Schedule of Events

April 22, 2025

6:30 am - 3:00 pmBeaumont Area Birding Pre-Festival - Trip with Glenn Olsen - $225
Two ecosystems converge in the Beaumont area, the Pineywoods, so called because of the abundant pine trees that are the dominant tree species for the region and the Coastal Marshes, both fresh and brackish marshes along the Gulf Coast. This combination of a variety of habitat results in some excellent spring birding. With the arrival of neotropical migrants, perhaps a rare or uncommon bird or two, a few habitat restricted birds and you have two exciting days to look forward to!

7:00 amBirding Hall's Bayou Ranch - $90
This trip to a private ranch is so popular that we offer it twice - as a pre-festival trip and a post-festival trip so you can either begin or end your FeatherFest adventure at Hall's Bayou Ranch! Hall's Bayou Ranch encompasses over 25,000 acres of private land that begins at Halls Lake near Alvin TX...

8:00 am - 2:00 pmBirding Clear Creek on the Mainland - $65
Clear Creek winds its way from Clear Lake through Galveston County on the mainland, providing beneficial freshwater riparian edge habitat to a wide variety of bird species and other wildlife. This pre-festival trip explores two of the hidden gems in the Clear Lake Loop of the Upper Texas Coast – Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail.

8:00 am - 2:00 pmBirding the San Jacinto River Bottomlands & Vicinity - $60
In northeast Harris County, Lake Houston dams the confluence of the two forks of the San Jacinto River, Luce Bayou and Cypress Creek. The mighty San Jac watershed bottomlands hold a bounty of flora and fauna along its courses. Beaver and river otter share Lake Houston with alligator and banded water snakes to name a few. Overhead gulls, pelican and waterbirds move in groups plying the water of the lake for fish. In the spring, the dawn song from the forest is large and loud. Target local nesters include Brown-headed Nuthatch, Red- headed Woodpecker, Bald Eagle, Anhinga and Pine Warbler. Neotropic nesters we hope to encounter: Prothonotary Warbler, Swainson's Warbler, Painted Bunting, Hooded Warbler, Purple Gallinule and Yellow-billed cuckoo. This habitat also serves the avian migration north, with respite for Blue Grosbeak, Black-throated Green Warbler, Swainson's Hawk, Western Sandpiper and many others.

8:00 am - 2:00 pm: Baytown Nature Center
 Located on the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail, the Baytown Nature Center (BNC) is a 450-acre peninsula surrounded by three brackish bays. Renowned for its rich bird life, over 350 species have been recorded throughout its 25-year existence. BNC is equipped with trails and observation platforms throughout the center, providing close views of wading birds.

April 23, 2025

6:30 am - 3:00 pm: Beaumont Area Birding Pre-Festival - Trip with Glenn Olsen
Two ecosystems converge in the Beaumont area, the Pineywoods, so called because of the abundant pine trees that are the dominant tree species for the region and the Coastal Marshes, both fresh and brackish marshes along the Gulf Coast. This combination of a variety of habitat results in some excellent spring birding. With the arrival of neotropical migrants, perhaps a rare or uncommon bird or two, a few habitat restricted birds and you have two exciting days to look forward to!

7:00 am - 2:00 pm: Brazoria County Lesser-Known Hot Spots with Martin Hagne #1 - $80
Come join us for a day in Brazoria County birding some of the lesser-known hotspots, although that does not make them any less birdy!  These sites are enjoyed by local birders year-round and are especially attractive during spring migration. We will stay flexible with our route depending on weather, bird activity, and other considerations.

7:30 am - 11:30 am: Nature within the Urban Landscape – Pearland - $40
We visit two sites within the City of Pearland to observe how one city's mission, “To protect, manage, and enhance the City's natural resources, provide citizens with outdoor recreation opportunities, and to further the public's understanding and appreciation of its natural resources through education and hands-on experiences”, has been taken to the next level.

8:00 am - 11:30 am: Armand Bayou Rookery Tour - $55
For over forty years Armand Bayou Nature Center has been a leader in habitat restoration. Join us for a behind the scenes adventure of their wildlife treasures. This tour will deepen your appreciation for the richness of life that exists right here next to the fourth largest city in the country.

8:00 am - 1:00 pm: Birding Follett's Island with Kristine Rivers - $70
Follett's Island is just across the San Luis Pass toll bridge from Galveston Island, yet few people are familiar with its name. This pre-festival trip will introduce you to the importance of this ecologically sensitive and narrow barrier island as we explore some of the best birding hotspots along the Bluewater Highway.

10:00 am - 2:00 pm: Accessible Smith Oaks Field Trip with Virginia Rose - $65
Join Virginia Rose, founder of Birdability, and Pam Smolen, chair-elect for Houston Audubon, on our first FeatherFest accessible field trip to Smith Oaks! From under an ancient sea, a salt dome emerged. After a few thousand years the dome reached 38-feet above a pancake-flat coastal plain; the highest point-of-land on the immediate coast from Mobile.

1:30 pm - 4:00 pm: Birding Armand Bayou by Pontoon Boat - $65
Two of the most iconic birds in North America visit Armand Bayou every winter and spring.  The American bald eagle and osprey spend November through April hunting and fishing the productive waters of the bayou.  Once threatened by the use of pesticides, the recovery of these species is a great testament to the value of clean water and habitat preservation. This is an incredible viewing opportunity, located in Houston's backyard.

4:00 pm - 6:00 pm: How to Capture the Action at Smith Oaks with Kathy Adams Clark - $90
After this field trip, you will wonder why you waited so long to start photographing birds on the wing! The rookery at Smith Oaks offers endless opportunities for bird in flight photography. Kathy Adams Clark will instruct and guide participants in the following topics with the goal of helping to simplifying the process of photographing.

