Friends of Aransas NWR News

News from the National Wildlife Refuge Association about funding for the Refuge System, in a press release from July 23, 2025

Fri, 05 Sep 2025 16:44:28 GMT

The House Appropriations Committee advanced its Fiscal Year 2026 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies spending bill— and while it wasn’t the slash-and-burn bill the President had proposed, it would still deliver a severe setback to the National Wildlife Refuge System. The bill proposes a $22 million cut to Refuge System operations and includes a range of dangerous policy riders that would undermine wildlife conservation across the country. On a good note, the bill maintains funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund, one of the most important tools for land acquisition.

Message for Friends, Supporters and Stakeholders of the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge

Sat, 08 Mar 2025 18:02:51 GMT

Dear Friends, Supporters and Stakeholders of the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge:

You are probably aware of the cost-cutting measures that the administration is making to different branches of the Federal government. We would like to share what we know about the current situation at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge.

The staff of Aransas NWR are dedicated members of the United States Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) who are passionate about caring for this Refuge. What you may not know is that the Refuge staffing is already at a bare-bones level, such that they are barely able to manage and maintain the 116,000 acres of the Refuge. Two critical staff members have retired and there is a hiring freeze that will prevent the replacement of these positions. The loss of more staff members, in addition to possible budget cuts, would be severely detrimental to the Refuge. Plus, the staff members’ ability to make purchases to cover the basic operations and maintenance needs of the Refuge has been severely curtailed. No business can successfully achieve their mission under these severe restrictions.

The services that the Refuge provides can be grouped into five broad categories:

1) Maintenance and conservation of environmental resources, services, and ecological processes.
2) Protection of natural resources such as fish, wildlife, and plants, including the critically endangered Whooping Crane.
3) Protection of cultural and historical sites and objects.
4) Educational and research opportunities.
5) Outdoor and wildlife-related recreation.

The Refuge collaborates with different partner organizations for some of these activities, for example the Texas Youth Hunt Program, Serve Outdoors for veterans’ hunts, and The Nature Conservancy and local fire departments for prescribed burns. Outreach events also include partnerships, such as with the International Crane Foundation and the UT Marine Science Institute. More partners and volunteers will be needed going forward to maintain the services provided by the Refuge.

In addition to the environmental benefits of the Refuge, consider the economic impact for the local community and region. A study published in 2019 (based on data from 2017) determined that annual local economic contributions linked to visitors coming to the Refuge totaled $3 million, a figure that has likely increased substantially in the last eight years.

For now, we cannot predict what the impact of any further reduction of Refuge staff and budget might have on activities enjoyed by the community, such as bird and wildlife viewing and photography, guided Refuge Tours, fishing, youth hunts, public hunts, outreach events, Refuge Day activities, or on visitor center hours.

How can you help?

Contact your congressional representatives and tell them how important the Refuge is to you and ask them to take action to prevent further damage to the Refuge System.
Support the Refuge and tell your friends and family members what a beautiful place it is to visit.
When you visit, tell the staff and volunteers how much you appreciate their work.
Share your experience of the Refuge on social media.
Become an active volunteer; help by working at the registration desk in the Visitor Center, in the Nature Store, or in the Pollinator Garden. Contact info@friendsofaransas.org to find out more about volunteering at the Refuge.
Join or renew your membership in Friends of Aransas National Wildlife Refuge; consider becoming a life member (you won’t get those annoying renewal reminder messages again!)

Our Nation prides itself on our system of National Parks, Wildlife Refuges, National Forests and other protected Federal Lands. Many other nations have copied us. Do not let our National Treasures be destroyed due to insufficient staffing and budgeting to adequately operate and maintain them.

From the Board of Directors of Friends of Aransas National Wildlife Refuge.

Land Protection Plan for Aransas NWR

Tue, 07 May 2024 15:27:02 GMT

A press release from the US Fish and Wildlife Service on April 16, 2024, announced the release of two land protection plans that will allow for the conservation of up to 150,000 acres of coastal habitat in Texas. The plans outline new limited acquisition boundaries for the Aransas NWR and Big Boggy NWR (Matagorda County) and focus on conserving essential habitat for endangered species (whooping crane, black rail, Attwater’s prairie chicken) as well as mottled ducks and other various wintering waterfowl.

"The approval of these plans is a significant step forward in conserving habitat for the benefit of wildlife and people on the Texas Gulf Coast," said Amy Lueders, the Service's Southwest Regional Director. "These plans prioritize areas that are important for the recovery of endangered whooping cranes and other imperiled wildlife species, with the added benefit of safeguarding natural spaces that benefit communities by providing protection from floods and storms as well as opportunities for hunting, fishing, wildlife viewing and ecotourism."

Read the full press release here.

Billboards advertising Aransas NWR on Highway 35

Fri, 10 Nov 2023 16:56:56 GMT

The Friends of Aransas NWR recently paid for the repair and installation of these new banners on the billboards alongside Highway 35. Admire the designs created by Laura Bonneau, Visitor Services Manager at the refuge - but please drive safely!

Progress on the visitor center

Tue, 09 Mar 2021 15:47:26 GMT

Look through the gallery of photos showing the building of the new Visitor Center Our New Building

Work has started on the new Visitor Center building

Sun, 30 Aug 2020 19:59:31 GMT

The exciting news of the summer of 2020 is that groundwork has started for the new Visitor Center, to replace the old building that sustained hurricane damage in August 2017. The road to the old parking area has been blocked off, with a temporary road made to the restrooms across from the Visitor Contact Station (which remains closed due to COVID-19). At the last FAMI Board meeting (via Zoom) Refuge Manager Joe Saenz and Visitor Services Manager Laura Bonneau shared some information on the plans for the new Visitor Center. The building will be home for the administrative offices, and the public area will include a check-in and information desk, an exhibit and interpretive area, a meeting room and the FAMI Nature Store and office.

The road to the parking area will continue behind the new building and rejoin the main refuge road a short distance beyond the Alligator Viewing Area. There are plans for more trails around the new center, including a path from the building down to the existing platform for viewing alligators in Tomas Slough.

Expect to see some changes when you next visit the Refuge!

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Notice/ Entrance Fees Temporarily Suspended

Sun, 26 Apr 2020 15:05:10 GMT

During the current public health emergency, whenever possible, outdoor recreation sites at national wildlife refuges will remain open to the public.

The Secretary of the Interior, David Bernhardt has directed national wildlife refuges to temporarily suspend the collection of entrance fees until further notice.

Read the news release here

At the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge the Visitor Contact Station is closed, as is the FAMI Nature Store, part of the effort to promote social isolation and prevent spread of the virus. Visitors are encouraged to follow CDC guidelines and keep a safe distance between yourself and others.

Wintering Whooping Crane Update, February 6, 2020

Mon, 16 Mar 2020 15:59:45 GMT

Read an account from Wade Harrell, U.S. Whooping Crane Recovery Coordinator, of the annual crane abundance survey done this year.

Read update here

Goodbye to the old Visitor Center

Sun, 09 Jun 2019 20:02:28 GMT

Demolition of the Visitor Center is underway at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. The Claude F. Lard Visitor Center, built in 1980, took on extensive damage from Hurricane Harvey in August 2017. So farewell to an old friend, while looking forward to the replacement building.

Wintering Whooping Crane Update

Thu, 07 Feb 2019 16:37:32 GMT

Weather permitting, survey flights were started in the first week of February to get an overall estimate of the wintering whooping crane population.

Follow this link for the latest update from Dr Wade Harrell, US Whooping Crane Recovery Coordinator (link to FWS website).

Resuming operations at the Refuge

Tue, 29 Jan 2019 16:48:54 GMT

With the end to the government shutdown, the Aransas NWR has resumed full operations as of Monday, January 28, 2019.

Thank you for your continuing support. (And let's hope the government stays open...)

Whooping crane update winter 2017-2018

Thu, 23 Aug 2018 20:49:14 GMT

Great news! The estimate for whooping cranes in the Aransas-Wood Buffalo population for the winter of 2017-18 is 505 birds. This estimate included at least 49 juveniles and 183 adult pairs. See the full report here.

