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Welcome to the SPI Birding, Nature Center & Alligator Sanctuary

We are the Rio Grande Valley's premier destination for birdwatching. Our unique location on South Padre Island is the perfect place to observe the birds, butterflies and natural wildlife in coastal South Texas.  Visit us on South Padre Island, walk the bayfront boardwalks, take a birding tour and explore the natural life of the Rio Grande Valley.

Our Mission

The mission of the South Padre Island Birding & Nature Center 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, the Laguna Madre Coastal area, with an emphasis on conservation and environmental awareness.

We are a non-profit organization created by the Town of South Padre Island’s Economic Development Corporation in response to the researched desires of our residents and visitors.

Attractions

3300+ Feet of Boardwalk

5 Bird Blinds

Five-Story Viewing Tower

Alligator Sanctuary

Guided Bird Walks

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Birds & Nature Sighted at the Center

Join our weekly programs

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Required

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ADMISSION FEES:
ADULTS $10,
SENIORS (65+) AND STUDENTS $8
CHILDREN (4-12) $5
NO DOGS ARE ALLOWED ON THE BOARDWALKS.
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Thank you HEB for your generous $15,000 donation towards our efforts to restore our habitats affected by Winter Storm Uri.

With this contribution we will work with our community to create valuable habitat for wildlife and for people to enjoy! 

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Harlingen HS South Ecology Club & Studen

Harlingen High School South Ecology Club and Student Council worked together in the Spring of 2021 to donate funds to the SPI Birding and Nature Center for their Monarch Butterfly Habitat Restoration. The Monarch Butterfly was placed on the Endangered Species List and its habitat was severely damaged during the Winter Storm in February. Ecology Club decided to create a joint effort with Student Council to donate funds to repair the damaged habitat at the SPI Birding and Nature Center. Each club donated $200 for a total donation of $400. Harlingen South Ecology Club members Deztiny Mar, Judaea Clark, Nallely Deciga, Daniel Jimenez, Kathia Ibarra, Elise Martinez, Ana Porzycki, Isabella Silva, Abbeny Solis, Eva Villarreal, and Malachi Contreras, as well as, Student Council members Abbeny Solis, Emma Moreno, Deztiny Mar, Jacob Costilla, and Lauren Muniz participated in the donation. Ecology Club Sponsor Ruth Salazar and Student Council Sponsor Regina Lumbrera - Tijerina coordinated with the SPI Birding and Nature Center to make sure that the donation was submitted to restore the Monarch Habitat. We are so proud of the efforts that the Harlingen South Ecology Club and Student Council Members went through to make sure that this donation was a success. Our students have proven that even in the toughest of times, we can still band together to support our native environment and our local community.

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Thank you to The Trull Foundation for awarding the South Padre Island Birding Nature & Alligator Sanctuary with a $5,000 grant for habitat maintenance! ​Maintaining our 43 acres is a constant task, and we are so grateful for this grant, especially during this unprecedented year. 

This grant will help us with mangrove forest maintenance and cattail trimming, among other habitat development.

We are extending a huge thank you and show of appreciation to The Trull Foundation! 

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We would like to extend a THANK YOU to Target and their Target Circle program, GoodCoin, and all those who cast their votes for our non-profit during the past three months!

 

We appreciate you all taking the time to vote for us; these donations make a huge impact for our organization! We will be up again as a non-profit to vote for in another three months, and we will post a reminder and tutorial on how to cast these votes if you are interested in supporting us this way.

 

Thank you, again, to Target & all those who participated!

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Another exciting announcement!

Thank you to HEB Helping Here for awarding us with a $7,500 grant to go towards Environmental Education programs. We are so grateful for these generous grants, especially during these challenging times. We have many new ideas for programming, and cannot wait to get them implemented. Thank you, HEB, for this funding and for all HEB does for their communities!

Click button below to read full press release regarding our HEB Helping Here grant.
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We are excited to announce that The Raul Tijerina Jr. Foundation has awarded The South Padre Island Birding Nature Center & Alligator Sanctuary with a $20,000 grant! The funding from this grant will go towards education and technology to better reach our goals and align with both our missions! We are so thankful for this generous opportunity, and for the wonderful work this foundation does! 

Thank you, Raul Tijerina Jr. Foundation!!!

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We are excited to announce that we have received a grant from Walmart Giving! Grant funds provided by our local Port Isabel and Los Fresnos stores will help us purchase educational materials that will further our mission to educate our community and visitors about our special coastal habitats and wildlife!

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