BIRDING BY BOAT

The area’s creeks, bayous, and bays are excellent places to watch birds and other wildlife, and several local groups offer May excursions.

Christmas Creek Nature Preserve is organizing a guided pontoon boat birding cruise on north Lake Conroe on May 20 or 21. Viewers can expect to see a bald eagle with young and many other species. The trip will leave at 8 am from Anchorage Marina in Willis and return around noon. Cost is $35 per person. Call Jerry Walls at (936) 851-0114 or e-mail him at christmascreek@earthlink.net.

Artist Boat Eco-Art Adventure offers frequent canoe or kayak trips to different wildlife preserves. Upcoming trips include Drum Bay, Scenic Galveston Nature Preserve, and Armand Bayou. To register, call (409) 770-0722 or send an e-mail to . Visit the Artist Boat website for a complete listing of classes.

On May 19, Armand Bayou Nature Center will sponsor a moonlight Pontoon Boat Cruise. Children aged 5 and up may go on this trip if accompanied by an adult. Raccoons, opossums, nutria, deer, owls, snakes, turtles, and alligators might be spotted. For details, contact (281) 474-2551