WINTER NATURE PROGRAM

❄Winter Nature Program❄

Birds, butterflies, sea turtles and more! 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 outings and talks.

Most of the activities REQUIRE an RSVP and you’ll find it’s quite easy to reserve your spot. Sign up info is noted on each activity that requires an RSVP. Most activities are FREE unless otherwise noted in the description below. 

These activities are designed for adults 18 years or older unless otherwise noted.

January

Houston Audubon Urban Bird Survey – Moody Gardens

January 6, Friday, 7:00am – 9:00am
Leader: Greg Whittaker
Where: Moody Gardens west parking lot north tram stop
No RSVP needed – 409.683.4101 for questions

https://houstonaudubon.org/birding/bird-surveys/moody-gardens.html

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.

East End Lagoon Nature Preserve Trail Walk

January 11, Wednesday, 2:00pm – 3:00pm
Leader: GINTC Staff or Volunteer
Where: East End Lagoon Nature Preserve (Directions will be emailed prior to the activity)
SPACE LIMITED
Register Here

Join GINTC staff/volunteers for a nature walk 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.

Moody Gardens Peek Behind the Scenes

January 11, Wednesday, 10:30am – noon
Presenter: Jake Emmert-Moody Gardens Dive Safety Officer
Where: Moody Gardens Aquarium- Coral Room
Click here to register

The Moody Gardens Dive Program (MGDP) utilizes divers for animal care, exhibit maintenance, and field operations. Come learn how divers support the mission of Moody Gardens from topics that range from animal care and exhibit work to instrumentation recovery and management efforts in the Gulf of Mexico! Attendees can expect to learn the world of zoo and aquarium diving, as well as current research and conservation efforts in the Gulf of Mexico.

Sea Beans 101 – Galveston

January 11, Wednesday, 3:00pm – 4:30pm
Presenter: Maureen Nolan-Wilde
Where: Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Campus 1200 Market Street (on UTMB Campus)
Click here to register

So, what exactly is a “sea bean” and where can you find them while visiting the Galveston/Bolivar coastline.  Did you know some sea beans can bring you good seas while others have helped Christopher Columbus and other explorers on their journeys?

This session deals with the what, where, and why of sea beans. We will be covering the most common to the rarest sea bean and other treasures found along my wanders along the beachfront.

Galveston County Audubon Group Monthly Meeting and Presentation

January 12, Thursday, 6:30pm-7:30pm
Presentation: A Galveston Big Year-365 Days of Madness!
Presenter: Robert Becker
Where: Wortham Auditorium, Rosenberg Library, 2310 Sealy
No RSVP necessary

Galveston birder Bob Becker will tell all about his adventures and (mis)adventures while doing a countywide Big Year. Bob will talk about birding strategy, what it takes to do a Big Year, and why ordinary people indulge in this peculiar quest. Illustrated with many of Bob’s bird photos.

Houston Audubon Urban Bird Survey – Moody Gardens Golf Course

January 13, Friday, 7:00am – 9:00am
Leader: Greg Whittaker
Where: Moody Gardens Golf Course – clubhouse, 1700 Syndor Lane
RSVP required – limited to 7 participants – call 409.683.4101 to RSVP

This is a new survey being developed to include in the Houston Audubon Urban Surveys.  We are limited to 4 golf carts, which limits the available seats to 7.  Survey includes 5.25 miles of driving generally along the golf course paths while recording all species and individual birds encountered.  Restrooms are available at 2 locations on the course as well as the clubhouse.  We will need 3 willing volunteers to drive carts.  Remember your bug spray and binoculars.

Galveston County Audubon Group Field Trip

January 14, Saturday, 8:30am-noon
Leader: Bob Becker
Where: Texas City Dike entrance
No RSVP necessary

Join Bob Becker as you bird the Texas City Dike and some of his favorite spots in the area.

Monarch Butterflies for the Gulf Coast

January 17, Tuesday, 3:00pm – 4:30pm
Presenter: Christine Anastas
Where: Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Campus, 1200 Market St (on UTMB Campus)
Click here to register

In this presentation we will explore the monarch life cycle, migration, conservation status, and native milkweed. There will also be an update on the latest monarch science with special emphasis on the Gulf Coast’s role in the complex monarch migration journey. We will also look at native milkweed and nectar plants.

