The Smith Oaks Rookery on High Island, in springtime, teems with life. Several species of colonial nesting birds come here to raise their young. And they do so right in front of human onlookers, without signs of fear.
To give you a sense of the experience that the Rookery offers, I packed up my microphones and headed to Smith Oaks. There I met with Houston’s expert bird guide Glenn Olsen. Join us as we explore some of the island’s hustle and bustle. Then get in your car, pay this magical place a visit and see for yourself.
Resources on the Smith Oaks Rookery:
- Biography of Glenn Olsen at his company GO Native Landscaping.
- The Smith Oaks Rookery (a.k.a. The Smith Oaks Bird Sanctuary) in High Island, Texas:
- Overview of Smith Oaks Rookery by Houston Audubon
- Location of Smith Oaks Rookery on Google Maps
- Boy Scout Woods in High Island, Texas:
- Overview of Boy Scout Woods by Houston Audubon
- Location of Smith Oaks Rookery on Google Maps
- Other Texas rookeries Glenn Olsen mentioned:
- Bent Oaks Rookery Park in Rockport, Texas
- Trinity River Waterbird Rookery in Wallisville, Texas
- Profiles of birds we mentioned, in alphabetical order:
Smith Oaks Rookery – Episode Transcript
To view the episode transcript, click here to open the pdf file.