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Price: $50 The tip of the Bolivar Peninsula offers a wide variety of photographic opportunities. These trips begin with seeing the sunrise across the Houston Ship Channel and photographing birds around the ferry landing. The trip then moves 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 subject to change based on tide, wind, and location of the birds. Suggested equipment: Digital SLR camera with a 300mm lens or greater. Smaller digital cameras with a 10x or 12x zoom will be adequate. Tripod. Small or moderate camera bag to keep equipment organized in the vehicle. Sturdy walking shoes for the jetty.
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 Larry Ditto |
Price: $60
Date: Thursday, April 12
Time: 6:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Bring water, snacks
Photo Expert: Larry Ditto
Bus & Moderate/Strenuous Walk
Skill Level: 2, 3
This is a unique field trip for a limited group of photographers with advanced skills. The trip will take you to San Luis Pass, an area of beaches located on the west end of Galveston Island where mud flats and dunes hold a wide variety of photo opportunities of area birds.
You will learn what equipment you need to capture awe-inspiring images and how to get the most benefit from the equipment. Larry will share his tips for getting more interesting shots by changing perspective, finding the right location, and using color and lighting. He will also cover the benefits of learning behavior to anticipate what the subject is about to do so that action shots are not missed. Plus he’ll answer the question, “Will I know a good photo when I see it?”
When paired with the Advanced Nature Photography Workshop, guests will benefit from an even broader experience. Please note that the field trip is on either Thursday or Friday, and that the workshop is on Saturday.
Suggested equipment: Digital SLR camera with a 300mm or greater lens, 1.4x or 2.0x extender for added magnification, flash, tripod, small camera bag, water sandals, towel, hat. There is the possibility most of the trip will be spent on foot outside the bus.
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Price: $50
Date: Thursday, April 12
Time: 6:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Bring water, snacks
Field Experts: Richard Mayfield, Tim O’Connell, Gay York
Bus & Walk
Skill Level: All
Travel by bus to the Nature Conservancy’s Preserve at Texas City for a chance to see the Attwater Prairie-chicken, one of the rarest birds in North America. We emphasize “chance” since the population is small, but several were seen in flight during recent FeatherFests. This Preserve is one of just two dedicated to trying to keep this species alive in the wild. For many birder visitors to the Upper Texas Coast this will be a must-see life bird. Watching the Prairie-chickens perform their mating ritual is a sight to behold. The males emerge into an open area referred to as a “lek”, extend their tail feathers, stomp their feet, make a noise called “booming” and chase off competing males to defend their area and attract the attention of the females. Regardless of success with seeing the Prairie-chicken, this tour will still be a good one with additional interesting bird watching, both on the Preserve and locally.
Targets: Attwater Prairie-chicken, Upland Sandpipers, raptors, Osprey, Dabbling and Diving Ducks, herons, terns, yellowlegs, dowitchers, and various “peeps.”
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Price: $55
Date: Thursday, April 12
Time: 6:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Field Experts: Professor Dick Peake, Louise Zemaitis, Stennie Meadours
Bring water, snacks, lunch
Bus & Walk
Skill Level: All
Explore the entire island on a fast-paced trip. Dr. Peake a wintering island resident himself, knows the birding spots well, and will take into account the weather, tides and what he has seen just prior to or during the festival to decide what to view and where to go. In that regard, the tour is not fixed rigidly in advance, but is more a birding adventure.
Targets: sandpipers, avocets, stilts, waterfowl, prairie birds, sparrows, raptors, herons, egrets, Roseate Spoonbills and dowitchers. If early migrant songbirds are on the Island, Dr. Peake will find them!
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Boy Scout Woods, Smith Oaks, The Rookery, and more!
Price: $70
Date: Thursday, April 12
Time: 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Bring water, snacks, lunch
Field Experts: George Regmund, Mike Austin, Bill Saulmon
Bus & Walk
Skill Level: All
High Island is the surface expression of a salt dome on the edge of the Gulf of Mexico. Due to its elevation above the saltwater table, it supports wooded habitat that supplies food, water and places to rest for tired trans-Gulf migrants.
