Day Trips: SPI Nature Center
South Padre Island Birding & Nature Center gives a rare look at coastal wetlands
By Gerald E. McLeod, Fri., May 13, 2016
The South Padre Island Birding & Nature Center is a noisy place. A chorus of birdsongs fills the wetlands that are accessible by a boardwalk that winds through the reeds and tall grass.
Opened in 2009, the nature center covers 50 acres of habitat between the main thoroughfare through town and the Laguna Madre, and is one of nine World Birding Center sites in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. The more than 3,300 feet of boardwalk over the marsh means you never have to get your feet wet to see some incredible sights. From the five bird blinds visitors have semi-hidden views of the wildlife among the thick vegetation – including the resident alligators.
The centerpiece of the nature center is a five-story observation tower that offers an unobstructed view of the southern end of the barrier island. Inside the nature center is a small natural history museum that explains the island's ecosystem. The center's auditorium shows a documentary on the island and often presents talks by naturalists on the island's resident and migratory wildlife.
The South Padre Island Birding & Nature Center is at 6801 Padre Blvd. in South Padre Island, next to the SPI Convention Centre. The center is open daily from 9am to 5pm, and the boardwalks and trails can be accessed 30 minutes before sunrise and 30 minutes after sunset by credit card or pass. For a schedule of events at the center go to www.spibirding.com or call 956/761-6801.
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