Photo: August flowers on last remaining 52 acres of Bolivar Flats to be included in larger 1,000+ acreage already owned by Houston Audubon (photo taken 8/8/25)
Houston – For the first time in decades, Houston Audubon is making a formal public appeal for significant financial assistance to acquire a critical final piece of land to complete their largest preserve, the Bolivar Flats Bird Sanctuary.
$3 million dollars needs to be raised by the end of the year (12/31/25) to purchase the last remaining tract. If not integrated into the surrounding 1,240-acre shoreline preserve, dozens of already-platted houses will decimate the pristine nature of Houston Audubon’s largest sanctuary.
Bolivar Peninsula stands as a world-class ecological jewel along the Texas Gulf Coast, across the ferry from Galveston.
It’s a crucial stopover for millions of migratory birds traversing the Central and Mississippi Flyways, providing resting and nesting sites, including for 3 endangered species.
The unique foraging opportunities this preserve provides bring birders from all over the globe to witness the numbers and diversity of species only found here. Because of the sand and sediment accumulation caused by the 5-mile granite North Jetty, thousands of crabs can be found daily on this shoreline, while the sargassum that’s frequently trapped and washed ashore provides food for invertebrates. “It’s like the fridge is always full and the door is left open here for these birds”, says Pete Deichmann, Land Conservation Director for Houston Audubon.
On July 15, 2025, Houston Audubon significantly dipped into its acquisition funds to close on a 25-acre tract adjacent to this final remaining 27 acres. Houston Audubon now needs $3 million to complete the final outlying puzzle piece.
More information can be found here: https://HoustonAudubon.org/ProtectBolivar
Contact: Zineera Seth Chong
Comm. & Marketing Director, Houston Audubon
832-566-3200 zseth@houstonaudubon.org
Site visits and interviews for media can be scheduled.
