2009 Annual Report
Fiscal Year July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009
From the President and the Executive Director
H
ouston Audubon had a great year despite the
devastating effects of Hurricane Ike to coastal and
inland communities and wildlife habitat. Scores
of volunteers made the journey to our coastal sanctuaries
to remove tons of debris scattered by the storm. New
partnerships were formed with non-traditional allies during
clean-up, and Houston Audubon wishes to express its
heartfelt thanks to all who volunteered their valuable time,
expertise, and equipment.
During the last four years, Houston Audubon properties
have suffered tremendously from three hurricanes—Rita,
Humberto, and Ike. The organization’s sanctuaries are vitally
important nesting, feeding, and roosting areas for resident
and migrating birds.
Houston Audubon accomplishes its mission to promote the
conservation and appreciation of birds and wildlife habitat
in three important ways: land conservation and restoration,
environmental education and outreach, and conservation
advocacy. The organization enjoyed much success in its
land conservation and advocacy efforts, and environmental
education and outreach activities.
Land Conservation and Restoration: Houston Audubon
owns and manages nearly 3,400 acres of vital bird and
wildlife habitat, and actively pursues unique opportunities
to protect additional lands through partnerships. Last
Tricolored Herons at The Rookery at Smith Oaks, May 1, 2009
Photo courtesy of Joanne Kamo
year, partnerships with state and federal agencies, other
conservation organizations, and grassroots groups led to
the protection of thousands of acres of critical bird habitat in
Texas. Houston Audubon’s Land Rescue Fund, created to assist
in habitat protection, played a key role in the organization’s
conservation success.
Environmental Education and Outreach: Houston Audubon’s
education department didn’t let Hurricane Ike deter it from
presenting outstanding environmental education programs
to nearly 22,000 children and adults last year. Some, but not
nearly all, of the exciting outreach programs offered were:
“Swift Night Out” Chimney Swift bird counts, Family Nature
Explore field trips, and Bayou Buddies preschool education
classes. Of course, the education birds, too, logged hundreds
of hours in school, church, and civic performances!
Conservation Advocacy: Houston Audubon has been and
continues to be a strong voice for environmental issues and
accountability. Important issues advocated for this year
include, but are not limited to: wind farm siting guidelines,
Upper Texas Coast sustainability plan, Neotropical Migratory
Birds Conservation Act, mitigating impacts to birds due to
climate change, communication towers, and house cats.
The organization has accomplished much more than can be
summarized in this brief introduction, and we invite you to
review our annual report to discover the breadth of Houston
Audubon’s powerful purpose and influence.
Houston Audubon is truly grateful to each of you for your
support, and we hope you’ll continue partnering with us in
protecting birds and their habitat for future generations.
Jim Winn Gina Donovan
President Executive Director
 Bird Conservation
Houston Audubon Hot Topics
Over the past year Houston Audubon has taken advocacy positions
supporting our mission to protect birds and wildlife habitat on the
following topics:
• Developing a Long-Range Sustainability Plan for the
Upper Texas Coast
• Wind Farms
• Texas Border Wall
• Neches River NWR
• Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act
• Habitat Conservation Education
• Building Lights and Bird Mortality
• Cats and Birds
• Birds and Climate Change
• Preventing Bird Kills at Communications Towers Roseate Spoonbills at the Rookery at Smith Oaks, April 25, 2009
Photo: Joanne Kamo

Partners in Conservation
Columbia Bottomlands
Houston Audubon partnered with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and
the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to acquire a 28-acre addition
to the Bird Pond Unit of San Bernard NWR using Great Texas Birding
Classic prize money and matching funds from the Houston Audubon
Land Rescue Fund. The pond at Bird Pond Unit covers approximately
80% of the 100-acre tract. Acquiring this property will provide a buffer
zone around this important wetland and will allow for a nature trail. The
Bird Pond Unit is an important breeding and overwintering component
of the Columbia Bottomlands. Bird Pond is a site with extensive
populations of wintering waterfowl that include Priority Species from
the Texas Wildlife Action Plan, including Mottled Duck, Northern Pintail,
Swainson’s Warbler, Acadian Flycatcher, and many others.

Welder Flats
Bird Pond Unit, San Bernard NWR
Houston Audubon partnered with The Nature Conservancy and Travis
Audubon to protect 2,035 acres of Whooping Crane habitat through the
acquisition of a conservation easement at Welder Flats.

