Guides for the Bolivar Peninsula
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The Bird-Friendly Communities website provides a large collection of resources for people getting started to build places that are friendly to birds.
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Colorful Houston Audubon guide in PDF format.
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List developed by Houston Audubon and used during the post-Hurricane Ike restoration effort on the Bolivar Peninsula (PDF)
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Introductory field guide to the Birds of the Bolivar Peninsula. (PDF - large file. Be patient when downloading.)
Native Plants - Nature's Pantry for Wildlife on the Bolivar Peninsula
- Leaves: food for caterpillars and other insects who in turn provide sustenance for birds and other wildlife
- Flowers: nectar for bees, butterflies, and birds
- Seeds and Berries: food for birds and other wildlife
Add Native Plants to Your Property
How to Get Started
The easiest way to add natives to your own property is to let the wind and birds do your planting for you! Set aside a section of your yard to let nature manage. Along roadside right-of-ways, low areas and ditches, or a vacant area of the yard are all ideal candidates. If you like, border the edge of your new native garden with edging material to make a pocket garden. You may wish to supplement the area with additional native plants. Even a small backyard native garden will help sustain wildlife on the Bolivar Peninsula.
How to Acquire Plants
- The Natives Nursery at Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary in west Houston has a wide variety of "real deal" native plants.
- Some natives are available commercially. Seeds of many natives may be obtained from Native American Seed.
- Join the Native Plant Society of Texas. Members often exchange seeds and plants.
- Collect seed in the wild. The Coastal Prairie Partnership sponsors seed collection events. Participation in guided events such as theirs is a great way to learn the basics of collecting wildflower seeds.
