Photo Gallery: Kayaking The Bayou

: it's a bird and wildlife watcher's paradise. I prefer visiting it by kayak. By paddling out into the bay from Gulfport Beach in the opposite direction of the Bayou an hour and a half before high tide peaks, I can drift with the winds and inbound tide, back across the bay right into the Bayou. This gives me lots of good water level and time to quietly explore with my camera. Birds, manatee, and dolphins are what I've seen, but I'm told by several that there are also gators, otters, snakes, and terrapins.

The name that keeps popping up around discussions about the Bayou habitat and its wildlife preservation, conservation, and species identification is Kurt Zuelsdorf owner of Kayak Nature Adventures. I have not had the pleasure of meeting him, yet but based on what I've heard, I definitely look forward to it and plan on tapping into his knowledge of the Clam Bayou Ecosystem. I'd also like to applaud him and everyone involved in the native plantings initiative and the perpetuation of the Bayou's Ecotourism Value. 

Gulfportians of all ages, if you haven't visited the Bayou at least once, whether on foot or by kayak or paddle board, you're just missing out.