Animals

Paws Up - Meet Angus & Pantera /  by Estella Espinosa

There are many pups and kitties looking for homes, and here in our Woodland Heights community, we have several neighbors making a significant difference by helping them find their forever homes. Alaina Herbert, past president of the WHCA, is one of our neighbors who, along with her husband Ryan, dedicates their time and energy to fostering dogs in search of their fur-ever homes. Their efforts have a profound impact on the lives of these doggies, and we can't thank them enough for all they do. It's ruff out there sometimes, and they need a little helping paw to reach out and help them connect with the right home.

So we thought this month's Paws Up - Pet of the Month is a special thank you to all our neighbors who choose to help by fostering. It's a collective effort, and each one of us, by lending our time and energy, is part of a larger cause to support pups who need a little extra help to find a home they can call their own with their forever families.

First, we have Angus! He's a 4 year old cockapoo with a spunky personality and his favorite thing to do is getting the zoomies! He's ready to zoom into his new home and bring joy and lots of fun to a new fur-ever family who are looking for a small pup to make their home complete! If you would like more information about adopting Angus contact Alaina.hebert@gmail.com.

Would you like to have your pet (dog, cat, goldfish, etc) featured in next month's newsletter as Pet of the Month - just send in their details to communications@woodland-heights.org. This column is just our way of recognizing the many different family member companions that live in our community. 

Next, we have Pantera! She's a beautiful 6 month old, spayed, Shepherd mix who loves playing with her stuffies in the most comfortable spot she can find. Currently being fostered she's looking for her own special home where she can grow with her new special family. If you're looking for a new fur-baby to make your home complete you can apply to adopt Pantera from Three Little Pitties at https://adopt.animalsfirst.com/animal/62cc8e128b02916730334440/6880f3417895860c4101a615.

Paws Up - Meet Louis /  by Michael Graves

Our First Pet of the Month 
By Estella Espinosa

We thought we'd start a Pet of the Month feature in the newsletter. Partly because we like pets (dogs and cats - oh and from my part practically any other creature except for snakes well I don't actually dislike them just want to stay away from them). I digress, getting back to the Pet of the Month the second reason we see a lot of neighbors walking their dogs in the morning and evening. So we thought this we'd take a moment to introduce you to a few pets you might see around the neighborhood when you're out on a walk.

Louis, is a Cirneco dell’Etna, and is named after Louis Prima, the Sicilian-American-New Orleans jazz musician. He's one of our pup El Dogo Julio's friends who call themselves the 'Beauchamp Springs Canine Mafia' because of the area the live in near Beauchamp Springs.

"My family is from Louisiana, and the breed is Sicilian, so we thought it was perfect," Karen Sonnier explained. "We stumbled upon Louis and his breed after the loss of our vizsla, looking for a new pup to bring home.  Luckily, the breeder just had new pups looking for homes. He looked a lot like a mini vizsla. He really is the boss of our house, but he pays you back with big cuddles regularly. He loves all dogs and is always trying to figure out humans. When we first brought him home, he was so shy that we couldn’t get him to leave the backyard, and now he loves to get out and meet other dogs on his 2-hour-long walks a day, sometimes longer. He never wants to go home. He can often be found looking out the front windows or the gate. He just likes to watch and get attention."

Louis is a very friendly pup, and he lives with his paw-rents Karen Sonnier and Brian Miksch. Wave a paw when you see them walking down the street in our neighborhood.

Want us to feature your favorite pet or nominate one for pet of the month? Let us know, send in your nomination along with a photo to communications@woodland-heights.org.

Creature Feature: May 2025 /  by Michael Graves

Back in 2017, when I was first elected to the WHCA board, it was difficult to get contributions for the newsletter. So, I took it upon myself to create things. One of the things I started was the “Creature Feature.” It combined stories about animals in the neighborhood with a play on the cheesy TV series that ran old scary movies.

May has certainly been a month for creatures hereabouts. Our dog Julio is pretty recognizable. He and I get out to the various parks and pathways where we see all manner of things.

