There are lots to choose from! Look for event descriptions with Skill Level 1 or All. Favorites include Birding 101, Coastal Birding Workshop and Field Trip, Galveston Do-It-Yourself Birding Workshop, Raptors Uncorked!, Turtle Research Station Tour, Lasagna Landscaping for Birds Workshop, Shorebirds Made Simpler Workshop, Harbor Tour and Birding by Boat, Digiscoping & Optics Tips Workshop, Dragonfly Study Workshop, Butterfly & Moth Study Workshop, Butterfly, Moth & Dragonfly Experience, Beach or Bayside Exploration at Galveston Isle State Park, Wintering & Migrating Shorebirds Workshop and Field Trip, Early Migrant Songbirds Workshop and Field Trip.

Look for event descriptions with Skill Level 1 or All. Favorites include Nature Photography 101 Workshop, Bird Photography A – Z Workshop, Moody Gardens Rainforest Photography, Simple Tips for Better Photos, Photography on East Beach, Mastering Composition Workshop, Shooting and Processing RAW/Lightroom Workshop, Video Workshop, Get More Out of Your Digital Point & Shoot Workshop. 

Favorites include North Deer Island Rookery by Boat, Harbor Tour and Birding by Boat and most of the birding and photography workshops.

Children are welcome at FeatherFest, and as birders understand, some trips can be long, tiring and test their stamina. Many outings require birders to proceed with stealth and be able to listen to quiet whisperings of the leader. Activities recommended for children include Harbor Tour and Birding by Boat, Turtle Research Station Tour, Beach or Bayside Exploration at Galveston Island State Park, and the free Raptor Shows in Saengerfest Park Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

The fee for each activity is listed above its description. All activities are priced separately.

Yes, a $25 registration fee is automatically applied to each registration to help us cover overhead expenses.

So glad you asked! The Set Your Sights Social, the Raptor Shows, photography equipment demonstrations, Birders’ Bazaar, and all Digiscoping Workshops are free.

Yes, if you become a member of the Galveston Island Nature Tourism Council, which supports nature tourism and education, promotes the value of area natural habitats and organizes FeatherFest, you will receive 10% off all festival fees. To join, click on the GINTC Membership button after you provide your profile info. From there, you’ll be able to join and register for the festival at the same time, and your discount will be applied automatically.

The start and end times for each activity are noted with each description. Except for the Drive Your Own Car activities, the listed times relate to departure from and arrival back to Old Galveston Square in downtown Galveston.

Suggestions of what to bring are listed above trip descriptions. You should arrange for your own water, snacks or lunch. A variety of coffee shops and restaurants are within easy walking distance from headquarters. See next question for how to order a take-out lunch.

Why not order while you’re thinking about it?! Take-out lunch orders must be placed directly with The Lunchbox Café (not FeatherFest) by Friday, April 6. You should plan to arrive at the restaurant 25 minutes before your trip leaves to pick up your order and pay with cash or credit card. Click here for sandwich selections, prices and order form.

Sunday, April 8 at Midnight.

Payment may be made by Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover or check or money order.

Yes, you may register by mail. However, on-line registration is recommended as the quickest, easiest and best way to ensure your spot in festival activities. By the time we receive your registration in the mail, some of the events you’re interested in may already be filled. This is why we recommend online registration.

Please click here to download the registration form. Complete the form and submit it with credit card information, check or money order to Galveston FeatherFest, P.O. Box 1468, Galveston, TX, 77553-1468. Checks and money orders must be full payments made payable to "FeatherFest."

We hope you don’t have to cancel your registration, but if you do, FeatherFest will refund 100% of the registration costs less the registration fee through March 30; 50% of total less registration fee through April 6; and there will be no refunds beginning April 7. Cancellations may be made by telephone (832.459.5533) or email (NatureTourismGalv@juno.com).

Galveston FeatherFest organizers reserve the right to cancel events for any reason or to substitute qualified presenters or trip leaders when necessary. If Festival organizers must cancel an event, a full refund will be issued, unless otherwise noted. Water-based field trips are more affected by weather conditions than others. Every effort will be made to place participants in an alternate event, in which case refunds will not be given. If an alternate event is not available, a full refund will be given upon request prior to the end of the festival, at the Registration desk.

There are a number of downtown lots as well as curb-side spaces available. Please click here for suggested parking options.

Method of transportation is noted above each field trip description. Most are bus trips, and they depart in front of Old Galveston Square, 2215 Strand, downtown Galveston. If you registered for a Drive Your Own Car trip, it will be noted on your itinerary. Driving directions are posted here and will be available at the Registration Desk.

All buses will depart in front of Old Galveston Square, 2215 Strand, downtown Galveston. Please assemble 15 minutes ahead of the listed departure time. Trips WILL leave on time, and there will be no refunds for missed departures. Except for Drive Your Own Car trips, the listed times relate to departure from and arrival back at Old Galveston Square.

Meet your trip liaison in front of Old Galveston Square, 2215 Strand, downtown Galveston.

Yes, you must check in and pick up your name tag at the Registration Desk to be admitted to all activities. Festival headquarters and the Registration Desk are in the first floor foyer of Old Galveston Square, 2215 Strand, downtown Galveston.

Festival headquarters is the first floor foyer of Old Galveston Square, 2215 Strand, downtown Galveston.

Onsite Registration is at the Registration Desk in the first floor foyer of Old Galveston Square, 2215 Strand, downtown Galveston. Registration will be open Wednesday from 4 p.m. – 6 p.m.; Thursday from 5:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Friday from 5:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Saturday from 6 a.m. – 6 p.m.; and Sunday from 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Yes! Registration will be open Wednesday from 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. The desk is in the first floor foyer of Old Galveston Square, 2215 Strand, downtown Galveston.

Old Galveston Square, 2215 Strand, 2nd floor.

Photo workshops will be presented Thursday through Noon Saturday in the 1871 Thomas Jefferson League Building, 2301 Strand, 3rd floor. Saturday afternoon workshops will be presented in Old Galveston Square. Please be sure to check your Saturday itinerary carefully.

2215 Strand, Galveston, TX 77550.

2300 Ship’s Mechanic Row (Mechanic Street), Galveston, TX 77550.

At the corner of 23rd (Tremont) and Strand, downtown Galveston.

Friday, Noon and 3 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m., Noon, and 3:30 p.m.; Sunday, 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at Saengerfest Park, 23rd (Tremont) and Strand.

The Lunchbox Café, 213 23rd Street (Tremont), just around the corner from festival headquarters and the bus loading area, will be open well before dawn for early birds looking for a light breakfast. They’ve taken breakfast-on-the-run to a new level!

The FeatherFest Registration Team will do their best to answer your questions. Call them at 832.459.5533, or email NatureTourismGalv@juno.com.

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