Civic Center to expand exhibit

F or years, visitors to Port Aransas could get a preview of marsh birds they could see in the outdoors by going indoors to the Civic Center foyer.

If it’s finished in time, a new exhibit at the Civic Center will give visitors not only a preview of the marsh birds they can see here, but a miniature overview of the city through just about every organization in town.

Longtime Port Aransas resident Jo Leta Gavit is spearheading the project to give the foyer an updated look and a more effective visual introduction to Port Aransas for visitors.

Gavit has obtained thousands of dollars in pledges for the project from contributors including the Port Aransas Independent School District, the Chamber of Commerce Tourist Bureau, American Bank, University of Texas Marine Science Institute, Port Aransas Museum, Bob Clark family and Gavit, herself. The city council has approved contributing $10,000 too.

The goal is to get the remodeling done before the Whooping Crane Festival at the end of February.

The marsh bird exhibit that has been housed in the foyer of the Civic Center in the city hall complex, 710 W. Ave. A, was donated by Gavit and her sons, Bill and Brad, in memory of their husband and father, Lynn Gavit.

Lynn Gavit died in January 1995 while in South Africa for an international fishing tournament. He was an avid fisherman, pharmacist and realtor in Port Aransas for many years.

The exhibit, featuring birds indigenous to this area, depicts a scientifically accurate marsh/mangrove environment. The University of Texas Marine Science Institute provided a list of plant specimens and collection locations.

Up to 20 birds are displayed, with seven or eight taxidermic birds integrated into “water” areas. Birds include scaup, sanderling, sandpiper, dunlin, little green heron, common loon, snowy egret, common tern, black-bellied whistling (tree) duck, rail and ring-billed gull.

The exhibit is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.