Evia Island
Houston Audubon is responsible for management of this
productive nesting island in Galveston Bay in partnership with
the Port of Houston, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish &
Wildlife Service (USFWS), Texas Parks & Wildlife, Audubon Texas,
and NOAA. In late May we conducted an inspection to count
the birds nesting on the island and to formulate a plan to restore
nesting habitat lost to Hurricane Ike. Most of the vegetation
had been washed off the island, the rock rip rap was moved,
and the island was covered with debris. Despite these changes,
we were pleasantly surprised to find birds nesting everywhere.
We found herons nesting in the rocks and in televisions. Their
determination to nest on the island shows how important that
location is to them. We plan to clean up the debris in the winter Tricolored Heron nesting in a television, Evia Island, spring 2009
of 2009/2010.

2 Houston Audubon 2009 Annual Report

 Bird Conservation
Partnering to Build Pocket Prairies
Houston Audubon partnered with the Katy Prairie Conservancy,
Texas Master Naturalists, Native Plant Society of Texas, Nature
Discovery Center, Outdoor Nature Club, Harris County Flood
Control District, Harris County Precinct 3, Citizens League for
Environmental Action Now, and the landowner to rescue plant
material from Saums Road Prairie. The several hundred-acre
pristine coastal prairie has since been destroyed to build a
roadway and detention basin.

Houston Audubon donors funded a mechanical relocation of

1000 sq. ft. of plants and topsoil that were transported to the Saums Road Prairie in 2008 before it was destroyed
new Brays Bayou Pocket Prairie just west of Buffalo Speedway
on South Braeswood. The rescued plants were also used to
build a pocket prairie at Mandell Park, and an existing pocket
prairie was expanded at Sims Bayou Urban Nature Center.
In addition, a large amount of the rescued plants went to
properties of the Katy Prairie Conservancy, Gulf Coast Bird
Observatory, and Russ Pitman Park in Bellaire. The rescued
plants will provide excellent education opportunities about
coastal prairie wildflowers and grasses, plus attract visitors and
many species of birds and insects.

Coastal Prairie Partnership Brays Bayou Pocket Prairie, created with some of the rescued plants

Houston Audubon co-sponsored a Coastal Prairie conference

with the Katy Prairie Conservancy, Armand Bayou Nature Center,
and two Master Naturalists organizations. The Coastal Prairie
Partnership’s goal is to promote the conservation, restoration,
and awareness of Coastal Prairie ecosystems. It is a new
umbrella coalition with a blend of nonprofit, government, and
academic organizations. For more information, please go to:
coastalprairiepartnership.org
Yucatan Partnerships
Houston Audubon supports bird conservation efforts in the Yucatan
by sponsoring Sian Ka’an guides at the Yucatan Bird Festival and
by providing financial support to Ninos y Crias, a nature education
program that provides nature workshops, with emphasis on birds, to
Yucatan children.

Bird Monitoring
Breeding Bird Surveys: Smith Oaks Rookery, North Deer
Island, and Evia Island.
Monthly Surveys: Bolivar Flats, Armand Bayou Nature
Center, W. 11th St. Park, and Willow Waterhole.
Swifts Over Houston: Houston Audubon created this
initiative to count Chimney Swifts and educate the public
Photo: Ben Hulsey

about the birds’ importance. Weekly counts are held at

several of the larger roosts. Over the past year, additonal
schools and churches have started participating in the
program.
Houston Bird Survey: led by Dr. Robert McFarlane
twice yearly to study urban bird distribution patterns.
Rare Bird Alerts: Houston Audubon sponsors and
manages the North American Rare Bird Alert (NARBA)
and the Texas Rare Bird Alert.
Christmas Bird Counts: Houston Audubon provides
publicity and website resources for CBCs throughout
Texas.
Aaron Stoley & Flo Hannah flushing sparrows at Hall’s Bayou
Banding at Hall’s Bayou
Houston Audubon continued its participation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service’s bird banding project at their two coastal prairie units. This past fall we
returned to the Hall’s Bayou Unit of Brazoria NWR led by USFWS ornithologist
Dr. Jennifer Wilson. At one outing, forty-nine sparrows were banded in a few
hours. The overwintering sparrows included Grasshopper, LeConte’s, Lincoln,
Song, Swamp, and Savannah Sparrows.

