Galveston Ornithological Society
Field Trips 
Click Here For the GOS Calendar
About Us:
We schedule many outings a month (except summer) for birding. We travel in "the Sanderling," the Society's  15-passenger van, which is far more energy efficient, safer and fun than caravans of cars.  Anyone is welcome to participate, with most day trips  $25 to $33.

Comments from Birders who have participated in the Society's Field Trips with Jim Stevenson:
1) Outstanding birding guide skills. Provides a very informative commentary on the tour. Joe Jons Houston, Texas
2) "Jim's knowledgeable and entertaining guidance makes his birding excursions thoroughly enjoyable as well as highly educational. We highly recommend his birding trips!"   Syl & Maureen Viaclovsky,  Friendswood, Texas
3) Jim is a professional whose goal is to seek as many birds (and extra wildlife) as possible in the allotted time on his trips and he did just that on a trip to Costa Rica I joined him on in Feb. 2007, and I would not hesitate to go on another trip with him as my guide. Sue Yost, Highland Village
4) I have been on several birding trips with Jim Stevenson. I found each to be well organized, informative as well as entertaining. I highly recommend Jim for his skills in communication to the group and his broad knowledge of bird identification plus their call notes, habits and habitats.   Lois Lay Castiglioni,  Galveston, TX
5) When I moved to this area I was very interested in learning more about the birds of the coastal area. Jim has made this available for me (and many others) through his van trips, Galveston Ornithological Society meetings, his open house gatherings, and educational courses. And he has a wonderful sense of humor too!!!! I have truly enjoyed each event that he has hosted.  Marion Neff,  Crystal Beach, TX
6) "If you want to see birds with someone that is exceptionally knowledgeable about identifying them, and finding them, this is the man to see. I'm a novice at birdwatching. I spent one day in April with Jim Stevenson and 10 other bird lovers touring over a dozen sites from San Luis pass to Pelican Island. It was a fantastic experience that I will not forget. Jim can identify birds by their call, and if they're silent he still seems to know how to find them. I look forward to doing this again this fall or next spring. You owe it to yourself to try this. It is the opportunity of a lifetime." Jim Gwin,  Houston, TX
7) Jim Stevenson is one of the most knowledgeable birders I have ever met--even better than the one who writes for the Houston Chronicle. If you are looking for excitement and education in the field, call Jim Stevenson--his trips are awesome! Lana Sands, Houston, TX
6) For Jim, birding is not a job, but a way of life! He is extremely knowledgeable; he can identify birds before I can even see them. If the birds are hiding he can identify them by their song. I have especially enjoyed his discussions on bird's habitats and behavior. Elaine Guyote , Galveston, Texas
7) Jim Stevenson's skills as a birding guide is second to none. His ability to spot and recognize obscure bird species is amazing.   Neil Huddleston, Galveston, Texas
8) In April I participated in Galveston Island's first Birdfest, and one of the trips I took was of the west end of Galveston with Jim Stevenson. Of the 4 birding trips I participated in during the festival, Jim's was by far the very best. He was knowledgeable, informative, very respectful of the birds, lots of fun, and for me as a beginning birder, very, very patient! His love of birding is contagious.  Francine Fleming, Houston, Texas
9) I am relatively new to birding and the few field trips I have been on with Jim Stevenson as a guide have been truly enjoyable. His bird identification skills are amazing. He is extremely knowledgeable and informative about birds and other wildlife. He is an excellent guide and is dedicated to teaching what he knows about nature to others. Jim has made birding a pleasurable experience for me.  Andrew Lopez,  Houston, Texas
10) Jim's tremendous knowledge of birds is apparent in all trips. He will point our numerous birds and their identifying field marks; discuss interesting "bird facts" such as it's behavior, habitat and special to Jim, it's ecology. These are facts a new birder needs and a good review for the experienced. Combined with warm companions, a good meal and comrade...you will have a great field experience.  Maureen Myers,  Galveston, Texas
11) Jim Stevenson is a remarkable bird guide, a one man encyclopedia of the birds of the world and their behavior. He prepares extensively for each new location we visit and is a tireless worker on the trips, making every effort to find as many species as possible for our enjoyment. We've been on 6 major birding trips plus many day trips with Jim over the past two years. I've added over 300 birds to my life list, just counting the really good looks.  Paul and Georgie Sage, Galveston, Texas
12) Jim was so patient with those of us who are not as good at spotting birds, even when he was pointing them out, and would never leave until the last person in the group had seen the good ones. Jim always checked my bird wish list at the beginning of the trip and made an effort to find those birds for me. Lynne Magee, Houston, Texas
13) Jenny and I thought Jim's guiding service was exceptional. We would have NEVER identified that many birds without his assistance. His ability to recognize calls, and then locate the bird in question was amazing to us.  Matthew&Jenny Foster, Shreveport, Louisiana
14) Jim Stevenson is an outstanding bird guide. He knows his birds and where to find them. He is innovative, energetic, has a good sense of humor, and is a master of puns.  Ruth Wells, La Marque, Texas
15) Jim Stevenson is an excellent and very enthusiastic birding guide. His trips are well planned but flexible. The trips are always client oriented. They are paced and focused to the interest of the birders. He is very knowledgeable in bird identification by sight and sound. We have been on many field trips with Jim and they have all been outstanding. Tom and Marie O'Neal,  Dickinson, Texas
16) Thus far, my very best information about birds came this year from Jim Stevenson. It was as though I was in an open-air biology class, my best ever. Jim was thorough and his sense of humor added so much to the trip. Jim goes that extra mile to share what he seems to love. I look forward to more trips! Saw parts of Galveston Island I never knew existed.  Sherri Howell, Galveston, Texas.
17) I attended several half day and whole day birding trips in the spring of 07.  Jim knew where to find the birds. even on the worst of weather days, and was always willing to repeat identifications for a novice like myself.  His knowledge of not only birds,  but of all plant and animal life that we encountered made the trips especially valuable.  Johnny Blackwell, Dickinson.
18) Jim Stevenson is not only an excellent guide and "host" but he is also a GREAT teacher, if you haven't taken advantage of his trips or classes, do yourself a favor and GO!! Lana Sands, Clear Lake.
19) Jim provides excellent expert bird identification and information with a generous sprinkling of humor and contagious enthusiasm. Heather Amuny, Clear Lake