Galveston, Texas is an island on the Gulf Coast of Texas that’s a popular vacation spot. There are lots of activities, museums, water sports, restaurants, and sightseeing available. Most will cost you to participate but there are a few good and absolutely free things that are available too. Here’s a quick list of fun and free things to do next time you’re in Galveston, Texas.

Galveston is well known for its miles of beaches. There are a few paid beaches (on the east side) but most beaches that are along the seawall after 16th street are free. There are no bathrooms but you can park free along the seawall. Towards the western end of the island after 61st and the end of the seawall there are numerous beach areas with blue signs that say Beach Access. Be aware there is no lifeguards at most of these beaches and the following rules apply:

No overnight camping
No glass containers
Pets must be on leashes
No open fires
No four wheelers
No alcohol

Another great pastime is bird watching. There are many locations along the bay side of the island (north side) that offer great places to watch all the different wildlife on the island. One of the most popular for the birds to hang out is along the Pier areas on Harborside Drive. Pier 19 is where the fishing boats dock and is a good area to go visit to people and bird watch as the fishing boats go out in the mornings and come back at noon or early evenings. The Cruise Ship Terminal is on Harborside Drive to and is worth a visit. At any time of year there are around 200 different species of birds and during the fall and spring migrations, as many as 300 different species. There is an abundance of other animals natural to the habitant and dawn and dusk are a great time to see many of them.

I shouldn’t even mention this since you will be on holiday but you can check your email for free at the Rosenberg Library on 23rd and Sealy. Actually the library does have a lot to offer and has paintings and historical items. The library is open 9 – 9 on Monday through Thursday and 9 – 6 on Fridays and Saturdays. You can also get free Internet access if you have a laptop along the seawall at restaurants from 7th street to 37th. Just turn on your WiFi and you’ll pick up available networks.

Go windows shopping in the Strand Street and downtown area that has a variety of specialty shops, antiques, and souvenir stores. There are some great old and historic buildings and houses to see and is also good for people watching. Parking is an issue; since you will need to pay for the time you park your vehicle in most areas downtown. Parking meters are popular for short trips but you should use one of the paid lots if staying over a 2 hours since they are much cheaper.

Galveston has one of the only Sea Turtle Research facilities in the country and offers free tours. Just east of 53rd street on Sias Drive. The tours last about 30 minutes and are guided by expert Biologists and provide some great insights on Sea Turtles and the hundreds of different species. You get to see all the different varieties of Sea Turtles and if you visit late in the summer may get to see some hatching. The facility is open Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday for tours hourly from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.

There is a Ferry service from Galveston Island to Bolivar Island at the east end of the Galveston. The ferries (there are several) transport people and cars to Bolivar and back every day. I’d like to tell you there is a schedule but there really isn’t other than to say it comes and goes as it fills with cars. On busy days it can take about 30 to 45 minutes in line and about a 20 minute crossing time. You can get out of your vehicle and even feed the seagulls that follow the ferry. No animals are allowed out of the vehicles, there is no smoking, fishing, or sitting on the rails. Once you get to Bolivar you can enjoy the wildlife areas to the northern side of the island.

Fishing on both the beach side and the bay side is free in many places. You can also go crabbing on the bay side and in the canals at many places. Most areas are posted if you cannot fish or crab. State licenses requirements apply. Crabbing can be done with a few chicken wings, string, and a container for the crabs. Surf fishing on the west end of the island right before St Luis Pass is usually very good, best times are dictated by the tides. You want an incoming tide for the best conditions but outgoing can also be good. There can be two tides a day or more so if you stop at a bait shop they usually have the latest information on when the tides are coming and going out.

The activities mentioned above can provide some great free entertainment and are available year around. There are also many annual events that offer a lot of free things to see and do. Just check the local paper or Tourist Visitors Center at 2027 61st Street for additional information.  

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Fun and Free Things to Do in Galveston, Texas

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Bird Sancturies In India

India is one of the great places on this planet that offers bountiful species of wildlife especially when it comes to birds. India is home for over approximately 1200 different species of birds living in diverse climatic conditions, vegetations and habitats. From North to South and East to West, every corner of India offers hundreds of species of birds. Some of the best destinations are listed below.

