Even though bald eagles can be seen year round in Texas, they migrate here September through May for breeding. The adults will often return to the same nest year after year. Some bald eagle nests can reach up to 10 feet across & weigh up to 2000 pounds! Bald eagles are believed to live around 30 years or longer in the wild. They mate for life, building huge nests in the tops of large trees near wetlands. Photo courtesy of Gary Seloff #BaldEagle #Birding
Today is International Vulture Awareness Day. While vultures are often viewed very negatively, they play an important ecological role as scavengers. Did you know that 16 of the 23 vulture populations in the world are endangered or threatened with extinction? The two vulture species that live at ABNC are the black vulture and the turkey vulture. They are both protected by the Migratory Bird Act and are considered a species of Least Concern. In Texas, conservation efforts are designed to preserve their habitat and raise awareness about their vital role in our ecosystems. Photos courtesy of Gary Seloff
We are #grateful to Port Houston, a long-time partner of Armand Bayou Nature Center! ABNC is one of the largest urban wilderness preserves in the U.S., and thanks to a conservation easement agreement with Port Houston we are now 175 acres bigger! Check out Port Houston’s video about how we’re working together to enhance prairie and marsh habitats through our partnership!
Some migrating birds we’ve seen recently are the Baltimore Oriole, Yellow-throated Vireo, Summer Tanager, Red-eyed Vireo and Yellow Warbler. Please try to keep lights out at night to prevent disorientation during critical fall peak migration from September 5 through October 29. Baltimore Oriole photo Courtesy of Gary Seloff #fallmigration2024 #birding #WildlifeWednesday #LightsOutTexas
This weekend is packed full of fun and adventure at ABNC! Try our Photography Workshop with Gary Seloff. He has spent countless hours taking astonishing photos of ABNC wildlife, and he’s sharing his skills so that you can learn to take your very own stunning photos. For early risers, enjoy watching wildlife seek their breakfast along the bayou shore on a Morning Pontoon Cruise or Kayak Tour. If you prefer when day fades into night, try a Sunset Pontoon Cruise to experience the nocturnal sights and sound of the nature center. The choice is yours! https://www.abnc.org/reconnect-with-nature
Our friends from LyondellBasell stopped by today to see the progress on ABNC’s Welcome Center. LyondellBasell has been an important partner for Renewal 2024 projects, supporting the creation of the Digital Trail Kiosk and Bayou Wildlife exhibit in the welcome center, as well as supporting the renovation of the LyondellBasell Auditorium in ABNC’s Environmental Learning Center. We are truly grateful to LyondellBasell for their continued support of ABNC and for helping us restore and renew our aging infrastructure as ABNC celebrates 50 years of reconnecting people with nature!
This is a venomous Eastern Copperhead, they are much less common to see than the nonvenomous snakes at ABNC. They are non aggressive, choosing to stay still and blend in when threatened, however this one was out foraging mid-day, and didn’t seem to mind being filmed. This is also a very good reminder of why it is important to stay on the trails when exploring. Photos and video by Stacy Holcomb
ABNC is a certified site for State Board of Education Professional Development (SBEC). Teachers can earn their PD hours by taking part in many of ABNC’s many EcoExploration Programs including Pontoon Cruises, Kayak Tours, Nature Photography Workshops, Bayou Safari Tours, Animal Encounters and Paint by Nature. Learn more at https://www.abnc.org/sbec-for-teachers
ABNC has different kinds of turtles, especially red-eared sliders. We have a lot of red-eared sliders, however sometimes we see river cooters. The first turtle on the left is a river cooter and on the right is the red-eared slider which has that big red spot on its head. The male river cooter can have really long back claws not seen in this photo. As with most turtle species the bigger turtles will usually be the female turtles. Temperature determines which sex a turtle will be when the eggs hatch. Males are produced when eggs are incubated at temperatures of 22–27 °C (72–81 °F), whereas females develop at warmer temperatures. Photo by Stacy Holcomb
This back to school season, get your kids unplugged and out in nature with ABNC EcoPrograms with new topics every week. Sign up for one week or many. Fun upcoming eco topics include alligators, dragonflies, states of matter, fishing and pillbugs. Photos courtesy of Stacy Holcomb & Tyson Vodochodsky abnc.org/eco-programs
A single image can evoke deep emotional feelings and bring back that past with a quick gaze. Celebrate World Photography Day and send us some photos. Here is a bald eagle up close taken by Stacy Holcomb.
Embrace your inner artist and enjoy an indoor nature inspired activity! Learn about and how to paint Wildflowers and Armadillos as our multi-talented volunteer coordinator, Jessica guides you through a fun Paint by Nature Workshop. Or dive into nature photography with Gary Seloff as he shares his astonishing skills in our Nature Photography Workshops! Learn more at https://www.abnc.org/
Thank you to the fine folks from Kendra Scott-Baybrook Mall for coming out and weeding our pollinator garden in education!
