Gulf Coast Bird Observatory | 299 Hwy 332 West, Lake Jackson, Texas 77566
|
|
|
The Experiences Auction is Here!
|
|
How would you like to take a boat tour to see Whooping Cranes on their wintering grounds in Texas with our Education Manager, Emma? Or spend a day with our field biologists monitoring American Oystercatchers? How about the chance to see a lifer as you tour the Rio Grande Valley with our very own Director, Martin Hagne, as your guide? Or a stay and a guided tour at a Central American lodge?
Beginning November 18th at noon and ending on December 7th at 8 pm, our Experiences Auction will go live on our website. There you can bid on incredible (sometimes once in a lifetime opportunities) like these for yourself or a friend/family member.
This year we have a bunch of brand new experiences up for grabs (including a falconry session, a herping adventure, and more!). We are adding items weekly so make sure you check back often to see what's new. Not only do these experiences make great gifts for yourself or others, but all the proceeds go to bird conservation!
Check out the auction
HERE
to see what experiences we are offering!
|
|
|
Last month we asked you for your help picking a name for our hummer costume from our three finalists: Sir Archie, Zippy, and Flit.
The Facebook results are in and Sir Archie was the winner by a close 4 votes from the second place Zippy.
For those of you who might not know, "Archie" is a nod to the genus
Archilochus
which consists of Ruby-throated and Black-chinned hummingbirds.
Staff felt the name was one that could be explained if people asked (and would be a nice lead in to some science) but that it didn't have to be.
Thank you to everyone who suggested a name or voted and a big thank you to
Ron Weeks
for the winning name! He will receive a hummingbird feeder from GCBO!
|
|
Last month GCBO and the American Bird Conservancy teamed up and hosted a booth at the Houston Zoo Educator Day. This day focused on workshops for teachers and teachers-in-training and featured several tables for environmental organizations to connect to Houston classrooms. We had a fantastic showing, networking with dozens and dozens of educators. Some of the new outreach materials we were excited to debut included: Skype sessions with our biologists, bird-themed curricula for teachers, and activities for kids including a hummingbird fingerpuppet!
We will continue to add more and more resources for teachers and students on our
Resources for Teachers
page on our website. If you are curious about using birds to teach kids about science, check back often to see what we add!
|
|
Volunteer Appeciation Dinner
|
|
Hi all you wonderful 2017 GCBO Volunteers! Whether you helped with bird banding, Spring Fling, field work, Harvey cleanup, site maintenance, etc. you are all invited to our Volunteer Appreciation Evening!
Join us Tuesday, November 14th from 5-7 pm for light food and drinks. (BYOB if you wish.)
RSVP IS NEEDED. If you already have RSVPed, thank you! If you haven't but plan to attend, please email eshelly@gcbo.org by November 7th!
We look forward to seeing everyone there!
|
|
GCBO at Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival
|
|
GCBO staff are off to the Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival in Harlingen, Texas, next week November 8-12. While we are there, we will be networking with other ornithological organizations, promoting GCBO's fundraising events (like our November experiences auction), and educating people about our research and conservation work.
We are very excited to get the chance to meet new contacts, talk up GCBO, and hopefully see some very neat birds!
|
|
Bird Banding Highlights and Upcoming Session
|
|
We had a bunch of awesome birds at our October banding session including this beautiful Blue Jay and Wilson's Warbler. We also managed to catch a House Wren, Carolina Wren, and a Ruby-throated hummer!
(Thanks to Brooks Short for these great photos.)
Join us on Saturday November 18th for our November session from 8-12 at GCBO and your chance to see birds like these up close!
|
|
|
A huge THANK YOU to everyone who donated items to our Hurricane Recovery Fund. We are still looking for:
-2 dresser drawers
-A full sized kitchen oven and range top
-Large throw/area rugs
We are also looking for these general, non-hurricane related items:
- Bags of black oil sunflower seed
- Bags of chicken scratch
- One gallon black plastic pots, used or new
- Flammable storage cabinet for our gas cans
- Sugar for hummingbird feeders
|
|
Now when you shop at Kroger, you can support GCBO!
|
|
GCBO is a registered charity through Kroger's Community Rewards Program. This means that you can register your Kroger Plus Card online and select GCBO as the organization of your choice. Every time you use your Kroger Plus Card, Kroger will donate a portion back to GCBO! This is an easy way to support GCBO while you shop - your donations help us continue to protect birds and birding habitat around the Gulf Coast and beyond. To register your Plus Card, click
here
.
Our charity number is #80345.
|
|
All photographs are courtesy of GCBO staff unless otherwise noted.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|