Ranganthittu Bird Sanctuary- KARNATAKA
 
The bird sanctuary is a paradise for wildlife enthusiasts.  One look around and a host of surprises await you.  Crocodiles, otters, flocks of some of the world’s rarest birds on tiny islands.  
Birds from Siberia, Australia and even North America have made this a haven for seasonal habitats.
When you hit the water on cane boats, you get a close up of some spectacular creatures-ibis, egret, heron, partridge or the cormorant.
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Keoladeo Ghana Sanctuary

Formerly known as the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, the Keoladeo Ghanna Sanctuary boasts of being one of the finest heronries in the world. For ages the rich aquatic plant and animal life in the fresh-water shallow marsh of Bharatpur has been attracting resident and migratory birds in millions. While many of India’s parks have been developed from the hunting preserves of princely India, Keoladeo Ghana was created by a maharaja. By diverting water from a nearby irrigation canal, a fabulous ecosystem which sustains a wealth of bird life was created. Over 350 species of birds find refuge in Bharatpur’s 11 square miles of shallow lakes and woodland. It is considered to be unique in the total number of bird species as well as the quantity of bird life which it harbors. It has an impressive assortment of land and arboreal birds, but the grand spectacle is provided by the aquatic species. For example, there are four species of cormorants, eight species of egrets, three ibises, 17 species of duck and geese, and two species of crane. The Siberian Crane is one of the rarest species in the world, and Bharatpur is its only known wintering ground in India. There are over 353 species, belonging to some 56 different families. The estimated production of chicks is about 30000 from over 12000 nests during the breeding season .
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Nalaban Island, Chilika Lake

The vast and dream like Chilika Lagoon is situated on east-coast of India. It is the largest brackish Water Lagoon with estuarine character that sprawls along the east coast. It is the largest wintering ground for migratory waterfowl found anywhere on the Indian sub-continent. The Nalaban Island within the Lake is notified as a Bird Sanctuary under Wildlife (Protection) Act.

It is one of the hotspot of biodiversity in the country, and some rare, vulnerable and endangered species listed in the IUCN Red List of threatened animals inhabit the Lake area for at least a part of their life cycle. The total number of fish species are reported to be 225 along with a variety of phytoplankton, algae and aquatic plants. A survey of the fauna of Chilika Lake carried out by the Zoological Survey of India in 1985-87 recorded over 800 species in and around the lagoon. This list includes a number of rare, threatened and endangered species, including the Barakudia limbless skink. On account of its rich bio-diversity, Chilika was designated as a “Ramsar Site”, i.e. a wetland of International Importance. The lagoon is also identified as a priority site for conservation and management by the National Wetland coral reefs Committee of Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India.

Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctaury: This Sanctuary is the largest wetland bird sanctuary in Gujarat India and one of the largest in India. Nal Sarovar harbours a variety of flora and fauna. Thousands of migratory waterfowls flock to Nal just after the monsoon. The shallow area and ponds on the outer fringes of the lake attract the birds that feed in the shallow waters.

Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary : Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is spread across 14 acres around the Vembanad Lake, It plays host to a large number of migratory birds like Siberian Stork and crane, flycatcher, teal, parrots, wood beetle. Beside these native birds like the kingfisher, heron, egret, owl, cuckoo, are seen in plenty.

Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary: Situated 45 Kilometers from Lucknow on Lucknow–Kanpur Highway. Sanctuary is a great excursion destination around Lucknow. Although Nawabganj Sanctuary is a small bird Sanctuaryand spread just across 4 square kilometers, it attracts lots of migratory birds during winters. The sanctuary is precisely confined to an area that encloses the lake. This is a natural lake and has a very beautiful environ around it thus it attracts a lot of avian population. This was declared Bird Sanctuary by Uttar Pradesh Government in 1984.

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When I first decided to invest in a pair of Nikon bird watching binoculars or ‘bins’ as they are sometimes called, I had no idea about what I wanted or what to look for in a good pair of binoculars. I recently started going on outdoor walks in the countryside as part of a healthy lifestyle change, and decided to get a pair of binoculars so as to enjoy the outdoors a little more close up, you know the usual things, for spotting birds and checking out local wildlife. A friend in the know recommended the Nikon range to me.

