Birding Workshops
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.
Find out more »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. We’ll also talk about migration trends and take a closer look at some of the beautiful species you may see and hear during FeatherFest.
Find out more »During this presentation, participants will learn exactly who this “disabled” audience is and how to find them. 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 be a more welcoming and inclusive birder. Finally, they will learn about resources for birders with accessibility challenges because birding is for everybody! The workshop will be held at FeatherFest headquarters…
Find out more »Upper Texas Coast (UTC) birders begin their birding life chasing showy warblers; THE group of birds most responsible for turning casual nature lovers into birders. Annually, UTC birders find about three dozen or so warbler species each Spring; sometimes 25+ in a day. Though warblers can be accessible in numbers, they’re restless subjects that are hard to keep in a binocular view. Though colorfully plumed, it is daunting to tease them apart. It’s the finding and teasing apart of the warblers that makes for better and lifelong birders. Yep! Warblers can teach you birding skills.
Find out more »Birding by Ear
Ever chase a bird song in the canopy of tall oaks then chase it until the bird stops singing? Ever sit in your backyard and hear a strange bird song in the distance? In both cases you had no chance to see the bird. In both cases you wondered what it was. All birds vocalize and for songbirds’ song is necessary for species survival. A unique biology found only in birds lies behind bird song and communication. The genetics that drive bird vocalizations are not very different than humans.
Find out more »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 of Birdability, an organization committed to making the birding community and the outdoors accessible, safe, welcoming and inclusive for everybody and every body. This meet-at-site…
Find out more »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 & Terns on Galveston Island Field Trip also on Friday.
Find out more »Every person’s birding journey is different. We join Dale Rosselet, retired NJ Audubon Vice President for education, as she provides an overview of how to get to know birds better. From identification tips on how to look at birds, to skills you can practice out in the field, to actual practice on separating look-alike species, you will walk away with at least a couple of ah-ha’s that will help you on your journey! This presentation is best suited for casual and…
Find out more »Calling all neighbors! Pollinators, birds, and other wildlife 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 workshop, Lauren Simpson introduces our pollinators and—using a local garden as a classroom—shares simple techniques for transforming our own garden into a beautiful, native-plant paradise―one that supports wildlife and pleases neighbors!
Find out more »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 of Birdability, an organization committed to making the birding community and the outdoors accessible, safe, welcoming and inclusive for everybody and every body. This meet-at-site…
Find out more »This title of a new book by Kevin Karlson and Pete Dunne, due out in spring 2024 by Princeton University Press, is the topic of a short, uplifting presentation. Like the upcoming book, the fascinating world of North American shorebirds is covered in a light-hearted and factual manner and accompanied by the most stunning and descriptive photographs ever assembled. From the strange world of the high Arctic tundra, where many shorebirds choose to breed, to the remote wintering grounds that…
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