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Photos courtesy of Mike Gray, Rhona Kindopp, and GCBO staff. July 2011 XHX is Coming
Autumn is hummingbird season in Texas, as thousands of these
tiny creatures move through the state on their southward
migration to Mexico and Central America. Many Ruby-throats
will travel 600 miles straight across the Gulf to the
Yucatan Peninsula while others will fly around the edges of
the Gulf to points in Mexico.
GCBO Receives New Oystercatcher Grant
GCBO has been awarded a $25,000 grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to include putting radios on American Oystercatcher chicks during the next breeding season. Currently, we have no information on how young oystercatchers use the Texas coast from the time they leave their parents care at about 6 months of age until they begin breeding 2.5 years later. The radios will allow us to follow these chicks in the year after fledging to better understand what conservation measures may be needed to help them survive this critical period. Staff to Band Whooper Chicks
The Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS) has invited GCBO Director of Conservation Programs, Dr. Felipe Chavez-Ramirez to participate in the capture of 10 to 12 pre-fledged Whooping Cranes on the breeding grounds in Wood Buffalo National Park, Northwest Territories, Canada this summer to attach telemetry devices and perform health checks. This work has been identified by the International Whooping Crane Recovery Team as a top priority and will provide us with a much needed understanding of mortality factors and habitat use on the wintering grounds, breeding grounds, and especially on migration where little is currently known, limited monitoring takes place, and most mortality occurs. The CWS recognized that for these trapping events, it is imperative for the safety and health of each crane that experienced crane biologists participate in the crane capture, handling, fitting of the telemetry devices and performance of the health checks. The success and safety of the captures rely on the unique skills and experiences of the trapping team. Dr. Chavez-Ramirez will be part of a team including experienced crane trapper, David Brandt from USGS, crane veterinarian Dr. Barry Hartup from the International Crane Foundation and biologists from the CWS. Capture and marking of Whooping Cranes will take place during the first week of August 2011. Warbler Woods Receives Lone Star Award
Site Partner Warbler Woods was awarded the Lone Star Land Steward Award for Blackland Prairie in May from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. This award recognizes and honors private landowners for their accomplishments in habitat management and wildlife conservation. Susan and Don Schaezler have worked tirelessly to make Warbler Woods an incredible sanctuary for breeding and migrant birds. If you haven't visited, you are missing a grand treat. Over 240 species of birds have been documented there including 38 species of warblers and 18 species of sparrows. Congratulations to the Schaezlers for this great achievement! Protecting the Cloud Forests of Sierra Caral
With a $25,000 grant made possible by GCBO’s Tropical Forest Forever Fund we have partnered with American Bird Conservancy, Global Wildlife Conservation, Conservation International, IUCN, World Land Trust-US, and Fundación Para el Ecodesarrollo y la Conservación to purchase 5,449 acres of forested habitat along the Caribbean slope of Guatemala for the protection of endangered species, and for Neotropical birds. Located on the Caribbean slope of Guatemala near the Honduran border, the Sierra Caral is a unique and isolated cloud forest created by moisture-laden Caribbean trade winds. The region is a critical refuge for more than 120 neotropical migratory species including wintering Golden-cheeked and Kentucky Warblers, and is one of the most important spring stopover sites for Cerulean and Canada Warblers in all of Central America. GCBO is proud to be a part of this joint effort to save Sierra Caral’s critically forests. We can do even more with your help. If you wish to contribute to the Tropical Forest Forever Fund’s land acquisition efforts please contact Cecilia via email to info@gcbo.org.
Shield-Ayres Foundation Supports GCBO
We
are pleased to acknowledge a generous grant of $10,000 from the
Shield-Ayres Foundation to support our capacity building goals.
Mrs. Patricia Shield-Ayres of San Antonio and her son, Robert
Ayres of Austin, have been long-time members of GCBO. Their
family values of service and stewardship have resulted in
healthier communities and they have been generous to numerous
environmental causes. Fourth generation Texans, they are
well-known for their conservation of environmentally sensitive
ranchlands. Monthly Bird Banding at GCBO
Join us from 8:00 until noon on Saturday, July 16th for our monthly bird banding session. GCBO Research Associates Robert & Kay Lookingbill will explain the aging and sexing process as they band the birds. Summer is here we are surrounded by youngster (young birds that is). Come see them up close. This is a great way to get kids excited about wildlife, but all ages are welcome. See the map on our webpage for directions or find a map by going to Mapquest or GoogleMaps. Note that some other navigators will not take you to the correct location. |
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| www.gcbo.org | Telephone 979-480-0999 | Contact Us |
103 W. Hwy 332, Lake Jackson, TX 77566
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