Winning bird watchers

The Laughing Gals receive their second place award (with 112 species) at the Great Texas Birding Classic awards lunch on Sunday, April 22, at Plantation Suites in Port Aransas. They competed in the Roughwings Division against other teams up and down the Texas Coast and were sponsored by Port Aransas Chamber of Commerce-Tourist Bureau. Team members are, from left, Lily Cartwright, Kelsey Bigelow, Kelsey Abel and their trainer and chaperone, Joan Holt. The other team sponsored by the chamber, the Port Aransas Spoonbills, came in third in the Big Sit competition with 116 species. Team members were Scott and Joan Holt, Chris Tubbs, Francis Stokes, Ann Vaughan, Tony Amos and Bobby Sherwood. All funds raised during the week long classic are used to increase appreciation, understanding and conservation of birds along the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail.

COURTESY PHOTO