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Shamrock Island Preserve

 

Shamrock Island Preserve

Location

Shamrock Island Map

Download Fact Sheet
Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes Ecoregion (PDF)

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.

 

Gulf Coast shorebirds

Shamrock Island Preserve in Corpus Christi Bay 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 110-acre island preserve.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Nature picture credits (left to right): TNC.