Pam Smolen

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Smolen

Pam Smolen was raised an army brat living in Alaska, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and finally settling in Texas. She grew up enjoying the outdoors, hiking, and camping. She graduated from the University of Texas with a degree in Chemical Engineering. She discovered the wonderful world of birds over twenty years ago and has been hooked ever since.

Pam is Chair Elect of the Houston Audubon Board of Directors. Pam was recently Interim President & CEO for Houston Audubon while they searched for a new CEO.  She is an active volunteer for Houston Audubon and is Chair of the Bolivar Peninsula Nature Trail Committee.  She has been Chair of the Birdathon committee and participates in coastal workdays. She is a former Vice-Chair and Chair of the Houston Ornithology Group.

Upcoming Events

April 2026
$70

Accessible Smith Oaks Field Trip with Virginia Rose

April 15 @ 10:00 am - 2:00 pm

Join Virginia Rose, founder of Birdability, and Pam Smolen, Chair of the Houston Audubon Board of Directors, on an accessible field trip to Smith Oaks! What to Expect:  We plan to begin at the Smith Oaks Rookery where nine species of heron, egret, spoonbill, ibis, cormorant, and Anhinga nest within inches of each other. The High Island rookery offers birders a close view of the annual dramedy of waterbird nesting activity including vibrant breeding plumage, mating hustle and nestlings.

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$65

Galveston Complete Birding Sampler #1

April 16 @ 6:30 am - 11:30 am

Galveston is a Gulf coastal island renowned for its many habitats. Explore the entire island with our local leaders. They know the birding spots well, and will consider the weather, tides, and what they have 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. You’ll go where the birds are!

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$70

Birding Galveston’s Renowned West End #1

April 16 @ 1:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Galveston’s West End has drawn birders from all over the world for nearly 100 years. In addition to estuarial saltwater marsh, it contains freshwater ponds, pockets of scrubland, mudflats, and sandy beach habitat. This combination attracts a wide variety of shorebirds, waterfowl, raptors, songbirds, and more. What to Expect:  We will begin the trip by viewing tidal pools on the Gulf of Mexico side and work our way to the estuaries on the edge of West Bay, stopping at freshwater…

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$70

Birding Galveston’s Renowned West End #2

April 17 @ 12:30 pm - 5:30 pm

Galveston’s West End has drawn birders from all over the world for nearly 100 years. In addition to estuarial saltwater marsh, it contains freshwater ponds, pockets of scrubland, mudflats, and sandy beach habitat. This combination attracts a wide variety of shorebirds, waterfowl, raptors, songbirds, and more. What to Expect:  We will begin the trip by viewing tidal pools on the Gulf of Mexico side and work our way to the estuaries on the edge of West Bay, stopping at freshwater…

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$75

Spring Migrants of the West End #3

April 18 @ 7:30 am - 12:00 pm

Focusing on discovering migrating songbirds on Galveston’s West End, this trip will feature warblers, vireos, tanagers, orioles, grosbeaks, and buntings. Located at the intersection of two important migratory flyways, Galveston Island provides critical resources and cover for birds as they journey northward. During stormy weather, fallout events are common, as birds seek shelter and much-needed rest at the first sight of land.

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$60

High Island’s Famous Sites by Car #2

April 18 @ 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm

This trip is targeted to catch any lingering migrants and catch afternoon arrivals. We plan to visit three HAS and Texas Ornithological Society sites. Watch for the afternoon drop of dozens of neotropic migrants along with local and resident waterfowl, raptors, seabirds, shorebirds, and passerines. April weather fronts can produce 30 or more species of songbirds in a single day!

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$70

Warbler Watching with Glenn Olsen #2

April 19 @ 7:30 am - 11:30 am

In one of our most popular trips, you will be guided by one of our most experienced birders and all-around nature lover, Glenn Olsen. Glenn leads nature tours in the US and overseas but he calls the upper Texas coast home. His extensive knowledge of local birding areas is sure to yield excellent views of migrating warblers as they move through our area on their way to nesting habitat. As a bonus, Glenn is also a Texas Master Naturalist and has served as the president of the Native Plant Society of Texas. His knowledge in these areas should greatly enhance your trip experience.

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