With over 2500 acres of diverse ecosystems, the Armand Bayou Nature Center lives in a transition zone: between southern mixed hardwood forest, the coastal prairie and coastal salt marshes; there are some bottomland hardwoods and a remnant of one of the few remaining native prairies; home to more than 370 species of birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians; 200 species of birds represented, including raptors and migratory songbirds; see bison, wild deer, rabbits, and raccoons.

Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) is one of the largest remnants of coastal prairie habitat remaining in Southeast Texas and home to one of the last populations of the critically endangered Attwater´s Prairie Chicken, a ground-dwelling grouse of the coastal prairie. Formerly occupying some 6 million acres of habitat, the Attwater's Prairie Chicken was once one of the most abundant resident birds of the Texas and Louisiana tall grass prairie ecosystem. Presently, less than 200,000 fragmented acres of habitat remain, leaving the birds scattered among two Texas counties. The refuge is one of a handful of national wildlife refuges managed specifically for an endangered species; however, recovery activities for this imperiled bird and management of its declining ecosystem go beyond the refuge's boundaries.

The George Ranch had its beginning 180 years ago, as the first Anglo pioneers were coming to Texas for the promise of cheap land and limitless opportunities. Henry and Nancy Stiles Jones were among Stephen F. Austin´s "Old 300," the earliest group of settlers to join his colony. Set amid 23,000 acres of working ranch and farmland, the George Ranch shares the stories of Texas in authentic historical settings. Through innovative and interactive programs, you can step back in time to experience more than 100 years of Texas history. The sights, smells, sounds and tastes of a Texas gone by will bring your senses alive.

A broad sweep of land that stretches from just beyond Houston, west toward Brookshire, and northwest toward Hempstead, the Katy Prairie has a decidedly unique heritage. Ranging from the flat coastal plains that girdle Interstate 10 to gently rolling pastures in its northern reaches, the terrain is typical of what is found along much of the upper Texas Gulf Coast. However, in autumn, just after the crops are in, this unassuming Prairie becomes the site of one of the most incredible natural spectacles in North America, as thousands, then millions, of migratory birds arrive, especially waterfowl. For most, the Katy Prairie is a winter home until March, when they return to nesting areas in the upper Midwest and Canada. Other birds use the Prairie on their way to southerly climates, or may even remain the entire year. No visitor’s center, so please call for more information.

The Texas City Preserve features rare coastal prairie habitat and is one of the last sites that supports wild Attwater´s Prairie Chickens. Restoration is a primary stewardship activity on the preserve. Cattle grazing, since the late 1800s, provides a substitute for the wandering herds of bison that are no longer present. Through the use of prescribed burning, the Conservancy staff is returning natural fire to the preserve. Currently, the Preserve has about 40 acres open to the public (the other 2000 acres are open to special tour). The Houston Zoo leads school group programs once a month and there are limited tours to see the prairie chickens in the springtime.