The Migration Celebration at the San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters Campus at San Bernard includes a Birds of Prey show, air rifle target shooting, bow and arrow target shooting, butterfly encounters, fishing, a touch tank, kayaking, and more. The Migration Celebration is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service event from the Texas Mid-coast National Wildlife Complex underwritten by the Friends of the Brazoria Wildlife Refuges. (Brazoria County)

https://www.migrationcelebration.org/

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Bird City Surfside is hosting its 4th Annual “Wings Over Surfside” birding event on Saturday, April 1, 2023, from 10:00 am -2:00 pm. Events include scheduled speakers, live birds of prey program, crafts, art, wine tasting, and other activities. The event will be held at the Surfside Bird and Butterfly Trail at 418 Parkview, Surfside, TX.

Featured Speakers:

Beach Nesting Birds of the Texas Coast: Taylor Bennett GCBO

The Quest for 500: A Texas Big Year: Mike Williams

Light Out and Audubon Texas 100 Years: Yvette Stewart

https://www.visitsurfsidebeachtx.org/

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Join us on April 1st for FREE admission at all of Houston Audubon’s High Island sanctuaries. This is no April Fool’s joke! We’re inviting the community out to explore our sanctuaries and immerse yourselves in nature. Walk the treetop Kathrine G. McGovern Canopy Walkway at Smith Oaks for a bird’s-eye view of the bustling Rookery full of nesting excitement. Visit the drip by Purkey’s Pond in Boy Scout Woods to be captured by the colorful migratory warblers stopping for a drink or a bath. Join us for a Rookery Talk at 11 AM with Houston Audubon’s Conservation Director, chat with our friendly and knowledgeable volunteers about birds and wildlife, and hike our scenic trails to connect with nature. We will be selling patches and merchandise, but your daily admission is on us. Hope to see you in High Island this spring!

Boy Scout Woods: 2088 5th St, High Island, TX 77623
Smith Oaks Bird Sanctuary: 2205 Old Mexico Road, High Island, TX 77623

About High Island

Houston Audubon owns and manages four nature sanctuaries at High Island – Boy Scout Woods, Smith Oaks, Eubanks Woods, and S.E. Gast Red Bay – totaling over 250 acres. Our High Island sanctuaries are a haven for birds and visitors, especially during spring migration! We welcome visitors from all 50 states and over 20 countries who flock to the Upper Texas Coast for the best birdwatching. Our sanctuaries are critical habitat for migrating birds and there have been nearly 400 species documented on our properties, including several species never before seen in the United States. Peak spring bird migration is from mid-March to mid-May.

The community of High Island sits atop a hill surrounded by miles of marsh. This rare real estate has been important for humans and wildlife for thousands of years. While no archaeological site has been excavated on the island, shell middens, pieces of black pottery, and arrow points dating from as far back as 1200 A.D. have been found on Bolivar Peninsula and around Galveston Bay. The area including High Island was undoubtedly inhabited by Native American hunter-gatherers who roamed the region collecting shellfish and hunting the abundant wildlife.

Stories passed down suggest the pirate Jean Lafitte and crew sometimes had parties and even buried treasure in the oak groves in the early 1800s. One of the early settlers of High Island was Martin Dunman, who arrived in 1845. He received a league of land (three square miles) that included part of High Island for his role in the Texas Revolution. Reportedly, there was at least one house on High Island when Dunman arrived with his family. The house was built by Charles Cronea, one of Lafitte’s cabin boys. A historical marker, erected in Cronea’s honor, can be found in the High Island cemetery.

Visitor Information: https://houstonaudubon.org/sanctuaries/high-island/

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The Matagorda County CBC has been #1 in the bird species count for the Audubon Christmas bird count in 25 of the last 29 years! It is the undiscovered jewel of mid-coast Texas! Our extensive panel of speakers will include many outstanding professionals including speakers from the Audubon, The Smithsonian, and the International Crane Foundation.