Walking around Woodland Park one day we encountered some kids having soccer practice. One of the kids kicked a ball high into a tree where it got stuck. We were able to use Julio’s long leash to help them shake the branch, recovering the ball.

Veering off into the wooded trails we saw a Yellow-Crowned Night-Heron guarding a nest. The official bird of Houston, they are often found nesting in the oaks along Bayland Avenue.

A few days later, Julio pulled me over to the corner of Bayland and Florence. He was drawn there by a new chicken coop that a neighbor had installed along their fence line. He found the young chickens extremely interesting.

Just this week we encountered a red-eared slider turtle attempting to cross White Oak Drive. This one was a good ten inches across. Since turtles and traffic don’t mix, we relocated the beasty to a leafy spot well off the road. Once recovered from the shock of being handled, he made his into the underbrush.

There are around 2000 homes in Woodland Heights, with lots of people and pets. But we also share the neighborhood with a great many wild things.Take a moment to look around you when you're out on a walk ... and if you spot interesting wildlife send us a photo or two. We'd love to feature them in this newsletter.

Creature Feature - Hummers Are Coming! /  by Woodland Heights Civic Association

Spring signals the beginning of bird migration for many migrating species. One of the smallest birds is the Bee Hummingbird; it is only found in Cuba, so we will not see this little guy in Houston. But several other little green jewels will fly back from their winter home in the south to Houston and beyond. For people who like to plant their gardens and set up extra feeding sites for the little hummers, the Spring Migration for hummingbirds usually can be as early as January or February in some areas. However, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department recommends having your feeders up by the Ides of March or March 15th.

Hummingbird watching is a great way to relax and sit out on your front or back porch with a favorite beverage to watch the little guys and gals jockey for ownership of your hummingbird feeders. According to the Cornell Lab's All About Birds, there is no need to use red dye in your feeders. Instead, try the Audubon Society's recipe for making your own nectar to help supplement the little bird's food supply. It's a pretty easy recipe; your reward is seeing the hummies sitting around your feeders and enjoying a great long drink from them.

Some hummingbird FAQs for you to ponder over

  • The hummingbird family is very large, with 366 species and 112 genera.

  • Fewer than two dozen species venture into the United States and Canada, and only a few remain year-round.

  • Hummingbirds are members of the family Trochilidae. They are among the smallest birds, with most species in the 3"-5" range.

  • Many hummingbirds spend the winter in Central America or Mexico and migrate north to their breeding grounds in the southern United States as early as February. Later in the spring, they migrate to areas further north, even into Canada.

  • The first migratory arrivals in spring are usually males.

Want to learn more about hummingbirds? Here are some sites you might like to visit:  available at the following resources

Box Turtles - What do you know about them? /  by Lori Bigler

It was mid-April when the Friends of Woodland Park received an email from Keith Williamson asking two questions:  1) are box turtles native to this area, and 2) are nutria actively controlled to protect the park or simply left alone. Our response to the nutria question was that there is not an abundance of nutria in this area and the natural predators keep their numbers in balance.

The inquiry about the box turtle (see Keith’s photo taken at Woodland Park) required an online search which resulted in learning that box turtles in Texas are declining in number and need to be protected.   

Do you know…

  • Box turtles often live for 50 or more years.

  • Box turtles may live for nearly 10 years before they mate and lay eggs.

  • The number of eggs laid by female turtles is relatively few and many eggs are eaten by predators.

  • Very few baby box turtles reach adulthood due to being eaten.

  • Most of the box turtles sold in stores have been taken from the wild.

  • About half of the box turtles taken from the wild for the pet trade do not survive due to filthy conditions and lack of food and water before being placed in a pet store.

  • Turtles bought at pet stores or flea markets are probably in ill health.

So how do we protect box turtles other than not running over them with our vehicle when they are crossing the road?  If you can safely pull off the road and rescue the turtle there are several things to keep in mind.

  • Pick up the turtle and move it off the road in the direction in which it was heading. (The turtle may try to cross the road again if it’s moved to the wrong side of the road.)

  • Don't take the turtle to another location unless you feel it’s not safe where you found the turtle. Turtles will try to find their old "neighborhood" and need to remain in the same vicinity.

