Whooping Crane & Coastal Birding Tours

In Rockport, Texas

See why nature enthusiasts from all over the world travel to the Texas Coastal Bend.

Departing from Fulton aboard the Skimmer, our three-hour coastal birding tour takes you along Aransas Bay and through the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge for great views of the rare endangered whooping cranes and 30 to 60 different species of birds and other animals.  Our guides help you identify what you’re seeing, whether you’re keeping a life list or picking up binoculars for the first time.

More than 400 bird species have been documented across the Coastal Bend, and every trip brings a new chance to watch this remarkable habitat come to life.

  • Two whooping cranes foraging in a coastal wetland, one juvenile with tan-and-white plumage and one adult with white feathers and a red-and-black face at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge.
  • Long-billed shorebird walking across a rocky tidal shoreline beside calm water at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge.
  • Close-up of a Sandhill Crane standing in marsh vegetation, with a second crane blurred in the background at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge
  • Belted kingfisher perched on a bare branch in a marshland landscape at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge
  • Three whooping cranes walking across a sandy coastal habitat, including one brown juvenile and two white adults at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge.
  • Two black-and-white oystercatchers with long orange bills standing on a shell-covered beach beside calm water at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge.
  • Two whooping cranes walking across a sandy shoreline at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge.
  • Whooping crane flying against a clear blue sky with wings extended near Rockport, Texas.
  • Black oystercatcher standing on a rocky shoreline beside calm water near Rockport, Texas.
  • Crested caracara perched on a weathered wooden post in a grassy wetland, with a blurred white bird in the background near Rockport, Texas
  • White whooping crane wading in shallow water with its reflection visible near Rockport, Texas
  • Flock of white ibises flying across a clear blue sky near Rockport, Texas
  • A reddish-brown and white wading bird standing in a marsh pond, reflected in the calm blue water in Aransas Bay near Rockport, Texas. .
  • Osprey perched on a metal pole, holding a freshly caught fish against a clear blue sky in Aransas Bay near Rockport, Texas. .
  • Whooping crane flying low over a shallow wetland with wings outstretched at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge
  • Flock of pink roseate spoonbills and white birds flying over a coastal wetland under a blue sky at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge
  • Bird-watching tour boat with passengers near two white wading whooping cranes in a marsh at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge
  • White egrets and brown pelicans flying over a marsh at sunset, with two egrets standing in the foreground at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge.
  • Three ducks flying against a clear blue sky at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge.
  • White crane standing in shallow water with a small fish in its beak at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge
  • Osprey flying with wings spread while carrying a small branch against a blue sky at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge
  • Two whooping cranes flying against a cloudy blue sky at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge
  • Whooping crane catching a black fish in shallow marsh water in Rockport, Texas
  • Three whooping cranes with red crowns standing in a marsh in Rockport, Texas, one spreading its wings.
  • Two whooping cranes with dark heads and long legs standing in shallow rippling water near a grassy shoreline in Rockport, Texas
  • White whooping crane standing in marsh grass in Rockport, Texas
  • Two sandhill cranes flying against a blue, cloud-filled sky in Rockport, Texas
  • White heron standing in shallow coastal water near a sandy shoreline near Rockport Texas
  • White whooping crane wading in calm waters near Rockport Texas with its reflection visible in the water
  • Brown-and-white wading bird, juvenile whooping crane, standing in a marsh with its reflection visible in the water near Rockport Texas
  • Tricolored heron wading through shallow water In Rockport Texas
  • Belted kingfisher perched on a dead tree branch in a blurred natural habitat In Rockport Texas
  • Close-up of a red-crowned whooping crane holding a crab in its beak over rippling water In Rockport Texas
  • Two whooping cranes walking through a grassy wetland In Rockport Texas
  • Passengers on a boat observe white birds in a coastal marsh In Rockport Texas
  • Three white whooping cranes standing in a grassy wetland with shallow water channels In Rockport Texas
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Prefer a Private Charter for this experience?

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  • 3 Hours

  • $125 per person

  • The Skimmer is equipped with:

    • Two restrooms

    • Cabin Below with Seating

    • Two Upper Decks

  • We recommend bringing binoculars, a camera with a zoom lens if you have one, sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, and water. Dress for the weather and bring a light layer or rain gear if needed.

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