From left to right: Smith family members with the memorial: Nancy Posey and Peggy Wilkinson (daughters), Jana Chiles (great-niece), Victoria fluitt (great granddaughter), and Tim Wilkinson (son-in-law) of Chester and Ilet Smith. -Photo by Marcy Spears
February 25, 2012
Energy XXI sponsored their second annual workday on Chester Island on February 25, 2012. Thirty-nine volunteers participated, consisting of Energy XXI employees joined by some of Chester Smith’s family members, friends, and Audubon’s new Coastal Manager, Amanda Hackney.
The day was cold and rainy—but the water was calm and made the crossing to the island an easy one. It took three boats and several trips to get all of the volunteers, tree seedlings, and supplies to the island. Transportation was provided by Bisso Marine Company, a new sponsor, who provided two Aqua Barge crew boats and captains and a third boat was provided by Jack Jackson, a long-time family friend and Port O’Connor resident.
The Energy XXI volunteers organized teams for workday: tree planting, construction, beach cleanup, and food/drinks. A special thanks goes out to Lynn Travis (a long-time volunteer) who could not be here for workday, but who helped coordinate and deliver the new tree seedlings to Port O’Connor. Linc Energy also offered an additional boat if needed.
Volunteers worked on clearing brush, planting new trees, fertilizing last-year’s trees, and beach cleanup. Formosa Plastics in Point Comfort, Texas provided funding for the workday lunch and supplies. The lunch team coordinated and set up the lunch buffet style, put up additional tables, and a new canopy providing additional cover from the rain. Other volunteers worked on the tractor dispenser ready to spread fire ant bait, cut wood or pipe for various projects, and used the tractor to move supplies around the island for the volunteers.
A highlight for many volunteers was the installation of a memorial “Brown Pelican Monument” honoring Chester Smith. The life-size concrete statue was placed overlooking the tractor shed—the operations hub on the island. An engraving on the base recognizes Chester’s service as the island’s warden for twenty-five years from 1986 until his death in 2011. When he began his work as warden, there were fewer than ten pairs of endangered Brown Pelicans nesting on this Matagorda Bay dredge-filled island. Thanks in part to his efforts and those of his loyal volunteers—the 2011 annual census found nearly 2,029 breeding pairs of pelicans. In honor of Chester Smith and his work, the island known as Sundown Island or Bird Island will be renamed to “Chester Island.”
In all of my years of participating in workdays on the island, this was one of the most well-organized and productive days—ever! It was rainy and cold and by the end of the day most of us were covered in muddy sand—but all had a smile on their face on the way home. Some projects had to be postponed due to weather and time constraints including completion of the door for the shed extension, the dock repair work, and spreading the fire ant bait.
DeWayne Misner, Director of Health Safety and Environment for Energy XXI, commented following the successful event:
“A few of us have known about Chester Island because of a past employer (Devon Energy). When the opportunity presented itself that Energy XXI could become a sponsor – we jumped at it. For the last two years, our Senior Management has funded support for the island. We have a workday that is organized for all ages, geared towards making the day a family experience and in alignment with the goal of improving the habitat for the birds. An additional benefit is the learning opportunity of “birding” and the history behind Chester Island.”
A special thanks from Audubon and the Chester Island Warden, Tim Wilkinson, goes out to all of the volunteers and the sponsors: Energy XXI, Bisso Marine Company, Formosa Plastics, Jack Jackson, and Linc Energy.
The island is ready—and we believe—so are the birds. We observed some pre-nesting-activity taking place around the ponds on the South end of the island. Great Blue Herons and Great Egrets were already claiming territory in the larger trees. Brown Pelicans were present both by the South pond and in the grassy areas near the beach. There were about a dozen Reddish Egrets trolling the pond—looking for dinner probably.
Photos from the February 25 workday are available online:
sundownisland.smugmug.com/2012-Spring-Workday
or visit the website at www.sundownisland.org.