April 24, 2025

6:30 am - 11:30 am: Galveston Complete Birding Sampler #1
Galveston is a Gulf coastal island renowned for its many habitats. On the Gulf beaches, you'll scan out on the swells and incoming surf for rafts of waterfowl and seabirds. Walking along the beach the edge of the surf is active with the antics of the island's year-round and migrating peeps, Reddish Egret, Great Blue Heron, and shorebirds foraging on “what the tide brung-in.” Away from the water among the dunes of San Luis Pass, East Beach and GISP, Savannah Sparrow and Horned Lark flit about. Beyond the dunes are briny ponds holding roosting seabirds, Nelson's and Seaside Sparrows, rails, coots, and water birds. In the bay and tidal marshes migrating and nesting herons, egrets and cormorants in their breeding best, forage. The avian fauna is always in flux with the advance and retreat of the tide moving the food chain in and out. Among the tidally influenced habits and the open coastal prairies and oak mottes migrating songbirds need to refuel and find fresh water.

6:30 am - 3:30 pm: High Island & Other Hotspots by Bus #1 - $90
Boy Scout Woods, Smith Oaks, The Rookery, and more! From under an ancient sea, a salt dome emerged. After a few thousand years the dome reached 38-feet above a pancake-flat coastal plain; the highest point-of-land on the immediate coast from Mobile Bay to the Yucatan Peninsula. This is High Island, which is now a wooded.

6:30 am - 3:00 pm: Bolivar Birding with Greg Miller & Winnie Burkett - $100
Join Greg Miller and Winnie Burkett at what is called “one of the finest migratory locations in North America” – the southern end of the Bolivar Peninsula. Shorebirds, terns, herons, egrets, and other water birds will give participants an unforgettable field experience. Bolivar Peninsula stretches east of the confluence of the Galveston Bay system.

7:00 am - 12:00 pm: Texas City Prairie Preserve - $65
This Nature Conservancy preserve is 2,303 acres of coastal prairie at the intersection of urban expanse and rural beauty. The coastal grasslands found here are vital to the natural resilience of the Gulf Coast—prairies and marshlands act as a natural buffer during storms and hurricanes, absorbing and dispersing water from storm surges and floods.

7:00 am - 10:00 am: Armand Bayou Photography - Pontoon Boat Trip with Kathy Adams Clark - $100
Two of the most iconic birds in North America visit Armand Bayou every winter and spring. The American Bald Eagle and Osprey spend November through April hunting and fishing the productive waters of the bayou. Once threatened by the use of pesticides, the recovery of these species is a great testament to the value of...

7:00 am - 10:00 am: Resoft Park Rookery and More! #1 - $50
Resoft is a beautiful Brazoria County Park, and we are excited to offer a return this year, for two FeatherFest photography field trips!  It is an 80-acre day-use park near Alvin that is wheelchair accessible. David will be using his own E-trike to get around. The park has interconnected, crescent shaped lakes with islands in...

7:30 am - 1:30 pm: Galveston Birding with Jon Dunn - $100
Join Jon Dunn, a leading expert on the identification and distribution of North American birds, for a birding tour of Galveston Island. Jon co-authored the sixth and seventh editions of National Geographic Society's Field Guide to the Birds of North America. He was the Chief Consultant/Editor for the first five editions.

7:30 am - 12:00 pm: Spring Migrants of the West End #1 - $70
Focusing on discovering migrating songbirds on Galveston's West End, this trip will feature warblers, vireos, tanagers, orioles, grosbeaks, and buntings. Located at the intersection of two important migratory flyways, Galveston Island provides critical resources and cover for birds as they journey northward.

8:00 am - 10:30 am: Photographing Pollinators with Ruth Hoyt #1 - $70
In this trip, participants visit an excellent pollinator garden to learn hands on techniques to produce creative photos of the garden and its residents. Ruth demonstrates, instructs and guides participants, covering the following topics to simplify the process of photographing pollinators and flowers: Camera and lens settings; Shutter speed, ISO, Aperture (f/stop), and more; Using...

8:00 am - 11:00 am: Lafitte's Cove with Birdability's Virginia Rose - $45
We are pleased to offer this accessible outing for birders with limited mobility, disabilities, or other health concerns, and for those interested in an easier-paced birding trip. We also welcome those interested in creating and understanding inclusive, accessible birding as a community and life list-building experience. This outing will be led by Virginia Rose, Founder...

9:00 am - 12:00 pm: Easy Paced Birding by Bus - $50
This FeatherFest field trip is designed for those who love to bird but prefer less walking. Enjoy this leisurely bus ride through central Galveston Island, south to north, to areas where birds normally congregate, stopping at various locales allowing easy access off the bus. We start at a beachfront pool that attracts gulls and terns.

9:00 am - 10:15 am: Spring Migration on the Upper Texas Coast Workshop - $20
Spring is an exciting time to go birding on the Upper Texas Coast because of its prime location within two major migratory flyways. In this workshop, Kristine Rivers will discuss the reasons birds undertake such a hazardous roundtrip journey each year, and review what ornithologists know about how birds orient and find their way.

11:30 am - 12:30 pm: Processing Digital Photos #1 - $20
Join Ruth Hoyt for this indoor session, where she presents her program and demonstrates how she processes raw photographs from digital cameras.

12:30 pm - 4:45 pm: Coastal Birding Workshop & Field Trip - $60
Birders will find this workshop/field trip combo the perfect introduction to coastal birding. During the workshop, your guides will give a brief discussion about the diversity of species, as well as various techniques to identify birds on the Upper Texas Coast. We will then board our bus and proceed to the East End Lagoon Nature Preserve beach area where you'll see Black Skimmer, American Avocet, Black-necked Stilt, and many species of shorebirds, gulls, terns, sandpipers, plovers, and more. Stops along the way will highlight birds preferring marsh habitat.

12:30 pm - 4:30 pm: East Beach Birding with Glenn Olsen #1 - $65
We will concentrate on gaining a deeper understanding of bird identification. Our approach is to observe differences in body structure, behavior, habitat preferences, and feeding styles of various species of birds. This trip allows us time to observe and discover the distinct characteristics of each species as opposed to generating a list of a larger.

