“Whoopers are stars of birding festival” proclaims the 2008-09 Visitors Guide published by the South Jetty newspaper of Port Aransas, Texas. Their November, 2008 Visitors Guide explains that thousands of nature and bird lovers will flock to the 13th Annual Celebration of Whooping Cranes and Other Birds February 26 to March 1, 2009. Early registration begins December 1, 2008 with the $20.00 fee entitling one to special discounts throughout the weekend program.
Whooping Crane topics will be presented at the University of Texas Marine Science Institute. Ann Vaughn, Port Aransas Chamber of Commerce leader, will present each speaker with a copy of On the Wings of Cranes: Larry Walkinshaw’s Live Story. Lowell M. Schake, the book’s author, will introduce his newest volume between the presentations of two prominant Whooping Cranes experts; Tom Stein of the Aransas Refuge and George Archibald of the International Crane Foundation. Throughout the four-day event Schake will be in a booth with Aransas National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) personnel. AMIGO, friends of ANWR will sell copies there with all proceeds going to the ‘Friends’ group to support their nature preservation work. Schake welcomes the opportunity to sign copies.
Whooping cranes may be see at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge at Austwell, about 45 miles north of Port Aransas, or by taking a tour boat provided as part of Celebration activities. Almost 300 Whoopers are expected to winter at Aransas Refuge this year, an amazing new record number!!
REGISTER EARLY by by clicking here!! Proceed to the second page for the role of On the Wings of Cranes.
