The Nature Conservancy - Shamrock Island Preserve

Shamrock Island Preserve

© Glenn Hayes Shamrock Island Preserve is one of the most important colonial bird-nesting islands on the Texas coast. Sixteen bird species, including the state threatened reddish egret and white-faced ibis, nest on the island.

Location
In Corpus Christi Bay

Hours
Access to the island is strictly prohibited during the February through August nesting season, unless prior arrangements are made with the state office of the Conservancy.

Size
110 acres

What to See: Plants
Grassland plants help stabilize the dunes and other substrates, slowing wind and water erosion. Shoalgrass meadows provide essential forage for redhead ducks and nursery, foraging and refuge areas for many estaurine fish and invertebrates. Terrestrial plant communities on the site provide habitat components (nest sites, food) and shelter many resident and migratory species.

Vegetation communities of conservation interest include: seaside little bluestem, gulfdune crowngrass, sea oats , bitter panicgrass, woody glasswort, saltwort, saltgrass dwarf-shrubland, shoalgrass and Texas stonecrop. In addition, sand brazos-mint, Crown coreopsis, Velvet spurge, Coastal Plains umbrella-sedge, Jones' nailwort and Indianola beakrush are also often found here.

What to See: Animals
The island includes quality beach habitat used by skimmers and four species of terns, including over 8,000 pairs of royal terns. Grassy flats harbor an estimated 6,000 pairs of laughing gulls. Brushy uplands provide nesting cover for great blue herons, little blue herons, tricolored herons, black-crowned night herons, great egrets, snowy egrets, reddish egrets, white-faced ibis and roseate spoonbills.

Why the Conservancy Selected This Site
Protecting the island from disturbance and trespassing is our highest priority. When birds are disturbed by boaters or fishermen and leave their nest, eggs will overheat in less than 3 minutes. Marine and bay debris is another problem for the island's birds.

What the Conservancy Has Done/Is Doing
Since acquiring the Shamrock Island Preserve, The Nature Conservancy of Texas has begun a habitat restoration and protection program on the island. Working with oil and gas operator Bristol Resources, the Conservancy repaired and restored a portion of the island damaged by past oil/gas extraction.

Bristol Resources and the Conservancy have entered into an agreement which calls for dismantling of the remaining steel tanks and other oil and gas facilities on the island. In addition, Bristol will be installing a boat docking facility for the Conservancy use in patrolling, protecting, and providing stewardship to the island. Bristol also assists the Conservancy in patrolling the island and reporting trespassing and people disturbing nesting birds.