2006 Spring Workday

Jeremy Cecil, Chester Smith's grandson and a frequent Sundown Island volunteer, was in charge of taking other volunteers to the island. (Photo credit: Hannah Olson)

2009-02-21T10:32:42Z

SundownIsland
Jeremy Cecil, Chester Smith's grandson and a frequent Sundown Island volunteer, was in charge of taking other volunteers to the island. (Photo credit: Hannah Olson)

This injured Brown Pelican was hanging out at Clark's Seafood Restaurant and Marina, trying to survive on the kindness of fisherman. (Photo credit: Hannah Olson)

2009-06-07T05:27:49Z

SundownIsland
This injured Brown Pelican was hanging out at Clark's Seafood Restaurant and Marina, trying to survive on the kindness of fisherman. (Photo credit: Hannah Olson)

Ed Taylor (in the yellow jacket) is getting ready to take the first volunteer group to the island. (Photo credit: Hannah Olson)

2009-06-06T11:35:20Z

SundownIsland
Ed Taylor (in the yellow jacket) is getting ready to take the first volunteer group to the island. (Photo credit: Hannah Olson)

The first crew arrives. It was a windy choppy trip, typical for a March workday. Tim Wilkinson and his brother, Doug, help unload the boat while Diane Nunley, Marcy Spearsl, Ethan Vuichard ...

2009-06-06T14:27:36Z

SundownIsland
The first crew arrives. It was a windy choppy trip, typical for a March workday. Tim Wilkinson and his brother, Doug, help unload the boat while Diane Nunley, Marcy Spearsl, Ethan Vuichard ...

Tim Wilkinson (driving tractor), Ed Taylor and Richard Prater haul supplies from the boat to the shed. (Photo credit: Marcy Spears)

2009-02-21T10:35:30Z

SundownIsland
Tim Wilkinson (driving tractor), Ed Taylor and Richard Prater haul supplies from the boat to the shed. (Photo credit: Marcy Spears)

Linda Olson begins the beach cleanup. She also looks for unusual shells while she picks up debris and has quite a collection now. (Photo credit: Hannah Olson)

2009-06-06T12:15:42Z

SundownIsland
Linda Olson begins the beach cleanup. She also looks for unusual shells while she picks up debris and has quite a collection now. (Photo credit: Hannah Olson)

Tyler and his Uncle Doug Wilkinson pick up trash along the East side of the beach. (Photo credit: Rebeka Olson)

2009-06-06T13:33:54Z

SundownIsland
Tyler and his Uncle Doug Wilkinson pick up trash along the East side of the beach. (Photo credit: Rebeka Olson)

Larry Tisdel joined the beach clean up. Larry lives in Colorado but spends a great deal of his time in Texas and is a frequent Sundown Island volunteer. (Photo credit: Marcy Spears)

2009-02-21T10:39:23Z

SundownIsland
Larry Tisdel joined the beach clean up. Larry lives in Colorado but spends a great deal of his time in Texas and is a frequent Sundown Island volunteer. (Photo credit: Marcy Spears)

Tim Wilkinson, Chester Smith's son-in-law, crosses over the sanded-in dock as he works on the beach clean-up. (Photo credit: Marcy Spears)

2009-06-06T14:08:59Z

SundownIsland
Tim Wilkinson, Chester Smith's son-in-law, crosses over the sanded-in dock as he works on the beach clean-up. (Photo credit: Marcy Spears)

Rob Muir (Government Land Office) unloads the four-wheeler and prepares to move supplies to the shed and then to pick up bagged trash from the beach clean-up. (Photo credit: Rebeka Olson)

2009-06-06T12:21:34Z

SundownIsland
Rob Muir (Government Land Office) unloads the four-wheeler and prepares to move supplies to the shed and then to pick up bagged trash from the beach clean-up. (Photo credit: Rebeka Olson)

A group of mostly adult Brown Pelicans in breeding plumage hung out on the East side of the island on workday. Mostly, they were just waiting for us to leave. (Photo credit: Rebeka Olson)

2009-06-07T05:50:00Z

SundownIsland
A group of mostly adult Brown Pelicans in breeding plumage hung out on the East side of the island on workday. Mostly, they were just waiting for us to leave. (Photo credit: Rebeka Olson)

Pond 1 is one of Sundown Island's natural ponds. During the winter months it is a haven for ducks, Avocets and other birds. The island is extremely dry right now because we have not had the ...

