Beaches, bayous and coastal prairie! Galveston Island offers an amazing natural array of fauna, flora and lots of opportunity to enjoy and explore the outdoors even in the winter months. Whether you are visiting the island or call it home, please come along and be introduced to the wonderful natural world of Galveston Island. Join us for any or all of the winter activities.
Most of the activities REQUIRE an RSVP, sign up info is noted on each activity.
These activities are designed for adults 18 years or older.
Date: January 3, Friday
Time: 7:00am – 9:30am
Leader: Greg Whittaker
Where: Moody Gardens west parking lot north tram stop
Questions Call: 409.683.4101
Free, No RSVP needed
3.6-mile walking route around Moody Gardens property recording all species and individuals of birds encountered. The habitat is a combination of upland marsh, intertidal saltmarsh, bay, and woodlot. We’ll mainly use paved pathways with manicured landscape areas, but there will be some walking through a bit higher grass, marsh habitat and possibly moist/muddy conditions depending on rain and tides. Restrooms are available in buildings along the route. Bring sunscreen, bug spray and binoculars.
For the Moody Gardens Houston Audubon survey calendar click the link here.
Date: January 4, Saturday
Time: 9:00am – 10:00am
Leader: GINTC Staff or Volunteer
Free, Click here to register Directions will be emailed with registration confirmation.
Join GINTC staff/volunteers for a nature outing at the East End Lagoon Nature Preserve. As you explore the Preserve, you will learn about the unique habitats present and view a variety of birds that depend on the Preserve for food and shelter.
Date: January 10, Friday
Time: 7:00am – 8:30 am
Leader: Greg Whittaker
Questions: Call 409.683.4101
Free, Click here to register. Limited to 5 participants. Directions will be emailed with registration confirmation.
Date: January 11, Saturday
Time: 12:00pm – 5:00pm
FREE, Registration details below, Directions will be emailed with registration confirmation.
Can your team solve the riddles on our Winter Nature Scavenger Hunt to follow the trail across Galveston Island to the party at the end? Find out in this fun, fast-paced event created by Kristine Rivers of Birding for Fun! Teams of 2-4 people will travel in their own vehicles, competing for bragging rights as they decipher clues leading them to a series of beautiful destinations. Will your team be first, or be the last? Either way, you’ll have a blast! Party will include a light meal to be provided by GINTC.
Once you have chosen your teammates, click here to register. NOTE: When registering, register yourself first and then add 2-3 people as your guests to make your team.
Date: January 14, Tuesday
Time: 2:00pm – 3:00pm
Presenter: Kristine Rivers, Birding for Fun
FREE, Click Here to Register Directions will be emailed with registration confirmation.
Fascinated with bird behavior? So are we! Join Kristine Rivers of Birding for Fun for this fun video presentation showing a variety of birds in action to learn how you can use behavior to help with identification.
Date: January 14, Tuesday
Time: 6:30pm-7:30pm, Meet and Greet: 6:00pm
Where: Wortham Auditorium, Rosenberg Library, 2310 Sealy
FREE, No RSVP necessary
Galveston Birding: Hotter than Ever
Presenter: Greg Whittaker
Description: Galveston is known as a birdwatching hotspot to the nationwide birding community. Most consider the 3rd week in April as primetime to visit looking for the trees full of colorful songbirds arriving across the Gulf. Just 8 weeks later, Galveston’s bird species diversity is statistically the worst of the year. Come learn why our local birding community comes together to celebrate the birds that call our coastal ecosystem home and not just a stopover oasis. Team leaders and birders will present why they spend a long hot day in late June chasing birds across our county in the Hotter-than-Hell Big Day.
Date: January 18, Saturday
Time: 8:00am-12:00pm
Free, No RSVP necessary
Destination: Texas City Dike and other Mainland Hotspots
DUE TO EXTREME WEATHER THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELED Date: January 22, Wednesday
Join Kristine Rivers of Birding for Fun for a caravan-style crawl highlighting some of the best birding spots in Galveston’s West End. We’ll watch for birds and wildlife along the way as we explore each location before moving to the next hotspot. Participants are encouraged to bring along a camera and/or binoculars. We will meet at Lee and Joe Jamail Bay Park at Offatt’s Bayou; carpooling is encouraged. Please plan to dress for the weather, as it is likely to be chilly and windy; layers are usually best. Hiking boots or good walking shoes appropriate for wet and sandy conditions are highly recommended, and insect repellant is always good to have on hand. Easy to moderate activity level.
Date: January 24, Friday
Time: 6:30pm
Facilitator: Kristine Rivers
Where: Directions will be emailed with registration confirmation.
Free, Click here to register. NOTE: When registering a team, 1 person will register the whole team. One team is allowed up to 4 people only.
Think you know all about Texas wildlife? Put a team together and test your knowledge in this entertaining trivia game created by Kristine Rivers of Birding for Fun. You’re sure to have a great time and learn a lot in the process from this passionate Texas Master Naturalist. Score points by being the first team to answer the question correctly, but watch out! Get it wrong and another team can steal your points! The team with the highest score at the end wins. The event will be held at Gypsy Joynt restaurant, an Island favorite with a fun and eclectic ambiance! We encourage you to order dinner and/or drinks from their extensive menu, which offers a wide array of options including pizza, sandwiches and wraps, seafood, chicken wings, all-day breakfast, fresh bakery goods, and more.
Date: January 28, Tuesday
Time: 4:00pm – 6:00pm
Leader: Kristine Rivers
Where: Directions will be emailed with registration confirmation.
