Note: I just recently added the ABA Birder's Guide Link to my TOP RIGHT sidebar. This month [March] there are a couple of articles that may be of interest to Marie [in Oregon] and Phil [in England]. Just click on the guide and use the features to expand to full page view and see if they're worth reading. Who knows?!!
About six years ago, ARK [animal rehabilitation keep] opened up a new facility to assist in the event of an oil spill and therefore a danger to wildlife in the sea [Gulf of Mexico]. It's named "OILED WILDLIFE FACILITY". To continue striving to help injured or sea life [birds, turtles, etc.] from more harm, the staff and experts alike will take extra steps to help those in need; in February 2017 South Texas had a week of freezing temperatures and the sea turtles were found cold and lethargic - this facility took them in and rejuvenated them for re-release. Keep in mind, the public is not invited into this section of the campus/research grounds. But, you can observe at a distance from a fenced off area. Unauthorized personnel and vehicles are prohibited. I dare say....keep your distance or pay the consequences. I've been there, at the University of Texas Marine and Science Institute many times, but never ventured near the 'new' facility until recently. I was quite impressed with what I witnessed. Also, besides the indoor exhibits of sea life and gift shop, the property has dormitories for those college students majoring in Marine Science, along with a small pond for re-released birds after rehab, etc. It's a phenomenal, learning, educational center for anyone interested. The location is just yards from the beach, the ship channel, and the jetty in Port Aransas. [enlarge the aerial photo* borrowed from the internet...I added arrows to give you an idea of the premises]
* Section 107 of the Copyright Act states: ...the fair use of a copyrighted work, including such use by reproduction in copies or phonorecords or by any other means specified by that section, for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright. Source
About six years ago, ARK [animal rehabilitation keep] opened up a new facility to assist in the event of an oil spill and therefore a danger to wildlife in the sea [Gulf of Mexico]. It's named "OILED WILDLIFE FACILITY". To continue striving to help injured or sea life [birds, turtles, etc.] from more harm, the staff and experts alike will take extra steps to help those in need; in February 2017 South Texas had a week of freezing temperatures and the sea turtles were found cold and lethargic - this facility took them in and rejuvenated them for re-release. Keep in mind, the public is not invited into this section of the campus/research grounds. But, you can observe at a distance from a fenced off area. Unauthorized personnel and vehicles are prohibited. I dare say....keep your distance or pay the consequences. I've been there, at the University of Texas Marine and Science Institute many times, but never ventured near the 'new' facility until recently. I was quite impressed with what I witnessed. Also, besides the indoor exhibits of sea life and gift shop, the property has dormitories for those college students majoring in Marine Science, along with a small pond for re-released birds after rehab, etc. It's a phenomenal, learning, educational center for anyone interested. The location is just yards from the beach, the ship channel, and the jetty in Port Aransas. [enlarge the aerial photo* borrowed from the internet...I added arrows to give you an idea of the premises]* Section 107 of the Copyright Act states: ...the fair use of a copyrighted work, including such use by reproduction in copies or phonorecords or by any other means specified by that section, for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright. Source
While I stood and scoped out the area, I saw birds that are rarely seen on land in this part of the globe.. Other than the healing turtles, spoonbills, brown and white american pelicans and seagulls within the fenced off area, I also noticed two masked boobies, a northern gannet, and a brown booby. These more 'sea' birds were all under a green canvas canopy and when I took photos they all turned out a shade of green in the photos because of the lighting...so I took more photos with the camera's black and white feature. Two volunteer gentlemen were busy preparing for their feeding, and didn't know the extent of the birds' injuries...
top left to right: Masked Boobies and Brown Booby
bottom left to right: Northern Gannet and Masked Booby
HABITAT MAPS [north america]: Masked Booby, Brown Booby, Northern Gannet
- - -
After my short time watching, I walked the surrounding area around the pond, along the jetty and back to the parking lot to get back in the car and drive to another birding hot spot. College Spring Break always keeps me from the area for a while, since it's more or less bikini to speedo on the beaches. But, this is some of what I spotted before Spring Break arrived. [this is my first trip of two in one week...the 2nd time I was stranded on the island during a tropical rain storm for a bit]. By the way...if you've never been to the warm beaches during Spring Break, you won't understand...but just this past Thursday [March 16th] there were over 1000 arrests/violations and one fight that entailed the PAPD/CCPD and state troopers to use pepper spray to break it up...the officers were then mobbed by 100s of students.
