Port Aransas South Jetty

Wild about whoopers

Big birds grazing Cattle aren’t the only animals that graze on farmland around here. These three whooping cranes were caught foraging in a plowed pasture off Farm-to-Market Hwy. 136 just north of Bayside on a recent day. The trio has been seen feeding near sandhill cranes in that area for the past several weeks. A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist said whoopers have expanded their feeding range due to the drought. Recent rains, however, have made it easier for the endangered birds to find fresh water. Note the bands and GPS transmitter on the legs of one of the birds. Whooping cranes are the focus of the 16th annual Whooping Crane Festival that starts here today, Thursday, Feb. 23, and continues through Sunday, Feb. 26. A record early registration filled most of the trips scheduled, but walk-in registrations are welcome. The old saying, “The early bird gets the worm,” is true in the case of the 16th annual Whooping Crane Festival set to start today, Thursday, Feb. 23, and continue through Sunday, Feb. 26.

A record number of people took advantage of early registration, filling many of the trips and tours offered during the festival.

The response to the online early registration meant the addition of another Whooping Crane Boat Tour today at 12:30 p.m. Since this trip leaves prior to the opening of registration, interested parties should call (361) 749-5919 to check on availability.

On-site registration opens today at 1:30 p.m. at the Port Aransas Civic Center, 710 W. Ave A, where the festival is headquartered. Registration is $10 per person plus event fees, and there will be limited availability because of the large early registration.

What is not limited is the trade show at the Civic Center, which is free and open to PHOTO BY MICHELLE CHRISTENSON the public. There, vendors will sell artwork, jewelry, birding supplies, food and more.

Though many of the festival’s trips to see dolphins, whooping cranes and birds, and workshops are filled, there is still some availability as well as many free activities for participants to enjoy.

The four-day festival attracts hundreds of birding enthusiasts each year and features world-renowned speakers, and birding experts, exhibits, interactive workshops, and the International Crane Foundation’s Children’s Art Exhibit showcased at the Port Aransas Art Center. New this year is a butterfly tent and an expanded children’s corner.

Among the keynote speakers is George Archibald, founder of the International Crane Foundation, who is a “regular” at this festival.

Among tours will be the Wetlands Education Center and the Animal Rehabilitation Keep.

Proceeds from the festival benefit the conservation of whooping cranes.

Sponsors are H-E-B Food Stores, Eagle Optics, Flint Hills Resources, Port of Corpus Christi, Swarovski Optik and TRS the registration system.