attwater prairie chicken national wildlife refuge

This NWR has incredibly dedicated staff, who are optimistically working to maintain a native prairie habitat for the very endangered Attwater Prairie Chicken. It's an interesting science-in-action project. The prairie flowers are beautiful, there are two hiking trails, a 5-mile auto loop, and a visitor center. Try to take the first Saturday of the month van tour or attend the annual Festival in April. Check out their website and plan to arrive early in the day - they open at sunrise.

The Attwater prairie chicken reserve is located about an hour (plus) away from Houston in Eagle Lake. The goal of the reserve is to preserve the habitat for the Attwater Chickens an increase number of chickens. Hence There is the prairie (prairie land is quickly being plowed under) with many different kinds of birds as well as deer and the needed cattle for grazing. The Attwater chickens are pretty rare with about 100 or so on the reserve. The reserve has a loop that you can drive around as well as a pond that you can park and walk to. We signed up for the once monthly guided tour, a driving tour in the reserve's van. Currently this is the first Saturday of the month and was 90 minutes. The tour was excellent and our guide John was very knowledgeable and had amusing anecdotes. We learned about the chickens as well as the efforts aimed at conservation of the prairie( and chickens). We were lucky enough to see the chickens. Apparently not every group gets to see the chickens because they are so rare. The guide mentioned that fall is a good time to visit to see the chickens. We did not have time to do the self-guided auto tour or the walk to the pond so I cannot comment on that. There is a small visitor center with restrooms and a little exhibit. The website is helpful and there is also a Friends of the reserve website that is helpful too. Large groups can arrange private tours. Did not appear to be an admission fee. Nice side trip from houston with my birder friends