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Home , Golden Triangle (Texas)

Introduction a Field Guide to 2013 Wh o We A r e the Audubon team

From all of us at Dear Friends – Audubon in Texas, thank you for making great There was a moment I recently experienced at an Audubon Center here in Texas that I would like to things happen. While share with you. our conservation is sometimes personal, I stood in the back of the group of students and watched light shimmering in the children’s eyes as giving thanks is something they took in the full majesty of the Red-tailed Hawk perched on the trainer’s arm. The captivated we like to share. students were so enraptured by the grace and power of one of Texas’ largest resident birds of prey stoically staring them down that the words of the Audubon educator telling the hawk’s story seemed lost in the background. In the hawk’s unblinking gaze were thousands of years of instinct and natural balance – success and failure, triumph and defeat, are the generational struggle to not just survive, but to thrive. It was in that moment I realized we were more than just teachers and advocates…we are all students of one of most important lessons of our lives.

Renaissance is one of the words that come to mind when I reflect on the last year at Audubon in Texas. From deep in the heart of this Texan, my thanks to all of you who have helped us make very meaningful steps in this latest chapter of our conservation journey. This report is a testament to what we are capable of together. Thank you.

E 302 combined years of nonprofit work Your partner in Texas, E 274 combined years of conservation work

E 176 combined years of teaching experience Brian Trusty Executive Director, Audubon Texas E 115 years as a citizen Vice President, National Audubon Society science conservation Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not. organization in Texas

- Dr. Seuss, The Lorax 2 “ ” 3 NatureEDUCATION Education preparing the next generation of Texas conservationists

Our Audubon Centers in , Cedar Hill, “As a campus administrator, I constantly seek , and Brownsville serve Texas to develop partnerships with organizations communities with hands-on programs designed that support our instruction and extend the to inspire stewardship, strengthen science skills, learning environment beyond the classroom for and engage people in meaningful conservation our students. One of our greatest educational action. Each year we introduce tens of partners in this journey is the thousands of families, individuals, and students to Audubon Center. Through activities provided wild Texas as a source of life-long learning and at the Center; our young men have conducted enriched life. research on natural habitats, participated in preservation lessons and community During 2012-2013, your generosity supported services projects for the strategic expansion of our educational programs environment. Thank as well as producing critical outcomes. We Mitchell Lake Audubon Center, Trinity River Audubon Center, you to our Trinity River provided after-school programs, day camps, San Antonio, TX Dallas, TX Audubon Center family overnight campouts, conservation workshops, for supporting our work festivals, field trips, citizen science initiatives, at Barack Obama Male nature clubs, river floats, and teacher seminars. Leadership Academy.” Most importantly, the young people who participated in our programs became excited about science, more connected to nature, and better aware of their personal responsibility to conserve and protect our amazing state. - Nakia Douglas, Principal of Barack Obama Male Leadership Academy, Dallas, Texas Thank you for helping to grow our passion to get kids outside!

Statewide, we nurture and serve 50,000+ students, 7,000+ teachers, and 50+ partner school districts Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center, Sabal Palm Audubon Sanctuary, with our powerful Cedar Hill, TX Brownsville, TX hands-on programs. Managed by our partner Gorgas Science Foundation

4 5 Why birds? Birds are excellent indicators of ecosystem health because they are an environmental “proxy – the literal canary in the coalmine for the health of our land. By protecting birds and their habitats, Audubon protects landscapes and resources that support the rich biodiversity of Texas and protects the natural and human communities of which birds are an essential part.

6 ” 7 Conservation the ethic of resource use, allocation, and protection Why Birds Matter .

