Annual Whooping Crane boat tour - TexasBowhunter.com Community Discussion Forums

Bill M · 01-17-2021, 06:02 AM

I normally take a boat tour along the intercoastal waterway at the Aransas NWR to photograph the endangered whooping cranes. A few shots from this years trip. Full gallery is here. Lots of photos in the gallery.

From wiki

The whooping crane (Grus americana), the tallest North American bird, is an endangered crane species named for its whooping sound. Along with the sandhill crane, it is one of only two crane species found in North America. The whooping crane's lifespan is estimated to be 22 to 24 years in the wild. After being pushed to the brink of extinction by unregulated hunting and loss of habitat to just 21 wild and two captive whooping cranes by 1941, conservation efforts have led to a limited recovery.[2] The total number of cranes in the surviving migratory population, plus three reintroduced flocks and in captivity, now exceeds 800 birds.

Flight sequence begins with signaling which is an unmistakable sound. They were going to tend to a third crane that had come into their territory a couple hundred yards down the island.

Taxi

Bill M · 01-17-2021, 06:10 AM

They eat about 80 blue crab a day.

Bill M · 01-17-2021, 06:14 AM

Last morning there, I caught these two out on a sand flat in St. Charles Bay. Early morning as you tell by the light. I have never seen any on the bay side along Lamar Beach Rd. Had to cut our trip short due to impending snow coming.

cva34 · 01-17-2021, 06:29 AM

Wow thats a success story!!! Wish they could get they could get a handle on the Prairie Chicken I know they trying!!

Bill M · 01-17-2021, 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cva34

Wow thats a success story!!! Wish they could get they could get a handle on the Prairie Chicken I know they trying!!

It really is, hope it continues. They have a decent population currently on the Attwater Prairie Chicken NWR. They are being seen on a regular basis this past year. I got these back in May. https://discussions.texasbowhunter.c...d.php?t=774038

Thanks for looking.

TKRanch · 01-17-2021, 09:00 AM

Great pics sir! We did that trip for the first time this year, Santa gave it to the family! We thoroughly enjoyed it and will do it again for sure. Thanks for sharing, it is a great story of success in wildlife preservation.

kae006 · 01-17-2021, 09:05 AM

Awesome photos. Is that 80 crabs/day per bird?! Seems like a heck of an appetite.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

justindfw · 01-17-2021, 09:23 AM

Those pics with the crabs are pretty dang cool

Big Cat · 01-17-2021, 10:04 AM

Awesome pictures!

Slew · 01-17-2021, 10:21 AM

That’s awesome! We saw 4 down there a couple weeks ago! 2 hung out in the canal behind the blind eating crabs I guess! Awesome pics.
! The crab and the beach ones are great!!

Bill M · 01-17-2021, 10:32 AM

Thanks again for the comments everyone. Appreciated.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kae006

Awesome photos. Is that 80 crabs/day per bird?! Seems like a heck of an appetite.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

5 ft tall bird with a 7 ft wingspan burns alot of energy I suppose. They are constantly moving.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TKRanch

Great pics sir! We did that trip for the first time this year, Santa gave it to the family! We thoroughly enjoyed it and will do it again for sure. Thanks for sharing, it is a great story of success in wildlife preservation.

Big or smaller boat? I've been on the big one out of Fulton Harbor once but normally go on the smaller boat with only 3 other people on board.

ATI · 01-17-2021, 10:36 AM

Awesome Pictures, thanks for sharing!

Artos · 01-17-2021, 10:38 AM

Outstanding!!!

TKRanch · 01-17-2021, 01:38 PM

Big or smaller boat? I've been on the big one out of Fulton Harbor once but normally go on the smaller boat with only 3 other people on board.[/QUOTE]

We went with Kevin in one of the smaller boats with only 4 of us. It was great, been wanting to do it for years, but had to put it on hold for 8 years while we were in Illinois. Now that we are back in Texas it was a must do!!

BayouCat · 01-17-2021, 01:59 PM

Great pictures!

