Calendar
Leaders: Theo Ostler and Kelsey Low
Meet in front of the building at the Houston Arboretum.
The Third Saturday bird survey is a monthly event for experienced birders. It’s an opportunity for birders to help the Houston Arboretum keep a better record of the birds inhabiting the nature sanctuary throughout the year. Interested participants should bring binoculars, water, and their bird guides (if necessary).
Please RSVP to Theo Ostler so that he can let you know of any additional information prior to the survey.
Meet in front of the bathrooms near the parking lot off Eldridge.
Are you looking for a fantastic place to see an amazing array of birds? Join Houston Audubon on the fourth Wednesday of each month at Archbishop Fiorenza Park (Phase 2) between Eldridge and Highway 6 for the chance to see a multitude of species, get a good healthy walk in and enjoy the company of other outdoor loving folks. This park has miles of paved trails, wooded thickets, open grassy areas, large detention ponds with bird islands and much more. It is north of the Westpark Tollway and just north of the original Archbishop Fiorenza Park on Eldridge.
Email Mary Anne Weber at if you’d like to participate.
Meet count leader Jason Bonilla in the parking lot of Woodland Park. Please note that the park does not have a maintained trail system. As such, there is a lot of poison ivy that is somewhat unavoidable when walking the park and looking for birds. Additionally, there are terrain changes and unstable areas. Participants should wear long pants and closed-toe shoes. They usually meet on the fourth Saturday of the month.
Rain is as important as carbon dioxide in cooling our planet. People must restore trees and soil to restore the water cycle.
The image above shows how trees pump huge amounts of water back into the air and create more rain further inland. It is a river in the sky.
When folks started climate modeling, to simplify, they ignored water vapor and focused on carbon dioxide. But the water cycle is 95% of planetary cooling while carbon dioxide is only 5%, according to Dr. Walter Jehne. We need to keep on reducing emissions, but it’s time to also work on restoring ecosystems and their soils. Besides this may be an easier and faster way to make a difference.
To learn more and register to this event visit Coolingourplanet

Celebrate Texas Arbor Day with a tree planting demonstration and receive a complimentary tree sapling while supplies last. Visit the outdoor library corner to find books on trees and how to care for them at Mercer’s West Side Arboretum. EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES, FACE PAINTING, HISTORICAL TREES, CHILDREN’S CRAFTS
The monthly bird count will begin at 7 a.m., starting off from the front parking lot of Armand Bayou Nature Center, dispersing from there. Please try and be here by 7 a.m. as gates will lock promptly at 7:05. If you plan on attending, feel free to shoot Andrew Hamlett an email or just show up.
The combination of IoT and big data analytics allow cities to imagine ways to be more efficient, resilient, sustainable in many fields like energy, building, mobility, utilities, safety, waste management and so on.
But Smart city solutions are not only designed for cities. They are also highly attractive for universities, hospitals and large companies to improve the management of their assets and their consumption of energy and natural resources.
What is the reality of the smart city concept?
What is going on in Houston and elsewhere in the US?
What are the main solutions provided by the vendors to the MUSH market and to the companies?
Attend our event to get a glimpse of what the city, corporates and startups have to offer to build a smart city.
SPEAKERS
Introduction:
- Franck Avice, President, French-American Chamber Of Commerce Houston
- Christine Galib, Director, Ion Smart Cities Accelerator
Moderator:
- William Fulton, Director at Kinder Institute for Urban Research, Rice University
Panelists:
- Jessie Bounds, Director of Innovation, City Of Houston
- Kimberly Jonhston, National Tax Partner Energy, Ernst & Young
- Roger Flud, Smart City Specialist & Sales Team Leader, Schneider Electric
- Bruce Rutherford, International Director, JLL
AGENDA
5:30pm: Check-in/Networking;Â 6:00pm: Panel Discussion;Â 7:30pm: Networking Cocktail
Parking available at Green Street Garage on Fannin Street or on street after 6pm for free.
Interested in Urban Forestry? Come join Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, HAUFC and ISA-TX for a great day of education. Topics include: Emerald Ash Borer – Coming to a City Near You, Using Tree Growth Regulators to Reduce Pruning Costs, and Greening the Houston Region – Partnerships and Projects that Support the Urban Forest.
Leader: Cin-Ty Lee
Houston Audubon is conducting a monthly survey at Hogg Bird Sanctuary. Surveys are normally scheduled for the third Saturday of the month. Everyone is welcome. Beginners, experts, or even if you’re just curious.
Everyone will meet at the parking lot at the dead end on the south end of Westcott Street at 7:30 a.m. If the gate is locked, you may park in the upper parking lot and then walk down to the lower parking lot to meet.