Calendar
Birding is the birder’s equivalent to a walkathon, but better (because you get to look at birds all day). Teams of 2 or more (typically 4-5) compete to count as many bird species as possible in a consecutive 24-hour period. Birdathon is primarily a fundraiser, so teams also compete to raise the most money for the best cause: bird conservation. Birding can be done anywhere in Texas but the Houston Audubon encourages you to visit their sanctuaries for a great birding experience. Whether you can identify 2 species or 200, birders of all experience levels are welcome to participate in Birdathon! For more information, visit sweet_houstonaudubon.blueskysweet.com.
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.
Join Bethany Foshee, Edith Moore Sanctuary Manager, and Paul Fagala of Wild Birds Unlimited, for a free bird walk at Edith Moore Nature Sanctuary, September through May on the 4th Saturday of the month. Bird walks last 1 hour. Birders can arrive and leave as their schedules require. Novices are welcome!
Meet at the Edith Moore Cabin at 8 a.m.
Please note that in November and December, the walk will on the third Saturday.
Join Houston Audubon for a free nature walk at Edith Moore Nature Sanctuary, September through May on the 4th Saturday of the month.
Meet at the Edith Moore Cabin at 2 p.m.
Please note that in November and December, the walk will be on the third Saturday.
The kiosk at Boy Scout Woods opens on Friday, March 29 and closes on Sunday, May 5. Many activities are planned, including:
- Birding walks – 3 times/day (Apr. 4 – 29)
- Photography walks (Apr. 4-29)
- Bird-friendly plant sale (Apr. 1 until sold out)
- Land Sea & Sky binoculars – weekends in April
- Flight in Focus – 2-day photography event (Apr. 6-7)
For more information, visit houstonaudubon.org.
From April 15-May 15, 2019, attend the 23rd Annual Birding Classic for a fun, friendly bird-watching event. There are categories for all ages and skill levels. Registration fees raise money for texas bird and birding conservation project grants, so gather your team, register, and go birding. The registration deadline is April 1st. For more information, visit tpwd.texas.gov.
We are conducting a monthly survey at Hogg Bird Sanctuary. Beginning in March 2019, the surveys will be held on the first Monday of the month. Skip Almoney is our leader. The Hogg Bird Sanctuary is adjacent to Bayou Bend and shares its parking facility at 1 Westcott Street. Meet at the parking lot at the dead end on the south end of Westcott Street. We meet at 7:30 AM in the parking lot. If the gate is locked, we can park in the upper parking lot and then walk down to the lower parking lot to meet. Everyone is welcome. Beginners, experts, or even if you’re just curious.
Leader: Skip Almoney
Wonderful Warblers: April 2 and 6, 2019
People come from all over the world to the Houston Audubon High Island Sanctuaries to experience the migration and arrival of the “jewels” of the bird world. Learn about the remarkable migration journey of these small and beautiful birds. Learn the principles to identify the 37 different species of warblers that are possible to see in our area. This class is open to all levels of birders and photographers.
Class: Tuesday, April 2, 2019 (7:00-8:45 PM)
Field Trip: Saturday, April 6, 2019 (7:30 AM – 3:30 PM)
Houston Audubon is celebrating 50 years of bird conservation and education. To commemorate this special occasion, we are dedicating the first weekend of April to bird and wildlife photography at our world famous High Island sanctuaries. Photographers of all skill levels and camera types are welcome to participate. The registration fee includes day passes, workshops, and events for both days.
Saturday, April 6Â
7 AM – Dawn at the Rookery photo session and registration packet pick up – Smith Oaks Bird Sanctuary
9 AM – Intro and Welcome at the High Island Community Center
Morning and afternoon workshops – Leaders include Alan Murphy, Joe Smith, Trey Morris and others. Sonny Manley will lead a workshop on hummingbird photography.
Evening – Facilitated Photo Shoot at the Rookery
Sunday, April 7
8:30 AM – Raptor Photography Shoot with Houston Audubon’s captive raptors in natural setting
10 AM – Workshops continue. Tim Timmis will be one of the presenters.
Noon – Carousel of Flight: participants share their best images from the weekend
Gulf Coast Bird Observatory’s Spring Fling is an opportunity to see and celebrate the return of migratory songbirds as they arrive at stopover habitat along the Teas Gulf Coast. This is great time to enjoy the wide variety of species that migrate through Texas dressed in their spring finery. This year, Spring Fling will take place at the Quintana Neotropical Bird Sanctuary (located on Lamar Street across from the Quintana, TX town hall building) from April 6 to May 5 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. daily. For more information, visit gcbo.org.