DaddyO · 01-17-2021, 02:12 PM

i did my 10th grade Biology project on whooping cranes in 1983...if I remember correctly there were 72-74 in wild at that time and I got a C on the project.

bmac · 01-17-2021, 02:35 PM

Thanks for sharing the great pictures!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Bill M · 01-17-2021, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TKRanch

Big or smaller boat? I've been on the big one out of Fulton Harbor once but normally go on the smaller boat with only 3 other people on board.

We went with Kevin in one of the smaller boats with only 4 of us. It was great, been wanting to do it for years, but had to put it on hold for 8 years while we were in Illinois. Now that we are back in Texas it was a must do!![/QUOTE]

Cool! The Sims' are good people. This was my first time to go with Lori, been with Kevin about 3 times now I think.

twdjr · 01-21-2021, 11:45 AM

Awesome pics! Have a pair that have been hanging around some of my goose hunting properties for the past 10 or so years. Some times they have an offspring with them. This year it was just the 2 of them.

Bill M · 01-22-2021, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twdjr

Awesome pics! Have a pair that have been hanging around some of my goose hunting properties for the past 10 or so years. Some times they have an offspring with them. This year it was just the 2 of them.

Thanks! Are you seeing them in Chambers Co. by chance?

SabineHunter · 01-22-2021, 08:52 AM

now, i know where my crabs in Copano Bay go

Bill M · 01-22-2021, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SabineHunter

now, i know where my crabs in Copano Bay go

Do you see them on Copano Bay?

mcphilpott · 01-22-2021, 09:20 AM

love these pics! super cool

twdjr · 01-23-2021, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill M

Thanks! Are you seeing them in Chambers Co. by chance?

Wharton and Colorado Counties. I saw 3 today in a rice field by one of my leases.

Bill M · 01-24-2021, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcphilpott

love these pics! super cool

Thanks!

Quote:

Originally Posted by twdjr

Wharton and Colorado Counties. I saw 3 today in a rice field by one of my leases.

I know someone photographed them in the Bay City/Matagorda area quite a bit last year. They are cool to see.

locknload · 01-24-2021, 06:50 AM

very nice pics. Thx for sharing

3ChordTruth · 01-28-2021, 07:19 PM

Great pics of an awesome subject. The flight take off series from standing to taxi to flight is outstanding. Thanks for posting.

gander · 01-29-2021, 09:28 AM

Pretty cool birds. I saw 3 in a rice field this past Saturday in Chambers County down the road from where we duck hunt.

Bill M · 01-29-2021, 12:43 PM

Thanks again.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3ChordTruth

Great pics of an awesome subject. The flight take off series from standing to taxi to flight is outstanding. Thanks for posting.

Thanks. I really liked that sequence also. They start signalling their intent so you just have to be ready.

Quote:

Originally Posted by gander

Pretty cool birds. I saw 3 in a rice field this past Saturday in Chambers County down the road from where we duck hunt.

There were a pair of them over there last year. I wonder if they have a colt this year. Any orange color on one of them?

gander · 02-01-2021, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill M

Thanks again.

Thanks. I really liked that sequence also. They start signalling their intent so you just have to be ready.

There were a pair of them over there last year. I wonder if they have a colt this year. Any orange color on one of them?

I didn't even stop and look at them very hard. Two of them were standing about 30 yards off the road on 1663 and the 3rd was in the same field about 75-100 yards further in.

mdb0531 · 02-01-2021, 12:41 PM

great photos

Mexico · 02-01-2021, 01:29 PM

Great pictures!!

Bill M · 02-02-2021, 06:06 AM

Thanks again!

Quote:

Originally Posted by gander

I didn't even stop and look at them very hard. Two of them were standing about 30 yards off the road on 1663 and the 3rd was in the same field about 75-100 yards further in.

I have since learned these are part of the non-migrating Louisiana population located in SW LA which would make sense.

Muddslinger · 02-04-2021, 06:41 PM

Nice!

LivinADream · 02-04-2021, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill M

Thanks! Are you seeing them in Chambers Co. by chance?

There are 2 in chambers county right now. Same fields every year. Occasionally 3 but 2 for sure every year. Winnie area.

Sent from my motorola one 5G UW using Tapatalk

Bill M · 02-11-2021, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LivinADream

There are 2 in chambers county right now. Same fields every year. Occasionally 3 but 2 for sure every year. Winnie area.