The Houston Audubon Society has two large sanctuaries in the area, Boy Scout Woods and Smith Oaks, which are known worldwide for their spectacular variety of spring migrants. Smith Oaks contains the spectacular heron rookery, safely located on an island within a lake, where visitors may get close views of nesting herons, ibis, egrets, and spoonbills. April weather fronts can produce 30 or more species of songbirds in a single day!
On the lower levels of the “island,” there are producing oil fields, and the roads through the marshes there can also provide some good views of sandpipers and rails.
The “island” and sanctuaries have taken a heavy hit from hurricanes since 2004. Many large trees have been lost or damaged but many remain and new trees are growing. That scenario is the history of such wooded motts along the Gulf Coast.
Read more about High Island on the Houston Audubon Web site.
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Price: $65
Date: Thursday, April 12
Time: 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
No food or drink allowed in the Rainforest
Photo Expert: Scott Buckel
Meet at Site & Walk
Skill Level: 1, 2
Get ready to capture images of the 1,000-plus species of exotic plants and animals from the rainforests of Africa, Asia and the Americas that populate Moody Gardens’ newly-renovated multi-level 10-story Rainforest Pyramid! You’ll have lots of space to move around, as the Rainforest will not be open to the public during the hours of this trip. And as a bonus, you’re welcome to stay as long as you like afterwards and roam around on your own! Scott will discuss techniques to observe and capture images of the rainforest inhabitants.
You need to drive your own car to this event. Please allow 45 minutes to travel from downtown to Moody Gardens, park your car, unload equipment and walk to the entrance of the Visitor’s Center where the Rainforest is located. Your trip liaison will meet you there and you will go in as a group. Driving directions to Moody Gardens will be emailed to you and also available at the festival Registration Desk. Admission to the Rainforest is included in the trip price. Click here to download a map of Moody Gardens.
Suggested equipment: Digital SLR with wide angle to short telephoto lenses; if you own a macro lens, it will be great as well.
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Price: $55
Date: Thursday, April 12
Time: 8:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Field Experts: Kevin Karlson, Damien Carey
Bring water, snacks
Bus & Walk
Skill Level: 2, 3
The City of Galveston owns 686 acres of land at the eastern tip of the island and the vision is to transform it into a world class natural recreational area and nature preserve with an interpretive center. All the habitats associated with a barrier island - beach, uplands, fresh water ponds, brackish lagoons and wetlands - are present. On this easy-paced field trip with Kevin Karlson, an expert in shorebird identification, birders will enjoy a large number and variety of birds at rest. Sandy beach areas are favorites for Black Skimmers, gulls and terns and shallow pool waders. Wetland areas usually show cormorants, egrets, ibis, ducks and the occasional American Bittern, Clapper Rail and Sora Rail.
Targets: Reddish Egret, Piping, Snowy, Semipalmated and Wilson’s Plover, Least, Semipalmated and Western Sandpipers, Long-billed and Short-billed Dowitchers, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Dunlin, Marbled Godwit, Long-billed Curlew, Peregrine Falcon, Merlin, and Northern Harrier.
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Price: $20
Date: Thursday, April 12
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Bring water, snacks
Field Expert: Peggy Boston
Leisurely Walk
Skill Level: 1
This inside workshop and outside walk are for those who are new to birding and want tips on using binoculars and watching and identifying local birds. After an hour inside discussion, you will take a leisurely walk (about two city blocks) over to the docks, where numerous species of birds are easily seen around the shrimp boat fleet.
Targets: Brown and White Pelicans, cormorants, gulls, terns, herons, grackles, doves.
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 Debbie Ferrell |
Price: $30
Date: Thursday, April 12
Time: 9:00 a.m. – Noon
Photo Expert: Debbie Ferrell
Skill Level: 1, 2
This course is designed for those who want to learn the basics of nature photography or to improve their current skills. Debbie will discuss how to photograph mammals, flowers, birds and other nature subjects.
You will learn how to choose the right equipment, what proper exposure is, and how to achieve it. Other topics covered will include basic composition, how to control depth of field, use of shutter speeds for capturing action, and how to effectively approach wildlife in the field.
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Price: $25
Date: Thursday, April 12
Time: Noon – 1:15 p.m.