The lifespan of raccoons in the wild is estimated at three to five years, and they have been known to live up to 16 years. A captive raccoon was recorded living for 21 years. Genetic studies have shown that the closest relatives of the raccoon are the ring-tailed cats, coatis and cacomistles. Photo courtesy of Gary Seloff.
Meet our amazing animal ambassadors! Our knowledgeable Zoologist will explain what they eat, how they have adapted to live in our area, and how they came to call ABNC their home! Registration required https://www.abnc.org/animal-encounters
A big thank you to our outstanding volunteers for everything you do! If you would like to join a fun loving group of people, we have a volunteer orientation on August 24th. Please complete the volunteer registration by August 23rd to take part. abnc.org/volunteer
To beat the heat and see more wildlife try visiting ABNC when we open in the morning! We also have early bird Kayak Tours and Sunrise Pontoon Cruises for even earlier morning fun adventures. Photo courtesy of Gary Seloff
Another fun filled Summer of EcoCamps wrapped up last week! Our EcoEducation team is busy getting ready for our Back to School EcoPrograms, registration is now open. https://www.abnc.org/eco-programs
Osprey were rarely seen in our area for years due to certain pesticides and habitat loss. They have made a comeback due to changes in pesticide regulations and habitat restoration efforts like those we do at ABNC. Even though most migrate, some can be found year round on our bayou. Fun fact: A group of ospreys is called a duet because ospreys are typically solitary birds, only pairing up during breeding season. For more information about our local ospreys, abnc.org/nature-blog/osprey. Photo courtesy of Gary Seloff.
Thank you Devin (back row in the blue shirt) and BSA Troop 30 for helping complete an erosion control project on the Martyn trail to the seining site! We use this area for our outdoor classroom which is a Texas Parks and Wildlife certified Aquatic Science Site.
Alligator tunnels can be up to 65 ft long! Alligators also make their own natural sunscreen called gadusol. Other animals that produce gadusol include rainbow trout, green sea turtles, and chickens. Photo by Tyson Vodochodsky
We’re Hiring! Armand Bayou Nature Center is seeking a Stewardship Program Director responsible for the oversight and management of all natural resource management activities at ABNC, including wildlife management, habitat restoration and environmental monitoring. Demonstrated expertise and experience with wetland/rangeland restoration and management and the flora, fauna and ecology of coastal Texas are required. To learn more about this exciting opportunity and how to apply please visit https://www.abnc.org/jobs
Bird feathers aren’t really blue. Blue is a rare color in birds. Their feathers are a structural color (as opposed to a pigmented color) because it’s generated by light interacting with a feather’s 3-D arrangement. Different shapes & sizes of these air pockets & keratin make different shades of blue. Photos by Stacy Holcomb and Tyson Vodochodsky
Our red tailed hawk ambassador, Skyler, visited all the campers today during their Birds of Prey session this morning. 
ABNC’s power has been restored and we will be ready to start welcoming visitors once again on Wednesday, July 17. As we reopen, our Discovery Loop is currently the only trail open to visitors. Our other trails, like the one pictured here, sustained damage during Hurricane Beryl and our Stewardship Department and dedicated volunteers are hard at work clearing the other trails for your safety.
We will be having EcoCamps tomorrow, Monday, July 15th. It looks like power is restored for us! We hope everyone gets power back and soon! Photo of least bittern by Gary Seloff
Well, we are still hanging in there like these two yellow-crowned night-herons chicks that survived Hurricane Beryl. We will be closed for ecocamp classes and regular admission on Thursday, July 11th. We hope everyone is safe and staying cool as best they can.
I know many of the campers are enjoying their time here at Armand Bayou Nature Center. Unfortunately, due to the heat, lack of power, and projected stormy weather in the tomorrow, the decision has been made to close the Nature Center to everyone. These elements, together, create an unsafe environment to properly engage in camp activities.
As stated previously, we are without power, but we hope that it may be restored by Thursday afternoon.
As a reminder, whether we decide to close for just one or both days, you will receive a refund for each session that has been canceled.
Please look for further updates over email and social media as we are unable to update our website.
Ecocamp classes will still be in session tomorrow, Wednesday July 10th, however, we will be closed for admission to the regular public.
We are closed today Sunday July 7th and ecocamp classes will be canceled Monday July 8th due to the weather. Photo by Tyson Vodochodsky
The nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus mexicanus) has recently been found to be four different distinct species using DNA! So now the Texas state small mammal will now be called the Mexican long-nosed armadillo (Dasypus mexicanus)! Photo courtesy of Stacy Holcomb
Green Heron Fishing on the Bayou. What will you see on your pontoon cruise this long weekend? Photos courtesy of Gary Seloff.
This long weekend try a Bayou Safari! Observe wildlife from our Discovery Loop boardwalk, then visit our animal ambassadors in the Environmental Learning Center. From there board our shaded stretch electric vehicle and leisurely explore the riparian forest down to the bayou, over to the prairie, farmhouse, and finally to the bison. https://www.abnc.org/bayou-safari
#WeekendAdventures #longweekend #safari