I simply wanted a decent pair of robust, reliable binoculars that I would be able to use daily. I thought it would be an easy task to find the right pair, however it proved harder than I thought. It was very confusing trying to fathom out all the technical questions on what seems to be a simple thing to choose – which set of binoculars is best for me?

Questions such as – which magnification to choose? What of an image? the light or darkness of an image? How to get a better field of view? What makes the image sharper? What types of lenses are best? The list goes on…

Here is what I discovered; it may help you save time and money when deciding which pair of binoculars to buy. I narrowed down my search to finding the best binoculars for bird watching to one’s that give a decent magnification, a sharp quality image, and the build quality had to be robust enough to handle daily use while at the same time be light enough to carry and use on long walks.

About Magnification – which to choose?

The magnification that seems to be most popular with bird watchers is the 8 x 42 or 10 x 42 models. The numbers are a little confusing for beginners, so to put it in simple terms 8 x 42 means that the image you are looking is eight times closer than that of viewing something with the naked eye, the 42 is the width of the viewing lense in millimetres, this also affects how much light is allowed into the binoculars, the lower the number the less light is allowed in and thus the darker the image. Pick a set with 35 to 45 mm, this will allow enough light to enter the binoculars to help give a clear, sharp image in low light conditions such as in the early morning or late evening. But an important point to note is the higher the magnification, the more you will suffer with image shake unless you have very steady hands or use a tripod. Using too high a magnification also reduces the width of view.

About Image Quality – what affects a sharp image?

The quality or sharpness of the image is very important; this is what usually separates a great set of bird watching binoculars from an average run of the mill pair. Image sharpness is governed by the quality of the lenses and the coatings that have been applied to them. The better the lenses, the sharper the image, but better lense quality is usually reflected in the price you pay. The difference between a cheap pair and a good quality pair will be worth the difference in price and will enhance your bird or wildlife watching enjoyment.

About Build Quality – are they tough enough?

You may, like me be out and about in all weather conditions and terrains, so you want a set of ‘bins’ which are tough enough to put up with all manner of ‘lumps and bumps’. It happens from time to time that the binoculars may be bumped against trees or fence posts or even be dropped on rough ground. This can cause all sorts of problems with cheaper or poorly made models, from loss of alignment and double images, to allowing water penetration causing the lenses to mist up. As a minimum the binoculars you choose should be 100% water proof, fog proof and shock proof. Preferably with a rubber coated body for extra protection. You also have to consider the weight of the ‘bins’, holding up heavy binoculars for extended periods of time soon gets very tiring on the arms.

So, how to get Nikon Bird Watching Binoculars for the best price?

All in all, the final choice is down to you, but remember spending a little extra money on a good quality set of bird watching binoculars now rather than a cheap set will give you many years of bird or wildlife watching pleasure, and could save you from having to spend extra money in the future, when you realize the cheap pair are just not up to the job. There are many online stores that sell binoculars that are ideal for bird and wildlife watching, but finding the right pair can take a long time. I found out that to get the best quality ‘bins’ at the best price I had to do a lot of research and took advice from people in the know. The easiest way to get the best quality and price on bird watching binoculars is to ask someone who has already done it!

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Bird Watching in Your Own Backyard

If you like to watch the playing, fluttering and fanciful nature of birds, watching birds in your own backyard or right outside your window can be a great joy. It’s extraordinary how many different kinds of species you can see. If you think there aren’t very many birds in your yard, there are a few things you can try that will attract them. With bird baths, different bird feeders and a couple of bird houses, you’ll soon have some special visitors.