2009-02-21T10:37:27Z

SundownIsland
Pond 1 is one of Sundown Island's natural ponds. During the winter months it is a haven for ducks, Avocets and other birds. The island is extremely dry right now because we have not had the ...

I thought the shed was a marvel to see. It is so organized! Could someone please help me organize my garage! (Photo credit: Marcy Spears)

2009-06-06T14:24:41Z

SundownIsland
I thought the shed was a marvel to see. It is so organized! Could someone please help me organize my garage! (Photo credit: Marcy Spears)

In spite of the lack of rain, and because Chester comes out periodically with a small crew and waters trees, the small tree in front of the shed is doing remarkably well. Its the tree with t ...

2009-06-06T12:25:37Z

SundownIsland
In spite of the lack of rain, and because Chester comes out periodically with a small crew and waters trees, the small tree in front of the shed is doing remarkably well. Its the tree with t ...

Ed Taylor loads up the buckets with water and fertilizer for the new trees that are to be planted today. (Photo credit: Marcy Spears)

2009-06-06T11:42:49Z

SundownIsland
Ed Taylor loads up the buckets with water and fertilizer for the new trees that are to be planted today. (Photo credit: Marcy Spears)

(L to R) Richard Prater, Ed Taylor, and Niell Irvin (Government Land Office) posed just before leaving for the tree plot with the water and fertilizer. (Photo credit: Marcy Spears)

2009-06-06T12:24:44Z

SundownIsland
(L to R) Richard Prater, Ed Taylor, and Niell Irvin (Government Land Office) posed just before leaving for the tree plot with the water and fertilizer. (Photo credit: Marcy Spears)

Diane Nunley, from Port Lavaca, digs in! She is helping plant new trees at one of the plots near the shed. (Photo credit: Hannah Olson)

2009-06-06T12:16:48Z

SundownIsland
Diane Nunley, from Port Lavaca, digs in! She is helping plant new trees at one of the plots near the shed. (Photo credit: Hannah Olson)

(L to R) Richard Prater, Mark Elwonger, Tyler Wilkinson and Neal Irvin work on planting the new trees. (Photo credit: Rebeka Olson)

2009-06-06T12:47:00Z

SundownIsland
(L to R) Richard Prater, Mark Elwonger, Tyler Wilkinson and Neal Irvin work on planting the new trees. (Photo credit: Rebeka Olson)

A group of volunteers, corralled just before lunch: (L to R): Peggy and Tyler Wilkinson, Mark Elwonger, Marcy Spears, Diane Nunley, Nelda and Abel DeLeon. (Photo credit: Hannah Olson)

2009-06-06T12:18:56Z

SundownIsland
A group of volunteers, corralled just before lunch: (L to R): Peggy and Tyler Wilkinson, Mark Elwonger, Marcy Spears, Diane Nunley, Nelda and Abel DeLeon. (Photo credit: Hannah Olson)

After lunch, a group of volunteers headed out to disassemble nesting stands and another to check out which birds were nesting already. Note the nesting stand in the forefront. The cyclone f ...

2009-06-06T12:42:22Z

SundownIsland
After lunch, a group of volunteers headed out to disassemble nesting stands and another to check out which birds were nesting already. Note the nesting stand in the forefront. The cyclone f ...

Abe Moore (Texas Parks & Wildlife), with camera, was trying to position himself to take photos of Isaac and Ed Olson taking off the cyclone fencing. Hannah (green) was taking photos for the ...

