Get Ready for the Birds!

Houston Audubon Society is getting ready for the birds, with calls to action, classes, and a gala to celebrate.

Audubon’s High Island Sanctuaries officially open on March 22, 2009. While these and other sanctuaries are open year round, the opening of the High Island Sanctuaries is a much anticipated event, with daily bird walks, half-day field trips, weekend lunches, a plant sale starting April 1, 2009, and of course, the famous patches. More online.

HAS is promulgating several calls to action. In addition to regular volunteer opportunities (High Island Workdays and and welcome crew, the HAS booth at FeatherFest, docent opportunities), HAS is asking for volunteers to provide purple marting and barn owl boxes for Bolivar Penninsula, to help stop bird kills at communications towers, and to support the protection of state park funding. More below and at Houston Audubon’s website.

HAS offers a huge variety of classes for children and adults (check out the “education” and “birding” links, respectively, on the HAS website). One class might be of special interest: Kevin Karlson, well-known and respected photographer and co-author of The Shorebird Guide, will conduct a Shorebird Workshop on Friday evening, March 6. On Saturday, March 7, Kevin, along with Glenn Olsen, will lead a field trip where participants can put their new identification skills to the test. Please contact Andrea Ritchie or call the HAS office at 713-932-1639 to register or if you have any questions.

Finally, HAS is hosting its gala, Birds & Beaches: Celebrating Birds and Their Environments, on Tuesday, March 15, 2009, at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. The evening’s festivities will include a digital photography presentation highlighting the beauty of the Upper Texas Coast by Kevin Karlson, Alan Murphy, and Kathy Adams Clark; a Birds & Beaches Photo Gallery featuring imagery for sale from members of the HAS Nature Photography Association and students of the Raul Yzaguirre School for Success; live and silent auctions; live jazz music by The Steve Ruff Group; and cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and desserts. Blackburn & Carter, Winnie Burkett, Galveston Bay Foundation, Lower Laguna Madre Foundation, and Scenic Galveston will be honored for outstanding achievement in coastal conservation. To purchase tickets, please use our secure online form or contact Andrea Ritchie, telephone 713-932-1639.