Aransas Bay Birding Charters

Aransas Bay Birding Charters is a small Rockport, Texas boat-tour operation specialising in winter Whooping Crane trips into the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge — the wintering grounds of the only self-sustaining wild flock of the species. Captains Kevin and Lori run shallow-draft skiffs out of Sea Gun Marina on the Lamar peninsula, allowing close approaches to the cranes from October through April. Outside of crane season the charters cover the rookery islands of San Antonio Bay during the March-May nesting period, plus year-round shorebird and seabird trips along the Texas inland coast. Departure times are flexible to accommodate photographers chasing first or last light.