~Written by Mark Kramer

There is a richness of life along coastal Texas.  An assembly of plant and animal communities thriving in the climatic sweet spot of warm temperatures, Gulf breezes and abundant semi-tropical rain.  The birds know this and have built a lifestyle, a culture of globetrotting to take advantage of the seasonal abundance of Spring as it spreads across the planet. Tender green grass seeds and spring wildflowers are here now.  In a few weeks that tender green of Spring will be in Massachusetts – and so will many of the migratory birds.

Migration is the name of this ornithological lifestyle.  For a few weeks during the Spring, the forests and grasslands of Armand Bayou Nature Center are filled with the songs and colors of these winged travelers following the annual retracing of the pathways of their ancestors. The Houston area is located on the largest of these migratory bird route superhighways known as the Central Flyway. Coastal Texas and ABNC is a “stopover” for some who are making their way further in. For others, ABNC is a summer nest site to raise the next generation. During a typical year ABNC documents about 220 bird species. We are at the peak of this avian exodus right now.

Some of the most striking are here only briefly but have the ability to grab the attention of anyone within view. The Indigo Bunting is near the top of that list. These small birds are a vivid blue. For most people at first viewing, the response is a questioning of reality. The list of questions from incredulous pontoon boat tour passengers includes – Can that really be THAT blue? That’s a color I’ve never seen before. Is that a REAL bird?

I love those moments. In spite of who you are, your age, your education, your income, or your level of electronic connectivity - you just had a wildlife moment. A genuine experience where you are totally captured by the natural world. Everything from the peripheral conscious thought of the mind has vanished. You have entered into the pure land of being in the present moment. No more thought of bills, work issues, health issues, or nagging global pandemics. Maybe you’ve had one these moments? Maybe you’ve had one of these moments at Armand Bayou Nature Center? I have had many. In fact, I’ve spent a lifetime valuing those moments as some my most cherished possessions. People ask why is Armand Bayou important? What good is nature or wilderness or being outdoors? As a proud graduate of the University of Armand Bayou, I remember each of those lessons. It turns out that how we pay attention is everything.

For a Deeper Dive Into More ABNC Genuine Viewing Experiences:

Armand Bayou – Ecological Oasis of the Gulf Coast