In conjunction with the John James Audobon: Am”erican Artist and Naturalist” exhibition at the Museum of East Texas, Louis Debetaz and Carroll Moore will be leading a series of adult-only bird walks at Kurth Lake in Lufkin.

The first bird walk is scheduled for 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Oct. 17. Birders will meet at Kurth Lake in Lufkin. This experience is for adults only, and space is limited to 10 participants. If interested in partaking of this birding adventure, please email louisdebetaz@suddenlink.net to make your reservation. Debetaz and Moore ask that participants bring binoculars.

Debetaz is an Instructor of Biology at Angelina College. He received his B.S. and M.S. in Biology from the University of Southwest Louisiana at Lafayette. Debetaz has published multiple checklists of birds, including “Birds of the Angelina College Forest Trail” in 1997. He is a member of the American Birding Association, the Texas Ornithological Society, the Louisiana Ornithological Society, the American Bird Conservancy, The Nature Conservancy, The Pineywoods Audubon Society, and The National Audubon Society.

Moore is a long-time birder. He is a member of the Pineywoods Audubon Society and a past regional director of the Texas Ornithological Society. He has written several newspaper articles on birding in the local area. He is a retired community college instructor and statistical analyst. Together, Debetaz and Moore have published “Checklist of the Birds of Angelina County, Texas” (2006); “Checklist of Birds of the Azalea Fitness Trail” (2009); and “Winter Checklist of Birds from Kurth Lake and Vicinity” (2009).

The Museum is a non-profit organization whose primary mission is education through exhibitions of art and history. The Museum is located at 503 N. Second Street in Lufkin (across from the Civic Center, near downtown). For general information, to schedule a docent-guided tour, to become a Museum member, or for facility rental information, call 936-639-4434 or visit the website at www.metlufkin.org. During the Audubon exhibition through Jan. 19, 2010, the museum’s expanded hours will be Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. The museum will be open for extended hours (until 8 p.m.) from Dec-19- 23. Admission is free.