CONNIE HAGAR Continued

Over the years, Connie's hands had become arthritic which made it hard to band birds, and her eyesight was going bad too. It was later determined that it was glaucoma and surgery was successfully performed and her eyesight restored for a period of time. Connie continued with her group nature studies but was taken-by the pictures of shorebirds and she made plans to take a vacation along the Texas coastline. Although Jack made himself a part of every aspect of Connie's life, it was she and Bert that made the first trip to Rockport, Texas - a small resort community (1933). When they arrived and had unpacked their bags, they set-out for Little Bay. They swam, splashed, and played along the shoreline while watching the clever and skillful "skimmers." By using the pictures books she carried with her, she and Bert began identifying all the birds they saw. They reported their sightings to the Nature Club upon their return. Then one day back in Corsicana while laboring over breakfast (both the women felt eating was a big time-waster) they talked about Rockport and all its birds. Bert looked at Connie with a twinkle in her eye and said "What's holding us here? Let's go back." And so they did!

Along the waterfront, Connie and Bert learned how to identify the larger herons, and smaller terns from a distance as they didn't know about binoculars. There was a hard-hitting storm in late July that left many birds dead and Connie collected them for study. The women did not know about an upcoming and knowledgeable ornithologist by the name of Roger Tory Peterson, much less his newly published "Peterson's Field Guide" book. Soon however, it was brought to their attention and Connie rejoiced upon purchasing the book saying "I feel as if someone has lifted me from a heavy fog." In 1935, Connie and Jack moved to Rockport and purchased the Rockport Cottages (8 units in all located on Church St. @ First St.) in 1935. These were truly the happiest days of her life, although she had many happy days. Birding became everything and as her popularity grew, she was often asked to write articles for the Rockport Pilot and San Antonio Express newspapers. In 1936 the San Antonio Express gave her a 5-column headline: "Texas Gulf Coast is Haven for Bird Life."

Connie Hagar Wildlife Sanctuary on Little Bay

It wasn't until 1943 that the Texas Legislature designated, Little Bay (located in the heart of Rockport) as the Connie Hagar Wildlife Sanctuary. However, when the Navigation District put the small Frandolig Island up for sale in 1961, developers were quick to jump on the opportunity; to build a resort neighborhood called "Key Allegro." Conservations along with widely known and respected nature organizations worried that the nesting grounds might be endangered and fought the sale of the property. When the sale did go through, of course Connie took it personally. The birding island that she had watched, learned from, and helped nurture, was being reduced to concrete and pavement.

She continued on in her endeavors and became involved with two sixth graders who were doing nature studies for a Girl Scout project. One of the girls - Annie Ruth Jackson would later become Connie's protégé. Connie became a strong supporter of the Girl Scouts of American and helped their organization in everyway possible. She became involved with civic organizations like the Rockport Women's Club as well as the Texas Ornithological Society, and the American Ornithologists' Union.

Bird watching was still primarily a male undertaking and Connie met some opposition from those who proclaimed there disbelief of her sightings in Aransas County. One by one, she spoke with them in a fascinating and knowledgeable way. They were quickly convinced that her bird sightings and research were on the up-and-up. And Connie became an internationally recognized birder and naturalist, almost overnight.

Finally, in 1948 she was visited by Roger Tory Peterson - who was acclaimed as America's pre-eminent artist-naturalist-ornithologist in the northern hemisphere and arguably the inventor of the field guide. She was very excited to meet him and when he took booth of his long slender hands and wrapped them her hands, Connie said that it was "one of the greatest thrills of my life." She would meet and bird with Roger many more times before her death.

Photo used with express permission from the RTP Institute/Friends of Connie Hagar. Reproduction of this photo is strictly prohibited and protected by copyright.

Alfred Eisenstaedt Photo:

Cover of Life Magazine 1954.

Used with strict permission

by the "Friends of Connie Hagar" Group. Reproduction of the

photo is strictly prohibited.

In 1954, Life Magazine photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt was sent to Rockport to produce a photo essay on her conservation work and her numerous contributions to the sport of birding. So, there was Connie on the cover of Life Magazine! He became a good friend to her and would comment regularly about her starched and neatly pressed clothing she wore when birding. No, she didn't look like your average birdwatcher.

One Saturday afternoon on August 18, 1962 Jack had a stroke that paralyzed his right site. he was unconscious up until the end. By Monday morning, 2am, Jack left this world and his beloved Conger.

Connie Hagar and her never-ending love of the birds passed away November 24, 1973 at the age of 87 in Corpus Christi. She was buried at Rockport Cemetery next to Jack, overlooking the wildlife sanctuary she helped to create.

Her legendary love of birding will live on in our hearts for a long time to come. Connie's life was more than just birds; it was a profound dedication to nature, ecology, conservation, Texas and its people.

In the years to come, the Rockport Cottages that she and Jack purchased were soon a thing of the past; the cottages were sold or moved after their death. With the help of a special group called the "Friends of Connie Hagar (FCH)" and in conjunction with Texas Parks and Wildlife, the cottage site was designated as the 1st stop along The Great Texas Coast Birding Trail in 1995. Roger Tory Peterson came to Rockport to dedicate the site in honor of his favorite birding companion, Connie Hagar.

The GTCBT is the longest trail of its kind in the world! Many, many supporters donated hundreds of dollars and grants: the Sid W. Richardson Foundation; the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation; a loan from the National Audubon Society. The owners of the property donated two of the acres for the FCH to use at their discretion. A birding lookout deck was erected, trees were planted, and as of today, local FCH members take pride in keeping the habitat sanctuary as healthy as possible.

In closing, the Aransas County Public Library (located behind the Aransas County Tax Office on Mimosa @ Live Oak) exhibits a permanent display case with some of Connie's personal belongings. Feel free to stop by and take a look at the first field guide and notebook she used, photos, and other personal items of interest.

The first stop on the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail: Connie Hagar Cottage Site

Texas A&M University in College Station and the Corpus Christi campus both have archives & displayed artifacts of Connie Hagar. Please contact the University Press Room for more info.

Visit the Connie Hagar Photo Gallery

Noteworthy Resource: The Endangered Species Act ironically took effect on the same day as Connie's death in 1973.

References:

CONNIE HAGAR - The Life History of a Texas Birdwatcher, by Karen Harden McCracken, published 1986 by Texas A&M University Press (College Station), John H. Lindsey Building 4354 TAMU College Station, Texas 77843-4354. ISBN 89096-248-0

ARANSAS - A Naturalist's Guide, by Wayne H. and Martha K. McAlister, published 1995 by University of Texas Press, P.O. Box 7819, Austin, TX 78713-7819, ISBN 09292-75171-0

ARANSAS - The Life of a Texas Coastal County, by William Allen and Sue Hastings Taylor, published 1997 by Eakin Press, P.O. Drawer 90159, Austin, TX 78709, ISBN 1-57168-205-8

For more information on how you can help the Friends of Connie Hagar, please contact:

Cynthia Womack, President

The Friends of Connie Hagar are dedicated to preserving the history of Connie Hagar and her contributions to bird watching. The purpose of the "friends" is to further public awareness, interest, knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the life and habitats of the Rockport area birds.

All projects of the FCH are made possible only by contributions. Your help is needed and appreciated.

Please send your contributions to:

Friends of Connie Hagar

P.O. Box 586

Rockport, TX 78381

(Contributions are tax deductible.)