Save Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary
Urgent funding deadline: December 31, 2025
Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary is at risk from a housing development! On an annual basis, half a million birds depend on Bolivar Flats to rest and refuel. This site has a rare international listing as a “Globally Important Bird Area”, and 300 bird species have been documented here. And on any given day, you can share the Flats with as many as 50 bird species!
In the 1980s, Houston Audubon first took action to protect Bolivar Flats, located across the Galveston Ferry on Bolivar Peninsula. Since that time, we have secured 1,240 acres of this critical habitat. The last missing piece is under a tight final purchase deadline as $3 million is needed to prevent the already planned and platted development.
Your financial support is greatly appreciated and needed now to bring this last remaining conservation puzzle piece “under our wing”.
Update: August 13, 2025
Update: August 9, 2025
Update: July 18, 2025
Update: January 2025
Good news! Houston Audubon is under contract to purchase this property! Thanks to the public support we've received, the developer approached Houston Audubon with the opportunity to purchase it, which will allow us to protect this critical habitat.
Donations can be made by using the button at the top of the page. If you are interested in finding out more about the campaign or supporting the project with a gift or pledge, please contact Aimee Friend at afriend@houstonaudubon.org or call 281-300-4918. Donations will be accepted until December 31, 2025. Cash donations, stocks or appreciated assets, donor-advised funds, and IRA distributions are accepted as well as the option to pledge now and pay later.
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Templates to contact your elected officials
Some of the Birds Who Use Bolivar Flats
*Threatened/endangered species
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March 19, 2023 Update
A BIG thank you to the individuals and organizations that submitted comments and made calls in response to the COE public notice for the Bolivar Beach Housing Development. The project plans will undergo further review by U.S. Fish and Wildlife and other federal and state agencies before the corps will make a determination. If approved, the subdivision plat will go to the Galveston County Commissioners Court for a vote and final approval. This would be our last opportunity to voice our concerns. We are monitoring the situation closely and will share further updates.
