Gulf Coast Bird Observatory | 299 Hwy 332 West, Lake Jackson, Texas 77566 |
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Sign Up For Our Free Nature Journaling Event! |
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Volunteer for Spring Fling |
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We are looking for volunteers for the last few slots of the 2024 Spring Fling season! Volunteers are tasked with setting up and manning the store booth, putting out oranges for the birds, and generally making sure that everything is in order at the sanctuary.
To view available slots and sign up, click here.
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It's that time of year again, folks! Migrating birds are coming through our area and taking refuge at our sanctuaries. Many of these birds eat fruit to rehydrate and gain back the sugars and fats that they've lost in flight. So, one of the best ways to help us help them by donating oranges! Bring oranges by our Quintana Neotropical Bird sanctuary (you can leave them outside the host station) or to our Lake Jackson headquarters. Thank you! |
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CALLING ALL TEXANS - Help protect migrating birds by going Lights Out! Turn off all non-essential lights from 11 pm - 6 am every night through June 15th, especially during peak migration April 22 through May 12! Learn more: https://tx.audubon.org/urbanconservation/lights-out-texas |
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Brew on the Bayou and NestFest |
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Our March was very busy, as we had two big events: Brew on the Bayou and NestFest!
NestFest was hosted by SPLASh, Gulf Coast Bird Observatory, Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research, and the Galveston Bay Area Chapter - Texas Master Naturalists. It was a giant cleanup taking place on twelve beaches across Bolivar, Galveston, and Follet's Island. We at GCBO hosted the Follet's islands sites. It was a beautiful day with so many awesome volunteers working to improve habitat for nesting sea turtles and birds! After all was said and done, we had 416 volunteers removed 3022 lbs of trash from the shores. Thanks to everyone who came and helped!!
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Brew on the Bayou, our annual GCBO fundraiser, took place on March 23rd at our Lake Jackson headquarters. It was a blast! So many people came out to celebrate and support us. The beer, wine, desserts and food trucks were delicious as always. The raptor show, pontoon boat rides, enormous silent auction, and live music made the night unforgettable!
Thanks to the amazing Brew volunteers and sponsors. We couldn't do it without you!
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Symbolically Adopt an Oystercatcher Pair! |
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It’s the beginning of the year, and it’s just about time for another American Oystercatcher monitoring season to begin! Looking forward to it as much as we are? Consider symbolically adopting a pair! When you adopt an oystercatcher pair, you’ll receive an adoption certificate with information about your pair, including information about the individual in the pair that is banded. We will also email you a monthly update to let you know how your pair is doing throughout the breeding season. This year, we have 9 pairs to choose from, which each adoption only $100! Use the following link to choose your pair and support our research: https://www.gcbo.org/product/adopt-an-oystercatcher-pair/
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Join us once again for Bird Banding on April 20th from 8 am - noon at our headquarters in Lake Jackson. Come see birds in the hand and learn about the science of bird banding. The earlier you arrive the more birds you'll see. This event is free of charge.
And while you're here, why not wander our trails too? We even have picnic tables set up for an outdoor lunch -- It's the perfect nature outing for the family!
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Come birding with GCBO and our Executive Director, Martin Hagne! Have a great time birding, exploring, enjoying some extraordinary scenery, dining on local cuisine, and of course seeing great birds! We always hook up with at least one local guide for the best experience. Here are our wonderful upcoming trips, but hurry, our trips are selling out fast!!
Our 2024 trips are all sold out! But take a look at our 2025 lineup! A few trips still need more information posted, so stay tune on those, or email Martin mhagne@gcbo.org to be put on list for more info! You can also go to our website to check for trip information and to register.
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June 16-22, 2024 – SOLD OUT!
November 15-23, 2024 – SOLD OUT!
February 12-18, 2025 – Openings
Chiapas, Mexico & TFFF Site Birding
May 10-23, 2025 – Not Yet Posted
June 14-22, 2025 – Openings
Northwest Mexico – Durango and More!
October 20-29, 2025 – Not Yet Posted
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Make an in-kind donation to support our sanctuary needs. |
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Black Oil Sunflower Seed and Chicken Scratch
We feed year-round here at GCBO, and during migration at Quintana. We stock our GCBO feeders to help augment natural foods, and this also helps our monthly banding research project.
Oranges
The migratory birds are back at Quintana and we will be putting out oranges for them to eat. If you'd like to donate, please leave your oranges outside the host station at Quintana Neotropic Bird Sanctuary, or bring them by our headquarters.
Sugar
The hummingbirds are coming our way, and we are looking for granulated sugar donations for their sugar water. Please bring it by our headquarters: 299 Hwy 332 W Lake Jackson. Thanks!
Small Freezer
We need a small under-cabinet freezer that reaches -20°C or lower for storage of biological samples for a possible upcoming study. Please reach out to Rebecca at rbracken@gcbo.org if you have one you're willing to donate!
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Corporate Matching Programs |
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Did you know that many corporations have a donation matching program? Corporations can match their employees' volunteer hours and/or donations to nonprofit organizations like GCBO! These types of programs are great because they double your contributions to the causes that you care about! If you work (or are retired from) a corporation, ask them about their matching program today! |
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Recycle Your Old Technology and Help Birds |
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The Wireless Alliance is a company that recovers and recycles cell phones, smart phones, tablets, and other consumer recyclables.
We will be collecting these items for Wireless Alliance to keep them out of landfills as well as raise money for our conservation efforts. If you have old technology such as a phone, charger, tablet, or other accessories, consider bringing it to GCBO!
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You can help support GCBO's mission in several important ways!
Save a Tree and some $!
We are trying to go as paperless as we can to save some trees and quite a bit on printing and mailing costs. We would love if you would let us email you instead of snail mailing a hard copy of any correspondence, including your future copies of the Gulf Crossings. Please email or call Tricia to say: “Hey, GCBO, please start emailing me things! Here is my email…” Thanks!
DONATE NOW on our website to support our conservation programs.
BECOME A MEMBER and receive our twice a year newsletter and a 10% discount in our nature store.
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When you shop at Kroger, you can support GCBO! |
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GCBO is a registered charity through Kroger's Community Rewards Program. This means that you can register your Kroger Plus Card online and select GCBO as the organization of your choice. Every time you use your Kroger Plus Card, Kroger will donate a portion back to GCBO! This is an easy way to support GCBO while you shop - your donations help us continue to protect birds and birding habitat around the Gulf Coast and beyond. To register your Plus Card, click here. Our charity number is #DN782.
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