Birding and Wildlife Watching Trail Development

Birding and Wildlife Watching Trail Development

We can develop the trail you need, from a half-mile nature trail or a birding trail that covers the state and anything in between.

Fermata Inc's concept of linking birding spots along the Texas Coast evolved into the nation's first comprehensive birding trail using federal highway transportation enhancement funds. We worked with Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPW) to present the concept to coastal communities, garner their support for the initial proposal to Texas Department of Transportation, and supervised the research and production of the map. Fermata coordinated the design and art activities, selected the sites to be included on the Trail, and wrote the text that describes each site. The maps for the GTCBT can be viewed on-line at the following URL: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/birdingtrails/

TPW currently has copies of the Upper Texas Coast, Central Texas Coast (2nd edition), and Lower Texas Coast sections of the Greater Texas Coastal Birding Trail available for a suggested minimum donation of $3.50. TPW plans to expand the Coastal Birding Trail into a statewide Birding and Nature Trail.

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Interpretive Graphics and Materials

Fermata Inc. has assembled a team of professionals to develop an assortment of interpretive graphics and materials related to nature tourism. Get a closer look at these materials and learn about some the people who work with us to create them.

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Several communities have been able to add sites or enhance current sites on the Great Texas Birding Trail through enhancement grants. A portion of the grant money received from federal ISTEA funds was dedicated to enhancing sites identified as important additions to the trail.

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Nature Tourism Training

Nature Tourism Training

We offer half-day to weeklong workshops to prepare leaders to support and participate in the business of nature tourism. You will learn how to identify your resources, attract nature (and other) tourists, determine the infrastructure needed to support a quality program, how to start a nature festival, marketing plans and more.

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Lectures and Programs

We are available to talk about the economic impact of nature tourism and related topics at meetings, conventions, board presentations and other appropriate venues. Whether you want to learn about the economics of nature tourists, who the nature tourist is and what they want, are just beginning to consider becoming involved in tourism, or want to increase current tourism by attracting nature tourists, we can help.

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Hail to the Trail!

The Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail
Is Completed!

After its initial conception by Fermata's Ted Eubanks and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's Madge Lindsay in 1993, the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail is finally completed! With the printing of the trail map for the lower Texas coast, this unprecedented foray into wildlife watching is in place and fully functional. The Trail comprises 308 sites along the entire length of the Texas coast, and is already being used by hundreds of thousands of wildlife viewers annually.

According to Linda Campbell, Nature Tourism Coordinator for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, as of July 2000 over 280,000 Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail maps have been distributed to the general public. Considering the fact that the upper coast map became available after Spring Migration 1999, we expect that most, if not all, of the first run will be distributed by this summer. The lower coast map only became available in March 2000, and no doubt will be as popular as those that have preceded it.

The Texas Department of Transportation has given approval to the next two trails in Texas: The Heart of Texas and the High Plains. These new trails will become part of the Great Texas Wildlife Trails system, which includes the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail. In addition, we are completing a series of naturalist's companion guides for the Texas wildlife trails, and these should be in print within the next several months.

For more information concerning the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail, see the reports contained within this web site. For information about how Fermata Inc. can assist you in developing a similar project in your state or region, contact our firm at the addresses or telephone numbers listed below. In addition, the April edition of Texas Parks and Wildlife magazine is dedicated to birding, and contains a lengthy article about travels along the Trail. Check it out!

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