Free, Click here to register
Enjoy leisurely winter birding and sunset photography during this late afternoon outing led by Kristine Rivers of Birding for Fun. (Meeting location TBD.) Participants are encouraged to bring along a camera and/or binoculars. Please plan to dress for the weather, as it is likely to be chilly and windy; layers are usually best. Hiking boots or good walking shoes appropriate for wet and sandy conditions are highly recommended, and insect repellant is always good to have on hand. Easy activity level.
Date: February 1, Saturday
Time: 9:00am – 10:00am
Leader: GINTC Staff or Volunteer
Where: Directions will be emailed with registration confirmation.
Free, Click Here to Register
Join GINTC staff/volunteers for a nature outing at the East End Lagoon Nature Preserve. As you explore the Preserve, you will learn about the unique habitats present and view a variety of birds that depend on the Preserve for food and shelter.
Date: February 5, Wednesday
Time: 6:30pm – 7:30pm
Presenter: Jace Tunnell, Director of Community Engagement, Harte Research Institute
Where: Virtual
Free, Click Here to Register for the webinar
The Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies at Texas A&M University Corpus Christi conducts weekly beach surveys to see what is washing up along Texas shorelines, then shares this information to educate the public. Jace Tunnell will talk about some of the odd and interesting things he has found during his beach surveys, including over 40 messages in a bottle, a live alligator, a prosthetic leg, illegal fishing gear, creepy dolls, money, and much more. The overall message is that debris in the ocean has real consequences for marine life in and out of the ocean. (Photos courtesy of Jace Tunnell)
Date: February 7, Friday
Time: 7:00am – 9:30am
Leader: Greg Whittaker
Where: Moody Gardens west parking lot north tram stop
Questions: call 409.683.4101
FREE, No RSVP needed
3.6-mile walking route around Moody Gardens property recording all species and individuals of birds encountered. The habitat is a combination of upland marsh, intertidal saltmarsh, bay, and woodlot. We’ll mainly use paved pathways with manicured landscape areas, but there will be some walking through a bit higher grass, marsh habitat and possibly moist/muddy conditions depending on rain and tides. Restrooms are available in buildings along the route. Remember your sunscreen, bug spray and binoculars.
For the Moody Gardens Houston Audubon survey calendar click the link here.
Date: February 7, Friday
Time: 6:30pm
Facilitator: Kristine Rivers
Where: Directions will be emailed with registration confirmation.
REGISTRATION IS FULL!
NOTE: When registering a team, 1 person will register the whole team. One team is allowed up to 4 people only.
Ready for a rematch? Retain your title, redeem your wounded pride, or shake up the competition with a new team in round 2 of our entertaining Texas Wildlife Trivia Game created by Kristine Rivers of Birding for Fun. The team with the highest score at the end wins! The event will be held at Gypsy Joynt restaurant, an Island favorite with a fun and eclectic ambiance! We encourage you to order dinner and/or drinks from their extensive menu.
Date: February 8, Saturday
Time: 8:00am – 11:00am
Where: Moody Gardens, 1 Hope Blvd, Galveston
Tickets: $15 per person, Click here for more details and to register.
Must be 12 or older to attend. 18 and under must be accompanied by an adult.
Before the Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles head to Galveston beaches for nesting season this spring, make plans to learn about these fascinating creatures at Sea Turtle Saturday on February 8th, at an informative and engaging seminar presented by the Galveston Island Nature Tourism Council (GINTC). Participants will hear presentations from representatives of Turtle Island Restoration Network, Flower Gardens Banks National Marine Sanctuary, and the Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research at Texas A & M University. Presentation topics and registration information coming soon. Light breakfast, coffee and juice served.
Date: February 11, Tuesday
Time: 10:00am – 12:00pm
Leader: Kristine Rivers
Where: Directions will be emailed with registration confirmation.
Free, Click here to register
Date: February 11, Tuesday
Time: 6:30pm-7:30pm, Meet and Greet: 6:00pm
Where: Wortham Auditorium, Rosenberg Library, 2310 Sealy
FREE, No RSVP necessary
Vagrants and Vagabonds: the rare birds of Galveston County
Presenter: Bob Becker
Description: Join Galveston birder Bob Becker on Feb. 11 for a fun-filled talk on the rare birds of Galveston County. Becker will highlight exciting Galveston rarities, illustrating them with his photographs and those of others. Becker will explore hot spots for finding rare birds, when they show up, and best strategies for a successful chase.
Date: February 12, Wednesday
Time: 6:30pm – 7:30pm
Presenter: Amanda Croteau, California State University, Sacramento; Philip Yang, University of Rhode Island
Where: Virtual
Free, Click here to register for the webinar
Date: February 14, Friday
Time: 7:00am – 8:30 am
Leader: Greg Whittaker
Where: Directions will be emailed with registration confirmation.
Questions: call 409.683.4101
Free, Click here to register. – limited to 5 participants
Date: February 15, Saturday
Time: 8:00am-12:00pm
Free, No RSVP necessary
Details: Explore the East End of Galveston Island with the Galveston County Audubon Group. For Carpool/Caravan: meet at 8:00am at Moody Gardens, South parking lot. For meet at site, be at Fort San Jacinto at 8:30am.
Date: February 19, Wednesday
Time: 9:00am – 12:00pm
Leader: Kristine Rivers
Where: Directions will be emailed with registration confirmation.
Free, Click here to register
Date: February 19, Wednesday
Time: 6:30pm – 7:30pm
Presenter: Dr. Keisha Bahr, Chair for Coral Reef and Ocean Health, Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies
Where: Virtual
Free, Click here to register for the webinar
Date: February 25, Tuesday
Time: 10:00am-12:00pm
Organization: Turtle Island Restoration Network
Where: 2215 Seawall Blvd. Galveston
Free, Click here to register