Texas City Dike Clean Up of Mono-filament

This Thursday we will be out on the Texas City Dike again to collect mono-filament line and plastic pollution that negatively impact birds and other wildlife. Members of Texas Master Naturalist, Audubon TERN, and the Plastic Pollution Prevention Partnership (P3P) made some incredible progress in just a few short hours! We removed 15 bags of plastic and a huge mound of fishing line! 

Won’t you come join us this Thursday? We will meet at the pavilion just as you drive onto the dike. We will be working in small groups to remove as much line and plastics as we can.

Details for Texas City Dike next week are as follows:

Date: Thursday Nov. 17^th

Time: 8:30am- 11:30am

Location: Texas City Dike (meet at the pavilion- map attached)

Click Here to Register for Nov. 17^th Clean Up

Please wear long pants and boots (there are ants and might be snakes in the grass areas before the beach), protection from the sun, and a refillable water container. For the mono-filament, bring a pair of scissors, garden shears, or a good pocket knife as the fishing line often has to be cut away to be properly removed.

Audubon will supply gloves, bags, trash grabbers, first aid kits, water cooler, and some light snacks.

We are making meaningful difference through these clean ups! Please join us, spread the word, and share this opportunity through your network!

Kari Howard

Audubon Texas

Coastal Conservation Program

1500 Marina Bay Drive, Suite 1800

Clear Lake Shores, TX  77565

Cell: 409-223-4777

khoward@audubon.org

www.audubontexas.org

"Use the talents you possess, for the woods would be a very silent place if no birds sang except the best." -Henry Van Dyke, poet (1852-1933)

Audubon TERN October Events

Fall is here and hopefully it will be feeling like Fall very soon! The cooler weather is just what we need to get back outside again and wildlife is no different!

photo: Tim Timmis

Check out our October events:

·         Saturday October 1^st 2016 Bird Nerd Series: 9:00am – 11:00am presented by Sarah Gossett at the Texas City Prairie Preserve. At Galveston Bay Foundation, Sarah manages the Water Monitoring Teams as well as the Galveston Bay Action Network (GBAN).  Citizen science is improving the awareness and effectiveness of local conservation issues in Galveston Bay.  2 hours of Advanced Training (for Master Naturalist) CLICK HERE to Register...

·         Tuesday October 4^th 2016 Sweetwater Survey: 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Tuesday’s upcoming group bird survey at GBF’s Sweetwater Property will be on Tuesday (Sept. 4^th  for this month) and we will meet at 8:00AM since the weather is cooler. We will meet at the property entrance on 103rd Street in Galveston at 8:00 AM and finish up around 11:00 AM.  These surveys are an important tool for monitoring bird populations, migration, habitat and the overall health of Galveston Bay. If you’d like to come, be prepared with wading boots or rubber boots! The weather has been quite wet and many of the typical surveys are flooded from rain and high tides. If you have questions, please email Kari Howard khoward@audubon.org.

Be sure to check out the TERN website (http://AudubonTERN.org) for the latest info on weather conditions or cancellations.

We are always looking for new TERN participants. Please pass the word along to others that might be interested. Group survey activities are a great way to get involved. New and experienced birders are always welcomed!

October Bird Nerd Program

The health of our waterbirds is directly tied to quality of water they are feeding in! In fact, one of the defining characteristics of a waterbird is the birds dependency on the water for survival.  At this next Bird Nerd Series, we will hear from Sarah Gossett, Water Quality Volunteer Coordinator for Galveston Bay Foundation who will share with us the importance of water quality to all life dependent on the bay!

Our next Bird Nerd Series is Saturday, October 1^st 9am-11am at the Texas City Prairie Preserve, featuring Sarah Gossett from Galveston Bay Foundation.  She manages the Water Monitoring Teams as well as the Galveston Bay Action Network (GBAN).  Citizen science is improving the awareness and effectiveness of local conservation issues and Sarah will be focusing on Water Quality Monitoring in Galveston Bay.  

Title: Improving our Water Quality through Citizen Scientist Monitoring
Presenter: Sarah Gossett, Galveston Bay Foundation- Water Quality Volunteer Coordinator
When: Saturday, October 1st 2016
Time: 9 AM to 11:00 AM
Location: Texas City Prairie Preserve
2 hours of Advanced Training (for Master Naturalist)

CLICK HERE to Register...

More on this program: Galveston Bay Foundation’s (GBF) water programs team works to keep Galveston Bay fishable and swimmable. Through a multi-faceted approach to tackling the water quality problem, GBF focuses on engaging all members of the surrounding community in achieving this goal. With a focus on GBF’s Citizen Science Water Quality Monitoring program, this presentation will highlight efforts to improve water quality and increase citizen involvement in the Galveston Bay region, including how GBF’s water quality data can be utilized by others for research and education.