2009-06-07T05:18:40Z

SundownIsland
Abe Moore (Texas Parks & Wildlife), with camera, was trying to position himself to take photos of Isaac and Ed Olson taking off the cyclone fencing. Hannah (green) was taking photos for the ...

Ed Olson stops to explain what he is doing for Abe Moore, who is filming the crew while they take the nesting stands apart. Ed and his sons and daughters built many of the nesting stands on ...

2009-06-06T12:13:43Z

SundownIsland
Ed Olson stops to explain what he is doing for Abe Moore, who is filming the crew while they take the nesting stands apart. Ed and his sons and daughters built many of the nesting stands on ...

Isaac Olson, who most likely helped build this nesting stand with his Dad, Ed Olson, tugs off the attached fencing. Isaac has been gone for two years on a church mission, but returned just i ...

2009-06-07T05:29:10Z

SundownIsland
Isaac Olson, who most likely helped build this nesting stand with his Dad, Ed Olson, tugs off the attached fencing. Isaac has been gone for two years on a church mission, but returned just i ...

Kyle Haley, Richard Prater and Jeremy Cecil remove the cyclone fencing on another nesting stand while Abe Moore films the event. Niell Irvin and Rob Muir (GLO) are standing by to help. (Phot ...

2009-06-06T12:51:13Z

SundownIsland
Kyle Haley, Richard Prater and Jeremy Cecil remove the cyclone fencing on another nesting stand while Abe Moore films the event. Niell Irvin and Rob Muir (GLO) are standing by to help. (Phot ...

Ed Olson (red), Doug Wilkinson (brown) and Mark Elwonger (tan) remove the fencing from another nesting stand. (Photo credit: Rebeka Olson)

2009-06-06T15:36:35Z

SundownIsland
Ed Olson (red), Doug Wilkinson (brown) and Mark Elwonger (tan) remove the fencing from another nesting stand. (Photo credit: Rebeka Olson)

Doug Wilkinson rolls up the fencing on this nesting stand. (Photo credit: Hannah Olson)

2009-06-06T12:15:02Z

SundownIsland
Doug Wilkinson rolls up the fencing on this nesting stand. (Photo credit: Hannah Olson)

Rob Muir (front) and Kyle Haley prepare to pull off the fencing on this nesting stand. (Photo credit: Marcy Spears)

2009-06-06T12:49:10Z

SundownIsland
Rob Muir (front) and Kyle Haley prepare to pull off the fencing on this nesting stand. (Photo credit: Marcy Spears)

This Reddish Egret is all decked out in breeding plummage. Note the bright pink bill and the bright blue coloration of the lores (near the eyes). (Photo credit: Diane Nunley).

2009-06-07T05:36:14Z

SundownIsland
This Reddish Egret is all decked out in breeding plummage. Note the bright pink bill and the bright blue coloration of the lores (near the eyes). (Photo credit: Diane Nunley).

On this group of trees there were three white morph Reddish Egrets with two Reddish Egrets. The White Morphs are generally less numerous, but I was surprised to see so many this year. (Photo ...

2009-06-06T11:46:58Z

SundownIsland
On this group of trees there were three white morph Reddish Egrets with two Reddish Egrets. The White Morphs are generally less numerous, but I was surprised to see so many this year. (Photo ...

