Free Boat Tours at Salton Sea

Beginning Saturday, the Salton Sea State Recreation Area will offer free interpretive boat tours at 8:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. every Saturday through April 30.

The tours, which last about an hour, take place during peak birding season, a spokeswoman said. Participants can expect to see several species, including white pelicans, grebes and herons. State Park rangers will give interpretive lectures during the trip.

The spokesman said the boat can accommodate about a dozen people; reservations are mandatory. Tours leave from Varner Harbor at the Salton Sea Recreation Area, which is about 30 miles south of Indio on California 11. For information and reservations, call (619) 393-3052.