1:00 pm - 4:30 pm: Galveston Bay Birding, the Flip Side #1 - $60
This is your opportunity to explore “the other side” of Galveston Bay. We head over the causeway bridge to explore birding areas on the Mainland side of Galveston Bay in the Tiki Island, Texas City, and La Marque areas. One of our best kept secrets and most under explored areas, participants will be surprised at the number and variety of birds seen on this outing. Birding locations may include some privately-owned land with fresh water ponds that provide easy observation of migrating shorebirds and ducks. American Golden Plover, Upland Sandpiper, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, and Wilson's Phalarope are often seen at this location during migration.

1:00 pm - 2:00 pm: Ground Level Photography Workshop - $20
Taking bird photos from the prone position or at ground level will enhance your photos by giving them a much more intimate perspective with a very dramatic depth of field. This low position also enables you to get closer to the birds. Tim will share his techniques for getting down and dirty with shorebirds. He will include discussions on how to use a ground pod along with other equipment. You may not want to shoot from a standing position again!

1:00 pm - 4:00 pm: Birding & Nature Journaling with Christina Baal Field Trip - $25
Have you ever wanted to practice nature journaling, but found it difficult to know how to start? Or maybe you already love drawing, but want to learn some new tips and tricks to enhance your practice? This nature journaling workshop is designed to break through the trepidation of the “white page” and get you journaling right away.

1:00 pm - 6:00 pm: Birding Galveston's Renowned West End #1 - $70
Galveston's West End has drawn birders from all over the world for nearly 100 years. In addition to estuarial saltwater marsh, it contains freshwater ponds, pockets of scrubland, mudflats, and sandy beach habitat. This combination attracts a wide variety of shorebirds, waterfowl, raptors, songbirds, and more. We will begin the trip by viewing tidal pools...

1:00 pm - 4:00 pm: Birding by Car Accessible Field Trip -$45
We are pleased to offer this accessible outing for birders with limited mobility, disabilities, or other health concerns, and for those interested in an easier-paced birding trip. We also welcome those interested in creating and understanding inclusive, accessible birding as a community and life list-building experience. This outing will be led by Virginia Rose, Founder...

3:00 pm - 7:00 pm: High Island's Famous Sites by Car #1 - $60
The accident of geology makes the Upper Texas Coast a beacon to weary neotropical migrants finishing a 10+ hour, nonstop flight across the Gulf of Mexico. From under an ancient sea, a salt dome emerged. After a few thousand years the dome reached just 38-feet above a pancake-flat coastal plain where it became covered with...

3:00 pm - 4:00 pm: Cataloging & Editing Your Photos - $20
Bird photographers take a lot of photos. The latest cameras allow us to capture 10+ images a second and it's not unusual to take 1,000 or more images in a day. Join Kathy Adams Clark for this workshop where she shares her editing and cataloguing workflow. Watch as she edits images explaining why some are...

4:00 pm - 8:00 pm: Birding the Coastal Heritage Preserve with Karla Klay #1 - $70
On this meet at site walking field trip, you'll be birding prairies, woodlots, and marshes of Artist Boat's Coastal Heritage Preserve with Karla Klay. We'll top off the evening with homemade pizza dinner made on the spot!
Join Karla for a birding adventure at Artist Boat's Coastal Heritage Preserve. Explore the marshes, prairies, and oak motts across the Preserve via walking. Spring migration on the Preserve has hosted up to 103 species identified in a 24-hour period. The spring prairie is famous for heaps of Indigo and Painted Buntings, Dickcissel, Bobolink, and more feasting on dew berries. The spring “Peake” woods host warblers, tanagers, and orioles. From different vantage points, one can find shorebirds, terns, and pelicans in the marshes and over the bay. At dusk we will watch the dramatic sunset across the prairie and preserve while enjoying an artisan prepared pizza. It's all absolutely spectacular!

$90
How to Capture the Action at Smith Oaks with Ruth Hoyt
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
After this field trip, you will wonder why you waited so long to start photographing birds on the wing! The rookery at Smith Oaks offers endless opportunities for birds-in-flight photography from a multi-level platform reserved for us.

$20
Seeing Double – Distinguishing Between Look-a-Like Birds Workshop
5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
A surprising number of birds have very similar looking species and make you think you are seeing double when you look at them. Some look-a-likes are extremely difficult to separate, while others are challenging but can, with practice, be separated. Examples include the Neotropic and Double-creasted Cormorant, Solitary and Lesser Yellowlegs Sandpipers,, Couch's and Tropical...

$70
Historic Architectural Photography:
St. Joseph's Church with Kathy Adams Clark
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
This historic location gives us a lovely location to learn and practice architectural, low-light, and abstract photography. The class will begin inside the church for a chance to photograph in low-light. Then we'll move outside as we photograph the church from sunset to twilight. We'll work with the church's lighting plus special lights inside.

April 25, 2025

5:30 am - 11:30 am: Greet the Dawn at Virginia Point
During  this field trip we will visit some areas not normally publicly accessible.  Virginia Point is a historic peninsula location across Galveston Bay comprising the wonderful 3,000 acres of mainland bay margin which SCENIC GALVESTON, Inc. (SG) has acquired for permanent conservation protection.  Visitors coming into or out of Galveston on I-45 (the O'Quinn Estuary Corridor) see the results of this non-profit's work on both flanks, and those areas are open to the public.

5:45 am - 1:30 pm: Gulf Coast Bird Observatory Bird Banding & San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge
Our trip begins with a bus ride to the Gulf Coast Bird Observatory to watch migrant songbirds being caught in mist nets and banded by professional bird banders. This project establishes baseline data for the GCBO property on both resident and migratory bird populations. Banding allows the observatory to obtain information about the physical condition of migrants at this intermediate location between the coast and the bottomland forests lying well inland. Both coastal woodlots and inland bottomland forests are known to be extremely important stopover habitats for nearctic-neotropical migrants that move through the Gulf of Mexico region. Birds that are captured for banding can provide valuable information about their relative physical condition. What a unique opportunity….and that is just the start of this exciting field trip!