Sent from my motorola one 5G UW using Tapatalk

Some folks are seeing three at times. Part of the Louisiana resident non-migrating birds.

LivinADream · 02-11-2021, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill M

Some folks are seeing three at times. Part of the Louisiana resident non-migrating birds.

Yes I am sure there are several in the county. I am only speaking of the two by my house.

Sent from my motorola one 5G UW using Tapatalk

twdjr · 02-11-2021, 02:27 PM

Saw 2 on Monday in same field that I seen 3 in a couple weeks ago. One of them had a orange leg marker/band on it.

JES · 02-14-2021, 11:29 AM

We fished out of Seadrift last Monday and saw several pairs that day, good to see them slowly making a comeback.

Anyone know if this severe freeze will have an impact on them?

Masav05 · 02-14-2021, 06:56 PM

Great pictures

Red_RaiderHTC · 02-18-2021, 08:16 PM

Super cool. It always amazes me how large they are when you see them standing next to a deer feeder or other known size reference.

Luis Ramirez · 03-07-2021, 08:52 AM

Phenomenal

Bill M · 03-08-2021, 11:50 AM

Thanks.

mooney_garrett · 03-29-2021, 02:18 PM

Awesome pictures!

RC1cent · 04-17-2021, 11:33 AM

Great capture. Thx for sharing!

01-17-2021, 06:02 AM	#1
Bill M Pope & Young Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Bryan, Texas	Annual Whooping Crane boat tour I normally take a boat tour along the intercoastal waterway at the Aransas NWR to photograph the endangered whooping cranes. A few shots from this years trip. Full gallery is here. Lots of photos in the gallery. From wiki The whooping crane (Grus americana), the tallest North American bird, is an endangered crane species named for its whooping sound. Along with the sandhill crane, it is one of only two crane species found in North America. The whooping crane's lifespan is estimated to be 22 to 24 years in the wild. After being pushed to the brink of extinction by unregulated hunting and loss of habitat to just 21 wild and two captive whooping cranes by 1941, conservation efforts have led to a limited recovery.[2] The total number of cranes in the surviving migratory population, plus three reintroduced flocks and in captivity, now exceeds 800 birds. Flight sequence begins with signaling which is an unmistakable sound. They were going to tend to a third crane that had come into their territory a couple hundred yards down the island. Taxi Last edited by Bill M; 01-17-2021 at 06:16 AM.

01-17-2021, 06:14 AM	#3
Bill M Pope & Young Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Bryan, Texas	Last morning there, I caught these two out on a sand flat in St. Charles Bay. Early morning as you tell by the light. I have never seen any on the bay side along Lamar Beach Rd. Had to cut our trip short due to impending snow coming. Last edited by Bill M; 01-17-2021 at 06:18 AM.

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01-17-2021, 06:10 AM	#2
Bill M Pope & Young Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Bryan, Texas	They eat about 80 blue crab a day.

01-17-2021, 06:29 AM	#4
cva34 Ten Point Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: van vleck Hunt In: LOOKING	Wow thats a success story!!! Wish they could get they could get a handle on the Prairie Chicken I know they trying!!

01-17-2021, 09:00 AM	#6
TKRanch Ten Point Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Back in TEXAS!!! Sandia, TX	Great pics sir! We did that trip for the first time this year, Santa gave it to the family! We thoroughly enjoyed it and will do it again for sure. Thanks for sharing, it is a great story of success in wildlife preservation.

01-17-2021, 09:05 AM	#7
kae006 Pope & Young Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Nebraska Hunt In: Colorado, Wyoming	Awesome photos. Is that 80 crabs/day per bird?! Seems like a heck of an appetite. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

01-17-2021, 09:23 AM	#8
justindfw Ten Point Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Alvarado Hunt In: Whitney public land	Those pics with the crabs are pretty dang cool

01-17-2021, 10:04 AM	#9
Big Cat Spike Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Helotes Hunt In: Bandera/Junction	Awesome pictures!

01-17-2021, 10:21 AM	#10
Slew Pope & Young Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Lindale, TX Hunt In: nowhere close to home	That’s awesome! We saw 4 down there a couple weeks ago! 2 hung out in the canal behind the blind eating crabs I guess! Awesome pics. ! The crab and the beach ones are great!!

