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The annual Red-vented Bulbul survey is a collaboration between Harris County Precinct 4 and Houston Audubon's Community Science projects. This introduced species, native to India and Southeast Asia, was first reported in Houston in 1958. However, it wasn't until 2022 that Red-vented Bulbul was added to the official Texas bird list, thanks to the efforts of Mike Austin, David Bradford, and Stephan Lorenz, who petitioned the Texas Bird Record Committee. Their successful petition included much of the data from this survey.

We are still trying to monitor and collect data on the Red-vented Bulbul population in Houston. Topics of interest include population trends (e.g. growth, spread, saturation), preferred vegetation for foraging and nesting, and response to significant weather events (e.g. extreme freezes, droughts, and flooding).

The survey will be Saturday, June 7, 2025, from 7:00 am to 9:00 am in the Heights and surrounding areas. The routes are approximately 2 miles long and should be walked, playing calls at likely spots and recording the bulbuls you detect (what they are doing and where they are perched). You may find a nest, and we would like additional information such as tree species or behavior observed.

If you are hoping to add this species to your Texas list, please let us know and we will make sure you are on a survey route that typically has bulbuls. While most routes have bulbuls annually, we are also surveying sites not known to have bulbuls in an effort to document range expansion. Email bulbulsurvey@gmail.com if you have any questions or would like to participate.

Join Houston Audubon to spread your wings and soar into the world of bird identification. Participants will learn all about birds in a climate-controlled setting, and then venture outdoors to identify birds using that newfound knowledge on a stroll among the scenic spaces of the Houston Botanic Garden. There will also be an opportunity to compete in a challenging round or two of bird bingo, where knowing facts about our feathered friends is the key to victory.

Participants should bring their own cameras / binoculars. Some binoculars will also be available to borrow. Register at the link below.

Calling all educators! Join us for Houston Audubon's Avian Academy on June 11th at our beautiful Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary. This program features the activities of the Flying Wild curriculum, an introduction to birding from Houston Audubon, and a melding of art and science! This is adaptable and appropriate for educators of K-12 students. Provides 5 hours of CPE credit for teachers or AT for Master Naturalists.

Space is limited!

Birds are all around us, from our backyards to local parks. No matter where you live, you can observe birds, which makes birding a fun hobby you can do anywhere, anytime. Learn the basics of bird identification at Birding 101 with Houston Audubon! You’ll get an understanding of the field marks that birders use to recognize different species and be on your way to becoming a birder! The event is free but registration is required. The registration link below contains a map of the location.