New FAMI Nature Store

Thu, 16 Aug 2018 22:30:09 GMT

The FAMI Nature Store is currently opening at weekends. The store is now in a free-standing building close to the Visitor Contact Station. Come by and enjoy a visit to the Refuge, and stop in to see what there is in the Nature Store.

News from Wood Buffalo National Park

Sat, 17 Jun 2017 02:29:46 GMT

There's exciting news from Wood Buffalo, via Friends of the Wild Whoopers. See their website for nesting information. http://friendsofthewildwhoopers.org/egg-incubation-underway-wood-buffalos-wild-whooping-cranes/

Member Field Trip

Tue, 07 Mar 2017 17:35:13 GMT

Members are invited to join us Saturday, March 25, for our Spring Member Event: a trip to the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge Myrtle Foester Whitmire Unit. Refuge staff will give us a behind the scenes tour of the unit.

Closed to the public, the Whitmire Unit is an important resting area for migratory waterfowl and other birds. It's quite an interesting unit. Unlike the other units, there is active management of water levels. There are also cattle on the unit, in a controlled grazing project.

The plan is to meet at the La Salle Monument in Indianola (see Google Map) at 8:30 a.m. and travel to the unit in refuge vehicles. You'll need to wear long pants and boots or closed toe walking shoes. Be sure to bring water, snacks, and insect repellent. You'll probably want to also bring binoculars and/or a camera. If you have a spotting scope, you might want to bring that also.

The tour will include both driving and walking. We expect it to end by 1:30.

For those that want to spend more time in the area, there's food available nearby. There is a historic cemetery at Indianola that can be good for birding during migration, and Texas Ornithological Society has a bird sanctuary at Magic Ridge, between Indianola & Magnolia Beach. With all the warm weather, early migrants may be coming through.

This is a members only event, so members won't be able to bring guests unless they join FAMI. New members will be eligible to reserve a space upon receipt of membership dues. Our group will be limited to 15 people, so please be sure to RSVP at info@friendsofaransas.org. You should get a confirmation within 24 hours. If your membership is anything other than individual, you should specify how many will be attending. Feel free to email the same address if you have any questions.

Current members should have received an email invitation. If you are a current member and did not receive an email, please contact treasurer@friendsofaransas.org.

Annual Membership Meeting

Sun, 29 Jan 2017 03:28:07 GMT

We held our annual Membership Meeting January 21, and had very good turnout. We had a different format this year, with members arriving for fruit and baked goods before the business meeting. The minutes from 2016 were approved, as was the financial report from the fiscal year ending 9/30/2016. We elected Ellen Reisinger as Secretary. We also elected 4 new board members at large: Butch Andreozzi, Ryan Ford, Mollie Huber, and Raymond Starr. You can read about all the board members on our Meet the Board page. At the end of the meeting, our new logo was unveiled.

Following the business meeting, we drew for door prizes. Vera Wiatt and Judy Pair each won trips for 2 on the Skimmer, donated by Captain Tommy Moore of Rockport Birding & Kayak Adventures. Several lucky members won various items featuring photographs by our new board member Butch Andreozzi. Butch has shared photos to our Facebook page, which you can view here. By the way, you do not have to signup for Facebook to view our page.

After the meeting, we opened the program up to the public. Our featured speaker was Carrie Salyers with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. She gave us a fascinating presentation about the history of Whooping Cranes in Louisiana, and the current program to reestablish a flock there.

Following the program, members were offered a tour with refuge staff to some of the non-public areas of the refuge. One of the treats they had was a very good view of an Aplamado Falcon!

Our new logo

Volunteer Opportunities

Sun, 13 Nov 2016 16:05:50 GMT

We have a wide variety of volunteer opportunities just now. There are even some jobs that you can do from home, no matter where you live! Please take a look at our Volunteer Opportunities page and contact us if you can help.

If you have a specific interest or talent, and you don't see anything listed that's a good fit, please contact us. We'll work something out!

Member Field Trip

Sat, 05 Nov 2016 21:29:06 GMT

Photo by Laura Bonneau, USFWS

On Saturday, November 19, members will have an opportunity to visit the Lamar Unit of Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. This unit is located on the Lamar peninsula, north of Rockport, and is closed to the public. It is home to Whooping Cranes and numerous other birds. Laura Bonneau, Refuge Visitor Services Manager, will be along to tell us about the unit. *

This is a field trip limited to Friends members only. If you are a current member and did not receive your invitation, please contact the treasurer. If you are not currently a member, and would like to join you can do so here.

If you have any questions about the field trip. you can email us for more information.

This is a wonderful opportunity to explore a part of Aransas National Wildlife Refuge that many people do not get to see.

*Since the Lamar Unit is not managed for public access, a different trip may have to be substituted due to weather and/or road conditions.

Aerial photo by Wade Harrell, USFWS

Refuge Celebration Day & Pollinator Garden Grand Opening

Wed, 19 Oct 2016 21:29:23 GMT

Linda Lanoue, Fred Lanoue, Linda Swiggett, & Linda Frank Photo by Joe Saenz, USFWS

Aransas National Wildlife Refuge celebrated National Wildlife Refuge Week with Refuge Celebration Day October 15th. Over 350 people came out to enjoy tours of the refuge, kayaking, archery, face painting, and much, much more.

We also held our Pollinator Garden "Grand Opening". It was perfect timing, and the garden was full of butterflies. Guided tours of the garden were given, and other people visited it on their own. We saw people enjoying the garden in various ways, such as sketching, photographing, studying the plants and their labels, and watching butterflies.

We've gotten wonderful comments on the garden. If you're in the area, come and check it out!

Julia butterfly in garden Oct. 15th. Photo by Debra Corpora

Rough Riders 4-H Club

Sun, 09 Oct 2016 15:34:41 GMT

Members of the Rough Riders 4-H Club, from the Austwell-Tivoli ISD, did an amazing job in our pollinator garden October 8th. They removed a mountain of undesirable plants from the garden in record time! Many thanks to them for their hard work. A couple slipped away before we could get a photo, but we appreciate each and every one of them!

Rough Riders 4-H Club workers, along with Linda Frank (far right) who supervised the work. Photo by Fred Lanoue

FAMI Honored as Steward of Nature!

Sun, 11 Sep 2016 15:13:53 GMT

The History Center for Aransas County honored Friends of Aransas NWR and others that were chosen as Stewards of Nature in Aransas County. President Fred Lanoue was presented a certificate at a reception September 10th. Organizations and individuals honored were chosen by members of the community for their efforts to preserve, protect, and restore the natural environment.

The reception marked the opening of the History Center's exhibition, Stewards of Nature, which will be on display through November 12, 2016. The exhibit celebrates those who have worked to preserve the unique environment of the Coastal Bend, with its barrier islands, marshes, and oak mottes. There will be posters telling the stories of the honorees.

You can see more about the exhibit here.

We are excited and proud to be part of this exhibition!

Photo by Linda Swiggett

Whooping Crane Migration Study

Tue, 06 Sep 2016 16:06:06 GMT

This study was done on the introduced Eastern flock, but it is quite interesting.

Click here to read the study.

Whooping Cranes Spend Summer at Aransas NWR

Wed, 31 Aug 2016 20:50:40 GMT

There was a great deal of excitement when Whooping Cranes were recently sighted on the refuge from a boat, with people thinking they had arrived back very early. Actually, they never left! Click here to read Sara Sneath's article in the Victoria Advocate.

YCC Workers Help in Pollinator Garden

Thu, 18 Aug 2016 15:59:38 GMT

The Youth Conservation Corps workers spent 8 weeks working in different areas of Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. The students, from Austwell/Tivoli ISD, along with their crew leader Chris Sandoval, spent one day working in the pollinator garden. They did an amazing job & accomplished more in one day than we ever imagined!

The YCC is a win-win program. The students got a chance to earn money and learn more about the natural environment at the refuge. The refuge got help with various projects. This was a great group of hard workers.

Our next work day in the garden will be Tuesday August 30th. If you'd like to participate, contact us for details.

