Old Gulf Cut Birds Island

Project Description:

The Matagorda Bay Foundation is enhancing critical bird habitat near the Old Gulf Cut, the first entrance into East Matagorda Bay from Matagorda Harbor.  These isolated shell ridges and mudflats—what we call “bird islands”—serve as vital resting and nesting grounds for shorebirds, many of which are increasingly vulnerable due to habitat loss.  

 In 2025, MBF acquired 40 loads of oyster shell to raise elevation on one of these shell ridges, helping protect it from erosion and high tides.  This effort is part of a broader initiative to restore and preserve key stopover and breeding sites for coastal birds. 

With the support of partners like Texas Audubon and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, we will be engaging volunteers to help enhance and maintain one of the islands—creating direct opportunities for community involvement in coastal conservation. 

Looking Ahead: 
We’re planning a larger-scale restoration effort using beneficially reused dredged material to construct a new bird island designed as a rookery and dedicated nesting site. This will provide a safe, sustainable haven for generations of coastal birds.