The 1988 logo. Designed by Linda Feltner
The Yellow-throated Warbler is more than just a striking migratory songbird; it is the enduring symbol and logo of Houston Audubon, representing our organization's deep roots in conservation and our pivotal role in protecting vital bird habitats.
In our early days, Houston Audubon spearheaded the opposition to the proposed Wallisville Dam. This massive 19,700-acre reservoir would have had devastating consequences for the region's wildlife. The dam's construction would have flooded one of the last old-growth bald cypress swamps in the area – an irreplaceable ecosystem vital to the Yellow-throated Warbler. This species has a particular ecological dependency on mature bald cypress swamps, where they find ideal nesting sites, often utilizing abundant Spanish moss for their intricate nests. Wiping out this habitat would have severely impacted the species locally.
Houston Audubon's determined advocacy, alongside other environmental groups, was instrumental in halting the original Wallisville Reservoir project as initially conceived. Twenty-five years of relentless litigation and activism ultimately led to a landmark agreement: the Wallisville Reservoir project was scrapped. In its place, a saltwater barrier project was approved, with a crucial caveat – 25,000 acres were permanently set aside as a nature preserve, now managed as a federal wildlife management area. This monumental achievement marked one of Houston Audubon's earliest and most successful advocacy efforts, clearly demonstrating our power to persevere and prevail through sustained protests, critical litigation, and essential funding. This victory not only saved a critical ecosystem but also underscored our organization's commitment to preserving the natural spaces that birds, like the Yellow-throated Warbler, depend on for survival.
Today, the Yellow-throated Warbler on Houston Audubon's logo serves as a powerful reminder of this foundational conservation success and the ongoing need to protect the unique and threatened habitats of the Upper Texas Coast. It embodies Houston Audubon's mission to conserve birds and their habitats, a mission forged in the direct action of saving the very swamps vital to this iconic species.
Logo History
Artist Linda Feltner created the drawing for the 1988 logo. The present logo was adopted in 2009. The Yellow-throated Warbler continues to be a very appropriate symbol for our mission.
The logo was decorated to celebrate the 50th anniversary year in 2019 by Zineera Seth Chong. Notice the rounded corners.
2009 logo
2019 logo
