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COASTAL BEND — Seventy years ago, the whooping crane’s prospects were as frail as its thin frame, and just 21 of the elegant birds showed up to their winter homes in the Coastal Bend.
However, for whoopers and the birders who enjoy watching them, the future is bright and the species has rebounded, including a record count of 281 birds last year, said Tom Stehn, whooping crane coordinator at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge.
Organizers of the 15th Annual Whooping Crane Festival, which runs through Sunday, hope to not only highlight the cranes but also the area’s natural diversity.
The event will include speakers on conservation efforts, birding seminars, wildlife photography and trips into the field to see nature up close, said Ann Vaughan, executive director of the Port Aransas Chamber of Commerce.
“Port Aransas has become a real popular spot for birders because we have such a wide variety of species that you can see down here even in the winter months,” Vaughan said. “It is definitely a great economic impact to the community.”
Rich Beilfuss, president and CEO of the International Crane Foundation, said the cranes took a hit two years ago because of drought conditions, but they’ve come back strong thanks to plenty of rain. This year is especially good because wet weather has boosted the blue crab population, giving the cranes plenty to eat, he said.
Stehn said it all means there should be plenty of chances to see the birds in their natural nesting grounds.
“They’ve been coming there since the Ice Ages,” he said.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: 15th annual Whooping Crane Festival
WHEN: Thursday through Sunday
WHERE: Port Aransas
COST: $20/registration; cost varies by event
INFORMATION: 361-749-5919 or
www.whoopingcranefestival.org; Registration is at the Port Aransas Civic Center, 710 W. Ave. A
Thursday’s Schedule
1:30-6 p.m.: Registration at Port Aransas Civic Center
2-4 p.m.: Nature/Birding Boat Tour, Woody’s Sports Center
4:30-6 p.m.: Dolphin Encounters Boat Tour, Deep Sea Headquarters
6-8 p.m.: Welcome Reception, Art Center for the Islands
Friday’s schedule
7:30 a.m. to noon: whooping crane boat tour, Fisherman’s Wharf
8 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Registration at th Port Aransas Civic Center
9 to 11 a.m.: Photography workshop, Bill Ellis Memorial Library
10 to 11:30 a.m.: Local birding bus trip, Port Aransas Civic Center
10 a.m. to noon: Nature/birding boat tour, Woody’s Sports Center
11 to 11:45 a.m.: WEC tour, UTMSI/Wetlands Education Center
12:30 to 5 p.m.: Whooping crane boat tour, Fisherman’s Wharf
1 to 2:30 p.m. :Dolphin Encounters boat tour, Deep Sea Headquarters
1 to 1:50 p.m.: ARK tour, Animal Rehabilitation Keep — ARK
2 to 3:30 p.m.: Local birding bus trip, Port Aransas Civic Center
2 to 2:50 p.m. ARK tour, Animal Rehabilitation Keep — ARK
2 to 4 p.m.: Nature/birding boat tour, Woody’s Sports Center
3 to 3:45 p.m.: WEC tour, UTMSI/Wetlands Education Center
4 to 6 p.m.: Nature/birding boat tour, Woody’s Sports Center
4:30 to 6 p.m.: Dolphin Encounters boat tour, Deep Sea Headquarters
Saturday’s Schedule
7 to 11 a.m.: Shorebird birding field trip, Port Aransas Civic Center
8 to 9:30 a.m.: Local birding bus trip, Port Aransas Civic Center
9 to 11 a.m.: Photography workshop, Bill Ellis Memorial Library
10 to 10:50 a.m.: ARK tour, Animal Rehabilitation Keep — ARK
10 to 11:30 a.m.: Local birding bus trip, Port Aransas Civic Center
10 a.m. to noon: Nature/birding boat tour, Woody’s Sports Center
11 to 11:45 a.m.: WEC tour, UTMSI/Wetlands Education Center
Noon to 1:30 p.m.: Local birding bus trip, Port Aransas Civic Center
12:30 to 5 p.m.: Whooping crane boat tour, Fisherman’s Wharf
1 to 1:50 p.m.: ARK tour, Animal Rehabilitation Keep — ARK
1 to 2:30 p.m.: Dolphin Encounters boat tour, Deep Sea Headquarters
1 to 4 p.m.: Birding 101 workshop, Port Aransas Civic Center
2 to 4 p.m.: Nature/birding boat tour, Woody’s Sports Center
2 to 3:30 p.m.: Local birding bus trip, Port Aransas Civic Center
2 to 2:50 p.m.: ARK tour, UTMSI/Wetlands Education Center
2 to 4 p.m.: Special session on whooping cranes, UTMSI/Wetlands Education Center
3 to 3:45 p.m.: WEC tour, UTMSI/Wetlands Education Center
4 to 6 p.m.: Nature/birding boat tour, Woody’s Sports Center
4:30 to 6 p.m.: Dolphin Encounters boat tour, Deep Sea Headquarters
Sunday’s Schedule
7 to 11 a.m.: Birding 101 field trip, Port Aransas Civic Center
7 to 9 a.m.: Photography field trip, Bill Ellis Memorial Library
9 to 10:30 a.m.: Local birding bus trip, Port Aransas Civic Center
10 a.m. to noon: Nature/birding boat tour, Woody’s Sports Center
10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.: Whooping crane boat tour, Fisherman’s Wharf
11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: Local birding bus trip, Port Aransas Civic Center
1 to 2:30 p.m.: Dolphin Encounters boat tour, Deep Sea Headquarters
1 to 1:50 p.m.: ARK tour, Animal Rehabilitation Keep — ARK
2 to 4 p.m.: Nature/birding boat tour, Woody’s Sports Center
2 to 2:50 p.m.: ARK tour, Animal Rehabilitation Keep — ARK
2 to 3:30 p.m.: Local birding bus trip, Port Aransas Civic Center
Registration
A registration fee of $20 permits you to attend all speaker sessions and receive reduced rates on festival activities. Speaker sessions will take place in the UTMSI Visitor Center Auditorium located on Cotter Street (near the beach). You will need to show your registration badge for entry to each speaker session and to receive special festival rates on birding and nature trips. Individual speaker sessions are $10 for non-registrants, space permitting. The festival benefits the conservation of whooping cranes and other birds.
Whooping crane numbers
From a low of 21 cranes in 1941, whooping crane numbers steadily have increased.
1950 34
1960 33
1970 56
1980 76
1990 146
1991 132
1992 136
1993 143
1994 133
1995 158
1996 160
1997 182
1998 183
1999 185
2000 177
2001 174
2002 185
2003 194
2004 216
2005 218
2006 237
2007 266
2008 270
2009 263
2010 281