Reddish Egret (Egretta rufescens) Family: Ardeidae By Colleen McDonough, Houston Audubon Coastal Conservation Technician The Reddish Egret is North America’s rarest (and likely most eccentric) heron. An array of fast-paced and erratic hunting movements makes these birds stand out boldly among other wading species. Reddish Egrets are found almost exclusively near saltwater and brackish wetlands, […]
Read More
By Diego Lopez, Houston Audubon Young Professionals Advisory Council 2025 Community, Celebration, and Conservation were the main themes of Houston Bird Week 2025! During the 7th annual Bird Week, a total of 38 events were held across the Houston region which attracted over 2,000 participants. These events, which included bird walks at the Edith L. […]
Read More
American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliates) Family: Haematopodidae By Spencer Poling, Houston Audubon Coastal Conservation Technician This week’s Beak of the Week, the American Oystercatcher, is one that would be difficult to confuse with any other species in the area. Oystercatchers, family Haematopodidae, are known to frequent coasts around most of the world and for their bright […]
Read More
Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus) Family: Laniidae By Colleen McDonough, Houston Audubon Coastal Conservation Technician The Loggerhead Shrike, nicknamed “butcherbird”, is a songbird with unexpected carnivorous tendencies. Similar in size to a cardinal, shrikes are mostly gray with a black eye mask, hooked bill, and white wing patches visible in flight. The Loggerhead Shrike is one […]
Read More
Caroline Nixson, Volunteer Coordinator, Houston Audubon Houston may be known for its freeways and skyscrapers, but it’s also a city shaped by water, sky, and the creatures that move through both. Perched at the intersection of coastal prairie, piney woods, bottomland forest, and estuarine wetlands, the Bayou City is uniquely positioned at a vibrant ecological […]
Read More
Wyatt Egelhoff, Sanctuary Manager, Houston Audubon We’re excited to introduce everyone to a “new” Piping Plover at Bolivar Flats – “VGV” (short for ”Violet, Dark Green, Violet”)! This female Piping Plover was born in the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore (Lake Superior), Wisconsin in 2023. She returned to the area in 2024 and this past summer […]
Read More
Wyatt Egelhoff, Sanctuary Manager and Victoria Parker-Thacker, Seasonal Coastal Avian Technician, Houston Audubon Shortly before the woods fill with migrating songbirds, Houston Audubon staff spring into action, readying the beaches of the Bolivar Peninsula for the arrival of our beach-nesting birds in mid-March. For over a decade, Houston Audubon has monitored and stewarded several key […]
Read More
Article and photos by Amanda Jerng I recently collaborated with Houston Audubon to host our first bird walk for students at Cullinan Park, an event that ranks among the most inspiring experiences of my life. I had so much fun sharing everyone’s excitement, talking to parents about the origins of their children’s interest in birds, […]
Read More
By Christine Wehrli, Community Outreach Programs Manager In March, amidst preparation for all things spring migration this year, I received some unfortunate news. I would need to get knee surgery after tearing my ACL and menisci in a rugby game. This meant 7 weeks of crutches and a non-weight bearing left leg, which also meant […]
Read More
By Jesi Malowitz, Development Manager, Individual Giving, Houston Audubon Standing at Platform A at the Smith Oaks Rookery on Bolivar Peninsula, I fix my binoculars on a Roseate Spoonbill clumsily landing on a nest over Claybottom Pond. In its bill is a carefully chosen stick to add to its nest. As the spoonbill searches for […]
Read More
Houston AuduBlog 