Pollinator Garden Work Day Changed

Fri, 10 Jun 2016 12:04:41 GMT

In June only, the garden maintenance work day has been changed to the 4th Monday, June 27th rather than the usual Tuesday. Please email us for more information.

Whooping Crane Nesting Update

Fri, 10 Jun 2016 12:03:27 GMT

Great news – our colleagues with the Canadian Wildlife Service report that 78 Whooping Crane nests are confirmed on the cranes' breeding grounds at Wood Buffalo National Park. Here's to a successful nesting season!

Earth Day Bay Day Big Success!

Tue, 26 Apr 2016 00:12:30 GMT

Linda Swiggett and Gay Heijmancik did a wonderful job representing Friends of Aransas and Aransas National Wildlife Refuge at Earth Day Bay Day in Corpus Christi on April 9th. They gave out 500 shells they had painted, as well as Roseate Spoonbill postcards and Aransas NWR pencils, and information about the refuge. Linda has created a photo album that she had on display at the table, and that got a lot of interest. Linda & Gay talked with people about the refuge and invited them to come out to see it for themselves. They signed up over 50 people that want to receive our e-newsletter to keep up with what is going on at the refuge.

Thank you ladies for doing an outstanding job!

Linda Swiggett at table; photo by Gay Heijmancik

Pollinator Garden Progress

Sun, 17 Apr 2016 19:35:50 GMT

Now that most of the planting has been done, the garden is really taking shape.

On April 13th, Ellen Reisinger, Linda Frank, and Fred Lanoue completed the point irrigation system.

Then came "mulch day", April 16th. Jen Brown, Environmental Education Specialist, arranged with Boy Scout Troop # 135 to help in the garden as their service project. The plan for the day was to get the new plants mulched. The scout group, from Ganada, TX, was absolutely amazing! It was hard work, and they got more accomplished in a couple of hours than we could have done in a day! They even made sure that all the mulch was cleaned out of the trailer & off the parking lot, and that all the tools were collected when they were done. We certainly appreciate their help!

The pollinator garden is an on going project. If you would like to be involved, please contact us. For more photos, visit our photo gallery.

Boy Scout Troop #135 & other workers. Jen Brown, on the far right, made it happen. Also helping were Ellen Resinger, front row left, Refuge Intern Hannah Plumpton, front row right, Linda Frank, 2nd from right, and Fred Lanoue, far right. Photo by Linda Lanoue

City of Rockport contributes to Water for Wildlife!

Wed, 13 Apr 2016 16:07:41 GMT

At a recent City Council meeting, Rockport Mayor C.J. Wax presented Friends President Fred Lanoue with a check for $1085.00. The check represented a portion of all the paid entries for the 2016 Whooping Crane Strut. The money will be deposited in our Water for Wildlife Fund.

The fund is used to drill new wells, and rehabilitate old ones to ensure reliable fresh water sources for Whooping Cranes & other wildlife in times of drought. The fund was most recently used to drill 2 wells on Matagorda Island, with solar powered pumps. We hope to rebuild the fund, as there is an older well on the island that needs to be rehabilitated.

We enjoyed partnering in this annual event, which is a fun time for all ages. You can see photos of the event in our photo gallery.

Thank you to the City of Rockport for helping us help the Whooping Cranes!

Left to right: Parks Department Director Tom Staley, Mayor C.J. Wax, Friends President Fred Lanoue, Parks Department Staff Rick Martinez.

Pollinator Garden Update

Wed, 06 Apr 2016 23:18:13 GMT

Our Planting Party was a tremendous success! We had beautiful weather and great participation by volunteers and Refuge staff. Thanks to all the hard workers, we’ve made a big leap forward, and the garden is really taking shape.

It would have been easiest to get rid of everything inside the fence and start fresh. However, there were many desirable plants in there, so the decision was made to manually remove invasives and other undesirables, leaving the rest. On the work day, some people planted, while others dug out and pulled up the plants that were not wanted.

Refuge staff and volunteers working together can accomplish so much! There were staff members there from every department, including Refuge Manager Joe Saenz. FAMI board members Ellen Reisinger and Linda Frank, designers of the garden, organized and led the work party. A great deal was accomplished in far less time that we expected!

After the work was done, we adjourned to a hamburger & hot dog lunch and social gathering in the Commons. It was a great opportunity for all of us to get to know one another a bit better.

We still have a lot of work to do, but it’s wonderful to have a lot of the plants in and be able to have a good preview of what the completed product will look like. If you would like to be involved in future work days, please email info@friendsofaransas.org.

Thank you to everyone that participated. Special thanks to Linda Swiggett, Gay Hejtmancik, Jim Schreiner, Linda Frank, & Ellen Reisinger for preparing the food, and to Ellen Reisinger & Linda Frank for coming up with the idea for lunch.

To see more photos, go to our gallery.

Whooping Crane Strut

Sun, 13 Mar 2016 20:20:18 GMT

The Rockport, TX, Whooping Crane Strut was held Saturday, March 12, and we had a fabulous time! The weather was wonderful and turnout was fantastic.

The Aransas National Wildlife Refuge Super Whooper was, as always, a huge crowd pleaser. Super Whooper, assisted by Jim Panaccione, USFWS, gave the signal to start the race, cheered racers in, handed out door prizes, and posed for photos with fans of all ages.

A portion of each entry fee will be donated to our Water for Wildlife Fund. The final figures aren't available yet, but it will be a healthy addition to our fund.

Thank you to the City of Rockport, and everyone that participated!

You can see more photos from the event in our Whooping Crane Strut photo album.

Vote for Aransas National Wildlife Refuge!

Thu, 10 Mar 2016 17:20:08 GMT

Aransas NWR has been nominated in the USA Today 10 Best Places for Birding poll.

Please vote for our Refuge and ask your friends and family to vote. After you click on the link & vote, be sure you get a "thank you for voting" message. You can vote every day until noon, March 28.

Help us let the world know what a great place Aransas National Wildlife Refuge is!

More Rail Trail!

Fri, 05 Feb 2016 14:55:32 GMT

Not only is the new Rail Trail bridge now open, but Rail Trail is longer! The north section has been extended to the refuge fence.

In the first photo, Fred Lanoue is standing at what used to be the north end of Rail Trail. In the second, Linda Lanoue is at the new end of the trail.

Thank you to Aransas NWR maintenance staff & volunteers for giving us more Rail Trail!

Membership Meeting

Tue, 02 Feb 2016 20:29:03 GMT

The FAMI annual Membership Meeting was held Saturday, January 30th, with 38 members attending.

Although Refuge Manager Joe Saenz was unable to attend, Laura Bonneau, Visitor Services Manager, read a message from him, and gave us a refuge update. Keith Westlake, Lead Biologist, gave us an update on what's going on with Biological Services and Wade Harrell, USFWS Whooping Crane Coordinator, gave an update on the flock.

Board Members for 2016 will be Fred Lanoue, President; Amanda Rocha, Secretary; Linda Lanoue, Treasurer; and Directors at Large Linda Frank, Ellen Reisinger, Irma Schreiner, & Linda Swiggett . You can read more about them at Meet the Board.

Our speaker was Lee Ann Johnson Linam, whose father was Frank Johnson, a Refuge Manager at Aransas NWR. Lee Ann grew up on National Wildlife Refuges, including Aransas, before going on to become a biologist with Texas Parks & Wildlife. She gave us a fascinating look at life on the refuge, and her father's work with Whooping Cranes & other wildlife. Lee Ann herself developed citizen science programs for monitoring endangered species, including the Whooper Watch program. Her program was both informative and entertaining.

Lee Ann also assisted us by drawing for door prizes. There were several items donated by the Nature Store: Monarch lapel pins, Jabebo earrings, 2 different designs of canvas bags, and a cap with a brand new Friends of Aransas design, not previously sold. We also had prizes donated by Captain Tommy Moore & Rockport Birding & Kayak Adventures. Captain Tommy donated 4 beautiful T-shirts, and 3 birding trips for 2 on the Skimmer. The lucky winners of the trips were Sue Weir, Barbara Bruns, and Fred Krebs. We really appreciate Captain Tommy's support. Every member attending received a reusable water bottle from the Nature Store.