From the to the , from URBAN – Fueled by a booming economy, Texas the High Plains to the , is experiencing rapid population growth and is Texas is a dynamic and biodiverse landscape home to eight of the 15 fastest growing large with significant conservation need. Audubon cities in the United States. A staggering 85% of is committed to producing conservation at Texans live in a major metropolitan area today. scale in the focal areas of the Texas Coast, the Our Urban Conservation Program engages vastness of our prairies and grasslands, and our municipalities, local governments, and urban growing urban landscapes. residents in meaningful conservation planning to protect the quality and supply of our precious COASTAL – In 2013 Audubon celebrated natural resources and healthy urban habitats. In our 90th year of being a coastal steward in 2013, Audubon Texas announced the roll-out of Texas. Audubon Texas manages 178 islands this program as a part of National Audubon’s REDDISH EGRET Lesser Prairie-Chicken Whooping Crane Golden-cheeked Warbler that stretch across 70% of the Texas Coast, Bird Friendly Communities initiative. If you’ve never spied a single Reddish Largely misunderstood as a difficult The gangly grace of one of North This little endangered songbird by restoring and protecting these habitats for Egret stirring up fish in the shallow species to protect, the Lesser Prairie- America’s most endangered animals has been the environmental birdlife in the long-term. These barrier islands In your support, you are a part of a community waters of our Texas bays you should Chicken is truly a Texan at heart has become a symbol for conservation proxy through which tremendous include some of the most critical Important PRAIRIE – Over 60% of 262,000-square- where birds thrive, people prosper, and we work put it on your bucket list. Graceful with its love of large, wide open need and the focus on priority species. conservation efforts have succeeded Bird Areas in the state and are the seasonal mile Texas constitutes grassland or prairie together to take care of Texas. is not a term that comes to mind, spaces. This species struggles in many Whooping Cranes depend upon in multiple locations throughout the home to 333 of the 338 long distance ecosystems, including the most endangered however, there is method to his western states to maintain viable wetland and marsh environments that state. Once an abundant species, the migratory bird species in North America. ecosystem in North America – Blackland madness. This frenetic wader has populations and continues to be are located throughout their migration Golden-cheeked Warbler has Prairie. The Audubon Texas Prairie and mastered the art of hunting by threatened by habitat loss through path from the Texas coast, up through steadily declined to endangered Grasslands Conservation Program engages shading the water to better see his development and disturbance. America’s heartland, and into the status because of severe loss of private landowners and ranchers in a financially prey. Some call it a dance other just Despite the provocative debate to prairie potholes of the Dakotas habitat and ecological competition. viable alternative to land uses that are marvel at the flamboyant nature of list or not to list the Lesser Prairie- and Canada. Recent droughts and Nesting nowhere in the world but destructive to these native habitats. Audubon is it all. Their plumage comes in both Chicken as an endangered species, decreases in freshwater flows reaching and hill country working to strengthen the growing market for red and white and for this reason no one can argue that preserving their vital wintering ground near habitats, this colorful conservation bird-friendly, grass-fed beef, providing ranchers plume hunters nearly eliminated this the productive habitats of this iconic Aransas and San Antonio Bays have ambassador has stimulated the the opportunity to protect and restore amazing wader from our waters. grassland bird results in incredible made it difficult for these birds to find preservation and protection of native prairies and grasslands with agricultural Reddish Egret’s are one of our rarest prairie and grassland conservation. enough food to survive. Whooping thousands of acres of native habitat practices that are financially lucrative, waders.Texas is privileged to host cranes act as umbrella species for the including areas within some of our economically stable, and ecologically sound. the largest single nesting island for entire systems on which they depend; fastest growing urban centers. Travis Reddish Egret in the United States. conservation efforts to restore Audubon Society certainly leads The health and proper management wetlands for Whoopers preserve the efforts in Texas as a champion of this site along with others along some of the most robust ecosystems of urban conservation focused on a the Texas coast helps ensure their in the hemisphere. critical bird species. populations thrive. Healthy Healthy Praire Healthy Wetlands Healthy Urban Forests Coastal Habitat & Grasslands & Marshes & Canyonlands

