia Benton • Gary Binderim • Bobette & John Bisbee • Catherine Black • Judy Boyce • Robin & Richard Brooks
Jeanette & Frank Bumgardner • Caroline & Charles Callery • Jane Campbell • Mary Carter • Claudia & Tom Cola • Ginger Coleman
Margaret & John Crowell • Eugene Decker • Bonnie & Stanley Deming • Mary Dodson • Michael Dumont • Cynthia & Michael Dunigan
Rosalyn Forster • Winnie Gage • Julia & Phil Garrett • Elizabeth & Steve Gast • Wallis Gregorcyk • Trudy Guinee • Alan Hadfield • Elizabeth Hall
Babette & Tod Harding • Marion Hargrove • Siew Bee & Kenneth Hartman • Betsy & Harry Harwood • Loral Haus • Lynda & Lionel Head
Joy & Bill Hester • Bernice & William Jackson • Wendy & Mavis Kelsey • Georgia & Stephen Kimmel • Georgia & John Koonce • Gwen Kunz
Barbara Kyse • A. H. Laughter • Audrey & Robert MacLean • Susan & Ronald Martin • Mary & Ken Marx • Stefanie Matta • Gwen & Neill McKinney
Barbara & Robert Meineke • Robert Mitchum • Margaret Montana • Debbie & Jack Moore • Jeff Mundy • Robert Nailing
Virginia & Roger Norton • Nancy & Richard Pautsch • Jet Prenderville • Peggy Randall • Becky & Ralph Reed • Beverly & Ellis Rudy
Dorothy & Kenneth Russell • Laurie Saxton • Cheryl Sedivec • Kathie & Al Shultz • Agnes & Pete Stanley • Janis & Scott Stevenson
James Stewart • Pamela & James Strachan • Barbara & Mark Thompson • Eliot Tucker • Mark Vagasky • Jane & Lloyd Vanderbilt
Caroline Vetterling • John Walsh • James Watson • Gordon White • Betty Williams • Nyla Woods • Lee & Andrew Wooley
Martha & Dick Wright • Paula & Bob Wynhoff • Sylvia & Norman Young

$1-$99
Aetna Foundation, Inc. • Margaret Aeschbach • Dwain Akins • Judy Bailey • Timon Barr • Mark Barr • Molly Bean • Robert Behrstock
Peggy Boston • BP Foundation, Inc. • Elizabeth Braun • Donna Bray • Thomas Brooker • Anne Bunting • Leslie & Roger Calvert
Jan & Gardner Campbell • Alta & Richard Cate • Kelle Clark • Sue Ann Cox • Rodney Crowl • Kevin Cummings • Dr. & Mrs. Louis Daily
Norma & Wallace Davenport • Peggy & Joe Jack Davis • Louis Debetaz • Joan & Harold Denkler • Sheila Dickie • Susann & Jerry Dowling
Edna Duffy • Sherri Dunlap • Harlan Evans • Malcolm Fletcher • Rae & Ronald Gilbert • Bill Graber • John Graves • Terry Grier
Sibylle Hanauske-kriebel • Laurel Hanscom • Shelia Hargis • Denise Herzberg • Ron Honefenger • Maggie & Bob Honig
Barbara & Ervin Howard • Burgess Jackson • Linda Johnson • Linda & James Johnson • Carolyn Johnson • Virginia & John Joiner
Monica & Kevin Jordan • Mary & Andrew Kean • Michael King • Peter Knight • Serena Kramer • Ann & William Kuhn • Linda Kullama
Diane & John Landon • Pamela Lightbody • Mary & Timothy Love • Frances & Peter Macgregor • Elizabeth Maxim • Cynthia McCarthy
Dale McClanahan • Stennie Meadours • Gary Mechler • Donna & Mark Meyer • Jeffrey Miller • Sue Mohring • Eva Moldovanyi • Brad Moloney
Mr. & Mrs. H. R. Moore • Kathleen & Ronald Moore • Sandra Moore • Diane Neff • Fred Nevill • Ann & Elmer Newman • Ariana Nizza
Roy Patrick Norris and Associates, PC • Thomas Olson • Suzanne & Arthur Otermat • Cee Cee & David Parker • Richard Plumb • Carey Porter
Colette & Curt Prudhomme • Barbara Railey • Marion Reid • Michelle Rozales • Beverly & Erik Sandvik • Frank Schaeffler • Rita Schaulat
H. Schneider • Judith Schott • Sue & John Schwaller • Mrs. Saint Seifert • Mary Sherwood • Lillian & James Skogsberg • Susan Smith
Vernon Smith • Pam Smolen • Richard Steele • Sadako & John Stroehlein • Cynthia Thompson • Jane & Frank Vanderbilt • Steven Vealey
Leslie Wagner • Tom Walters • John Ward • Karen & Armin Weinberg • Kathleen West • Lydia Westbrook • Doug Wetzel • Carl Wilkerson
Laurie Williams • John & Patricia Williams • Marilyn & Ed Wojcik • Dale Wolck • Mary & Andrew Wood • Marion Zachary

