South Padre Island Birding, Nature Center & Alligator Sanctuary Reviews

The facility is SO COOL! The first floor of the museum contains the "reptile room" where several of their current rescues are resting. The second floor had a large diorama of the many ecosystems on the Island, with models to scale which helped us identify several critters we'd already seen on our trip. They also had a seashell cabinet which displayed all the different types of shells that could be found on the island.

On the 3rd floor, there is an observation deck that allows you to look over the entire reserve and surrounding area, it's gorgeous!

I also had so much fun watching all the little rescue alligators, and we had a great time feeding the tortoises as well.

I highly recommend this place for all ages of nature lovers!

We enjoyed it, but I agree with other reviewers, young kids will get bored quickly. So much of this is a dock walking around the wetlands, which are full of wildlife and beautiful but just don't hold little kid attention. There are some alligators, and one big alligator. If you pay extra you can hold a baby alligator. If you are wanting to go to gator talks at 11:30/1:30/3:30 , you could always skip them. It's just a slide show where they answer questions, there's no actual alligators until the very end when they bring one out for people who paid extra. It's something fun to do if you're on the Island, and a great time if your kids are reptile lovers

A great stop in South Padre- the name is a little misleading, as there are lots of alligators to see. Don’t miss the Educational session upstairs on the alligators. Also a pleasant hike around the facilities, lots to see

We were there early on a weekday in January with not much more than staff so it was a very relaxing and quiet time. Seeing all of the alligators both inside and outside was a treat and all of the wild birds that graced the area that morning was enjoyable. One of the volunteers on the boardwalk stopped to talk a bit, pointing out a few birds we may not have noticed otherwise. She was very knowledgeable and friendly.

We were so glad we visited, and thought seriously about visiting twice! The elevated walkway was serene, informative, and birds everywhere. We enjoyed the alligators and tortoises as well. Don't miss the small museum upstairs!

We stayed nearby and I visited several times during our time on South Padre. Every day is a new experience. We had family visit for a day and I brought them here and we had a picnic on back veranda before exploring the center. They loved it.

This was a great facility- and we didn’t notice any harassment of animals like the earlier post had mentioned. Mask policy was enforced and it was great to learn more about the native wildlife. We spent about 1.5 hours and forgot about the observation tower. We also stayed for the ‘gator talk’ (check the schedule). Would absolutely recommend- go early for the best birdwatching.

This place is amazing! Take a walk along the boardwalk and see a ton of different birds in a variety of environments. Loads of hummingbirds, wading birds, and so much more! If that's not enough, there's a ton of alligators to see. A great place even if you're not much of a bird-watcher. Can't wait to visit again!

Don't miss this when you visit SPI! It's a great half-day experience. The walk is unguided, but there are many signs telling you what to look for.

A must see at South Padre Island! Experience the view of birds, turtles, gators, fish. Plus butterflies and flowers. Great photo opportunities from the boardwalks and tower. Fun for all ages.

We were looking for something to do in South Padre other than going to the beach. We stumbled across the Birding and Nature Center and it changed our day! The place is huge and exciting. From feeding alligators and tortoises to watching the most colorful and magnificent birds we’ve ever seen. The facilities were immaculate and the boardwalks well maintained. Get some binoculars and go!

I love birds & this was a great place to see so many. We made a donation to get some bird seed to feed the birds, which was fun for our whole group. Also got to take a pic holding a baby alligator.
Only complaint is that the alligator talk is a bit long, was about 45 min.

Great place. Attended a special event , the winter outdoor wildlife event. What a deal. The $7 admission included the center plus the speakers and a LIVE raptor show. Fun and educational. The boardwalks run past alligator ponds wetland, shore areas and wading ponds. There must have been 20 gators in the juvenile pond. Great value for the money.

I had read many good things about this place but had no real clue until I visited this place. It is truly magical, especially during spring migration, which is when I went. Long boardwalks extend out into the wetlands. And here's something amazingly unique - half of the boardwalk is in freshwater wetlands and the other is in salt water wetlands. You can imagine the variety of birdlife! I saw 54 species in one morning. Even as I was leaving, I saw new species flying in near the front door. I delightfully boggled by my experience. I will definitely be back.

We spent a whole morning and enjoyed every minute. It was a hot day, but due to breezy area, it didn’t feel uncomfortable. Still need sunglasses, a hat & sunscreen. The wildlife variety is good & fun. Recommend using binoculars to open a whole extra world. Tip, the center rents them. Climb 4 floors outside the center and another whole extra world opens up. The climb is not bad.Be prepared to walk down. Views are spectacular & again, use your binocs and you’ll see so much more than when on ground level.