01-17-2021, 10:36 AM	#12
ATI Ten Point Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Wylie, TEXAS Hunt In: TEXAS	Awesome Pictures, thanks for sharing!

01-17-2021, 10:38 AM	#13
Artos Pope & Young Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Deep South TX Hunt In: Deep South TX	Outstanding!!!

01-17-2021, 01:38 PM	#14
TKRanch Ten Point Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Back in TEXAS!!! Sandia, TX	Big or smaller boat? I've been on the big one out of Fulton Harbor once but normally go on the smaller boat with only 3 other people on board.[/QUOTE] We went with Kevin in one of the smaller boats with only 4 of us. It was great, been wanting to do it for years, but had to put it on hold for 8 years while we were in Illinois. Now that we are back in Texas it was a must do!!

01-17-2021, 01:59 PM	#15
BayouCat Six Point Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Gulf Coast Hunt In: Gulf Coast	Great pictures!

01-17-2021, 02:12 PM	#16
DaddyO Eight Point Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Plano,TX Hunt In: Bryan County,Oklahoma land owner	i did my 10th grade Biology project on whooping cranes in 1983...if I remember correctly there were 72-74 in wild at that time and I got a C on the project.

01-17-2021, 02:35 PM	#17
bmac Ten Point Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Weatherford Hunt In: Robertson Co. & TPWD	Thanks for sharing the great pictures! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

01-21-2021, 11:45 AM	#19
twdjr Ten Point Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Willis, TX	Awesome pics! Have a pair that have been hanging around some of my goose hunting properties for the past 10 or so years. Some times they have an offspring with them. This year it was just the 2 of them.

01-22-2021, 08:52 AM	#21
SabineHunter Banned!!! Join Date: Oct 2019	now, i know where my crabs in Copano Bay go

01-22-2021, 09:20 AM	#23
mcphilpott Four Point Join Date: Aug 2014	love these pics! super cool

01-24-2021, 06:50 AM	#26
locknload Pope & Young Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Flower Mound Hunt In: Throckmorton, Hamilton Counties	very nice pics. Thx for sharing

01-28-2021, 07:19 PM	#27
3ChordTruth Ten Point Join Date: May 2020 Location: Grapevine	Great pics of an awesome subject. The flight take off series from standing to taxi to flight is outstanding. Thanks for posting.

01-29-2021, 09:28 AM	#28
gander Ten Point Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Beaumont Hunt In: Beaumont	Pretty cool birds. I saw 3 in a rice field this past Saturday in Chambers County down the road from where we duck hunt.

02-01-2021, 12:41 PM	#31
mdb0531 Four Point Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Webster Hunt In: Sonora	great photos

02-01-2021, 01:29 PM	#32
Mexico Pope & Young Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Clear Lake Tx Hunt In: Old Mexico, Centerville Tx	Great pictures!!

02-04-2021, 06:41 PM	#34
Muddslinger Four Point Join Date: Mar 2019	Nice!

02-11-2021, 02:27 PM	#38
twdjr Ten Point Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Willis, TX	Saw 2 on Monday in same field that I seen 3 in a couple weeks ago. One of them had a orange leg marker/band on it.

02-14-2021, 11:29 AM	#39
JES Ten Point Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Richmond Hunt In: Stonewall County	We fished out of Seadrift last Monday and saw several pairs that day, good to see them slowly making a comeback. Anyone know if this severe freeze will have an impact on them?

02-14-2021, 06:56 PM	#40
Masav05 Spike Join Date: Jan 2016	Great pictures

02-18-2021, 08:16 PM	#41
Red_RaiderHTC Six Point Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Sulphur Springs, TX Hunt In: East Texas	Super cool. It always amazes me how large they are when you see them standing next to a deer feeder or other known size reference.

03-07-2021, 08:52 AM	#42
Luis Ramirez Spike Join Date: Feb 2021	Phenomenal

03-08-2021, 11:50 AM	#43
Bill M Pope & Young Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Bryan, Texas	Thanks.

03-29-2021, 02:18 PM	#44
mooney_garrett Spike Join Date: Jul 2020	Awesome pictures!

04-17-2021, 11:33 AM	#45
RC1cent Spike Join Date: Apr 2021	Great capture. Thx for sharing!