GINTC WINTER TEXAN NATURE ACTIVITIES 2017 Although the Galveston Island Nature Tourism Council (GINTC) has organized these activities as part of the CVB’s 2017 Winter Texan Program, everyone is welcome to participate! Should you have questions about any of these activities, please contact us by phone at 409.789.8125 or email at [email protected].

Birding with a local January 7, Saturday, 8am-noon, Free Leader: Greg Whittaker Where: Moody Gardens Aquarium south parking lot No RSVP needed – 409.683.4101 for questions Field trip specifics will depend on weather and bird activity on and near Galveston Island. Space limited in Moody Gardens van, but we will have narration broadcast on an fm radio channel for caravan option.

Gulf Coast Naturalist happy hour January 10, Tuesday, 4:30pm - ? Free (seawall parking required) Presenters: TBD Where: Jimmy’s on the Pier – 9001 Seawall Join a group of local naturalists for an informal presentation in a relaxed, scenic setting. Enjoy food and drink, take in the view and learn about the natural treasures on and around Galveston Island. Short presentations on various subjects will provide a framework for active question and answer.

Birding Field Trip with Jim Stevenson January 11, Wednesday, 9am-noon, Free Presented by GINTC & Galveston Ornithological Society Where: Galveston’s West End, Exact Meeting Place TBD RSVP Required: phone 409.789.8125 or [email protected] What a great opportunity to go on a birding outing with local ornithologist Jim Stevenson. Jim will determine the destinations depending on where the birds are. The west end meeting place will be determined and communicated to the participants prior to the activity.

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Sitting on Pints and Needles – Acupuncture 101 January 11, Wednesday, 4pm – 5:30pm, Free Presenter: JP Abadie Where: Galveston Island Brewing, 8423 Stewart Rd This 1.5 hour interactive experience will focus on the benefits of acupuncture, herbal medicine and holistic healing.

There's a Coral Reef Where? January 12, Thursday, 1:30-3:00pm, Free Presenter: Kelly Drinnen, Sanctuary Outreach Specialist, NOAA's Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary Where: Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Campus, 4700 Broadway, (enter lobby and go left following the signs to OLLI) RSVP Required: Phone 409.763.5604 or email [email protected] Discover the coral reefs of Texas! Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary is a little known gem in the Gulf of Mexico and home to some of the healthiest coral reefs in the entire Caribbean region. Join us to find out how they were discovered, why they are doing so well, and how we work to manage this precious natural resource. A hands-on activity will help bring the reef to life.

Galveston County Audubon/GINTC Birding Presentation January 12, Thursday, 7pm, Free (Doors open at 6:30pm) Presenter: Jim Stevenson Where: Wortham Auditorium at Rosenberg Library No RSVP needed Please come early to visit with others about recent outings and bird sightings! The program will begin at 7pm. Jim Stevenson will be presenting and his topic is Winter Waterfowl.

Birding with a Local - Talk & Field Trip January 17, Tuesday, 8:30am – 11:30am, Free Presenter: Alice Anne O’Donell Where: Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Campus, 4700 Broadway, (enter lobby and go left following the signs to OLLI) RSVP Required: Phone 409.763.5604 or email [email protected] This birding talk and field trip will focus on migration and the birds wintering on Galveston Island which normally breed and spend much of their lives further north. We will also see species that live here all year round. This talk and outing are perfect for beginning and experienced birders alike. After the talk, we will head out in caravan style from the northwest corner of the OLLI parking lot. Destinations to be determined by the birds!

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Turtle Barn Tour (Reservations Required in Advance) January 18, Wednesday, 10am – 11am, Free Presenter: Susan Lewis Where: NOAA Fisheries Galveston Lab (Directions given when you make your reservation.) RSVP Required: Phone 409.789.8125 or [email protected] If you’ve ever been interested in touring our one of a kind sea turtle facility here on Galveston Island, you probably already know that the tours fill up very quickly. Don’t miss out on this tour scheduled specifically for our Winter Texans. Reservations are REQUIRED. Call 409.789.8125 or email [email protected] if you want to be added to our guest list. We can have up to 20 people in this group and you cannot take the tour without making a reservation prior to January 17. When you make your reservation, you will be given a map as to where to meet for the tour. Tour of the National Marine Fisheries Galveston Protected Species Branch: the only facility in the world which raises captive sea turtles turtle for research. The primary focus of the research is to try to find ways to modify commercial fishing equipment so that it does not impact sea turtles. All, but one of the seven species of sea turtles are threatened or endangered--two critically. Five of those seven frequent the Gulf of Mexico. There are approximately 400 hundred Loggerhead and Kemp’s ridley sea turtles housed at the facility. The majority of the turtles are at the lab two to three years and then released back into the ocean close to the beach where they originally hatched.

