Baytown Nature Center: A jewel in the great Texas coastal birding trail

Tourism is the fastest growing industry in Texas and eco-tourism (wildlife watching, wildlife photography, nature walks) makes up 78 percent of the tourism industry in Texas. Birdwatchers brought in more dollars to the Rio Grande Valley of Texas than the entire citrus industry in both 1996 and 1997. This presentation will elaborate on what communities on the upper Texas Coast are doing to encourage eco-tourism (particularly birdwatchers) and detail some of the aspects that coastal marsh habitat offers to birds and the eco-tourism. The Baytown Nature Center will focus its development toward the increase use for eco-tourism.