Don’t miss the Keynote dinner at the Palacios Pavilion overlooking beautiful Matagorda Bay or the one-of-a-kind Bird Parade along the waterfront that is both fun and fabulous!

This festival:
Connects People, Birds and Nature
Celebrates the diversity of regional bird species as evidenced by Audubon’s CBC
Creates active involvement in science and art
Encourages awareness and stewardship of the Matagorda Bay ecosystem

Enjoy birding and kayak tours, contests, speakers and the Bird Parade!

Photos Courtesy of Bob Fredrichs and the Matagorda Bay Birdfest

Get Directions from Google Maps

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Thousands of birds take wing to our island each spring during an arduous northward migration across the Gulf from Central and South America. And hundreds of tourists and neighbors follow suit to see more than 200 species of brightly-colored birds strut their stuff around our hometown – a prime location along the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail.

FeatherFest is a fun four days of excellent birding and nature photography field trips. Make plans to enjoy spring migration on Galveston Island at FeatherFest. This event is scheduled annually in April

Click Here to Register

Galveston Island is one of the top locations in the country for birding. It has a rich variety of habitats – beaches, wetlands, grasslands, woods, ponds, and bays – in a small area that are home to many common year-round species, as well as numerous others that visit briefly or for part of the year.

Birds visit en-route from and to Central and South America, north in the spring, south in the fall. Most pass through after stopping for food, water and rest, as very few spend their summers on the Island and breed locally. While Galveston is on the western edge of the Gulf of Mexico, it is in the epicenter of the spring migration, as trade winds bring them right to our doorstep.

The Island is also an important wintering ground for numerous species that spend most of the year farther north. More than 300 bird species may be seen throughout the year somewhere on the Island. During FeatherFest, over 200 species are typical, such as common year-round birds, spring migrants and late wintering birds.

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Thousands of birds take wing to our island each spring during an arduous northward migration across the Gulf from Central and South America. And hundreds of tourists and neighbors follow suit to see more than 200 species of brightly-colored birds strut their stuff around our hometown – a prime location along the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail.

FeatherFest is a fun four days of excellent birding and nature photography field trips. Make plans to enjoy spring migration on Galveston Island at FeatherFest 2022 – April 21– 24!

Click Here to Register

Galveston Island is one of the top locations in the country for birding. It has a rich variety of habitats – beaches, wetlands, grasslands, woods, ponds, and bays – in a small area that are home to many common year-round species, as well as numerous others that visit briefly or for part of the year.

Birds visit en-route from and to Central and South America, north in the spring, south in the fall. Most pass through after stopping for food, water and rest, as very few spend their summers on the Island and breed locally. While Galveston is on the western edge of the Gulf of Mexico, it is in the epicenter of the spring migration, as trade winds bring them right to our doorstep.

The Island is also an important wintering ground for numerous species that spend most of the year farther north. More than 300 bird species may be seen throughout the year somewhere on the Island. During FeatherFest, over 200 species are typical, such as common year-round birds, spring migrants and late wintering birds.

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Venue
Gulf Coast Bird Observatory
299 W. Hwy. 332
Lake Jackson , TX 77566 United

Our Mission:
Protect birds and their habitats around the Gulf of Mexico and beyond.

Gulf Coast Bird Observatory is an independent non-profit organization headquartered on the upper Texas coast.  We have become recognized as an innovative conservation organization, designing and conducting a significant number of large avian conservation projects including migration studies, habitat enhancement, land acquisition, regional habitat mapping, and others. We accumulate, assess, and distribute high quality bird population and conservation information that will provide a scientific basis for the protection of birds and their habitats around the Gulf of Mexico and far beyond. We fulfill our mission of protecting the birds and their habitats by using sound scientific research, land protection and enhancement, community engagement and educational outreach.  For the Birds!