Lunch was chicken spaghetti with salad & fresh fruit, plus a marvelous array of desserts. After lunch, those that wished were led on a tour to Burgentine Lake, a non-public section of the refuge, by Keith Westlake, Wade Harrell & Laura Bonneau.

It was wonderful to have a chance to visit with members, from several that have been members for many years, to a couple that joined just a few minutes before the meeting. We are all excited by the many positive things going on at the refuge.

To see photos of the meeting, visit our Gallery.

Whooping Crane Talk

Tue, 02 Feb 2016 20:25:05 GMT

Dr. Wade Harrell will present a program on Whooping Cranes on February 18th, at 5:30, at the Coastal Bend Museum in Victoria, TX. Admission is "pay-what-you-want". For more information, see their website.

Rail Trail Bridge Open!

Sun, 31 Jan 2016 22:57:02 GMT

Thanks to this awesome crew, the bridge linking Rail Trail to the road is now open!

Left row, front to back: Lynn Sayre, Kent Sayre, Phil Douglas, Marcos Alcala

Right row, front to back: Bob Gonser, Joan Gonser, Marcia Douglas, David Brennan

Come check it out! More news about Rail Trail coming soon.

Fun at Early Bird New Year's

Sat, 02 Jan 2016 16:20:40 GMT

If you missed our Early Bird New Year's Celebration, you missed a good time! We celebrated the Refuge's 78th birthday & our love of Whooping Cranes, as well as getting an early start on New Year's. Richard Gonzales explained what the Science & Spanish Club Network is, and told us of some of their accomplishments. FAMI President Fred Lanoue gave a brief overview of Friends of Aransas NWR & invited attendees to visit our Nature Store. Jennifer Brown, Environmental Education Specialist then gave a "State of the Cranes" address.

To get everyone in a party spirit, our Super Whooper danced to the Whoop song & then posed for photo ops. You can see a video here. We then counted down to noon for our early New Year's. After that, we sang Happy Birthday to the Refuge & attendees blew out the candles on the cake. Thank you to Richard Gonzales and the Science & Spanish Club Network for donating the punch and decorations.

Also on display was a door decoration created by the 6th Grade Science students at Blaschke Sheldon Elemetary School in Ingleside, taught by Robin Flures. It's a beautiful life size "Winter Texan" Whooping Crane. It was donated to the Refuge by the students and the Science & Spanish Club Network.

After everyone had cake & punch, the best plumage (white, black & red) was chosen. The winner, chosen by the crowd, was 21 month old Idalia Raschke.

You can see more photos by clicking on our Gallery. Click on the image to see it bigger.

Whoop It Up Early Bird New Year's!

Tue, 15 Dec 2015 23:15:32 GMT

We are partnering with Aransas National Wildlife Refuge and the Science & Spanish Club Network to Whoop It Up at the Refuge December 31. We have a lot to celebrate. It's the Refuge's 78th birthday! It's New Year's Eve! The Whooping Cranes are here! WHOOP! WHOOP!

Be at the Refuge Visitor Center by 11:00 a.m. If you'd like, honor the Whooping Cranes by wearing their colors, red, black & white. There will be a prize awarded for the best crane plumage. We'll hear a brief talk about Whooping Cranes, and get a head start on New Year's by counting down to noon. Our Super Whooper mascot will lead us in dancing the Whoop Song, followed by birthday cake and photo ops. You can hear the song & practice by visiting our Facebook page.

For more information, you can call the Refuge at 361-286-3559 & ask for Jennifer, or email her.

Christmas Bird Count Update

Fri, 04 Dec 2015 17:14:35 GMT

Don’t forget about the Aransas (TXAR-2015-#65) Christmas Bird Count on December 22. Paul Swacina is the coordinator and is still putting together teams. All birders, from beginners to expert, are invited. Contact Paul to get on his list. Be sure to let him know your level of birding experience, as well as familiarity with the Refuge, so he can assign you to an appropriate team.

Coffee, pastries, and lunch fixings will be provided, sponsored by Friends of Aransas NWR.

The Nature Store will be open that day, allowing count participants a chance to do last minute Christmas shopping. The store has some great new merchandise for all ages, and all profits are used to support the Refuge.

Paul reports that this year there will be an “after” party at Butch and Adela’s Tavern at Hopper’s Landing and offers the following information:

“Hopper’s Landing is located just up the road from the refuge and has been closely connected to ANWR since the refuge’s founding.

“The famous Audubon researcher Robert Porter Allen during his seminal research on both Roseate Spoonbills and Whooping Cranes stayed at a cabin at Hopper’s landing (which is still there) and relates many fine stories of Butch’s grandpa and father in his numerous books and reports.

“Adela was an active volunteer at the Refuge in the past and has many fond memories from her years there.

“There are cabins and RV places to stay at either the day before the count or the night of the after party, reservation are suggested.

“The Jerry James Band will be providing live music from 7:00 p.m. – till 10:00 p.m. He also performs regularly in Victoria Texas at Greek’s 205. Jerry is recently retired from the City of Victoria where he was the Environmental Services Director."

Be sure to contact Paul for more information.

New Native Plant Garden at Aransas NWR Headquarters!

Thu, 03 Dec 2015 23:20:49 GMT

With funds donated by U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Retirees 2014 Greenwalt Walk for Wildlife, we have been able to rehabilitate the native plant area around the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge headquarters flagpole. The contribution not only allowed us to purchase new native plants, but also to put in an automated irrigation system. This will make the area much easier to maintain, and give the plants a better chance for survival in our hot, dry summers.

It took a lot of people to make this happen. FAMI members Ellen Reisinger and Linda Frank did the design for the plantings and irrigation. Mid-Coast chapter, Texas Master Naturalists donated many of the new plants. FAMI President Fred Lanoue and Visitor Services Intern Hannah Plumpton put in the new path. Ellen, Linda, and Fred installed the irrigation and did the planting. Fred, along with Visitor Services Intern Kevin Sun and FAMI member Linda Lanoue spread the mulch. Thank you to everyone involved, and special thanks to Greg Birkenfeld and the Refuge maintenance staff for their help.

Come by the Refuge and take a look!

Two New Wells for Matagorda Island!

Wed, 11 Nov 2015 17:17:05 GMT

In May, San Antonio Bay Foundation awarded Friends of Aransas $31,000.00 to provide reliable fresh water on Matagorda Island. The money was made available to the San Antonio Bay Foundation pursuant to a settlement agreement with the Texas General Land Office and Kirby Inland Marine. These funds are Supplemental Environmental Project funds which resulted from the oil spill in the Houston ship channel on March 23, 2014 that made landfall on Matagorda Island. San Antonio Bay Foundation previously contributed $10,000.00 to our Water for Wildlife Fund. We were able to supplement those amounts with other money from our Water for Wildlife and Whooping Crane Funds, thanks to individuals that gave donations.

A drilling project on a barrier island without road access, electricity, or potable water, and only spotty communication, is no simple matter. Some of the drilling companies contacted didn’t even want to make the attempt, especially since it meant barging their equipment to the island & leaving it there until the project was completed. Happily, Carl Critendon of Critendon Well Drilling Service was willing and able to meet the challenge.

We now have two wells on the south portion of the island producing good quality fresh water for the cranes and other wildlife. They are equipped with solar-powered pumps, which have been proven to need a lot less maintenance than the old windmills.

Aransas National Wildlife Refuge management & staff, especially Felipe Prieto, were instrumental in getting this accomplished. FAMI President Fred Lanoue spent many hours coordinating the project and never let the obstacles and difficulties deter him from the goal.

Thanks to San Antonio Bay foundation and everyone else involved, Whooping Cranes and other wildlife will have reliable fresh water on the southern end of Matagorda Island, even when dry conditions return to south Texas.

Aransas National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center to be Open 7 days a Week!

Tue, 13 Oct 2015 22:26:47 GMT

From October 15 - April 14, the Refuge Visitor Center will be open every day from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Be sure to stop in to see the exhibits and find out the latest news about the Refuge from the friendly staff & volunteers.

