ISLAND MUST SEE
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND BIRDING & NATURE CENTER ALLIGATORS AND BUTTERFLIES AND BIRDS OH MY! At the southern tip of the world’s longest barrier island, South Padre Island Birding & Nature Center brings you up close and personal with inhabitants of this wildlife sanctuary. “Every month is different,” states naturalist/educator Javi Gonzalez. “Throughout the year, visitors can see 70-80 different species of birds who live or migrate through the Island.” South Padre Island is a crucial first landfall for birds making a difficult 200 miles cross-Gulf migration from Southern Mexico and northern Central America. Especially after a spring storm, wooded lots of the island abound with a kaleidoscope of warblers,
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SOCIALIFE SUMMER
tanagers, orioles, and thrushes. Wetlands harbor a variety of shorebirds and waterfowl, while endangered species such as the Brown Pelican, Piping Plover, and Peregrine Falcon may also be found here. Birds aren’t the only species you’ll find at the center. Depending on when you visit, the air may be filled with a variety of butterflies or dragonflies, creating a beautiful symphony of color and peace. Along with migratory and island birds, visitors can also see alligators, snakes, and tortoises. The center is the permanent home to Big Padre, a 12.5’ alligator, along with over 50 juvenile gators who will be rehomed as they
grow. Daily “Gator Talks” educate visitors on alligator biology and the alligator sanctuary.
A Unique Physical Environment On its 50 acres near the convention center, one can see dune meadows, salt marsh, intertidal flats, and thickets of native shrubs and trees that are irresistible to migrating birds in their season. “This is a very unique place,” Gonzalez reflects. “We have both saltwater and freshwater because of the treatment plant. This makes for a very rare and rich wildlife environment.”
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