Gifts In-Kind
Sharon Chapman • Katie Emde • Hannah Native Grasses

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

Donations received and processed by January 21, 2010

6 The Naturalist • March/April 2010

International Migratory Bird Day
by Mary Anne Weber, Education Director
I nternational Migratory Bird Day was created
in 1993 by visionaries at the Smithsonian
Migratory Bird Center and the Cornell Laboratory
of Ornithology. From 1995 to 2006, the program
was under the direction of the National Fish and
Wildlife Foundation and U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service. Because of its consistent growth,
IMBD is now the premier education project of
Environment for the Americas.
IMBD continues to focus attention on one of
the most important and spectacular events
in the life of a migratory bird – its journey
between its summer and winter homes. Today,
it is celebrated in Canada, the U.S., Mexico, and
Birding in Idaho: June 5 - 13, 2010
H ouston Audubon is sponsoring a birding trip
to Idaho this coming June. The leader will be
Steve Gross. Steve has birded Idaho extensively
and holds the record for the Big Day in Idaho. The
trip will be limited to 12 people. Destinations
include the McCall, Snake River, Pocatello, and
Island Park areas as well as near Boise. There
will be excellent owling opportunities, with the
possibility of Great Gray Owl.
Costs are estimated to be between $1200 to
Spring Portraits
Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary
Saturday March 27 & Saturday, April 3
8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Have your family – children, moms & dads,
pets – photographed in the springtime
beauty of the Edith L Moore Nature
Sanctuary.
Portrait photographer Shannon Donahue
will feature your family amid the trees and
spring wildflowers surrounding the historic
1932 log cabin. Shannon is an active
member of the Audubon Docent Guild, and
the proceeds from this project will benefit
the Guild’s environmental education and
conservation programs.
To schedule your sitting, please contact
Bethany Foshée at 713-464-4900 or
docent@houstonaudubon.org. Leave your
name and best number if you cannot reach
us. We will call you back promptly.
Details in the Audubon Docent section of our
website.
www.houstonaudubon.org
Central America through
bird festivals and bird walks,
education programs, and
Bird Day!
We invite you to join us in
this important celebration.
Houston Audubon will be celebrating IMBD
2010 on May 8th at Sims Bayou Urban Nature
Center. The 2010 theme for IMBD is The Power
of Partnerships. The thousands of IMBD events
that will be held in 2010 will be celebrating the
amazing ability of collaborative partnerships to
benefit bird conservation. JOIN US, VOLUNTEER,
and SPREAD the WORD!
$1500 per person, not including airfare to Boise.
The trip will begin and end in Boise. Included
in the cost will be a donation of $200.00 to
Houston Audubon. Registration begins at the
HAS membership meeting on April 14. After the
meeting, registration can be made on April 15 at
6:30 p.m. by calling Skip Almoney, HAS Field Trip
Coordinator, at (713-524-4285).
Find additional information in the Birding
section of our website.
Get Involved – Volunteer!
Orientation for New Volunteers
Please join us at Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary
for our Spring Training on Saturday, Feb. 27, from
9 a.m to noon. We’ll explore the many ways
you can get involved with Houston Audubon.
Whether you like to work outside or in the office,
with adults or kids, we have something for
you! RSVP to Juanita Perkins at 713-932-1639,
jperkins@houstonaudubon.org.
High Island Work Day: March 13
We work from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., but volunteers
are welcome whenever they show up. Houston
Audubon supplies lunch, water, and some tools. If
you have favorite tools, please bring them along.
To sign up, please email Andrew Beck (abeck@
houstonaudubon.org)
Calling All Kiosk Volunteers!
Please sign up to volunteer at the High Island
kiosk. The season begins on March 24 and runs
through May 2. The birds and the birders make
this an exceptional experience for everyone. To
sign up, contact Juanita Perkins at 713-932-1639
or jperkins@houstonaudubon.org.
Festivals
Houston Audubon presents
5th Annual
Festival on the Bayou
May 8
Sims Bayou Urban Nature Center
Mark your calendars now to celebrate
International Migratory Bird Day with us!
Activities for all ages, live animals, crafts,
games, special guests, food, and fun!
Tickets will be available April 1
and at the gate.
$5 per ticket. Kids 3 and under are free.
8th Annual
FeatherFest
April 8 – 11 in Galveston
Register now for this spectacular
family friendly festival!
Volunteer to help at our booth by
contacting Juanita Perkins,
jperkins@houstonaudubon.org
Woodland & Wildlife Expo
May 1–2
Conroe
Helping you manage your piece of Texas
A one-stop shop for homeowners and
landowners in Texas, hosted by the Texas
Forest Service. Information booths, live
demos, free tree give-a-ways. Family
events include a rock climbing wall.
Mary Anne Weber and Flo Hannah will
make presentations during the expo.
Summer Camps
Don’t miss out on the
exciting adventures
awaiting kids at the
HAS camps at
Sims Bayou Urban Nature Center
and the Audubon Docent camps at
Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary!
Sign up today!
Details at www.houstonaudubon.org.
7
Houston Audubon Membership Form The
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All funds remain with Houston Audubon

