Looking Back at 100 Years of Conservation

In 2023 Audubon Texas celebrated the centennial anniversary of our Coastal Program work across Texas. In 1923, Audubon's official stewardship began with leasing our first coastal island - Green Island. At that time, Reddish Egrets were thought to be extinct due to over hunting, but a breeding colony was found on Green Island and Audubon established our first bird sanctuary.

Looking back at 100 years of conservation we are inspired by the stories of past Audubon Coastal Wardens and Audubon staff, members, volunteers, and donors who turned the tide for birds like Reddish Egrets and Brown Pelicans. Prior to 1923, two young women began an Audubon chapter in Galveston. They hosted tea parties and advocated for the introduction of ribbons into women's fashion trends, rather than the popular bird feathers, which were contributing to the devastation of bird populations. These two women set the tone for the success of Audubon's work on the coast and would see in the future. They were posthumously awarded the Terry Hershey Award in 2023, which honors the role that women play in conservation in Texas.

Throughout our coastal centennial celebration, Audubon Texas created new resources and was featured across different platforms.

Enjoy our resources, shown below, featuring 100 years of Coastal Conservation!

Telling the Story

Bird Friendly Webinar Series discussing the science, policy, and history of Texas coastal conservation.

Watch it here: Coastal 100: An Audubon Texas Origin Story - April 28, 2023

The Interactive, Coastal Bird Explorer

View the Texas Coastal Bird Explorer highlighting the work we do on the Texas Coast and how it will change with sea level rise.

Featured in the Texas Parks and Wildlife Magazine

Birds Everywhere, article co-written by Lisa Gonzalez, Vice-President/Executive Director of Audubon Texas and Larry McKinney, former director of the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies and an Audubon Texas board member.

Texas Women in Conservation - Press Release

Learn more in this press release for the Terry Hershey Award posthumously honoring Cecil Seixas and Estell Hertford.

National Audubon Society - Blog about Green Island

Welcome to the Island Where Egrets Rule , this article by Martha Harbison, National Audubon Society Senior Network Content Editor, highlights Green Island, the island where Audubon first began it's coastal conservation work.

Stories of Chester Island

A blog written by Peggy Wilkinson, Audubon Texas volunteer coastal warden, about her family's work protecting Chester Island and the birds that visit to nest and rest during spring and fall migrations.