Expert Presenter: Louise Zemaitis
Skill Level: All
This workshop will be enjoyable as a stand-alone event, as well as a tune-up or primer, for those going to High Island or other woodlot venues where colorful migrating warblers can be expected. Louise has extensive experience with warbler identification and will help guests improve their powers of observation. She is a writer, an artist and a naturalist who lives in Cape May, New Jersey. She will share warbler-watching tips that have been honed by years of experience guiding birders new and experienced on field trips and tours, both nationally and internationally.
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Price: $20
Date: Thursday, April 12
Time: 12:15 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Expert Leader: Jim O’Donnell
Skill Level: 1, 2
Birders will find this workshop the perfect introduction to coastal birding. The focus will be on the identification of wintering and early migrating birds on the Upper Texas Coast. Best when paired with the Coastal Birding Field Trip.
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Price: $40
Date: Thursday, April 12
Time: 12:45 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Bring water, snacks, lunch if over Noon hour
Field Expert: Mort Voller
Bus & Frequent in-and-out Walk
Skill Level: All
The Texas City area abounds with bird-friendly, man-made structures. There are colonies of Cave and Cliff swallows nesting under several I-45 bridges. Catchment ponds for the refineries could still hold some Eared Grebes, plus late wintering waterfowl, and usually Roseate Spoonbills and herons. The Texas City Dike, which protects the port of Texas City, projects approximately 5 miles into East Galveston Bay, almost to Pelican Island. The newly built recreational area along the dike is an excellent vantage point to see birds that prefer a true marine environment.
Some late wintering loons, gulls and terns will likely be present, plus some bay ducks, mergansers, and others. Afterwards, drive along Skyline Highway on the top of a levee, for an outside chance to spot the white morph of a Great Blue Heron. If time permits the trip will seek out one of several colonies of Monk Parakeets colonially nesting atop the power transmission towers, and perhaps an Anhinga along the freshwater canal at Highland Park.
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Price: $20
Date: Thursday, April 12
Time: 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Photo Expert: Sean Fitzgerald
Skill Level: All
Participants will learn what it takes to be a good bird photographer. You’ll hear about the techniques required, as well as how to compose images that hold viewers’ attention. You will learn the importance of backgrounds, foregrounds and angle from the lens to the subject. Sean will also discuss how important a basic knowledge of behavior is to capturing unique images.
 Kathy Adams Clark |
Price: $20
Date: Thursday, April 12
Time: 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Photo Expert: Kathy Adams Clark
Skill Level: All
Taking photos on vacation or holiday is always fun but sometimes the images look dull, boring, or all the same. Join Kathy Adams Clark and learn some different ways to capture images of the destinations you visit. Emphasis will be seeing the excitement of the moment and the equipment you need to capture it. Kathy will teach you how to think about travel photography in a different way, what equipment to carry, how to capture foreign locations, and even how to present images after the trip. Suggested equipment: camera for reference.
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Price: $50
Date: Thursday, April 12
Time: 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Field Experts: Skip Almoney, Richard Mayfield
Bring water, snacks
Short Walk to Dock & Boat Trip
Skill Level: All
On this fabulous boat ride to the rookery on North Deer Island in West Galveston Bay, you will hone your skills for identifying bay birds in flight: white and Brown Pelicans, Royal and Caspian Terns, cormorants, gulls, plus pods of dolphins.
North Deer Island has 1.7 miles of protected shoreline which supports habitat for the threatened Reddish Egret and White-faced Ibis and 16 other bird species. This rookery is located in Galveston Bay between Tiki Island and West Galveston.
The SS Seagull II will drift around this protected, no-trespassing rookery, observing thousands of nesting herons, Reddish Egrets, Roseate Spoonbills and other wading birds in their full breeding plumage. The viewing distance will be determined by the tides and prevailing winds.
On the way to North Deer Island, you’ll have an opportunity to see many species of birds at the Harborwalk Marina freshwater ponds. While you’re stopped at the marina to bird, you’ll also be able to purchase snacks and use restrooms. Your trip leader will decide how long to spend at the marina based on the birds.
The boat is a 45-passenger catamaran and there is no restroom on board. Please meet your trip liaison in the bus loading area to walk over to the dock as a group.
