Help cleanup the beach for nesting birds and turtles!

NestFest 2025 is being held on March 11 from 9am to 12pm on Bolivar Peninsula, Galveston Island and Follet’s Island.

Protecting Texas’ coastlines has never been more important, and NestFest 2025 is your chance to take action for nesting shorebirds and sea turtles! Join us on Saturday, March 11th, from 9 AM to 12 PM, for a coastal cleanup event spanning 12 locations across Galveston Island, Follet’s Island, and Bolivar Peninsula. This free, family-friendly event invites volunteers of all ages to help clear harmful marine debris from critical nesting habitats, ensuring a safer environment for nesting birds, sea turtles, and their young.

A lone fisherman stands out in the calm waters during the early dawn hours at the San Luis Pass near the Blue Water Highway off of Follet’s Island.

NestFest is a conservation project organized by SPLASh (Stopping Plastics and Littler Along Shorelines) with a mission to create a cleaner environment for people, birds, and other wildlife in the greater Houston-Galveston region through community science, education, and outreach.

Spring is a vital time for Texas beaches, as thousands of shorebirds and sea turtles migrate to lay their eggs. Unfortunately, these coasts also accumulate trash ten times faster than any other Gulf state, creating hazardous obstacles for wildlife. NestFest helps combat this issue by cleaning shorelines ahead of the nesting season, giving species like the Wilson’s Plover, Snowy Plover, Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles, and more a greater chance of survival.

Volunteers will not only contribute to an essential conservation effort but will also enjoy exclusive perks. Participants will receive NestFest giveaways, including stickers and t-shirts (while supplies last), and a BOGO coupon valid for a Moody Gardens day pass or individual ticket, redeemable from March 11 through March 31, 2025.

NestFest is hosted by Gulf Coast Bird Observatory, American Bird Conservancy, Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research, Galveston Bay Area Chapter – Texas Master Naturalists, and SPLASh, with Moody Gardens as a proud sponsor of this impactful event.

A Willet squawks out a warning to passerbys at the Galveston Island State Park.

Texas’ coastlines are home to some of the world’s most endangered wildlife, like the Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle. Events like NestFest play a vital role in protecting these habitats and raising awareness about conservation.

Since its inception in 2023, NestFest has continued to grow in reach and impact. This year’s cleanup sites promise to create safer environments for species that depend on the Texas coastline to thrive.

To learn more about NestFest, register to volunteer, or find a cleanup location near you, visit splashtx.org/nestfest. Together, we can make a difference for Texas wildlife.

A flock of Black-bellied Whistling Ducks float together in a long row across the murky waters of Shoveler Pond surrounded by lilies and moss.