www.houstonaudubon.org 3
 Sanctuaries
San Jacinto

Montgomery Damuth and Winters Bayou Sanctuaries

Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary

B
Cleveland
olivar Flats is an exceptionally productive 1,146-acre complex of

Trinity
45
59
mud flats, marsh, uplands, and Gulf Beach front. The sanctuary
provides resting, feeding, and/or breeding sites for hundreds of
Liberty thousands of birds each year. Bolivar Flats’ special importance to 25
species of shorebirds prompted its designation as a “Site of International
Harris
Edith L. Moore
8
Winnie Importance” by the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network.
Nature Sanctuary
Houston
10
Jefferson
124 Hurricane Ike made a significant impact on the Bolivar Flats Shorebird
10 Chambers
Sims Bayou
High Island
Sanctuary, destroying fences and the vehicular barrier. However,
Urban Nature Boy Scout Woods
Center over 200 ft of beach and dunes were pushed into the back dunes
and Smith Oaks
wetlands, creating ideal bare sand habitat for Least Terns who had an
59 6 87 Mundy Marsh Bird Sanctuary
Galveston exceptionally productive nesting season using this new habitat. Varied
Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary
Alvin
45
Horseshoe Marsh Bird Sanctuary interesting debris was left on the beach and was cleaned up over the
Carolyn Raizes Davis Galveston course of three volunteer work days. The vehicular barrier and some of
Bird Sanctuary North Deer Island Bird Sanctuary the fences have been rebuilt, and birders continue to report sightings
Brazoria that demonstrate the importance of this incredibly diverse habitat.
288
Dos Vacas Muertas Bird Sanctuary
Br
az Partners: BP, Gulf Coast Bird Observatory
os

Houston Audubon’s sanctuaries include 3,373 acres of

pinewoods, coastal mud flats, bottomland hardwood
forests, coastal marshes, and urban forests.
Our sanctuary system includes the internationally known
High Island and Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuaries.

High Island

H igh Island, TX is an elevated salt dome of wooded habitat

surrounded by coastal wetlands on the eastern end of Bolivar
Peninsula. Our four sanctuaries at High Island, totaling 256 acres,
provide critical nesting and refueling stops for thousands of
neotropical migrants.
During Hurricane Ike, water rose to heights of 20 feet on the Bolivar
Peninsula and flooded the slopes of High Island’s salt dome, turning
it into an actual island. The saltwater infiltrated two ponds at Smith
Oaks Sanctuary, disrupting their freshwater life. We have since
drained the higher of the two ponds and are awaiting rains to
replenish habitat that was compromised.
During the fall, winter, and spring, we saw an incredible number of
volunteers at our work days helping to clean the debris left behind
by the hurricane. Our shop at Boy Scout Woods is evolving into a
Rose-breasted Grosbeak at High Island, April 26, 2009
Photo: Greg Lavaty
Magnolia Warbler at High Island, April 27 2009
Photo: Greg Lavaty
focal point of productivity for our coastal sanctuary system. The newest
addition to our conservation arsenal is a 4-wheel drive off-road utility
vehicle that we employ frequently. Also included in our fleet is our
John Deere tractor. Both vehicles run on 100% biodiesel from Houston
Biodiesel.
Some birders worried that the birds wouldn’t come in the spring
because of the hurricane, but the birds didn’t know anything about the
storm. They just migrated, and when they reached the Upper Texas
Coast, we had lots of habitat ready for them. Spring came, and with it
came the birds, the birders, and our wonderful volunteers. This was the
second year of Houston Audubon’s partnership with Tropical Birding
at High Island. Several Tropical Birding guides spent the spring at High
Island leading free bird walks in our sanctuaries. The walks were well
attended, and while we had fewer birders than usual on the Upper
Texas Coast, those who were there came from 45 states and 15 foreign
countries, and they were not disappointed. Birding was great.
Partners: Tropical Birding, the Malcolm C. Damuth Foundation, the
McCullough Foundation, the Native Plant Society – Houston Chapter,
ChevronTexaco, and the Apache Foundation.