Beer Brewing 101 January 18, Wednesday, 4pm – 5:30pm, Free Presenter: Greg Whittaker Where: Galveston Island Brewing, 8423 Stewart Rd This 1.5 hour interactive presentation will showcase the basics of beer brewing with a brewery tour and descriptions of popular beer styles. Participants are encouraged to taste beers as we describe them and discussion will flow from there. We intend to introduce different topics for discussion at each event to provide variety.

Peek behind the scenes – Aquarium Renovation Project January 19, Thursday, 10:30am - noon, Free Presenters: Greg Whittaker Where: Moody Gardens Visitor Center This 1.5 hour interactive presentation will showcase the Aquarium renovation project that is currently underway. A narrated slideshow and question and answer segment will allow guests to see the complex construction process taking place in our Aquarium building.

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Galveston County Audubon Group/GINTC Birding Field Trip January 21, Saturday, 8:30am -noon, Free Leaders: Greg Whittaker, Alice Anne O’Donell Where: Parking Lot inside entrance to the Texas City Dike No RSVP needed Our local Galveston County Audubon Group welcomes Winter Texans to participate in our monthly field trip. We will meet at 8:30am just inside the entrance to the Texas City Dike and begin by birding both sides of the dike.

Sea Turtle of the Gulf of Mexico January 23, Monday, 10am - noon, Free Presenter: Joanie Steinhaus, Turtle Island Restoration Network Where: Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Campus, 4700 Broadway, (enter lobby and go left following the signs to OLLI) RSVP Required: Phone 409.763.5604 or email [email protected] You'll learn that five of the seven species of sea turtles that exist worldwide visit the Gulf of Mexico. The highly endangered Kemps Ridley nests on Texas beaches. Learn about these ancient reptiles, the serious threats they face and actions you can take to help them. The presentation will include an update on the current status of the Kemps Ridley, the rarest sea turtle and the world’s most critically endangered.

Fishing 101 January 24, Tuesday, 4:30pm - ? Free (seawall parking required) Presenters: TBD Where: Jimmy’s on the Pier – 9001 Seawall Learn about fishing on and around Galveston Island from some of the locals. This will be an informal presentation on where to go, what to use and what you’re likely to catch. Benefit from a healthy mix of practical advice and fish tales. Enjoy food and drink, take in the view and learn about what swims beneath the waves.

Peek behind the scenes – Diving Operations January 25, Wednesday, 10:30am - noon, Free Presenter: Jake Emmert, Moody Gardens Dive Safety Officer Where: Moody Gardens Visitor Center This 1.5 hour interactive presentation will showcase the work that takes place below water both in our facility and out in the larger world. As an AZA accredited facility, Moody Gardens Life Science and Exhibit Operations department provides the highest level of animal care and well-being while creating personal connections between our guests and our conservation, education and research efforts. If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to safely and efficiently manage our aquatic exhibits and how our work interfaces with the Ocean around us, this is the perfect opportunity to pull back the curtain and see what goes on beneath the waves.

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PintFeathers January 25, Wednesday, 4pm – 5:30pm, Free Presenter: Greg Whittaker Where: Galveston Island Brewing, 8423 Stewart Rd Introduction to birding on Galveston Island. Informal discussion about bird identification, birding hotspots on and near Galveston Island and opportunities to join organized field trips throughout the winter. Enjoy the relaxed setting, tasty craft beers and birdbrains in lively avian discussion.

Peek behind the scenes – Conservation February 1, Wednesday, 10:30am – Noon, Free Presenters: Greg Whittaker, Animal Husbandry Manager – Moody Gardens Where: Moody Gardens Visitor Center This 1.5 hour interactive presentation will showcase the conservation work that goes on outside the pyramid walls. Emphasis on both local and International initiatives that directly relate to our animal collection. As an AZA accredited facility, Moody Gardens Life Science and Exhibit Operations department provides the highest level of animal care and well-being while creating personal connections between our guests and our conservation, education and research efforts. If you’ve ever wondered how captive animal care relates to wildlife conservation, this is the perfect opportunity to pull back the curtain and see what goes on behind the scenes.

Beer Brewing 101 February 1, Wednesday, 4pm – 5:30pm, Free Presenter: Greg Whittaker Where: Galveston Island Brewing, 8423 Stewart Rd This 1.5 hour interactive presentation will showcase the basics of beer brewing with a brewery tour and descriptions of popular beer styles. Participants are encouraged to taste beers as we describe them and discussion will flow from there. We intend to introduce different topics for discussion at each event to provide variety.

