The week of February 14^th, 2021 is not one any Texan will soon forget. The arctic blast we received left many without power and water for days on end and yet we spent a good deal of time answering questions on Facebook about how to help the birds. Thank you all for caring enough about the birds to ask these questions during your time of hardship!

Now that the freeze has snuffed out all the flowering vegetation and likely impacted natural seed resources, the birds need us more than ever. Sadly, we heard from several people that their wintering hummingbirds did not survive the week long freezing temperatures. Maybe they moved on, but there is no way for us to know for sure.

At any rate, the hummingbirds that did survive need your feeder more than ever because of the lack of flowers. If you don’t have your feeders up for spring yet, we suggest you put them out now! It is almost time for migrating Ruby-throats to appear on the Texas coast anyway and you might just help out a wintering hummingbird that is preparing to make the journey back to its nesting grounds in March.

Natural seed sources were likely impacted too so don’t forget to continue putting out sunflower seed! If you know of verified bird deaths, please consider reporting them to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department so they can track the impact of the weather to birds:

https://tpwd.texas.gov/newsmedia/releases/?req=20210223a

With great sorrow, I regret that the time has come to write a tribute to GCBO’s long-time friend Dennis Shepler. Dennis passed away on February 18^th at his home in Houston. He had suffered a long bout with pulmonary fibrosis and passed away peacefully in his sleep early in the morning.

Dennis supported GCBO in too many ways to count, but the two primary ways were through our Site Partner Network and his artwork. While Dennis was teaching at The Kinkaid School in Houston, he set up a fantastic “school backyard” along Buffalo Bayou for student research projects, and this was one of our Site Partner Network sites. I met him for the first time there in the fall of 2007 just after I started working at GCBO. Later, after he retired, he supported us endlessly by providing artwork for t-shirts and silent auctions. Our current Quintana t-shirt with the moon and three warblers taking off (appropriately called "Lift Off") was painted by Dennis. In the last few years when I ran into him birding, I asked how he was doing. His response was the same every time: “Well, I’m supposed to be dead, so I’m doing pretty well!” His enthusiasm for life was infectious, and he never met a stranger. He birded until he could bird no longer, and I felt so sad when I saw his Facebook post saying that he’d bid goodbye to the west Texas mountains. I know they were a favorite birding spot of his.

When I think of Dennis the following Hunter S. Thompson quote comes to mind: “Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming “Wow! What a Ride!” That was Dennis all the way. Although we mourn his loss, I am sure he wouldn’t want us sitting around crying over him. He would want us all outside, searching for the next great bird, and enjoying the camaraderie of our fellow birders. Bird on, Dennis. You will be missed.

-Sue Heath

SPLASh’s website is now live! SPLASh Texas is our project with American Bird Conservancy and Black Cat GIS that is all about cleaning up coast lines and creating a better environment for the wildlife and humans that live there. Take a look at our new site to see upcoming events, subscribe to the enews, and read about the project!

Surfside has earned it's 2021 Bird City Texas certification from Texas Parks and Wildlife and Audubon Texas!

Along with Galveston and San Antonio, Surfside was named as a "Bird City" for its leadership in protecting birds and their habitats. The criteria required to be a Bird City is designed to be effective against habitat loss and other dangers to bird populations.

Come birding with GCBO and our Executive Director, Martin Hagne! Have a great time birding, exploring, enjoying some extraordinary scenery, dining on local cuisine, and of course seeing great birds! We always hook up with at least one local guide for the best experience. Here are our wonderful upcoming trips, but hurry, our trips are selling out fast!! You can get more information on or website or send Martin an email.

For all trips below with availability, please go to our website for trip information and to register.

June 19-26, 2021 - SOLD OUT! 

August 16-23, 2021 – SOLD OUT!

Guatemala Exploration  

Oaxaca, Mexico  

It’s time again folks! We found the first American Oystercatcher nests already! Don't miss your chance to keep up with all the drama. If you would like to support this project (and we hope you do!) you can adopt a pair of oystercatchers for a $100 donation. You will receive a certificate for each member of your pair with their banding data and Sue will update you monthly on your pair's progress throughout the nesting season. When possible she will send you photos of nests and chicks. You can adopt your pair here: adopt a pair of birds or call and talk to Tricia or Sue. Thanks everyone for your continued support of this important project!

Spring Migration is right around the corner, folks, and we at GCBO are preparing for the visiting birds. Every spring, we stock our Quintana Neotropical Bird Sanctuary with tons of seeds and oranges for the birds. Some of them have been flying for miles (sometimes across the gulf) without rest and they need to refuel! We provide them with food, water, and a safe place to rest. If you would like to help us, please donate black oil sunflower seed and wild bird seed mix now! Thanks!

The Wireless Alliance is a company that recovers and recycles cell phones, smart phones, tablets, and other consumer recyclables.

We will be collecting these items for Wireless Alliance to keep them out of landfills as well as raise money for our conservation efforts. If you have old technology such as a phone, charger, tablet, or other accessories, consider bringing it to GCBO!

Once again, we have had to postpone our Brew on the Bayou event in light of the COVID 19 situation. The safety of our volunteers, visitors, and staff is the most important thing to us, so we will continue to put that first! We hope to see everyone on November 6 for brews, birds, music, and friends!

We are trying to go as paperless as we can to save some trees and quite a bit on printing and mailing costs. We would love if you would let us email you instead of snail mailing a hard copy of any correspondence, including your future copies of the Gulf Crossings. Please email or call Tricia to say: “Hey, GCBO, please start emailing me things! Here is my email…”   Thanks!   

DONATE NOW on our website to support our conservation programs.

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Get emails that matter to you. At the very bottom of this email there is an "update profile" or "unsubscribe" link that will take you to a page where you can make your selections. We now have specific lists for things like volunteering, events, bird of the month, and more. Please take a moment to update your preferences if you haven't already.

GCBO is a registered charity through Kroger's Community Rewards Program. This means that you can register your Kroger Plus Card online and select GCBO as the organization of your choice. Every time you use your Kroger Plus Card, Kroger will donate a portion back to GCBO! This is an easy way to support GCBO while you shop - your donations help us continue to protect birds and birding habitat around the Gulf Coast and beyond. To register your Plus Card, click here. Our charity number is #DN782.

Telephone: 979-480-0999 | Email Us