Galveston Island Nature Tourism Council

Winter adventures await! Join us this January and February for our free Winter Nature Programs! From exciting birding caravan tours and family-friendly scavenger hunts to trivia nights and fascinating bird presentations, there’s something for everyone. Come explore, learn, and connect with nature this season!

Holiday with the Cranes

Thank you to the participants for coming out and enjoying the wintering Sandhill Cranes of Galveston Island and kudos to the volunteers who helped make the celebration a success!

Galveston Certified as Bird City Texas Community

Galveston has taken wing once again, earning designation as a Bird City Texas community! We’re one of three Texas cities to achieve the prestigious hallmark this year. Thank you to our dedicated team, partners and advisors who helped make this happen.

Bird City Texas is an initiative of Audubon Texas and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. The community-focused certification program was created to help protect birds and their habitats where people live, work, and recreate.

Bird City Texas research shows that bird-friendly environments increase property values, help control insects and generate tourism dollars. There are ways you can help out at home for free, click here to learn how.  

Read the full GINTC press release here.

Galveston FeatherFest was a success. We had 564 people from over 30 states plus British Columbia. We broke our all-time species record of 249 (2016) with 255 sightings this year! Interested in what all was seen? Click here. 

Thanks to all of our volunteers, guides, speakers, vendors, lodging partners, sponsors and donors for their contributions in making FeatherFest a success once again.

Next year FeatherFest will be held at Moody Gardens, April 24-27!

East End Lagoon Nature Preserve


Join GINTC staff and volunteers as we explore the natural wonders of the East End Lagoon. The East End Lagoon Nature Preserve sits along Boddecker Road and encompasses 675 acres of coastal prairie and wetland with a beautiful half-mile nature trail. These outings are FREE but registration is required. Sign-up today to secure a spot for your entire family!

Sign-up Here

ESKIMO CURLEW SCULPTURE

A six-foot permanent sculpture of the elegant Eskimo Curlew, commissioned by Galveston Island Nature Tourism Council and part of The Lost Bird Project by Todd McGrain, was installed in Galveston Island State Park in March of 2020. The bronze Eskimo Curlew is the sixth sculpture of The Lost Bird Project. 

Learn more about Galveston’s
Eskimo Curlew Sculpture 

Photo by Rick Becker

Wanna be a nature guide?

Enroll now in our Certified Nature Guide or Nature Ambassador course! These programs will provide a cadre of knowledgeable guides and ambassadors to help visitors and residents experience Galveston’s natural side.

Thanks to the Galveston Island Park Board for their tremendous support. We also appreciate the Galveston Bay Area Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalists for providing the content for the coursework.  Plus, kudos to Suzanne Becker, Bobette Brasfield, Cindy Liening, Maureen Nolan-Wilde, Diane Olsen, and Chris Roper for their enthusiasm and commitment to making these certifications a reality!

 Behind the Scenes

The Galveston Island Nature Tourism Council thanks our members and volunteers, the City of Galveston, Galveston Park Board of Trustees, Galveston.com, and corporate members Moody Gardens, Sand ‘N Sea Properties, and SOAR Vacation Rental Services, for supporting our efforts throughout the year.

