Discover Birding at Memorial Park with Birds Houston!

Monthly Bird Surveys at Memorial Park

Memorial Park is a place where a city skyline and a wildlife habitat share the same horizon, so it is the perfect destination to discover a world of birding! Every month, experts from Birds Houston invite the community to help track who’s here through a free Urban Bird Survey in the park.

What Is a Bird Survey?

Bird Surveys are conducted monthly by Birds Houston and provide opportunity participants to walk Park areas together, identify the birds they see and hear, and then record what they find. Over time, these records build a picture of bird diversity in the Park and show how wildlife responds as the landscape is restored!

This gathering is more than just an opportunity to take a walk in nature and learn about birds in Houston. The data helps professionals and land managers understand what species are using the Park and how populations change from season to season.

Beginners Are Welcome

You do not need to be an expert to join. In fact, attending a Bird Survey is a wonderful way to get started! Experienced birders are happy to point out what they’re seeing, share identification tips and help you spot birds you might have walked past a hundred times before.

If you don’t own binoculars, let the group know and they can lend you a pair!

When and Where

Surveys are held on the first Monday morning of each month. The group meets in Clay Family Eastern Glades, sometimes making their way over to Cyvia & Melvyn Wolff Prairie. Occasionally the schedule shifts, for instance around the holidays, so check the Birds Houston event calendar before you go.

What You Might Spot

The Eastern Glades is a mix of wetlands, open lake and woodland edge. Prairie land throughout the Park attracts species that prefer open grassland to deep woods. and This variety of ecosystems also draws a variety of birds!

While exploring Park areas with Birds Houston, you might see sights such as a red-headed woodpecker on a tree snag or a nesting pair of Least Grebes. What you identify will change with the seasons, with migrating species passing through at different times of year.

Click Here for our guide to birding at Memorial Park and learn more about what you can expect to see in different Park areas!

What to Bring

• Binoculars, if you have them (or borrow a pair from Birds Houston)
• Comfortable shoes for walking on trails and grass
• Water, sun protection and bug spray, especially in warmer months
• A bird ID app, downloaded on your phone to track your findings
• A notebook, if you enjoy keeping your own list

Why You Should Attend a Bird Survey

A healthy park is one where wildlife has a place to thrive. Birds are some of the best indicators of habitat health, and they’re also just delightful to watch! By joining a survey, you’re getting outside, meeting fellow nature lovers and contributing to a long-term record of the park’s natural life.

Ready to grab your binoculars? Mark the first Monday of the month and join Birds Houston in Memorial Park.

Learn more about Birds Houston and its programs at their website: https://birdshouston.org/