The Spring T.O.S. meeting was hosted by Aransas Bird and Nature Club April 15-18, 2010 in Rockport-Fulton on the shore of Aransas Bay. All meeting events will be at Paws and Taws Convention Center which is located on the north side of Fulton Harbor at 402 N. Fulton Beach Road.Both motels offering meeting rates during the Rockport TOS meeting are near or at capacity. Fortunately two other motels have opted to give us a TOS meeting rate: Hampton Inn & Suites, 3677 Hwy 35 North, Fulton (361) 727-2228 ---will offer a full breakfast at 4:30am on Friday & Saturday mornings & at 5am on Sunday. This is a newer upscale property. Best Western Inn by the Bay, 3902 N Hwy 35, Fulton (361) 729-0950 ---will offer breakfast at 4:30am on Friday & Saturday mornings & at 5am on Sunday. This has been a birder-friendly motel for years.
For more information about the Rockport-Fulton area (where to stay, where to eat, what to do) visit the Chamber of Commerce website at www.rockport-fulton.org. The website lists places to stay by category: Bed & Breakfasts, Hotels & Motels, RV Parks, Condos & Lodges, Cottages & Homes. For campers try nearby Goose Island State Park www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/goose_island/ The meeting will open with scientific paper presentations on Thursday afternoon. Each evening at 7 P.M. we’ll enjoy hearing topics of interest for Texas birders. The Saturday keynote speaker will immediately follow the 7 P.M. catered banquet. Friday and Saturday field trips will be led by outstanding birding leaders to areas which should hold exciting spring migrants and other interesting birds to be discovered. Each morning pre-ordered box lunches will be available for pre-departure pick up in the Paws and Taws parking lot. On Sunday we will offer other special field trips. Vendor booths with birding related items will be open at Paws and Taws during registration/social hours. Use this time to visit with birding friends on the Paws & Taws deck overlooking Aransas Bay. The Rockport-Fulton area offers much to interest a non-birding member of your family. The Chamber of Commerce website is an excellent resource for what to do, where to stay and where to dine. Field Trips include: Aransas NWR; Calhoun County; Choke Canyon (both Units) and surrounding sites; Corpus Christi Hot Spots (Rose Hill Cemetery, Blucher Park, Tule Lake, Robstown sod farm); Goose Island SP, Cavasso Creek, Newcomb Point; Guadalupe Delta WMA including Hynes Bay (not open to the public); Hazel Bazemore County Park (famed fall hawk watch location), Pollywog Ponds, Robstown sod farm; Indian Point, Sunset Lake, Live Oak Park; Lake Corpus Christi State Park, Wesley Seale Dam, Pernitas Point; Matagorda Island (part of Aransas NWR); Oso Bay & Packery Channel Area; Port Aransas Area (Paradise Pond, Birding Center, jetties, Charlie’s Pasture); Refugio, Bayside & Bayside Marshes; San Patricio del Hibernia (recently opened) & Nueces Delta Preserve; Womack Ranches, Womack Ranches. Sunday Field Trips: Migration Gamble for Hot Birds; Fennessey Ranch; Rookery Boat Trip. |