You’ll find many different bird feeders on the market, and you will find that most of them fall into three different categories. There are hoppers, tray feeders, and tube feeders. Tube bird feeders are cylindrical, with landing places at the holes where the feed comes out. Tube bird feeders are good for various kinds of seed, as long as the opening is big enough for it to fit through. Hopper feeders will attract birds that might be leery of tube and tray feeders. Tray feeders are wonderful for birds that are smaller. If you really don’t care what types of birds visit your backyard, and you would just like to watch and enjoy any bird that shows up, you can purchase a general bird seed. A lot of bird seed can appeal to a number of different varieties of birds, because it’s got a number of seed varieties. If you want a particular kind of bird to come to your backyard, then you want to include a seed or food that appeals to that species.

Bird baths are a great thing to add to your backyard if you want to attract more birds. Birds love wading and splashing in the water, and if it’s kept clean, that’s even better. You can choose from more conventional bird baths, or you could go for something different, like a fountain that’s solar powered. Bird baths with moving water will appeal to wild birds that customarily would not frequent a regular fountain, like humming birds, robins, warblers and thrushes. Birds particularly like moving water, and it easily attracts them. Bird baths also look great as garden accessories. There are those that love bird baths for the fact that they bring the birds very close. This is the perfect chance to take some fantastic photographs, and enjoy the company of the birds.

If you decide to add a birdhouse to your yard, birds could potentially nest in it. Not only will they frequent now and again, but if it’s safe and secure, they might choose it as the place to lay and hatch their eggs. What a delight this would be because you could get a peek at the babies every once in a while, or when it is time for them to start flying. Not only is a birdhouse a place the birds will like, but it is a charming yard decoration too. Naturally, there are a variety of sizes, kinds and shapes of birdhouses, and the one you decide on depends on your particular taste.

Implementing these three things easily can make your backyard a little bit more accommodating for birds. There are a couple of other simple things you can add, like fragrant flowers, and crevices and openings so the birds can hide. If they feel safe in your yard, they will stick around. Happy backyard bird watching!

Author’s Bio

Ms. Ellis has written a number of articles related to bird feeders, bird houses, backyard bird watching and is a leading expert specializing in backyard birding. Please visit 14thebirds.com to read her other highly regarded work on things like various bird feeders, solar bird baths, bird houses and so on.

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Are you a curious bird watcher who just loves to solve questions regarding birds & their habitats, to simply watch them, or to enjoy their chirping? If yes, then a Bird watching holiday in India is what you should not miss.

Birding in India can be an exciting experience for nature lovers and bird watchers. From singing cuckoos to dancing peacocks, India has been rich with bird species with sheer dynamics & impressive diversity.

Bird watching tours to Indian Wildlife Sanctuaries & National parks are arranged by the tourist guides & travel experts for better sighting & bird knowledge. The most popular species of birds that can be spotted on Bird watching holidays in India are :

Indian Peafowl – Both male & female breeds of Indian Peafowl have fun shaped crest on their head. The most attractive part of them is the fan or train of feathers extending into a shining blue back. They are one of the most colorful birds. They are generally found all over India, being majorly spotted in Kanha National Park, Ranthambore national park & Sariska Tiger reserve.

Great Indian Bustard – Males are 120 cms long & females are generally 92 cms long. Underparts & neck is white, upperparts brown in color. Having a black clown on its forehead, the bird looks very pretty. Mostly visible in the Lala-Parjau sanctuary in Gujarat and Desert National Park in Rajasthan, can easily be spotted on Bird watching tour to these destinations.

Sarus Crane – The bird has good height of upto 200 cms with a wingspan of eight feet, stands as tall as the man. Has long red legs, head & upper neck red in color, beautiful white crown covered with green skin. It is the world’s tallest flying bird, can be spotted in India at the Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary, Madhav National Park, Bhindawas bird Sanctuary, Bharatpur National Park.

Indian Roller – Also known as Blue Jay, the bird is 13 inches long with a large head & short neck. Crown, lower wings & tail of this bluish bird are green in color. Indian Roller is mostly spotted in India in the Corbett National Park, Nagarhole National Park, Kanha National Park, Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary, Rajaji National Park.

The amazing atmosphere with the calm greenery will spell you bound with an exciting experience during your Birding in India. If you are simply curious to watch the beautiful rarely seen birds in their natural habitat and love to listen to their melodious songs, then plan a Bird watching tour to India with a travel expert and check out the famous bird sanctuaries of India.

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