SundownIsland's most popular photosThe <strong><a href="http://www.sundownisland.org">Audubon Sundown Island Bird Sanctuary</a></strong> 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: <strong>Chester Smith, Sundown Island Sanctuary Warden at <a href="mailto:popsbirds@aol.com">popsbirds@aol.com</a></strong>
<strong>Gallery Categories: </strong> (1) <a href="http://sundownisland.smugmug.com/Annual Census">Annual Bird Censuses (2004-08)</a> (2) <a href="http://sundownisland.smugmug.com/Workdays">Workdays (2005-08)</a> (3) <a href="http://sundownisland.smugmug.com/Erosion">Erosion and other historical photos (2005-07)</a>
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<em><a href="mailto:marcyspears@mac.com">Marcy Spears, Sundown Island Webmaster</a></em></div>http://sundownisland.smugmug.com/photos/25241972_qN2rF-Ti.jpghttp://sundownisland.smugmug.com/popular/2009-12-04T16:09:45ZCopyright 2009, the copyright holder of each photograph. Some portions copyright SmugMug. All rights reserved.SmugMugThe 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 wer ...<p><a href="http://sundownisland.smugmug.com">SundownIsland</a><br />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 wer ...</p><p><a href="http://sundownisland.smugmug.com/Annual-Census/2008-Annual-Census/5195295_Ujcot#313876949_M23Sx" title="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 wer ..."><img src="http://sundownisland.smugmug.com/Annual-Census/2008-Annual-Census/IMG7087/313876949_M23Sx-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="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 wer ..." title="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 wer ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2008-06-22T02:19:08ZSundownIslandhttp://sundownisland.smugmug.comhttp://sundownisland.smugmug.com/Annual-Census/2008-Annual-Census/IMG7087/313876949_M23Sx-Th.jpg2008-06-06 08:32:42Two 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 femal ...<p><a href="http://sundownisland.smugmug.com">SundownIsland</a><br />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 femal ...</p><p><a href="http://sundownisland.smugmug.com/Annual-Census/2008-Annual-Census/5195295_Ujcot#313876422_ACXxG" title="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 femal ..."><img src="http://sundownisland.smugmug.com/Annual-Census/2008-Annual-Census/GRFB1/313876422_ACXxG-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="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 femal ..." title="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 femal ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2008-06-22T02:19:07ZSundownIslandhttp://sundownisland.smugmug.comhttp://sundownisland.smugmug.com/Annual-Census/2008-Annual-Census/GRFB1/313876422_ACXxG-Th.jpg2008-06-06 10:10:02Able pauses from his work for a photo. Notice how prolific the Lantana is behind him. The Pelicans love nesting in, near or on the Lantana. Photo credit: Marcy Spears<p><a href="http://sundownisland.smugmug.com">SundownIsland</a><br />Able pauses from his work for a photo. Notice how prolific the Lantana is behind him. The Pelicans love nesting in, near or on the Lantana. Photo credit: Marcy Spears</p><p><a href="http://sundownisland.smugmug.com/Workdays/2008-Spring-Workday-Volunteers/4543167_YoRPC#267616428_M6xvw" title="Able pauses from his work for a photo. Notice how prolific the Lantana is behind him. The Pelicans love nesting in, near or on the Lantana. Photo credit: Marcy Spears"><img src="http://sundownisland.smugmug.com/Workdays/2008-Spring-Workday-Volunteers/IMG5415/267616428_M6xvw-Th.jpg" width="150" height="120" alt="Able pauses from his work for a photo. Notice how prolific the Lantana is behind him. The Pelicans love nesting in, near or on the Lantana. Photo credit: Marcy Spears" title="Able pauses from his work for a photo. Notice how prolific the Lantana is behind him. The Pelicans love nesting in, near or on the Lantana. Photo credit: Marcy Spears" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-01-10T22:53:36ZSundownIslandhttp://sundownisland.smugmug.comhttp://sundownisland.smugmug.com/Workdays/2008-Spring-Workday-Volunteers/IMG5415/267616428_M6xvw-Th.jpg2008-02-23 09:26:34This is a typical scene in the fall on Sundown Island. Most of the breeding adults have gone on someplace else. Generally juveniles and young adult Brown Pelicans are left to claim the isl ...<p><a href="http://sundownisland.smugmug.com">SundownIsland</a><br />This is a typical scene in the fall on Sundown Island. Most of the breeding adults have gone on someplace else. Generally juveniles and young adult Brown Pelicans are left to claim the isl ...</p><p><a href="http://sundownisland.smugmug.com/Workdays/Devon-Energy-Workday-October/6525631_ocPoE#414846493_DwDTj" title="This is a typical scene in the fall on Sundown Island. Most of the breeding adults have gone on someplace else. Generally juveniles and young adult Brown Pelicans are left to claim the isl ..."><img src="http://sundownisland.smugmug.com/Workdays/Devon-Energy-Workday-October/IMG7833/414846493_DwDTj-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="This is a typical scene in the fall on Sundown Island. Most of the breeding adults have gone on someplace else. Generally juveniles and young adult Brown Pelicans are left to claim the isl ..." title="This is a typical scene in the fall on Sundown Island. Most of the breeding adults have gone on someplace else. Generally juveniles and young adult Brown Pelicans are left to claim the isl ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2008-11-13T18:42:18ZSundownIslandhttp://sundownisland.smugmug.comhttp://sundownisland.smugmug.com/Workdays/Devon-Energy-Workday-October/IMG7833/414846493_DwDTj-Th.jpg2008-10-25 08:33:44Breeding-adult Little Blue Heron.
