An Audubon Bird Sanctuary
Port O'Connor, Texas

© 2000-11 Sundown Island Island

Spring Workday Scheduled for Saturday, February 27th

In January Houston Zoo employees helped with pre-workday activities on Sundown Island. From left to right: Kendrick Mickens,Paul Zuma, Henry Solis, Kevin Castorena and on the tractor, Warden Chester Smith. Not pictured, Jeremy Cecil, photographer.

Update on pre-workday activities:

Grandson Jeremy Cecil brought five of his co-workers (from the maintenance department at the Houston Zoo) and jetted in new 6' by 6' posts on the North beach for new sanctuary signs to be furnished by the USFWL. They also serviced the tractor with an oil change and filter for gas and oil. The tires are all aired up and ready to go. Our new side curtains worked great on the Egret boat during the last, really wet trip to the island. During our visit I saw our first Great Blue Herons seeking nesting sites. A bit early, but must be an early spring coming.

During a previous visit, Tim Wilkinson, my son-in-law, took cuttings from Salt Cedars on the island. He took them to Dr. Lin at Formosa who now has about fifty 8-inch Salt Cedars ready to plant for Spring Workday.

More help from our friends/sponsors:

• We are working on applying for grant funds for an additional 30' by 100' wading pond with trees planted 3 feet apart to attract Reddish Egrets—once the trees grow up.
• The dredge job bidding is underway. We are hoping to get a lot of sand for the North side of the island where the erosion has been really bad.
• Duck's Unlimited has offered to pay for the windmill repair. We are just waiting for the windmill guy to come to the island.