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| − | [[Image: | + | [[Image:Rookery_HI_.jpg|thumb|600px|right|Photo by {{user|HelenB|HelenB}}<br>The Rookery in Clay Bottom Pond, Smith Oaks Sanctuary, High Island, Texas, April 2008]] |
==Overview== | ==Overview== | ||
| − | High Island is a small community on the Gulf Coast of SE Texas, which is famous as a migrant trap for birds returning to the USA in the Spring. There are 4 | + | High Island is a small community on the Gulf Coast of SE [[Texas]], which is famous as a migrant trap for birds returning to the USA in the Spring. There are 4 sanctuaries, owned and maintained by the Houston Audubon Society, the most well-known being Boy Scout Woods and Smith Oaks. The area has been impacted quite dramatically by 3 hurricanes in 4 years, most recently Hurricane Ike (Sept. 2008), but has recovered sufficiently to be open as usual this Spring. |
High Island is on the '''Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail''', site nos. '''UTC 51-55'''. | High Island is on the '''Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail''', site nos. '''UTC 51-55'''. | ||
==Birds== | ==Birds== | ||
| + | [[Image:The_Rookery_HI.jpg|thumb|400px|right|Photo by {{user|HelenB|HelenB}}<br>Viewing deck at Smith Oaks Sanctuary, High Island, Texas, April 2008]] | ||
===Notable Species=== | ===Notable Species=== | ||
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===Rarities=== | ===Rarities=== | ||
"to do" | "to do" | ||
| − | |||
===Check-list=== | ===Check-list=== | ||
{{BirdsSee|"to do"}} | {{BirdsSee|"to do"}} | ||
| − | |||
==Other Wildlife== | ==Other Wildlife== | ||
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===History and Use=== | ===History and Use=== | ||
| − | High Island is not an "island" as such, but got it's name because the area rises 32 feet above the surrounding marshes, due to the salt dome below. Trees were able to grow in the improved soil on this hill, and so it became a very important first landfall for the birds which fly 600 miles across the Gulf of Mexico on | + | High Island is not an "island" as such, but got it's name because the area rises 32 feet above the surrounding marshes, due to the salt dome below. Trees were able to grow in the improved soil on this hill, and so it became a very important first landfall for the birds which fly 600 miles across the Gulf of Mexico on the Spring migration from their wintering grounds in the Tropics. |
===Areas of Interest=== | ===Areas of Interest=== | ||
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===Access and Facilities=== | ===Access and Facilities=== | ||
| + | *Open daily from dawn to dusk, all year | ||
| + | *During Spring migration (mid-March to mid-May) there are volunteers on hand and there is an entrance fee of $5 per day, unless you want to buy a season pass for $25, in the form of the High Island patch, which is nice to keep as a souvenir, as a different bird is featured each year ([http://houstonaudubon.org/index.cfm/MenuItemID/372.htm Louisiana Waterthrush for 2009]). Proceeds from these entrance fees help support HAS's 3000+ acre sanctuary system. | ||
| + | *Free daily bird walks from March 28 to May 3. | ||
| + | *Half day field trips (for info see Spring 2009 update in External Links below) | ||
| + | *Photo blind (hide) at Boy Scout Woods | ||
| + | *Viewing decks at Clay Bottom Pond | ||
| + | |||
'''Directions'''<br> | '''Directions'''<br> | ||
High Island is on the coast to the east of Galveston Bay. From Houston, take I-10 east, exit for Winnie and go south on Hwy. 124. Another way is to go through Galveston and cross to Bolivar on the free ferry, then follow Hwy. 87 along Bolivar Peninsula. | High Island is on the coast to the east of Galveston Bay. From Houston, take I-10 east, exit for Winnie and go south on Hwy. 124. Another way is to go through Galveston and cross to Bolivar on the free ferry, then follow Hwy. 87 along Bolivar Peninsula. | ||
Revision as of 17:11, 29 March 2009
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This article is incomplete. This article is missing one or more sections. You can help the BirdForum Opus by expanding it. |
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The Rookery in Clay Bottom Pond, Smith Oaks Sanctuary, High Island, Texas, April 2008
Overview
High Island is a small community on the Gulf Coast of SE Texas, which is famous as a migrant trap for birds returning to the USA in the Spring. There are 4 sanctuaries, owned and maintained by the Houston Audubon Society, the most well-known being Boy Scout Woods and Smith Oaks. The area has been impacted quite dramatically by 3 hurricanes in 4 years, most recently Hurricane Ike (Sept. 2008), but has recovered sufficiently to be open as usual this Spring.
High Island is on the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail, site nos. UTC 51-55.
Birds
Notable Species
"to do"
Rarities
"to do"
Check-list
Birds you can see here include:
"to do"
Other Wildlife
"to do"
Information board about why High Island is high. Click on image for a larger version.
Site Information
History and Use
High Island is not an "island" as such, but got it's name because the area rises 32 feet above the surrounding marshes, due to the salt dome below. Trees were able to grow in the improved soil on this hill, and so it became a very important first landfall for the birds which fly 600 miles across the Gulf of Mexico on the Spring migration from their wintering grounds in the Tropics.
Areas of Interest
- Boy Scout Woods
- Smith Oaks
- The Rookery at Smith Oaks
- Eubank Woods
- S.E. Gast Red Bay Sanctuary
Access and Facilities
- Open daily from dawn to dusk, all year
- During Spring migration (mid-March to mid-May) there are volunteers on hand and there is an entrance fee of $5 per day, unless you want to buy a season pass for $25, in the form of the High Island patch, which is nice to keep as a souvenir, as a different bird is featured each year (Louisiana Waterthrush for 2009). Proceeds from these entrance fees help support HAS's 3000+ acre sanctuary system.
- Free daily bird walks from March 28 to May 3.
- Half day field trips (for info see Spring 2009 update in External Links below)
- Photo blind (hide) at Boy Scout Woods
- Viewing decks at Clay Bottom Pond
Directions
High Island is on the coast to the east of Galveston Bay. From Houston, take I-10 east, exit for Winnie and go south on Hwy. 124. Another way is to go through Galveston and cross to Bolivar on the free ferry, then follow Hwy. 87 along Bolivar Peninsula.
Contact Details
Houston Audubon Society
440 Wilchester Blvd.
Houston, TX 77079
Tel: 713-932-1639
Email: [email protected]
