PALACIOS – Organizers of Matagorda Bay Birdfest in Palacios are in high gear to make good on the promise that the fourth annual educational event connects people, birds, and nature.
Birdfest spans the weekend of Friday, March 27, through Sunday, March 29.
The small coastal town of Palacios on Matagorda Bay and its surrounding wetlands and estuaries offer a rich setting for experienced birders and adventurous beginners.
Powderhorn Ranch
Friday’s birding tours include five excursions beginning with a daybreak trek to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Powderhorn Ranch at 6:30 a.m. The Powderhorn’s saltwater wetlands offer year-round habitat for shorebirds, wading birds and waterfowl. Its woodlands, freshwater wetlands, and restored coastal prairie provide critically important “fall-out areas” for migrating songbirds.
Another early morning tour, to the Nature Conservancy’s Clive Runnels Mad Island Marsh Preserve, promises sightings of ducks, cranes, waders, rails, raptors, shorebirds, wrens, and sparrows.
Three Birding on the Bay boat tours begin at 8 a.m., 11 a.m., and 2 p.m.
A Friday evening reception at the historic Peaceful Pelican Bed and Breakfast will offer Birdfest participants the opportunity to meet their tour guides and to meet the event’s keynote speaker, Romey Swanson, Texas Audubon’s Director of Conservation Strategy.
Friday evening culminates with the 2020 Roseate Spoonbill Art Contest Exhibit and Concert at the East Side Annex, 901 Second St. The concert features singing zoologist Lucas Miller.
Fred Beck
Roseate Spoonbill
Saturday’s tours include outings to Oyster Lake, Western Roads, Palacios Hot Spots, and a daybreak kayak tour to Oyster Lake.
A Parade of Birds and Raptor Show begins at 10 a.m. Saturday morning at First Street and South Bay Blvd. and ends on the grounds of the historic Luther Hotel. The colorful walk along the waterfront showcases the imaginative handwork of young and old to fashion bird costumes.
Speaker sessions are on tap Saturday afternoon beginning at 1:30 p.m. at the East Side Annex 6th Grade Wing. Among the Birdfest speakers are Glenn Olsen of Rice University on “Miraculous Migration;” avian biologist Susan Heath on “Wading Birds of Matagorda Bay;” Dr. Liz Smith of the International Crane Foundation on “The Conservation Legacy of North American Cranes.”
Other sessions feature David Newstead on “As the World Turns: A Year in the Life of A Texas Waterbird;” Leslie Hartman of Texas Parks and Wildlife on “Prey! When Birds Say Grace, What Is It They Are Thankful For?;” wildlife photographer Kathy Adams Clark on “Photographing Birds;” Brigid Berger on “History and Perspective of the Audubon Christmas Bird Count In Matagorda County;” and Gary Clark on “Reconnecting People with Nature.”
Environmental steward Bill Balboa, executive director of the Matagorda Bay Foundation, will moderate a Q&A session at 4:30 p.m.
Romey Swanson
Saturday’s events culminate with dinner at the Palacios Educational Pavilion and the keynote address of conservationist Romey Swanson of Texas Audubon. His topic is “Survival by Degrees: The Future of Birds.”
The dinner features the culinary talents of Chef Robert Mayberry who will offer a menu of redfish from Turtle Creek, Texmati rice pilaf, bread made of Texas wheat, and locally sourced vegetables.
Birdfest offers four early bird tours Sunday morning — a kayak outing to Keller Bay, two to the Nature Conservancy’s Mad Island Marsh Preserve, and another to the Powderhorn Ranch.
For detailed information on all Birdfest events, registration, guidelines for the photography contest, vendor information, and lodging — and to view a phenomenal inventory of photos of local and migratory bird sightings — go to matgordabaybirdfest.org
Birdfest director Laurie Mann Beck can be reached at (956) 285-3234 and at lauriebeck@becktv.com.
