• 2009 Field Trips: General Information
  
• Marquee Field Trip: Festival Opening Sampler
• Field Trip: Ponds, Dikes, Levees & other Man-made, Bird-friendly Structures
• Marquee Field Trip: East End Lagoon Preserve Site
• Field Trip: Birding for New Birders
• Field Trip: Galveston Harbor & Pelican Island
• Field Trip: Exploring Pelican Island
• Field Trip: East Isle…Easy Paced Birding
• Marque Field Trip: Attwater's Prairie-chicken Preserve
• Field Trip: Bluewater Highway and Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge
• Field Trip: West Galveston Island Marsh and Shorebirds
• Field Trip: Nature Photography
• Marquee Field Trip: Birding Bolivar Peninsular with Kevin Karlson
• Field Trip: Birding by Kayak
• Grand Marquee Field Trip: High Island World Famous Birding Location
• Field Trip: West Galveston Island Hotspots – Songbirds
• Field Trip: All About Butterflies
• Field Trip: North Deer Island Rookeries by Boat
• Field Trip: Tour of Sea Turtle Research Facilities
• Field Trip: Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge – Option 1
• Field Trip: Anahuac Wildlife Refuge – Option 2
• Field Trip: Bolivar Birding with Dr. Dick Peake
• Field Trip: Bluewater Highway and Quintana Preserve
• Grand Marquee Field Trip: Bay Birding by Kayak with Karla Klay
• Grand Marquee Field Trip: Shorebirds and other Avian Delights
• Field Trip: All About Dragonflies and Damselflies
• Marquee Field Trip: Festival Closing Sampler
• Field Trip: Shorebirds 101
• Field Trip: Songbirds 101

General Information

Departures: All trips (including those aboard Seagull II boat) will depart at the front of the Old Galveston Square Building, 2221 The Strand, in downtown Galveston.

Times: Registrants should assemble 15 minutes ahead of the listed departure time. Trips WILL leave on time, and there will be no refunds for missed departures. The listed times relate to departure from and arrival back to Old Galveston Square.

Participation: Attendees will be permitted on trips according to final sign-up records posted in the Registration Area.

Food: For trips extending beyond mid day, attendees should arrange for their own snacks or lunch. The Birders’ Café will have convenient pick-up food for purchase.

Boat/Kayak Trips: Weather conditions will dictate whether these trips will occur as planned. Decisions may be made close to the time of departure.

Event Descriptions: 2009 festival “headliner” events have the Grand Marquee designation. Other highlighted activities are noted as Marquee events. Descriptions are presented below in first occurrence order.

Event Recommendations: Events are suggested for participants based on skill level, from novice to experienced.

In general, FF 2009 planners reserve the right to cancel any activity or substitute qualified presenters when necessary. If we cancel an event for any reason we will offer alternatives where practical. By April 2009 we are hopeful that all the favorite field sites will be accessible and well into recovery from the effects of Hurricane Ike.

This is a very interesting trip with a wide range of largely man-made habitats and associated bird species. Just over the Causeway, on the mainland, there are colonies of Cave and Cliff swallows nesting under several bridges. A few miles further there are catchment ponds for the refineries which could still hold some Eared Grebes plus late wintering waterfowl and usually Roseate Spoonbills and herons. A bit further takes guests to the Texas City Dike which is a peninsula built to protect the port of Texas City. It projects way out into East Galveston bay, almost to Pelican Island, and is an excellent vantage point to see birds that prefer a true marine environment. Some late wintering loons, gulls and terns will likely be present, plus some bay ducks, mergansers, etc. Afterwards, drive along Skyline Highway on the top of a levee, for an outside chance to spot the white morph of a Great Blue Heron. If time permits the trip will seek out one of several colonies of Monk Parakeets colonially nesting atop the power transmission towers, and perhaps an Anhinga along the freshwater canal at Highland Park.

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These inside and outside workshops are for those who are new to birding and want tips on using binoculars and watching and identifying birds. Dr. Knock will also help you decide what other trips offered by the festival would suit you best. After an hour inside discussion, you will take a leisurely walk (about two city blocks) over to the docks, where numerous species of bird are easily seen around the shrimp boat fleet.

For those who don’t have the opportunity to take the longer boat trip to North Deer Island, this shorter trip aboard Seagull II is for you. You will see a view of Galveston from the water, learn some interesting facts about the Port of Galveston, and see dolphins and many seabirds. With a short walk on the tip of Pelican Island, there is an opportunity to spot a wide variety of birds due to their numerous habitats. If conditions are not right, the captain will not permit a landing but will explore other areas by boat. The cut-off from Pelican Island by the Intra-coastal canal is Little Pelican Island. You will use your scopes and binoculars to get some good views of the small rookery there.

Originally a small shifting sand bar which protected Galveston’s fledgling port, Pelican Island is now an enlarged area of maturing, vegetated dredge spoil. It provides a wide range of habitats including extensive mud flats for sandpipers, avocets, stilts, etc.; bushy areas for neo-tropic songbirds, sparrows, etc.; fresh water ponds for waterfowl; and open grassy areas for prairie birds and raptors. The mud flats offer particularly good viewing at the end of the afternoon. Use of the area is not well controlled, parts of it are not too “tidy” and one road will be bumpy, but the birding is usually fine.

