Aransas Bay Birding Charters

01/16/2025

It’s serious work to keep a Whooping Cranes clean. Whooping Cranes only weigh about 15-18 pounds and 1:3 of their weight is feathers. Aransas National Wildlife Refuge

01/16/2025

Captain Kevin on the Whooping Cranes at daybreak
Aransas Bay Birding Charters
Aransas National Wildlife Refuge

01/16/2025

01/14/2025

This is Buddy
Buddy is a Belted Kingfisher who likes the view of the water from my boat. He was looking for bait fish and also wanted to say “Hi”
Aransas Bay Birding Charters
Lori McCullough Sims
Aransas National Wildlife Refuge

12/08/2024

Calling all artists to submit their artwork for a chance to be featured on our new Whooping Crane outreach trailer.Art Contest Open: Submit Your Whooping Crane Artwork to Win

03/14/2024

This Whooping Crane needs justice

We are incredibly saddened to share the news that L4-23, who epitomized the partnerships and cooperation involved in reintroducing a species, was found dead of a gunshot wound in January. He originated from an egg produced by a pair of cranes at the International Crane Foundation, was raised at the Dallas Zoo, then was transferred to the Audubon Species Survival Center in New Orleans, to join several other chicks reared there, before coming to us for release last November.

There is currently a substantial reward being offered by multiple organizations for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for this crime. Please see press release at link below for additional information.

https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/news/12500-reward-offered-for-information-on-shooting-of-endangered-whooping-crane-in-evangeline-parish

03/06/2024

Facts about the Whooping Cranes favorite food

Did you know the blue crab's scientific name, Callinectes sapidus, means "beautiful swimmer that is savory" 👀

These crustaceous critters can be found along the Atlantic Coast of the Americas from Nova Scotia to Argentina, including the Gulf of Mexico and the .

Blue crab distribution varies with age, s*x and season - they tend to be abundant in shallow-water areas during warmer weather and grow more quickly in warm water. As the water temperature drops each year, the crabs burrow into sediment in the deeper parts of Bays for the winter.

The red tips on the claws, like the one in this photo, indicates that the crab is a mature female.