An Audubon Bird Sanctuary
Port O'Connor, Texas

© 2000-11 Sundown Island Island

Devon Energy 2009 Fall Workday on Sundown Island

By Marcy Spears and Lynn Travis
View Photos taken at sundownisland.smugmug.com/.

Rony Zetik (L) and Gary Eskelson (R) attach the insecticide slinger to the tractor to treat for fire ants on the island. Fire ants are a major problem for ground-nesting birds and their chicks.

At the end of October twenty-one volunteers and Warden Chester Smith completed a successful workday on Audubon's Sundown Island. As most volunteers know—workday actually begins a couple of weeks before the big group arrives.

Pre-workday, volunteers Nancy and Rick Posey nailed old carpet to the landing pier posts to protect the Audubon boat and painted rusty spots on the tractor. Lynn Travis (Devon) ordered and picked up 40 trees from Mike Heep in Harlingen (Ebony, Spiny Hackberry, and Huisache). Some of the trees were 5 gallon Ebony. Tim and Peggy Wilkinson hauled out supplies and mowed the paths on the island. Devon Energy donated a new gas-powered weed-wacker for trimming around the trees and the shed. PLUS—the new Evinrude 200hp boat motor was installed on the Audubon Egret II. The motor was made possible by a grant from Formosa which also paid for a new windshield and side curtains to afford a dryer ride to the island.

But back to workday—Nancy Posey and Rony Zetick captained the boats to carry both cargo and volunteers to the island. Volunteers planted forty new trees, weeded and watered older trees, treated for fire ants, and picked up debris on the beach. Although there was a good breeze most of the day, the flies and mosquitoes were voracious—and then there was the itching.

The volunteers concentrated their work on two areas—the ebony grove and "Steve's tree plot" (Huisache). Both are low-lying areas where previous plantings have thrived. In spite of the drought suffered throughout Texas, the trees on the island seemed to be thriving—the live oak, cedar and ebony trees near the shed are over eight-foot tall now. Some of the live oaks are even sending runner-volunteer trees out from their roots. The water cistern by the tractor shed was full of water so both new and existing trees were fertilized and watered.

More ebony trees were planted because they are popular with the birds. Volunteers have noticed that the birds love to build their nests in this thorny tree—in the crooks and dense shelter of their branches. No doubt the thorns helps secure their nests to the branches. Before they left, volunteers picked up ebony seeds to create more trees for a later date.

Here is an example of a pelican entangled in fishing line. Carelessly handled fishing line, hooks and lures kill birds and other wildlife. View a larger image.

The beach cleanup is one of the most critical tasks performed on each workday. Plastic (bags, fishing line, fishing lures, soda-pop holders, etc.) that are removed from the beach make it a safer environment. Birds or other wildlife that become entangled in fishing lines/hooks become trapped and starve to death. Plastic trash also chokes animals trying to eat stuff found on shopping bags or other packaging. Plastic that winds up at the bottom of the bay poisons the water. Become an advocate! Pick up after yourself and encourage others to do the same.

Everything on the workday list was completed before lunch by the efficient energetic teams—including the beach cleanup. Devon Energy provided lunch. Jennifer White brought her famous brownies and a new volunteer (Jenn) brought homemade-chocolate-chip cookies. After lunch the crew had a chance view the the odd collection of beach finds (see photos).

Migration Report from Diane Nunley

Although Sundown island is predominantly used as a colonial-waterbird breeding sanctuary, during the Spring and Fall migrations it becomes a safe haven for migrant birds. While walking around and through the island Diane observed or heard a fair number of migrants stopping over to rest (possibly aided by the Norther that blew in the day before). Most of these were observed in one group of trees on the island.

If you are interested in more information about colonial water birds on the Texas coast, also visit Audubon Texas and read about their Coastal Stewardship Program and view the recent Coastal Stewardship Program newsletter (.pdf). Also visit the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Texas Coastal Program site. This site includes census data on counts going back twenty or more years.