If you are a "Birder" or at least a bird watcher one of the highlights of the bird watching season in Texas is just around the corner. The Whooping Cranes draw a lot of visitors in the fall and winter along the Texas Gulf Coast. The Whoopers almost extinct fifty years ago are making a steady increase in population at their wintering grounds at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. This 54,000 acre refuge is the winter home for the Whoopers.
The Whooping Cranes spend their summers in Canada where they hatch their new chicks. The Canadian biologists report a very good season this year with a little less than 30 chicks surviving the summer. The Texas biologists are hoping for at least 200 will show up at the Refuge this year. There were less than 20 birds at the wintering grounds in the 1940's.
You can contact the Refuge manager at 361-286-3722 for more information or contact some of the tour boats that offer tours to the refuge. One of the tour companies in the Rockport Texas area is Rockport Birding Adventures www.RockportAdventures.comthey offer tours for more that 100 species of birds. They can handle up to 46 guest on their beautiful boat. 877-892-4737
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