Lorraine Cherry Nature Preserve News

Submitted by Laura Bradham

Changes in Board Leadership

I am honored to have accepted the role of President of the Friends of Lorraine Cherry Nature Preserve. I joined the Friends group last year and have been active in leading Bird Walks in the Forest at the park. I, along with the rest of The Friends of Lorraine Cherry Nature Preserve Board Members, would like to thank Jim Chambers for his leadership and vision as President of the Friends Group during the past two years.

Additionally, we recently welcomed Timbergrove resident Christ Riley as a new Board Member. Wally Ward continues as Vice president, Jennifer Vickers continues as Treasurer, and Pete Davies continues as Secretary. Michelle Colvard, Robert Delgado, and Brett Sillers will remain Board members of the Friends group. We are looking forward to a great year together.

Bird Walks in the Forest

Bird Walks in the Forest are happening this spring until the end of May at Lorraine Cherry Nature Preserve! Meet at the kiosk on Shelterwood, near the corner of Pineshade every Tuesday morning at 8:00 a.m. and thefirst Thursday of the Month at 5:30 p.m. (March 3, April 7 & May 5). Bird Walks in the Forest run from September through May yearly. This past fall, Lorraine Cherry Nature Preserve became a partner park with Houston Audubon. Our Bird Walks in the Forest were already a special time to see birds and experience the forest, but are now listed as an official Houston Audubon Bird Survey. I and all of the other Bird Survey Leaders just completed a training with Houston Audubon. This meant we got a chance to meet one another and chat about our parks while we chased some birds together!

The fact that our park is now a Bird Survey is really exciting because it’s community science in action. Each time we take a Bird Walk in the Forest, I enter all of the birds that we saw on an app called Ebird, as do all of the other Bird Survey Leaders all across the globe. Then, the folks at Cornell University compile the information together yearly, tracking bird locations and population numbers.

Spring Migration is Headed Our Way

We are so fortunate to live on what is called a Migration Flyway. Birds migrate from north to south yearly during the fall, and south to north yearly during the spring in search of theirfavorite temperature to eat, sing, and nest. We are in just the perfect spot when birds migrate northward. Believe it or not, birds fly over the Gulf of Mexico in one shot in the spring. There is no place for them to land, so when they get here from South America, they are not only exhausted, but they are hungry! They land in Galveston first, and then they head northward, spying Lorraine Cherry Nature Preserve from the sky, seeking food and rest. You really never know what we will see in the park in the month of April, the height of spring migration in Houston.As a former Latin teacher, I love translation I thought I might translate a couple of birding concepts that you will hear about during migration.

Fall Out - Fall Out is when the birds migrate across the Gulf of Mexico facing a northerly wind. Ounce for ounce, just crossing the Gulf of Mexico is a huge challenge to the birds.But, add a northerly wind, and it’s just plain exhausting! They will literally “fall out” of the sky to sleep and ravenously eat. You will sometimes see the most amazing birds just sleeping on the ground or in a tree near you. If you hear the words “Fall Out” on the news, get to the nearest forest and look for birds!

Lights Out for Birds -I know. Living in the city, we all think of lights on for safety. But, during fall and spring migration, for the birds’ sake, it is lights out for safety. Birds have, well, bird brains, and they get confused when they are flying if they see lights on at night. They will fly right towards them and might accidentally commit suicide crashing into windows in buildings or houses. So, when migration hits, you will hear various people ask for “Lights Out for Birds.” City street lights will not be turned out, but some of the buildings downtown will turn lights out. It is also an ask for you to turn your porch light off (but keep your cameras on!) for a week or so as the birds migrate through.I’m looking forward to seeing you in the park soon!