You are invited to join us for our monthly bird banding program at the GCBO headquarters in Lake Jackson on the third Saturday of each month from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Licensed bird banders and GCBO Research Associates Robert and Kay Lookingbill  band at the sanctuary on a regular basis. Birds are captured for banding in very fine nylon nets known as “mist nets” because they are almost invisible in the environment. Captured birds are weighed and measured and their species, sex, and age are recorded. Each is fitted with an aluminum leg band with a unique number provided by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and released unharmed. If the bird is captured again, the band provides the link to retrieve this history, which then provides important information on the routes used by migrating birds, their longevity, and general physical condition.

The purpose of the project is to establish baseline data for the GCBO property on both resident and migratory bird populations. About half of the 34-acre headquarters tract is old growth Columbia Bottomland hardwood forest. The remaining acreage is partially cleared woodland with the larger trees remaining, the new constructed wetland, and the edges of Buffalo Camp Bayou. Banding will allow us to obtain information about the physical condition of migrants at this intermediate location between the coast and the bottomland forests lying well inland. Both coastal woodlots and inland bottomland forests are known to be extremely important stopover habitats for nearctic-neotropical migrants that move through the Gulf of Mexico region. Birds that are captured for banding can provide valuable information about their relative physical condition. Fat deposits, which provide the fuel necessary for the arduous undertaking of the twice annual travel of hundreds to thousands of miles, can be estimated by examining handheld birds. Recently arrived migrants generally exhibit little or no fat, as their fuel “tank” is depleted by the long flights they have just finished. The importance of stopover habitat to migrants is that it provides them with both shelter and a source of rapid replenishment of the fat reserves necessary to continue migration. In addition, bird banding is an excellent form of public outreach and education.

Along with providing valuable data for conservation, banding is also a great way for the public to see birds up close! Come by to watch the banding process, learn about the birds, and get outside!

We invite community members and families to join us in celebrating Latino Conservation Week with Latinos in Tech of WA, Techqueria Seattle Chapter Members, Latino Community Fund of WA, and EarthCorps. Come and join us for a fun outdoor picnic and potluck. Enjoy activities and games while also learning about outdoor and environmental organizations and Latinx resources in Washington. 

We’re thrilled to join Latino Outdoors, the Hispanic Access Foundation and others as we kick off Latino Conservation Week 2021! LCW is an annual initiative of the Hispanic Access Foundation showcasing outdoor engagement and conservation advocacy by Latino communities.

Learn more about the week and find a virtual event at latinoconservationweek.com #LCW2021

We recommend you bring the following:

- Blanket to sit on the ground or a lawn chair

- Sunscreen 

- Comfortable shoes and a hat 

- Reusable Water bottle 

*You can bring your pet. 

Please, bring a mask if you are not covid vaccinated or partially vaccinated. For specific guidance about when & where to wear your mask, visit doh.wa.gov/masks

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Invitamos a los miembros de la comunidad y las familias a unirse a nosotros para celebrar la Semana de la Conservación Latina con Latinos en Tecnología  de WA, miembros del Capítulo de Techqueria en Seattle, Latino Community Fund of WA y EarthCorps. Ven y únete a nosotros para un divertido picnic al aire libre y compartir comida. Disfrute de actividades y juegos mientras aprende sobre organizaciones ambientales y al aire libre y recursos latinx en Washington.

¡Estamos encantados de unirnos a Latino Outdoors, la Hispanic Access Foundation y otros en el inicio de la Semana de la Conservación Latina 2021! LCW es una iniciativa anual de la Hispanic Access Foundation que muestra el compromiso al aire libre y la defensa de la conservación por parte de las comunidades latinas.

Obtenga más información sobre la semana y encuentre un evento virtual en  latinoconservationweek.com #LCW2021

Te recomendamos traer lo siguiente:

- Manta para sentarse en el suelo o silla de jardín

- Bloqueador solar

- Zapatos cómodos y sombrero.

- Botella de agua reutilizable

* Puedes traer a tu mascota.

Por favor, traiga una máscara si no está vacunado por covid o parcialmente vacunado. Para obtener orientación específica sobre cuándo y dónde usar su máscara, visite doh.wa.gov/masks

Este Sábado 24 de Julio a las 8:00 am, tendremos un tiempo familiar en el Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge en Alamo, Texas.

Incluirá enseñanzas de la vida animal y forestal guiadas por Thamara S. Hernandez, Urban Park Ranger del Servicio de Pesca y Vida Silvestre, de los Estados Unidos.

Se formarán equipos para recoger basura, recorrer diferentes partes del refugio, asi como visitar un puente colgante elevando y una torre. Habrá una enseñanza por grupos para compartir el libro de HAF "Cuidando nuestro planeta.", y para  compartir la importancia de unirnos en proyectos de conservavión e iniciativas de ley para conservar la tierra.

Tendremos el Lunch juntos para intercambiar experiencias en este día familiar.

Agradecemos a Hispanic Access Foundation por todo su gran apoyo para celebrar Latino Conservation Week en el Valle del Rio Grande de Texas.

Cindy Rangel is the founder of Ella Pocketbook, a company focused on sustainable fashion and travel accessories for professional women of color. She is currently working on her first travel bag that has the planet and people in mind.

Join us live on IG @LatinoConservationWeek this Saturday at 1:00 pm EST/10:00 am PST to hear from Cindy about her and her new business. 

Embark on a scenic and interpretive tour of one of New Jersey's finest coastal wonders. Join us in visiting The Wetlands Institute for a guided walk along their salt marsh trail and learn about the importance of conserving such a vital ecosystem. 

Free with admission: $8 for ages 13 & up, $6 for ages 3 - 12

Wear shoes that can get muddy!

Join us on Saturday, July 24th, from 9 to 10 AM for a beginner-focused birding trip in Grove Park! Learn how to participate in community science to help protect birds (and participate in a community science contest!), and get to know the birds in Atlanta. Spanish translation will be available!

Birding Focus: We will be looking for year-round and summer resident birds, including woodpeckers, songbirds, and hawks. Binoculars will be available to borrow!