Beak of the Week – Swallow-tailed Kite

March 31, 2023.Reading time 4 minutes.

Swallow-tailed Kite (Elanoides forficatus) Family: Accipitridae By Jon Piasecki, Houston Audubon Conservation Technician The Swallow-tailed Kite is one of the most beautiful and unique birds that can be seen in North America. This species is present year-round through much of South America and can only be seen in the United States during the migration and […]

City Nature Challenge is almost here-Help Houston-Galveston rank first again!

March 28, 2023.Reading time 7 minutes.

By Amber Leung, Houston Audubon Staff Naturalist & Educator City Nature Challenge is an annual international bioblitz where cities engage in a friendly competition to see who can gather the most observations of nature, find the most species, and engage the most people. This is a 2-part event that starts with an observation period (April […]

Beak of the Week – Worm-eating Warbler

March 24, 2023.Reading time 4 minutes.

Worm-eating Warbler (Helmitheros vermivorum) Family: Parulidae By Carrie Chapin, Houston Audubon Conservation Technician One member of the great menagerie of warblers to visit the Texas coast during spring migration is the secretive Worm-eating Warbler. Previously placed in the same genus as Swainson’s Warbler, this small passerine frequents forest understories and can be difficult to find […]

Trip Itinerary: A Birdy Weekend at High Island

March 21, 2023.Reading time 25 minutes.

By Stuart Nelson Get those picnics packed, binoculars polished, and hiking shoes laced up tight – spring migration is upon us! This special time of year, lasting roughly from March through May, and peaking in late April, brings over a billion birds through Texas, many of which stop along the Upper Texas Coast (UTC) to […]

Welcome to Schyler Brown, Houston Audubon’s New Conservation Specialist!

March 20, 2023.Reading time 8 minutes.

We’re excited to introduce the newest addition to our conservation team. Schyler will focus on our community science and monitoring initiatives. He recently completed his MS degree, where he studied landscape ecology and remote sensing methods. He spent a lot of time in his undergrad birding, bird-banding, and contributing to ornithological research — including 3 […]

Beak of the Week – Northern Parula

March 17, 2023.Reading time 3 minutes.

Northern Parula (Setophaga americana) Family: Parulidae By Jon Piasecki, Houston Audubon Conservation Technician The Northern Parula is a tiny species of warbler that can be seen throughout the eastern half of the United States during the migration and breeding seasons. Adults have beautiful blue-gray wings, head and back, white eye-arcs, a greenish back patch and […]

Beak of the Week – Common Tern

March 10, 2023.Reading time 4 minutes.

Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) Family: Laridae By Carrie Chapin, Houston Audubon Conservation Technician Common Terns are a fairly regular sight along the Upper Texas Coast as they migrate through in the spring and fall. Their numbers here peak in April and October, but a few individuals stick around during summer. One of the medium-sized terns, […]

Beak of the Week – Sandhill Crane

March 3, 2023.Reading time 4 minutes.

Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis) Family: Gruidae By Jon Piasecki, Houston Audubon Conservation Technician Sandhill Cranes are the smaller of the two species of crane native to North America. This species looks similar to their relative, the Whooping Crane, but are much more abundant. In fact, Sandhill Crane populations have been growing by nearly 4% each […]

Beak of the Week – Rock Pigeon

February 24, 2023.Reading time 4 minutes.

Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) Family: Columbidae By Carrie Chapin, Houston Audubon Conservation Technician This week’s Beak of the Week focuses on the Rock Pigeon, a species often scoffed at by birders and city-goers alike. The Rock Pigeon is a charismatic, cosmopolitan species known to almost everyone due to its strong presence in pop culture and […]

Beak of the Week – Vermilion Flycatcher

February 17, 2023.Reading time 4 minutes.

Vermilion Flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubinus) Family: Tyrannidae By Jon Piasecki, Houston Audubon Conservation Technician Vermilion Flycatchers are a beautiful species that stand out in their natural habitat. Adult males have a remarkably vibrant red crown, throat, and belly with black wings, back and eye patch. Females tend to be brown/gray with a white breast and red-orange […]