5:45 am - 12:00 pm: Photographing Boats & Birds at Pier 19 & Critique Session
This is a meet-at-site trip. Driving directions will be emailed prior to the trip. This field trip will start approximately one hour before sunrise at Galveston's Pier 19 where we will photograph the shrimp boats leaving their docks for a morning of fishing. Since this will be shooting in low light, you will need to...

6:00 am - 10:00 am: Birds in Flight From a Boat #1
Join Ruth Hoyt on this unique experience on Galveston Bay to photograph birds in flight from a boat. One of the best ways to learn to photograph birds in flight is to practice and this trip will provide ample opportunities to do just that! The number of birds, Brown Pelicans in particular, is amazing, providing many photo opportunities as the birds come and go from the islands. In Galveston Bay, there are man-made islands where large numbers of breeding birds nest. This special trip, arranged by FeatherFest, allows us to approach these islands while following a special protocol to minimize impact on the colonial birds.

6:30 am - 3:00 pm: Birding Bolivar with Richard Gibbons
Join Richard Gibbons, Director of Conservation for National Audubon, on a trip to one of the finest migratory locations in North America – the western end of the Bolivar Peninsula. Here are the Houston Audubon Horseshoe Marsh and Bolivar Flats bird sanctuaries. This combination of salt marsh, mud flats and beachfront hold the highest rated...

6:30 am - 9:30 am: Wildlife Photography from a Car at Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge
Join Chris Rankin at the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge near Anahuac, Texas, to explore Wildlife Photography from A Car. Chris will introduce you to photographing wildlife from a car/truck while exploring the beauty and diversity of the Anahuac National Wildlife Reserve. Established in 1963, Anahuac NWR's primary focus is to protect and manage the coastal marsh for migrating, wintering and breeding waterfowl.

6:30 am - 2:30 pm: Galveston Island Birding with Greg Miller
Greg is so much fun to bird with that we have added a trip focused on just Galveston Island! We'll let Greg decide where he wants to go depending on what he's scouted out before the festival. He'll check out Corps Woods, Lafitte's Cove, the East End Flats, Sportsman Road, and sites all the way...

6:30 am - 3:30 pm: High Island with Jon Dunn
What a treat! Boy Scout Woods, Smith Oaks, The Rookery, and more…with birding expert Jon Dunn! Jon is a leading expert on the identification and distribution of North American birds. He co-authored the sixth and seventh editions of National Geographic Society's Field Guide to the Birds of North America. He was the Chief Consultant/Editor for the first.

7:00 am - 11:00 am: East Beach Birding with Glenn Olsen #2
We will concentrate on gaining a deeper understanding of bird identification. Our approach is to observe differences in body structure, behavior, habitat preferences, and feeding styles of various species of birds. This trip allows us time to observe and discover the distinct characteristics of each species as opposed to generating a list of a larger.

7:30 am - 12:00 pm: Spring Migrants of the West End #2
Focusing on discovering migrating songbirds on Galveston's West End, this trip will feature warblers, vireos, tanagers, orioles, grosbeaks, and buntings. Located at the intersection of two important migratory flyways, Galveston Island provides critical resources and cover for birds as they journey northward. During stormy weather, fallout events are common, as birds seek shelter and much-needed.

8:00 am - 11:00 am: Birding Galveston Island State Park by Kayak #1
Drive your own car to the Galveston Island State Park for a delightful, natural experience. Enjoy paddling in a provided kayak while slowly exploring the open lagoons and marshes of Galveston Island State Park, one of the area's premier ecological jewels. This 2,000-acre public park offers a multitude of habitats that support a wide variety of birds: waders like herons, egrets, Roseate Spoonbill and shorebirds; waterfowl and overhead raptors like Osprey; White-tailed Kite and Northern Harrier. If you have time after the event, visit the two birding observation towers.

8:00 am - 11:00 am: Moody Gardens Birding Hot Spots
Join Clayton Leopold on a guided tour of the birds of Moody Gardens. This unique combination field trip will include a guided tour through the canopy level of the Tropical Rainforest exhibit as well as a viewing of the Penguins in the Aquarium Pyramid. You will learn everything you wanted to know about how our...

8:00 am - 11:00 am: Texas City Dike Photo Trip
The Texas City Dike is the longest man-made fishing pier in the world.  It stretches 5.3 miles into Galveston Bay.  This means that birds like sandpipers and turnstones can be found on both sides of the dike feeding in shallow water.  In addition, gulls and terns are regularly flying along the dike as the hunt...

9:00 am - 11:00 am: Accessible Birding at Moody Gardens with Virginia Rose
This trip ventures outside of FeatherFest Headquarters to the birdiest areas of the 240-acre Moody Gardens complex showcasing a diverse array of habitat and species variety.  With an eBird hotspot listing of over 280 species, there are always birds to see no matter the time of year.  Adjacent to the property sits Offats Bayou which.

10:45 am - 11:45 am: Shorebirds, Gulls & Terns of Galveston Island Workshop
Are you having trouble identifying plovers, terns, gulls, peeps and other shorebirds? Help is on the way! Local birding guide and FeatherFest favorite, Allen Hardee, will share some basic field ID approaches and specialty tips for identifying the shorebirds of Galveston Island. To enhance your experience with this workshop, sign up for the Shorebirds, Gulls.

11:00 am - 12:30 pm: Setting Up an Outdoor Photo Studio
This session was new to the festival last year and is back by popular demand. Join Ruth Hoyt for this indoor session, where she presents her program and demonstrates techniques for setting up an outdoor photo studio specifically for bird photography.

12:30 pm - 4:30 pm: From Backyard to Beachfront: Birding Basics for Beginners
This workshop/field trip combo is for beginning birders learning the fundamentals and those wanting to brush up on their birding skills. The one-hour workshop will introduce you to learning how to get started and improve birding skills, techniques, and confidence. Topics include birding practices, optics selection and use, field guides, bird identification considerations and techniques,...

12:30 pm - 5:30 pmBirding Galveston's Renowned West End #2
Galveston's West End has drawn birders from all over the world for nearly 100 years. In addition to estuarial saltwater marsh, it contains freshwater ponds, pockets of scrubland, mudflats, and sandy beach habitat. This combination attracts a wide variety of shorebirds, waterfowl, raptors, songbirds, and more. We will begin the trip by viewing tidal pools...