  • Don't take the turtle home for a pet. If you take a female turtle home, it will be removed from reproductive potential for possibly 40 years.

  • If you find a box turtle when out for a walk in the woods or a bicycle ride, take a photo to share with your friends but please leave it where you found it (if in a safe place) after you’ve taken time to marvel at Nature’s wildlife with whom we share our world.

Please enjoy the trails at Woodland Park and let us know if you have questions or wish to share photos of wildlife you’ve seen there.

Louise Moss
Friends of Woodland Park
www.friendsofwoodlandpark.org

6f4cb8aa-7434-47fc-ac94-168c257b22a1.jpg

Creature Feature: The DeHaven Zoo on Morrison Street /  by Lori Bigler

My brother and I were playing with our stuffed animals and were making boxes for their homes. Then my mom came up with the idea to make a zoo, so we didn’t have to throw them away. Because I feel sad whenever my mom makes me throw away our cardboard creations.  Now she made them weather proof so we can keep them forever.  We searched up some facts to make the zoo more interesting. We added the art board later then I caught a some tadpoles to add, too. The tadpoles were my idea. 

- Annie DeHaven

Creature Feature: Samantha /  by Lori Bigler

This month’s Creature Feature takes a new twist. We’re introducing Samantha, a one year old female Pitt/Husky mix that we’ve been fostering for the past six weeks. Samantha (Sammy) is seeking a furever home and would prefer to stay in Woodland Heights.

Samantha was abandoned in Monte Beach Park in mid-February. Her former owner must have really cared for her. She was healthy, recently groomed and left where they could be sure she’d be found.

Our vet confirms that she’s healthy. We had her spayed and signed her up with a couple of rescue agencies, but have yet to have any inquiries.

She’s a great friend to Julio, our 3 year old Dogo/Setter mix. Less so to Gwen, our 10 year old Labrador, who finds all the puppy energy disturbing.

She’s smart and energetic. Walks well on a leash. Likes to ride in cars. Does well at the dog park, too. She’s been to Bill Archer Family Bark Park several times.

We’d love to keep her, but she’s aggressive towards our cats. We’ve not been able to dissuade her of that habit. As a result, she’s been crated in our garage apartment (my home office) overnights. She loves the dog door! She has the run of yard and office by day.

Sammy is super sweet. Julio would like his new friend to stay nearby, so they can have play dates.

We’ve accumulated a library of pics and videos to help Sammy find a great home. If you’re interested please contact communications@woodland-heights.org.

Six things to do with the kids /  by Lori Bigler

Hi Neighbors:

First – a disclaimer. I am not a parent nor do I play one on TV.

Second – a friend asked if I had any ideas for a scavenger hunt for kids and I’m getting the sense that some of you parents out there might be getting just a tiny bit stir crazy. So here are some ideas for things to do…

#1 - Wildflowers

It is the absolutely best time of year to learn about wildflowers. You could download the free East Texas Wildflowers app (at Google Play or the App Store), head down to the bayou (or park or whatever), and challenge the kids (and/or you!) to ID every wildflower you find.

The app is simple to use. Select the plant type (wildflower or vine), pick a color, count the petals, and select the leaf arrangement. Once entered, these choices narrow down options to the point where you can scroll through and compare the app’s photos to your flower and work out the ID.

Have the kids take photos and use a journal to draw sketches and write descriptions. Then group flowers by different variables (color, number of petals, size, leaf arrangement, etc.) and challenge the kids to ID what’s the same and what’s different about each (a useful skill for pre-algebraic thinking).

Older kids can learn about plant families. There’s a great intro to plant families at http://www.wildflowers-and-weeds.com/Plant_Identification/Patterns_in_Plants.htm that is drawn from the book Botany in a Day. (The book is a slightly challenging read for adults, but has some good drawings/overviews kids can use.)

If older kids or adults want an old-school field guide, I would recommend A Field Guide to Southwestern and Texas Wildflowers. It’s not as flashy as the newer regional guides but is an excellent hard core resource.