Photo credit: Marcy Spears<p><a href="http://sundownisland.smugmug.com">SundownIsland</a><br />Breeding-adult Little Blue Heron.
Photo credit: Marcy Spears</p><p><a href="http://sundownisland.smugmug.com/Annual-Census/2008-Annual-Census/5195295_Ujcot#313882071_CPfpg" title="Breeding-adult Little Blue Heron.
Photo credit: Marcy Spears"><img src="http://sundownisland.smugmug.com/Annual-Census/2008-Annual-Census/littleblue/313882071_CPfpg-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Breeding-adult Little Blue Heron.
Photo credit: Marcy Spears" title="Breeding-adult Little Blue Heron.
Photo credit: Marcy Spears" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2008-06-22T02:19:08ZSundownIslandhttp://sundownisland.smugmug.comhttp://sundownisland.smugmug.com/Annual-Census/2008-Annual-Census/littleblue/313882071_CPfpg-Th.jpg2008-06-06 09:43:11These 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.
...<p><a href="http://sundownisland.smugmug.com">SundownIsland</a><br />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.
...</p><p><a href="http://sundownisland.smugmug.com/Annual-Census/2008-Annual-Census/5195295_Ujcot#313881356_pyfmD" title="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.
..."><img src="http://sundownisland.smugmug.com/Annual-Census/2008-Annual-Census/IMG7162/313881356_pyfmD-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="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.
..." title="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.
..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2008-06-22T02:19:08ZSundownIslandhttp://sundownisland.smugmug.comhttp://sundownisland.smugmug.com/Annual-Census/2008-Annual-Census/IMG7162/313881356_pyfmD-Th.jpg2008-06-06 09:22:55The 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 ke ...<p><a href="http://sundownisland.smugmug.com">SundownIsland</a><br />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 ke ...</p><p><a href="http://sundownisland.smugmug.com/Annual-Census/2008-Annual-Census/5195295_Ujcot#313879427_sXLkp" title="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 ke ..."><img src="http://sundownisland.smugmug.com/Annual-Census/2008-Annual-Census/IMG7120/313879427_sXLkp-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="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 ke ..." title="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 ke ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2008-06-22T02:19:08ZSundownIslandhttp://sundownisland.smugmug.comhttp://sundownisland.smugmug.com/Annual-Census/2008-Annual-Census/IMG7120/313879427_sXLkp-Th.jpg2008-06-06 08:50:50Three Laughing Gulls sitting on their nests, on the southeast side of the island.
Photo credit: Marcy Spears<p><a href="http://sundownisland.smugmug.com">SundownIsland</a><br />Three Laughing Gulls sitting on their nests, on the southeast side of the island.
Photo credit: Marcy Spears</p><p><a href="http://sundownisland.smugmug.com/Annual-Census/2008-Annual-Census/5195295_Ujcot#313878812_qwdp2" title="Three Laughing Gulls sitting on their nests, on the southeast side of the island.
Photo credit: Marcy Spears"><img src="http://sundownisland.smugmug.com/Annual-Census/2008-Annual-Census/IMG7117/313878812_qwdp2-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Three Laughing Gulls sitting on their nests, on the southeast side of the island.
Photo credit: Marcy Spears" title="Three Laughing Gulls sitting on their nests, on the southeast side of the island.
