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.
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.
Two Magnificent Frigate Birds were spotted on the North end of Sundown Island when we first arrived to do the annual bird census. This is a photo of either a juvenile male or an adult female. The other frigate bird was a male (but no photo of it).
Photo credit: Diane Nunley
Photo credit: Diane Nunley
The adult Brown Pelicans that are not babysitting, or maybe not old enough for breeding, like to congregate on the edges of the island. When the mood strikes them, they take off. These were spotted on the southeast side of the island as you are looking towards Port O'Connor.
Photo credit: Marcy Spears
Photo credit: Marcy Spears
The Laughing Gulls lay their eggs under brush or just out in the open. We may have disturbed the parent of this nest. Counters noticed that there were a fair number of abandoned nests and some with dead chicks.
Photo credit: Marcy Spears
Photo credit: Marcy Spears
The tern chicks are always fun to watch. This year they were congregated on the southeast to south end of the island. They were so close to the water that we had to walk in the brush to keep from scaring the babies. There were hundreds of chicks, all stages. Of course there were adult terns there, but it seemed like the Brown Pelicans were the back-up baby sitters.
Photo credit: Marcy Spears
Photo credit: Marcy Spears
This photo is three images stitched together to give you a better idea of our view of the island.
Click here to view the same area in during a Spring Workday in 2001. We used to dock the boat at the base of this channel marker.
Photo credit: Marcy Spears
Click here to view the same area in during a Spring Workday in 2001. We used to dock the boat at the base of this channel marker.
Photo credit: Marcy Spears
Three Laughing Gulls sitting on their nests, on the southeast side of the island.
Photo credit: Marcy Spears
Photo credit: Marcy Spears
Einie, meanie, minie—we are just missing mo (he ducked into the brush). These chicks are just beginning to get their juvenile feathers.
Photo credit: Marcy Spears
Photo credit: Marcy Spears
A stitched photo of one of the pelican nurseries (rookery) on the island.
Photo credit: Marcy Spears
Photo credit: Marcy Spears
Doesn't this remind you of kindergarten?
Photo credit: Marcy Spears
Photo credit: Marcy Spears
These youngsters were on the south side of the island. They were not part of the larger group. They appear to be enjoying the shade from the Silver-leaf Sunflowers and waiting for food.
Photo credit: Marcy Spears
Photo credit: Marcy Spears