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This year’s Summit promises to be a wonderful chance to hear from amazing speakers, learn from each other and wonderful networking. You will have a chance to learn about Forest Bathing, Story Walks, Nature Play and so much more!

You won’t want to miss the 2021 Summit – Register Today

2021 Texas Children in Nature Network Summit: Inspiring Leaders for Healthier, Happier Smarter Kids

About this event
The 2021 Texas Children in Nature Network Summit: Inspiring Leaders for Healthier, Happier, and Smarter Kids will take place on December 2-3, 2021 at the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens and Botanical Research Institute of Texas, 3220 Botanic Garden Blvd, Fort Worth, TX 76107. The Summit is a full day (8:30-6:00) Thursday, and a half-day (8:30-12:00) Friday with optional post-conference workshops on Friday afternoon.

During this two-day Summit, TCiNN will bring together health, education, built environment, faith and conservation community leaders to shape an even brighter future for the children of Texas. TCiNN will convene over 250 community leaders to strengthen the network and develop opportunities and policies that will connect more children and families in nature.

During 2020 many things changed in the world and for Texas Children in Nature Network. One of the biggest lessons from the pandemic has been in importance of equitable access to nature for our health and the need for more space for us to live, learn and play outdoors. With this in mind TCiNN has planned this year’s Summit with a focus on our lessons learned this past year, and how to move forward in a world looking for more opportunities in nature.

If you are needing to pay for our Summit via check please email Sarah at: scoles@texaschildreninnature.org

Key-note speakers:

Thursday afternoon – Angela Hanscom, author of Balanced and Barefoot. As an occupational therapist Angela has specialized in nature interventions for children and the need for natural environments for child development. She will be speaking on her work and what she has learned through her work at the TimberNook Center in New Hampshire.
Friday morning – Lisa Carlson, Past President of the American Public Health Association. During her time with APHA Lisa has advocated for nature as a public health strategy, she will be sharing her insights on how we can make strides for a healthier community by incorporating more nature into our communities.
Equity Panel

Friday morning, December 3rd, will feature a panel discussion of the importance of creating a more equitable outdoors, and creating a welcoming experience at our nature sites. Panel speakers will include: David Buggs, Melinda Chow, Alex Bailey, Rocio Villalobos, and Jaime Gonzalez.
Summit Session Strands

Access to Nature
Community Engagement and Partnerships
Equity and Inclusion
Formal and Informal Education
OLE! Texas (Outdoor Learning Environments in Early Childhood Settings)
Physical and Mental Health
Post-Conference Workshops

Forest Bathing
Conference Lodging Options

Texas Children in Nature Network has a conference block of 50 rooms at the SpringHill Suites Fort Worth University, 3250 Lovell Ave, Fort Worth, TX 76117. The hotel features a free breakfast, fitness center, free WiFi and outdoor pool. Room rate in the conference block is $109/night (plus tax) for either a single king or double queen room. Room block will be held until November 12, 2021. Call 817-878-2554 and state you are attending our Summit in order to book within our room block. Or, you can register with this link.
Other nearby hotels
A shuttle service will be available from the SpringHill Suites to the conference at set times during the day. Parking is also available at the Botanic Garden and BRIT if you choose to drive yourself to the Summit.
Meals and Happy Hours

Lunch at the BRIT on Thursday (December 2) is included with full registration. Lunch at the BRIT on Friday (December 3) will be included in tickets for any post-conference workshops.
Happy Hour on Thursday (December 2) is included with full registration.
Breakfast and dinner is on you own.
Program and Schedule

Find updated schedules, information and conference details on our conference webpage.
Summit COVID-Protocols

All Attendees will be required to show either proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test from no earlier than November 29 upon check-in at the Summit. This will apply to all attendees, presenters, exhibitors, staff, volunteers, and sponsors.
Wearing a mask while indoors and interacting with others will be encouraged, masks will be available anyone who needs one
We will have three lanyard colors for you to choose from at check-in: Green – open to all interactions, Yellow – I am still cautious, please ask, Red- Please maintain 6′ social distance
This conference is a “bring your own tote bag” conference. Please bring your favorite tote bag to show off to everyone at the Summit.

