HummerBird Celebration: Here's your guide to the annual Rockport birding event

John Oliva, Corpus Christi Caller Times
·8 min read

The 34th annual HummerBird Celebration will be held in the Rockport-Fulton area Thursday through Sunday featuring the fall migration of the ruby-throated hummingbird.

The annual event is held each September to expand knowledge of birds and associated wildlife. There is something for every nature lover to enjoy.

Activities will include events with keynote speakers, field trips, educational opportunities and workshops.

Event tickets range from $5 to $125 and can be purchased at rockport-fulton.org/HB.

What is the schedule?

Thursday:

  • Aransas Pathways event: The free event starts at 9:30 a.m. at the Pavilion Center located north of the Walmart on Business 35 at Tule Creek West. There will be prizes and fun for all.

  • Two-hour boat birding trips: Depart at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. from Fulton Harbor on The Skimmer with Capt. Tommy Moore to view various species. Cost is $60.

  • Local birders present panel discussion: Local birders discuss and share tips on birding experiences and premier locations at the Rockport Aquarium Education Center. Cost is $5.

  • Welcome reception: From 5 to 6 p.m., enjoy this free event with wine and cheese. There will be special announcements and introductions at the Rockport Center for the Arts at 401 S. Austin in downtown Rockport.

  • 34th anniversary: Keynote presentation and dinner: Enjoy dinner including BBQ smoked chicken, trimmings and dessert from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Saltwater Pavilion on Rockport Beach. There will be a special presentation by photographer and videographer Cissy Beasley. Cost is $35.

Friday:

  • Private exclusive boat and eco bird trip: From 7 to 11 a.m., ride with Aransas Bay Adventures with this trip specializing in birding and nature. You are able to bring any equipment deemed necessary including a camera, binoculars, insect repellent and birding books. Cost is $125.

  • "Learning to Look" by Richard Crossley: Keynote speaker Richard Crossley will provide an intimate setting at 7 a.m. by teaching helpful hints on how to identify birds, observe interesting behaviors and discover identification tricks of the birding trade. Event is sold out.

  • Hummer Home guided bus trips: Guided by experience birders, hop on this trip at 7:15 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 1:45 p.m. and 3:45 p.m. to see exclusive hummingbird banding by master bander Susan Heath. Cost is $15 for the 7:15 a.m. trip. The other three events are sold out.

  • Birding lecture/field trip: At 8:30 a.m., the program will improve bird identification skills by expert birder Glenn Olsen. The lecture will take place at the Aquarium Education Center in Rockport followed by a field trip. Event is sold out.

  • Birding tour of Texas State Parks in South Texas: At 8:30 a.m. at Goose Island State Park, you will begin the "Birds of Texas" program and then head into a birding event led by Ben Horstmann. Event is sold out.

  • Two-hour boat birding trips: Depart at 9 a.m., noon, 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. from Fulton Harbor on The Skimmer with Capt. Tommy Moore to view various species. Cost is $60 for the noon and 3 p.m. trips. The other two events are sold out.

  • Bird photography classes: Join photographers John Martell or Debra Strothman at 9 a.m. at The Inn at Fulton Harbor on how to photograph songbirds and hummingbirds. Cost is $12.

  • Bird photography classes: At 10:20 a.m., photographer Debra Strothman will teach patrons photography tips at The Inn at Fulton Harbor. Cost is $12.

Saturday:

  • Barnhart Q5 Ranch tour: Enjoy a tour of the working ranch from 6:30 a.m. to noon in Goliad County. Ranch owners will provide a hayride tour of the 700-acre property with periodic stops to learn about birds and plants found there. Cost is $50.

  • Fennessey Ranch birding field trip: From 6:30 a.m. to noon, visit the Fennessey Ranch in the heart of the Central Flyway. More than 420 species of birds have been recorded on the ranch including painted buntings, green jays, swallow-tailed kites and bald eagles. Cost is $50.

  • "Learning to Look" by Richard Crossley: Keynote speaker Richard Crossley will provide an intimate setting at 7 a.m. by teaching helpful hints on how to identify birds, observe interesting behaviors and discover identification tricks of the birding trade. Event is sold out.

  • Hummer Home guided bus trips: Guided by experience birders, hop on this trip at 7:15 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 1:45 p.m. and 3:45 p.m. to see exclusive hummingbird banding by master bander Susan Heath. Cost is $15 for the 7:15 a.m. trip. The other three events are sold out.

  • Hummer breakfast at the History Center: From 8 to 10 a.m., a special meal prepared with local herbs will delight attendees as they enjoy hummingbirds on the grounds. Seating is outdoors under live oak trees. Event is sold out.