4 Houston Audubon 2009 Annual Report

Sanctuaries

Spotlight on Recovery
The Bolivar Peninsula after Hurricane Ike

T he debris of destroyed Bolivar homes and businesses remains

scattered throughout the Bolivar Peninsula. Houston Audubon
owns over 2,300 acres on the peninsula, and since September 13,
2008 we have removed VHS tapes, dishes, coffee pots, clothes,
children’s toys, picture frames, books, basketballs, beer bottles,
shower curtains, pesticides, bicycles, gasoline containers, mattresses,
plumbing, air conditioners, televisions, refrigerators, traffic lights,
septic tanks, bedroom furniture, automobiles, boardwalks, staircases,
our own signs originating from miles away, boats, large oceangoing
shipping containers, thousands of board feet of lumber, entire
houses, and anything else under the sun you can imagine.
We have learned a great deal about disaster relief and recovery in the
past 4 years. Rita, Humbeto, and Ike have all taught us how to work and contractors who have listened to our concerns and included us in
effectively to clean up and move on. Partnerships are formed with finding solutions.
local, state, and federal agencies that actually accomplish a great Most of all, we thank our volunteers, members, and donors who have
deal while at the same time seeming to confuse and slow things aided in so many ways on our path to recovery. From the first cleanup
down. But that is all part of the chaos. We couldn’t do it alone and day in October 2008 until today, a year later, we are still utilizing every
we wouldn’t ever want to try. We wish to thank all of those agencies form of help that our dedicated supporters have offered.

Horseshoe Marsh Bird Sanctuary North Deer Island

H orseshoe Marsh is a 645-acre wetland complex that includes salt

marsh and wet coastal prairie surrounding a shallow tidal lagoon.
It is critical habitat for large numbers of shorebirds, waders and ducks.
N orth Deer Island hosts the most productive waterbird breed-
ing colony in Galveston Bay. It is critical to protect this island so
nesting habitat remains available in the future. Hurricane Ike left tons
An extensive habitat restoration project to replace invasive exotic of debris on North Deer, littering the coastline with everything from
plants, such as Chinese Tallow, with native plants is ongoing. couches to boats, stop signs to coolers. We were worried at first that
some debris would collect rain water, making island life a little too
Hurricane Ike’s storm surge and the ensuing cleanup destroyed critical
easy for raccoons, who prey on birds. After some raccoon and fire ant
habitat in some highly vegetated areas of Horseshoe Marsh. The
control in the winter, we stopped landing our boat at North Deer and
dense yaupon, salt cedar and oak lots by Galveston County’s Fort Travis
were content to watch as it once again became an exciting nesting
Seashore Park are no longer areas where migratory birds can revive
site for thousands of birds.
themselves unseen to humans. The vegetation was lost to salt water
and debris, and then the land was cleared by FEMAs contractor Garner Partners: Texas Parks and Wildlife, Audubon Texas, Galveston Bay
Environmental. While there has been little rain since September 2008 Estuary Program, USFWS Coastal Program, National Coastal Wetland
and the land is dry, pioneering plant species seem to have established Conservation Program, Kempner Fund, Gulf of Mexico Program,
in these barren areas. Even the yaupon roots that survived the salt Meadows Foundation.
and compaction are
resprouting.
Habitat recovery
throughout the inner
parts of Horseshoe Marsh
is ongoing. Although
the debris left by Ike
is scattered and light,
cleanup is difficult and
time consuming. Most of The Hooker Company placed orange warning
the storm debris is caught markers around a Killdeer’s nest which was
in the many miles of on a right-of-way.
sloughs that run east-to-
west throughout the property. With less than a week left to get the
debris out on the county right-of-ways, we hired The Hooker Company
to pick up the boardwalks, walls, couches, etc out of these low areas in
order to proceed with marsh management.
Semipalmated Sandpiper at Bolivar Flats, April 6, 2009
Partners: Galveston Bay Master Naturalists, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Photo: Greg Lavaty
Service, and Ducks Unlimited
www.houstonaudubon.org 5
 Sanctuaries

Among Our Plans for the Coming Year ...

