Every year, thousands of people visit Kleb Woods, located between Hockley and Tomball, with the hope of spotting some of the more than 200 bird species that live in the Harris County area. The center hosts both weekly bird walks and an annual hummingbird festival in September.

On a weekly bird walk in the winter, visitors can spot anything from sedge wrens and rufous hummingbirds to orange-crowned warblers, cedar waxwings, and great-horned owls. When someone spots a bird, they get to add it to the running list of nearly 50 recent bird sitings on the center’s wall.

A lifelong passion

Jennifer Backo has been visiting Kleb Woods and walking the trails since she retired in the mid-2000s, but she’s been birding since she was a teenager.

“I was with my parents in Williamsburg, New York. We were out walking at night, and a bird was singing. I didn’t know what it was, but I was curious,” said Backo.

The bird turned out to be a Northern Mockingbird, a rare sight in 1960s New York. She didn’t know it then, but that encounter would be her “spark bird,” a term used by birders to describe the first species that got them interested in birding.

Over time, Backo picked up bird identification books and learned more, keeping up with her passion for six decades. And, while Backo is an experienced birder, she still regularly joins the guided bird walks.

“It’s good to be out with people who share your same interests – make friends, go off, and sometimes birding with someone you just met,” said Backo. “In fact, most of my birding friends I’ve met here.”

Building community

Kleb Woods has a reputation for its birds, even among people who aren’t birders. When Precinct 4 naturalists Adrienne Paquette and Megan Ahlgren recently went on a Christmas Bird Count, a resident asked what they were doing. When they told him about the bird count, he mentioned they should visit Kleb Woods.

“What a world where everybody knows this is a place to go to bird,” said Paquette.

Throughout the years, as visitors have come and gone, the weekly bird walks developed into something more. On days when it’s drizzling or there are nearly no birds to be seen, people still arrive at 8:30 a.m. in hopes to see their fellow birders, catch up, and enjoy nature.

“(Our regulars will) come out most weeks to join our bird walks,” said Ahlgren. “They'll talk about what's going on in their lives. They're there to support and encourage each other. A lot of them come out just as much for that sense of social support and community as for a connection with nature.”

A hobby for all

The walks are accessible to people of all ages, skill levels, and abilities. Recently, a visitor who has begun to lose her hearing started coming on bird walks. While she can’t hear every bird call, her fellow birders and naturalists are always willing to help her pinpoint a bird. They have even introduced her to tools, like apps that identify bird songs, to help her fully enjoy her new hobby.

“It’s really nice to see everyone come together,” said Paquette. “It’s one of those things that can feel very competitive, but it’s still a collective goal to see these birds.”

If interested birders are wheelchair users, Paquette said the staff is happy to make an accessible bird walk upon request. The center has a long, paved driveway surrounded by old growth pine and oak trees, perfect for spotting a multitude of birds. Residents who want to set up an accessible bird walk should call or email the center to set up a day and time.

Whether someone is a beginner birder or has been birding for years, Kleb Woods is a must-visit. Weekly bird walks happen every Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. and the first Saturday of every month at 8 a.m.—no registration needed. Precinct 4 also hosts a Young Birders Club for kids 8 to 18. For those who may not be interested in birding, Kleb Woods also hosts craft sessions, book clubs, and live music sessions.