Birding Field Trips

Bald Eagles are nesting in Tomball!

The following FaceBook group has all kinds of information on the pair of bald eagles that are nesting in Tomball.  They are present between late September and May every year as they raise their eaglets.  If interested, please join the FaceBook group below (make sure to read & agree to ALL FOUR rules of the group) and you will enjoy the information and photos from many local bird watchers who go out to follow the lives of our local eagles!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/EnjoyTomballEagles

Join these FREE Local Birding Field Trips

There are many local bird clubs and Nature Centers in the Greater Houston area that offer free field trips. Everyone interested in birds, regardless of skill level, is welcome to join these birding field trips.  Following are some examples of free birding field trips around the Houston area:

  • First Saturday Bird Walk at Jesse Jones Park occurs every first Saturday of the month.  As of early 2023, this bird walk is now a Houston Audubon sponsored bird survey. Join Jones staff members John Carey and Alicia Mein-Johnson or volunteer guide at Jesse Jones Park & Nature Center for a free bird walk beginning at 8 a.m.  Take an early morning glimpse at the park’s bird life.  Make sure and bring your binoculars and (optionally) a field guide.  If you wish, you can confirm the date and time by calling the park at 281-446-8588 or by checking the Jones Park web site’s program guide and calendar, but no reservations are required. The park is located located in north Harris County off of FM1960 between I45 and Highway 59 (I69) at 20634 Kenswick Drive, Humble, Texas 77338.
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  • Third Monday Bird Walk in Kickerillo-Mischer Preserve is a monthly free bird survey sponsored by Houston Audubon of this beautiful nature preserve.  Kickerillo is located near in northwest Harris County near Highway 249 and Louetta Road at 20215 Chasewood Park Dr, Houston, TX 77070.  The bird survey begins at 8 a.m.  The survey lasts about 2 hours and happens every month of the year including the stunner.  Check the Houston Audubon site for specifics.
  • “Second Saturday at Kingwood’s East End Park” is a free bird walk with LHANC (Lake Houston Area Nature Club) at 7:30 a.m. on the second Saturday of each month from September through May.  No need to RSVP.  Just meet the LHANC group at the parking lot of Kingwood’s East End Park (located at the far eastern end of Kingwood Drive just past Sweetstem Drive) in northeast Harris County.  Everyone is invited — you don’t have to be a member of this (free) group of birders.  To see some information about the park, try the Kingwood Park site and scroll down to “East End Park”.  Also, feel free to email this nature club at [email protected] with any questions.
  • Kleb Woods Nature Preserve (https://hcp4.net/parks/kleb-woods-nature-preserve/) is a nice property in Tomball (in northwest Harris County) opened in the 1990’s as a Harris County Precinct 3 Park.  There is an impressive list of birds that has been seen on this property by the talented naturalists that lead these bird walks.  You can join them at any of their walks which happen each Wednesday (scheduled for either 8 a.m. or 8:30 a.m. depending on the month) plus on the first Saturday of each month at 8 a.m.  The bird walks at Kleb go through the summer as well, but please go to the “activity calendar” on Kleb Woods web site or call the Nature Center at (281) 357-5324 to double check their calendar for the most up to date times and days.
  • Sheldon Lake State Park’s “Bird Walk & Talk” is a free bird walk at 8:00 a.m. on the third Saturday of each month with LHANC (Lake Houston Area Nature Club) members.  This bird walk takes place from September through May.  No need to RSVP.  Just meet the group at the Sheldon Lake SP’s Environmental Learning Center (ELC) located on the east side of Houston near I10 and Beltway 8. There is an impressive variety of birds present here.  Turn into the park at 14140 Garrett Rd, Houston, TX 77044, and drive about a mile and a half south on the Park Road 138 to the ELC.  For more information about Sheldon Lake State Park, call them at 281-456-2800 or visit their web site at https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/sheldon-lake.  Also, feel free to email this nature club at [email protected] with any questions.

You can find more information at their web site at http://www.houstonaudubon.org and then go to the “Birding”, then click on “Bird Survey“, then click on the survey you are interested in.  You can also go to the calendar for Houston Audubon to see the surveys listed there.  The Bird Surveys listed above are all free and open to the public, while some of the Field Trips require membership.

Remember, anyone is welcome to attend the many HAS bird surveys that are scheduled each month – just check the HAS web site or the links above for details.  If you wish to attend the HAS “field trips”, make sure and RSVP.  Also, you can call the Houston Audubon at 713-932-1639 with any questions.

  • The Ornithology Group of the Outdoor Nature Club in Houston offers field trips most months in September through May usually on the third Saturday or Sunday.  See more information at their web site at http://www.ornithologygroup.org and click on “Field Trip” and Also on “Birding Events”.  Also, information is available on their Facebook page.
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  • John Paul Landing Park hosts free bird walks each Thursday morning from 8:30am to 11:30am beginning from their Environmental Education Center. This is a new Precinct 3 park located on the Katy Prairie with their entrance located at 9950 Katy Hockley Road, Cypress, Texas 77433. Please confirm the latest schedule at their activity calendar web site or by calling them at 713-274-3131.
  • Seabourne Creek Nature Park, Rosenberg, Fort Bend County has weekly Wednesday Bird Walks.  Meet at 8:00am. For more information, check their web site at RosenbergTX.gov/seabourn-creek/
  • Lake Houston Wilderness Bird Census:
    Lake Houston Wilderness Park hosts a monthly bird walk every third Friday of the month from 7 a.m. until 9 a.m. Birds are added in eBird to create a census. Experienced birders are needed to lead walks. Novice birders are needed to spot birds.