1:00 pm - 4:00 pmShorebirds, Gulls & Terns of Galveston Island
Galveston Island has all the habitats associated with a barrier island – beach, uplands, fresh water ponds, brackish lagoons and wetlands. Join local father and son team, Allen and Michael Hardee, on this “birdy” trip as you learn to identify Black Skimmers, gulls, terns, sandpipers, plovers, herons, egrets, ibis, spoonbills, ducks and much more.

1:00 pm - 2:00 pmFlight & Action Photography Workshop
Kathy will teach participants about the various focusing features on modern mirrorless cameras and DLSR cameras. She'll explain why it is important to select the proper ISO, shutter speed, and focus points to capture the perfect image. Tripods such as those with a ballhead or Wimberley head will be discussed with an emphasis on hand...

1:00 pm - 4:00 pmA Splash of Color: Expressive Bird Art in Watercolor
We love birds for so many reasons: their beautiful songs, their fascinating behaviors, their incredible life histories. And, of course, their gorgeous plumage! This outdoor watercolor workshop will focus on capturing the amazing colors and patterns of birds in an expressive, splashy watercolor painting style that is simple to use and requires basic, easy to...

1:00 pm - 2:00 pmHawk ID with Glenn Olsen
Hawks are an exciting family of birds to observe and identify. We will discuss the identification of species that occur on the upper Texas Coast, including Accipiters, Buteos, Eagles, Kites, Falcons, Osprey, and Harrier as well as some birds that are often mistaken for a Raptor.

2:30 pm - 3:45 pm: FeatherFest and Birdability because Birding is for Everybody!
During this presentation, participants will learn exactly who this “disabled” audience is and how to find people with mobility and other health challenges. They will learn what accessibility REALLY looks like and get instructions on using the amazing Birdability Map. They will learn the steps to implement Birdability in their locales and learn ways to.

2:30 pm - 3:30 pm: John Tveten's Texas Moths
How often do we pass by moths under a porch light or fluttering under a streetlamp without giving them a second glance?  Yet moths, far more plentiful than butterflies, with their intricate patterns and curious coloration often emerge as beautiful as butterflies.  Join us for this program to learns about the  original field work of.

3:00 pm - 6:00 pm: Warbler Watching with Glenn Olsen #1
Back by popular demand, for this trip, you will be guided by one of our most experienced birders and all-around nature lover, Glenn Olsen. Glenn leads nature tours in the US and overseas but he calls the upper Texas coast home. His extensive knowledge of local birding areas is sure to yield excellent views of migrating warblers as they move through our area on their way to nesting habitat. As a bonus, Glenn is also a Texas Master Naturalist and has served as the president of the Native Plant Society of Texas. His knowledge in these areas should greatly enhance your trip experience. Our group will focus on techniques for improving field identification skills. We will be traveling by bus and places visited will depend on weather patterns and reports from the previous day's birding activities.

3:00 pm - 7:00 pm: Easy Paced High Island's Famous Sites by Car
We offer this trip to those who would like a slower paced trip to Houston Audubon's two world famous sanctuaries, Smith Oaks, and Boy Scout Woods. Although this is still a mostly walking trip, we will allow  time to stand and/or sit to observe the splendor that is High Island birding. We schedule this trip...

3:00 pm - 7:00 pm: Birding the Unexpected Places #1
Join author Jennifer Bristol on an exploration of the historic cemeteries of Galveston. These unexpected birding spaces offer easy walking and quality bird watching, while diving deep into the human history of the island. Participants will explore three cemeteries on this outing, each offering a variety of habitats attractive to birds and birders alike.

4:00 pm - 7:00 pm: Nature Photography from a Kayak
Chris will introduce you to photographing wildlife from a kayak. Enjoy paddling in a provided kayak while slowly exploring the marshes of Galveston Island State Park, one of the area's premier ecological jewels. This 2,000-acre public park offers a multitude of habitats that support a wide variety of birds like herons, egrets, Roseate Spoonbill, shorebirds and possible overhead raptors like osprey looking for prey.

4:00 pm - 8:00 pm: Birding the Coastal Heritage Preserve with Karla Klay #2
On this meet at site walking field trip, you'll be birding prairies, woodlots, and marshes of Artist Boat's Coastal Heritage Preserve with Karla Klay. We'll top off the evening with homemade pizza dinner made on the spot!

Join Karla for a birding adventure at Artist Boat's Coastal Heritage Preserve. Explore the marshes, prairies, and oak motts across the Preserve via walking. Spring migration on the Preserve has hosted up to 103 species identified in a 24-hour period. The spring prairie is famous for heaps of Indigo and Painted Buntings, Dickcissel, Bobolink, and more feasting on dew berries. The spring “Peake” woods host warblers, tanagers, and orioles. From different vantage points, one can find shorebirds, terns, and pelicans in the marshes and over the bay. At dusk we will watch the dramatic sunset across the prairie and preserve while enjoying an artisan prepared pizza. It's all absolutely spectacular!

4:00 pm - 8:00 pm: Birds in Flight From a Boat #2
Join Sean Fitzgerald on this unique experience on Galveston Bay to photograph birds in flight from a boat. One of the best ways to learn to photograph birds in flight is to practice and this trip will provide ample opportunities to do just that! The number of birds, Brown Pelicans in particular, is amazing, providing many photo opportunities as the birds come and go from the islands. In Galveston Bay, there are man-made islands where large numbers of breeding birds nest. This special trip, arranged by FeatherFest, allows us to approach these islands while following a special protocol to minimize impact on the colonial birds.

4:30 pm - 6:30 pm: Raptor Photography Shoot
Here's an ever-popular photography field trip that's become part of our FeatherFest tradition! Join Sky King Falconry and Ruth Hoyt to photograph various captive raptors and other trained birds in natural settings and perches out on a private West End property. This is a great opportunity to see and photograph these birds. Kevin from Sky Kings Falconry will pose raptors in natural settings and possibly fly the birds while discussing the behavior of the birds.