MYRTLE WARBLER - AMERICAN KESTREL
photos seen: Warbler - Paradise Pond * Kestrel - UofT Marine Institute PORT A, Texas
habitat maps: Warbler - Kestrel
GRAY CATBIRD - BLUE WINGED TEAL [female & male]
photos taken: Catbird and Teals - Leonabelle Refuge PORT A, Texas
habitat maps: Catbird - Teal
GREAT BLUE HERON - BROWN PELICAN
photos taken: University of Texas Marine Institute - PORT A, Texas
habitat maps: Heron - Pelican
PIED BILLED GREBE - TRICOLORED HERON
photos taken: Leonabelle Refuge - PORT A, Texas
habitat maps: Grebe - Heron
YELLOW THROATED WARBLER - CORMORANTS [and pelicans and egret]
photos taken: Warbler - Paradise Pond * Cormorants - Corpus Christi Ship Channel - PORT A Texas
habitat maps: Warbler - Cormorant
Now share your birding experiences:
or use text linking only copy text in lavender text area below and paste into your blog post:
These are all great finds. I especially love the pelican and booby. This place is awesome, and are doing great work!!
ReplyDeleteThat was a good idea-- Your black and white photos turned out very well. I don't blame you for staying away from the beaches during Spring break. We have the same problem here in Fort Lauderdale. I also just hate all the traffic during tourist season and hardly ever go there unless we have company. I usually see the Yellow-throated Warblers in the fall but did see one this past week-- no decent photos. Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful array of all those birds, excellent.
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing the amount of work they do to save the birds. Love that and wish there was more of it. Or rather, was not needed. Beautiful photos as usual :)
ReplyDeleteHi Anni. Good to see the work being done to rehabilitate the varied wildlife.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed viewing your local finds. Have bookmarked the ABA link for a more detailed read idc.
Great photos!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite? The Brown Pelican portrait!
Hope you are having a great week-end!
i always enjoy seeing pelicans as they are not in my area!! i am a confessed heron chaser, your image is beautiful!!!
ReplyDeleteI appreciate the link! Interesting. And I love your beautiful bird photos, as always. Spring break...oh how I remember that catastrophic time from living in Mary Esther FL near Panama City! It was such a terrible time. I hear we will have a version of that here in Central Oregon during the August solar eclipse...they are planning all these Burning Man type events in our area. Will have to stay home for a whole week to avoid all that!
ReplyDeleteIt's nice when people try to help the wildlife, especially since other people have damaged them!
ReplyDeleteHi Anni. It was good to read about the Marine Institiute and their valuable work in helping and in some cases saving distresssed animals and birds. Nice to hear also about students working there and learning valuble kills, as distinct from those out to cause trouble etc.
ReplyDeleteThanks for showing us your species variety again. You do live ina great birding area. Thanks also for the ABA link. there's some interesting reading there which I will come back to. In the meantime enjoy your birding week and I appreciate being able to join in your blog today.
Hello!:) Ditto to your lovely comment Anni.:) Love your informative post about the U T M S I,...what wonderful work they do there, and it's great that you were able to see the new facility. Lovely selection of photos in colour, and black and white. I was watching a documentary about the Northern Gannet yesterday, and am always struck by their beautiful Art Deco look, and the way they interact with their partners is beautiful to see.
ReplyDeleteHello Anni, what a great facility. I am happy for the work that they do. Great variety of birds and photos. Thank you for hosting. Enjoy your day and the week ahead!
ReplyDeleteThat ARK is a wonderful facility and I'm glad to know they're training students in this good work. Wonderful bird photos both wonderful n and out of the facility.
ReplyDeleteAnni, nice addition to your sidebar. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful assortment of birds. I've been hearing the catbirds lately.
ReplyDelete