Saving North Deer Island Bird Rookery: Texas Parks and Wildlife video
North Deer Island: Houston Audubon webpage about North Deer Island and the shoreline restoration project
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Price: $35
Date: Thursday, April 12
Time: 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Bring water, snacks
Field Expert: Jim O’Donnell
Bus & Walk
Skill Level: 1, 2
This fascinating trip is an introduction to coastal birding and habitat. Emphasis will be on identifying common resident and migrating shorebirds. The trip will go to the East End Lagoon Nature Preserve beach area where you’ll see many species of shore birds, gulls, terns, skimmers, sandpipers, plovers, avocets, Black-necked Stilts, and more. Stops along the way will highlight birds preferring marsh habitat.
This area is located at the East End of the Galveston Seawall and Boddecker Dr. The City of Galveston owns 686 acres of land at the eastern tip of the island and the intent is to transform it into a world-class natural recreational area and nature preserve with an interpretive center. All the habitats associated with a barrier island - beach, uplands, fresh water ponds, brackish lagoons and wetlands - are present.
Time permitting, the trip may move on to Corps Woods. This is a heavily wooded area located adjacent to a large spoils area and the Galveston Ship Channel and serves as a local migrant songbird trap.
Participation in the Coastal Birding Workshop will enhance your experience in this field trip.
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Price: $45
Date: Thursday, April 12
Time: 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Bring water, snacks
Field Experts: Jim Stevenson, George Regmund, Adam Wood
Bus & Walk
Skill Level: All
Originally a small shifting sand bar which protected Galveston’s fledgling port, Pelican Island is now an enlarged area of maturing, vegetated dredge spoil. It provides a wide range of habitats including extensive mud flats, fresh water ponds, open grassy areas and small wooded motts with hackberry, mulberry and live oaks. Use of the area is not well controlled, parts of it are not too “tidy” and one road will be bumpy, but the birding is usually fine.
Targets: Sandpipers, avocets, stilts, waterfowl, prairie birds, sparrows, raptors and early migrant songbirds.
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 Debbie Ferrell |
Price: $20
Date: Thursday, April 12
Time: 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Photo Expert: Debbie Ferrell
Skill Level: All
In this workshop, you will learn how to capture sharp, compositionally pleasing images of small subjects. We will discuss how to use macro lenses, diopters, and extension tubes, as well as how to use telephoto and wide angle lenses for close-up shots. Debbie will also share tips on how to select a tripod and other basic equipment needed for macro and close-up photography.
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Price: $20
Date: Thursday, April 12
Time: 2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Photo Expert: Larry Ditto
Skill Level: 2, 3
Larry will teach participants techniques for working with the ball head, Wimberley head, and hand holding for action and flight work. He will explain how to select a tripod that is right for action work, and why it’s important to select the proper ISO, shutter speed, and focus points to capture the perfect image. He’ll also discuss how to work in different lighting conditions to get the best results, how to select the best photos from what you created (focus, wing position, flight direction, body position, etc.), and how to anticipate behavior before you take the shot. He will also cover use of slow shutter speeds to create interesting and effective action shots.
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Price: $20
Date: Thursday, April 12
Time: 3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Bring water
Meet at Site & Walk
Skill Level: All
Drive your own car to the Nature Center in Galveston Island State Park where a Texas Master Naturalist will meet you for your guided, leisurely walk to do some beachcombing. Learn about the importance of our dunes and “life at the edge” ...what’s above and below the sand and in the water. Galveston Island State Park is 2,000 acres and one of the area’s premier ecological jewels.
Driving directions will be emailed to you and also available at the Registration Desk. If you’re coming from FeatherFest HQ or downtown, please allow 30 minutes to drive to the park.
Targets: gulls, terns, Willets, Sanderlings, Black-bellied Plovers, herons and “peeps.”
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Price: $15
Date: Thursday, April 12
Time: 3:15 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Expert Leaders: Alice Anne O'Donell and Mort Voller
Skill Level: All
Galveston Island has a rich variety of habitats, including beaches, wetlands, grasslands, woods, ponds and bays, all in a small geographic area. The presenters will explain the dynamics of bird appearances throughout the year, why this barrier island is so important to birds, why the birding in the area is among the best in the United States and arguably even the world. These local experts will share with you their favorite Galveston hotspots so you can visit them when you’re on your own!!