5:00 pm - 7:00 pm: Photographing Birds at Dos Vacas Muertes
Explore this small 6-acre sanctuary on Galveston's west end.  Coastal prairie and bayside shores offer a wide variety of opportunities to photograph birds.  A small water drip with seating area is sure to attract some nice neotropic migrants.  Come prepared to photograph birds at the drip, along the boardwalk, overhead, or along the shore.

April 26, 2025

5:30 am - 12:30 pm: Bluewater Highway/Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge
Don't miss this popular field trip to the Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge, which is designated an Internationally Significant Shorebird site and contains more water than land within its 44,000+ acres. We'll leave dark and early on our bus trip to the refuge, crossing San Luis Pass at sunrise. As we continue westward along the Bluewater Highway, we'll keep an eye out over the wetlands for raptors. We'll continue along the levee road that follows Oyster Creek, offering the possibility of Ospreys, White Pelicans, and lingering winter waterfowl.

6:00 am - 10:00 am: Birds in Flight From a Boat #3
Join Sean Fitzgerald on this unique experience on Galveston Bay to photograph birds in flight from a boat. One of the best ways to learn to photograph birds in flight is to practice and this trip will provide ample opportunities to do just that! The number of birds, Brown Pelicans in particular, is amazing, providing many photo opportunities as the birds come and go from the islands. In Galveston Bay, there are man-made islands where large numbers of breeding birds nest. This special trip, arranged by FeatherFest, allows us to approach these islands while following a special protocol to minimize impact on the colonial birds.

6:30 am - 3:00 pm: Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge
The estuaries of Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge are an important nursery for the fish and shellfish species found in the Gulf of Mexico. Beyond the estuaries, the saltwater marshes ease inland. Fresh water from an occasional storm and the inflow from rivers and creeks helps to keep saltwater out of the freshwater marshes, as well.

6:30 am - 3:30 pm: High Island & Other Hotspots by Bus #2
Boy Scout Woods, Smith Oaks, The Rookery, and more! From under an ancient sea, a salt dome emerged. After a few thousand years the dome reached 38-feet above a pancake-flat coastal plain; the highest point-of-land on the immediate coast from Mobile Bay to the Yucatan Peninsula. This is High Island, which is now a wooded...

6:30 am - 3:00 pm: Bolivar Birding with Jon Dunn
Join Jon Dunn, a leading expert on the identification and distribution of North American birds, for a birding tour of Bolivar Peninsula. Jon co-authored the sixth and seventh editions of National Geographic Society's Field Guide to the Birds of North America. He was the Chief Consultant/Editor for the first five editions. He is the co-writer and host.

7:00 am - 12:00 pm: From Bay to Gulf and in Between with Greg Miller
Join Greg and local birder David Hanson on a trip guaranteed to expose you to many island habitats and what ought to be a significant variety of species! Well known by the locals, these less familiar hot spots have proved fruitful time and again. We'll begin at Lafitte's Cove walking the paths in search of...

7:00 am - 3:00 pm: Texas Targets
Join Clayton Leopold and Jeff Sexton for this open-ended trip geared for those who come to the Texas Gulf Coast to focus on bird species with range limits in this area. These include local specialties such as Roseate Spoonbill, Wilson's Plovers, Horned Lark, Seaside Sparrow, and White-tailed Kite. We will also attempt to find any.

7:00 am - 10:00 am: Resoft Park Rookery and More! #2
Resoft is a beautiful Brazoria County Park, and we are excited to offer a return this year, for two FeatherFest photography field trips! It is an 80-acre day-use park near Alvin that is wheelchair accessible. David will be using his own E-trike to get around. The park has interconnected, crescent shaped lakes with islands in...

7:30 am - 11:00 am: Pelican Island Birding Adventure
Join us for a trip to one of the largest migrant traps on the East end of Galveston Island. The Texas A&M Wetlands Center hosts mature oaks, hackberry, and mulberry trees as well as small freshwater and retention ponds. This attracts dozens of neo-tropic migrants including warblers, buntings, tanagers, and orioles.

7:30 am - 12:00 pm: Spring Migrants of the West End #3
Focusing on discovering migrating songbirds on Galveston's West End, this trip will feature warblers, vireos, tanagers, orioles, grosbeaks, and buntings. Located at the intersection of two important migratory flyways, Galveston Island provides critical resources and cover for birds as they journey northward. During stormy weather, fallout events are common, as birds seek shelter and much-needed...

8:00 am - 11:30 am: North Deer Island Rookery & Environs by Boat
The spectacle of a water bird nesting rookery is a birder “must see.” North Deer Island has 1.7 miles of protected shoreline which supports nesting habitat for the threatened Reddish Egret and 16 other bird species. Rookeries dot the Texas Gulf coast. Among the best in Texas is 144-acre North Deer Island shared by nesting...

8:00 am - 11:00 am: Birding Galveston Island State Park by Kayak #2
Drive your own car to the Galveston Island State Park for a delightful, natural experience. Enjoy paddling in a provided kayak while slowly exploring the open lagoons and marshes of Galveston Island State Park, one of the area's premier ecological jewels. This 2,000-acre public park offers a multitude of habitats that support a wide variety of birds: waders like herons, egrets, Roseate Spoonbill and shorebirds; waterfowl and overhead raptors like Osprey; White-tailed Kite and Northern Harrier.

8:00 am - 12:00 pm: Birding the Unexpected Places #2
Join author Jennifer Bristol on an exploration of the historic cemeteries of Galveston. These unexpected birding spaces offer easy walking and quality bird watching, while diving deep into the human history of the island. Participants will explore three cemeteries on this outing, each offering a variety of habitats attractive to birds and birders alike.

8:00 am - 10:30 am: Photographing Pollinators with Ruth Hoyt #2
In this trip, participants visit an excellent pollinator garden to learn hands on techniques to produce creative photos of the garden and its residents. Ruth demonstrates, instructs and guides participants, covering the following topics to simplify the process of photographing pollinators and flowers: Camera and lens settings; Shutter speed, ISO, Aperture (f/stop), and more.

