Zineera Seth, Houston Audubon Communications and Marketing Director It’s that time of year! You get to shower your friends and family with love and gifts. It can be challenging to think of something unique and special year after year, so we’re here to help. Whether you have bird lovers in your life or you’re trying […]
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Nelson’s Sparrow (Ammospiza nelsoni) Family: Passerellidae By Charlie Ayers, Houston Audubon Coastal Conservation Technician This week’s Beak of the Week brings pumpkin spice to the table, the Nelson’s Sparrow. The Nelson’s Sparrow is quite colorful for a member of this family. They can be identified by their bold yellow-orange faces, gray cheeks, and a neat […]
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Sneed B. Collard III, Author There’s no one right way to start birding. Some people begin by catching “birding fever” from friends. Others, by watching birds in their gardens. Perhaps a “spark bird” captures your attention and propels you into the larger joys of birding. Or maybe you get wowed by Blue-footed Boobies and Magnificent […]
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Welcome to the newest member of our team and the final Coastal Conservation Technician to join us in High Island this season – Theresa Kelly! Originally from the Philadelphia area, Theresa went to school at University of Delaware where she graduated with a degree in Wildlife Ecology & Conservation this past May. Always an avid […]
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Red Knot (Calidris canutus) Family: Scolopacidae By Theresa Kelly, Houston Audubon Coastal Conservation Technician This week’s Beak of the Week may seem to be a bit of a misnomer, as the Red Knot’s winter plumage can be fairly drab: pale brown underneath and speckled on the back and wings just like so many other shorebirds. […]
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Long-billed Curlew (Numenius americanus) Family: Scolopacidae By Nick Minnich, Houston Audubon Coastal Conservation Technician This week’s beak is nothing short of impressive. There’s a lot of information one can gather about a bird’s life simply by studying their physical characteristics; nonetheless, a bird’s bill often provides valuable insight into the species’ foraging and food preference. […]
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Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) Family: Falconidae By Nick Minnich, Houston Audubon Coastal Conservation Technician This week’s Beak of the Week is equipped with a unique adaptation that makes it the ultimate aerial hunter. Peregrine Falcons, regarded as the fastest flying bird, also have the widest natural distribution of any bird on Earth, nesting on every […]
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Welcome to the newest member of our team, Nick Minnich. Nick is joining us as a seasonal Coastal Conservation Technician in High Island. Nick is originally from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He was most recently on Buldir Island with Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge monitoring seabirds. Prior to that, Nick was on Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge […]
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American Redstart (Septophaga ruticilla) Family: Parulidae By Charlie Ayers, Houston Audubon Coastal Conservation Technician This week’s Beak of the Week belongs to a bird who is always ready for Halloween, the American Redstart. Adult males of this species are black overall with splashes of orange on the flanks, wings and tail. Females and immature males […]
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Neotropic Cormorant (Nannopterum brasilianum) Family: Phalacrocoracidae By Charlie Ayers, Houston Audubon Coastal Conservation Technician This week’s Beak of the Week is the Neotropic Cormorant. When birding near any body of water, be on the lookout for this small, slim, nearly all black bird with a long tail, large webbed feet and a thin straight bill […]
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