Aransas NWR Christmas Bird Count Set!

Sat, 03 Oct 2015 16:05:19 GMT

Mark your calendar for Tuesday, December 22, and plan to come out for the Refuge Christmas Bird Count. Paul Swacina is taking the lead again, and Steve Reisinger will be co-compiler. It's a great way to enjoy a day of birding at the refuge, and the information collected by observers helps in the study of the long-term health and status of bird populations across North America. The Christmas Bird count is one of the longest-running citizen science projects in North America.

You don't have to be an expert to participate. Even brand new birders can help spot birds. Beginners are placed with more experienced birders; it's a good way to learn, and meet other birders. There is no charge for the event.

If you're interested & want to be included in on the email list for more information,

contact Paul.

Friends booth at HummerBird a big success!

Tue, 22 Sep 2015 21:48:16 GMT

We had a great time at HummerBird Celebration. Our sales were good, earning money to help us support Aransas National Wildlife Refuge projects. Even better, we had the opportunity to talk with a lot of people about the Refuge and our Friends group. Best of all, Refuge Project Leader Joe Saenz and Visitor Services Manager Laura were able to join us part of the time to meet people and tell them about some of the exciting things going on at the Refuge.

Thank you to our members Patrick Rios, Linda Frank, Melanie Konarik, Ron Smudy, Fred Lanoue, and Linda Lanoue for making our booth possible.

HummerBird Celebration

Mon, 14 Sep 2015 21:26:30 GMT

The 2015 Rockport-Fulton HummerBird Celebration is this weekend, & we'll be there Friday 9/18-Sunday 9/20. We will be featuring books and Quick Reference Guides by Kevin T. Karlson, keynote speaker and workshop leader at the festival. His new book is Birding By Impression, which teaches a simple approach to bird identification by noting basic characteristics. His book, The Shorebird Guide, is widely recognized as being one of the best on the subject. We also have his tri-fold guides: Raptors of Eastern North America, Waterfowl of North America, and the recently released Shorebirds of North America.

Besides books for all ages, we'll have our popular Whooping Crane Recovery and other shirts, a good selection of the amazing recycled Jabebo earrings, and much more. As always, we'll have free information about Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, and gladly answer any questions anyone might have.

Our booth will be in the high school. If you're in the area, stop by to shop, or just say hello. Hope to see you there. If you can't make it this weekend, we'll have these items and more

in our nature store in the Refuge Visitor Center after HummerBird.

Grant awarded to Friends of Aransas!

Wed, 19 Aug 2015 23:31:08 GMT

We have been awarded a grant through the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation to create an interpretive pollinator garden at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. The grants were awarded through the National Wildlife Refuge Friends Grant Program, a collaborative effort between the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the National Wildlife Refuge Association, National Audubon Society, and Enbridge.

The garden will be created in an unused area beside the Visitor Center parking lot, and will feature native plants known to attract Monarch & other butterflies, as well as other pollinators. It will serve both to provide safe habitat for native pollinators, and educate the public about the benefits of, and relationship between, native plants and pollinators.

We will be reaching out to other groups and individual members of the community to help with this project. If you're interested in becoming involved, or would like more information, please contact us.

Photo by Elizabeth Sellers, USGS

Volunteers Working with Invasives Project

Tue, 18 Aug 2015 20:43:22 GMT

Friends of Aransas is partnering with Aransas National Wildlife Refuge to treat and monitor invasive Honey Mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) on the Tatton Unit of the Refuge. The Refuge received a grant to work with Friends and Refuge volunteers to mechanically remove mesquite, and apply herbicide from a UTV. The Tatton Unit is the largest remaining section of coastal prairie in the area. Without treatment, mesquite will continue to spread and cause additional strain on all flora and fauna that rely on these valuable and limited grasslands.

The target area is Tatton Unit T7, which is 98 acres. Currently mesquite is estimated to cover 40% of that unit. It is hoped that 100% of the mesquite will be removed from that area.

More help is needed. If you're interested in helping, please email us.

New Environmental Education Specialist!

Fri, 31 Jul 2015 13:53:51 GMT

Jennifer Brown has joined the Aransas NWR staff as Environmental Education Specialist! Jen grew up in South Florida, and graduated from Florida International University in Miami with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Environmental Studies. After graduation, she became an Environmental Education Intern with USFWS at the Southeast Louisiana Refuges Complex.

Jennifer later worked in the Louisiana State Park system at the Louisiana State Arboretum and Bayou Segnette Sate Park. She returned to USFWS as a temporary ranger at Ottawa NWR, where she wrote and was awarded a $50,000 grant to improve the Environmental Education program and cover her salary. She then worked in the VISTA program for a year, before going to the Texas Mid-coast Refuge Complex. While at Mid-coast, she worked with their Friends group to facilitate hands-on field trips and educational special events.

Jen comes with high praise, not only from her former employers, but also from Friends members at Ottawa and Mid-Coast. We are pleased and excited to welcome her to Aransas!

Hilcorp Energy representatives visit Aransas!

Wed, 08 Jul 2015 22:40:37 GMT

Representatives of Hilcorp Energy visited Aransas NWR July 7th. Jill Fisk, Asset Team Leader, and Justin Furnace, Corporate Manager of External Affairs, came to learn more about Friends of Aransas, and to tour the Refuge. Earlier this year, Hilcorp Energy joined the Friends at the Corporate level.

During the meeting, ideas were exchanged for possible future projects. They were later given a tour of the Refuge by Friends Director Ron Smudy and Board President Fred Lanoue.

We're excited about this new partnership and look forward to working together. If you'd like to see more about Hilcorp, visit their website.

New Nature Store Manager!

Tue, 23 Jun 2015 20:53:06 GMT

Irma Hernandez Schreiner is the new manager of the Friends Nature Store. Irma is a board member and has been a regular volunteer in the store. She will bring fresh ideas and energy to the store operations. You can see more about Irma on our "Meet the Board" page.

Joe Saenz returns to Aransas National Wildlife Refuge!

Tue, 23 Jun 2015 00:48:55 GMT

Joe Saenz, former Deputy Project Leader at Aransas NWR has returned as Project Leader. Joe has been with the US Fish & Wildlife Service for nearly 24 years, working in Minnesota & Utah before coming to Aransas. Since leaving Aransas in 2009, he has worked at Bitter Lake NWR in New Mexico, and most recently was Project Leader of the North Louisiana Refuge Complex. Joe is a native Texan, and says he is glad to come home to Texas and Aransas.

New Pathways Intern!

Mon, 22 Jun 2015 00:31:28 GMT

Welcome to Daniel Jackson, who will be working at Aransas National Wildlife through the Pathways Internship Program. Dan is from eastern Oklahoma, and is a student at Texas A&M Galveston, studying Ocean & Coastal Resources. His first job through the program was for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He will be at the Refuge until late August.

New Corporate Sponsor!

Mon, 25 May 2015 21:08:33 GMT

Hilcorp Energy Company has joined Friends of Aransas at the Corporate Membership level. We truly appreciate their interest and support. You can see more about Hilcorp here.

San Antonio Bay Foundation gives $31,000!

Mon, 18 May 2015 20:58:27 GMT

The San Antonio Bay Foundation (SABF) has awarded $31,000.00 to the Friends Water for Wildlife Fund! The funds will be used to help ensure that whooping cranes and other wildlife have fresh drinking water on Matagorda Island.

Funds were made available to the San Antonio Bay Foundation pursuant to a settlement agreement with the Texas General Land Office and Kirby Inland Marine. These funds are Supplemental Environmental Project funds which resulted from the oil spill in the Houston ship channel on March 23, 2014 and made landfall on Matagorda Island.

Although we've had more rain than usual this winter and spring, it is crucial to provide reliable fresh water sources when drier conditions return. The San Antonio Bay Foundation recognizes this need. They have now provided funding for Water for Wildlife totaling $41,000.00. We are extremely grateful for their contribution and support.