  • Two-hour boat birding trips: Depart at 9 a.m., noon, 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. from Fulton Harbor on The Skimmer with Capt. Tommy Moore to view various species. Cost is $60 for the noon and 3 p.m. trips. The other two events are sold out.

  • Bird photography classes: Join photographer John Martell at 9 a.m. at The Inn at Fulton Harbor on how to photograph songbirds and hummingbirds. Cost is $12.

  • Bird photography classes: At 10:20 a.m., photographer Debra Strothman will teach patrons photography tips at The Inn at Fulton Harbor. Cost is $12.

  • Private exclusive boat and eco bird trip: At 7 p.m., ride with Aransas Bay Adventures with this trip specializing in birding and nature. You are able to bring any equipment deemed necessary including a camera, binoculars, insect repellent and birding books. Event is sold out.

Sunday:

  • Private exclusive boat and eco bird trip: From 7 to 11 a.m., ride with Aransas Bay Adventures with this trip specializing in birding and nature. You are able to bring any equipment deemed necessary including a camera, binoculars, insect repellent and birding books. Cost is $125.

  • Birding tour of Texas State Parks in South Texas: At 8:30 a.m. at Goose Island State Park, you will begin the "Birds of Texas" program and then head into a birding event led by Ben Horstmann. Event is sold out.

  • Hummer Home guided bus trips: Guided by experience birders, hop on this trip at 9:30 a.m. to see exclusive hummingbird banding by master bander Susan Heath. Cost is $15.

  • Boat birding trip/Brunch on the Bay: Starting at 9 a.m., hop aboard The Skimmer with Capt. Tommy Moore for a four-hour trip of brunch and birdwatching. Event is sold out.

What vendors and organizations will be there?

The celebration will have the Hummer Mall, an exhibit-style area with vendor booths and organizations featuring nature-related products. It will be located in the Commons Area of Rockport-Fulton High School.

The mall will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.

Vendors and organizations include:

  • Ami Art Glass

  • Aransas National Wildlife Refuge of Matagorda Island

  • Aunt Betty’s Crafts

  • Best #1 Hummingbird Feeder

  • Bird Nerd Publishing

  • Birder’s Bazaar & More, Inc.

  • Bloomin’ B Farms

  • Certified Wingnut

  • Coastal Bend Gallery

  • Corrie Sue’s Creations

  • El Patero Ranch and Nature Photography

  • FaiFoo’s (food vendor)

  • Fern Olson (food vendor)

  • Flickers and Flutters

  • Goose Island State Park

  • The Herb Cottage

  • Karen Krumm Art

  • King Ranch Visitor Center and Kingsville Convention & Visitor Bureau

  • KS Canuck LLC

  • Land Sea and Sky Binoculars

  • Lisa Jones Slipcovers

  • M Design Studio

  • Mid-Coast Master Naturalist

  • Natures Best Hummingbird Feeder

  • Opticron

  • Nature’s Wonders

  • Painting Delightfuls

  • Passion for Pearls and Jewelry

  • Purple Sage

  • Richard Crossley

  • Rock Yard Art

  • Rockport House Photos

  • Romarda Collections

  • SBJ Productions

  • Sharon Chatterton/Karen Resta Twins

  • South Texas Botanical Gardens & Nature Center

  • Spencer’s Custom Wood

  • Sue Bonnar Art

  • Swarovski Optic

  • Ten Bears Woodworking

  • Trinity Creative Jewelry

  • Tropical Smoothie (food vendor)

  • V. Rose Pottery

What will the weather be like?

The Weather Channel shows scattered showers and thunderstorms during the four-day event.

Thursday: There will be a 60% chance of rain with scattered thunderstorms in the morning. It will become mostly sunny throughout the day with a high of 86. The evening will have clear skies early with scattered thunderstorms developing later at night.

Dorothy Doerly of Chicago watches birds from the observation deck of the Hans Suter Wildlife Park along Ennis Joslin Road on Feb. 2, 1994.
Dorothy Doerly of Chicago watches birds from the observation deck of the Hans Suter Wildlife Park along Ennis Joslin Road on Feb. 2, 1994.

Friday: Scattered thunderstorms in the morning and then becoming sunny throughout the day. The high will be 86 with a 50% chance of rain. Clear skies in the early evening with scattered showers and thunderstorms later in the night. Chance of rain will increase to 60% in the evening.

Saturday: There will be a few thunderstorms in the morning with mostly sunny skies during the afternoon. There is a 50% chance of rain with a high of 86. Evenings will have clear skies and scattered showers and thunderstorms will develop later that evening.

Sunday: There will be scattered thunderstorms throughout the day with a high of 87 and 60% chance of rain.

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John Oliva covers entertainment and community news in South Texas. Contact him at john.oliva@caller.com or Twitter @johnpoliva.

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This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: HummerBird Celebration: Here's your guide to the annual Rockport event