Galveston Destinations for Bird-Watchers
Birdwatchers will go nearly anywhere in the world they can afford to see different types of birds. The thrill of seeing an uncommon bird is what moves them to do what they do. And one great location to bird-watch and see lots of types and breeds is Galveston, Texas.
Galveston Island is a central assembly spot for birds flying both north and south. For the northern migratory birds, it is a rest stop during their trip to Mexico for the winter and during their trip back in the spring. Three hundred different varieties of birds have been counted on the island at different times of the year.
In addition, a lot of waterfowl have made a permanent home on the island, and there's a variety of nesting types and varieties to be observed. Guided tours are offered all through the year to see the birds in their mating, nesting, and migratory seasons. Half or full day tours on water or on land head out often to see the birds. Some places offer unique classes to enlighten visitors on the particular birds' backgrounds and histories. One special facility provides classes on bird photography, discussing methodology, equipment requirements and photo editing to bring out the very best in your pictures.
Hurricane Ike, which hit the region numerous years ago, devastated Galveston Island and its bird population. Like most things in nature, though, the region has rapidly recovered, and pretty much all of the varieties present on the island prior to the storm have returned to nest again. Boat tours to the islands Anahuac and Bolivar provide a possibility to see some of the rarer birds that have returned to the area.
During the springtime, Galveston holds a unique bird-watching festival referred to as the Galveston Featherfest. Birdwatchers from around the country flock to the site during this time to get in on the three-day festival. Over 100 unique tours are held during Featherfest, as well as a lot of activities and special events. It's a location where birdwatchers can all get with each other to swap stories and photographs, and see new and unique varieties of birds they may never have seen before.
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