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The Audubon Sundown Island Bird Sanctuary is a low-lying, seventy-acre island built from dredge spoil. It is located in Matagorda Bay, east of Port O'Connor, Texas. The Island is managed by the National Audubon Society's Texas Coastal Sanctuaries program.

For more information contact: Chester Smith, Sundown Island Sanctuary Warden at popsbirds@aol.com

Gallery Categories: (1) Annual Bird Censuses (2004-08) (2) Workdays (2005-08) (3) Erosion and other historical photos (2005-07)

Featured Galleries

2008 Annual Census : The colonial-waterbird 2008 annual-census takers were: Chester Smith, Warden of Sundown Island, Ed Taylor, David Newstead (Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries Program), Andy Kasner (Audubon), Clare Lee and Robyn Cobb (Fish & Wildlife Services), Kim Withers (TAMUCC), Diane Nunley (TOS) and Marcy Spears (Houston). View larger images of photos: Click on any photo, or use the slideshow feature (top right). You may also view the original photo. They are large a take longer to download. View previous years' census photos.

2008 Annual Census

The colonial-waterbird 2008 annual-census takers were: Chester Smith, ...

Updated: Jun 17, 2008 8:18pm PST

2008 Spring Workday Volunteers : Seventeen volunteers assembled for the 2008 Sundown Island Spring Workday. It took three boats to transport the volunteers to the island. The Pelican (Nancy Posey), the Gull (Tim and Peggy Wilkinson) and the Audubon's Egret II (Chester Smith, Ed Taylor and Ronnie Zetik). It was a great workday for the island! Be sure to view the PHOTOS OF THE BIRDS too! Click on any of the photos for a larger view. For the largest view, use the "slideshow" option.

2008 Spring Workday Volunteers

Seventeen volunteers assembled for the 2008 Sundown Island Spr ...

Updated: Mar 25, 2008 3:17am PST

2008 Spring Workday Birds : Volunteers landed at the Southeast end of the Island to the site of hundreds of American White Pelicans, camped in with the Brown Pelicans. The White Pelicans were staging for their return home to their nesting grounds while the Brown Pelicans had already set up nesting sites and many were sitting on eggs. Warden Chester Smith said that breeding season seems to have started about two weeks early this year. Breeding activity seemed to be two weeks ahead of schedule. Be sure to view the VOLUNTEER PHOTOS too! Click on any of the photos for a larger view. For the largest view, use the "slideshow" option.

2008 Spring Workday Birds

Volunteers landed at the Southeast end of the Island to the si ...

Updated: Mar 23, 2008 7:08pm PST

2007 Fall Workday, Condition of the Island :

2007 Fall Workday, Condition of the Island

Updated: Oct 28, 2007 6:34pm PST