Beach Clean-up/Nurdle Patrol – Canceled

January 17, Tuesday, 10:00am – noon
Presenter: Turtle Island Restoration Network
Where: TBD
Please join TIRN in February for their clean-up/nurdle patrol. Details below.

The beach clean up will consist of a quick presentation on marine debris, plastic pollution, and sea turtles, followed by picking up trash from our beach. We will meet up at the end to discuss and weigh all of the trash, conduct a Nurdle Patrol and  complete a microplastics experiment as well.

Growing Native Plants for Birds, Bees and Butterflies

January 18, Wednesday, 3:00pm – 4:30pm
Presenter: Texas Master Naturalist Debra Pence
Where: Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Campus, 1200 Market St, Galveston, TX 77551
Click here to register  

Join Debra for a seminar focused on creating a pollinator/nature habitat in your own backyard. We will focus on plants native to Texas but you will be able to apply the methods wherever you live.

Growing Native Plants for Birds, Bees and Butterflies

January 19, Thursday, 3:30pm – 5:00pm
Presenter: Texas Master Naturalist Debra Pence
Where: Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Campus, 1200 Market St, Galveston, TX 77551
Click here to register

Join Debra for a seminar focused on creating a pollinator/nature habitat in your own backyard. We will focus on plants native to Texas but you will be able to apply the methods wherever you live.

Brewding 101: Beach Birdnerdery

January 20, Friday, 4:30pm – 6:00ish, Seawall parking required
Leader: Greg Whittaker
Where: Jimmy’s on the Pier, 9001 Seawall
Click here to RSVP 

Informal birdwatching opportunity and discussion in a setting that lends itself to enjoying nature with a beverage of choice.  Come visit with a transplanted northerner that has been enjoying Galveston’s diverse bird-life, and tasty beer for many years.  Conversation and bird viewing will concentrate on pelicans, cormorants and the various shore birds that commonly use the nearshore habitats.

Moody Gardens Peek Behind the Scenes

January 25, Wednesday, 10:30am – noon
Presenter: Brooke Carlson – Moody Gardens Biologist III (Cnidarians)
Where: Moody Gardens Aquarium- Coral Room
Click here to register

Moody Gardens Aquarium maintains a diverse collection of animals ranging from marine invertebrates up through marine mammals.  Come learn about the alien world of Jellies from our Cnidarian team lead biologist.  This presentation will cover the basics of taxonomy for Cnidaria and Ctenophora, basic life cycle of a jellyfish, overview of the species we care for here at moody Gardens and the jellyfish’s role in the ecosystem (predators and prey).  We’ll discuss the unique impact these animals can have in the ecosystem due to environmental changes from climate and human caused changes like overfishing.

Turtle Island Restoration Network Open House

January 26, Thursday, 10:00am – noon
Presenter: Turtle Island Restoration Network
Where: Turtle Island Restoration Network Office, 1028 Broadway
Click here to RSVP

Turtle Island Restoration Network is an ocean conservation organization celebrating 33 years of ocean conservation and advocacy work. We are thrilled to welcome you to our new action center in Galveston. There will be a presentation on our work in the Gulf of Mexico and simple steps community members may take to do their part to protect our watershed and the ocean. There will be a tour of our center and a demonstration on some the projects we are working on.

Sea Beans 101 – Galveston

January 26, Thursday, 3:30pm – 5:00pm
Presenter: Maureen Nolan-Wilde
Where: Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Campus 1200 Market Street (on UTMB Campus)
Click here to register

So, what exactly is a “sea bean” and where can you find them while visiting the Galveston/Bolivar coastline.  Did you know some sea beans can bring you good seas while others have helped Christopher Columbus and other explorers on their journeys?

This session deals with the what, where, and why of sea beans. We will be covering the most common to the rarest sea bean and other treasures found along my wanders along the beachfront.