Special Thanks To Our Great Egret &
Reddish Egret Corporate Members

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Course Progress

Nature Guide Course Progress

Module 1 Gulf of Mexico+
Unit 1 Module Overview: Gulf of Mexico  
Unit 2 Physical Characteristics  
Unit 3 Currents  
Unit 4 Galveston Island Tides  
Unit 5 Gulf of Mexico Watershed  
Unit 6 Oil and Gas Production  
Unit 7 Gulf of Mexico Fisheries  
Unit 8 Gulf of Mexico Underwater Tourism  
Unit 9 Sources for the Gulf of Mexico Module  
Unit 10 Gulf of Mexico Exam  
Module 2 Galveston Island Geology+
Unit 1 Module Overview: Galveston Island Geology  
Unit 2 Galveston Island  
Unit 3 Global Climate Impacts  
Unit 4 Galveston Island Formation  
Unit 5 Galveston Island Geology  
Unit 6 Sources for the Galveston Island Geology Module  
Unit 7 Galveston Island Geology Exam  
Module 3 Habitats of Galveston Island+
Unit 1 Module Overview: Habitats of Galveston Island  
Unit 2 Beaches  
Unit 3 Dunes  
Unit 4 Swales  
Unit 5 Coastal Prairie  
Unit 6 Prairie and Marsh Wetlands  
Unit 7 Bay Shore  
Unit 8 Sources for the Habitats of Galveston Island Module  
Unit 9 Habitats of Galveston Island Exam  
Module 4 Galveston Bay and Estuary+
Unit 1 Module Overview: Galveston Bay and Estuary  
Unit 2 Galveston Bay  
Unit 3 Galveston Bay Watershed  
Unit 4 Galveston Bay Industrial Services  
Unit 5 Galveston Bay Ecological Services  
Unit 6 Bottlenose Dolphin  
Unit 7 Ways to see the Bay  
Unit 8 Sources for the Galveston Bay and Estuary Module  
Unit 9 Bay and Estuary Exam  
Module 5 Fish of Our Bay and Gulf+
Unit 1 Module Overview: Fish of Our Bay and Gulf  
Unit 2 Atlantic Spanish Mackerel  
Unit 3 Black Drum  
Unit 4 Blacktip Shark  
Unit 5 Bonnethead Shark  
Unit 6 Gafftopsail Catfish  
Unit 7 Hardhead Catfish  
Unit 8 Ladyfish  
Unit 9 Red Drum  
Unit 10 Sand Seatrout  
Unit 11 Sheepshead  
Unit 12 Southern Flounder  
Unit 13 Southern Stingray  
Unit 14 Spotted Seatrout  
Unit 15 Striped Mullet  
Unit 16 TPWD Fishing Tip Sheet  
Unit 17 Sources for the Fish of Our Bay and Gulf Module  
Unit 18 Fish of Our Bay and Gulf Exam  
Module 6 Birds of Galveston Island+
Unit 1 Module Overview: Birds of Galveston Island  
Unit 2 Brown Pelican  
Unit 3 Cattle Egret  
Unit 4 Neotropic Cormorant  
Unit 5 European Starling  
Unit 6 Great-tailed Grackle  
Unit 7 Great Blue Heron  
Unit 8 Great Egret  
Unit 9 Laughing Gull  
Unit 10 Least Tern  
Unit 11 Northern Mockingbird  
Unit 12 Roseate Spoonbill  
Unit 13 Snowy Egret  
Unit 14 White Ibis  
Unit 15 Willet  
Unit 16 Black-bellied Whistling-Duck  
Unit 17 Reddish Egret  
Unit 18 Sandhill Crane  
Unit 19 Yellow-crowned Night-Heron  
Unit 20 Red-winged Blackbird  
Unit 21 Black-necked Stilt  
Unit 22 Sources for the Birds of Galveston Island Module  
Unit 23 Birds of Galveston Island Exam  
