SPORTS + OUTDOORS

The Galveston Island Nature Tourism Council is pleased to host this 7th Annual Galveston FeatherFest during the avian spring migration. The historic City of Galveston is the premier location for fabulous birding on and close to, fabled Galveston Island.  April 2 through April 5, 2009.

The Island sits astride the 95th meridian, the focus of trans-Gulf migrations. Well over 300 bird species may be seen on the Island during the year, and close to 200 species is not uncommon during the four days of FeatherFest.  There will be something for everyone at FeatherFest ‘09, whether you’re a novice or experienced outdoor lover! Activities will include excursions by bus, boat or kayak to many different bird habitats such as beaches, marshes, prairies and wood motts.

Trips to world renowned near-by hot spots such as Bolivar Flats and High Island are included as well. Beach combing, nature photography, and outdoor Butterfly and Dragonfly workshops add variety.

New this Year: FeatherFest Family Package
If you’re new to FeatherFest or are looking for a special outdoor family outing, the FeatherFest Family Package is just right for you! It’s available April 2, 3 and 4 and features the Galveston Harbor & Pelican Island Birding by Boat Tour aboard the Seagull II from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. You’ll also get the 2009 FeatherFest Tote Bag, Bird Patch and Bird “Tattoo.” Tickets are only $49 per person. Come early and see the live birds of prey Raptor Show at 10 a.m.  Click here for more information about the boat trip and here for a registration form.

Updated FeatherFest Events Schedule:
You will find a link to a printable schedule of 2009 events below.  The events schedule has been updated with new times and other details. Click here and refresh the pop-up box for the latest plan.

Discover the Wild Side of West Bay
Sign up for the Grand Marquee Bay Birding by Kayak trip with Karla Kay, an expert birder, teacher, all-around naturalist and Executive Creative Director for Artist Boat. Guests will paddle within feet of nesting Roseate spoonbills, tri-colored herons, great egrets and other wading birds. They will hear the sounds of active nesting birds, float over natural stands of sea grasses and experience the diving habits of the brown pelican at close range.

Learn to “Pish”
Go “pishing” with Cape May Bird Observatory Director Peter Dunne and learn how to mimic the scolding notes of birds so they will be more apt to let you come close. Registrants will practice how to wheeze, shush and squeak with a real master of the art. Dunne will also be the guest speaker at the festival’s Keynote Dinner.

See Live Birds of Prey
Get close-up shots of Raptors, otherwise known as birds of prey, every day of FeatherFest. Raptors will ascend on Saengerfest Park, 23rd and The Strand in downtown Galveston, as a free festival activity. Exhibition times are 10 a.m., Noon and 3 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, and 10 a.m. and Noon on Sunday.

Talk about Hurricanes, Habitats and Birds
Thursday evening, join sanctuary managers from the National Wetlands Center, Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge and Houston Audubon in an “open conversation” about the effects of hurricanes on animals and their environment.

Hurricanes, Habitats and Birds will be a part of Thursday evening’s social in one of Galveston’s renowned historical buildings. (Hurricane Ike made landfall in Galveston on September 13, 2008. Favorite field sites are expected to be accessible and well into recovery by April.)

Read About Last Year’s Festival
FeatherFest 2008 was a resounding success and garnered both increased attendance and economic impact. Some 4,500 people enjoyed free and paid festival programs and 197 species of birds were sited. Guests gave the event a 4.6 out of 5 satisfaction rating, right on track with ’07. Read the full public report here.

Never been to a birding festival?
For those unfamiliar with these popular events, they are generally designed to allow birders and other nature lovers to meet and learn from each other, and from the featured experts who make workshop presentations and lead field trips. The evening social events allow guests to relax and enjoy the many other aspects of the host city – in this case, historical Galveston.

FeatherFest activities have been selected to provide choices for both expert birders and inexperienced nature lovers. To help get you started with your FeatherFest plans, we’ve recommended trips below based on levels of experience and interest.

For experienced birders, the marquee field trips to High Island, Anahuac and Bolivar Flats will be of interest, with trip leaders who will help you spot and identify the birds. This year we have reorganized the trip to Anahuac to include a brief afternoon stop at Smith Woods, High Island, so you can see the rookeries. The Islander Sampler trips and the West Galveston Island Hot Spots should also be on your list, since the expert local guides can often find the same birds that are seen at High Island and Bolivar Flats, but with less time devoted to travel. The Attwater Prairie Chicken Preserve trip is unique to this area. The preserve is attempting to reintroduce the rare Attwater Prairie chicken. This will be a “life list” bird for most. See the males “booming” to attract females on their leks.

For novice birders and non-birders who want to try birding, we recommend Birding for New Birders, which is offered each day;East Isle…Easy Paced Birding; Shorebirds 101; Songbirds 101; and the Harbor Birding by Boat. The Sunday events are particularly good for children.

For non-birders, or for birders interested in other aspects of nature, we recommend All about Butterflies; Turtle Research Station Tour; Nature Photography; and Birding by Kayak. The kayak trips are particularly informative on the subject of wetlands restoration on Galveston Island.

For Galvestonians and visitors who want to get a different view of life on Galveston and find out why birders travel to visit the area, we recommend the Galveston Flyway workshop on Thursday. Harbor Birding by Boat; Birding by Kayak; East End Lagoon Preserve Site; and Island Sampler trips would be informative and fun adventures to consider.

Festival Headquarters
On-site registration and event headquarters will be downtown on the second floor of Old Galveston Square, 2221 The Strand. Click here for registration information.

Click here for a list of birds seen 2004-2008, and to download a pdf checklist for your 2009 FeatherFest adventures.

FeatherFest is a project of the Galveston Island Nature Tourism Council, which is dedicated to developing nature-based activities and promoting the value of the natural habitats and resources of Galveston Island and Bolivar Peninsula.