8 9 The Texas Audubon Network our partners, volunteers, and chapters

Partners Chapters

50+ partner school districts Northwood University Audubon Dallas n W00, Audubon Dallas Accenture NRG Energy Bastrop County Audubon Society n W01, Fort Worth Audubon Society American Bird Conservancy Oak Hills Rotary Club Bexar Audubon Society n W02, Audubon Society Aransas Nature Club Perot Museum of Nature and Science Big Country Audubon Society n W03, Travis Audubon Society Baptist Mission Church REI Central Texas Audubon Society n W04, Tyler Audubon Society bcWorkshop Rogers Wildlife Rehabilitation Center Coastal Bend Audubon Society n W05, Audubon Society Big Thought Authority El Paso Trans Pecos Audubon Society n W06, Central Texas Audubon Society Boy Scouts of America/Girl Scouts of America Senior Source Fort Worth Audubon Society n W010, El Paso Trans Pecos Audubon Society Boys & Girls Club of America Studio Outside Golden Triangle Audubon Society n W11, Huntsville Audubon Society Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries Program Texas A&M University Houston Audubon Society n W12, Rio Grande Delta Audubon Society Cedar Hill State Park Texas A&M University – Galveston Huntsville Audubon Society n W13, Coastal Bend Audubon Society City of Cedar Hill Texas A&M University San Antonio Audubon Society n W14, Llano Estacado Audubon Society Clint Horticulture Texas Association for Environmental Education Monte Mucho Audubon Society n W15, Prairie and Timbers Audubon Society Crow Collection of Asian Art Texas Conservation Alliance Prairie & Timbers Audubon Society n W16, Rio Brazos Audubon Society Dallas Baptist University Texas Discovery Gardens Rio Brazos Audubon Society n W17, Bastrop County Audubon Society Dallas County Community College District Texas General Land Office Rio Grande Delta Audubon Society n W18, Big Country Audubon Society Dallas Museum of Art Texas Instruments Texas Panhandle Audubon Society n W19, Bexar Audubon Society Dallas Zoo Texas Master Gardeners Travis Audubon Society n W21, Twin Lakes Audubon Society Deloitte Texas Master Naturalists Twin Lakes Audubon Society n W25, Golden Triangle Audubon Society Energy XXI Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Tyler Audubon Society n W27, Monte Mucho Audubon Society Ernst & Young Texas Tech University Founders Garden Club of Dallas The Nature Conservancy Galveston Bay Estuary Program The North Face Galveston Bay Foundation Trinity University Gardening Volunteers of United Way of Metropolitan Dallas Gorgas Science Foundation University of Texas at San Antonio Volunteers Groundwork Dallas University of the Incarnate Word Gulf Coast Bird Observatory US Army Corps of Engineers Our widespread network of local action We join our partner, Gorgas Science John Bunker Sands Wetland Center US Fish & Wildlife Service delivers powerful impact for nature in Texas. Foundation, in celebrating the opening of the JPMorgan Chase Foundation UT Southwestern Whole Earth Provision Co. newly restored 1892 Rabb Plantation home! Latino Cultural Center World Affairs Council Thanks to all of our partners in the Lewisville Aquatic Ecosystem Research Facility The house serves as the new visitor center College of the Mainland 2012-2013 year! for Sabal Palm Sanctuary (Brownsville, TX), a Mexican Consulate 527-acre preserve that is home to a wonderful Nasher Sculpture Center Education Hours: 13,535 National Charity League assortment of birds and other wildlife and one Habitat Conservation Hours: 6,617 National Fish & Wildlife Foundation of the last stands of old-growth Sabal Palm in Native Plant Society of Texas the United States. Natural Resources Conservation Service Total Volunteers Hours: 20,152

10 11 Women in Conservation

Introducing the Financial Summary Introducing the

We are proud to report 90% of every dollar Lone Star State will be presented with the The nature of her contributed to Audubon Texas goes directly to conservation Terry Hershey Texas Women in Conservation and educations programs in the Lone Star State. Award. business is nature. REVENUE Terry Hershey has devoted and invested Protecting our birds A premier recognition society for generous donors substantial passion, time, energy, and resources n Corporations 20% who give $1,000 or more annually to Audubon Texas, in significant conservation projects in Houston and our bayous, our parks n Earned Revenue 10% including gifts to its Audubon Centers and and throughout Texas. In honor of this well- n Government Grants 3% conservation programs. known “force of nature for nature,” Audubon and our prairies, our n Foundations 25% is honored to name its Texas Women in n Individuals 42% Audubon’s Texas Women in Conservation “ Member privileges will include: Conservation Awards for Mrs. Hershey. rivers and our streams, Program recognizes outstanding women leaders in today’s conservation movement throughout E Exclusive invitations to Audubon Texas events our wild things and our EXPENSES the Lone Star State, supports opportunities in E Insider reports from the Executive Director Texas for girls and women to become more E Recognition in annual reports and online communications wild places. She’s been n Administration 10% involved in conservation and environmental E n Center Operations 32% Early registration for Audubon Texas travel opportunities sciences, and engages women on important aptly described by just n Conservation 20% E Private tours of our Audubon Centers issues related to conservation in Texas. All gifts n Education Programs 38% in support of this award and all proceeds from about everybody as a Audubon’s annual luncheon will support the enhancement of citizen science, conservation, force of nature. and educational activities in Texas that focus on engaging women and girls in stewardship and And you could hardly find Donor Spotlight conservation of the natural world. a better characterization “We really appreciate Audubon’s commitment to Audubon Texas and Houston Audubon conservation and the associated education and Society will co-host the first annual luncheon of Terry Hersey. experiences provided to thousands of young children, benefitting Audubon’s new Texas Women in most of which rarely get exposed to the outdoors Conservation Program in Houston in February and nature. We are particularly impressed with the - Carter Smith, 2015, during which an inaugural and esteemed enthusiasm of the Audubon staff.” Executive Director of Texas group of outstanding women leaders in today’s Parks and Wildlife Department, conservation movement throughout the Austin, TX Lonnie & Jenny Samford, members of the American Kestrel Society, ” Austin, TX 12 13 Our Partners