11:30 am - 12:30 pm: Photographing Texas Prairies
Good photography can change hearts and minds. Join professional photographer Sean Fitzgerald for a presentation on how to photograph an ecosystem for maximum impact, with a particular focus on often overlooked Texas prairie ecosystems. Learn valuable tips to take better photos using a variety of techniques to help you tell the stories you want to tell.

11:30 am - 12:30 pm: Processing Digital Photos #2
Join Ruth Hoyt for this indoor session, where she presents her program and demonstrates how she processes raw photographs from digital cameras.

12:30 pm - 5:30 pm: Birding Galveston's Renowned West End #3 - $70
Galveston's West End has drawn birders from all over the world for nearly 100 years. In addition to estuarial saltwater marsh, it contains freshwater ponds, pockets of scrubland, mudflats, and sandy beach habitat. This combination attracts a wide variety of shorebirds, waterfowl, raptors, songbirds, and more. We will begin the trip by viewing tidal pools.

1:00 pm - 4:30 pm: Galveston Bay Birding, the Flip Side #2 - $60
This is your opportunity to explore “the other side” of Galveston Bay. We head over the causeway bridge to explore birding areas on the Mainland side of Galveston Bay in the Tiki Island, Texas City, and La Marque areas. One of our best kept secrets and most under explored areas, participants will be surprised at...

1:00 pm - 5:00 pm: Bugs for Birds Workshop & Field Trip - $20
Birds need bugs—for food, as well as to support the ecosystems that sustain birds. Sadly, bugs (insects and other arthropods) face many challenges to their survival, and they need our help. The good news is that we can take simple steps to help them—right here, right now, right in our own gardens. In this presentation, Lauren Simpson explains the importance of bugs for birds, introduces our native insects, and shares simple techniques for transforming our own garden into a beautiful, native-plant paradise—one that supports bugs, birds, and other wildlife while also pleasing neighbors. Ms. Simpson will also bring native-plant seeds, harvested from her own gardens, to share with attendees

1:00 pm - 4:30 pm: Accessible Exploration of Galveston's East End - $45
We are pleased to offer this accessible outing for birders with limited mobility, disabilities, or other health concerns, and for those interested in an easier-paced birding trip. We also welcome those interested in creating and understanding inclusive, accessible birding as a community and life list-building experience. This outing will be led by Virginia Rose, Founder...

1:00 pm - 2:00 pm: Slow-Motion Video Workshop with Tim Timmis - $20
Have you been curious about taking videos but just haven't tried it yet or do you need some tips on how to improve your videos?  Join Tim is this workshop which will cover the basics of how to capture and process slow-motion videos. Utilizing your camera to take videos will elevate your story telling capability.

1:00 pm - 2:00 pm: Becoming a Better Photographer - $20
We all want to continue to grow as photographers, and in this workshop, Scott will discuss many different things one can do to improve your technical and artistic skills in order to capture better images.

2:00 pm - 6:00 pm: East Island Birding with Greg Miller - $80
Bird Galveston's East End with one of the world's most famous birders! In 1998, Greg zig-zagged 130,000 miles across the USA hoping to reach at least 700 species of birds in one calendar year.

2:30 pm - 3:30 pm: Being a Purple Martin Landlord - $10
In this presentation we discuss how the Purple Martin connection to the Native Americans brought about a complete transition change in their nesting habits. This shift marks an important relationship between humans and Martins today. In addition, we'll examine their migratory patterns, food sources, and potential predators.

3:00 pm - 7:00 pm: High Island's Famous Sites by Car #2 - $60
From under an ancient sea, a salt dome emerged. After a few thousand years the dome reached 38-feet above a pancake-flat coastal plain; the highest point-of-land on the immediate coast from Mobile Bay to the Yucatan Peninsula. This is High Island, which is now a wooded beacon amongst the coastal marshland providing food, water.

3:00 pm - 6:30 pm: Sweetwater Preserve Birding - $55
This trip takes you to a private property owned by the Galveston Bay Foundation (GBF) and not generally open to the public. GBF has conserved over 13,000 acres of critical coastal habitat in and around Galveston Bay. For decades, groundwater pumping in the region caused massive subsidence and contributed to the loss of wetlands. That coastal erosion meant wetlands around the bay sank into the water. Like many parts of Galveston Island, Sweetwater Preserve has sustained severe erosion. A 1,000-foot oyster reef project is part of larger restoration efforts in which the foundation has planted marsh along the shoreline. The reef protects the marsh from more degradation and protects the 464-acre property. This property includes a mixture of habitats including coastal prairie, estuarine marsh, salt flats, freshwater wetlands, brackish wetlands, and coastal woodlots.

4:00 pm - 7:00 pm: Capturing the Decisive Moment - $70
Driving directions to the meeting site will be emailed prior to the festival. Learn how to capture the decisive moment at a local spot that has many birds, with an emphasis on birds in flight, sparring and other behavior. Sean will discuss how knowledge, observation, equipment and technique combine to help nature photographers capture decisive.

4:00 pm - 7:00 pm: San Luis Pass Photography - $75
San Luis Pass encompasses a series of beaches located on the west end of Galveston Island. The mud flats and dunes hold a wide variety of photo opportunities for area birds. During this field trip, you will visit specific locations based on light, wind, tides and availability of birds.

4:00 pm - 8:00 pm: Birds in Flight From a Boat #4 - $200
Join Ruth Hoyt on this unique experience on Galveston Bay to photograph birds in flight from a boat. One of the best ways to learn to photograph birds in flight is to practice and this trip will provide ample opportunities to do just that! The number of birds, Brown Pelicans in particular, is amazing, providing many photo opportunities as the birds come and go from the islands. In Galveston Bay, there are man-made islands where large numbers of breeding birds nest. This special trip, arranged by FeatherFest, allows us to approach these islands while following a special protocol to minimize impact on the colonial birds.

