AMIGO - the FAMI Newsletter Summer 2022

Updates from the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge and FAMI
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News from FAMI


Greetings to all FAMI members and everyone who appreciates the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. Apologies for the long delay since the last newsletter – but there is good news to report. The Visitor Center is open for information and visitor orientation (summer hours of Weds – Sun, 9:00AM – 4:00PM), and FAMI is getting busy organizing the new Nature Store. Stay posted for news of when we can be fully open in the new building for the business of raising funds to support the Aransas NWR! 


Pollinator Garden


Access to the pollinator garden was restricted during the construction of the new Visitor Center, and the abundant rain last year meant the garden was very overgrown when we could get back to working on it this year. With the assistance of the Refuge burn boss, the excess growth was burned in March this year (see below for before and after photos). Since then, FAMI volunteers have held several workdays to clear out remaining weeds and plan for a new irrigations system. The fence beside the road will be moved back a short distance, and there are plans for a gate to link this garden with the pollinator trail that will loop around behind the garden. Volunteers are always welcome to join in the workdays, contact Linda Frank for more information. 



Whooping Crane Strut


The City of Rockport held the Whooping Crane Strut on March 5 this year, and FAMI was happy to participate. FAMI Vice-President Melanie Konarik and Joyce Boyd accompanied Super Whooper to the event and helped to welcome the runners and walkers at the finish line. The city donates a portion of the registration fees to FAMI for the Water for Wildlife fund, and Joyce and Melanie represented FAMI in accepting the check from Mayor Rios and council members.

Rockport-Fulton HummerBird Celebration, September 15-18, 2022


Mark your calendars for the upcoming HummerBird Celebration. FAMI will have a table in the vendor show, and we look forward to meeting friends and members, selling fun stuff from the nature store, and talking about our favorite refuge. The vendor show is open Friday and Saturday from 9:00 AM – 5:00PM, and on Sunday 10:00AM to 3:00 AM. Volunteers are welcome to come and help at the table, contact Janie Von Dohlen for more information.


Current FAMI officers and board members:


President, Rebecca Stapleton; Vice-president Melanie Konarik; Secretary Susan Ford; Treasurer Janet Price.

Board members: Claire Barnhart, Bill Burge, Linda Frank, Wilfred Korth, Phil Stapleton, Janie Von Dohlen

Advisory board members: Clara Noble, Linda Ostrum, Vic Ostrum, Penni Phillips, Raymond Starr 

News from the Refuge

The news from the refuge is that the new buildings are complete, and are in use by the refuge staff. See this link to the website of Method architecture, with a description of the project and professional photographs of some of the buildings. The photograph shown below (grabbed from the website) shows the registration and information desk, with a view towards the bay. The open room to the left will be the new exhibit area; Laura Bonneau (Visitor Services Manager) and Zach Piotrowski (Visitor Services Specialist) have put in many hours with the company creating the interpretive exhibits that will represent five major plant and wildlife communities found on the refuge. These should be ready and installed in the Visitor Center later this year.

The exceptionally good news is that USFWS estimates a record high number of whooping cranes wintered in Texas in 2021 – 2022. The preliminary analysis of data from aerial surveys of the Aransas – Wood Buffalo crane population resulted in the estimate of 543 cranes, including 31 juveniles. These were in the primary survey area centered in the Aransas NWR. The previous survey in 2019 – 2020 estimated 506 cranes, showing an encouraging increase of the population over the last two years.


Find the press release and a link to the full report here 


Around the Refuge: Rail Trail 


The Rail Trail bridge is a wonderful place to view and listen to the wildlife living in and around the slough. Here are some images from a recent visit - a purple gallinule, a bull frog and a future king - or queen - of the marsh.

(Photos by Janet Price)


To all FAMI members and donors, thank you for your support!



We do not list individual donors without permission, but we greatly appreciate everything we receive. You can contribute to our general fund or specify that you want your donation to go to a special purpose (link to donation page on FAMI website).



Thank you to everyone that donates by using the Smile program when shopping at Amazon.com. Each purchase through the Smile program earns a small contribution to FAMI. You pay the same price for the goods and services as you would using the standard Amazon portal. Please keep us in mind when you do your on-line shopping.




While the Nature Store at the refuge is closed, but you can go to the FAMI online store Whoopers and Friends for T-shirts, caps, postcards, pins, etc., with all purchases benefiting the Aransas NWR. FAMI members receive a 15% discount on purchases, the discount code was sent with confirmation of your membership. If you need a reminder, send a message to this email address.


Technical assistance with the website and newsletter is welcomed, and please send any news, photos and articles of interest to FAMI members for future newsletters to the Newsletter Editor


Thank you!