More than 170 acres of undeveloped whooping crane habitat is now under conservation protection in Lamar Peninsula, north of Rockport, in a property purchase coordinated by Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program, Whooping Crane Conservation Association and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

The groups partnered to purchase the privately owned 178 acres in Holiday Beach area. The endangered species spend the winter in the area, and have been seen on this property. “The acquisition of this property is important to CBBEP because it is occupied whooping crane habitat,” said Jake Herring, CBBEP property manager.

CBBEP received the funds for the purchase through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Endangered Species Recovery Land Acquisition Grant Program, administered by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Matching funds were provided by the Whooping Crane Conservation Association. The Nature Conservancy also assisted in the property purchase.

Whooping Crane Conservation Association President Lorne Scott said the wintering habitat in Texas is more confined and threatened than the Canadian breeding grounds. “The wintering habitat is so scarce and so unavailable, anything that does come up and has potential, we try to secure it,” he said.