February

The Best Job Ever! – Seaside Chat, NOAA Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary

February 1, Wednesday, 6:30pm – 7:30pm
Presenter: Steve Gittings, Chief Scientist, NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries
Where: Virtual
Register for the webinars at flowergarden.noaa.gov/education/seasidechats

The modern history of the Flower Garden Banks is a series of transitions–a Mystery Era that lasted for nearly 30 years, the Discovery Era in the 1960s, the Enlightenment Era in the 1970s and early 1980s, then the Sanctuary Era. Steve Gittings was fortunate to be part of the last two, working on the banks starting in 1980, then being selected as the first sanctuary manager in 1992. His mentor, Tom Bright, called it “a plum job.”  It was even better! Let Steve take you back to that time and tell stories about the best job he will ever have.

Seaside Chats is an annual speaker series about ocean science and conservation, which is hosted by Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. While the sanctuary and the Gulf of Mexico are our their focus, they occasionally look at what’s happening in other national marine sanctuaries, as well.

Presentations are free and last for one hour. Speakers include sanctuary staff and guests from partner organizations.

Anyone is welcome to attend, but presentation style is most suited to those in middle school and above. Continuing professional education (CPE) hours for teachers and attendance certificates are provided for all participants.

East End Lagoon Nature Preserve Trail Walk

February 1, Wednesday, 2:00pm – 3:00pm
Leader: GINTC Staff or Volunteer
Where: East End Lagoon Nature Preserve (Directions will be emailed prior to the activity)
SPACE LIMITED
Register Here

Join GINTC staff/volunteers for a nature walk 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.

Monarch Butterflies for the Gulf Coast

February 1, Wednesday, 3:30pm – 5:00pm
Presenter: Christine Anastas
Where: Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Campus, 1200 Market St (on UTMB Campus)
Click here to register

In this presentation we will explore the monarch life cycle, migration, conservation status, and native milkweed. There will also be an update on the latest monarch science with special emphasis on the Gulf Coast’s role in the complex monarch migration journey. We will also look at native milkweed and nectar plants.

Houston Audubon Urban Bird Surveys – Moody Gardens 

February 3, Friday, 7:00am – 9:00am
Leader: Greg Whittaker
Where: Moody Gardens west parking lot north tram stop
No RSVP needed – 409.683.4101 for questions

https://houstonaudubon.org/birding/bird-surveys/moody-gardens.html

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.

Brewding 201: A Day at the Beach

Forsters Terns

Photo by Kristine Rivers, San Luis Pass.

February 3, Friday, 4:30pm – 6:00ish
Leader: Greg Whittaker
Where: Woody’s Beach Bar, 11149 Termini San Luis Pass Rd
Click here to RSVP

Informal birdwatching opportunity and discussion in a setting that lends itself to enjoying nature with a beverage of choice.  Come visit with a transplanted northerner that has been enjoying Galveston’s diverse bird-life, and tasty beer for many years.  Conversation and bird viewing will concentrate on gulls, terns and beach habitat shore birds that are likely to be viewed from the scenic deck.  There will be a sunset migration to Galveston Island Brewing, 8423 Stewart Rd for additional bird, beer and Island life discussions.

Reconstructing the Flower Garden Banks from the Inside Out – Seaside Chat, NOAA Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary

February 8, Wednesday, 6:30pm – 7:30pm, Free
Presenter: Bill Precht, Director of Marine and Coastal Programs, Dial Cordy and Associates, Inc.
Where: Virtual
Register for the webinars at flowergarden.noaa.gov/education/seasidechats

Who knew, that hidden beneath the beautiful reefs we know and love, lay ancient reefs of a different nature? In 2006-2007, while conducting annual long-term monitoring activities at the Flower Garden Banks, researchers discovered remnants of a fossil reef comprised of elkhorn and staghorn corals, species almost non-existent on our reefs today. This discovery has dramatically altered our understanding of reef development at the Flower Garden Banks and the response of coral communities to changing climate through time.

Seaside Chats is an annual speaker series about ocean science and conservation, which is hosted by Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. While the sanctuary and the Gulf of Mexico are our their focus, they occasionally look at what’s happening in other national marine sanctuaries, as well.

Presentations are free and last for one hour. Speakers include sanctuary staff and guests from partner organizations.

Anyone is welcome to attend, but presentation style is most suited to those in middle school and above. Continuing professional education (CPE) hours for teachers and attendance certificates are provided for all participants.

