An Audubon Bird Sanctuary
Port O'Connor, Texas

© 2000-08 Sundown Island

December Workday on Sundown Island

Volunteer Barbara Van Horn helps Steve Tripp out of the boat onto the new dock on Sundown Island.

By Marcy Crowe-Spears
January 4, 2004

During a December work visit to the Audubon bird sanctuary on Sundown Island, volunteers made use of a completed boat dock to unload equipment and supplies. Eight volunteers joined Warden Chester Smith to water and fertilize trees planted in October 2003 and to build more shelf space in the tractor shed. As the crew unloaded supplies, one of the volunteers commented "This is wonderful! No more wading through cold water to move supplies from the boat to land!"

The dock was made possible by a grant from the Formosa Plastics Environmental Endowment Trust. The Audubon bird sanctuary was awarded $7,041 to help pay for the dock and to help cover the costs of the bird sanctuary signs that were lost during Hurricane Claudette. The U-shaped dock provides protection from the rapid current that flows past the island and the frequent ship traffic.

The finished dock will make it easier to unload volunteers and supplies during work visits to the bird sanctuary.

Other companies or organizations that contributed to the dock project with materials or labor include the Calhoun County Navigation District in Point Comfort, Houston based Texas AROC Energy Company, Tesoro Marine Services, POC Hardware & Supply in Port O'Connor and ACE Hardware in Port Lavaca, the Texas Government Land Office and Devon Energy in Houston. In addition nearly 42 volunteers assembled during the October workday to help build the dock.

The Sundown Island dock is not a fishing pier! The bird sanctuary is not open to the public. NO ONE should dock their boat there or go on the island without the express permission of Audubon Warden Chester Smith. The purpose of the dock is to make it easier for the Warden to bring volunteers and supplies to the island. The endangered Brown Pelican and other colonial water birds use the island year-round. During the winter it also becomes a safe haven for migrating water fowl.

Volunteers joined together for a short workday in December to water trees and build shelf space in the tractor shed.

Each year two major workdays are planned for the Sundown Island bird sanctuary. One in the late fall, after the end of breeding season, and another in the early spring, just before breeding season begins. The next workday is scheduled for Saturday, February 21, 2004. If you would like to volunteer or send a donation to the Audubon Sundown Island Bird Sanctuary, contact Chester Smith at 281.427.4902 (Baytown) or 361.983.2903 (Port O'Connor), or by e-mail (popsbirds@aol.com).