in support of its mission and local sanctuaries.

Mission Statement
Houston Audubon Society promotes the conservation and
appreciation of birds and wildlife habitat.

Bulletin Board
February 27 Galveston Group Field Trip: Justin Hurst WMA (Peach Point)
27 Spring Orientation for New Volunteers, ELMNS (see p. 7) 31 Lecture: Bringing Nature Home with Douglas Tallamy (see p. 3)
27 Flying WILD Workshop, SBUNC April
27 HAS Field Trip: Mayes Trace and Lake Charlotte Weekly Bayou Buddies on Friday, SBUNC
27 Galveston Group Field Trip: Quintana and Bryan Beach Weekly Titmouse Club on Tuesday & Wednesday, ELMNS
March 3 Spring Portraits at ELMNS (see p. 7)
Weekly Bayou Buddies on Friday, SBUNC 8-11 FeatherFest in Galveston
Weekly Titmouse Club on Tuesday & Wednesday, ELMNS 10 Armand Bayou Nature Center Survey
10 Membership Meeting: Bird Conservation in the Yucatan 14 Membership Meeting: Coastal Update: Ike and the Whooping
with Barbara MacKinnon (see p. 1) Cranes with Jim Blackburn (see p. 1)
13 High Island Work Day (see p. 7) 15 After-School Nature Explorers Club, ELMNS
13 Armand Bayou Nature Center Survey 17 Family Nature Explore Club: Bolivar Peninsula & High Island
16 W. 11th St. Park Bird Survey 17 Willow Waterhole Survey
18 After-School Nature Explorers Club, ELMNS 20 W. 11th St. Park Bird Survey
20 Family Nature Explore Club: Washington on the Brazos 24 HAS Field Trip: High Island sanctuaries (see p. 4)
20 Willow Waterhole Survey May
24 Galveston Group Meeting: Spring Migration 1 Galveston Spring Bird Count (see p. 5) Audubon Foundation
27 Houston Audubon Birdathon begins 2 Houston Audubon Birdathon ends of Texas represents
Houston Audubon
27 Spring Portraits at ELMNS (see p. 7) 8 Festival on the Bayou, SBUNC (see p. 7) in the Earth Share
of Texas payroll
27 HAS Field Trip: Gulf Coast Bird Observatory (see p. 4) deduction plan for
charitable giving.

The Naturalist is printed with soy-based ink on recycled paper.