We are pleased to offer this accessible outing for birders with limited mobility, disabilities, or other health concerns, and for those interested in an easier-paced birding trip. We also welcome those interested in creating and understanding inclusive, accessible birding as a community and life list-building experience.
This outing will be led by Virginia Rose, Founder of Birdability, an organization committed to making the birding community and the outdoors accessible, safe, welcoming and inclusive for everybody and every body. Joining Virginia on this trip is FeatherFest guide Kat Ross. Kat has been involved with Birdability since 2023 and is excited to be co-leading with Virginia for FeatherFest. While she enjoys birding in her hometown of Austin, she says nothing rivals the magic of the Texas Coast during spring migration.
This meet-at-site field trip will be done caravan style, introducing birders to accessible birding by car along the historically renowned birding hotspot at 8-Mile Road and Sportsman Road. Carpooling is encouraged when possible. We will not be getting out of our cars during this field trip. Participants will be communicating with the guide via walkie talkies which we will provide.
Directions to the meeting site will be emailed prior to the festival.
Please note that there are no water fountains or accessible restrooms at this field trip location.
We will take our time birding the entire length of both roads, which intersect near Galveston’s West Bay, stopping frequently to scan for interesting species. Freshwater and brackish ponds along 8-Mile Road attract a variety of resident and overwintering waterfowl, including Blue-winged and Green-winged Teal, American Wigeon, Northern Shoveler, and Black-bellied Whistling-Duck. These ponds should be productive for shorebirds as well, such as Black-necked Stilt, American Avocet, Spotted Sandpiper, and Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs.
As we proceed toward Sportsman Road, we will watch the fence lines and coastal prairie habitat for migrants. This area can be highly productive, with the possibility of a variety of songbirds including flycatchers, buntings, and tanagers. White-tailed Kites and Northern Crested Caracara nest in the area and are usually present, as well.
Sportsman Road is bordered by protected saltmarsh estuarial habitat, providing close views of a variety of large and small waders, shorebirds, gulls and terns, and more. Highlights include the potential of Reddish Egret, American Oystercatcher, Black Skimmer, Neotropic Cormorant, Osprey, and Belted Kingfisher. Clapper Rail nests in this area and is often easily viewed near the ditches along the roadside.
There are no benches or shade. There are no steps, gates or obstacles.
If you are a disabled person and have questions not addressed in the provided description, please email Julie Ann Brown at dir@gintc.org.
If you are a participant with a disability or other health concern and the cost of this trip makes it inaccessible to you, please reach out to Julie Ann Brown at dir@gintc.org to request a sliding-scale option.
Bring: water, snacks, sunscreen, and insect repellent
Included in this field trip is access to the Birdability workshop on Friday at 2:30pm at no additional charge. You will receive an automatic email asking if you would like to attend the workshop.
