TravelWorld International Magazine Summer 2024
The magazine written and photographed by North American Journalist Association members The magazine written and photographed by North American Journalist Association members
alveston Island's abundant natural habitat and location on a migratory flight path extending between South America and Alaska make it a top bird-watching destination. At the 18-hole Moody Gardens Golf Course, around 170 acres of open grass landscape, freshwater pond habitats, hundreds of palms, shrubby borders, and wetland areas provide rich bird habitat and a fantastic opportunity to birdwatch while you play. On the way to the second tee box, a graceful black-necked stilt with skinny pillar-like pink legs foraged along the edge of a pond. Further into the course, an egret stood statue-like with its eyes and long black beak pointed at the shallow water, no doubt hunting for breakfast. Later, a squadron of prehistoric-looking pelicans darkened the sky. The current bird species count at Moody Gardens Golf Course is 207, and the course is in the process of getting fully certified under the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf. Information about bird surveys and sightings at Moody Gardens Golf Course is available on eBird, an online program that tracks bird sightings. While I didn't score any of the golf birdies (one under par) I was chasing, I saw plenty of the winged variety on one of the best public golf courses in Texas. Yellow-headed Blackbird at Moody Gardens Golf Course Photo courtesy of Greg Whittaker Little Blue Heron at Moody Gardens Golf Course Photo courtesy of Greg Whittaker Tropical landscaping around the Moody Gardens Golf Course Clubhouse Photo courtesy of Moody Gardens Sand-filled bunkers protect the greens at Moody Gardens Golf Course Photo courtesy of Moody Gardens 22 If you want to chase some birdies of your own at Moody Gardens but don't play golf, check out the Chasing Birdies activity at Galveston's annual Featherfest. During this birding and nature photography festival, 18 participants can bird by golf cart and enjoy the natural beauty at Moody Gardens Golf Course. Reddish Egret at Moody Gardens Golf Course Photo courtesy of Greg Whittaker 23
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alveston Island's<br />
abundant natural habitat<br />
and location on a<br />
migratory flight path<br />
extending between South<br />
America and Alaska make<br />
it a top bird-watching<br />
destination. At the 18-hole Moody<br />
Gardens Golf Course, around 170 acres<br />
of open grass landscape, freshwater<br />
pond habitats, hundreds of palms,<br />
shrubby borders, and wetland areas<br />
provide rich bird habitat and a fantastic<br />
opportunity to birdwatch while you<br />
play.<br />
On the way to the second tee box, a<br />
graceful black-necked stilt with skinny<br />
pillar-like pink legs foraged along<br />
the edge of a pond. Further into the<br />
course, an egret stood statue-like with<br />
its eyes and long black beak pointed at<br />
the shallow water, no doubt hunting<br />
for breakfast. Later, a squadron of<br />
prehistoric-looking pelicans darkened<br />
the sky.<br />
The current bird species count at<br />
Moody Gardens Golf Course is<br />
207, and the course is in the process<br />
of getting fully certified under the<br />
Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary<br />
Program for Golf. Information about<br />
bird surveys and sightings at Moody<br />
Gardens Golf Course is available on<br />
eBird, an online program that tracks<br />
bird sightings. While I didn't score any<br />
of the golf birdies (one under par) I<br />
was chasing, I saw plenty of the winged<br />
variety on one of the best public golf<br />
courses in Texas.<br />
Yellow-headed Blackbird at Moody Gardens Golf Course<br />
Photo courtesy of Greg Whittaker<br />
Little Blue Heron at Moody Gardens Golf Course<br />
Photo courtesy of Greg Whittaker<br />
Tropical landscaping around the Moody<br />
Gardens Golf Course Clubhouse<br />
Photo courtesy of Moody Gardens<br />
Sand-filled bunkers protect the greens at Moody Gardens Golf Course<br />
Photo courtesy of Moody Gardens<br />
22<br />
If you want to chase some birdies<br />
of your own at Moody Gardens but<br />
don't play golf, check out the Chasing<br />
Birdies activity at Galveston's annual<br />
Featherfest. During this birding<br />
and nature photography festival, 18<br />
participants can bird by golf cart and<br />
enjoy the natural beauty at Moody<br />
Gardens Golf Course.<br />
Reddish Egret at Moody Gardens Golf Course<br />
Photo courtesy of Greg Whittaker<br />
23
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