• More community habitat restoration partnerships on the Bolivar
Peninsula
• Continuation of coastal sanctuary habitat restoration projects
• Improvements to the Levee Trail and overlooks at the Smith Oaks
Rookery
• Fencing and new signs at Bolivar Flats and Horseshoe Marsh
• New brochure for the Port Bolivar Sanctuaries
• The recession presents a rare opportunity to protect more
habitat than we would be able to normally. We plan to continue
supporting the Austin’s Woods Conservation Plan, a Columbia Upland Sandpiper at High Island, April 1 2009
Bottomlands acquisition project. Photo: Greg Lavaty

Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary

Headquarters for Houston Audubon
Highlights: As with many of our other sanctuaries, volunteers and
staff focused on clearing fallen trees and replanting after Hurricane
Ike. Andrew Beck led the cleanup, with over 100 volunteers including:
staff, Scout Troop 599, British Petroleum, and Audubon Docent Guild
volunteers, Tuesday Trailcrew, and a professional tree cutting crew.
We were able to re-open the sanctuary to the public on October
8th. Through the hard work of Troop 599 Eagle Scout candidates, we
removed the non-native yellow iris from the large pond and replaced
it with native plants. BP volunteers and Troop 599 planted Eastern
gamagrass along Rummel Creek in an effort to control erosion. The
grass has flourished and is successfully holding the creek bank.
Plans are underway for a major restoration project for the Edith L. Scouts cleaning the pond at Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary
Moore log cabin. Built in 1932 using logs from the site, the cabin was
dedicated as a Texas State Historical Site in 1997.
Sims Bayou Urban Nature Center
Education Headquarters for Houston Audubon
Highlights: Sims Bayou Urban Nature Center is a unique one-acre site
on the southeast side of Houston. Located along an historic section
of Sims Bayou, the nature center, along with the park next door,
provides important habitat for migrant and nesting bird species. The
diversity of habitats from parkscape, open woodlands, dense thickets,
and bayou allow visitors to see everything from Osprey, Anhinga,
and Wood Duck to hummingbirds, hawks, and vireos. When the rain
and wind of Hurricane Ike stopped, the center was a mess. Luckily
the buildings were not damaged except for metal awnings that were
eventually recycled. Houston Audubon is still picking up debris and
making repairs, and neighbors who assisted after the storm are still
helping. Fortunately the birds don’t mind the bent and broken fences
and leaning trees. The education animals came through the storm
without a scratch. Little did they know about the frantic search for a
generator to power the frozen rodent freezer and other fresh foods
they eat. They weren’t concerned. They trust us to care for them
Boy Scout Troop 1190 had built most of the trails, boardwalk, and and in return they delight young and old who visit the center and
bayou deck at Sims Nature Center, and they returned to help participate in classes.
restore our sanctuary.

