Houston Audubon Society

FUNDS UNDER THIS AWARD ARE TO BE USED TO ASSIST HOUSTON AUDUBON SOCIETY (HAS) ENHANCE HABITATS THEY MANAGE ON BOLIVAR PENINSULA. THE ENHANCEMENT ACTIVITIES INCLUDE REMOVAL OF INVASIVE SPECIES IN 6 ACRES OF WOODLAND FOREST, 4 ACRES OF COASTAL PRAIRIE, AND 300 ACRES OF COASTAL MARSH HABITAT. GRASSLAND AND MARSH HABITATS WILL ALSO BE PREPARED FOR THE APPLICATION OF PRESCRIBED FIRE. MANY OF THE BIRD SPECIES WILL BENEFIT FROM THESE ACTIVITIES INCLUDING MIGRATORY NEOTROPICAL MIGRANTS FOR THE WOODLAND AND PRAIRIE PORTIONS OF THE PROJECT. THE ENHANCED MARSH HABITAT WILL BENEFIT MIGRATORY, WINTER, AND BREEDING RESIDENT SPECIES. MANY OF THESE SPECIES ARE EITHER SPECIES OF CONSERVATION CONCERN OR SPECIES OF CONSERVATION NEED.

BOLIVAR FLATS ACQUISITION, TX

IN FEBRUARY 2024 AS PERMITTED UNDER USACE PERMIT SWG199300438 HOUSTON AUDUBON SOCIETY COMPLETED PHASE I OF THE BOLIVAR FLATS SHOREBIRD SANCTUARY VEHICULAR BARRIER REPAIR AND EXTENSION. PHASE I INCLUDED REPAIRING EXISTING PILINGS AND INSTALLING NEW PILINGS FROM THE LINE OF DUNE VEGETATION TO THE LOW WATER MARK. HAS NOW SEEKS FUNDING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION TO COMPLETE PHASE II WHICH WILL EXTEND THE VEHICULAR BARRIER UP TO 100 YARDS SEAWARD OF THE MEAN HIGH TIDE LINE. THE VEHICULAR BARRIER PROTECTS FORAGING ROOSTING AND NESTING HABITAT FOR MORE THAN 40 COASTAL BIRD SPECIES INCLUDING 3 E.S.A. LISTED BIRD SPECIES AND 19 OR MORE BIRD SPECIES OF GREATEST CONSERVATION NEED AS DESIGNATED BY THE TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT. HAS HAS MAINTAINED THIS VEHICULAR RESTRICTION SINCE IT WAS GRANTED BY VOTE OF THE GALVESTON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT IN 1985. HAS CONDUCTS REGULAR SURVEYS FOLLOWING THE AUDUBON COASTAL BIRD SURVEY PROTOCOL FOR THIS AREA 3X PER MONTH THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. DISTURBANCES INCLUDING TIRE TRACKS AND VEHICLES ARE NOTED DURING THESE SURVEYS. IN ADDITION HAS EMPLOYS SEASONAL STAFF TO INSTALL TEMPORARY FENCING FOR PROTECTING AND MONITORING NESTING WILSONS PLOVER SNOWY PLOVER AND LEAST TERN DURING THE BREEDING SEASON. WE HAVE DISTURBANCE DATA PRE PROJECT AND WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE AREA WHERE VEHICLES ARE PROHIBITED UPON COMPLETION. WE EXPECT TO SEE A SHARP DECLINE IN TRESPASSING VEHICLES AND ASSOCIATED DISTURBANCE ONCE PHASE II IS COMPLETE.