SPORTS + OUTDOORS

The Galveston Island Nature Tourism Council is pleased to host this 9th 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 7 through April 10, 2011.

It’s no wonder birders, photographers and outdoor enthusiasts flock to FeatherFest, Galveston Island’s annual nature festival. From April 7 through 10, novice and expert outdoor lovers of all ages will enjoy unforgettable adventures amid more than 200 species of birds, many of which are passing through on their northward spring migration.

There’s no better time to visit world-renowned birding hot spots Bolivar Flats and High Island than during spring migration. FeatherFest offers nature excursions by bus, boat or kayak to a variety of habitats, from beaches to bays, bay marshes to wetlands, and coastal prairies to upland wood motts.

PhotoFest, a dynamic track of photography field trips and workshops, returns after last year’s near sell-out debut.

Galveston is one of the top locations in the country for birding because it hosts a wide variety of habitats in a small geographical area where some 300 species make their permanent or temporary home throughout the year. The Island also sits astride the 95th meridian, the dead center of trans-Gulf migration routes.

Check out our exciting 2011 FeatherFest and PhotoFest Field Trips and Seminars at the links below. New activities include a Special Tour with Jon Dunn, Big Day Birding with Kevin Karlson, and photography events for beginner, intermediate and advanced levels.

Also new this year is Raptors Uncorked!, an Evening of Wine and Wildlife at Yaga’s Café. This special evening features a private show of live, free-flying birds of prey and is sure to get your FeatherFest experience off to a flying start!

Field Trips:  For a reference list of festival activities by day and time,  a chart shows the time span for all programs, and may help you outline your itinerary before you get into the registration process.
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Click here to read about Field Trips.

Seminars:  General Seminars will be presented on the second floor of the Old Galveston Square Building, 2221 The Strand. PhotoFest Seminars will be held on the third floor of the 1871 Thomas Jefferson League Building, 2301 The Strand. Both buildings are across the street from FeatherFest headquarters, and are part of Mitchell Historic Properties in downtown Galveston.

Click here to read about Seminars.

Don’t miss the 2011 Birders’ Bazaar – it’s all part of the Festival fun!

Browse booths featuring a wide variety of unique products for nature enthusiasts, from optics and cameras to books and tour information to hand-crafted nature-themed goods. For your shopping convenience, Birders’ Bazaar will be open every day of FeatherFest in the headquarters building, 2313 Harborside Drive, downtown Galveston.

As always, our vendors will be glad to tell you about their products. Don’t miss this great opportunity to learn more about the latest in binoculars, scopes and cameras!

Be sure to buy Birders’ Bazaar raffle tickets while you’re there. Vendors and exhibitors donate items to be awarded to lucky winners at the Great Raffle Event on Saturday afternoon. You don’t have to be present to win.

Free and Open to the Public These Hours:
Thursday/April 7, 1:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Friday/April 8, Noon – 5:15 p.m.
Saturday/April 9, 10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Sunday/April 10, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Raptors Uncorked!:
The public is invited to join FeatherFest attendees for a special show of live, free-flying birds of prey at Raptors Uncorked!, a new festival event set for April 7 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Yaga’s Café, 2314 The Strand. Participants will be treated to an evening of fun, food, wine and wildlife, according to Susan Lewis, coordinator of the Raptor Program at FeatherFest.

“You don’t have to be registered for FeatherFest to attend Raptors Uncorked! We thought this new special event would be fun for everyone so we’ve opened it to the public. The evening is made possible by our partners at Yaga’s Café.”

Guests will meet a Red-tailed Hawk, Barbary Falcon, Black Vulture and other raptors during an exclusive meet and greet with falconer Kevin Gaines of California’s Sky Kings Falconry. These incredible birds will demonstrate their hunting styles and take flight right above the audience.

The evening includes an appetizer buffet, cash bar and unique prizes, including an opportunity to go on stage with Kevin and the birds or have a portrait made with a live raptor.

Tickets are $30 and proceeds will be used to support FeatherFest and Sky Kings Falconry. Details and ticket purchase information are on the festival Web site, www.GalvestonFeatherFest.com, and on the festival hotline, 832-459-5533.

While the Raptor Show is in town, it will visit several GISD schools, including Crenshaw in Bolivar. In addition, free shows will be presented in Saengerfest Park, 23rd and The Strand, April 8, 9 and 10 at various times.

Free Raptor Show Times
Friday, April 8 - Noon, 3 p.m.
Sat., April 9 – 10 a.m., Noon, 3:00 p.m.
Sun., April 10 – 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m.

Click here for a detailed schedule of events.

The festival is a project of the Galveston Island Nature Tourism Council, which supports eco-tourism and education, and promotes the value of area natural habitats. Visit www.galvestonfeatherfest.com  or call 832-459-5533 or 1-888-425-4753 for more information.

Photos by Kevin Karlson.