6:00 pm - 8:00 pm: Raptors Uncorked!
If you'd love to have a personal Raptor Experience with a touch of history, this one-of-a-kind wildlife celebration is for you! Raptors Uncorked is returning to the historic 1859 Ashton Villa on Broadway. In addition, we are bringing back our VIP Experience, so don't miss out on this unique and fun event.

6:00 pm - 8:00 pm: Accessible Coastal Heritage Preserve by Golf Cart - $65
Birding Artist Boat's Coastal Heritage Preserve by Golf Cart is the perfect outing for those with mobility challenges.  (This field trip is not available for those using wheelchairs.) Sit back and enjoy birding the Anchor Bay Peninsula of the Coastal Heritage Preserve from the comfort of the new Artist Boat electric golf cart with Executive.

April 27, 2025

7:00 am - 10:00 am: Focus on Bolivar Photography - $65
The tip of the Bolivar Peninsula offers a wide variety of photographic opportunities and you are in for a treat on this morning photography adventure. Begin your trip with a ferry ride across the Houston Ship Channel. The group will be meeting Sean on the Bolivar side where there will be opportunities to photograph birds at the ferry landing. From there you will caravan to the North Jetty for an opportunity to photograph American Avocets and other wading birds. Finally, the group will photograph wading birds in several marshes nearby. Locations are subject to change based on tide, wind, and location of the birds.

7:00 am - 2:00 pm: Brazoria County Lesser-Known Hot Spots with Martin Hagne #2 - $80
Come join us for a day in Brazoria County birding some of the lesser-known hotspots, although that does not make them any less birdy!  These sites are enjoyed by local birders year-round and are especially attractive during spring migration. We will stay flexible with our route depending on weather, bird activity, and other considerations.

7:30 am - 11:30 am: Warbler Watching with Glenn Olsen #2 - $70
Back by popular demand, for this trip, you will be guided by one of our most experienced birders and all-around nature lover, Glenn Olsen. Glenn leads nature tours in the US and overseas but he calls the upper Texas coast home. His extensive knowledge of local birding areas is sure to yield excellent views of migrating warblers as they move through our area on their way to nesting habitat. As a bonus, Glenn is also a Texas Master Naturalist and has served as the president of the Native Plant Society of Texas. His knowledge in these areas should greatly enhance your trip experience. Our group will focus on techniques for improving field identification skills. We will be traveling by bus and places visited will depend on weather patterns and reports from the previous day's birding activities.

7:45 am - 12:45 pm: Galveston Complete Birding Sampler #2 - $60
Galveston is a Gulf coastal island renowned for its many habitats. On the Gulf beaches, you'll scan out on the swells and incoming surf for rafts of waterfowl and seabirds. Walking along the beach the edge of the surf is active with the antics of the island's year-round and migrating peeps, Reddish Egret, Great Blue Heron, and shorebirds foraging on “what the tide brung-in.” Away from the water among the dunes of San Luis Pass, East Beach and GISP, Savannah Sparrow and Horned Lark flit about. Beyond the dunes are briny ponds holding roosting seabirds, Nelson's and Seaside Sparrows, rails, coots, and water birds. In the bay and tidal marshes migrating and nesting herons, egrets and cormorants in their breeding best, forage. The avian fauna is always in flux with the advance and retreat of the tide moving the food chain in and out. Among the tidally influenced habits and the open coastal prairies and oak mottes migrating songbirds need to refuel and find fresh water.

8:00 am - 12:00 pm: Brazos Bend State Park - $50
Brazos Bend can be the perfect ending to your FeatherFest experience! Drive your own car to beautiful Brazos Bend State Park and meet with local guides, Mark Scheuerman and Kristine Rivers. Note: Drive time to Brazos Bend is about 1 ½ hours from FeatherFest Headquarters. The park opens at 8:00 am This beautiful state park is 4,897.

8:00 am - 12:00 pm: Sunday Morning Shorebirds with Jon Dunn - $75
Wrap up your FeatherFest adventure with a Sunday morning of shorebirds with Jon Dunn. Jon is a leading expert on the identification and distribution of North American birds. He co-authored the sixth and seventh editions of National Geographic Society's Field Guide to the Birds of North America. He was the Chief Consultant/Editor for the first five editions.

8:00 am - 12:00 pm: Hidden Places of Galveston Island State Park - $60
Galveston Island State Park protects 2,000 acres of upper Gulf Coast barrier island ecosystem. Barrier islands like Galveston move and change constantly with the action of waves, wind, and tides to support a mosaic of coastal habitats, including beaches, prairies and wetlands. These habitats host a surprising variety of wildlife. Join Kyle O'Haver Park Superintendent.

8:00 am - 11:30 am: Galveston Bay Birding, the Flip Side #3 - $60
This is your opportunity to explore “the other side” of Galveston Bay. We head over the causeway bridge to explore birding areas on the Mainland side of Galveston Bay in the Tiki Island, Texas City, and La Marque areas. One of our best kept secrets and most under explored areas, participants will be surprised at...

8:00 am - 11:00 am: Chasing Birdies at Moody Gardens Golf Course - $50
Moody Gardens Golf Course is an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf certified facility with an eBird hotspot listing over 200 species.  The course was ranked the #4 public golf course in Texas by Golfer's Choice in 2022.  With water on every one of the 18 holes and ample natural habitat throughout and surrounding much.

8:00 am - 11:30 am: Accessible Exploration of Galveston's West End - $45
We are pleased to offer this accessible outing for birders with limited mobility, disabilities, or other health concerns, and for those interested in an easier-paced birding trip. We also welcome those interested in creating and understanding inclusive, accessible birding as a community and life list-building experience. This outing will be led by Virginia Rose, Founder...

April 28, 2025

7:00 am - 11:00 am: Birding Hall's Bayou Ranch #2 - $90

This trip to a private ranch is so popular that we offer it twice - as a pre-festival trip and a post-festival trip so you can either begin or end your FeatherFest adventure at Hall's Bayou Ranch! Hall's Bayou Ranch encompasses over 25,000 acres of private land that begins at Halls Lake near Alvin TX.

Fest Date: April 24-27, 2025

Location: Various Locations in Galveston, TX

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