Austwell, Texas – On Saturday, February 9 at 7:15 am, the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge will be offering a Christmas Bird Count for Kids. This fun activity will meet at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center and will last most of the morning as we scan outside to look for as many feathered friends as we can find! We will learn the use of optics, how to learn to identify birds by sight and sound, proper birding techniques and rules, and other things of interest The most important thing, however, is to have as much fun as possible in an incredible outdoor area. And we may see whooping cranes as well!
This is a free event for the public and anyone under 18 is welcome to join. Very young children should have an adult accompany them. We would appreciate if people could call us (361-286-3559) to register or send an email (david_true@fws.gov) if possible. However, we will take any youth or youth at heart that shows up for the event. After the count, all participants may be interested in joining Jody Mays, Park Ranger from Padre Island National Seashore, for a program on sea turtles at 12:00 pm at the visitor center. We will also go over the birds we observed and anything else that caught our fancy.
Come out and let your kids learn why birds and birding are so great!!!
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.
For more information:
http://www.fws.gov/refuge/aransas/ or phone # 361-286-3559.
Address is United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. P.O. Box 100. Austwell, TX 77950.