6 Houston Audubon 2009 Annual Report

 Education and Outreach
Houston Audubon provides exemplary environmental education
programs that instruct on the critical needs of native birds and
wildlife. The programs offer unique educational experiences that
foster a love of birds and birding. Over the past fiscal year, 500
programs were attended by over 20,000 participants.
Education Animals
H ouston Audubon
is fortunate to
have an amazing array
of education wildlife
that helps bring the
educational programs
to life every day of the
year. Our education
animals are either
non-releasable due to
injuries sustained in
the wild or they were
donated by someone
who could no longer One of our education raptors is
care for them. Rio, a Swainson’s Hawk
Support of our adoption
program ensures high quality housing, food, veterinary care, and
training for all of our animals.
Spotlight on
Bayou Buddies
B ayou Buddies, our preschool program aimed
at children ages 3-5, exhibted enormous
success during its second year. In order to keep
the program interesting for returning students,
an entirely new curriculum highlighting native
Texas animals was developed. Beginning with “A
is for Alligator”, we worked our way through the
alphabet to “Z is for Zenaida macroura” (Mourning
Dove). Every 90-minute session included a natural
history lesson, story, snack, nature hike, and craft
all themed around the animal of the week.
Diane Gordon, Director of Children’s Programming
for Hooked on Nature said, “During the preschool
years a child’s brain is twice as active as an
adult’s…and it is the child’s relationships and
experiences during these early years that greatly
influence how the brain develops. They learn
best through their everyday experiences with
the people they love and trust and when the
learning is fun. The best place for these experiences
is outdoors, in the natural world.” The Sims Bayou
Urban Nature Center is an ideal setting to stimulate
learning and to foster an appreciation of nature in the young
participants.
www.houstonaudubon.org
On the Road with the Education Team
T he Audubon Education Staff travel great distances to spread
the organizational message. We are fortunate to have a loyal
following that requests our programs each year. Four times a year
we head to Camp Allen in Navasota to give presentations at family
camps, pastoral conferences, and the annual Joni and Friends camp
for disabled persons. We also give talks and host a booth at the
annual Texas Forest Expo in Conroe. Each summer we travel to Port
Arthur to talk about birds to the Envirokids Camp at the Museum
of the Gulf Coast. This is a camp for underprivileged youth in Port
Arthur.
This past year we also expanded our “Swifts Over Houston” initiative.
Partnering with the Nature Discovery Center and local members
and volunteers, we engaged the public with our swift counts and
presentations from spring through fall. Our programs are hugely
popular with the local AARP chapters, garden clubs, women’s clubs,
and church groups. Keeping our programming fresh and new is a
challenge, but it is one we are happy to face.
During the winter of 2008 a new idea was hatched at one of
our quarterly meetings with Houston Wilderness. After much
brainstorming, “Nature Challenge 2009” was launched. The event
gave families 8 weeks to race around southeast Texas completing
missions at nature centers, wildlife refuges, state forests and parks,
and recreational areas. Sims Bayou Urban Nature Center created
a unique mission that each family had to complete before they
received their mission stamp.
Since children learn by doing, many
of the activities encouraged them to
“be the animal of the week”. Building
a beaver dam, stinging plankton like a
jellyfish, playing opossum, searching
for hidden acorns like a squirrel, and
migrating like a Whooping Crane
are only a few examples of ways the
children discovered the behaviors of
the featured creature. At least one
guardian accompanies each child
during class and gets to share in the
experience. It’s through these shared
activities that the Bayou Buddies
program helps connect children and
their families to nature, a mission to
which the Education Department is
committed.
Preparing weekly lessons for Bayou
Buddies is challenging and time
consuming, but the experience of
A Bayou Buddy shows off the plankton he
caught with his stinging cells. interacting with the students every week
is extremely rewarding. It’s our hope
that the Bayou Buddies program will
help shape the environmental attitudes and behaviors of the
children involved so they will become responsible caretakers of
the Earth as adults.
7
Education and Outreach

It’s a Family Affair Festival on the Bayou

I t was with great anticipation that we
launched our new Family Nature Explore
Club in September of 2008. The idea
E very year Houston Audubon celebrates International Migratory
Bird Day (IMBD). IMBD was created in 1993 by dedicated staff
and bird lovers alike at the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center and
was simple: families gather at the nature the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Because of its consistent growth,
center to learn about a particular natural IMBD is now the premiere education project of Environment for
history subject, they enjoy a picnic lunch, the Americas. IMBD focuses attention on the life of migratory
and then get involved in age-appropriate birds - their journey between summer and winter homes. Today,
activities with their children that go it is celebrated in Canada, the U.S., Mexico, and Central America
along with the theme. Families get to through bird festivals, programs, bird walks, and Bird Day.
know one another, make new friends,
Houston Audubon’s Festival
and explore areas around Houston they
on the Bayou brings folks
may have never gone to before. Our aim
from around the city and
is to help families build memories and
down the street to Sims
learn about native Texas flora and fauna.
Bayou Urban Nature Center
We also introduce them to ways they
for a day of educational
can get involved in conservation efforts.
games, crafts, guest speakers,
The club has been a huge success. Each
bird walks, and great food.
month new faces join us, and we stretch
This year we were fortunate
our imaginations as we learn amazing things about the natural
to have “Mr. Clint the Snake
world around us. We hiked around Lake Houston Park and visited
Man” present an educational
the rookery at High Island. This coming year we will be expanding
program along with Sharon
our field trips and introducing Houston families to the natural
Schmaltz from Wildlife Rehab
wonders that surround us in the Bayou City. Family Nature Clubs
and Education. The 2009
are sprouting up across the country, and we are proud to have our
theme was “Celebrating Birds
own in Houston.
in Culture” and we gave a
special presentation about
birds of myth and legend.
Education Partnerships

