The Galveston Island Nature Tourism Council will hold one of the state’s most unusual celebrations this December with its official welcome to the visiting Sandhill Cranes.
Standing 3 to 4 feet tall, the red-capped cranes travel to Galveston Island for their winter migration, and have become a popular attraction for birders and other nature lovers. The accompanying event will feature a weekend of nature activities both indoor and outdoor. Both days will kick off bright and early with Dawn Patrol birdwatching events, led by local experts. In addition to the cranes, these events will feature local birds such as pelicans, spoonbills, and ibises.
The first Dawn Patrol event will be followed by a Coffee and Cranes event, with a presentation from whooping crane outreach program assistant Brittney Palode, and the self-driving Crane Crawl tour. Moody Gardens Golf Course will also host a Chasing Birdies event, which combines 18 holes of golf with stops to look at local bird habitats and learn about the area.
Saturday’s events will conclude with a Birding Bonanza hosted by Hall’s Bayou ranch. The event will include a bus trip through private property with tens of thousands of waterfowl. Sunday will also feature a bus trip on the island’s West End. Nature events like this often use methods like brochure printing to provide additional contextual information and education.
The 2025 Holiday with the Cranes weekend will take place across Galveston Island on December 13 and 14.