#2 - Bird Watching

Go bird watching! Particularly if you have binoculars. If you are new to birds, download some of the zines or posters I’ve put at http://whiteoakbayou.org/resources-and-zines.html.  Each features a small group of similar birds. Bring chairs to the edge of the bayou and learn to ID each of the herons and egrets (zine/poster #1) and diving birds (#6) you’ll find there (these birds are big enough to ID without binoculars).

Or wander the neighborhood and search for birds like cardinals and other commoners (#4), pigeons/doves (#5), and blackbirds (#10). If you are up for a challenge, bring binoculars, a blanket and picnic basket and hang out in the shade of bridge that crosses over a bayou while you learn to ID the aerialists who may be nesting under the bridge (#7) and/or watch for soaring hawks (#2 and #3).

#3 - Further Bird Watching

Take the bird thing a step further and download the free BirdsEye Texas app, Merlin Bird ID app and/or Audubon Birds app. Go to http://whiteoakbayou.org/uploads/3/4/9/1/34911613/thebestfeatures-of-threefree_birdapps2018-07-12.pdf to download an intro to each and directions for how to use the BirdsEye Texas app to create a mini-field guide that features only the birds that are being reported right around you.

#4 - Monitor Nesting Birds

Become a Yellow-crowned Night Heron expert by keeping tabs on the nests that are just now being built/repaired in mature Live Oak trees in various neighborhoods. It’s easiest to see these birds early in the morning or just before dusk, but you can go looking anytime.

Take a notebook, list each address where you find a Yellow-crown, and keep records of how many you see at each nest every time you pass by. Note that young Yellow-crowns are brown with light spots and then transition slowly into adults that are kind of gray with black-and-white striped faces. You can find photos of Yellow-crowns at https://ebird.org/media/catalog?taxonCode=ycnher&sort=rating_rank_desc&region=Harris,%20Texas,%20United%20States%20(US)&regionCode=US-TX-201&q=Yellow-crowned%20Night-Heron%20-%20Nyctanassa%20violacea Very cool birds!

#5 - Draw, Partner!

Learn how to draw birds. There is a fantastic book titled The Laws Guide to Drawing Birds. The author (John Muir Laws) also has some free tutorials at his website at https://johnmuirlaws.com/ (see his blog).

#6 - Night Sky Watching

Go outside at night and learn to ID the constellations. My favorite kid-friendly book is Find the Constellations by H.A. Rey (the guy who wrote the Curious George books). Combine use of the book with a star finder app like Sky Map or Star Walk 2 and you’ll be good to go!

Hope these ideas help.

- Wendy Wright

 

 

 

Creature Feature: 192 and Counting! /  by Lori Bigler

In November 2013, a Bald Eagle flew just overhead as Megan Freemantle and I walked our dogs Freckles and Hope along the hike/bike trail in White Oak Park. I became a birder that day, watching the eagle eat a fish it snatched from the bank of the bayou and remembering how eagles had almost gone extinct in the 1960s.

It may surprise folks to know that the Woodland Heights is a very birdy place, with 192 species reported in the neighborhood, White Oak Park, and Woodland Park during the past ten years. Bald Eagles are spotted periodically, with one having hung out along the bayou for two weeks in March 2018 to the delight of hundreds of people who watched for it.

The first photo shows an eagle who was working White Oak Park on February 9, 2020. The second photo shows the similar but much more common Osprey, which will continue to fish the bayou through April.

What to learn more about the birds of the ‘hood? Join Jason Bonilla and neighbors for the monthly Houston Audubon bird survey of Woodland Park. The surveys are free, with the next one scheduled for Saturday, March 14 at 7:30AM.

You can also go to the website of the White Oak Bayou Association and download the kid-friendly Bayou City Birding guides that feature birds of the Inner Loop. Now who wants to go find species #193?

- Wendy Wright

Houston, We Have a Problem /  by Lori Bigler

That problem is the huge homeless pet population. Because it is such a huge problem, it requires people in the community to be educated on the issue and what they can do to help or at least not contribute to the problem.

Lola.jpg

Always Spay and Neuter - By not spaying or neutering, pet parents are giving the animal a biological imperative to escape and procreate. Even with just a single escape, a male animal could impregnate multiple females. Each of those litters can be 10+ homeless animals. The animals will suffer and those that make it off the streets are the burden of the city or the countless rescue groups.