P artnerships are critical when spreading broad messages across

a large metropolitan area. For the last seven years Houston
Audubon has been forging a strong relationship with the Houston
Parks and Recreation Department. Youth programs at local
community centers allow us to bring the message and mission of
bird conservation to underserved populations. Funding provided
by the Parks Department also helps to ensure that the city youth
are able to visit natural areas like the Sims Bayou Urban Nature
Center each summer. The summer camp program offered by the
Parks Department funds the field trips and reimburses partners
like Houston Audubon for time and supplies. Our “mini” bird
camps offer a unique opportunity for these young Houstonians.
Houston Audubon Programs
Membership Meetings with Guest Speakers • Birding Field Trips
Bird Surveys and other Citizen Science Projects
North American Rare Bird Alert and Texas Rare Bird Alert
Birding Classes • Galveston Group Meetings and Field Trips
Houston Audubon Nature Photography Association
Festival on the Bayou • Holiday at the Cabin
Discover Birds Outreach Programs • Summer Nature Camps
Field Trips to Sims Bayou Urban Nature Center
Bayou Buddies • Girl Scout Badge Workshops
Library Programs • Educator Workshops

Bird Education Network Website Resources

F or the last two years Mary Anne Weber has

served on the BEN (Bird Education Network)
committee. This has been a great privilege
• Information on how to help protect birds and their habitats
• Resources on nature, conservation, migration, birds of
the Upper Texas Coast (www.houstonaudubon.org), and
and honor. BEN provides educators working in the field of bird North American rare birds (www.narba.org).
conservation with a variety of new tools and strategies they can
employ to be more effective. In February 2009, BEN, coordinating Publications
with the Council for Environmental Education, hosted a national • The Naturalist newsletter
gathering of bird conservation educators in Georgia. The meeting • Annual Report
was a great success. Representatives from federal and state agencies, • Coastal Spring Report
formal educators, nonformal educators, NGO’s, birding centers and • Education Annual Report
many more gathered to listen, exchange ideas, gather new ideas and • E-News: Naturalist, HAS Field Notes, Education, Advocacy
recharge each other with success stories from around the country.

8 Houston Audubon 2009 Annual Report

Houston Audubon
Staff Board of Directors Board of Advisors
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR PRESIDENT Jim Winn Gerard A. Bertrand Ann Wier Jones
Gina Donovan PAST PRESIDENT Joy Hester Sara Bettencourt Mavis P. Kelsey, Jr.
SANCTUARY MANAGER PRESIDENT-ELECT Mary Carter Peggy Boston Robert McFarlane
Winnie Burkett CORPORATE SECRETARY Judith Boyce Caroline Callery Jeff Mundy
SR. SANCTUARY STEWARD TREASURER Andrew Lopez Claire Caudill Donal C. O’Brien, Jr.
Flo Hannah DIRECTORS-AT-LARGE: Gary W. Clark Heidi Rockecharlie
SANCTUARY STEWARD John Bartos Fred Collins Rob Rowland
Andrew Beck Ginger Coleman Scott Davis Andrew Sansom
EDUCATION DIRECTOR Lynn Forster Victor Emanuel Steve Smith
Mary Anne Weber Richard Goldfarb Ted Eubanks, Jr. Kathryn Smyth
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATOR Kathryn Hale Julia Garrett James R. Stewart, Jr.
Vicki Vroble Bernice Hotman Stephen Gast Lucie Wray Todd
COMMUNITY RELATIONS DIRECTOR Ben Hulsey Gene Graham John L. Whitmire
Robin Leonard Jeffrey Mills Terry Hershey Lettalou Whittington
COMMUNITY RELATIONS ASSOCIATE Geoffrey Newton Ford Hubbard, III
Andrea Ritchie Laurie Williams
CONTROLLER
Barbara Thompson GALVESTON GROUP
Jeffrey Woodman
Members
OFFICE MANAGER and REPRESENTATIVE: Alice Anne O’Donell Number of members: 4,500
VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR
Juanita Perkins

Volunteers
HOUSTON AUDUBON Over 600 volunteers worked over 15,000 hours on Houston Audubon
projects during the past fiscal year.
Address: 440 Wilchester Blvd.
Houston, TX 77079
Telephone 713-932-1639 Hurricane Ike Cleanup Volunteers:
FAX 713-461-2911 Laura Singleton Exceptional Volunteer Award Co-Winners
E-mail info@houstonaudubon.org