Photo credit: Marcy Spears" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2008-06-22T02:19:08ZSundownIslandhttp://sundownisland.smugmug.comhttp://sundownisland.smugmug.com/Annual-Census/2008-Annual-Census/IMG7117/313878812_qwdp2-Th.jpg2008-06-06 08:40:57The 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 so ...<p><a href="http://sundownisland.smugmug.com">SundownIsland</a><br />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 so ...</p><p><a href="http://sundownisland.smugmug.com/Annual-Census/2008-Annual-Census/5195295_Ujcot#313877534_2pf8G" title="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 so ..."><img src="http://sundownisland.smugmug.com/Annual-Census/2008-Annual-Census/IMG7095/313877534_2pf8G-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="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 so ..." title="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 so ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2008-06-22T02:19:08ZSundownIslandhttp://sundownisland.smugmug.comhttp://sundownisland.smugmug.com/Annual-Census/2008-Annual-Census/IMG7095/313877534_2pf8G-Th.jpg2008-06-06 08:35:42Two breeding-adult Little Blue Herons (bottom) and two juvenile Tricolored Herons (brownish, top).
Photo credit: Marcy Spears<p><a href="http://sundownisland.smugmug.com">SundownIsland</a><br />Two breeding-adult Little Blue Herons (bottom) and two juvenile Tricolored Herons (brownish, top).
Photo credit: Marcy Spears</p><p><a href="http://sundownisland.smugmug.com/Annual-Census/2008-Annual-Census/5195295_Ujcot#313874910_eDFhU" title="Two breeding-adult Little Blue Herons (bottom) and two juvenile Tricolored Herons (brownish, top).
Photo credit: Marcy Spears"><img src="http://sundownisland.smugmug.com/Annual-Census/2008-Annual-Census/birds-habitat/313874910_eDFhU-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Two breeding-adult Little Blue Herons (bottom) and two juvenile Tricolored Herons (brownish, top).
Photo credit: Marcy Spears" title="Two breeding-adult Little Blue Herons (bottom) and two juvenile Tricolored Herons (brownish, top).
Photo credit: Marcy Spears" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2008-06-22T02:19:08ZSundownIslandhttp://sundownisland.smugmug.comhttp://sundownisland.smugmug.com/Annual-Census/2008-Annual-Census/birds-habitat/313874910_eDFhU-Th.jpg2008-06-06 09:41:212007: The area outlined in blue is the last vestage of one of the Geotubes. Most of the material has disintegrated and left a large block of sand. The item outlined in red includes the bri ...<p><a href="http://sundownisland.smugmug.com">SundownIsland</a><br />2007: The area outlined in blue is the last vestage of one of the Geotubes. Most of the material has disintegrated and left a large block of sand. The item outlined in red includes the bri ...</p><p><a href="http://sundownisland.smugmug.com/Erosion/2007-Fall-Workday-Condition-of/3725954_56rKs#213751573_oGhLD" title="2007: The area outlined in blue is the last vestage of one of the Geotubes. Most of the material has disintegrated and left a large block of sand. The item outlined in red includes the bri ..."><img src="http://sundownisland.smugmug.com/Erosion/2007-Fall-Workday-Condition-of/IMG2488-Edit/213751573_oGhLD-Th-1.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="2007: The area outlined in blue is the last vestage of one of the Geotubes. Most of the material has disintegrated and left a large block of sand. The item outlined in red includes the bri ..." title="2007: The area outlined in blue is the last vestage of one of the Geotubes. Most of the material has disintegrated and left a large block of sand. The item outlined in red includes the bri ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-02-04T11:13:12ZSundownIslandhttp://sundownisland.smugmug.comhttp://sundownisland.smugmug.com/Erosion/2007-Fall-Workday-Condition-of/IMG2488-Edit/213751573_oGhLD-Th-1.jpgTypical scene on Sundown. If you'll notice there is a Great Blue Heron baby begging the spoonbils for food.<p><a href="http://sundownisland.smugmug.com">SundownIsland</a><br />Typical scene on Sundown. If you'll notice there is a Great Blue Heron baby begging the spoonbils for food.</p><p><a href="http://sundownisland.smugmug.com/Annual-Census/2007-Annual-Census/2970975_H2HF5#160696652_dFWYR" title="Typical scene on Sundown. If you'll notice there is a Great Blue Heron baby begging the spoonbils for food."><img src="http://sundownisland.smugmug.com/Annual-Census/2007-Annual-Census/IMG0540/160696652_dFWYR-Th.jpg" width="150" height="113" alt="Typical scene on Sundown. If you'll notice there is a Great Blue Heron baby begging the spoonbils for food." title="Typical scene on Sundown. If you'll notice there is a Great Blue Heron baby begging the spoonbils for food." