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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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, […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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Mary Anne Morris, Houston Audubon Education Director As the waning snow moon sank deep on the horizon, the first songs of the cardinal could be heard piercing the morning sky. The time had come for the annual competition that puts the B in bird and pits the birdwatchers from two hallowed teams against each other […]
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By Carrie Chapin, Houston Audubon Conservation Technician Despite good intentions, many things placed in backyards can cause harm to birds, resulting in injuries or mortalities. For example, birds can get sick from dirty feeders, and cats and windows are direct threats that vastly affect bird populations. Here are some of the most common backyard threats […]
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American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) Family: Fringillidae By Carrie Chapin, Houston Audubon Conservation Technician The American Goldfinch is a relatively common yet cute passerine whose flocks use many habitats, including neighborhoods, feeders, forests, fields, and edge habitats. Their range encompasses all of the contiguous U.S., though they do not breed in the southernmost states. This species […]
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