Shown below: Dan Alonso, San Antonio Bay Foundation Executive Director; Gene Corville, San Antonio Bay Foundation Board of Directors; Fred Lanoue, President, Friends of Aransas; and Bret Beasley, Biologist, Aransas National Wildlife Refuge.

Unused Rookery Reward Fund donated to Friends!

Sun, 10 May 2015 18:52:08 GMT

In the spring of 2013, a reward fund was established to be paid out upon arrest & conviction of the person(s) responsible for vandalism to a rookery island in San Antonio Bay. The fund was never used, and has now been donated to our Whooping Crane Fund. This fund is used for projects that directly benefit the cranes. Thank you to Penny Hong, Sally Mitchell, Patrick Rios, Kevin Sims and Tommy Moore for helping us help the Whooping Cranes!

Veterans hunt hogs at Aransas NWR!

Tue, 05 May 2015 22:04:06 GMT

Aransas National Wildlife Refuge and Matagorda Bay Chapter of Serve Outdoors co-sponsored the Drew McGinnes Memorial Hunt April 24-26. Friends of Aransas supplied breakfast Saturday & Sunday, with Refuge staff helping to cook Saturday. We were also able to contribute two $50 Academy gift cards for a "thank you" drawing. Giving these veterans with disabilities a recreational opportunity and getting rid of some hogs at the same time is win-win!! We were honored to be a part of it.

World of Water

Tue, 05 May 2015 21:51:57 GMT

Friends of Aransas Board Members Linda Swiggett & Irma Schreiner represented our group and Aransas National Wildlife Refuge at the World of Water in Corpus Christi April 25th.

More Improvements at Aransas!

Fri, 03 Apr 2015 16:34:32 GMT

Staff and volunteers have been busy with several projects the last few months, and have gotten a lot done, in spite of the cold & rainy weather. Earlier we posted about the new tower boardwalk, & new platform at the end of Big Tree Trail. Now we have two more completed projects.

There is a wonderful new platform at the Alligator Viewing Area. This one is great because it's raised, so that you look down on Thomas Slough & the area the alligators like to lie in. You can get really nice views, while remaining perfectly safe. You can also see among the cattails, to better search for birds. It's wheelchair accessible, too.!

The other platform is on Heron Flats Trail, after the trail curves back towards the woods. This viewing platform had to be closed, and was greatly missed by many. It offers a view of the "far end" of Heron Flats that can't be had anywhere else. The platform has now been rebuilt and conforms to current codes.

Most of our seasonal residential volunteers have left now, and the others will be leaving soon. They have made a tremendous difference, though, and their work will be enjoyed by refuge visitors for many seasons to come!

Rockport donates to Water for Wildlife!

Fri, 03 Apr 2015 15:53:00 GMT

At the last Rockport City Council meeting, Mayor C. J. Wax presented Friends President Fred Lanoue with a check for $735.00. This year we partnered with the city in their annual Whooping Crane Strut. A portion of each entry fee was designated for Water for Wildlife. Although we've had good rains the past few months, dry tomes will definitely come again. The check has been deposited in our Water for Wildlife Fund, to help the refuge supply reliable fresh water sources for Whooping Cranes and other wildlife.

Thank you to the City of Rockport, Tom Staley & the Parks Department, and everyone that participated.

Aransas named a stand-out refuge!

Mon, 23 Mar 2015 22:01:10 GMT

National Geographic has chosen Aransas as one of 6 stand-out National Wildlife Refuges! Read about it here!

Fun at the Whooping Crane Strut

Mon, 09 Mar 2015 21:47:47 GMT

Even though the weather was cold, the Rockport Whooping Crane Strut was lots of fun. The refuge mascot was there, along with her handler, Visitor Services Manager Laura Bonneau. Our favorite big bird started the race, greeted runners & walkers at the finish line, and helped hand out prizes. Friends of Aransas representatives were there to talk with people about Friends and the refuge. A portion of the registration fees will be donated to our Water for Wildlife Fund. We appreciate everyone that participated, and especially the Rockport Parks Department for letting us partner with them in this fun event.

To see more photos visit our Facebook Page. You don't have to register for Facebook to see our page.

USFWS Retirees Visit Aransas!

Fri, 06 Mar 2015 22:24:26 GMT

US Fish & Wildlife Service Retirees held their 2015 reunion in Corpus Christi, and visited the refuge March 3rd. For many, it was their first visit here. Even though retired, they are still committed to supporting National Wildlife Refuges and their Friends organizations.

Aransas NWR nominated for Best Refuge!

Tue, 03 Mar 2015 13:18:36 GMT

USA Today 10Best has announced the nominees for Best National Wildlife Refuge, and Aransas is on it. There are some great refuges on the list, but we all know how special Aransas is. The contest runs through March 30th, at 11:59 a.m. You can vote every day until then. You can vote here.

27th Whooping Crane Strut to benefit Friends of Aransas!

Fri, 27 Feb 2015 00:42:02 GMT

Rockport's Whooping Crane Strut will be Saturday, March 7th. It will feature a 5 K run, a 10 K run, and a 2 mile walk. This year, $5 of each registration fee will be donated to our Water for Wildlife Fund. We will have an outreach table, and refuge staff will be there to talk with people

about the importance of reliable fresh water sources for Whooping Cranes and other wildlife, answer questions about the cranes, and give out information about Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge whooping crane mascot will also make an appearance.

If you'd like to volunteer to help for a couple of hours during the race by staffing a drink station or pointing runners in the correct direction, email us your contact information. Volunteers will receive a race T-shirt.

To learn more about the event, or to register, visit the race website.

Hope to see you there!

Whooping Crane Festival this weekend!

Wed, 18 Feb 2015 15:57:56 GMT

If you're in the Texas Coastal Bend area, be sure to come to Port Aransas & check out the Whooping Crane Festival. We will be in the Bird Nest Trade Show 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Friday 2/20 & Saturday 2/21, and 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Sunday 2/22.

We'll have a great selection of books for all ages, including a brand new book, Birdology: 30 Activities and Observations for Exploring the World of Birds. Written for budding naturalists, it's full of fun ways to learn about birds. For adults, we have Pete Dunn's The Art of Bird Identification. Not a field guide, it gives tips on how to observe key factors in identifying birds. We also have new t-shirt designs, including 2 featuring drawings by David Allen Sibley. There are new canvas totes, educational games, and much more.

As always, we'll have free information and people to answer your questions about Aransas NWR. There's lots going on there, with shuttle bus tours, new boardwalks, etc.

Come by to shop, or just to say hello. Hope to see there.

Look what's new at Aransas NWR!

Sat, 07 Feb 2015 01:20:01 GMT

There's a beautiful new boardwalk at the refuge towers, and now a new boardwalk & viewing platform at the end of Big Tree Trail. The workers, staff & volunteers, did an excellent job & they should last for many years. For more photos, click here for our Facebook Page. You do not have to register for Facebook to look at our page. If you are registered, though, please "like" our page.

Reward offered in whooping crane death!

Tue, 03 Feb 2015 18:00:15 GMT

Friends of Aransas has pledged $5000 to a reward fund for information in the death of a whooping crane found dead January 4th in Aransas Bay. Through pledges, Friends of Aransas, International Crane Foundation, San Antonio Bay Foundation, Aransas Bird and Nature Club, Audubon Texas, & Whooping Crane Conservation Association will offer a combined amount of $14,000. Added to the $2500 offered by the U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and $1000 by Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, the total reward will be $17,500.

The reward will be issued if the death of the whooping crane is determined to be a criminal act and the information provided leads to the criminal conviction of the person(s) responsible. Anyone with information about the whooping crane’s death is urged to come forward. Information can be provided to the Fish and Wildlife Service’s Houston Office of Law Enforcement at (281) 876-1520, or Operation Game Thief at 1-800-792-GAME (4263). Callers may remain anonymous.

Free Tours at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge!

Thu, 29 Jan 2015 01:49:57 GMT

Aransas National Wildlife Refuge will be offering free tours of the refuge this winter. The tours will be led by refuge staff & trained volunteers, and are sponsored by Friends of Aransas. They are scheduled to begin February 5 and run Thursdays-Sundays. The tours last about 2 hours, and no reservations are needed. This winter, the refuge has the use of a handicapped accessible shuttle bus for the tours.