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Price: $35
Date: Thursday, April 12
Time: 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Photo Expert: Debbie Ferrell
Walk
Skill Level: 1
Join Debbie as she takes participants on a walking photo tour of Harborside Drive to explain simple yet effective techniques to improving photography. Composition, exposure, backgrounds, and foregrounds are just a few of the topics that will be discussed. Participants will also learn proper handholding techniques for sharper images. Meet your trip liaison in the bus loading area to walk over to Harborside Drive as a group.
Suggested equipment: Any camera body; telephoto and wide angle are recommended but any lens can be used. You might want to bring your camera manual for reference.
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 Sean Fitzgerald |
Price: $75
Date: Thursday, April 12
Time: 4:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Bring water, snacks
Photo Expert: Sean Fitzgerald
Bus & Walk
Skill Level: 2, 3
Participants with previous experience will be able to apply what they have learned in the field. Sean will demonstrate how to use your equipment and when to select slow or fast shutter speeds to capture awe-inspiring images. He will share his tips for getting more interesting shots by changing perspective, finding the right location, and using color and lighting. He will also cover the benefits of learning behavior to anticipate what the subject is about to do so that action shots are not missed.
Suggested equipment: DSLR, telephoto lens 300mm or greater, 1.4 and 2.0 teleconverters, tripod.
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Price: $20
Date: Thursday, April 12
Time: 4:15 p.m. – 5:15 p.m.
Photo Expert: Scott Buckel
Skill Level: All
Time lapse photography is a video technique used to compress sequential photos. The frequency at which film frames are captured (the frame rate) is much lower than what is used to play the sequence back. When replayed at normal speed, time appears to be moving faster and thus lapsing. With the advent of digital photography, this method has become very popular. The basic steps of creating time lapse will be covered, from the initial capture of the images to the final assembly of the video.
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 Larry Ditto |
Price: $50
Date: Thursday, April 12
Time: 5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Bring water, snacks
Photo Expert: Larry Ditto
Bus & Walk
Skill Level: 2, 3
After this class, you’ll wonder why you waited so long to start photographing birds on the wing! Flight photography can be made easier if you do the following: (1) Select the right digital camera and auto focus telephoto lens; (2) Learn the right settings to take full advantage of the technology at your fingertips; (3) Learn what it takes to make a good flight photo (best shutter speeds, ISO settings, f-stop recommendations, and more); (4) Learn more about where to go and when to be there; and (5) Know about other equipment that can make you even better at flight photography. Time permitting, a few tricks of the trade in flight photography will be discussed.
Suggested equipment: Tripod, DSLR, 300mm or larger telephoto lens, and wide angle if available.
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Price: $30
Date: Thursday, April 12
Time: 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Location: Yaga’s Café, 2314 The Strand
See raptors like you’ve never seen them before! A private show of live, free-flying birds of prey is in store for you at Raptors Uncorked! – an evening of fun, food, wine and wildlife at Yaga’s Café. Seating is limited and the 2011 event was a sellout, so get your tickets early!
Meet a Red-tailed Hawk, Barbary Falcon, Black Vulture and other raptors during this exclusive meet and greet with falconer Kevin Gaines of Sky Kings Falconry. You’ll be thrilled and amazed by these incredible birds as they demonstrate their hunting styles and take flight right above your head!
There will be prizes, too! You could be invited on stage with Kevin and the birds, or have your
group’s portrait made with a raptor. The evening also includes an appetizer buffet and a cash bar.
Proceeds from this event will be used to support FeatherFest and Sky Kings Falconry. FeatherFest is a volunteer project of the Galveston Island Nature Tourism Council, a non-profit organization which supports nature tourism and education, and promotes the value of natural habitats in the Galveston area.
Sky Kings Falconry is dedicated to education and wildlife preservation. Every year their raptor shows are part of Renaissance festivals and school programs across the nation.
Special thanks to our friends at Yaga’s Entertainment for hosting this event.
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For Further Information
Email: NatureTourismGalv@juno.com
FeatherFest Hotline: 832.459.5533 or 1.888.425.4753
Nature Tourism Info: 409.789.8125
Mail: Galveston FeatherFest, P.O. Box 1468
Galveston, TX 77553-1468
FeatherFest is a project of the Galveston Island Nature Tourism Council which supports nature tourism and education, and promotes the value of area natural habitats.
www.GalvestonNatureTourism.org
