The Bridgeland community is hosting a public seminar about the many birds of prey that both migrate through and reside in the area 7-9 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 25, at Lakeland Activity Center, 16902 Bridgeland Landing.

The event also will include a guided field trip through the community 7-11 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 29, to view the raptors firsthand.

The class will provide an overview of native and migratory birds of prey. Students will learn when to watch for raptors, where to find them, which binoculars are best for birding and other principles and techniques for identification.

Teaching the class is Glenn Olsen, one of the Houston area’s authorities on birds. Olsen teaches bird identification, gardening and nature-related classes at Rice University’s Glasscock School of Continuing Studies. He is an instructor for the Houston Audubon Society’s birding classes and has served as vice president of education for the organization. He also leads professional birding and nature tours for groups and individuals both locally and to popular nature destinations such as Big Bend, Costa Rica and the Galapagos Islands.

More than 140 species of birds have been identified in Bridgeland, which is located along the eastern boundary of the Katy Prairie. Several of the identified birds are raptors, including the great horned owl, red-shouldered hawk and Eastern screech owl, which reside in the community all year, and the bald eagle and peregrine falcon, which can be seen more frequently during winter months. With 3,000 acres of open space, Bridgeland follows a sensitive land plan that preserves and enhances several natural areas within the community, maintaining the abundant plant and animal wildlife indigenous to the area.

Cost for the class is $30 per resident and $40 per non-resident. To register, click here.

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Bridgeland is inviting area residents to two upcoming classes, an introduction to bird watching and a seminar on organic gardening.

“Birds of Bridgeland” will begin with classroom training 7-9 p.m. Wednesday, June 23, at Lakeland Activity Center, 16902 Bridgeland Landing, and continue with a guided bird-watching tour of Bridgeland 7-11 a.m. Saturday, June 26.

During the class and field trip, participants will discover the common birds that make Bridgeland their home, as well as the many birds that flock to Bridgeland during migration. They will learn the basic principles of bird identification and receive advice about binoculars and other tools for bird-watching.

Cost for the class is $30 for residents and $40 for non-residents.

The organic gardening class will address planting for both the landscape and the vegetable garden 7-9 p.m. Wednesday, July 14. Topics to be discussed include why soil is key to organic gardening, how to improve the soil for healthier plants, which organic practices to use in landscaping, pest management and tips and techniques for the long-term health of the landscape and garden. Cost is $20 for residents and $30 for non-residents.

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There’s plenty to tempt Bridgeland residents outdoors, with a wealth of amenities that might appeal to both the highly active and the more relaxed outdoorsman.

The master-planned community is devoting 3,000 acres to open space, with plans for more than 900 acres of lakes and waterways, 300 of which are already in use. Already open is one of four planned recreation centers, the Lakeland Activity Center, which includes a resort-style pool, two 30-foot tower slides, diving wells, water volleyball and a spray park. The complex also boasts a 6,000-square-foot community center, two lighted tennis courts, two playgrounds and expansive sun shades.

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Anglers wanting to explore the intricacies of fly fishing are invited to a beginner fly-fishing class 9-10:30 a.m. Sunday, March 7, at Bridgeland’s Oak Meadow Park.

This is one of several community events that will be open to the public this year.

The class will include hands-on casting instruction on both a group and individual basis; how to present an artificial fly to trout, bass and saltwater species; and how to hook and land a fish. Also on the agenda are how to make basic fishing knots and how to assemble a fly-fishing outfit.

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With a master plan that boasts four distinct villages, varied home choices and a host of different amenities, there will be one unifying factor — the Bridgeland community’s 60 miles of trails.

The trails will connect Bridgeland’s many neighborhoods, parks and recreation centers, putting all the community has to offer within easy reach of residents. Miles of trails — from pedestrian pathways to nature trails — are already open, with many more planned.

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The Bridgeland community not only provides the natural environment to enjoy a bevy of outdoor activities, it is also providing the equipment on a complimentary basis for resident use.

Residents can enjoy non-motorized boating, with paddleboats, kayaks, canoes and even sailboats available for use on Bridgeland lakes. Also available are bikes, fishing equipment, disc golf supplies and various sporting equipment. All of the equipment may be checked out — at no charge — by residents of the community.

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It is the very nature of northwest Houston’s Bridgeland community that is different, not just the guiding philosophy of developing a desirable place to live, but also the actual landscape of the area and the many ways the community is working to preserve its natural beauty.

As part of “The Bridgeland Differences,” developers have taken unprecedented steps to preserve and promote the community’s natural landscape, incorporating the great outdoors into everyday life for Bridgeland residents. In all, 3,000 acres are devoted to open space, the result of an extensive environmental study to determine how to best protect, preserve and restore much of the natural environment within community boundaries.

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Bridgeland raised more than $11,000 for local charities during its recent Nature Fest, an event that will become an annual occurrence at the Cypress community.

The inaugural Nature Fest marked the grand opening of the first 1.5 miles of the Cypress Creek Nature Trail, set along the historic Cypress Creek Corridor bordering the northern edge of the Bridgeland community. Nearly 3,000 people attended the free two-day event, which featured a bevy of nature-themed activities, including the Houston ZooMobile, Birds of Prey, a farmers market, a ladybug release, armadillo races, pony rides and much more.

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One of the Bridgeland community’s most noticeable amenities – Cypress Lake – is now sporting an amenity of its own, a 195-foot custom-designed pedestrian bridge that is a focal point of the lake.

The bridge, installed in August, will connect neighboring communities to the Cypress Creek Nature Trail, a six-mile path set along the historic Cypress Creek Corridor. The first 1.5-mile section of the trail, which will feature a mix of pathways with secondary trails weaving through densely wooded areas, is now open.

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Amenity construction within the Cypress community of Bridgeland continues this summer, as more pedestrian bridges are installed.

The bridges – which connect neighborhoods, parks, trails and other green spaces – are of varying sizes, with a typical span of 150-195 feet. Construction materials complement their surroundings, with a weathered steel frame and a tropical hardwood deck. Currently, five pedestrian bridges have been installed in the community, with many more to come. In June, developers installed a pedestrian bridge to connect two communities in Bridgeland, The Cove and The Shores. Complete bridge installation takes approximately 18 days. There will be dozens of bridges when total development is complete.

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