Larry Huddleston Dr. and Mrs. A. Farrow-Gillespie Carolyn Miller 2012-2013 Honor Roll of Donors strength in numbers David and Kim Hurt Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund Alfred C. Mitchell Grinnell Legacy Society Jim and Ann McMullan Amy and Lee Fikes Mitchell Lake Wetlands Society, Inc. The Grinnell Legacy Society recognizes those thoughtful Lee Wilson McMullan Fund at David and Shari Finfrock MM Terry Ranch, Ltd. donors who have named National Audubon Society as a Audubon Texas sincerely appreciates these generous donors who gave $1,000 or more to San Antonio Area Foundation Cina Forgason Kay Y. Moran beneficiary in their estate plans. These members’ legacies our programs between July 1, 2012, and June 30, 2013. To all of our donors, thank you V. H. McNutt Memorial Foundation Rob and Jenaie Franke Neiman Marcus Group Matching Gift Program will insure the future, financial well-being of this amazing Sara K. Minton Frost NuStar Logistics, L.P. organization. Audubon Texas thanks these generous Texans for your philanthropic investment and passion for the natural world that Audubon Texas Virginia T. Newman + J. Patrick Galloway Anne and Chuck Parrish who have designated National Audubon Society in their Genevieve and Ward Orsinger Foundation Galloway Research Service, Inc. Patagonia, Inc. estate plans: strives to protect. Charles and Jane Pak Judy and Jim Gibbs Bruce Pauley and Jennifer Lassiter Rackspace Managed Hosting Jill E. Goff Paulson Communications Strategies Alexander Adams REI - Recreational Equipment Incorporated Golden Triangle Audubon Society Eric Paulson Carlos Araoz The Nancy Ruth Fund Melissa and Terry Gottberg Nancy Perot Mary Lee Archer * $100,000 AND MORE Fluor Foundation Earl C. Sams Foundation, Inc. Green Haven Industries Paula Peters Stephanie Barko * Anonymous Gay & Lesbian Fund for Dallas Sarah E. Harte and John Gutzler Fund at Andrew and Elizabeth Halle Andrew Porter Foundation Charles M. Bartlett * City of Cedar Hill Gayden Family Foundation San Antonio Area Foundation The Honorable Deborah Hankinson Greg and Pam Porter Dodge and Lorna Engleman * City of Dallas - Park & Recreation Department George and Mary Josephine Hamman Foundation Tesoro Companies, Inc. The Bryant and Nancy Hanley Foundation, Inc. Douglas Rachlin Jay Heppner and Sandra Tibbs * Mary McDermott Cook Christopher Harte and Katherine Pope Texas Instruments Marion S. Hargrove Raymond James Charitable Endowment Fund Terry Hershey The Dallas Foundation Carl B. and Florence E. King Foundation The Trull Foundation Anne C. Haskel Alice Kleberg Reynolds Foundation Philip Huey * The Jonesville Foundation Heather C. Kohout Hegi Family Foundation Tal and Nancy Roberts Robert and Louise Hutchinson Eugene McDermott Foundation Pam Luce $1,000 - $4,999 Carol and Jeff Heller William “Billy” Rodriguez Tom and Patsy Inglet * Joseph Orr Anonymous George and Karen Hixon The Rosewood Foundation Joann Karges $50,000 - $99,999 Pine Tree Conservation Society, Inc. Robert and Nora Ackerley Tania Homayoun and Stephen Fuqua Foundation Joseph and Muriel Jean Krause * Garrett and Cecilia Boone Mr. and Mrs. Eric Reeves Susan and Warren Albert Caroline and Nelson Bunker Hunt Larry and Judy Sall Barbara Kyse * The Boone Family Foundation Harold Simmons Foundation Mary Lee Archer Tom and Patsy Inglet San Antonio Audubon Society Mary Ann Rao Lancaster * Doolin Family Foundation for Biodiversity Stemmons Foundation Ashleys Private School John F. Clark Company, Inc. Jan S. Sanders Ruth Lofgren * The Rees-Jones Foundation The Mike and Mary Terry Family Foundation Robert and Margaret Ayres Jennifer and Ed Junker Schwab Charitable Fund Jay and Betty Lorch Clifford L. and Bonnie Thomson Valero Energy Foundation Ken and Susan Barry Margaret and Lester Keliher Roger and Phyllis Sherman Lisa Meacham * Charles M. Bartlett Ken Klaveness Brian and Debbie Shivers Richard E. Norris * $25,000 - $49,999 $5,000 - $9,999 Bexar Audubon Society, Inc. Kohl’s Jim and Jane Shouse Larry Peterson * The Boeing Company Altria Group, Inc. Bonick Landscaping Lisa and Peter Kraus Jesse