Welcome! Our FledglingFest events are designed specifically for kiddos (ages 6 & older) and their grown-ups! You can take part in one or more of the following events as part of your nature adventure and introduction to the world and wonders of Galveston’s natural environment.

For the FREE Birds of Prey Raptor Shows, ALL are welcome to attend regardless of age and you do not have to be registered.

PLEASE NOTE: You must be registered in order to be admitted on the FledglingFest field trips. Only registered children (ages 6 & older) and their adults can participate.

Date: Saturday, April 22
Time:  9:00am – 10:30am
Cost:  $10

Join us for a beach exploration at Galveston Island State Park. We will begin our exploration at the State Park Nature Center where you will learn about Galveston Bay and the unique ecosystems found at the park. While there, we will explore the park’s shell collection and learn about all of the unique items that can be found on our gulf coast beaches. We will then caravan over to the beach where you will learn many interesting facts about Galveston Island and about the sea turtles that nest on our beaches. We will search for shell treasures on the beach and dig into the sand to see if we can discover any the creatures who call the beach their home. Weather permitting, we will use a net to try to capture and study some of the unique creatures that live in the surf. Discovery and adventure at the beach awaits!

All participants must be registered PRIOR to reporting to Galveston Island State Park. Directions to the meeting site will be emailed prior to the field trip.

All FledglingFest activities are geared for ages 6 and up and children must be accompanied by an adult. Children must be at least six years old in order to participate.

Price: FREE (no need to register)
When/Where: Saturday, April 22, 11:00am – 11:45am, Galveston Children’s Museum at 2618 Broadway
                                                          1:30pm – 2:15pm, Saengerfest Park, 2302 Strand St. 
Field Expert: Kevin Gaines, SkyKing Falconry

Want to see even more birds? Everyone is invited to come see amazing live birds of prey soaring right above you in all their majesty at the Galveston Children’s Museum.

Kids and their grown-ups will be enthralled by this exciting, free-flight presentation of raptors demonstrating their hunting styles. Learn about the natural history of these incredible birds and their unique traits and abilities. The show includes hawks, owls, falcons, vultures and other raptors!

The raptors in this program are trained and cared for by Kevin Gaines and the Sky Kings Falconry team, which are dedicated to education and wildlife preservation. Click here to learn more about Sky Kings Falconry.

Date: Saturday, April 22
Time:  12:30pm – 1:30pm
Cost:  $15

Hop aboard the Seagull II for your Saturday adventure by boat on the FledglingFest Dolphins & Birds by Boat! Our expert leaders will be onboard to help you spot and identify frolicking dolphins and our feathered friends.

All participants must be registered prior to reporting to board the boat. Driving and parking directions will be emailed prior to the field trip.

All FledglingFest activities are geared for ages 6 and up and children must be accompanied by an adult. Children must be at least six years old in order to participate.

Date: Saturday, April 22
Time:  2:00pm – 3:00pm
Cost:  $10

Take a tour of the Rainforest with one of the Moody Garden’s biologists as you explore a variety of birds from rainforest regions of the world. You will learn all about bird biology and adaptations in a fun, interactive program. The tour will last approximately 45 minutes.

Directions to the meeting site will be emailed prior to the field trip.

All FledglingFest activities are geared for ages 6 and up and children must be accompanied by an adult. Children must be at least six years old in order to participate. 

Photo: Kathy Adams Clark at Moody Gardens

Date: Sunday, April 23
Time:  9:00am – 12:00pm
Cost:  $10

Birding field trip for kids and their grown-ups! On this trip, participants will learn the basics of counting and recording all the birds that they see. We will also go over field marks and identification tips for the different birds we observe. One of our trip leaders will keep a checklist for our group. This checklist will be submitted to eBird (an online database) where scientists can use our checklist, along with millions of other checklists, to learn more about bird migration and population trends. Our checklist will be shared or emailed to participants (or their grown-ups) after the field trip. The particular birding sites we visit will depend on where lots of birds were seen on earlier FeatherFest field trips.

This trip meets at FeatherFest headquarters at the Galveston Railroad Museum, 2602 Santa Fe Place. All participants must be registered prior to boarding the bus.

All FledglingFest activities are geared for ages 6 and up and children must be accompanied by an adult. Children must be at least six years old in order to participate.