Fostering - Some cities, like San Antonio, are what you call "no kill", Houston is not. That means that county/city shelters must take in all animals that the community brings in but has limited kennel space. That means when the kennels are full, they have to start making space by euthanizing. By fostering, you can make space in the kennels and give the pet a chance to find their forever home. You can foster directly through the shelter or work with local rescues who prioritize the at-risk pets.

BARC - You can foster through them directly and participate in the adoption events and services they offer. It can also be a great opportunity to foster with the possibility of adopting.

Rescued Pets Movement - Saved over 40,000 lives since it was founded in 2013 all from BARC. They work with partners in Colorado who agree to take the pets and fosters in Houston to keep them until ready for transport.

They are only limited by the number of foster families they can get in Houston, not Colorado. So they could be saving even more lives if more people here at home get involved. They provide medical care and supplies and the animals are generally transported within a week or two.  Neighbors Lin Chamberlin, Alaina Hebert, and Kim Fesler among many others work with this group.

Animal Justice League, Houston Pets Alive, and Friends for Life are also local rescues that our neighbors love volunteering, fostering, and adopting with.

Lonestar Boxer Rescue - The dog pictured above is Layla who is currently being fostered by neighbor Stacy Rushton.

- Alaina Hebert, Animal Advocate

Creature Feature: Hummingbirds /  by Lori Bigler

Click to play.

I know this isn't seasonally appropriate. Consider it an attack on the potential for seasonal affective disorder. Hummingbirds always brighten the day.

As I pointed out in the final bits of the November newsletter, I've been sitting on some video of hummingbirds. This was shot in our yard in September as the wee-winged-wonders made their fall migration to South America. In the spring we saw only a few of the little birds, but in fall was saw perhaps a dozen. We keep six hummingbird feeders in the yard to attract the little creatures. We have also planted some of their favorite comestibles.

I'm interested in how to photograph and record the little birds. The video from which the above frame was taken was shot with a Logitech Rally 4K PTZ camera. It's a glorified webcam intended for video conference use. It did a decent job capturing the action at a feeder mounted on on front porch, at least until the afternoon sun overtook the image sensor. This 3 minute clip was extracted from about four hours of continuous recording.

When the little birds return in the spring I hope to have some way to record them at a high-frame rate, so we can slow down their movement for closer study.

If you share our fascination with the little birds, you might also appreciate the Cornell University Birdcams. They include a West Texas location that's known for its hummingbirds.

Creature Feature: Great Horned Owl /  by Lori Bigler

Who’s Awake? Me Too! If you’ve heard this loudly hooted call, you’re among those who have been close to a Great Horned Owl. Since the end of September, a pair have been heard prior to sunrise and again at sunset at locations across the Woodland Heights. Chances are good that they are re-establishing their territory, telling potential competitors that they have a strong pair bond and that no others need apply.

The calls of Great Horned Owls carry for a couple of blocks against the backdrop of freeway noise and up to a mile in the wild. Pairs perform duets, with the male having a rich baritone voice and with the female hooting at a slightly higher pitch. When alarmed, they will bark and make scratchy growls.

It’s best to be content with just hearing these owls, since they are masters of disguise and defy the onlooker and photographer. It’s also strongly advised that you do nothing to annoy them – such as trying to catch them in the beam of a flashlight – since their lives are already hard enough and because they have occasionally been known to use their powerful talons on those they see as a threat, particularly during nesting season in late winter and spring.

Great Horned Owls are stealthy predators, swooping down on wings that produce virtually no sound. They play an important role in helping keep populations of squirrels, rats, mice, and snakes in balance. And though they weigh no more than three pounds, they can take on prey as large as swamp rabbits, raccoons, and possums. As always, it’s best to keep cats and other small pets inside at night when owls, stray dogs, coyotes and cars are on the prowl. The songbirds and other critters on which cats prey will thank you too!