Shumway Jerrold H. Rehmar * Brownsville Foundation for Health & Education Austin Community Foundation George Lambert Bristol Eleanor Krebs Mr. and Ms. Charles Sloan Jan J. Roberts * Charles C. Butt Donna Bailey Dale and Cathy Bush Barbara C. Kyse Sodexho William “Billy” Rodriguez * Joe M. and Doris R. Dealey Family Foundation Bart B. Brown Horace C. Cabe Foundation Naomi Aberly and Laurence Lebowitz South Texas Hispanic Fund of the Gay Rogers ExxonMobil Foundation Anne and Brent Brown Peggy and Web Carr The Lebowitz Family Foundation San Antonio Area Foundation Marita Roos * The Favrot Fund Lisa Canter Preston Caveness Marty V. Leonard Julie and Dennis Stacy Larry and Judy Sall * H-E-B Chevron Dr. D.H. Cawthon Jack and Carolyn Long Studio Outside Nancy Strickland Mike and Pam Petty Chief Oil & Gas LLC Charity Ball Association of San Antonio, Inc. Jay and Betty Lorch Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Texas, Inc. Lydia B. Test *+ Lonnie and Jenny Samford Couture Carpets International, Inc. Chesapeake Energy Corporation Bobby B. Lyle Suzanne Tuttle San Antonio Water System Fay L. and William L. Cowden Charitable Trust City of San Antonio The Mike and Barbara Lynn Philanthropic Fund Union Pacific Foundation * Legacy gifts designated to Audubon Texas programs The George & Fay Young Foundation Craig Damuth Chip Clint Julia Marsden USAA Foundation + Deceased Communities Foundation of Texas Robert R. Matejek Rachael and Ben Vaughan Foundation Malcolm C. Damuth Foundation Gift Recognition Statement Robert McCurdy John and Jana Whittle $10,000 - $24,999 Kaleta Doolin and Alan Govenar Community Foundation of The Honor Roll of Donors acknowledges gifts made from July 1, Bruce and Billie Ballengee Founders Garden Club of Dallas Brian Connery Kimberly J. Hlavinka and Wesley S. McDonald Whole Earth Provision Co. 2012, through June 30, 2013. Although every effort has been made The Hal & Diane Brierley Foundation Sarah E. Harte and John S. Gutzler The Dallas Foundation - Mayor’s Intern Fellows Program Patricia McGill and Lynn Kramer Wild Birds Unlimited to ensure the accuracy of this information, error or omissions are The Catto Charitable Foundation Terry Hershey Dallas Jewish Community Foundation Robert E. and Evelyn McKee Foundation Hunter and Beth Williams possible. For comments or questions, please contact audubontexas@ Coates Charitable Foundation The Jacob and Terese Hershey Foundation James Deeken Amy Shelton McNutt Charitable Trust Jim and Betsy Winn audubon.org. Reba Collins Steve and Martha Hixon Family Foundation Docent at Mitchell Lake Audubon Center John and Ellen McStay Debra Witter and Scott Chase James A. “Buddy” Davidson Charitable Foundation The Tim and Karen Hixon Foundation Earth Day Dallas Milberger Landscaping, Inc. Mike and Linda Wolfson Laura and Walter Elcock The Horizon Foundation Nancy A. Evans Drs. Catherine and Mark Milbourn Wolverine World Wide 14 15 Moving Forward

We at Audubon are in awe of our natural world. Its resiliency, its unwavering rhythm, its contrary serenity, and its incredible capacity to improve the human spirit.

We believe we’re living in a dangerous and important time, when even the smallest choice – to protect or destroy, to deplete or conserve, discard or reuse – holds weight in the balance of nature.

And we believe nature is a human right.

That our children have a right to the kind of natural experience that feeds the soul and quiets the mind. That they should be able to experience the prairies and rivers and forests they learn about in history books, as history’s subjects experienced them.

At Audubon, we’re leaving the legacy of our natural heritage.

And we’re creating a Texas where conservation is the way of life.

Your philanthropic investment is essential to our continued success. Thank you for your partnership in Texas conservation! 2904 Swiss Avenue Dallas, Texas 75204 214 . 370 . 9735 tx.audubon.org

Photo credits: Gil Eckrich, Sean Fitzgerald, Maury Humes, Faizel Ismail, Jason St. Sauver, Brian Swett, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Peggy Wilkinson