Moody Gardens Peek Behind the Scenes

February 8, Wednesday, 10:30am – noon
Presenter: Moody Gardens Rainforest team
Where: Moody Gardens Visitor Center – Macadamia Room
Click here to RSVP

Moody Gardens Rainforest animal collection includes representation of taxa from aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates through mammals from tropical rainforest regions in Southeast Asia, Africa and Central/South America.  Many of these animals are living in mixed species environments within the 1-acre naturally planted habitat.  Attendees can expect to hear how our team cares for some of the unique animals within our collection and ask those questions you’ve always wondered about.

Beach Clean-up/Nurdle Patrol 

February 10, Friday, 10:00am – noon
Presenter: Turtle Island Restoration Network
Where: Meet in front of Murdochs on Seawall
Click here to RSVP

The beach clean up will consist of a quick presentation on marine debris, plastic pollution, and sea turtles, followed by picking up trash from our beach. We will meet up at the end to discuss and weigh all of the trash, conduct a Nurdle Patrol and  complete a microplastics experiment as well.

Houston Audubon Urban Bird Surveys – Moody Gardens Golf Course

February 10, Friday, 7:00am – 9:00am
Leader: Greg Whittaker
Where: Moody Gardens Golf Course – clubhouse, 1700 Sydnor Lane
RSVP required – limited to 7 participants – call 409.683.4101 to RSVP

This is a new survey being developed to include in the Houston Audubon Urban Surveys.  We are limited to 4 golf carts, which limits the available seats to 7.  Survey includes 5.25 miles of driving generally along the golf course paths while recording all species and individual birds encountered.  Restrooms are available at 2 locations on the course as well as the clubhouse.  We will need 3 willing volunteers to drive carts.

Exploring a Future Sanctuary – Seaside Chat, NOAA Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary

February 15, Wednesday, 6:30pm – 7:30pm, Free
Presenter:  Tom Bright, retired Director of Texas Sea Grant
Where: Virtual
Register for the webinars at flowergarden.noaa.gov/education/seasidechats

For three decades, between 1960 and 1990, researchers explored the reefs and fishing banks off Texas and Louisiana using scuba tanks and submarines. They even contemplated installing an underwater habitat that would allow them to live and work underwater for extended periods of time. All this was done largely to satisfy their curiosity, but also to protect and conserve. The end result? Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary! Join us for a trek down memory lane with Tom Bright, father of the Flower Garden Banks.

Seaside Chats is an annual speaker series about ocean science and conservation, which is hosted by Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. While the sanctuary and the Gulf of Mexico are our their focus, they occasionally look at what’s happening in other national marine sanctuaries, as well.

Presentations are free and last for one hour. Speakers include sanctuary staff and guests from partner organizations.

Anyone is welcome to attend, but presentation style is most suited to those in middle school and above. Continuing professional education (CPE) hours for teachers and attendance certificates are provided for all participants.

Brewding 301: Bird Love

Photo: Barbara Rabek

February 17, Friday, 4:30pm – 6:00ish
Leader: Greg Whittaker
Where: Tin Cup’s Caddy Shack, 9020 Stewart Rd.
Click here to RSVP

Informal birdwatching opportunity and discussion in a setting that lends itself to enjoying nature with a beverage of choice. Come visit with a transplanted northerner that has been enjoying Galveston’s diverse bird-life, and tasty beer for many years. Conversation and bird viewing will concentrate on Sandhill Cranes and various other species that are likely to be viewed from the scenic deck. It’s a little early in the season, but if we’re lucky, the Sandhills might celebrate valentine’s day with their characteristic courtship dance.

Moody Gardens Peek Behind the Scenes – Canceled

February 22, Wednesday, 10:30am – noon
Presenter: Greg Whittaker – Moody Gardens General Curator
Where: Moody Gardens Visitor Center – Macadamia Room
Click here to RSVP

Moody Gardens is a public, non-profit educational destination utilizing nature in the advancement of rehabilitation, conservation, recreation and research.  Come hear about some of the unique and creative ways in which we incorporate sustainability and conservation in our day-to-day operations.  Attendees will learn about our property-wide recycling efforts, conservation projects and some of the research projects we’re participating in.