Btw – Great Horned Owls are named for the tufts of feathers they can raise on their heads to look bigger and scarier. The photos show owlets and adult birds (probably the same pair) at spots in the Woodland Heights, Woodland Park and White Oak Park. All photos were taken at a substantial distance with a “superzoom” camera at an equivalent of 1200 mm and then cropped. Please keep your distance and honor the choice that Great Horned Owls make as they share their lives with us, since they are doing their best to fulfill their role as important apex predators in the rapidly diminishing habitat available to them. We are very lucky to have them here, since there are only a few neighborhoods inside of the Beltway where Great Horned Owls raise their young.

- Wendy Wright

Editors note: I’ve routinely seen a pair Great Horned Owls in 11th Street Park, on 11th Street just past TC Jester. I typically see and hear them just as the sun starts to set, toward the southwest corner of the park.

Creature Feature: Cooper’s Hawk /  by Lori Bigler

So… you’re walking down the street with your dog or stroller when a dark blur streaks by and a dozen doves explode out of a tree, with the jays who witnessed the event screaming JAY JAY JAY! What just happened? Chances are good that a Cooper’s Hawk is to blame and that he or she may now be enjoying a meal.

“Coops” are becoming increasingly at home within the Woodland Heights, with these woodland hawks moving into neighborhoods to offset impacts of habitat loss. Coops lurk from hidden perches in trees, swooping out to snatch birds, squirrels, rats, bats, reptiles and insects. All but the tiniest pets are safe, with Cooper’s Hawks weighing in at less than a pound and unlikely to tackle anything bigger than themselves.

Though we may feel bad for those who are eaten, the balance of nature requires these ongoing interactions of prey and predator, as is beautifully illustrated in the new movie The Biggest Little Farm. And the risks work both ways, with the Coops’ method of hunting resulting in injuries that give them an average lifespan of just one year – not good for a species that doesn’t breed until its second year.

As a result, most of the Coops you’ll see are young birds, which have a brown back and wings, and brown streaks running down the white breast and belly. Adults have a slate gray back and wings, with orangey barring across the breast and belly. Coops of all ages have a very long tail with broad brown and gray bands. Photos taken in Woodland Heights and White Oak Park display the progression from nestling, to juvenile, to adult.

Want to learn more about the birds of the ‘hood? Check out the Bayou City Birding resources of the White Oak Bayou Association at WhiteOakBayou.org/resources-and-zines and take part in the monthly bird survey at Woodland Park.

- Wendy Wright

Nominate a Bird of Houston by July 15, 2019 /  by Lori Bigler

Recommended by City Counselor Karla Cisneros at the July WHCA general meeting. What's your vote for The Bird of Houston? https://houstonaudubon.org/birding/birdofhouston.html

Official symbols reflect the cultural heritage & natural treasures of areas. Countries and states recognize emblems like flags, birds, flowers and seals; and every city has its own unique spaces and things residents cherish. At Houston Audubon we treasure birds, people, and natural landscapes, and we are proud to be a part of the Houston community.

wwright(01).JPG

Join us in celebrating Houston by helping us select a bird species that represents our bayou city. We take pride in our hometown and we want to hear from our fellow Houstonians which bird inspires or connotes emotion or thought when you think of Houston.

Is it the Great Blue Heron foraging along the bayou or the Great-tailed Grackle scoping out the local HEB parking lot? We want to hear from you!

Nomination period ends July 15, after which we will narrow the submissions to the top 8 birds based on votes. The winner will be determined via brackets beginning on July 22. This will include head-to-head voting in 7 different rounds (with 3 days of voting for each round) until we have the winner. All of this will be happening right here, so be sure to bookmark this page! We'll announce the winning bird at the beginning of our 50th anniversary Bird Week festivities (September 21 - 28, 2019).

Creature Feature: Yellow-crowned Night-Herons /  by Lori Bigler

They came back and are doing well!!! The Yellow-crowned Night-Herons that is. The Live Oak trees on Bayland hosted a large number of nests this year, with the birds having built only a few nests along the avenue during the past few years – probably as a result of the aggressive tree trimming performed by a city contractor in 2015 while the trees were filled with nestlings. This year, each block of Bayland that provides a full canopy averaged two nests, with an average of two to three chicks from each nest in the process of leaving the nests – or “fledging.”