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-06-26T04:30:50ZSundownIslandhttp://sundownisland.smugmug.comhttp://sundownisland.smugmug.com/Annual-Census/2007-Annual-Census/IMG0540/160696652_dFWYR-Th.jpgLaughing Gull eggs in nest, a slight depression in the sand. Photo credit: Diane Nunley.<p><a href="http://sundownisland.smugmug.com">SundownIsland</a><br />Laughing Gull eggs in nest, a slight depression in the sand. Photo credit: Diane Nunley.</p><p><a href="http://sundownisland.smugmug.com/Annual-Census/2006-Annual-Census/1518446_2Hbjv#73035944_tnPvx" title="Laughing Gull eggs in nest, a slight depression in the sand. Photo credit: Diane Nunley."><img src="http://sundownisland.smugmug.com/Annual-Census/2006-Annual-Census/71750314-O/73035944_tnPvx-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="Laughing Gull eggs in nest, a slight depression in the sand. Photo credit: Diane Nunley." title="Laughing Gull eggs in nest, a slight depression in the sand. Photo credit: Diane Nunley." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-02-20T23:00:36ZSundownIslandhttp://sundownisland.smugmug.comhttp://sundownisland.smugmug.com/Annual-Census/2006-Annual-Census/71750314-O/73035944_tnPvx-Th.jpgLinda 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)<p><a href="http://sundownisland.smugmug.com">SundownIsland</a><br />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)</p><p><a href="http://sundownisland.smugmug.com/Workdays/2006-Spring-Workday/1256973_fu8RG#58957430_D4uYt" title="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)"><img src="http://sundownisland.smugmug.com/Workdays/2006-Spring-Workday/IMG4629/58957430_D4uYt-Th.jpg" width="150" height="113" alt="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)" title="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)" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-06-06T12:15:42ZSundownIslandhttp://sundownisland.smugmug.comhttp://sundownisland.smugmug.com/Workdays/2006-Spring-Workday/IMG4629/58957430_D4uYt-Th.jpg2006-03-04 12:09:18This juvenile American Brown Pelican was taking a walk through the new baby terns.<p><a href="http://sundownisland.smugmug.com">SundownIsland</a><br />This juvenile American Brown Pelican was taking a walk through the new baby terns.</p><p><a href="http://sundownisland.smugmug.com/Mini-visits/Fathers-Day-on-the-Island/605196_97hrL#25521534_eBea2" title="This juvenile American Brown Pelican was taking a walk through the new baby terns."><img src="http://sundownisland.smugmug.com/Mini-visits/Fathers-Day-on-the-Island/04-DPP0010/25521534_eBea2-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="This juvenile American Brown Pelican was taking a walk through the new baby terns." title="This juvenile American Brown Pelican was taking a walk through the new baby terns." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-02-22T06:19:26ZSundownIslandhttp://sundownisland.smugmug.comhttp://sundownisland.smugmug.com/Mini-visits/Fathers-Day-on-the-Island/04-DPP0010/25521534_eBea2-Th.jpg2005-06-18 10:39:58This photo of hundreds of baby terns with a few American Brown Pelican baby-sitters was taken on the Northeast corner of the island. It was like this for three or four hundred yards. Note ...<p><a href="http://sundownisland.smugmug.com">SundownIsland</a><br />This photo of hundreds of baby terns with a few American Brown Pelican baby-sitters was taken on the Northeast corner of the island. It was like this for three or four hundred yards. Note ...</p><p><a href="http://sundownisland.smugmug.com/Mini-visits/Fathers-Day-on-the-Island/605196_97hrL#25521526_JjajA" title="This photo of hundreds of baby terns with a few American Brown Pelican baby-sitters was taken on the Northeast corner of the island. It was like this for three or four hundred yards. Note ..."><img src="http://sundownisland.smugmug.com/Mini-visits/Fathers-Day-on-the-Island/07-DPP0013/25521526_JjajA-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="This photo of hundreds of baby terns with a few American Brown Pelican baby-sitters was taken on the Northeast corner of the island. It was like this for three or four hundred yards. Note ..." title="This photo of hundreds of baby terns with a few American Brown Pelican baby-sitters was taken on the Northeast corner of the island. It was like this for three or four hundred yards. Note ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-06-02T19:14:53ZSundownIslandhttp://sundownisland.smugmug.comhttp://sundownisland.smugmug.com/Mini-visits/Fathers-Day-on-the-Island/07-DPP0013/25521526_JjajA-Th.jpg