30 THE COASTAL BEND MAGAZINE • Winter 2018-19 TheCoastalBend.com Aransas National Wildlife Refuge Among North America’s most famed and visited birding destinations, Aransas NWR is the winter home to the only wild flock of Whooping Cranes, which migrate from Canada’s Northwestern Territory each fall. Preservation efforts have helped save the flock, which numbers about 400 birds today, but fell to just 21 in the 1930s. In addition to the“Whoopers,”the refuge hosts dozens of rare bird species each season, and offers kayaking, fishing and hunting opportunities. 1 Wildlife Circle, Austwell, Texas 77950 • (361) 286-3559 www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/texas/aransas Goose Island State Park A few miles south of ANWR (37) on the Lamar Peninsula, this popular state park is home to the 2,000-year-old Live Oak tree know simply as“Big Tree,” the oldest in the U.S. Spring cold fronts bring legendary“fallouts”of migrant landbirds, which congregate in the trees leading into the park. St. Charles Bay is the winter destination for large waterfowl populations, including loons, grebes, Common Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser, Redhead. Rails, gallinules, Common Yellowthroat, and Marsh Wren have been identified in marshlands. Camping facilities available. 202 S. Palmetto St., Rockport, Texas 78382 • (361) 729-2858 http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/state-parks/goose-island 37 48