Registration required one week in advance (by May 6, 2023). Minimum for the trip is 3 participants. For the protection of all participants, all Field Trip attendees MUST be vaccinated against COVID 19. NOTE THAT CURRENTLY FIELD TRIPS ARE OPEN TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES.
NOTIFY OUR FIELD TRIP LEADER, GENE BLACKLOCK, THAT YOU PLAN TO GO ON THIS FIELD TRIP. NOTIFY GENE BY TEXTING HIM AT 361-558-1829 AND PROVIDING YOUR NAME(S) AND CELL PHONE NUMBER(S).
This Field Trip will be conducted in Corpus Christi & Port Aransas, on North Padre & Mustang Islands.
Field Trip Group meets at 7:00 AM at the parking area immediately adjacent to board walk and adjacent to the Oak Motte at Packery Channel County Park (14218 South Padre Island Drive, Corpus Christi on North Padre Island).
Trip Description: Trip includes Packery Channel County Park, “The Willows” (on Hwy. 361 SW of Port Aransas), the Port Aransas Birding Center, and Paradise Pond in Port Aransas. Following the Packery Channel Park visit, the group will visit the other birding sites in Port Aransas, caravanning to each site.
The Willows is located on the East side of Hwy. 361 at Seacomber Dr. (entrance to the Sea Gull & Sandpiper Condominiums).
The Port Aransas (Leonabelle Turnbull) Birding Center is located at 1356 Ross Ave, Port Aransas. To get there from Hwy. 361, heading into Port Aransas, turn LEFT at the stop light at West Ave. G, which turns into Cut-Off Road. Follow Cut-Off Road for a short distance and then turn slight RIGHT onto Ross Road. This facility is located next to a city water treatment plant. There will be parking in front.
Paradise Pond in located behind the San Juan Mexican Restaurant at 410 Cut-Off Rd. Port Aransas. Parking is available behind the restaurant.
Note: Road construction on the JFK Bridge to North Padre Island is scheduled for this time period, so please add extra time due to traffic delays between the causeway and North Padre Island. The Bridge is scheduled to have only one lane open in each direction.
Please do not forget water, hat, insect repellent and snacks.
Reminder: Please dress appropriately, suggest baggy cryptic clothing (never white or black, never bright colors like red), a light rain jacket (optional), drinking water and snacks. Be sure to bring Insect repellent and appropriate clothing to keep mosquitoes off. Please wear comfortable shoes with thick soles (especially important for inland locations in South Texas because of thorns) and with good ankle support. Recommend binoculars and field guide.
Bathroom Availability: Bathrooms are available at Packery Channel County Park and at various stops on the trip route. There will also be a bathroom break at the Whataburger, North Padre Island.
Lunch: The group can eat lunch at the San Juan Mexican Restaurant (410 Cut-Off Rd, Port Aransas) which is in front of one of the field trip sites, Paradise Pond.
Trip Description / Energy Requirement: moderate – considerable, all walking.
Equipment: beginners, please have a field guide, binoculars or scopes if it is desirable.
Birds of Special Interest: Neotropical migrants, such as Black-billed Cuckoo (rare), vireos, thrushes, wood warblers (especially Townsend's, Hermit, Black-throated Blue and Cape May), tanagers (especially Hepatic and Western, and finches (especially Varied and Lazuli Buntings and Black-headed Grosbeak).
Download seasonal Coastal Bend checklists from Coastal Bend Audubon Society's webpage.
CBAS field trips are an extension of a classroom learning experience, so please bring binoculars & field guide references (books, phone apps). Questions are encouraged and are welcomed.
Field trip summary will be reported on eBird, Facebook, Twitter and CBAS on line.