Houston Audublog

It doesn’t take much effort to find advice on how to support birds. In fact, a simple Google search produces hundreds of helpful resources in a matter of seconds. So, if the information is out there, then why are so few people taking action? The answer is both simple, and extremely complicated. In short – knowledge alone is often not enough to change peoples’ behaviors. Our decisions, whether we are buying a new car or planting native plants, are often governed by an internal process – assessing our resources, weighing pros and cons, and seeking advice from outside sources. To move people to action, we have to have an understanding of that decision-making process and create strategies that not only fuel and sustain motivation, but also work to help overcome barriers that keep people from finding success.  With this in mind, Houston Audubon’s Young Professionals Advisory Council (YPAC) has embarked on a mission to uncover the things people find most challenging (barriers) and most ...

Happy Earth Day from all of us at Houston Audubon! Although we think every day should be Earth Day, we’re excited for a chance to celebrate the planet that sustains the people and wildlife that call it home.  There are many easy actions you can take to promote a healthier and happier Earth. If you're looking for a place to start and have a soft spot for our feathered friends, you can help locally by turning your community into a Bird-Friendly Community! Supporting birds in your yard or local spaces can make a huge conservation impact for not only wildlife, but people as well. As we like to say, “where birds thrive, people prosper.” There are four key steps to being Bird-Friendly! We've outlined them below, along with suggestions on how you can work towards each.  Get Connected With Others   Learn from others who are making efforts to create a happier and healthier world! This spring, there are a number of opportunities for you to connect with others doing great things ...

I live in the southwest Houston neighborhood of Willow Meadows. We have a typical lot for the area, about 9,500 square feet, with about 2,500 square feet of backyard. There was a mature pecan tree along with a fig tree, citrus trees, a hibiscus, and a palm tree I had planted before I learned about the importance of planting native plants. I knew from a short-lived experiment with raised bed vegetable gardening that gardening requires constant attention and maintenance, so for my next project I wanted to create a landscape that was interesting, easy to manage, unlikely to be ruined by dogs or children, and of course bird-friendly. Enter: container gardens. Containers are great because it's easy to change plants out, keep weeds down, and add color and texture to your landscape. You don't need as many tools to plant in containers and native plants will do fine with any organic potting soil available in bags at the hardware store.  PLANNING I wanted the containers to sit on gravel,...

Backyards across the United States have had an unusually high number of small, heavily striped finches, known as Pine Siskins, making a recent appearance. This year’s irruption of Pine Siskins has been one of the largest in recorded history! An irruption typically occurs during periods of food shortage in a species’ home range, causing them to spread out southward in search of resources. Pine Siskins, whose range is typically limited to the boreal forests of Canada and the northernmost U.S. states, faced an extreme shortage of conifer seeds, resulting in their takeover of bird feeders in a yard near you! Learn more about the irruption. Unfortunately, these birds are facing yet another threat across their irruption range. Salmonellosis outbreaks in Pine Siskins have been documented heavily in the Pacific Northwest, resulting in mass die-offs of this species and others that use feeders alongside them. This disease has now, unfortunately, made its way to Texas.  Salmonellosis is cause...

There are many circumstances in which you could find a baby bird who seems to need help, and a lot of the information out there might not be right for your region, the type of bird you have, or the specific circumstances of the bird you found.  These directions apply to most birds in North America, but if this guide doesn’t seem to fit what you have, you should always default to the least amount of intervention possible until you can speak to a wildlife professional. First, do no harm. When we see a helpless animal, our first instinct is to rush over to the animal and scoop it up, make it warm, and feed it. ALL of these impulses are the worst things you can do for baby birds (and most other wildlife!)  Before you kidnap, take a minute to use the following assessments. 1.) Is the bird in immediate danger? Is it in a dog’s mouth or being stalked by a cat? Is it in the street or parking lot? Is it in the path of yard work happening right now that can’t be stopped?  If th...

Over the past couple of years, I have been learning more about birds and how to help them (involuntarily, as my sister started working at Houston Audubon and became very interested in birds). I have always had a couple of feeders in the backyard, but I started planting native plants, put out a birdbath, and increased the number of feeders I have out.  On Saturday, I saw a post on Houston Audubon's Instagram about how to help birds during the impending winter storm, and decided to take some extra precautions. My backyard shares a fence with a golf course that provides lots of tree cover for the birds already. The back corner of the yard has some bushes and native plants, and provides a nice natural windbreak.  On Sunday, I scattered a bunch of black oil sunflower seeds and mixed seeds on the ground and restocked all the feeders. I refilled the feeders twice daily through Thursday and checked in periodically to remove any ice buildup from the intermittent snow and rain. On Monda...

One of the unintended benefits of having to stay home during this pandemic is an added appreciation for the commonplace beauty of our households, backyards, and parks. Being a senior in high school and eagerly anticipating college, I have always taken the comforts of my home for granted. It was through birdwatching during this pandemic - listening to the “tweedle-dees” of blue jays and “tink calls” of cardinals at my bird feeder - that I discovered just how special home could be. But for all the casual birdwatching I did last summer, my busy schedule left a lot unseen - like going to a buffet with a dessert plate. Holding up binoculars to get a shaky, close-up view of the birds didn’t make it any more appealing. So, like almost everything else this year, I decided to go virtual with my birdwatching! I initially considered installing a webcam near the bird feeder, but I still faced the “24/7 observation issue,” meaning I would have to constantly watch the feeder in the hopes of spotti...

What screams holiday cheer more than Christmas Bird Count? In the minds of most birders – almost nothing! Christmas Bird Count is the nation's longest-running community science bird project and is in its 121st year! Each year, between December 14 and January 5, volunteers numbering in the thousands brave the weather around the U.S. to count birds! The National Audubon Society and many other organizations use the data collected by these community scientists to assess the health of bird populations, and to help guide conservation actions! It is also a great time for birders and nature-lovers alike to get outside for a dedicated day of birding!  Though 2020 has been a strange year, many CBCs are still happening across the country, with some adjustments. Some CBCs, for example, have switched to only counts by feeder-watchers. Others are still surveying as normal, but in much smaller and more spread out groups.  The purpose of the feeder watcher program is to determine the highest ...

We’re getting into the thick of the holiday season, so you’re probably already on the hunt for the perfect gifts for friends and family! This year, more and more people have become in awe of the nature that exists in their own backyards. If that sounds like someone you know, lean in and take this opportunity to make your shopping list a little more bird-friendly!  Don’t fret, we've done the leg-work to bring you gift ideas for everyone on your list - from the budding birder to the gardener to those that prefer the indoors. We even recommend getting a special something for yourself - you deserve it! If you need stocking stuffers, head over to the  Houston Audubon Raptor and Education Center where you’ll find jewelry, apparel, books, and more in the nature store.  Gifts for the Bird Nerd in Your Life We know them and love them – bird nerds are the backbone of Houston Audubon! From budding birders to seasoned pros, these gifts are a hit for all. (New birders can also c...