You can see more photos on Facebook.

For more information on the tours, phone or email Aransas National Wildlife Refuge.

Crab Trap Removal

Mon, 12 Jan 2015 17:29:27 GMT

The San Antonio Bay Foundation will be conducting an organized crab trap removal effort in San Antonio Bay 2/20 - 3/1/2015. They can still use a few volunteers with boats to help. During the last two annual crab trap closures, they collected 264 traps. Abandoned, or "ghost" traps, are hazardous to a variety of wildlife. If you can help, or want more information, contact Dan Alonso at (830) 660-4429.

Aransas NWR Conducted Activity and Shuttle Tour Training

Sun, 11 Jan 2015 04:02:02 GMT

We would like to invite you to attend one of two Conducted Activity and Shuttle Tour trainings. Examples of conducted activities would included guided walks and informal refuge talks (typically out on the refuge). Shuttle tour training will provide you the tools to lead refuge tours using our refuge shuttle bus.

The morning session will be an Introduction to Conducted Activities and a demonstration tour by Ron Smudy. Coffee and muffins will be provided starting at 8:00. Training will get underway at 8:30. Following lunch, we’ll go over some logistical details, allow you time to familiarize yourself with the shuttle and the “tool” box, have some time to work on your own tours and have some time to ask questions.

When: Saturday, January 24, 2015

8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

(Potluck lunch 12:30-1 pm; bring something to share).

Monday, January 26, 2015

8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

(Potluck lunch 12:30-1 pm; bring something to share).

Where: Commons building located in the housing area

Who: You must attend this training if you want to lead a tour or guided hike in the Refuge. We also need shuttle drivers!!! For safety reasons, tour leaders should not be driving. So this is an opportunity for those of you who want to contribute but not lead programs. We would like to encourage you to come to the entire training but you are only required to be there for the afternoon.

To RSVP, please call (361-286-3559 x236) or e-mail Laura

Inspiring Connections Training Returns

Sun, 11 Jan 2015 03:53:44 GMT

Fundamentals of Interpretation for Aransas National Wildlife Refuge Staff, Volunteers and Partners

Friday, January 23, 2015, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. in the Aransas Visitor Center

This three hour training will be led by Vicki Overholser Penwell, Aransas National Wildlife Refuge Volunteer and former District Interpreter at Wrangell-St Elias National Park and Preserve in Alaska, and by Laura Bonneau, Aransas National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Services Manager.

Vicki and Laura will provide a general overview of the fundamentals of interpretation and introduce the best practices for having successful informal visitor contacts in the Visitor Center, while roving the refuge or while spending time on the tower.

At the end of our time together you will have new tools to help you go beyond sharing your passion for this special place to inspiring connections in visitors that will last a lifetime.

Who should attend: Required for anyone working in Visitor Services at the Visitor Center, roving or at the tower. This training covers basic skills needed for the Refuge Bus Tour. Specific Refuge Bus Tour training will be offered separately. We welcome anyone to join us if you are interested in learning ways to improve your contacts with Refuge visitors. Please RSVP to Laura (361-286-3559 x236 or email her).

FWS Requests Public Comment on Oil and Gas Rulemaking

Tue, 06 Jan 2015 00:53:55 GMT

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced the opening of a 60-day comment period for public input on managing non-federal oil and gas development on National Wildlife Refuge System lands.

On many Service lands, including wildlife refuges, the federal government does not own the rights to subsurface minerals. Instead, mineral rights are owned by private individuals or other entities, which have the legal authority to develop their oil and gas resources.

Based on the Service’s best data, more than 200 refuges have oil and gas operations, including more than 5,000 wells, almost 1,600 actively producing oil and gas wells, and almost 1,300 miles of pipelines.

The rulemaking effort is part of the Service’s ongoing commitment to avoid or minimize adverse effects on natural and cultural resources and wildlife-dependent recreation, ensure a consistent and effective regulatory environment for oil and gas operators, and protect public health and safety.

The Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking was published in the Federal Register on February 24. Comments must be received on or before April 25. The Service will post all comments on http://www.regulations.gov. The Service cannot accept email or faxes.

Written comments and information can be submitted by one of the following methods:

· Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments to Docket No. [FWS–HQ–NWRS–2012–0086]; or

· U.S. mail or hand-delivery: Public Comments Processing, Attn: [FWS–HQ–NWRS–2012–0086]; Division of Policy and Directives Management; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, MS 2042–PDM; Arlington, VA 22203.

“Throughout the process, the Service will work with the public, the oil and gas industry and conservation groups to ensure we are using the best management practices and other industry standards for the conservation of fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats,” said Director Dan Ashe.

Since this is a formal rulemaking process with subsequent National Environmental Policy Act support, the Service anticipates the effort will take at least three years to complete.

Comments and materials, as well as supporting documentation, will be available for public inspection at http://www.regulations.gov under the above docket number. In addition, more details on the kinds of information the Service is seeking is available in the notice and will be posted online at http://www.fws.gov/refuges/oil-and-gas/

Red, White & Black Attire for "Whoop It Up" New Year's

Sun, 28 Dec 2014 15:56:52 GMT

The 6th Annual Early Bird "Whoop It Up" New Year's will be on Wednesday, December 31, 2014 from 11:15 A.M. to 12:30 P.M. at Conn Brown Harbor in Aransas Pass. The event is open to the public who is asked to arrive dressed in red, white and black attire

The event celebrates the birth date of the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge established on December 31, 1937 and pays tribute to the wintering endangered Whooping Crane. Dr. Felipe Chavez, director, Conservation Programs at the Gulf Coast Bird Observatory will provide a “State of the Whooper” presentation. He will also make an announcement of a planned student and public involvement in a new Whoop Count event in 2015.

There will be a prize given to the “best red, white and black plumage” judged by the attending public. The event is sponsored by the Science & Spanish Club Network, Inc.

If you go:

11:15 AM-11:30 AM Public flock arrives

11:30 AM Introduction of SSCN, Inc., and Aransas NWR officials

11:40 AM- 11:55 AM "Crane Crown" presentation on "State of the Whooping Crane"

11:58 AM-12:00 PM Crane Countdown to Early Bird New Year's (Bring your own bubbles)

“Whoop It Up” Flash Flock Dance

12:02 PM Cutting of the Aransas NWR birthday cake and punch serving

12:10 PM Judging of “Best Plumage” and encore presentations on the Whooping Crane

12:30 PM Flock is disbursed into the New Year's Eve

FAMI Membership Meeting

Sat, 13 Dec 2014 17:06:00 GMT

The annual meeting was held Saturday, December 6. Members were welcomed and encouraged to share their suggestions and ideas. Minutes of the 2013 meeting were provided, as were full financial reports for the fiscal year.

Laura Bonneau, Visitor Services Manager, gave a refuge update, as Greg Birkenfeld, Acting Project Leader, was unable to attend. Dr. Wade Harrell, Whooping Crane Recovery Coordinator, gave an update on the cranes.

Bylaws changes were approved, Board members appointed to fill vacancies were confirmed, and elections were held for positions expiring this year. Directors for 2015 will be:

President - Fred Lanoue

Secretary - Brad James

Treasurer - Linda Lanoue

Directors at Large - Ron Smudy, Irma Schreiner, Linda Swiggett

Following adjournment, there was a presentation by Dr. Elizabeth Smith, Whooping Crane Conservation Biologist with the International Crane Foundation. As always, her talk was both interesting and informative.

Following Dr. Smith’s riveting presentation, door prizes were awarded and lunch was served. After lunch, members were able to visit the store in its new location, and were offered a tour of the refuge with Wade Harrell and Laura Bonneau.

Everyone seemed to enjoy the day and we had a lot of positive feedback. We look forward to reviewing the suggestions soon. Any member that was unable to attend the meeting can send suggestions and ideas to the FAMI email address.