This is designed to be a slow-paced trip for beginners to novice. You will be taken directly to the wide open sandy beaches at the east end of Galveston Island, where there will be many species of shore birds, gulls, terns, skimmers, sandpipers, plovers, avocets, black necked stilts, etc. Stops along the way will highlight birds preferring marsh habitats. A few binoculars will be available for those without them.

The City of Galveston owns 686 acres of land at the eastern tip of the island and the intent is to transform it into a world class natural recreational area and nature preserve with an interpretive center. All the habitats associated with a barrier island - beach, uplands, fresh water ponds, brackish lagoons and wetlands - are present.

Explore the mainland beyond the western tip of Galveston Island, along Bluewater Highway and en-route to Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge. Snooze for the first part of this pleasant trip, then leave Galveston Island by way of the San Luis Pass toll bridge as the sun comes up behind you. If the tide is low, take a quick look for shorebirds on the sand flats of Follets Island, on the W&N side of the bridge, (or make a note to stop there on the way back), then move west along Bluewater Highway where there are small lagoons on the beach side of the road with salt cedar brush, nesting herons and usually some remnant wintering waterfowl. The land is flat and you can see from beach to bay. Keep an eye open for raptors, harriers, osprey, caracaras, and hawks. Then make tracks for Brazoria NWR and a broader range of birding. BNWR is a 40,000 acre refuge famous for its spectacular birding. In winter, thousands of migrating ducks and geese stop over, relishing the fresh water marsh habitats,, and some are likely to still be present. Neo-tropic migrants will also be on view, plus late wintering raptors. It is also a place to see alligators and many marsh animals. A number of rare bird sightings have been reported from this refuge. The trip leaders will have some discretion as to where to go and how long to stay depending on latest bird sighting reports. The return journey, along the coastal highway, close to the sea and bay in the afternoon, will again be spectacular under a different light, with some predictably “birdy” stops along the way as time permits.

This morning field trip is conducted by bus with frequent stops for shorebirds, waders and other surprises, all over the productive west end of Galveston Island. At least seventy species should be seen, comprised of sandpipers and some plovers, herons & egrets, ibis, spoonbills, gulls & terns, ducks, and much more. In a few places, guests will pile out of the van and “scope” out large flocks.

Debbie Ferrell, an accomplished Texas nature photographer, will conduct a workshop from 7:30 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. at Old Galveston Square, and then lead a field trip to help guests improve their nature picture taking skills. She will demonstrate with both digital and film based equipment. Guests will photograph birds, compose landscapes, and capture stunning images of insects. Participants should bring their own camera, lenses, flash, tripod, several rolls of film, and their camera manual. Waterproof boots could be useful. You may choose to participate ONLY in the workshop, but you are required to attend it if you wish to go out on the field trip, which is limited to 12 persons.

Enjoy aerobic activity while experiencing bird watching at eye level! Each two-hour session on the water will have a pair of experienced kayak leaders and/or environmental specialists associated withArtist Boat. Trip leaders have first-hand knowledge of bay edge restoration projects and the biology of the wetlands. Guests may visit man-made terraces, 30-ft. circumference textile tubes protecting the shoreline from wave action, and view the rapidly expanding acreage of sea grasses. Along the way guests will learn about the unique plants and animals of the inter-tidal zone, view a mixed gull/tern rookery, likely see singing Seaside Sparrows, American Oystercatchers, Black Skimmers, and other more common waders, shorebirds, cormorants, and raptors overhead.

All kayaking participants should be aware that launching and landing can be a bit muddy, especially at low tide. Guests are advised to wear footwear that will not come off easily. Guests will be supplied and required to wear a life jacket and are advised to keep their gear to a minimum. Heavy duty zip lock bags may keep binoculars, cameras, birding books, etc. dry, but special kayaking plastic bags are better and they come in various sizes. Guests should be sure to protect themselves from the sun’s direct and reflected rays. A signed waiver of liability will need to be shown prior to the trip.

This afternoon field trip searches for the spring songbird richness found on the Upper Texas Coast, with a special emphasis on colorful songbirds such as warblers, tanagers, orioles, grosbeaks and buntings. Short walks will be made at the Laffite's Cove Nature Preserve, Dos Vacas, and several isolated oak motts. There will be a potty stop at Jim Stevenson's Heartbreak Hammock. Several dozen species of land migrants should be recorded, and likely many neat waterbirds seen incidentally.

Each of these days an “All About Butterflies” inside workshop is scheduled at Old Galveston Square from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. You may choose to JUST attend the inside workshop, but you MUST attend the inside workshop IF you plan to sign up for this field trip. The number of field trip participants is limited. Guests will learn about a variety of butterflies that are found in this part of the Texas Gulf Coast and then identify them in the field. Their symbiotic relationship to flowers will be explained.

On this fabulous trip to the rookery on North Deer Island in West Galveston Bay, everyone will witness herons, reddish egrets, roseate spoonbills, and other wading birds in their full breeding plumage. Birders can also hone their skills by identifying the many other species found gathering at this time of year in and over the waters of the bay. Participants will ride on the SS Seagull ll, a 50-passenger catamaran hulled boat.

