New Sundown Island Warden, Tim Wilkinson, holds a Brown Pelican during a trip to the Island with University of Tulane researchers who were collecting DNA blood samples from the Texas Brown Pelicans. Photo credit: Peggy Wilkinson.

October 2011

Excerpt from the Dolphin Talk in POC:

Tim Wilkinson has been named Audubon Texas’ newest Coastal Warden for Sundown Island and the Matagorda Bay area. Tim is former Warden Chester Smith’s son-in-law. He and his wife Peggy spent the last 13 years serving as assistants to Chester getting to know Matagorda Bay, Sundown Island, volunteers and the birds that call this area home. Tim brings with him a wealth of experience on varied projects to create and support nesting habitat, building and maintaining important infrastructure (pier, windmill and piping system), and leading volunteer events that benefit Sundown and develop community involvement.

Bob Benson, Executive Director, Audubon Texas expressed the sentiments of all of Audubon; “We are thrilled that the Smith family tradition will continue for the protection of Sundown Island. The birds remain in good hands now that Tim has accepted this position. He will carry on the legacy of Chester Smith insuring the birds have a safe and well managed home..." Read the whole article on the Dolphin Talk website.

Excerpt from the Port Lavaca Wave: Wilkinson Takes Over as Sundown Island Warden by Melon Overton

"Tim Wilkinson, the new warden for Sundown Island, knows he has big shoes to fill following in the footsteps of the late Chester "Pop" Smith, who was warden for 25 years. However, it helps that Wilkinson was Smith's son-in-law.

Smith passed away June 26 at age 90. He was hired by Audubon Texas as the warden for Sundown Island in 1986. Smith, who was credited with helping save the brown pelican population from near extinction in Texas, recruited his daughter, Peggy Wilkinson, and her husband, Tim, to be volunteers in 1998 after the couple moved to Houston from Dallas.

As volunteers, the Wilkinsons secured corporate sponsorships for the island, donations of materials, coordinated volunteer work days and assisted Smith in his many trips to the island to complete a task or to observe the birds..." Read the whole article on The Port Lavaca Wave website.