Austwell, Texas – Once again, the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge is proud to offer another series of family-friendly winter interpretive programs for the public dealing with Coastal Bend topics as diverse at beetles to sharks and marine debris to climate change. These programs will be led by experts and resource specialists from a variety of agencies and naturalists across the Coastal Bend. All programs are on Saturdays starting on January 5, 2013 and ending on March 16, 2013 and will begin at 12:00 pm at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center. Programs are scheduled to last approximately 45 minutes and are free for the public. More programs may be added as well; check our website and local papers for more information!
We will also be offering free van tours on all Saturdays and Sundays starting on January 5, 2013 and ending April 28, 2013. The tours are led by Texas Master Naturalists and other experts of the refuge. Van tours are held at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm and last for approximately 2 hours. The vans have a limit on how many people can ride in them, so if you would like to reserve a spot call us at 361-286-3559. You can also register at the refuge on van tour dates by arriving before the vans head out if they are not filled up for those trips. Be advised that if you or your party reserves spots for the van tours but don’t arrive by 15 minutes before the vans are scheduled to leave, then those reserved spots can be given to other people waiting for van tours at the refuge.
Programs at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge
January 26: Whooping Cranes! Inspiring for all who see them, Aransas is perhaps best known as a wintering home for these beautiful and important birds. At one time only 18 birds were left on our planet, the cranes are making a slow but steady comeback, although they are still highly endangered. Joan Garland of the International Crane Foundation will provide to the public a variety of information on these amazing birds and the continuing efforts to save them.
February 2: The Myths and Biology of Groundhogs, Armadillos and Gophers. Of course we have to have a program on groundhogs on Groundhog Day, even though they are not found on the refuge! But this program will also cover burrowing animals found here including pocket gophers and armadillos. This program will be led by Park Ranger David True of the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge.
February 9: The Texas Zoo and Native Wildife. We are happy to have the Texas Zoo coming to give a program for the general public on native wildlife of our region. They will be giving a PowerPoint program and perhaps may bring a few animals in as well! Don’t miss this opportunity to learn more about some of our “critters” of the refuge and Coastal Bend region.
February 16: The Sea Turtles of South Texas. Sea turtles are always a joy to see when observed from boats, crawling on sand to lay eggs, or feeding on jellyfish and other sea life. Unfortunately most of these species are threatened or endangered and need our help today to survive in a changing world. Jody Mays of the Padre Island National Seashore will be leading this important program on these enigmatic species of our marine regions.
February 23: Climate Change and our Weather. An important environmental issue of today and our future, climate change is misunderstood by many people and is a topic that is not going to go away. It certainly affects how we will manage wildlife refuges, forests and parks. Weather certainly is an important part of climate change although weather is not the same thing as talking about climates. Confused? John Metz of the National Weather Service will help answer some of these questions with this fascinating program and will also discuss information on clouds and storms of our amazing region.
March 2: Beetles of Aransas! Come on now, at some time in your life you have marveled at one of these astonishing creatures (whether you admit to it or not!). Beetles come in all colors, sizes and shapes and are the largest insect group in the world. They have fascinating behaviors and natural histories and can be a joy to learn about. Come out and listen to Dick Klopshinske, Texas Master Naturalist, about these spectacular creatures and learn about some of the smaller members of our wildlife world.
March 9: The Wild Cats of South Texas. South Texas had originally five species of wild cats: bobcats, ocelots, jaguarondi, mountain lion and jaguar. Today, only bobcats remain fairly common. Ocelots are in small numbers near the Rio Grande, mountain lions range in small numbers throughout South Texas, and jaguarondis and jaguars haven’t been documented in this region for a long time. Jennifer Owen-White, refuge manager of Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, will provide this program on the cats of this region.
March 16: The Attwater’s Prairie Chicken. At one time, the booming of the Attwater’s Prairie Chicken, a subspecies of the Greater Prairie Chicken, was heard in the grasslands of Aransas NWR. Today these birds are gone, and can only be found in a few protected places in Texas. Ferris Calderon of the Attwater’s Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge will give a program about these extraordinary birds, and what the United States Fish and Wildlife Service is doing in trying to save them.
Directions To The Aransas National Wildlife Refuge
From the South: follow Hwy. 35N to the FM 774 exit. Turn right on FM 774 and drive on the highway winding through the farm fields till you get to FM 2040. Do not get off FM 774 until you get to FM 2040! Go another 6 miles to the Refuge gate. Go to the Visitor Center to register.
From the North: travel south on Hwy. 35 to Tivoli. Continue past Tivoli for approx. 1 mile to the FM 239 exit (on your left). Follow FM 239 to Austwell. When you enter Austwell, FM 239 turns into FM 774 at the curve. Continue on FM 774. Follow 774 & take a right at the stop sign. Go down the end of the street. Take a right again. This takes you out of town for about ½ mile to the FM 2040 turn. Go left on FM 2040 for about 6 miles to the Refuge gate. Go to the Visitor Center to register. Contact: 361-286-3559 http://www.fws.gov/refuge/aransas/