Biography:

Sarah Gossett

Water Quality Volunteer Coordinator, Galveston Bay Foundation

As the Water Quality Volunteer Coordinator, Sarah manages GBF’s volunteer Water Monitoring Team and the Galveston Bay Action Network (GBAN), a pollution reporting tool that links citizens and authorities in order to increase pollution reporting and response. She is passionate about engaging citizens in hands-on experiences to improve water quality and overall environmental health. 

If you are currently collecting waterbird data at a foraging site, we would like you to consider water quality monitoring at the same location.  This workshop will give you some great information about the Water Monitoring Programs, what’s involved, and how it helps organizations like Galveston Bay Foundation and Audubon Texas help make informed decisions to improve our habitats for wildlife and people!

For any questions, please email khoward@audubon.org

September Bird Nerd Lecture Series...

Difficult childhoods make for the most interesting adults...

That is at least a good description of this Bird Nerd Series lecture where we will be covering the long, rich history of the Audubon Coastal Program since its birth in 1923, stories from wardens that have care for these bird islands, where we are today, and where we are going to continue this incredible legacy of coastal conservation.

Whether you are interested or already involved with the TERN program, have been birding for years, or just love a good history story, this lecture will inspire you to think about your place in conservation and give you a better understanding of the conservation work that’s been on the Texas Coast since 1923. 

Title: Audubon Coastal Legacy: understanding our past propels our future

Presenter: Kari Howard

When: Saturday, September 10^th, 2016

Location: Texas City Prairie Preserve

Time: 9 AM to 11:00 AM

2 hours of Advanced Training (for Master Naturalist)

Limit: 35 participants

Click here to register

This is open to the public so feel free to share with all your friends!!!  For addition information please contact:

Kari Howard

Audubon Texas

Coastal Conservation Program

1500 Marina Bay Drive, Suite 1800

Clear Lake Shores, TX  77565

Cell: 409-223-4777

khoward@audubon.org

www.audubontexas.org

We need some help to prepare the nesting site for our Black Skimmer and Royal Terns that have lost their nest due to high water. These birds will be looking for new nesting areas that are not underwater and the area we create will replicate nesting habitats of a graveled shoreline, but will contain extra protection from predators to help ensure chick survival.  We need your help to get this area fenced and put our handsome decoys out to attract these birds!

 Black Skimmer Nest Workday: Monday June 20^th (8:30am-12:00pm) we will be putting in t-posts, unrolling chain link fencing, installing the chain link, unrolling and putting up the electric wire, installing gates, putting up electric fencing controller and placing the decoys. Volunteers should wear long pants and MUST wear protective footwear- preferably boots. We will provide water and snacks, please bring a refillable water bottle to limit our plastic foot print.

To register click here….   

Thank you!

Kari Howard

Audubon Texas

Coastal Conservation Program

1500 Marina Bay Drive, Suite 1800

Clear Lake Shores, TX  77565

Cell: 409-223-4777

khoward@audubon.org

www.audubontexas.org

"Use the talents you possess, for the woods would be a very silent place if no birds sang except the best." -Henry Van Dyke, poet (1852-1933)

Black Skimmer Decoys and Nesting Pad Workdays May 18th and 20th

We are in the final stages of preparing our nesting site for the Black Skimmers at the Texas City Prairie Preserve. With the high tides this season and low-lying nests around Galveston Bay washing out, we have a chance to secure some good alternative nesting sites for birds that need a second chance.   We will have two workdays to prepare for this at the Texas City Prairie Preserve.

Workday 1: Wednesday May 18^th (8:30am-12:00pm) we will be finishing the construction of our “flern” and skimmer decoys (painting, etc..) bring a water container and some old clothes you don’t mind getting paint on.

Workday 2: Friday May 20^th (8:30am-12:00pm) we will be putting in t-posts, unrolling chain link fencing, installing the chain link, unrolling and putting up the electric wire, installing gates, putting up electric fencing controller. Possibly installing decoys if ready. Volunteers should wear long pants and MUST wear protective footwear- preferably boots.

If you can come to one or both days we will be providing water, snacks, and all the materials needed to complete this project!

Please CLICK HERE to register...

We can use all the help we can get! Thanks!
For more information please contact...

Kari HowardAudubon Texas

Coastal Conservation Program

1500 Marina Bay Drive, Suite 1800

Clear Lake Shores, TX 77565

Cell: 409-223-4777

khoward@audubon.org

audubontern.org