An Audubon Bird Sanctuary
Port O'Connor, Texas

© 2000-08 Sundown Island

Fall 2002 Workday

Approximately 30 people repored to Clark's Restaurant and Marina in Port O'Connor for the Sundown Island Fall workday. A small group of early risers actually went to the island at 7:00 a.m. to get things ready for the volunteers. Click here for photos.

The new cistern, donated by Devon Energy was installed next to the shed. A large nesting stand (condo style) was built for the Pelicans. Several groups of volunteers planted the Salt Cedar, Hacberry, Mesquite, and Lantana cuttings near several of the ponds. Some of these cuttings were prepared by the City of Baytown Parks, Dr. Lin at Formosa Plastics Environmental Division, and by other volunteers who prepared cuttings for the Fall workday.

There are several experimental plant plots on the island. One group of volunteers cleared the brush and overgrowth away from these plots and treated the areas with fire ant killer.

The Texas General land Office - Spill Response Group from Port Lavaca came with an additional boat and a four wheeler to help pick up the trash and take it back to Port O'Connor.

The mosquitoes were pretty bad....but luckily, we had a fogger. One of the volunteers sprayed around the ponds and the other areas where volunteers were planting cuttings.

The warden of Sundown Island, always warns volunteers to be careful and to watch out for Rattlesnakes. During this workday, one of the volunteers discovered a Western Diamondback Rattlesnake in a pile of lumber near the tractor shed. Ugh!