Take a stroll on one of the many boardwalks through acres of coastal wetland environments, not only with spectacular views of the Laguna Madre, beaches & dunes but discover birds, butterflies and unique Texas wildlife at one of the many nature centers on South Padre Island.Â
Laguna Atascosa Wildlife Refuge
With the refuges primary mission of providing habitat for native wildlife, this nearly 100,000 acres provides for a wide diversity of species.
Visitors can enjoy many birds including green jays, plain chachalacas, Harris hawks, white-tailed hawks, olive sparrows, altamira orioles, and aplomado falcons. Fall and spring bring migratory songbirds and peregrine falcons, and winter is the time to see sandhill cranes, white-fronted geese, redhead ducks and many other waterfowl. Common mammals include bobcat, coyote, javelina, Mexican ground squirrel, and white-tailed deer. More elusive are the endangered ocelot and jaguarundi. Reptiles include American alligator, indigo snake, Texas tortoise, western diamondback rattlesnake and coral snake.
The South Padre Island Unit provides nesting habitat for sea turtles – Kemps ridley, loggerhead, hawksbill and Atlantic green. Visitors can connect with nature through a variety of activities including fishing, hunting, wildlife observation and photography, bicycling, hiking and interpretive tours and programs.
Laguna Madre Nature Trail
1,500-foot boardwalk crosses four acres of marshland, where bird watchers can spot many coastal and migratory birds and numerous others tempted by the berries on the fiddlewood bushes along the trail.
South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center
One of nine World Birding Center sites in the Rio Grande Valley. The center strives to provide excellent birding and educational opportunities, engaging tours, and interactive learning about birds and other living creatures native to the area. The center’s mission is to educate the public about birds of South Padre Island and its environs: the flora, fauna and the natural environment of South Padre Island and the Laguna Madre Coastal area, with an emphasis on conservation and environmental awareness. Boardwalks, tower views and bird blinds enable the center to share the beauty of South Padre Island’s nature tourism attractions with outdoor enthusiasts and conservationists of all ages.
Attraction highlights
- Over 3,300 linear feet of boardwalk
- Five bird blinds
- A five-story tower with spectacular views of Laguna Madre, Beaches and dunes of South Padre Island, the Gulf of Mexico, and the South Padre Island Skyline
- Auditorium with rotating documentaries on wildlife native to the island
- Nature gift shop
Guided tours schedule
Guided walking tours are offered daily, but times are subject to change. Regular tour times include: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 8:30 a.m. and 10:50 a.m. Also, guests may rent Eagle Optics Binoculars for $3.00 each at the gift shop.
To learn more about planning your family’s next visit to South Padre Island or one of the listed nature refuges, visit sopadre.com or call 1-800-SOPADRE.
Thank you to South Padre Island for sponsoring this post.
