NEWSLETTER
NEWSLETTER
ABOUT US
ABOUT US
If you are attending, sponsoring, or writing about NestFest (#NestFest2025) please check out our resources below including social media post ideas for you to download and use on your accounts, press releases, photos, and videos.
If you are with the media and have questions or need help setting up an interview with a subject matter expert, please contact splashtx@abcbirds.org
NestFest Media Tool Kit
This media kit is designed to make it easy to spread the word about NestFest. You are encouraged to download, share, and use the provided assets in line with the branding and messaging guidelines. Thank you for helping us amplify the mission of NestFest!
NestFest Press Release
NestFest 2025: Join the Effort to Protect Nesting Birds and Sea Turtles on Texas Coastlines
Upper Coastal Texas – NestFest 2025 will unite conservationists, volunteers, and communities on March 11, 2025, for a massive coastal cleanup to protect critical nesting habitats for shorebirds and sea turtles. In partnership with SPLASh (Stopping Plastics and Litter Along Shorelines), American Bird Conservancy, Gulf Coast Bird Observatory, Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research, and Texas Master Naturalists, this event will focus on removing harmful marine debris from Texas beaches.
Texas coastlines, which accumulate trash at ten times the rate of other Gulf states, are vital nesting grounds for birds like the Wilson’s Plover and Least Tern and the critically endangered Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles. Keeping these areas free of plastic and debris ensures a safer environment for their nesting seasons and improves the chances of species survival.
Event Details:
Date: March 11, 2025
Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Locations: Cleanup sites along Galveston Island, Follet’s Island, and Bolivar Peninsula
Who Can Participate: All ages; families welcome!
What to Bring: Volunteers should wear comfortable clothing, sunglasses & hats, and bring water bottles & sunscreen. Cleanup supplies like gloves and bags will be provided.
Why It Matters:
Texas is home to 5 out of 7 of the world’s sea turtle species, including the critically endangered Kemp’s Ridley. The nesting season for these turtles, as well as shorebirds like the Black Skimmer, begins in the spring, making the removal of marine debris crucial for a successful nesting season. Volunteers at NestFest 2025 will help safeguard these species by creating cleaner, safer habitats.
Join Us:
For more information or to sign up as a volunteer, visit SPLASh TX's NestFest page. Together, we can ensure that Texas beaches remain havens for wildlife and their young.
About SPLASh
SPLASh (Stopping Plastics and Litter Along Shorelines) is a community-driven initiative focused on reducing marine debris and protecting wildlife habitats along the Texas Gulf Coast. Through education, conservation efforts, and public engagement, SPLASh aims to create cleaner, healthier ecosystems for people and birds, and other wildlife.
About GCSTR
The Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research is the permitted lead organization on the upper Texas coast for sea turtle rescue, recovery, rehabilitation, and nesting conservation. We answer the 1-866-TURTLE-5 hotline, and our team promptly responds to all sea turtle incidents in this area. The GCSTR’s programs, while focused on immediate conservation needs, also facilitates research that addresses the data gaps required to restore sea turtle populations in the Upper Texas Coast, Texas Coast, and Gulf of Mexico.
About GCBO
Gulf Coast Bird Observatory is an independent non-profit organization headquartered on the upper Texas coast. We accumulate, assess, and distribute bird population and conservation information that will provide a scientific basis for the protection of birds and their habitats around the Gulf of Mexico and far beyond. We fulfill our mission of protecting the birds and their habitats by using sound scientific research, land protection and enhancement, community engagement and education.
About Galveston Bay Area -Texas Master Naturalists
The mission of the Galveston Bay Area Chapter – Texas Master Naturalist is to:
– Preserve and restore our area’s natural resources
– Educate others about our local ecosystems
To help achieve this mission, our trained volunteers work with community programs designed to:
– Increase the appreciation of our natural environment
– Promote the maintenance and sustainable use of public open spaces
– Protect and preserve native flora and fauna and their habitats
About American Bird Conservancy
American Bird Conservancy is a nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving wild birds and their habitats throughout the Americas. With an emphasis on achieving results and working in partnership, we take on the greatest problems facing birds today, innovating and building on rapid advancements in science to halt extinctions, protect habitats, eliminate threats, and build capacity for bird conservation.
.png)