A Signup Genius has been created for Chapter Members.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f084dabaa22a4f85-rockport where you will see this information:
The field trip to Rockport to see the whooping cranes is a GO! The plans have now been finalized for the weekend of Feb 14 – 16. We need at least 10 attendees for the boat trip to make.
Your costs will be travel, hotel, food, boat trip, other entry fees, etc. Carpooling is encouraged. The information is as follows:
HOTEL: A block of 10 rooms at the Lighthouse Inn (https://www.lighthousetexas.com/) has been reserved for us. Some rooms face the bay, some face the pool. Call 361-790-8439 or 866-790-8439 to make your own reservations. Make your reservations early to make sure you get a room since it’s Valentine’s Day weekend. Cost for a poolside room is about $129 including discount for AARP or AAA and includes a complimentary buffet breakfast, wifi and parking. Cost for a bayside room is more. Be sure to mention that you are with the Texas Master Naturalist Coastal Prairie Chapter group. We are not limited to 10 rooms, but we do have this amount blocked off. This is a great hotel for us because there’s great birding right around the hotel!
ITINERARY:
Friday Feb 14: drive to Rockport as per your own schedule. It is a 2.5 hr drive from Rosenberg. Check in to hotel. Free time in the afternoon. 4 pm – optional meet and greet with the Mid Coast Chapter at the Fulton Mansion (still in planning stage). Dinner on your own or some of us might want to eat as a group. It’s Valentines Day!
Saturday, Feb 15: buffet breakfast at hotel. 9 am – Meet at Aransas NWR for a morning bird trip led by Ray Kirkwood with the Mid-Coast Chapter and our own Bob and Carol Schwartz. Lunch TBD. An optional birding trip in the afternoon is also planned. Free time in the pm. 6:30 – dinner as a group at Charlotte Plummer’s Seafood Restaurant (http://www.charlotteplummers.com/).
Sunday, Feb 16: buffet breakfast at hotel. Check out from hotel. 9:30 am – Meet at the Wharf Cat docking area for a 4 hour boat trip (10 am – 2 pm) to see the whooping cranes. Our leader is Ray Kirkwood with the Mid Coast Chapter. Estimated cost is $50 per person, and you can pay there (it might be a little more depending on tax, tip, etc.) . 2 pm – drive home.
Final details, addresses of all locations, etc will be emailed to all attendees before the trip.
There will be AT hours available for some of the birding time, particularly if you have not been before.