The Coastal Bend of Texas
The development of the second Images for Conservation Fund Pro-Tour of Nature Photography would not have been possible without the support of Kingsville and Corpus Christi Convention and Visitor Bureaus. The Coastal Bend of Texas region enthusiastically endorsed the vision of the Pro-Tour and the new Nature Photo Tourism Industry. We are presently helping three ranches to develop for wildlife photography and to market to the traveling photographer market. The long term goal is 10 to 20 ranches open to the public.
The Bird the Bend Web site has been created to provide a source for information related to birding and birding destinations in the Texas Coastal Bend region. The Web site is both a storefront, where traveling birders will first be introduced to birding along the Texas Coastal Bend, as well as a site where significant amounts of information can be accessed (such as the birding site database). Much of the dynamic information on the Web site is fed from the Bird the Bend blog.
Please visit us at http://www.birdthebend.com/ today.
Participating Ranches
El Potrero Ranch
El Potrero Ranch is owned by David & Eline Haunschild. The ranch consists of 130+ acres of South Texas brush conveniently located just a little over 8 miles South if Kingsville, Texas. Since 2001 it has been developed for participants in the Coastal Bend Wildlife Contest and has produced a number of winning images.
Fennessey Ranch
The Fennessey Ranch is part of a legendary 750,000 acre Texas land empire that has remained in the same family for 171 years. The ranch consists of 4,000 acres of abundant wetlands, meadows, natural lakes, riparian woods and brush land and bordered on three sides by the Mission River.
InFlight Outfitters
InFlight Outfitters, located on Twin Oaks Ranch, will host photographers March through September. The diverse mixture of terrain, habitat and wildlife offer excellent photo opportunities.
Texas Photo Ranch
The River Ranch has been in the same family for over 125 years! Great pride and care have gone into conserving the land and the animals that call it home.