Inspiring Connections Training

Mon, 08 Dec 2014 19:37:27 GMT

Fundamentals of Interpretation for Aransas National Wildlife Refuge Staff, Volunteers and Partners

Saturday, December 13, 2014 from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm

Monday, December 15, 2014 from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm

This three hour training will be led by Vicki Overholser Penwell, a new Aransas National Wildlife Refuge Volunteer and former District Interpreter at Wrangell-St Elias National Park and Preserve in Alaska, and by Laura Bonneau, Aransas National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Services Manager.

At the end of our time together you will have new tools to help you go beyond sharing your passion for this special place to inspiring connections in visitors that will last a lifetime.

Who should attend: Required for anyone working in Visitor Services at the Visitor Center, roving or at the tower. This training covers basic skills needed for the Refuge Bus Tour. Specific Refuge Bus Tour training will be offered separately. We welcome anyone to join us if you are interested in learning ways to improve your contacts with Refuge visitors. You do not have to belong to FAMI or any other organization to participate in the training, or to volunteer as an interpreter. The training will take place at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge.

If you can’t make either of these dates, the training will be held again in January. You can contact the refuge Visitor Center if you need more information.

Welcome to Keith Westlake!

Sat, 15 Nov 2014 21:24:20 GMT

Keith Westlake is a wildlife biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. He started his Career in 2011 as a cooperative biologist in the SCEP program. After finishing his degree at Auburn University he began permanent employment as the Wildlife Refuge Specialist at Southeast Louisiana Refuges. At this location he has managed 3 National Wildlife Refuges which includes Bayou Sauvage, Breton and Delta National Wildlife Refuges. Keith’s experiences range across multiple habitats consisting of barrier islands, coastal wetlands, bottomland hardwoods and pine flat woods. Keith has been involved in many coastal restoration efforts and has taken the lead on many others. He has worked with endangered species such as the Red-cockaded Woodpecker and Gulf Sturgeon. Keith has conducted multiple aerial surveys for waterfowl, shore birds, feral pigs and oil spill response. He is a collateral wild land fire fighter with experience in prescribed fire of coastal habitats.

Leading up to Keith’s professional career with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service he worked various jobs in the field of conservation. These consisted of employment through Universities and State agencies such as Auburn University, University of Georgia and Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

Prior to Keith’s educational and professional careers he served our country as a United States Marine. Keith enlisted in the United States Marine Corps September of 2001. He served for 5 years ultimately receiving an honorable discharge in 2006. Keith’s last 3 years of service were spent at Quantico Marine Corps Base where he was able to witness wildlife management in action. Quantico’s extensive wildlife management activities sparked Keith’s interest in the world of conservation.

Keith is married to Rebekah Westlake and they have two young children. The oldest child is their son Mack and the youngest is their daughter Josie. Keith and his family spend the majority of free time enjoying the outdoors. Keith is a dedicated waterfowl hunter and fisherman. Rebekah and their children enjoy the same activities and they utilize every opportunity to enjoy the local resources.

Special Visit!

Thu, 13 Nov 2014 01:09:00 GMT

On November 2^nd, Aransas NWR was visited by Carl, Amelia, and Carla Knobloch, and Ernest Cook of the Knobloch Family Foundation, along with David Hougton and Anne Truslow of the National Wildlife Refuge Association. Refuge staff greeted the visitors & took them on a boat tour of whooping crane habitat. They returned to headquarters for lunch and an opportunity to learn more about the refuge and FAMI. Fred Lanoue, Linda Lanoue, and Irma Schreiner represented FAMI, and Fred did a short presentation on our organization.

The Knobloch Family foundation is a charitable organization registered in Houston, TX, which was founded in 1997. Earlier this year, the Foundation contributed $2 million to support the acquisition of the Powderhorn Ranch property.

The National Wildlife Refuge Association (NWRA) works to protect America’s wildlife heritage by bringing a unique perspective and creative strategies to conservation. NWRA’s mission is to conserve America’s wildlife heritage for future generations through strategic programs that protect and enhance the National Wildlife Refuge System and the landscapes beyond its boundaries. Read more about them on their website.

Visit our Facebook page to see another photo.

First winter volunteer arrives!

Sat, 25 Oct 2014 02:21:26 GMT

Penni Philliips is the first of the refuge residential volunteers to arrive for the winter. Penni will be working in the Visitor Center. She is a FAMI member & has agreed to also volunteer for FAMI, which will help enable us to keep the store open.

Penni is a fulltime RVer, and works around the country since retiring in Houston. She has volunteered at Aransas two winters in the past. She plans to be at Aransas until April. We're very glad to have her. Welcome back, Penni!

FAMI is registered with Amazon Smile

Sun, 19 Oct 2014 16:34:25 GMT

If you shop at Amazon, please consider using Amazon Smile to help FAMI support Aransas NWR. We are listed as Friends of Aransas & Matagorda Island NWR. We will receive 0.5% of all purchases made through Amazon Smile when our name is designated.

You get the same products, services & prices when shopping through Amazon Smile as you do with the regular Amazon website. To learn more, visit http://www.smile.amazon.com. Thank you!

Welcome back Whoopers!!!

Tue, 16 Sep 2014 12:31:17 GMT

Whooping Cranes have arrived at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge on the Texas coast. Four adults, the first arrivals this wintering season, were spotted by a local fishing guide and confirmed by refuge staff.

Visit Us at HummerBird Celebration!

Thu, 28 Aug 2014 01:51:19 GMT

If you are in the Rockport-Fulton area during The HummerBird Celebration, September 18 - 21, check out the FAMI booth. We will be near the main entrance to the High School, next to the Chamber of Commerce booth. We plan to bring a variety of merchandise, including a great selection of books. There will be field guides to birds, butterflies, & others, children’s books, & more. One is a new book, Texas: A Photographic Journey, that features photographs of Texas wildlife & historic places. Another special book is Chasing the Ghost Birds, Saving Swans and Cranes from Extinction that tells the story of efforts to save Trumpeter Swans, Siberian Cranes, and Whooping Cranes. Be sure to come by to shop, or just to visit. See you there!

Welcome to Laura Bonneau!

Thu, 28 Aug 2014 01:39:05 GMT

Laura is the new Supervisory Visitor Services Manager at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. A native of Houston, Texas, Laura received her Bachelor of Science degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences from Texas A&M University and her Master of Science degree in Forestry (Forest Recreation) from Stephen F. Austin State University. During her graduate studies, she served as the Conservation Education Fellow at Welder Wildlife Refuge. She has spent her last 11 years working in the Midwest Region at the Prairie Wetlands Learning Center (Fergus Falls Wetland Management District), Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge, and most recently at Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. She is excited to be back in south Texas and looks forward to working with the Friends of Aransas & Matagorda Island. “Stay tuned” for news on some of the plans she has for Visitor Services in the next few months.

Dow Chemical Makes Donation to FAMI Sea Turtle Recovery Fund

Thu, 14 Aug 2014 09:05:40 GMT

A big shout-out to the Dow Chemical Company Foundation for making a generous donation to the FAMI Sea Turtle Recovery Fund. We appreciate their support of our efforts to save the Kemp's Ridley turtles.

KIRBY INLAND MARINE DONATES UTV'S!!!

Wed, 02 Jul 2014 01:15:56 GMT

A big THANK YOU goes out to Kirby Inland Marine, who donated two UTV's to F.A.M.I. just in time for the current turtle patrol season. The patrollers advised they were great to have...and the patrollers found FOUR nests this season!!!

THANK YOU to our friends at KIRBY INLAND MARINE.

VISITOR CENTER BUILDING/NATURE STORE HOURS

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 12:42:14 GMT

Please note the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge visitor center and nature store is open Thursday through Sundays, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The building and nature store will be closed to the public on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesdays. The Refuge itself remains open as usual; fee payment can be made thru the outside 'after hours' box just outside the front doors.

MURAL BY ONE OF OUR AMAZING VOLUNTEERS!

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 12:44:12 GMT

We just had to share photos of the mural painted by one of our amazing winter volunteers, Dave Nelson. Come on out to our Visitor Center and see it in person!

AND - here's the amazing artist himself - THANK YOU, DAVE - it is just wonderful!