Beak of the Week – House Sparrow

House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)Family: Passeridae The House Sparrow is easy to find year-round, even in the heat of summer. House Sparrows thrive in urban environments, where there are often very few resources available for birds, but they can also be found in a variety of suburban and agricultural landscapes. Where food is available, large flocks […]

Read More

The Purple Martin Spectacle

By Glenn Olsen, GO Birding Ecotours July on the upper Texas Coast is hot–too hot for many of us to enjoy getting out and birding. However, the early mornings and early evenings can be bearable, and provide an opportunity to see some of the birds that will soon be leaving us. Fortunately, we have our […]

Read More

The Fourth "R"

By Nhu Bui and Hannah Guyton, Interns, Citizens\’ Environmental Coalition (CEC) You\’ve probably heard all about the three R\’s to save the environment. Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. It\’s been drilled into our heads since childhood, and these steps are undoubtedly crucial parts to creating a sustainable society. However, this month we are focusing on the lesser-known fourth […]

Read More

4 Ways to Reduce Plastic Pollution Locally this Plastic Free July

By Sasha Francis, Community Engagement Coordinator, Galveston Bay Foundation Plastic pollution in waterways is a huge problem all around the world with concerning global and local impacts. In the Houston-Galveston area, plastic pollution increases flood risks to neighborhoods when it is trapped in drains, causes water quality issues, and creates an unsightly view while you […]

Read More

Beak of the Week – Brown-headed Nuthatch

Brown-headed Nuthatch(Sitta pusilla)Family: Sittidae Often found clinging to tree trunks and branches, the Brown-headed Nuthatch is equally at home climbing upward and downward among the high branches of pine forests. Their rather unique habit of walking down tree trunks headfirst may appear silly, but it comes in handy when they are foraging for insects in […]

Read More

Meet our newest ambassador animals!

Houston Audubon’s Raptor and Education Center, located in southeast Houston, is not only a beautiful nature sanctuary, but also our education headquarters and home to our ambassador animals. And this past spring has brought some exciting new additions to our team of 31 animals, including 13 birds of prey. The majority of the birds that […]

Read More

Beak of the Week – White-winged Dove

White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica) Family: Columbidae “Who cooks for you?” Though the Barred Owl has made this phrase famous in the bird world, the call of the White-winged Dove also fits this same rhythm – albeit at a bit higher pitch. In large parts of its breeding range in the desert southwest, the White-winged Dove […]

Read More

A Day at Houston Audubon’s Raptor and Education Center

I had the great pleasure to hang out with Mary Anne Weber, Houston Audubon\’s Education Director, and Dawn Monachino, Education Specialist, both of whom office out of the Houston Audubon Raptor and Education Center (HAREC) in southeast Houston. Dawn gave me a tour of the sanctuary, which I was very eager to check out since […]

Read More

Beak of the Week – Fulvous Whistling-Duck

Fulvous Whistling-Duck(Dendrocygna bicolor)Family: Anatidae The Fulvous Whistling-Duck can generally be found visiting the Houston area during the summer breeding season. They visit our area while most species of North American waterfowl are breeding further north, taking up residence in marshy ponds, irrigated fields, and coastal wetlands. While their regular migration may be rather well understood, […]

Read More

A return to birding

COVID-19 has changed everything for me. It has been one of the rare moments in my adult life where I have had a second to breathe and reassess everything. I’ve reconnected with family and friends, started eating better, bought a bike and lost 12 lbs.  However, there was one reconnection that meant the most to […]

Read More