Frequently Asked Questions

Houston Audubon owns and manages 17 nature sanctuaries. Hours and visitor information for each sanctuary can be found on its page in the sanctuary section of our website. Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary is open every day, 7 am - 7 pm. Our nature shop and headquarters are open 9 am - 3 pm Monday through Friday, unless otherwise specified.

We offer free bird walks and classes during spring migration. Details on the High Island visitor info page.

Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary in west Houston is open daily from 7 am to 7 pm, and admission is free.

Access to our coastal sanctuaries is $10 per person per day and includes entry to all sites. Red honor‑system drop boxes for cash or check payments are available at both Smith Oaks and Boy Scout Woods.
For guests planning multiple visits, our High Island patches are available for sale. Each patch grants unlimited access to the coastal sanctuaries for the entire year. Patches are $35 and can be purchased online or at the on-site kiosks at Boy Scout Woods and Smith Oaks once they reopen in March.

Houston Audubon’s Natives Nursery, located in the Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary in West Houston, sells many different native plants. Visit the online shop to check our stock and make purchases for pick-up on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday mornings at the Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary. You can email nativesnursery@houstonaudubon.org with questions.

Email photos to info@houstonaudubon.org and we'll do our best to identify your plant.

We have 2 online guides on our website: Native Plant Gallery and Guides to the Native Plants of the Bolivar Peninsula

Recommended books:
Trees of Texas by Stan Tekiela. It’s a nice pocket-sized book with lots of species.
Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason. Not too large but packed full of info.

There are also several great plant ID apps for your smartphone.
Seek is highly recommended for people who are just getting started. You take a picture of the plant and the app is typically able to identify it almost instantly. If you like to keep track of which plants you have seen and maybe the insects and other organisms, the full iNaturalist app is our top choice. It’s the more robust version of Seek, and if you can’t identify the plant on your own, you can add it to iNaturalist and a community of other users will help you ID it. Both apps are completely free, Seek doesn’t require you to create a login but iNaturalist does. You can access iNaturalist online as well at https://www.inaturalist.org/

Our new canopy walkway at Smith Oaks is ADA approved and a great way to get right up to overlook the rookery from the handicap-accessible parking area. It has numerous “landings” along the route to view warblers in the understory as well. As for the other trails, it really depends on the individual type of wheelchair user and chair. Our trails are maintained but are not paved, so can vary in width and type of terrain. In general, there are minimal elevation changes and there are boardwalks over the wettest areas, but they can still be muddy after rain and uneven in places.

Some trails at Edith Moore are accessible to many wheelchair users. Our trails vary from flat and sidewalk-width to quite bumpy, steep, and narrow in some spots. In a couple of places there are stairs which are not at all accessible by wheelchair. Most trails are dirt/mulch and may become quite muddy after rain. The few trails with brick are not side-walk smooth. Bridges and boardwalks are wide enough for wheelchair access, but older boardwalks may not be suitable for heavier chairs. We are happy to have you park in the Wilchester lot if appropriate parking is not available at the church parking lot. The parking lot is large, packed gravel.

We have one wheelchair available for use at our High Island sanctuaries.

In accordance with our sanctuary guidelines, access is limited to walking only. Recreational vehicles—including bicycles, scooters, and similar equipment—are not permitted. Chairs and wheeled equipment carts are also not allowed. However, child strollers, wheelchairs, and walkers are welcome when used as designed by the manufacturer.

Dogs and other domestic animals are not permitted in our nature sanctuaries. If you’d like to enjoy the outdoors with your pet, Terry Hershey Park on Memorial is a wonderful alternative near Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary

At Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary, the cabin restroom is open when staff are on-site, typically Monday through Saturday, mornings through early afternoons. This schedule helps ensure a staff presence to protect the sanctuary and prevent vandalism.

The item you’re referring to is a visitor counter that helps us track how many people pass through Edith L. Moore. You’ll find several of them placed along the trails.

You may drive up to the vehicular barrier (bollards) and park there before entering the sanctuary on foot. Please note that parking stickers are required for all vehicles on Bolivar beaches. Stickers can be purchased locally for $10.

