Jones Bay Oystercatcher Project

The American oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus) is listed as a species of high concern in the U.S. Shorebird Conservation Plan and designated as a TPWD priority species. Furthermore, the state of Texas has designated the species as vulnerable due to low population numbers and recent declines. Over the last 10 years, the Gulf Coast Bird Observatory has monitored the local population of oystercatchers in Galveston Bay. Their efforts indicate a steep decline in reproduction success, predominantly due to a lack of viable nesting habitat. In Galveston Bay, oystercatchers nest primarily on small bay islands where competition is low, but the threat of over-wash is high. Many of the once nestable islands in the Bay are now submerged.

To counteract the negative impacts on both the terrestrial and aquatic habitat essential to the oystercatcher population, Galveston Bay Foundation proposed to restore four sites in Jones Bay. Each site involved the enhancement of a remnant island to create areas of higher elevations to allow for successful nesting. In conjunction with each enhanced island, oyster reef complex was enhanced and/or created to provide nearby foraging habitat for nesting oystercatchers and their young.

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