Coalition Notes 10-19-2011

1. Pelican Release. The Wildlife Rehab & Education Center, Houston’s only trauma hospital that accepts all injured, ill, and orphaned wildlife, would like to share a moment with the public that all wildlife rehabilitators and volunteers cherish – the successful release of rehabilitated wildlife. Join WR&E in the release of 8 brown pelicans back into the wild! Saturday October 22nd at 10 a.m. Kemah Bridge – Seabrook side This group includes the four larger pelicans that were impacted by Tropical Storm Lee and brought to the Wildlife Center from Mississippi. The remaining ten will over-winter at the Wildlife Center and be released in the spring. For more information call 713-861-9453 (WILD) or visit www.wrande.org.
2. Rain Barrel & Composting Bin Sale. The City of Houston, Keep Houston Beautiful, AIA, and Urban Harvest have come together to provide the citizens of Houston a more affordable way of helping our environment. On Saturday, October 22nd, rain barrels and composting bins will be available half price at Minute Maid Park (Parking Lot C at Texas Street & St. Emanuel Street) from 9am – 1pm. Cash and credit cards will be accepted. Learn more about sale.
3. Bioblitz 2011: Where Everyone Counts! Katy Prairie Conservancy is hosting Bioblitz 2011 on October 22nd. Expert biologists and amateur naturalists will take to the field to observe and record as many living species of plants, birds, reptiles, amphibians, mammals, fish, and fungi as they can during a one day period. This exciting day of citizen science will add to our understanding of the rich biodiversity of the Katy Prairie and will also highlight the need to conserve a sustainable part of this irreplaceable habitat. For more information, visit http://www.katyprairie.org/Katyprairiebioblitz.html, and to register, email Jaime Gonzalez at jgonzalez@katyprairie.org.
4. ArBOOretum! The Houston Arboretum & Nature Center will be holding ArBOOretum on October 22nd from 11am-5pm. Kids will be able to hike along a forest trail with scattered trick-or-treat locations and stops along the trail that will include activities for kids to learn about native wildlife. This year’s Trick-or-Treat Trail will focus on night time hunters including bobcats, weasels, bats, owls and more. More at http://www.houstonarboretum.org/arbooretum.asp.
5. 5th Annual KBR Kids Day on Buffalo Bayou. The 5th Annual KBR Kids Day on Buffalo Bayou will be on October 29th from 11am-7pm. Buffalo Bayou Partnership and KBR are hosting a day filled with FREE family fun, hands-on educational activities, music, food, park performers, and boat rides on the bayou! Activity stations will include a showcase of bayou animals and insects, wildflower seed ball making, sun prints, crab marsh, numerous hands-on activities from over 25 Houston non-profit organizations partners. There will also be wetland hikes, pontoon boat rides kayaking demonstrations, and much more! More at http://www.buffalobayou.org/kidsday.html.
   
6. Halloween Family Night Hikes. Bring the kids in costume to the Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary, 440 Wilchester Blvd., Houston, on Saturday, October 29, 5 – 9 p.m. for family fun: candy, Halloween crafts, and nighttime nature activities (guided night hikes every half hour starting at 5:30 p.m., black lighting for insects, listening for echo-locating bats). The cost is $5 per person. Park at the Memorial Drive UM church parking lot at 12955 Memorial Drive. Enter the sanctuary through the marked gate. More at  www.houstonaudubon.org.
   
7. Licks for Likes. The Houston Piano Company has selected three animal charities to benefit from the LICKS FOR LIKES promotion and Wildlife Rehab & Education is one of them. Your vote for WR&E gets them a $1 and you get a LICK! For every LIKE the Houston Piano Company gets from Oct. 1st through Nov. 1st a $1 will be donated to the charities. The charity with the most 1st place votes will receive $1000, 2nd place $750, and 3rd place $500. To vote, just visit the Licks for Likes Facebook page.
8. 8th Annual Water Symposium. The Bayou Preservation Association (BPA) proudly presents its 8th Annual Water Symposium, “Water Quality Stewardship: The Past, Present and Future State of our Water Quality”. Friday, November 4, 2011, 7:30 am to 3:30 pm at the United Way of Greater Houston. This much-anticipated educational forum focuses on the current state of water quality in our bayous with policy-makers, stakeholders and government officials discussing how projects in our area incorporate features to address water quality now and in the future. Other key topics to be covered include a pictorial history of the bayou system; regulations and upcoming issues in water quality, water sustainability, a long range plan to address bacteria in our bayous, an update on Rebuild Houston, and local guidelines for Low Impact Development. The keynote speaker for the event is COL Christopher W. Sallese, District Engineer and Commanding Officer, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Galveston District. Register today at http://www.bayoupreservation.org/2011_Symposium.
9. 8th Annual Texas Beaming Bioneers Conference. The Bioneers Conference is a two-day conference about Issues That Matter: Environment & Nature, Health & Spirit, Social Justice and the Arts. This event will take place November 11-12 at the Emerson Unitarian Universalist Church. Attend the conference to experience a world-class line up of inspiring local speakers, each outstanding in their field, talk about innovative ideas and solutions to challenges that face all Houstonians’ access to fresh local food and water for all, supporting our youth, recycling and energy for the future, and how to nurture our spirit and mind through community. More at http://www.blackwoodland.org/bioneers/.
10. SCA’s Houston Conservation Collaborative Internship Program. The Student Conservation Association is looking for environmental organizations in need of Fall 2011 and Spring 2012 interns! SCA’s Houston Conservation Collaborative internship program partners with local organizations to provide full and/or part-time, paid conservation internships in the Houston area. SCA interns work on projects that range from trail construction and wildlife management to environmental education and marketing. For more information, email Christine Mansfield at houstonintern2@thesca.org or call 713-520-1835.
    
11. Successful Third West Reach Tree Planting and Bayou Cleanup Event. Over 350 community volunteers attended the Third West Reach Tree Planting and Bayou Cleanup Event. These volunteers helped to remove mountains of trash from in and around Green Bayou. A great thanks goes out to everyone who dedicated their time. www.greensbayou.org.