For full details on beach parking stickers, please visit:
https://crystalbeach.com/area-information/information/beach-parking-stickers/

As part of our strategic plan, we are evaluating all our properties and how best they can support our mission. A decision hasn’t been made yet about opening HAREC. For more information about our sanctuaries, please visit the Sanctuary section of our website.

If you have an injured or orphaned wild bird or animal, please contact one of the following licensed wildlife rehabilitators:
Houston SPCA's Wildlife Center at 713-861-9453, https://houstonspca.org/houston-spca-wildlife-center/
Friends of Texas Wildlife in Magnolia at 281-259-0039, https://www.ftwl.org/
Galveston Bay Injured Bird Response Team Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/234451576997435/

More information on how you can help can be found on our Help Wildlife in Trouble page in the Ways to Help section.

For help with bird identification, please send a photo of the bird with a brief description along with where you saw it to the email address info@houstonaudubon.org. If you don’t have a photo, please include as much detail as you can, such as the color, shape, and size of the bird, where you saw it, and when you saw it. On our website in the Birding section, we have a bird gallery which includes pictures and information about the different species of birds in the greater Houston Area. Information about exotic/invasive species can also be found on the website.

Find a quickstart guide for new birdwatchers in the Birding section of our website.

Check out all of our upcoming events on our website. From birding classes and bird walks to speaker events and community programs, there’s always something fun coming up (especially during spring and fall migration). You can also join one of our monthly urban bird surveys or participate in a Christmas Bird Count . Click the survey you want to attend and the description will have the email address for who to contact. There is no cost or obligation, we just like to know who is coming so we can let everyone know in case we need to cancel for some reason. (Please bring water, snacks, binoculars and field guide if you have them). Don’t forget to check out Houston Bird Week in the fall for more birding opportunities!

Houston is a Bird City, so you can find birds just about anywhere. In addition to our sanctuaries, we have many resources on our website, including a handy list of nature areas on the Upper Texas Coast. Texas Parks and Wildlife also has some wonderful interactive maps of wildlife trails.
Birding resources
List of nature areas on the Upper Texas Coast
Texas Parks and Wildlife interactive maps

Captive animals cannot be released to the wild as they will not survive. They are pets and it is illegal to release domestic animals into the wild in Texas. We recommend you contact an animal shelter or rescue. For reptiles, you can try contacting Gina’s Heart of Gold (https://www.facebook.com/ginasheartofgoldreptilerescue/) or Texas Reptile Rescue (http://www.texasreptilerescue.com/).

Please do not trap raccoons or other wildlife from your property and release them in a sanctuary, park, or any other location. Relocating wildlife is illegal in many states, including Texas—where transporting raccoons, foxes, coyotes, and similar species is a Class C misdemeanor due to rabies‑prevention laws.

Relocation is also inhumane. Animals released into unfamiliar territory often cannot compete for food or shelter and frequently do not survive. Trapping a mother can also leave her young to starve, and relocated animals can spread diseases to healthy wildlife populations.

For humane assistance, please contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator or a professional pest control service.

Thank you for reaching out about our policies and our commitment to sourcing animal bones ethically. Our sanctuaries follow the principles of “Leave No Trace,” which means visitors are not permitted to remove anything from the site—including bones.
Full list of sanctuary policies

Please also note that all bones, feathers, eggs, and nests from native birds are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. If you are interested in collecting bird bones, they must come from non-native species, domestic species, or game birds. Additionally, collecting roadkill in Texas is illegal, so please do not attempt to retrieve specimens from roadsides.
The best way to begin collecting animal remains is to seek permission from friends, family, or acquaintances who own private property. Thank you for respecting wildlife and helping us protect these habitats!

Fishing and swimming in the creek and ponds are prohibited. The creek is currently classified as non‑supporting, meaning its bacteria levels exceed the standards for its designated use. According to the Texas Surface Water Quality Standards, hazardous levels of fecal bacteria are present, and activities such as swimming, wading, or fishing carry a heightened risk of waterborne illness.

We are always interested in help with trash pick-up! You can always bring a bag and pick up trash anytime you visit one of our sanctuaries. Group bookings for trash clean-ups can be made by emailing volunteer@houstonaudubon.org. You can also join an existing trash cleanup event. Check out all volunteer opportunities at https://houstonaudubon.org/volunteer/

Unfortunately, the cabin is not available for private bookings. Our organization does not host private parties or events at our nature sanctuaries.