Texas Children in Nature Network is a 501c3 Public Charity. As of January 2021 we became an independent non-profit, leaving our incubation period under Texas Parks and Wildlife. We are excited to work with TPWD as a founding partner of TCiNN as we plan this year’s Summit.

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The Upper Texas Coast witnesses a steady flow of migratory birds beginning as early as July and lasting through November. Many species hug the coastline on their way to South and Central America for the winter. Read more on the Migratory Flyways of North America on the Texas Parks and Wildlife web site.

SHOREBIRDS
Excerpt from “A Birdwalk at Bolivar Flats” by Cin-Ty Lee of Rice University.

By the first week of July fall migration has commenced as southbound dowitchers, Western and Semipalmated Sandpipers, Piping Plovers, and Black-bellied Plovers start to arrive. All of these will be adults in full breeding plumage. However, their breeding plumages will be duller and more worn-out than when we last saw them in April. This is because their plumage has had to weather two long-distance trips. Now some of these fall arrivals will actually stay to winter and some will continue on to more southerly locations. The former will molt into their winter plumages and the latter will just keep on going. In August, the major influx of juvenile birds will finally arrive. These will be characterized by beautiful, crisp clean plumages. The passage of juvenile birds will continue through September with some bleeding into October. By November, most of the southbound shorebird migration has stopped and the composition of shorebirds at Bolivar stabilizes.

HAWKS
Hawk migration begins in August. Within the city limits, in August Mississippi Kites soaring overhead are a common sight. Later in the season kettles of Broad-winged Hawks may sometimes be spotted. To fully appreciate hawk migration, though, visit Smith Point on the Bolivar Peninsula, site of one of the best hawk watches in the country. Hawks and many other species are naturally funneled to the tip of the peninsula where Smith Point is located. The Smith Point Hawk Watch is sponsored by the Gulf Coast Bird Observatory, which has built a 40 foot hawk tower. Counters and volunteers are at the Hawk Watch daily August 1 through November 15. More information about the Smith Point Hawk Watch can be found on the Gulf Coast Bird Observatory web site.

HUMMINGBIRDS
Migration begins in July and lasts through October; peak numbers are in September.

SWIFTS AND SWALLOWS
Peak numbers for Purple Martins are in July and August. The largest congregations of Chimney Swifts are in September and October. Not as well known are the spectacular numbers of swallows, particularly Barn and Tree, which may be seen along the coast August through October.

FALL LANDBIRD MIGRATION ON THE COAST
Birding is most often an adventure to observe migration. But migration is not one way and most all spring migrants can also be found in the fall. Some landbirds such as Chuck-will’s-widow, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Nashville Warbler, Prairie Warbler, Mourning Warbler and Canada Warbler are actually more common on the coast is the fall than in the spring. To fully appreciate the migration of landbirds try birding the coast in the fall starting in August or even July!

In early July the Black-and-white Warbler reappears and is suddenly very common on the coast and for me this marks the start of the fall landbird migration. The Blue-gray Gnatcatcher appears on the coast in late July and quickly becomes abundant in the first week of August. It is also interesting how Least Flycatchers become common at the end of July. And Louisiana Waterthrush is a very early migrant and the time to see it as a fall migrant is July and early August.

Empidonax flycatchers are especially common in August so this is a good time to study this particularly difficult group and attempt to learn their call notes. You may find that at times Yellow-bellied Flycatchers are abundant in the woods and that Alder is more common than Willow.

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Choose from 60-,36-, or 12-mile route
Full SAG Support
Six rest stops offering homemade treat and refreshments
Free T-shirt for participants entered before September 22nd
Free post-ride shrimp boil in Town Park

For information and how to register contact the Palacios Chamber of Commerce

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