Education Department
Address: 3997 River Drive
Telephone: 713-640-2407
www.houstonaudubon.org
www.narba.org
Kentucky Warbler at High Island
April 6, 2009
Photo: Greg Lavaty
This year’s winners of the Laura Singleton
Outstanding Volunteer Award are the
Hurricane Ike Cleanup Volunteers.
• They cleaned up Edith L Moore where
there was tree debris on the trails.
• They picked up debris and cleared
trails at Sims Bayou Urban Nature
Center.
• They helped get debris out of Dos
Vacas Muertas on Galveston Island.
• They picked up the inventory of a
store scattered through Horseshoe
Marsh and planted grass and
wildflower seeds where the vegetation
was dead. Volunteers Don Verser and Aaron Stoley clear the
Rummel Creek bridge at Edith Moore Sanctuary.
• They picked up TONS of boards and
plastic at Bolivar Flats.
Ike really made a mess of Houston Audubon’s
• They cleared trails, made huge burn Sanctuaries, but our volunteers came to the
piles, pulled privet and planted trees rescue. Over one hundred volunteers have spent
and shrubs at High Island. more then 2,500 hours cleaning up storm debris.

www.houstonaudubon.org 9
 About Houston Audubon
Houston Audubon is one of the largest and most active chapters
of the National Audubon Society. We are a nonprofit 501(c)(3)
organization and are supported by member dues and donations
from individuals, foundations and corporations. Contributions
made to us remain with the organization and support our activities.
We receive limited funding from National Audubon Society and no
funds from the city or state government. Our mission is to promote
the conservation and appreciation of birds and wildlife habitat.

Charity Navigator, the country’s leading

nonprofit evaluator, awarded its highest rating,
Summer Tanager feasting on a mulberry at High Island
April 17, 2009. Photo: Joanne Kamo Four Star Charity, to Houston Audubon.

2009 & 2008 STATEMENTS OF ACTIVITIES

Fiscal Year July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009 Fiscal Year July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008
SUPPORT AND REVENUE SUPPORT AND REVENUE
Individual Contributions $ 270,080 Individual Contributions $ 354,677
Foundation, Trust, and Agency Contributions $ 195,610 Foundation, Trust, and Agency Contributions $ 731,397
Fundraising Events $ 85,349 Fundraising Events $ 82,077
Memberships $ 54,818 Memberships $ 59,873
Corporate Contributions $ 44,339 Corporate Contributions $ 18,777
High Island Patch Sales and Admissions $ 43,091 High Island Patch Sales and Admissions $ 65,801
Education Programs $ 39,003 Education Programs $ 54,718
Merchandise Sales $ 26,105 Merchandise Sales $ 38,588
Environmental Service Fees $ 24,263 Environmental Service Fees $ 26,485
Loss on Destruction of Property (Hurricane Ike) $ (18,579)
Investment Revenue (includes interest, dividends, $ (135,287) Investment Revenue (includes interest, dividends, $ ( 88,264)
realized & unrealized gain on investments) realized & unrealized gain on investments)
Total Support and Revenue $ 628,792 Total Support and Revenue $ 1,344,129

EXPENSES EXPENSES
Program Services Program Services
Sanctuaries $ 360,350 Sanctuaries $ 506,016
Education, Membership, and Outreach $ 293,692 Education, Membership, and Outreach $ 271,913
Advocacy inluding Contributions to Other Nonprofits $ 134,732 Advocacy including Contributions to Other Nonprofits $ 198,344
Cost of Merchandise Sold $ 19,733 Cost of Merchandise Sold $ 24,259
$ 808,507 $ 1,000,532
Supporting Services Supporting Services
Management and General $ 141,453 Management and General $ 168,500
Fundraising $ 133,786 Fundraising $ 85,505
$ 275,239 $ 254,005
Total Expenses $ 1,083,746 Total Expenses $ 1,254,537

Beginning Net Assets $ 5,829,411 Beginning Net Assets $ 5,739,819

Ending Net Assets $ 5,374,457 Ending Net Assets $ 5,829,411
Houston Audubon’s financial statments for the year ending June 30, 2009, were audited by the Certified Public Accounting firm of Blazek & Vetterling LLP.
A copy of our complete financial statements can be obtained by contacting Houston Audubon, 440 Wilchester Blvd., Houston, TX 77079.

10 Houston Audubon 2009 Annual Report