Nature photography is welcome at Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary. However, portrait photography is restricted. All portrait photography groups must pre‑register with Houston Audubon and pay a required permit fee. Appointments must be scheduled at least one week in advance by submitting the portrait photography permit form. Approval or denial will be provided after review.

Recently we have shifted away from live bird presentations to focus on connecting people to birds in their natural environment at our sanctuaries and in the community.

If you are interested in seeing live raptors, please consider contacting the following organizations:
Houston SPCA Wildlife Center https://houstonspca.org/wildlife-center/wildlife-educational-presentations/
Sky Kings Falconry http://www.skykingsfalconry.com/
Wild Bird Adventures https://www.wildbirdadventures.org/ or eaglesandowls816@gmail.com

We recommend checking in with your local Texas Master Naturalist chapter for a presenter. Please click https://txmn.tamu.edu/chapter-resources/ and scroll down to the county you reside in (as well as the surrounding counties who may be willing to aid with this) and select a chapter for more information.

A number of factors can cause birds to be missing, including cats and other predators; changing food sources; migration patterns; weather and climate conditions; and localized disturbances. Click on the question for a PDF of more detailed information and steps you can take.

We don't have the capacity to catch and relocate birds. Try contacting the Wildlife Center of Texas for advice: https://wildlifecenteroftexas.org | 713-861-9453 | info@wildlifecenteroftexas.org.
It is hard to encourage birds to fly down to exit doors. Try turning off the lights in the evening before it is fully dark and leave the doors wide open (and obviously keep people away from that door). Birds will often fly to the light.

Using a gentle spray from a water gun or a hose is an effective way to discourage cats from your yard. Over 3 billion birds die each year in the U.S. alone due to cat predation! Please check our Cats Indoors page for more information on keeping cats indoors.

Houston Audubon sanctuaries are special places dedicated to preserving wildlife and natural habitats. Because of this, activities like metal detecting aren’t allowed—they can disturb the soil and the delicate ecosystem we work hard to protect. Additionally, sanctuary regulations prohibit removing any items, whether natural or man-made, to ensure the area remains undisturbed for the plants and animals that call it home. If you’ve lost a personal item and would like assistance, please let us know—we’ll gladly do our best to help.

After staff discussion, we can allow the scattering of loved ones’ ashes. Please note the following guidelines:
- Scattering is not permitted federally in inland waterways, so please maintain a distance from the creek/waterway/pond, etc.
- Only ashes may be scattered—no other recognizable remains such as teeth or bone fragments may be scattered.
- Please keep a respectful distance from walkways.

If you believe you’ve lost an item, please visit the administration building at Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary to check out our lost and found. Items are kept for up to 30 days before they are discarded or donated.

It is a violation of both federal and state law to disturb, destroy, or remove the nests or eggs of native bird species. Non‑native species—such as European Starlings and House Sparrows—are not protected under these regulations.
If you suspect that someone is harming birds, nests, or eggs, we recommend you contact the Texas Game Wardens for your county. You can find the list of wardens here: https://tpwd.texas.gov/warden/game-warden-list.phtml

Spring migration in the Gulf lasts from mid-March through mid-May with different species moving through at slightly different times. April 25 - May 5 tends to be the period in which we get the greatest numbers of the widest variety of species moving through. The number of birds in the woods on any given day is largely dependent on the weather. The basic itinerary we often recommend for folks looking to get the most out of their visit is to check High Island in the morning for a few hours before looking for shorebirds/waterbirds at either Bolivar Flats on the west end of the Peninsula or Jocelyn Nungaray (Anahuac) NWR and rice fields to the north of High Island around mid-morning to afternoon. Then we recommend returning to look for any newly arriving migrants in High island from about 4 pm to sunset. For more information, please visit our page on spring migration.

Visitors often place the High Island patches on jackets, backpacks, gear cases, and other items to show them off. During spring migration, many people pin them to their shirts or bags so staff and volunteers can easily see they’ve purchased them for admission. The patches have also become collectibles, since Houston Audubon has been producing High Island designs for decades since 1989. To view past High Island patches, please visit our gallery of High Island patches.