SPANISH FORT, Ala.—Warming weather has brought alligators and turtles out to sun and the Blakeley State Park eco-tour boat conducts its first public excursion of 2009 into the Mobile-Tensaw Delta to see wildlife Feb. 14. Charter tours of the Delta began in January.

The two-hour narrated tour aboard Blakeley Park’s 50-passenger Delta Explorer takes visitors down broad Delta rivers, into remote bayous, and then in a sweeping pass under the Mobile Bayway passing diverse plant and animal life along the banks and sightings of migratory and native birds overhead.

The U.S. Coast Guard-inspected Delta Explorer is a covered pontoon boat with bench seating and restroom. It has been owned and operated by Blakeley Park for more than five years.

Hours of the Feb. 14 tour are 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tickets are $22 for adults, $12 for children 6-12 and free to children 4-6. Seating is on a first-come, first-serve basis but advance reservations may be made with credit cards by calling 251-626-5581.

The Delta Explorer leaves from its dock on the Tensaw River inside Blakeley State Park and about 10 minutes from the park entrance. Blakeley Park is located on state Highway 225 about 4.5 miles north of where Highway 225 intersects with U.S. 31 at Spanish Fort. Boat tickets include admission to the park and visitors are invited to come early for picnic lunch or stay late for picnic supper.

For information on group charters call 251-626-0798. For general information on Blakeley Park go to www.blakeleypark.com.  For advance purchase of tickets for the Feb. 14 walk-on call 251-626-5581.