Birding with a local February 4, Saturday, 8am-noon, Free Leader: Greg Whittaker Where: meet at Moody Gardens Aquarium south parking lot No RSVP needed – 409.683.4101 for questions Field trip specifics will depend on weather and bird activity on and near Galveston Island. Limited seating in Moody Gardens van, but we will have narration broadcast on an fm radio channel for caravan option.

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Turtle Barn Tour (Reservations Required in Advance) February 8, Wednesday, 10am – 11am, Free Presenter: Susan Lewis Where: NOAA Fisheries Galveston Lab (Directions given when you make your reservation.) RSVP Required: Phone 409.789.8125 or [email protected] If you’ve ever been interested in touring our one of a kind sea turtle facility here on Galveston Island, you probably already know that the tours fill up very quickly. Don’t miss out on this tour scheduled specifically for our Winter Texans. Reservations are REQUIRED. Call 409.789.8125 or email [email protected] if you want to be added to our guest list. We can have up to 20 people in this group and you cannot take the tour without making a reservation prior to January 17. When you make your reservation, you will be given a map as to where to meet for the tour. Tour of the National Marine Fisheries Galveston Protected Species Branch: the only facility in the world which raises captive sea turtles turtle for research. The primary focus of the research is to try to find ways to modify commercial fishing equipment so that it does not impact sea turtles. All, but one of the seven species of sea turtles are threatened or endangered--two critically. Five of those seven frequent the Gulf of Mexico. There are approximately 400 hundred Loggerhead and Kemp’s ridley sea turtles housed at the facility. The majority of the turtles are at the lab two to three years and then released back into the ocean close to the beach where they originally hatched.

Birding with a Local - Talk & Field Trip February 9, Thursday, 1:30pm – 4:30pm, Free Presenter: Mort Voller Where: Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Campus, 4700 Broadway, (enter lobby and go left following the signs to OLLI) RSVP Required: Phone 409.763.5604 or email [email protected] This birding talk and field trip will focus on migration and the birds wintering on Galveston Island which normally breed and spend much of their lives further north. We will also see species that live here all year round. This talk and outing are perfect for beginning and experienced birders alike. After the talk, we will head out in caravan style from the northwest corner of the OLLI parking lot. Destinations to be determined by the birds!

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Bring the Bag! February 15, Wednesday, 10am-noon Presenter: Joanie Steinhaus, Turtle Island Restoration Network Where: Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Campus, 4700 Broadway, (enter lobby and go left following the signs to OLLI) RSVP Required: Phone 409.763.5604 or email [email protected]

Galveston residents and visitors are encouraged to reduce their consumption of single-use plastic bags in order to create a safer, healthier, and cleaner environment. Bring a t-shirt to this presentation to make your own reusable bag and learn ways you may become involved in this community driven campaign. Each year more than 380 billion bags are used in the United States, with less than 1% of these bags being recycled. They are harmful to the environment, dangerous to wildlife and take years to decompose. Using a reusable bag will save over 22,000 single-use plastic bags in your lifetime!

Beer Brewing 101 February 15, Wednesday, 4pm – 5:30pm, Free Presenter: Greg Whittaker Where: Galveston Island Brewing, 8423 Stewart Rd This 1.5 hour interactive presentation will showcase the basics of beer brewing with a brewery tour and descriptions of popular beer styles. Participants are encouraged to taste beers as we describe them and discussion will flow from there. We intend to introduce different topics for discussion at each event to provide variety.

Peek behind the scenes – Animal Health February 16, Thursday, 10:30am-noon, Free Presenters: Karen Holcroft, Moody Gardens Veterinary Technician Where: Moody Gardens Visitor Center This 1.5 hour interactive presentation will showcase the husbandry and veterinary work that goes into caring for a diverse animal collection. Emphasis on a broad spectrum of animal care and exhibit operations with opportunities for question and answer dialogue. As an AZA accredited facility, Moody Gardens Life Science and Exhibit Operations department provides the highest level of animal care and well-being while creating personal connections between our guests and our conservation, education and research efforts. If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to keep a collection of 12,000 animals from 600 species healthy, this is the perfect opportunity to pull back the curtain and see what goes on behind the scenes.

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Galveston County Audubon Group Birding Field Trip February 18, Saturday, 8am-noon, Free Leaders: Greg Whittaker, Alice Anne O’Donell Where: TBD, call 409.789.8125 for meet up location No RSVP needed Our local Galveston County Audubon Group welcomes Winter Texans to participate in our monthly field trip. We will meet at a pre-determined starting point and give everyone the game plan for the trip. We will have limited seating in the Moody Gardens van, but we will have narration broadcast on an fm radio channel for caravan options as well.

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