Whooping Crane Festival

08/19/2026

The more you know!

Did you know there are several types of "hornworms", and not all of them eat tomato plants? Most sphinx/hummingbird moths look like this as caterpillars, and we have several dozen species in Texas, all with different food preferences.

The caterpillars in this photo are all pink-spotted hawk moths (Agrius cingulata). They can eat plants in the nightshade/tomato family, but they prefer morning glory.

The caterpillar most commonly associated with tomatoes in our area is the to***co hornworm/Carolina sphinx (Manduca sexta).

https://www.bugguide.net/node/view/3084

08/18/2026

Follow the call of the wild!🎣🐚🌴🪶

07/20/2026

Check this out!

07/06/2026

What an amazing shot!📸

A male Baltimore oriole perches in a tree in a yard on East Street in Port Aransas today. He was feasting on an orange slice that a resident of the street had placed on a tree branch. The oriole is one of many colorful migratory birds passing through Port Aransas right now.
(South Jetty staff photo © 2026 by Dan Parker.)

06/25/2026

Port Aransas, The Island Life is proud to accept the Support Award for the Great Texas Birding Classic! 🐦🏆

Since the Birding Classic began 30 years ago, Port Aransas, The Island Life has been honored to serve as a sponsor and partner in helping this incredible event grow. For three decades, the Birding Classic has brought visitors to our community, supported local businesses, promoted conservation efforts, and showcased the unique natural beauty that makes Port Aransas so special.

06/16/2026

So... Which Coastal Bird Are You?
🎣 Brown Pelican
🌅 Roseate Spoonbill
🥂 Great Egret
🗺️ Whooping Crane

05/14/2026

UPDATE: The San José Island Cleanup is happening on May 16th! ♻️🌊

Mission-Aransas NERR, Surfrider Foundation, and Port Aransas–The Island Life are teaming up to help protect and preserve the Texas coast. Gloves, bags, water, and snacks will be provided. Grabbers will be available in limited quantities.

📍 Meet at Fisherman’s Wharf
900 Tarpon St.
Port Aransas, TX 78373
📅 May 16th
⏰ 9:30 AM

05/12/2026

When the birds are away, the sea turtles come out to play!🐢🌊

It's officially sea turtle nesting season in Port Aransas! Help protect these incredible creatures by keeping beaches clean, filling in holes, removing beach gear at night, and turning off lights that may confuse hatchlings.

Report sightings to 1-866-TURTLE5 (1-866-887-8535).

📸 Paula Baker

05/08/2026

Join the Surfrider Foundation, Mission-Aransas NERR, and Port Aransas, The Island Life for the San José (St. Joe’s) Island Clean-Up tomorrow!💪🌎

Roll up your sleeves and help protect one of our most beautiful barrier islands. Last year, volunteers removed over 1,500 pounds of trash—let’s make an even bigger impact this time!
🗓️ Saturday, May 9
⏰ 8 a.m. to noon
📍 Meet at Fisherman’s Wharf (jetty boat ride included!)

Gloves, trash bags, snacks, and water refills will be provided—and the boat ride is FREE for volunteers! Click here for more:

Join Surfrider Foundation and the Mission-Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve for another beach and jetty clean-up on San Jose (St. Joe's) Island on Saturday, May 9th! Meet at 8:00 a.m. at Fisherman's Wharf in Port Aransas to take the jetty boat across to the island. Bring your sunblock, a h...

05/06/2026

The 2026 Whooping Crane Festival was one for the books! 🐦✨

From unforgettable birding experiences to meaningful conservation impact, THANK YOU to everyone who made this year so special.

📊 WCF 2026 by the numbers:
• 2,500+ tickets sold
• $70,000+ donated to conservation efforts

Each year, this festival celebrates the return of the endangered Whooping Cranes to the Texas coast—one of the only places in the world where you can see this incredible species in the wild. Because of your support, we’re not only creating unforgettable experiences, we’re helping protect one of the world's most iconic birds.