Whooping Crane
Photography Tour
Highlights
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Photograph One of North America’s Rarest Birds - With fewer than 900 whooping cranes remaining worldwide, this tour offers the rare opportunity to photograph one of the continent’s most endangered species while prioritizing ethical, respectful field practices.
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Behavior-Driven Winter Photography - Wintering cranes provide opportunities to photograph family bonding, foraging, territorial movement, and flight within expansive coastal wetlands, with an emphasis on understanding behavior rather than chasing moments.
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Small Group, Low-Impact Experience - Intentionally micro group size allow for quieter field work, greater flexibility, and individualized instruction while maintaining appropriate distance within sensitive habitat.
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Local Knowledge of Coastal Texas Wetlands - Extensive experience in Texas coastal ecosystems allows for informed decisions around access, light, tides, and weather, helping maximize productive field time while minimizing impact.
Join Tamron Ambassador Alyce Bender as she guides you into the wintering grounds of one of North America’s most extraordinary birds—the whooping crane. This species-specific photo tour is centered on ethical, conservation-minded photography, with an emphasis on behavior, habitat, and powerful storytelling, all within expansive coastal wetland landscapes. With small group sizes, immersive field time, and hands-on instruction using respectful long-lens techniques, this is an unforgettable opportunity to photograph whooping cranes and add a truly rare species to your portfolio.
Itinerary
Day 1 – Arrival & Welcome | Rockport, Texas
Participants arrive in Rockport, Texas, where we gather in the evening for a welcome dinner and meet-and-greet. This informal introduction sets expectations for the tour, covers photography styles and ethical field methods, and provides time to discuss goals, gear considerations, and the days ahead.
Day 2 – Whooping Cranes by Boat & Blind
We depart before dawn for a morning on the water aboard a custom photography boat, piloted by a captain with over 25 years of experience working with whooping cranes. Along coastal islands and wetlands, we photograph and observe cranes in their natural habitat through mid-morning before returning to Rockport for an early lunch and time to rest and recharge.
In the early afternoon, we transition to private property bordering Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, where we have access to a photography blind. From this carefully positioned vantage point, we photograph cranes at respectful close range as evening light fades into dusk.
Day 3 – Sunrise on the Water & Departure
Our final morning is spent on the water at sunrise, offering one last opportunity to photograph whooping cranes in soft morning light. We remain in the field through mid-morning before the tour officially concludes and participants begin their journeys home.
Post-Workshop Zoom Image Critique
We will have the group image critique session after the workshop ends date TBD mutually by group.
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Inclusions
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In-field Photography Instruction w/Alyce Bender
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2 morning Boat Sessions
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3 private blind sessions
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Post-tour Zoom Image Critique Session
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All Entrance Fees & Permits
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Exclusions
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Transportation to/from your home to Sioux Falls, SD
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Local ground transportation
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Lodging
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Any Meals, Snacks, and Beverages not listed
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Personal Purchases
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Guide & Instructor Gratuities
Meet Your Instructor