Alligator talk was very interesting.
Great gift shop!!
Very interesting stop. Clean and friendly sunny place.

Super visit with three kids under age 8. 'Gators are a fun addition to the area.. Birding and turtle center are an excellent day trip!

Went on a cool and rainy day with the most wonderful docent. Lots of other really knowledgeable birders, saw tri-color herons, whistling ducks, coots, and lots and lots more. Make sure you check when the tours are, we lucked out on a 9:30 am one.

After a friend suggested a visit to the Center, we booked a hotel across the street & registered for a guided Birding Tour. Best decision ever! The volunteer guides (Marianne & Craig) we knowledgeable, friendly, sharing, & very professional. They freely shared tons of expertise & helped our little group of 6 to identify 31 species. They were in no hurry for the tour to end & even shared a list & some pictures they had taken during the tour. Absolutely first rate experience. We returned to the park later that afternoon to walk the boardwalks on our own and also to check out all the other exhibits. Loved the Observation deck also. This park no only has lots & lots of bird viewing boardwalks, but it rescues alligators. The entire experience is amazing. Highly Highly recommend a visit here. It's a must see.

Unfortunately we didn't see a lot of birds but did enjoy walking the paths through the wetlands and feeding the animals.

Ok if you have some time to kill. Grounds were clean. Not many birds there. Saw more birds just walking the beach.

Very nice staff and beautiful walk along the water area. Worth the time to patiently wait and watch the birds in their habitat.

My partner and I visits the Birding Center, each time we are back in the area. The walk along the boardwalk area is peaceful, and the wildlife is spectacular.
This year we were pleased and surprised to find that the have expanded to now support alligators. They now have an alligator rescue and community education service.
Very much worth the journey.

Fed the tortoises, looked at about 50 alligators, saw thousands of wading birds and ducks (coots, ducks, herons, spoonbills, cormorants, etc.) and had a great time. The boardwalk that you view it all from winds approximately 1.5 miles through various habitats so you have the opportunity to see many different types of birds. There are some nice displays and good information inside the visitor center. Walked up the four stories of the visitor center and had a great view of South Padre Island. The cost was reasonable ($7.00 each) and the staff were friendly. Highly recommended.

It is a lovely sanctuary
It was nice learning about the native wildlife
The walk along the pier was so relaxing

We visited here on 11/2/20. We were surprised how many birds there were and how long the walkways were. We spent about 3 hours here and walked over 3 miles. The various types of birds was fascinating. I'd suggest you bring a good camera (and a telephoto lens if you have one)
In addition to the birds, we thought seeing and feeding the tortoise's was a blast.
The alligator exhibits were also interesting.
We did see some butterflies but it seemed too windy and perhaps to late in the season to see a lot of them.
We thought the admission price was a bargain.

Covid precautions
Good
Masks are required but most of the time you are outside and able to stay a safe distance from others. There were hand sanitizer stations in the main building. The staff all wore masks.

Fun boardwalks that go over nature filled with alligators and birds. A lookout tower and Museum included.

Absolutely top-notch. The place was so beautiful and the staff were great. Wesaw tons of wildlife and got to see Big Padre eat.

beautiful place with board walk and lots of birds to see even when the weather is wet and cold with in increased winds

Fun morning trip for our kids. We spent a out 3 hours there walking the boardwalk. Kids got to hold a baby alligator and snake. Worth the visit especially if you need a break from the beach.

You can spend an hour or many hours here. Just depends on how much you enjoy checking out the many birds you will see here. We spend several hours walking around the area and saw lots of different birds. It was a peaceful relaxing day. I would go back as I am sure each time would see different birds and wildlife.

WE stayed on SPI for a week and went to the center 2 or 3 times a day. The birds abound and the views of the Laguna Madre are awesome. The personnel here are so eager to share any birds they have seen. They have bird walks scheduled so check on this and take one. We stayed for sunset one evening and it was fantastic.

Come for the birds
Come for the beautiful gardens!
Come for the butterflies!
Come for fun photo ops!
A "must see" when you're at SPI
Hint take a family portrait from the stairs on the 5th floor with the Island as your background.

Very impressive! My only complaint is a rude gift shop person!
But, the place is wonderful to experience nature!

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The boardwalk was very nice and it was nice to have a place to keep the kids active. We saw lots of birds. I would have liked a little more education on the birds, but I may have just missed out on it since the kids were antsy.

Definitely worth going to! My favorite for sure! Buy the lettuce to feed the turtles it’s pretty cool. Long walk and it is a good one! Would do it again for sure!