Module 7 Mammals+
Unit 1 Module Overview: Mammals  
Unit 2 Nine-banded Armadillo  
Unit 3 Coyote  
Unit 4 Eastern Cottontail Rabbit  
Unit 5 Eastern Gray Squirrel  
Unit 6 Fox Squirrel  
Unit 7 Nutria  
Unit 8 Raccoon  
Unit 9 Striped Skunk  
Unit 10 Virginia Opossum  
Unit 11 Black Rat  
Unit 12 Bottlenose Dolphin  
Unit 13 Sources for the Mammals Module  
Unit 14 Mammals Exam  
Module 8 Reptiles and Amphibians+
Unit 1 Module Overview: Reptiles and Amphibians  
Unit 2 Common Snapping Turtle  
Unit 3 Red-eared Slider/Pond Slider  
Unit 4 Ribbon Snake  
Unit 5 Western Diamondback Rattlesnake  
Unit 6 Western Cottonmouth  
Unit 7 Gulf Coast Toad  
Unit 8 Rio Grande Chirping Frog  
Unit 9 Green Tree Frog  
Unit 10 Mediterranean House Gecko  
Unit 11 Green Anole  
Unit 12 Brown Anole  
Unit 13 Sources for the Reptiles and Amphibians Module  
Unit 14 Reptiles and Amphibians Exam  
Module 9 Shells+
Unit 1 Module Overview: Shells  
Unit 2 Angel Wing  
Unit 3 Ark Shells  
Unit 4 Bay Scallops  
Unit 5 Common Eastern Oyster  
Unit 6 Disk Clam  
Unit 7 Giant Atlantic Cockle  
Unit 8 Half-Naked Pen Shell  
Unit 9 Hooked Mussel  
Unit 10 Texas Quahog  
Unit 11 Variable Cocquina Clam  
Unit 12 Lettered Olive  
Unit 13 Lightning Whelk  
Unit 14 Oyster Drill Snail  
Unit 15 Shark Eye  
Unit 16 Sources for the Shells Module  
Unit 17 Shells Exam  
Module 10 Sea-Beans+
Unit 1 Module Overview: Sea-Beans  
Unit 2 What are Sea-Beans?  
Unit 3 Hamburger Bean  
Unit 4 Sea Purse  
Unit 5 Sea Heart Bean  
Unit 6 Starnut Palm  
Unit 7 Golf Ball  
Unit 8 Nicker Nut  
Unit 9 Mary's Bean  
Unit 10 Furrowed Blister Pod  
Unit 11 Sources for the Sea-Beans Module  
Unit 12 Sea-Bean Exam  
Module 11 The Wrack Line+
Unit 1 Module Overview: The Wrack Line  
Unit 2 The Wrack Line  
Unit 3 Sea Shells and Sea Beans  
Unit 4 Marine Animals (1)  
Unit 5 Marine Animals (2)  
Unit 6 Marine Animals and Their Egg Cases  
Unit 7 Sargassum Algae  
Unit 8 Lotus Pods and Water Hyacinth  
Unit 9 Geology on the Beach  
Unit 10 Man-made Trash  
Unit 11 Sources for The Wrack Line Module  
Unit 12 The Wrack Line Exam  
Module 12 Nature Guide Interpretation and Trip Management+
Unit 1 Module Overview: Nature Guide Interpretation and Trip Management  
Unit 2 Know your resources  
Unit 3 Developing the program  
Unit 4 Develop a clear theme for the activity  
Unit 5 Prepare the guests for a successful experience  
Unit 6 Know your audience  
Unit 7 Interpretive basics  
Unit 8 Select the appropriate communication/education techniques  
Unit 9 Interpretive Techniques for effective interpretation are driven by the audience and the site  
Unit 10 Good delivery skills in personal services  
Unit 11 Day of the Trip  
Unit 12 Additional interpretive training resources  
Unit 13 Sources for Nature Guide Interpretation and Trip Management Module  

