UH Coastal Center Urban Bird Center
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The eBird hotspot for the UH Coastal Center hasn’t been very active, as this property requires permission to access. There have been 53 recorded bird species observed at the property so far.
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See directions and Google map below.
Next Survey: January 25, 2025, starting at 7 AM
Survey Leaders: Chris Bick and Lisa Hardcastle
This monthly bird survey at the University of Houston Coastal Center takes place on the 4th Saturday of each month. The November survey happens on the 3rd Saturday of the month due to the holidays. We take a break in December for Christmas Bird Counts and a summer break in June and July. If you are interested in participating, please email Lisa at lisa.hardcastle@gmail.com. She will send reminder emails before each month’s survey! Detailed directions to the center are below. When you arrive, please sign in at the station just inside the front gate. There's a binder inside for visitors to log in. Extra maps are available inside the station.
About the UH Coastal Center
The University of Houston Coastal Center, located in La Marque, is the home of the Texas Institute for Coastal Prairie Research and Education. It also contains foundational remains of the former Camp Wallace, which was active during World War II. The 925-acre site is a mosaic of pristine coastal tallgrass prairie, wetlands, forest, and coastal prairie in the process of restoration. A combination of mowing, shredding, herbiciding, and prescribed burning is used to manage the coastal prairie. Seasonal plant succession provides a revolving wave of biodiversity throughout the year. Plans are underway to restore additional acreage to active prairie management by removing Chinese tallow trees and other invasive species.
Directions
The street address is: 5721 Highway 2004, La Marque, TX 77568 - but be sure to look at the map (see link at the top of the page). The map shows the detail of your route AFTER you exit Interstate 45 South at Exit 15, assuming you are coming from Houston. If you are coming from Galveston, the exit is the same, but you have to turn underneath I-45.
The UH Coastal Center is located south of Houston off of I-45 (Gulf Frwy.) next to the La Marque Dog Track. Take the FM 1764-West exit from I-45 (Exit #15) and go WEST. DON'T take the FM 1764-East exit! After you exit onto the service road and reach the stoplight at the intersection with FM 1764, turn right (west) IF YOU ARE COMING FROM HOUSTON. IF YOU ARE COMING FROM GALVESTON, turn left (west) underneath the freeway. Next, make a left at the stoplight intersection onto FM 2004 and follow the road for about 1/4 mile. A Whataburger will be on one side of FM 2004 and the dog track will be on the other side of FM 2004. The road will join another and turn to the right. Go about 1/2 mile further on FM 2004 and the UH Coastal Center will be on the right just beyond the dog track. The UH Coastal Center/Texas Institute for Coastal Prairie Research and Education is surrounded by a fence with a sign at the gate.
