| | | | | | | |
|
|
|
|
Aransas Pass National Wildlife Refuge Update
89 Views ::
0 Comments ::  |
Well folks, its Spring migration time and the birds are winging their way through our beautiful parks. It's time to freshen up on our local National Wildlife Refuge and their planned activities, for birders and naturalists.
 |
Situated on the Texas Gulf coast along San Antonio Bay, the 70,504 acres of Aransas National Wildlife Refuge are host to an exotic array of wildlife, including alligators, javelina (collared peccary), snakes, bobcats and whooping cranes.
A 16-mile one-way driving tour takes visitors through the refuge's grassland, oak thicket, freshwater pond, and marshland habitats, providing excellent wildlife viewing opportunities. Additional activities include hiking, birding, picnicking, and fishing.
Six leisurely hiking trails totaling 4.3 miles are available, but visitors must bring insect repellent as mosquitoes are usually abundant. |
Aransas has a well-deserved reputation as one of the prime birding locales in Texas, as was in fact originally named Aransas Migratory Waterfowl Refuge. Over 392 bird species have been cataloged in the area, including ducks, herons, egrets and other waterfowl.
The refuge's most notable visitor, however, is the endangered whooping crane, one of the rarest animal species in North America. Each year from late-October to mid-April, the only wild flock of whooping cranes in the world makes its long journey south from Canada to winter in the protected habitat of Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. As recently as the 1940's, only sixteen birds remained.
Taking a commercial boat tour of the bays and Intracoastal Waterway, offered by operators such as Whooping Crane Boat Tours and Rockport Birding & Kayak Adventures, provides an excellent opportunity to view whooping cranes and other bird species.
March Activities
- 1st Week – Refugio County Parade
- 14th – National Wildlife Refuge System Birthday
- Weekend Van Tours - 10:00 a.m. & 1:00 p.m. Call for reservations.
- Wildlife Art Contest Judging, Winners & New Artwork on Billboards Announced
- Spring Migration Begins
- Aransas Lecture Series Program
- Environmental Education Programs
- Whooping Crane Boat Tours - Rockport
Learn More
Matagorda Island (MI) programs and facilities provide a balance of active and passive outdoor interpretive nature study, environmental awareness and appreciation. Texas Parks and Wildlife manages the north end for recreational activities such as fishing, beach access, beach combing, bird watching, hunting and backpacking and facilities such as a kayak trail, Matagorda Island lighthouse, self-guided nature trail, and a viewing deck.
For more information about recreational opportunities at the north end of the island, call Texas Parks & Wildlife Rockport Regional Office at 361-790-0306 or the Bay City Office at 979- 244-6804 or 979-244-7697. At the south end, the Refuge offers formal environmental education studies and workshops at the Environmental Education (EE) Center, available by reservation only.
If you are interested in Environmental Education on Matagorda Island, please review the Environmental Education pages, use the Reservation Request Form and mail (Aransas NWRC, P.O. Box 100, Austwell, TX 77950) or fax (361-286-3722) it to the Education Specialist. For more information regarding group education opportunities at the MI EE Center, call the Refuge at 361-286-3559. |
|
|
|
|
| Comments | Currently, there are no comments. Be the first to post one!
Click here to post a comment |
|
| | | | | | | |
|
|