A full day of park activities and interpretive programs as well as a midday ceremony are scheduled to commemorate the upcoming 25th anniversary celebration of Brazos Bend State Park on Saturday, April 4, at this popular park in Southeast Texas, located less than an hour’s drive from Houston’s southwest side.

The trumpeting sound of cranes overhead is a cherished sound of spring in Texas, but as endangered whooping cranes depart Texas this spring en route for breeding grounds in Canada, fewer birds will be making the trip.

Archived audio from March 25-26 committee and commission meetings is available.

Rock climbers recently noticed canyon wrens nesting at a popular climbing site at Hueco Tanks State Park and Historic Site. Due to concerns about disturbing the nesting birds, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has temporarily closed Grenade Boulder until hatchlings fledge. It is expected to be closed for about a month.

Divers from the Texas Department of Public Safety recovered the body of Jerry King, 72, of Athens from Richland Chambers Reservoir at 9:30 a.m. today. Texas game wardens earlier had identified a return on side-scan sonar that proved to be King.