Coral Forensics in the Deep Flower Garden Banks – Seaside Chat, NOAA Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary

February 22, Wednesday, 6:30pm – 7:30pm, Free
Presenter: Luke McCartin, Graduate Researcher, Lehigh University
Where: Virtual
Register for the webinars at flowergarden.noaa.gov/education/seasidechats

Like all marine animals, corals leave behind genetic traces in their environment. Scientists refer to these genetic traces as environmental DNA or eDNA. Similar to forensics, marine biologists can sequence this eDNA to determine what animals have passed through an area or are nearby but not easily seen. Learn how Luke McCartin sequences eDNA to better understand the corals that live in the deepest waters of Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, even when he can’t see them!

Seaside Chats is an annual speaker series about ocean science and conservation, which is hosted by Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. While the sanctuary and the Gulf of Mexico are our their focus, they occasionally look at what’s happening in other national marine sanctuaries, as well.

Presentations are free and last for one hour. Speakers include sanctuary staff and guests from partner organizations.

Anyone is welcome to attend, but presentation style is most suited to those in middle school and above. Continuing professional education (CPE) hours for teachers and attendance certificates are provided for all participants.

Galveston County Audubon Group Monthly Meeting and Presentation

February 23, Thursday, 6:30pm-7:30pm, FREE
Presentation: Galveston’s Wintering and Early Migrant Shorebirds
Presenter: Kristen Vale, Coastal Program Coordinator, American Bird Conservancy
Where: Fox Room (4th Floor), Rosenberg Library, 2310 Sealy
No RSVP necessary

Galveston County Audubon Group field trip

Photo: Joseph Smith

February 25 Saturday, 8:00am ($10 parking fee required for Bolivar beaches)
Leader: Kristen Vale
Location: Bolivar Flats and surrounding marshes
No RSVP necessary

Meet at the Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary vehicular barrier.  Sanctuary details, directions and parking information can be found at houstonaudubon.org/sanctuaries/bolivar-flats/about-bolivar-flats.html.

Galveston Island Nature Tourism Council’s Sea Turtle Saturday at Moody Gardens    

February 25, Saturday, 8:00am – noon
Presenters: Morgan Huette, Gulf of Mexico Program Coordinator, Turtle Island Restoration Network (TIRN)
Dr. Chris Marshall, Director of the  Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research at A&M Galveston
Alicia Walker, Program Coordinator, Amos Rehabilitation Keep (ARK)
Where: Moody Gardens
Tickets: $15.oo, Register Here

Make plans to attend Galveston’s ever popular annual sea turtle symposium on Saturday, February 25! This informative and engaging symposium presented by the Galveston Island Nature Tourism Council (GINTC) will be hosted by Moody Gardens. Click here to learn more and for registration details.

March

Moody Gardens Peek Behind the Scenes – NEW 

March 1, Wednesday, 10:30am – noon, FREE
Presenter: Rachel Parmer
Where: Moody Gardens Aquarium- Pompano Room
Click HERE to RSVP, 409.683.4101 for questions

Moody Gardens is a public, non-profit educational destination utilizing nature in the advancement of rehabilitation, conservation, recreation and research.  Come hear about the Art of Octopus Husbandry.  This presentation covers everything about octopuses including how we care for them at Moody Gardens.  Presentation in the Pompano Room followed by a short walk to meet our Giant Pacific Octopus.

Birds of Moody Gardens (Rescheduled from March 6)

March 8, Wednesday, 9:00am – noon, FREE
Presenter: Greg Whittaker
Where: Moody Gardens South Aquarium Parking Lot
Click HERE to RSVP

This is a casual walking tour of Moody Gardens viewing the birds found around Moody Gardens 240-acre complex.  We’ll walk the outdoor locations that offer the best birding diversity and do a walk through the Rainforest canopy to see the exotic bird diversity thriving in our tropical rainforest community.  We’ll finish up with a look at the penguin diversity from the South Atlantic in our Aquarium exhibit.  Outdoors will be easy walking on pathways or short grass. Restrooms are available in buildings along the route. Remember your sunscreen, bug spray and binoculars.