FLORA & FAUNA SPOTLIGHT
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Photo: Mark Meyer
A common winter migrant at Willow Waterhole Greenspace, the Yellow-rumped Warbler arrives in our area in mid-October. They are often found eating berries in our wax myrtle bushes. Listen for their distinctive chip call.
Here’s more about this unique bird:
Feeding Behavior
Versatile in its feeding, the Yellow-rumped Warbler searches among twigs and leaves and will hover while taking insects from foliage. It often flies out to catch insects in midair. The species will forage on the ground and cling to tree trunks and branches. Males tend to forage higher than females during the breeding season. In winter, they usually forage in flocks.
Diet
Insects and berries. Their diet includes caterpillars, wasps, grasshoppers, gnats, aphids, beetles, spiders, and many other insects. In winter, they also feed on fruit from bayberry, juniper, and wax myrtle.
Nesting
During courtship, the male accompanies the female everywhere. He fluffs his side feathers, raises his wings and colorful crown feathers, calls, and flutters. Nests are placed 4 to 50 feet above ground, usually on horizontal branches. Females typically build the nest, which is constructed of bark fibers, weeds, twigs, and roots, and lined with hair and feathers that curve over and partly cover the eggs.
Source: https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/yellow-rumped-warbler
MAKE AN IMPACT
Explore the many ways you can support Willow Waterhole and help make a lasting impact where nature and community thrive.
Supporting Willow Waterhole goes beyond one-time donations. From monthly giving and employer match programs to legacy gifts, in-kind donations, and even sponsorships, there are many ways to make a lasting difference. Every contribution, big or small, helps us protect this 291-acre urban oasis for wildlife, recreation, and the community.
Ways to Give
Become a Member
Make a One-Time or Monthly Donation
Honor a Loved One
Corporate Matching Gifts
Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs)
IRA Charitable Distributions
Planned Giving
Click below to explore all the ways you can give and grow your impact.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service 2026
Willow Waterhole Greenspace Conservancy was proud to host a meaningful Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service that brought together 58 volunteers for an afternoon of hands-on care for this special place.
From 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., community members rolled up their sleeves and completed projects that will have a lasting impact on the Waterhole. Volunteers built a brand-new hillside path, mulched more than 40 trees, and tackled beautification work across the site, leaving the greenspace cleaner, healthier, and more welcoming.
This successful day would not have been possible without dedicated volunteer leaders. Special thanks to Trudy Holmes, Jim Yu, Julie Fitzgerald, Drew Martin, and Tina Bryan for guiding teams and keeping projects moving smoothly.
We are also grateful to Houston Tool Bank for providing excellent tools, to Brett Byers for outstanding tool organization and leadership, and to Austin Perez for adding great energy and fun with his DJ skills.
Thank you to every volunteer who showed up ready to work. Whether you moved mulch, shaped the new path, or helped clean and organize, your efforts truly mattered. Together, you made the Waterhole a better place for both people and wildlife.
Dr. King Jr. reminded us that everyone can be great because everyone can serve. This Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service reflected that spirit in action.
We appreciate everyone who helped make the day such a success and look forward to continuing this momentum throughout the year. Consider signing up for our next workday on February 21 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Click here for registration!
Welcome Austin Perez, Environmental Educator Intern
Austin Perez is an Environmental Educator Intern with the Student Conservation Association (SCA). Austin assists with the prairie garden, kiosk, programming events, hosting fishing classes, social media, and more at the Waterhole.
Born and raised in Houston, Austin studied Marine Biology at Texas A&M University at Galveston. After graduation, he worked as an Environmental Educator at the Galveston Bay Foundation.
During the pandemic, Austin battled leukemia and various other health complications. After many years of treatments, transplants, and surgeries, Austin is now five years cancer free. In the past year, he started his own DJ business and joined the SCA.
Some of his hobbies include fishing, mountain biking, music, and scuba diving.