This is the only research facility of its kind dedicated to rearing threatened and endangered sea turtles in captivity. Currently, approximately 450 sea turtles are reared here each year. These turtles are involved in research on new tagging methods before they are used in the field, as well as growth and feeding studies. Most Importantly, these turtles are used to test fishing gear designed specifically to prevent sea turtles from drowning in fish trawls and becoming entangled or hooked in long-line fishing gear.

What will you see on your visit? Over 400 live sea turtles housed in saltwater tanks. There is no glass or fence between you and the turtles – you can get face to face if you wish as long as you don't touch!! Your tour will include a little sea turtle biology and ecology, treats to sea turtles, and on-going research, conservation and protection measures being employed to save sea turtles from extinction.

Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge is located along East Galveston Bay. With 25,000 acres of brackish and freshwater marsh, treed areas and a sandy East Bay shoreline, the refuge offers the full range of bird species. New trails and boardwalks provide good viewing of several varieties of herons, egrets, waterfowl, likely views of Anhinga, some raptors and alligators. The reason this trip leaves so early is so that those who have never seen a Yellow Rail might get to add it to their life lists. Guests must get to the refuge no later than sunrise, which is about 7 a.m.

Yellow rails are regulars in winter and spring, and a guide will be onsite to conduct a Yellow Rail search for those who wish to do it. The search will be quite strenuous and requires moving through marshy areas. Those wishing to add this bird to their life list stand a good chance to do so if willing to put in the effort. Participants are strongly advised to bring and wear waders or knee length rubber boots. Academy and other similar stores sell light plastic waders that have "feet" and therefore are waterproof. Being lightweight, they need to be worn inside some kind of boot. The inside of low top boots will get wet but your feet will stay dry. The price of the waders is $5 - $6...and they pack very flat and small.

The facilities at the refuge were badly damaged by Hurricane Ike. There will be no snacks on sale there as in prior years. The toilets are expected to be operational.

After Anahuac, the tour will return via High Island, where the group will make a brief stop at the Smith Woods Rookery and Boy Scout Woods to look for migrating songbirds. Note: The stop at HI will not be as extensive as the HI field trips. Time permitting, stops will be made to check the shorebirds, etc. at Rollover Pass and Bolivar.

This trip leaves Galveston later than Anahuac Option 1 and does NOT include the search for Yellow Rails. As with Option 1, after leaving the ANWR, the bus will stop at High Island but will not spend as much time there as the HI field trip does. Other sites will be visited on the return journey as time permits.

Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge is located along East Galveston Bay. With 25,000 acres of brackish and freshwater marsh, treed areas and a sandy East bay shoreline the refuge offers the full range of bird species. New trails and boardwalks will provide good viewing of several varieties of herons, egrets, waterfowl, likely views of Anhinga, some raptors, and alligators.

Birding Bolivar is Dick’s favorite local event. Guests will explore various habitats on the peninsula, e.g.: sand flats, grassy prairies, jetties, tidal sloughs, wooded lots, and Ft Travis. The Bolivar sand flats area is known as one of the finest migratory locations in North America for shorebirds, terns, herons/egrets and other waterbirds. It is a designated habitat for the protection of the endangered wintering Piping Plover.

This short coastal trip will be easy paced and the first part is similar to the trip to Brazoria NWR. It will head west over the San Luis Pass bridge and off Galveston Island; it will stop on Follets Island to check out the beach and a favorite road side pond with Salt Cedar. There is little distance between Gulf and the Bay and the views are excellent. The trip will continue over the Intra Coastal canal, checking out the road-side marshes. Hence to Quintana Neotropic migrant refuge, a good example of how even a small plot is valuable for trans-Gulf migrants. The beach and jetty at Quintana provide other opportunities to bird before wending home, stopping as you wish.

Saturday only there will be an inside workshop from 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. at Old Galveston Square, followed by a field trip by van. You may choose to ONLY attend the inside workshop, but you MUST attend the inside workshop if you wish to sign up for the field trip. Bob is an expert on dragonflies and he will explain the basics in the workshop and then search for examples in the field. He is also a great birder and his guests will often see birds that no others do.

Shorebirds 101 is designed for early stage birders who want to quickly learn about birding and experience the fun of FeatherFest on a budget. You may choose to ONLY attend the inside workshop, but you MUST attend the inside workshop if you wish to sign up for the field trip.

Songbirds101 is designed for early stage birders who want to quickly learn about birding and experience the fun of FeatherFest on a budget. You may choose to ONLY attend the inside workshop, but you MUST attend the inside workshop if you wish to sign up for the field trip.

For Further Information

Email: NatureTourismGalv@juno.com
Phone: 409.392.0841 or 1-888-425-4753
Fax: 409.737.2264
Mail: Galveston FeatherFest, P.O. Box 1468,
Galveston, TX 77553-1468

FeatherFest is a project of the Galveston Island Nature Tourism Council
which supports eco-tourism and education, and promotes the value of area natural habitats.