For the next couple of weeks, we’ll see the fledglings walking around (please drive mindfully) and making short flights around the neighborhood as they build up their strength. Soon, they’ll be easy to spot along the banks of the White Oak Bayou, feeding on a wide assortment of crayfish and other crustaceans, fish, frogs, toads, insects and even the occasional snake. If you look carefully, you’ll also be able to spot Yellow-crowns roosting in trees in White Oak Park and Woodland Park. In the fall, most will leave the area, heading to wintering grounds along the coasts of Mexico and Central America.

Yellow-crowns take on many looks, with the full adult plumage not achieved until the third year. Young birds are mostly brown with white markings. Gradually, they’ll morph over to a slate gray color scheme, with the flashy black-and-white facial markings of the adults added last. A series of photos taken in the neighborhood and along the bayou illustrates the transformation from quasi-dinosaur to svelte adult to ancient mystic.

If you’d like to know more about the birds you can find in the Woodland Heights and along the bayou, check out the Bayou City Birding Zines and Posters that can be downloaded from the website of the White Oak Bayou Association at WhiteOakBayou.org/resources-and-zines. The first of these zines features the Yellow-crowns and five other herons and egrets that can usually be spotted along the bayou.

- Wendy Wright

Feeling The Byrne on Father's Day /  by Lori Bigler

The epic battle unfolded on Saturday, June 15, when fathers on the 400 block of Byrne challenged their kids to a rematch of an annual Father’s Day weekend tradition. Mike Bennett, Cory Clechenko, Scott McBride and Raul Ramos, reinforced by honorary block “dad” Kirk Carver, lobbed water balloons, ducking and weaving the return fire from more than a dozen boys and girls. Drenched and out of breath when the ammunition was exhausted, the battle was called a draw, with fun had by all!

Thanks to Megan Mastal, also of Byrne St, for sending in the story & pictures.

Creature Feature: NikKi Prochaska! /  by Lori Bigler

Nikki Prochaska #3.jpg

This month I'm exercising canine editorial privilege to acclaim Ms Niki Prochaska as the Creature Feature! Niki lives at 204 Byrne with Mike & Kamile Prochaska and Family. She just this past weekend reached her 14th birthday, which is a major milestone for a Labrador Retriever. In years past, she'd say hello to Shadow and I. Julio and I still see her regularly when we get down to Byrne Street. She's always ready to greet us and give us a wag.

According to Kamile, "Niki is a wonderful dog! Although she is 14 and weighs 80lbs. Her preference is to be a lap dog. She follows us around the house and lays her body as close to us as possible at all times, and if we do not pay attention to her, she commands attention by barking at us until we do. No one can be hugged in our house without her included. Her body may be slow, but she has the mind of a 2 year old puppy! She loves to play, bark at birds and garbage trucks, and chase cats!"

Niki is an inspiration. I hope I do as well at that age. - Gwen Espinosa-Graves

Your Canine Contributing Editor

Your Canine Contributing Editor

We call this the “Creature Feature” highlighting the fact that we’d welcome pics that are not pets. Birders! I’m talking to you! See an especially great turtle in the park, grab a pic with your phone. Send it along to communications@woodland-heights.org.

Creature Feature #3: Milo /  by Lori Bigler

Milo came to join our family in February 2017. Someone in the neighborhood found him as a puppy wondering along the bayou and posted a lost dog alert. We responded that he wasn’t ours but we’d happy to give me a home! We spent a few weeks searching for his owners. Leads came in from other neighbors, we had him checked for a chip and called local vets but we came up empty.

We were more than happy to welcome him into our family though! Now he happily keeps watch on our corner. Every morning and afternoon Milo waits for Travis kids to say hello. If he’s lucky, a game of chase happens through the fence or someone reaches through to throw his tennis ball. He also loves playdates with his many four-legged friends in the neighborhood!

Christina DeHaven

Milo one of several dogs that comprise the NoMo Canine Mafia, which also includes Bear, Bo, Bruno, Duke, Lucy, Luna and Sam. We see at least some of them every day. - Editor