Northern Crested Caracara
For the first time in 4 years and 8 months, I attended an in-person Houston Sierra Club (HSC) monthly meeting on October 10th. It felt good to be back among those who want a better world, not just for humans, but for all living things. The last time I attended a HSC in-person monthly meeting was February 2020, just before the “pandemic” hit.
It took a long time to get back our mojo to set-up this meeting. The “zoom” meetings and events we have had have been crucial in continuing the HSC presence. But now, we need to move forward to the social aspect of conservation work, and environmental protection which means meeting people in-person and where live.
There were about 25 people present and many were new and younger faces. It was great to tell them hello, and to wish them well. Thanks go to our new Chair, Linda Mundwiller and the HSC Executive Committee for pushing forward on meeting the public and our members again face-to-face.
The program was wonderful. The Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) has a “Wildlife Center of Texas” on Old Katy Road. The three speakers, Randolph, Jean, and Monica, did a great job of telling about their efforts to rehabilitate injured or abandoned wildlife and releasing these fellow Earth-travelers back into the wild.
About 14,000 animals, of all types, though mostly birds and mammals, were brought in to the “Wildlife Center” in 2023. The SPCA triages those brought in, treats their maladies, raises and prepares them for release, and then releases the animals.
Sadly, about 75% of young wildlife do not make it through their first year. The facility is large and has flight cages that will even help Bald Eagles rehabilitate before they are released. Some of the animals that have been brought in include opossums, raccoons, rabbits, Barn Owls, Screech Owls, Cattle Egrets, Mississippi Kites, Black Vultures, turtle species, and many others.
American Kestrel
Randolph, Jean, and Monica introduced the adoring audience to three birds which can’t be released, due to injuries or other maladies. These three birds are used to educate people about wildlife and why we need to help them get back into their wild world. The three birds included American Kestrel, Harris’s Hawk, and Caracara. All three birds were very relaxed within our group of enthusiastic viewers and vocalized and posed for many photos. Needless to say there was no one in the audience who wasn’t a friend of wildlife by the end of the presentation.
Harris's Hawk
What a great program and what a first great, in a long time, person-to-person monthly meeting. Join us in the coming months and find kindred spirits who will educate you about not just your world but also the world where all other living things are found. We all need to stick together if we are to take care and live in our small “landscape Earth”!
Photos courtesy of Linda Mundwiller and Carol Woronow