Nature Ambassador Course Progress

Module 1 Gulf of Mexico - Ambassador Level+
Unit 1 Module Overview: Gulf of Mexico  
Unit 2 Physical Characteristics  
Unit 3 Currents  
Unit 4 Galveston Island Tides  
Unit 5 Gulf of Mexico Watershed  
Unit 6 Oil and Gas Production  
Unit 7 Gulf of Mexico Fisheries  
Unit 8 Gulf of Mexico Underwater Tourism  
Unit 9 Sources for Gulf of Mexico Module  
Unit 10 Gulf of Mexico Exam - Ambassador Level  
Module 2 Galveston Island Geology - Ambassador Level+
Unit 1 Module Overview: Galveston Island Geology  
Unit 2 Galveston Island  
Unit 3 Global Climate Impacts  
Unit 4 Galveston Island Formation  
Unit 5 Galveston Island Geology  
Unit 6 Sources for the Galveston Island Geology Module  
Unit 7 Galveston Island Geology Exam - Ambassador Level  
Module 3 Habitats of Galveston Island - Ambassador Level+
Unit 1 Module Overview: Habitats of Galveston Island  
Unit 2 Beaches  
Unit 3 Dunes  
Unit 4 Swales  
Unit 5 Coastal Prairie  
Unit 6 Prairie and Marsh Wetlands  
Unit 7 Bay Shore  
Unit 8 Sources for Habitats of Galveston Island Module  
Unit 9 Habitats of Galveston Island Exam - Ambassador Level  
Module 4 Galveston Bay and Estuary - Ambassador Level+
Unit 1 Galveston Bay and Estuary Overview  
Unit 2 Galveston Bay  
Unit 3 Galveston Bay Watershed  
Unit 4 Galveston Bay Industrial Services  
Unit 5 Galveston Bay Ecological Services  
Unit 6 Bottlenose Dolphin  
Unit 7 Ways to See Galveston Bay  
Unit 8 Sources for the Galveston Bay and Estuary Module  
Unit 9 Galveston Bay and Estuary Exam - Ambassador Level  
Module 5 Fish of our Bay and Gulf - Ambassador Level+
Unit 1 Module Overview: Fish of Our Bay and Gulf  
Unit 2 Atlantic Spanish Mackerel  
Unit 3 Black Drum  
Unit 4 Blacktip Shark  
Unit 5 Bonnethead Shark  
Unit 6 Gafftopsail Catfish  
Unit 7 Hardhead Catfish  
Unit 8 Ladyfish  
Unit 9 Red Drum  
Unit 10 Sand Seatrout  
Unit 11 Sheepshead  
Unit 12 Southern Flounder  
Unit 13 Southern Stingray  
Unit 14 Spotted Sea Trout  
Unit 15 Striped Mullet  
Unit 16 Texas Parks and Wild Life (TPWD)Fishing Tips Sheet  
Unit 17 Sources for the Fish of Our Bay and Gulf Module  
Unit 18 Fish of Our Bay and Gulf Exam - Ambassador Level  
Module 6 Birds of Galveston Island - Ambassador Level+
Unit 1 Module Overview: Birds of Galveston Island  
Unit 2 Brown Pelican  
Unit 3 Cattle Egret  
Unit 4 Neotropic Cormorant  
Unit 5 European Starling  
Unit 6 Great-tailed Grackle  
Unit 7 Great Blue Heron  
Unit 8 Snowy Egret  
Unit 9 Great Egret  
Unit 10 Laughing Gull  
Unit 11 Least Tern  
Unit 12 Northern Mockingbird  
Unit 13 Roseate Spoonbill  
Unit 14 White Ibis  
Unit 15 Willet  
Unit 16 Black-bellied Whistling-Duck  
Unit 17 Reddish Egret  
Unit 18 Sandhill Crane  
Unit 19 Yellow-crowned Night-Heron  
Unit 20 Red-winged Blackbird  
Unit 21 Black-necked Stilt  
Unit 22 Sources for Birds of Galveston Module  
Unit 23 Birds of Galveston Island Exam - Ambassador Level  
Module 7 Mammals - Ambassador Level+
Unit 1 Module Overview: Mammals  
Unit 2 Nine-banded Armadillo  
Unit 3 Coyote  
Unit 4 Eastern Cottontail Rabbit  
Unit 5 Eastern Gray Squirrel  
Unit 6 Fox Squirrel  
Unit 7 Nutria  
Unit 8 Raccoon  
Unit 9 Striped skunk  
Unit 10 Virginia Opossum  
Unit 11 Black Rat  
Unit 12 Bottlenose Dolphin  
Unit 13 Sources for the Mammals Module  
Unit 14 Mammals Exam - Ambassador Level  
Module 8 Reptiles and Amphibians - Ambassador Level+
Unit 1 Module Overview: Reptiles and Amphibians  
Unit 2 Common Snapping Turtle  
Unit 3 Red-eared Slider/Pond Slider  
Unit 4 Ribbon Snake  
Unit 5 Western Diamondback Rattlesnake  
Unit 6 Western Cottonmouth  
Unit 7 Gulf Coast Toad  
Unit 8 Rio Grande Chirping Frog  
Unit 9 Green Tree Frog  
Unit 10 Mediterranean House Gecko  
Unit 11 Green Anole  
Unit 12 Brown Anole  
Unit 13 Sources for Amphibians and Reptiles Module  
Unit 14 Reptiles and Amphibians Exam - Ambassador Level  
Module 9 Shells - Ambassador Level+
Unit 1 Module Overview - Shells  
Unit 2 Angel Wing  
Unit 3 Ark Shells  
Unit 4 Bay Scallops  
Unit 5 Common Eastern Oyster Shell  
Unit 6 Disk Clam  
Unit 7 Giant Atlantic Cockle  
Unit 8 Half-Naked Pen Shell  
Unit 9 Hooked Mussel  
Unit 10 Texas Quahog  
Unit 11 Variable Coquina Clam  
Unit 12 Lettered Olive  
Unit 13 Lightning Whelk  
Unit 14 Oyster Drill  
Unit 15 Shark Eye  
Unit 16 Sources for Shell Module  
Unit 17 Shells Exam - Ambassador Level  
Module 10 Sea-Beans - Ambassador Level+
Unit 1 Module Overview: Sea-Beans  
Unit 2 What are Sea-Beans?  
Unit 3 Hamburger Bean  
Unit 4 Sea Purse  
Unit 5 Sea Heart Bean  
Unit 6 Starnut Palm  
Unit 7 Golf Ball  
Unit 8 Nicker Nut  
Unit 9 Mary's Bean  
Unit 10 Furrowed Blister Pod  
Unit 11 Sources for the Sea-Bean Module  
Unit 12 Sea-Beans Exam - Ambassador Level  
Module 11 The Wrack Line - Ambassador Level+
Unit 1 Module Overview: The Wrack Line  
Unit 2 The Wrack Line  
Unit 3 Sea Shells and Sea Beans  
Unit 4 Marine Animals (1)  
Unit 5 Marine Animals (2)  
Unit 6 Marine Animals and Their Egg Cases  
Unit 7 Sargassum Algae  
Unit 8 Lotus Pods and Water Hyacinth  
Unit 9 Geology on the Beach  
Unit 10 Man-made Trash  
Unit 11 Sources for the Wrack Line Module  
Unit 12 The Wrack Line Exam - Ambassador Level