Captive nesting Whooper ‘Jo’ shown with Walkinshaw’s daughter Wendy Ann in 1950. The entire Walkinshaw family, along with Robert Porter Allen, studied two nesting pair at Aransas Refuge in 1949 and 1950.
My latest copy of the Port Aransas South Jetty reported that the first Whooping Crane arrived at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge on October 20, 2008, that according to USFWS Whooping Crane coordinator Tom Stein. More are expected soon, concluded Klein who was instrumental in providing me access to the Refuge archives when researching On the Wings of Cranes: Larry Walkinshaw’s Life Story. When Larry Walkinshaw initiated their salvation in 1937, only 13 Whooping Cranes remained in the wild.
Today, around 250 arrive at Aransas from Wood Buffalo National Park in Canada each fall, thanks to a half a century and more of struggling by a handful of concerned individuals like Robert Porter Allen, Walter ‘Bud’ Tholen, J. J. Pratt, Walkinshaw and others. Walkinshaw, Tholen and Allen first became so-called Whooper Pen Pals, then attempted to locate their Canadian nesting grounds in 1947 and 1948. Later they became founding members of the Whooping Crane Conservation Association, the first association devoted exclusively to saving a single species from extinction.
The South Jetty is soon to carrying copies of On the Wings of Cranes in their office at 141 W. Colter, Port A, Texas. Drop by or call 361-749-5137 to place your order.
On January 24, 2009, a day-long program will be hosted at Aransas Refuge near Austwell, Texas featuring On The Wings of Cranes. Friends of Aransas & Matagorda Island National Refuges of Austwell will offer copies for sale. Those buying a book from them helps to support activities important to programs held at the Refuge. Arrange to attend, purchase several copies… the beautiful book makes a great gift. Both the ‘Friends’ and the Refuge staff may be contacted at 361-286-3559.
Book signing starts at 9:00AM and runs until 3:00PM with a noon break. Over the noon hour, I will make a power-point presentation in the Refuge Conference room and share salient experiences when researching for the book. Join us, bring friends and family. The Whoopers are staging a magnificant comeback! Be there! The Refuge is a wonderfully unique wilderness area that offers everyone an opportunity to see the best of nature first hand.
Don’t forget to stop by and see the Whoopers from the tower at the Refuge. Wendy Ann Walkinshaw Schake, my wife of almost fifty years, will try to join us too. She remembers being at Aransas Refuge with her mother Clara, brother Jim, and her dad, Larry. They all stayed in one of the little white cabins immediately north of the Refuge at Hopper’s Landing. See you at Aransas.