Reddish Egrets (Photo credit: Marcy Spears)

2009-06-07T05:17:15Z

SundownIsland
Reddish Egrets (Photo credit: Marcy Spears)

Reddish Egrets (Photo credit: Marcy Spears)

2009-06-06T12:49:14Z

SundownIsland
Reddish Egrets (Photo credit: Marcy Spears)

White morph Reddish Egret. Note the bright blue lores and bright pink bill. Stunning! (Photo credit: Marcy Spears)

2009-06-07T05:54:19Z

SundownIsland
White morph Reddish Egret. Note the bright blue lores and bright pink bill. Stunning! (Photo credit: Marcy Spears)

Ed Taylor and Tim Wilkinson disconnect the spreader used for the fire ant killer just before putting the tractor away for the day. (Photo credit: Marcy Spears)

2009-06-06T11:59:37Z

SundownIsland
Ed Taylor and Tim Wilkinson disconnect the spreader used for the fire ant killer just before putting the tractor away for the day. (Photo credit: Marcy Spears)

Volunteers (L to R): Back row: Ed Taylor, Mark Elwonger, Tim Wilkinson, Abe Moore, Doug Wilkinson; Middle: Larry Tisdel, Diane Nunley, Tyler Wilkinson, Richard Prater, Ethan Vuichard, Kyle H ...

2009-02-21T10:37:31Z

SundownIsland
Volunteers (L to R): Back row: Ed Taylor, Mark Elwonger, Tim Wilkinson, Abe Moore, Doug Wilkinson; Middle: Larry Tisdel, Diane Nunley, Tyler Wilkinson, Richard Prater, Ethan Vuichard, Kyle H ...

A shot of the dock, sanded in. Chester Smith had the dredge crew sand in the dock because it was in danger of being completely washed out. At a later time, the dock may be extended to make ...

2009-06-07T05:48:57Z

SundownIsland
A shot of the dock, sanded in. Chester Smith had the dredge crew sand in the dock because it was in danger of being completely washed out. At a later time, the dock may be extended to make ...

A view looking towards the windmill, from the end of the dock. (Photo credit: Marcy Spears)

2009-06-06T12:52:27Z

SundownIsland
A view looking towards the windmill, from the end of the dock. (Photo credit: Marcy Spears)

Volunteers familiar with the island will be amazed at the amount of dredge fill on the East side of the island. The red line to the left is the old shore line. Last year there were so many p ...

2009-02-21T10:35:56Z

SundownIsland
Volunteers familiar with the island will be amazed at the amount of dredge fill on the East side of the island. The red line to the left is the old shore line. Last year there were so many p ...

Just before heading back, I asked Abe Moore and his key-grip, Ethan Vuichard to pose for a photo. The previous day Ethan took Abe fishing along Matagorda Bay. Abe is filming a documentary on ...

2009-06-06T14:42:01Z

SundownIsland
Just before heading back, I asked Abe Moore and his key-grip, Ethan Vuichard to pose for a photo. The previous day Ethan took Abe fishing along Matagorda Bay. Abe is filming a documentary on ...

(L to R): Isaac, Ed, Rebeka Linda and Hannah Olson. The Olson family has been helping Chester with Sundown Island for better than 15 years. Linda has been coordinating lunch for the voluntee ...

2009-06-07T05:29:42Z

SundownIsland
(L to R): Isaac, Ed, Rebeka Linda and Hannah Olson. The Olson family has been helping Chester with Sundown Island for better than 15 years. Linda has been coordinating lunch for the voluntee ...

The Government Land Office boat pulls out first to head back to Port O'Connor with Rob Muir, Niell Irvin, Mark Elwonger and Nelda and Abel DeLeon. They are also taking the trash collected al ...

2009-06-07T05:12:58Z

SundownIsland
The Government Land Office boat pulls out first to head back to Port O'Connor with Rob Muir, Niell Irvin, Mark Elwonger and Nelda and Abel DeLeon. They are also taking the trash collected al ...

The next boat to take off includes the Olson family (Ed is pushing it off shore) aong with the Wilkinson family and Larry Tisdel. The Egret II (not pictured) left with the rest of the volunt ...

2009-06-06T13:46:27Z

SundownIsland
The next boat to take off includes the Olson family (Ed is pushing it off shore) aong with the Wilkinson family and Larry Tisdel. The Egret II (not pictured) left with the rest of the volunt ...

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2009-06-08T12:33:01Z

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