Coalition Notes 01-28-2013

1. Houston Audubon Class: Wintering Waterfowl. The Upper Texas Coast is an amazing area for wintering waterfowl. Each year there are thousands of ducks (24 species possible) and thousands of geese (5 species possible) and mergansers (2 species) in the area. While the identification of male ducks is often straightforward, the same cannot be said of the more cryptically colored females. Therein lies the challenge and fun of duck identification. Class participants will learn techniques for separating the 24 species of ducks, the different species of geese, and the mergansers. The class will meet on January 29th and February 5th, with field trips on February 2nd and 9th. There is a $150 fee for Houston Audubon members ($175 for non-members). Learn more and register at http://www.houstonaudubon.org/.
2. Whole Foods Katy and Katy Prairie. On January 31, 2013, Whole Foods Katy is giving 1% of their net sales to support educational programing on the Katy Prairie Conservancy. KPC staff and volunteers will be at the store from 10 am – 8 pm talking to customers and running fun activities for shoppers. Come out to support one of your favorite causes while you get your shopping done! The store opens on January 30th and is located at 6601 S Fry Rd. More at http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/.
3. KPC Unplugged Adventure: Duck, Duck, Goose. Waterfowl have flocked back to scenic Warren Lake this winter. Come out and enjoy a leisurely hike around this birding hotspot and enjoy a colorful variety of native ducks, geese, and water birds under a big Texas sky. Katy Prairie Conservancy guides are no quacks. They will teach you helpful hints for identifying some of our feathered friends. The adventure will take place on February 2, 2013, 10:00-11:30am. Register at https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/.
4. 2013 State of the Air Luncheon. The 2013 Air Alliance Houston State of the Air Luncheon will take place on February 5, 2013, 11:30am-1pm, at United Way. The keynote speaker, Toby Baker, TCEQ Commissioner, will share his thoughts on the state of the Houston region’s air quality. $30 registration with lunch included. Register at http://airalliancehouston.org.
5. Texas Climate Issues. Did climate change help bring about the devastating Texas heat wave of 2011? In February, Texas State Climatologist John Neilsen-Gammon will walk through some of the science behind what has happening with our climate, particularly the 2011 heat wave that continues to impact The Woodlands vegetation and water resources. He will illustrate how researchers use computer models to better understand our climate and its changes. His lecture is part of the Going Green Sustainability Series organized and sponsored by The Woodlands G.R.E.E.N. In cooperation with The Woodlands Township Environmental Services Department. The lecture will be held at 7:00 pm, February 19, 2013 at the South Montgomery County Library. For more information, contact Cinda Hitchcock at (281) 363-2723 or http://www.thewoodlandsgreen.org.
6. Healthy Communities Indicators Symposium 2013. After a year of deep-dive research on the indicators that measure the health of our region, Center for Houston’s Future will present its findings on February 22 at the 2013 Healthy Communities Indicator Symposium, at the George R. Brown Convention Center, hosted by Honorary Chair Dr. John Mendelsohn, along with prominent national and regional experts. Join policy makers, national experts, healthcare professionals, elected officials, and community leaders as we examine how the intersection of People and Place creates sustainable and healthy communities. Learn more at http://www.futurehouston.com/.
7. Guided Trail Hike at Armand Bayou. Visitors to Armand Bayou Nature Center enjoy walking the over 5 miles of hiking trails that take them through the different ecosystems (prairie, forest, and bayou). White-tailed deer are commonly sighted at the nature center, as are a wide variety of songbirds, and the informative and welcoming interpretive center houses a variety of native reptiles and amphibians. Every Saturday join the Nature Center staff for a guided trail hike at 10:00am and 2:00pm to learn more about the habitat and wildlife of Armand Bayou. More at http://cechouston.org/.
8. Local Outdoor Grants. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission on Thursday approved $1.3 million in competitive grants for city and county parks across the state, funding 12 out of 35 funding requests. Money for the 10 Outdoor Recreation Grants and 2 Urban Outdoor Recreation Grants comes from the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). Program funding is appropriated annually by Congress. TPWD is the pass-through agency for local governments in Texas. Of the 12 grants, one is the the greater Houston region. An Urban Outdoor Recreation Grant, which is given to municipalities with a population exceeding 500,000, was awarded to Houston. Houston has been granted $220,000 to support the development of Shady Lane Park located in the northern part of the city. The proposal includes a playground, plaza seating, benches, trail, play hill, stepping stone path, log tunnel, climbers, native plants, irrigation, park entry columns, landscaping, trash receptacles and program sign. More at http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/.
9. Trees For Houston and Willow Waterhole Conservation Reserve. Trees For Houston has selected Willow Waterhole Conservation Reserve as a tribute site for the 2013 planting season. A Tribute Grove is a designated area in which donors to Trees for Houston can purchase trees in commemoration of special occasions or as a memorial. The first trees in the Willow Waterhole Conservation Reserve have been planted alongside Gasmer Street (east of Westbury High School). Eighty volunteers participated in the initial tree planting on Saturday December 8, 2012. The spring planting season will continue until mid-March and additional, trees will be planted in late fall 2013. Read more at http://www.guidrynews.com/.