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.
What to Expect: Topics covered include birding practices, optics selection and use, field guides, bird identification considerations and techniques, field notebooks, birding etiquette and ethics, and common birds of Galveston Island. Emphasis will be placed on the field identification of common species.
After a 15-minute comfort break, we’ll board the bus and go to select locations designed to test your skills by applying the techniques discussed during the earlier presentation. Birding sites could include Corps Woods, East End Lagoon and Big Reef Nature Park. The East End Lagoon and Big Reef Nature Park allows us to explore all habitats associated with a barrier island – beach, uplands, freshwater ponds, brackish lagoons, marsh, and wetlands. Corps Woods is a heavily wooded area located adjacent to a large spoils area and the Galveston Ship Channel, which serves as a local migrant songbird trap.
Targets: pelicans, cormorants, gulls, terns, grackles, doves, herons, egrets, shorebirds, and other common Galveston species.
This trip is designed to give each participant the extra attention needed to develop the skill sets to increase their confidence in the field.
What to Bring: Binoculars, field guides, field notebook, insect repellent, water, snacks, sunscreen, dress for outdoors, and wear closed-toed shoes.
Important Information: This session will begin as a workshop at FeatherFest Headquarters. After the 1-hour workshop, participants will board a bus for the field trip portion of the session.