Gulf Coast Bird Observatory | 299 Hwy 332 West, Lake Jackson, Texas 77566 |
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Buy Your Tickets Now For Brew on the Bayou! |
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We need some more volunteers for the Follet's Island locations for the NestFest beach cleanups! Particularly the Kelly Hamby Nature Trail and Nacal Drive locations. Come out and volunteer for a good cause! We'll be cleaning the beaches in preparation for nesting birds and sea turtles. |
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Brew on the Bayou is coming up on March 23rd and we are looking for volunteers to help out with setup on the morning of March 22!
If you are interested in helping out or have questions about the event, please email Celeste at csilling@gcbo.org. Thanks!
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Parking Lot
Last year we received a Texas Parks & Wildlife Recreational Trails Grant to help expand the headquarter’ s caliche parking lot. As our events grow, we need more parking. Being a conservation organization, we don't normally cover up ground, but this was open lawn area, and it’s still somewhat permeable.
The grant also allows us to soon install a new kiosk, birding site map, and a bunch of interpretive signs, that Celeste has designed, for the Quintana Neotropical Bird Preserve. We are very thankful for this grant from TPWD!
We are also very thankful for Phil Huxford, star GCBO volunteer, who brought his tractor and did all the work on the parking lot. Also to Phil’s buddy Tim Marion, who brought his Bobcat to help! And, we appreciate Brian Kolthammer for doing the planning!
Wooded Pond Board Walk
Our board walk that goes around the forested pond, a great representation of the Brazoria-Columbia Bottomlands habitat here, was just replaced by an all-star team of GCBO volunteers! The old board walk had lived its useful life, and becoming a danger to walk. It was removed down to the dirt (well… mud!).
The guys worked hard, battling the cold, rain, and some very sticky mud. The result is a beautiful and solid board walk that will last a long time. Come take a walk at our Lake Jackson headquarters!
Sincere thank you goes to the super team of Oron, Brian, Tom, George, David, and Mike!! And a few work appearances by our ED, Martin.
The majority of funds was provided by a Great Texas Birding Classic grant, chosen by the Sandhill Craniacs team. Thank you all so very much!
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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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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 March 16th 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 check out our native plant nursery and 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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Welcome to our new Development Officer, Julie Mintzer!
With a personal mission to change the world, Julie has accrued over sixteen years of leadership experience in Houston's public sector. Most recently, Julie worked for the betterment of her neighbors by holding executive positions at the City of Houston in the Administration and Regulatory Affairs Department, Houston Public Library system, and for an elected City Council Member. Before joining city government, Julie worked at regional and national not-for-profit organizations. From a young age, Julie knew she wanted to work in the public sector, and therefore, earned her Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from Washington University in St. Louis and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the Southern Illinois University system.
After moving to Houston in 2009, Julie began working the Galveston Bay Foundation, where she connected volunteers and supporters to different conversation events and community initiatives across the Houston region. From there, she worked for Student Conservation Association, teaching the next generation of leaders about conservation, leadership development, and civic responsibility. With the distinct need to support the underserved population in Houston, Julie moved to Rebuilding Together Houston, and in time became the Chief of Staff and Operation—repairing homes and building a stronger Houston!
In her spare time, Julie is outside: hiking, biking, doing yoga, chasing birds with her camera, volunteering, or doing any kind of fitness with friends. She also enjoys cooking for family, educational podcasts, and learning the science behind health and personal development.
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Welcome back to our RV volunteers, Sheryl and Harold!
Harold and Sheryl Travis are always a huge help as our RV volunteers. They help with events, office and grounds maintenance, office work, and many other tasks. Plus, their dog Lily is an irreplaceable asset to the team!
Sheryl and Harold will be coming from a volunteer position at Brazos Bend State Park, so we'll do our best to compete with those awesome gators! Thanks Sheryl and Harold!
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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.
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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