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The 27-mile long Bolivar Peninsula is world famous for the many species of birds that can be seen here. As of January 1, 1997, Houston Audubon Society members have recorded 344 species of birds on the peninsula. The peninsula's shape, diversity of habitats and strategic position along the Gulf Coast combine to make the peninsula attractive to a large and diverse number of bird species. The 27 miles of the Bolivar Peninsula's Route 87, with it's short side roads to the Gulf of Mexico, Galveston Bay and the Intracoastal Canal, provide access to Gulf and Bay beaches, mud flats, sand bars, fresh water marshes and ponds, salt marshes, coastal prairies, meadows, fields, and woodlots. A map of the peninsula and a map key have been included to help find locations that regularly have numbers of birds. Remember: birds may be found anywhere there is good habitat. Please do not trespass on private property.
Text by Winnie Burkett Houston Audubon Society, 1997  Key to Map 1. Galveston-Bolivar Ferry The 3-mile ferry ride is a good place to watch gulls, terns and pelicans feeding on the fish in the channel and invertebrates and fish stirred up by the ferry. Birds: Gulls, terns, pelicans and frigatebirds. Facilities: Restrooms Location: The ferry on SH 87 connects the northeast end of Galveston Island to the southwest end of the Bolivar Peninsula. 2. Fort Travis 60 acre historic Galveston County Park, admission free Habitat: Lawn and trees. Birds: Migrating land birds may be found in bushes and mulberry trees spring and fall. Mowed areas are used by shorebirds during migration and in the winter. Facilities: Rest rooms with showers and camping Location: From the Galveston-Bolivar ferry go east on SH 87 1 mile; turn right. 3. North Jetty Five-mile long rock jetty built by the Army Corp of Engineers in the late 1800's to protect the mouth of Galveston Bay. You can walk out 2 miles. This is a good place to observe the birds on Bolivar Flats at low tide. Birds:Shorebirds, gulls, terns, herons, ibis, spoonbills and salt marsh birds. Habitat: Mud flats, sand bars and salt marsh are all visible from the jetty. Facilities: None Location: From the Galveston-Bolivar ferry go east on SH 87 1.25 miles; turn right on Jetty Rd.; drive to the end of the road 4. Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary 550 acres managed by the Houston Audubon Society has been recognized by the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network as an important resting and feeding location for migrating shorebirds from throughout the Western Hemisphere. Birds: Shorebirds, gulls, terns, herons, ibis, spoonbills, ducks and salt marsh birds. Habitat:Beach, mud flats, salt marsh and adjacent uplands. Facilities:Observation tower Location:From the Galveston-Bolivar ferry go east on SH 87 3.7 miles; turn south on Rettilon Rd; drive to the beach; turn right on the beach and drive to the vehicular barrier. Do not drive past the barrier. Please Do Not Disturb The Birds 5. Bob's Road This short road runs from SH 87 to the Intracoastal Waterway. You can get good looks at many species of birds from the road. Note: There are many roads on the peninsula that go from SH 87 to the Intracoastal Waterway and any that go through the marsh may be Good places to see birds. Birds: Shorebirds, gulls, terns, herons, ibis, spoonbills, ducks, salt marsh birds and White-tailed Kites. Habitat:Freshwater pond, thickets, brackish pond, salt marsh, mud flats and Intracoastal Waterway. Facilities:None Location:From ferry landing go east on SH 87, 12 miles to Crystal Beach; turn left just past the waterslide on Bob's Rd. 6.Yacht Basin Road This road runs from SH 87 to the Intracoastal Waterway. You can often have good looks at secretive marsh species from the road. The end of the road is a good place to look for terns and gulls that feed in the water stirred up by tug boats and barges and to see the Rollover nesting islands to the north. Birds: Shorebirds, gulls, terns, herons, ibis, spoonbill, rails, and marsh sparrows. Habitat: Thickets, salt marsh and Intracoastal Waterway. Facilities: None Location: From ferry landing go east on Rt 87; turn left on Yacht Basin Rd. in Gilchrist just before you reach Claud's Ace Hardware store. 7. Rollover Pass The narrowest place on the peninsula, this man-made pass connects East Galveston Bay to the Gulf. At low tide, mud flats on the bay side are used by many birds; islands beyond are used in the summer by herons and spoonbills for nesting. Parking lot on the Gulf-side is a good place to look offshore for deep water birds. Birds: Shorebirds, gulls, terns, herons, ibis, spoonbills, pelicans and deepwater birds Habitat: Mud flats, shrubby islands and the Gulf. Facilities: None Location: From ferry landing go east on SH 87 to Rollover Pass; go over the bridge. There are parking lots on both sides of the road. 8 High Island Sanctuaries The Houston Audubon Society owns several sanctuaries on High Island. The two most visited ones are Boy Scout Woods and Smith Oaks. These sanctuaries are famous for the large number of migrating birds that stop there in the spring after their long flight across the Gulf of Mexico. Migrants may also be found there in the fall. Admission is charged. Birds: Ducks, herons, warblers, vireos, tanagers, orioles, cuckoos, buntings etc. Habitat: Woods, fields, ponds, and freshwater marshes. Facilities: There are bathrooms and a photo blind in Boy Scout Woods which is wheel chair accessible. Picnic tables and boardwalks are in both sanctuaries. Location: Boy Scout Woods:Take SH 87 to SH 124, go left on 124 one mile to 5th Street; turn right. Sanctuary is on the right in the middle of the long block. Watch for signs and parking lot. Smith Oaks: Continue on Rt 124 through High Island to Weeks St. Watch for the signs to Birders' Haven and Smith Oaks. Turn right on Weeks and then left on Winnie Street. The Sanctuary is at the end of Winnie Street. Booklet form of this birding trip available at the Bolivar Peninsula Chamber of Commerce Office |