The M.A.R.S.H. Project presents

9th Annual

Connecting people birds and nature

FRIDAY, MARCH 7

Bird Tours

Starting at 6:00 am

SEE FULL SCHEDULE REGISTER

M.A.R.S.H. Project presents the Matagorda Bay Birdfest

Youth Art Contest Awards & Celebration

4:30 pm - 6:30 pm

Winners announced & celebrated featuring the Osprey at

TBE Thibodeaux Conference Center at 211 E. Bay Blvd., Palacios, TX

(Corner of E. Bay Blvd & E. Main St.)

6:00 - 7:00 pm

Thibodeaux Hall - 201 E. Bay Blvd

Entertainment by Singer/Songwriter Paige Hill

SATURDAY, MARCH 8

Bird Tours

Starting at 6:00 am

SEE FULL SCHEDULE REGISTER

Palacios Parade of Birds

10:30 - 11:30 am

Procession begins on 6th and Main (Railroad Park),

featuring Palacios' historic center

• Parade lineup begins at 9:30 am - Railroad Park.

Calling all entries to be at lineup on time

Emcee and judges table at 4th and Main

• Owl Pellet Dissection - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm

• Parade winners announced 12:45 pm

• Food Trucks - 10 am to 4 pm

NEW EVENT

TAMU Press & MARSH Project
present
Matagorda Magic

BOOK SIGNING

11:30 am - 12:30 pm

City by the Sea Museum

4th & Commerce

Raptor Display

1:00 - 4:00 pm

Railroad Park

(6th and Main St.)

Speaker Sessions

1:00 pm to 4:10 pm

Eastside Elementary School

901 2nd St

Palacios, TX

SEE FULL SCHEDULE

Keynote Dinner

5:30 to 8:15 pm $70/person

with guest chef Robert Mayberry

Keynote Speaker

Executive Director of the Gulf of Mexico Trust

Jay Kleberg

"Stewardship & Storytelling"

Palacios Educational Pavilion

693 South Bay Blvd., Palacios, TX

SUNDAY, MARCH 9

Bird Tours

Starting at 6:00 am

SEE FULL SCHEDULE REGISTER

BIRD TOURS

REGISTER HEREFor tour descriptions, click here

Friday, March 7

A True Gem - The Powderhorn Ranch Wildlife Management Area (WMA)*
5:45 AM - 3:00 PM*

Going Mad for Birds at The Nature Conservancy Mad Island Marsh Preserve*
6:00am to 3:00pm

Over the River and through the Woods to...Prairies, Beaches and Turf Farms - Matagorda County Hot Spots*
6:15am to 3:00pm

Matagorda Bay Foundation Dog Island Preserve**
7:00am to 1:00pm

Just Peachy - JBH Burr Ranch*
5:30am to 3:00pm

Saturday, March 8

The Birdge to Nowhere - Oyster Lake*
6:00am to 10:30am

Around Town - Palacios Hot Spots*
6:45am to 10:30am

Shorebird Haven at the Harrison Ranch*
6:30am to 10:30am

Colorado River Roaming at the Birding Nature Center and LeTulle Park*
6:15am to 10:30am

Sunday, March 9

Matagorda Bay Foundation Dog Island Preserve**
8:00am to 2:00pm

Second Chance at A True Gem - The Powderhorn Ranch WMA*
6:45am to 3:00pm

Carancahua Bay Environs and Formosa Tejano Wetlands*
7:30am to 3:00pm

Otra vez! - Over the River and through the Woods to...Prairies, Beaches and Turf Farms - Matagorda County Hot Spots*
7:15am to 3:00pm

Going Doubly Mad for Birds at The Nature Conservancy Mad Island Marsh Preserve*
7:00am to 3:00pm

*Meet at The Point, 608 1st St., Palacios, TX
**Meet at Matagorda Marina at 189 CR 255

SPEAKER SESSIONS

SATURDAY, MARCH 8 - 1:00 pm to 4:10 pm
Eastside Elementary School, 901 2nd St., Palacios, TX

Session 1
1:30 to 2:10 pm

Tara Rodkey
TX A&M Corpus Christi
Room A

Carter Crouch
International Crane Foundation
Room B

TX Parks & Wildlife
Matagorda Bay
Room C

Session 2
2:30 to 3:10 pm

David Essian
Harte Research Institute
Room A

Elizabeth Everett
TX A&M Corpus Christi
Room B

Alexis Baldera
National Audubon
Room C

Session 3
3:30 to 4:10 pm

Richard Gibbons
Houston Audubon
Room A

Paityn Bowers
International Crane Foundation
Room B

TBA
Room C

New 2024 Moderated Panel

immediately following speaker sessions

SATURDAY, APRIL 13 - 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm
PMAR - 101 Marine Center Dr., Palacios, TX

“It’s a Wrap! Matbay News 2024”
Six Speaker Q&A Moderated by Fish and Wildlife Biologist, Coastal Program, TX
Woody Woodrow

Director of Mat Bay FDN
Bill Balboa

Field Specialist, PMAR Texas
Dr. Jay Tarkington

Master Naturalist, G.C.B.O. B.O.D.
and Tour Leader MB Birdfest
Bob Freidrichs

Director of Audubon Texas
Alexis Balderas

TPWD Mat Bay Ecosystem Leader
Leslie Hartman

Special Guest
TBD

CLICK TO ENLARGE

The M.A.R.S.H. Project presents

9th Annual

FRIDAY, MARCH 7

SATURDAY, MARCH 8

SUNDAY, MARCH 9

BIRD TOURS

Friday, March 7

Saturday, March 8

Sunday, March 9

SPEAKER SESSIONS

Session 11:30 to 2:10 pm

Session 22:30 to 3:10 pm

Session 33:30 to 4:10 pm

New 2024 Moderated Panel

immediately following speaker sessions

Session 1
1:30 to 2:10 pm

Session 2
2:30 to 3:10 pm

Session 3
3:30 to 4:10 pm