A WHOOPING GOOD TIME
By Jim Foster
There is bad news and good news.
The bad news was quite obvious driving through the South Texas ranch country. Seeing mile after mile of brown scenery where there should have been green buds and wildflowers shouting their welcome to spring days. A hard drought once again had a grip on the land.
The good news is a record number of the whooping cranes, an endangered species, made their southern migration to the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge near Port Aransas this year. Now in the beginning days of March they are preparing to depart for their northern nesting grounds.
These large birds were the main reason I loaded the full regiment of cameras and lenses in the Jeep and hit the road for Port Aransas. And, more good news the 13th Whooping Crane Festival was underway.
Port Aransas, Texas is located on the Gulf of Mexico, a short distance from Corpus Christi, and has been a top birding and wildlife-viewing destination for many years and is well know for nature seekers. Now with an expanded numbers of the whooping crane populations more people have become interested in seeing these large white birds.
Based on counts done last year at Canada’s Wood Buffalo National Park, his estimate of what the peak flock size was remained unchanged; 232 adults and 38 juveniles for a total of 270 Whooping cranes. The current estimates put the flock size to be just 253 - 228 adults and 25 juveniles, as the result of estimated mortalities prior to and during migration, as well as those that occurred after arrival at Aransas. The drought has taken and is taking its toll.
Tom Stehn, Whooping crane coordinator at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, reported good viewing conditions for this year. Some of this is due to the birds searching more areas for their favorite food, the blue crab.
The all-time worst winter on record was 1990 when 7.5% (11 out of 146) Whooping cranes died at Aransas. With one month yet to go, the current winter ranks as the second worst in the last 20 years in terms of mortality. The 3rd worst winter, 1993, showed a 4.9% loss at Aransas (7 out of 143).
The biggest threat—loss of wetlands—still persists. Though out the areas the birds frequent are protected, they are isolated and make the entire population vulnerable to any disastrous ecological event.
Port Aransas has developed a partnership with the large birds by adding their support though the annual crane festival. The 2009 festival that just concluded was the 13th annual event with number 14 already in the planning stages.
Boarding the Wharf Cat for the trip up the Intracoastal to the refuge border I met people from all over the United States and Canada. All were hoping to see cranes in the wild. We were not disappointed. In all the times I have taken this trip this was the best. We saw over 12 cranes with many of these very close resulting in good viewing and photography.
I was a part of the festival from the time I checked into the Mariner Inn and Suites and welcomed by the smiling manager Linda Ayers. She gives the lodge a homey feeling and assures you a comfy room and amenities. Later at the festival I was introduced to some of the biggest names in the world of crane study and management from around the world. For example, co-founder of the International Crane Foundation, George Archibald and Tom Stehn who is the crane expert on the Aransas Refuge.
George also leads crane-viewing trips to India and other countries.
Of course the lady who more than deserves the credit for a smooth running festival as well as assuring a friendly welcome for all visitors is Ann Vaughan leader of the Port Aransas Chamber of Commerce.
FOR MORE AREA INFORMATION CONTACT:Port Aransas Chamber of Commerce & Tourist Bureau, 403 W. Cotter, Port Aransas, Texas 78373 or call (361) 749-5919 or 800-45-COAST / On the Web at; http://www.portaransas.org/
If you have comments or news for Jim Foster please email him at: jim@jimfosteroutdoors.com
