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Uncertain
Birding
by: Dorothy Metzler
rlmetzler@email.msn.com
 Caddo
Lake is a place of great scenic beauty and biological diversity.
The ecosystem here predates that of any other large lake in
Texas and contains stands of bald cypress trees 250 to 400
years old. The 32,000-acre lake is made up of a sprawling
maze of heavily-forested bayous, sloughs and channels that
flow ultimately into the more open part of the lake, most
of which is in Louisiana. Many waterbirds and the lake itself
are best viewed by canoe or boat, which can be rented at the
State Park or from marinas in the area. Boaters should carry
a map of the lake and a compass, since it's easy to get lost
in the densely wooded, confusing channels. Better yet, hire
a guide, or tour the lake on one of several tour boats available
in the area.
 Visiting
birders often begin their search at Caddo Lake State Park,
located on FM 2198, less than a mile east of TX 43. Of more
than 230 bird species recorded at Caddo Lake since 1980, 139
of them have been recorded within or over the State Park area.
In Uncertain, a few commercial establishments offer views
of the lake. One of these, Crip's Camp, overlooks Goose Prairie,
a shallow slough with grassy mud flats. Johnson's Ranch Marina,
Bayou Landing Restaurant, and Shady Glade Marina, on Cypress
Drive in Uncertain, also offer views of the water as well
as parking lots where one can get off the road to look around.
The Caddo Lake Steamboat Company on Bois D'Arc Lane is another
place where one can park to look for birds. Additionally,
the Caddo Lake Wildlife Management Area can be quite productive
for a wide variety of woodland and wetland species.
For more information about these and other locations, and
the birds to be found there, check the "Birds of Caddo Lake"
Web site at http://www.rlmgc.net/caddobirds.
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