High Island, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
High Island, Texas
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Location of High Island, Texas
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Galveston |
| Settled | 1845 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 16.68 sq mi (43.2 km2) |
| • Land | 16.19 sq mi (41.9 km2) |
| • Water | 0.49 sq mi (1.3 km2) |
| Elevation | 38 ft (11.6 m) |
| Population
(2000)
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| • Total | 500 |
| • Density | 29.3/sq mi (11.3/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
77623
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| Area code(s) | 409 |
| FIPS code | 48-65564 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1346420 |
High Island is a small community in Texas, United States. It is located in Galveston County, on the eastern part of the Bolivar Peninsula. In the year 2000, about 500 people lived in High Island.
This community is famous worldwide for birdwatching, especially during spring migration. Many people visit from April to May to see different kinds of birds. Houston Audubon runs four special places for birds in the area.
Contents
History of High Island
High Island has faced strong storms from the Gulf of Mexico. In 2007, Hurricane Humberto hit nearby. A year later, in 2008, Hurricane Ike brought very strong winds and high water to the area. After this storm, the local post office services were temporarily moved to a different town.
Geography and Location
High Island is found on the eastern side of Galveston Bay, close to the Gulf of Mexico. Its name comes from a special natural feature called a salt dome that is under the ground. This salt dome makes the land here much higher than other places along the Gulf Coast.
The land at High Island is about 38 feet (11.6 meters) above sea level. This makes it the highest point on the Gulf Coast between Mobile, Alabama, and the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico. This higher ground often helps protect the people living there from the high water that can come with hurricanes.
To get to High Island from Houston, you can drive to Galveston, take a ferry to Port Bolivar, and then travel east.
Education for Students
The High Island Independent School District serves the students in the High Island community. After high school, students from this district can attend Galveston College in Galveston.
Birdwatching in High Island
High Island is a very important place for birds that are migrating. Houston Audubon manages four bird sanctuaries here:
- Boy Scout Woods
- Smith Oaks
- Eubanks Woods
- S.E. Gast Red Bay Sanctuary
Boy Scout Woods is the main center, with volunteers helping visitors during the busiest bird migration time from mid-March to mid-May. Smith Oaks is the largest sanctuary and has a special area called the Rookery, where many birds gather.
Why Birds Love High Island
High Island has many trees and wooded areas, which are rare along the upper Texas coast. This makes it a perfect resting spot for birds flying across the Gulf of Mexico. These birds are on a long and dangerous journey from places like the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico to their summer homes in the United States and Canada. They need a safe place to rest and find food after flying for hundreds of miles over water.
During spring migration, birdwatchers from all over the world come to High Island. They can see many different kinds of birds that spend their winters in southern Mexico, Central America, and South America, and then fly north to breed.
Bird "Fallouts"
The most amazing birdwatching happens during a spring storm that comes from the north. These storms can cause a "fallout" at High Island. This means that migrating birds flying over the Gulf of Mexico face strong headwinds. This makes their flight much harder and uses up a lot of their energy.
When these tired birds finally reach land near High Island, they immediately look for a dry place to rest. During a fallout, the beaches of the Bolivar Peninsula can be covered with thousands of birds. In High Island's wooded areas, almost every tree and open space will be filled with exhausted birds.
Birds also migrate south in the fall, but this migration is usually more spread out. The birds find plenty of places to rest and eat as they move south through the United States.
