Resources
Whooping Crane Partners
- Aransas National Wildlife Refuge
The winter home of the world’s last naturally-occurring population of Whooping Cranes. - Fennessey Ranch
Privately owned 3,261-acre wildlife oasis that is host to numerous types of birds, plants, amphibians, reptiles, insects and mammals. - Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail
Explore well-known birding sites and hidden gems throughout the Coastal Bend from Kingsville and Corpus Christi up to Goliad and continuing through the coastal communities of Port Aransas, Rockport-Fulton, and on to Bay City. - Gulf Coast Bird Observatory
Nonprofit organization in Lake Jackson, Texas, dedicated to protecting birds and their habitats around the Gulf of Mexico and beyond. - International Crane Foundation
Works worldwide to conserve cranes and the ecosystems, watersheds, and flyways on which they depend - King Ranch
With 825,000 acres of varied habitat, the King Ranch is a haven for birds and birdwatchers alike. Named as a site on the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail and as a Globally Important Bird Area by the American Bird Conservancy, the ranch boasts a bird list of 363 species. - Mission-Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve
Established in 2006, the Reserve brings together scientists, landowners, policy-makers, and the public to ensure that coastal management decisions benefit flora and fauna, water quality and people. - Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (Texas Whooper Watch)
Seeks the help of citizen scientists in identifying Whooping Crane migration stopover sites and non-traditional wintering areas, in assessing whether any hazards exist to whoopers at these sites. - The University of Texas Marine Science Institute (UTMSI)
Advances knowledge of coastal and blue water oceans with exceptional research, innovative teaching and diverse public outreach programs. - Wood Buffalo National Park (Canada)
Canada’s largest national park is the summer breeding home of the whooping cranes that migrate to the Coastal Bend.
Resources — Birds & Birding
- 2022 State of the Birds Report
Highlights the critical role that state wildlife agencies can play in recovering America’s bird populations and provides recommendations for all partners to fully support these recovery efforts. - All About Birds
Cornell Lab of Ornithology - American Bird Conservancy
ABC is dedicated to conserving wild birds and their habitats throughout the Americas. - American Birding Association
Nonprofit organization that provides leadership to birders by increasing their knowledge, skills, and enjoyment of birding. - eBird
A project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. - New Amenities at the Port Aransas Nature Preserve
Read about the new amenities available at the Port Aransas Nature Preserve in Winter 2023. By Rae Mooney. - The Birder’s Directory – Travel
The Birdwatcher’s Digest directory of destinations, tours and festivals. - U.S. North American Bird Conservation Initiative
A coalition of state and federal government agencies, private organizations and bird initiatives, working to ensure the long-term health of North America’s native bird populations. - Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership
A group of agencies, nonprofit organizations and individuals formed in 2000 to restore a migratory population of Whooping Cranes to eastern North America.
Other Resources
- Nature Tourism at Texas A&M Agrilife Extension
Provides educational programs for the public, private business-both for profit and nonprofit, landowners and community leaders. - Texas General Land Office
The GLO manages state lands, operates the Alamo, helps Texans recovering from natural disasters, helps fund Texas public education through the Permanent School Fund, provides benefits to Texas Veterans and manages the vast Texas coast. - Texas Invasives
A partnership to manage non-native invasive plants and pests in Texas. - Texas Nature Tourism (Texas Travel Alliance) (Facebook page)
The primary advocate and voice for the Texas Travel Industry, representing a diverse membership of Texas travel destinations, accommodations, attractions, transportation and support businesses.