General Spring Workday Mark your calendars! The general spring workday is scheduled for Thursday, February 22, 2007.

Workday sponsored by: Devon Energy Corp.
Article written by: Lynn Travis of Devon
Workday Photos: Gallery

October 21, 2006—The morning started out cloudy, but the sun broke through for a bright warm successful workday. Devon Energy sponsored the fall 2006 event by bringing volunteers, trees, lunch and supplies for the workday.

The Audubon Egret III and Captain Bob Hill’s boats brought 16 volunteers to the island to spend the day improving nesting habitat for the birds of Sundown Island. Smooth water both ways made for a wonderful trip, and everyone enjoyed watching lots of dolphins play in the water on the trip back.

When the volunteers arrived at the island, Niell Irvin with the Texas General Land Office in Port Lavaca, and Chris Bouley with the Coast Guard in Port O’Connor, the tractor and GLO 4 wheeler and trailer were on the beach and ready to roll. (Photo by Peggy Wilkinson)

Water, tools, and equipment were easily carried to the work sites. Although the vegetation was thick because of abundant rains, Ed Taylor had mowed trails to access existing plots of trees for workday. But the best news came at the end of the day when the Pt. Lavaca Texas General Land Office donated their 4 wheeler to Sundown Island! This will make volunteer life at Sundown Island much easier. Thank You Pt. Lavaca GLO!

Existing tree plots were fertilized, and ebony seeds were collected to start new seedlings. The existing plots are thriving with the recent heavy rains Nests were observed in even the most recently planted plots last year. The area planted 3 years ago has grown to over 10 ft high, and the pencil sized salt cedars seedlings planted near the ponds in 2001 are now full sized trees. With the sunflowers down for the fall, thickets of green trees can be seen thriving in various locations around the island. It is rewarding to see nests in trees that have been planted in recent workdays where there was previously just sand and sunflowers.

Fifty new native trees (gallon sized), including nuisance, spiny hackberry, mesquite, and Texas ebony (the thornier the better for the birds!) were planted in two experimental plots in north part of the island. (photo by Peggy Wilkinson)

Two new tree plots were planted in a dredge fill area created about 5 years ago. The locations selected were low lying areas to capitalize on collecting water and are protected from the wind by an existing salt cedar stand and stabilized dunes. The plots were started by laying down a protective weed barrier cloth, and then the trees were mixed with additional moisture control potting soil and water absorbing gel before planting them in a small area where they could develop into a thick stand of trees. The trees were watered by the volunteers generously.

The water collection system installed in 2002 has provided abundant fresh water for the new and existing tree plots. The system collects rainwater from the roof of the shed and stores the water in a 500 cistern donated by Devon in 2002. Water is loaded into 5 gallon buckets and taken out to the plots. The live oaks and cedar around the shed are doing well, and the area around them was cleared out, and the live oaks were watered and fertilized. Nests were seen in several of the trees.

Recent steady heavy rains helped keep the island lush with lots of lantana and bushes of yellow daisy like flowers. Monarchs, sulphurs, and queens were among the butterflies seen migrating through. Birds observed during the workday include lots of brown pelicans on the southern shore, some migrating white pelicans, sand piper type birds, lots of terns, and a barn owl!

Before lunch, Niell Irvin shares some new ideas with Pop about what the GLO can do to help protect Sundown Island. (photo by Steve Tripp)

After a morning of non-stop planting, nothing tastes better than a picnic lunch on the beach. The contest for most interesting beach find was close between the wooden shoes, decorative fish lure, large fishing net in excellent condition, and a doll’s leg. The winner was Liam’s find of a large plastic agitator from a washing machine.

Some new pests have moved onto the island—bees have created a home in a drum behind the shed. Chester is hoping to find someone who can remove or relocate the hive. No snakes were encountered, but the fire ants were busy until Gary and the tractor treated the entire island with fire-ant pesticide. Mosquitoes were plentiful, but didn't’t stop the volunteers from their work.

The popular trash pickup was especially effective because recent very high tides brought lots of trash to the shoreline where it could be easily recovered. Approximately 20 large bags of trash were removed from the beach, making a noticeable difference and making the island safer for birds. Chester recently found a string of 10 bird skeletons tangled up in a long line of monofilament fishing line, so every bit of trash removed helps protect the birds from hazards.

The gang loaded up the all trash, secured the tractor and new 4 wheeler in the shed, and headed back to Port O’Connor around 2:00.

Thanks to everyone who came out to Sundown Island to make the Fall Workday a success. Special thanks to the Niell with the GLO and Chris with the Coast Guard who were always ready to help haul water, trash, or equipment where they needed to be.

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The latest word is that the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife program, that has been filmed at Sundown Island over the past two years, will air toward the end in December.