Big Padre was out and waiting for our visit. It was great learning about the different birds and fish in this ecosystem.

We were fortunate to find this local birding spot right on the island. This spot is great to see local shore birds. And they have a fresh water nature water way where fresh water birds rest and hang out. And they have a great raised walk way that provides access to just about everyone.

This is a nice nature preserve. Visited with two young children who really enjoyed climbing to the top of the bird watch tower and also exploring the boardwalks. We saw so many different types of birds and one wild alligator (in addition to the rescued gators). There is a small museum on the second level as well. We stayed for a gator talk, which was interesting. The only thing I wasn't really a fan of was after the gator talk they offer for you to take your photo with a baby gator for $5. I'm sure the money goes towards a good cause, but it just kind of seemed out of place when talking about conservation, etc.

This was a nice activity to do when taking a little time from the beach. They have several huge tortoises and a whole bunch of alligators to look at including "Big Padre" who is a 55 year old massive alligator who we got to see being fed. WOW! The boardwalk over the marshes to view all of the birds and fish was very nice. Pretty nice place for a change of pace for about an hour while visiting the island.

This place is very soothing. It’s a small window into just how incredibly precious nature is. The Family enjoyed it very much.

Wonderful visit...well laid out...guide okay, but acted like done it many times before, lots to see...good viewing spots.

Surprised to see 40 plus gators and my kids even had the chance to hold a young gator and a couple different types of snakes. A beautiful walk on the boardwalk with lots of birds and fish to spot as well. Overall a highlight of our vacation in my book.

We went on a warm day after a great freeze down here. Sad to see the plants that didn’t make it through the frost. There weren’t tons of birds but maybe they went farther south because it was too cold. Liked all the alligators. It is nice place to visit and walk out and see the bay.

This place not has gorgeous on the bay boardwalks teaming with wildlife, but also has knowledgeable, enthusiastic bird guides to help you find all the specialty birds. Make your reservation for the bird walks online.

This was a fantastic place to visit! So much more than birds!!! My husband and I enjoyed looking for all of the different species. They have an amazing upper deck that you can see so much from and the gift shop had a lot of wonderful things to choose from.

Well worth the time. Excellent nature experience. I would highly recommend going if you are going to South Padre for more than a couple days. Our kids looooved it.

I was disappointed. The alligator and the tortoise at the beginning were probably the coolest. A lot of walking without seeing much. Maybe it’s the wrong time of year.

Saw lots of pelicans, egrets, and more birds. Nice wooden boardwalk. Not much parking. Easy to get to and walk or handicap accessible.

Great location to see birds, crocs, turtles and snakes. Super nice staff. Lots of locals who show you where the cool birds are lol

Firstly - Great job on enforcing masks and social distancing! We really appreciated that. There was only one worker who did not know how to wear a mask (kept his nostrils exposed) but we stayed clear of him.

We were the first ones there at 8:30. We stayed until 11:30. We are not coastal folks so we saw at least 20 species of birds we had never seen before. My favorite was the Roseate Spoonbill.

The kids loved the aligators and all the baby water fowl they saw. Holding the alligator and boa was a big bonus for them.

One of the naturalist was out on the boardwalk with us and pointed out a green king-fisher, which is very rare to see there. That was pretty cool.

It’s not just about birds. We saw a barn owl, gators, fish, turtles, crabs, butterflies, and more. Excellent outing for family. Staff was so helpful and friendly.

Wonderful spot for taking a stroll and looking at the different birds. They've done such a wonderful job in creating a relaxing atmosphere where learning and relaxation take place. You can definitely take your time with the beautiful views. We love it.

We went during the wildlife expo. Great speakers and exhibits. The highlight though is walking the long boardwalk thru the mangroves and seeing all the birds and gators. Really cool

Enjoyed leisurly stroll around boardwalk, some serious birders present. A number of wading birds and differant waterfowl' A few gators add to the adventure.Glad to contribute to the cause. Had a presentation by a wildlife offical that was very informative. Nice gift shop. Take the kids, they will love it.

Not only were there birds, there were alligators and tortoises. Feeding the tortoises was the best! The staff is very knowledgeable. The area it is in is well kept and the walk ways are clear. Very handicap accessible.

This walk out along the birding sanctuary is easy and is handicap accessible During the winter months and migratory time people come from all over the world to try and capture rare pictures of birds and alligators. We always come more than once when we stay here every winter.

This was a surprise at how fun and exciting it was! Very affordable family place to see alligators, snakes, birds, etc. We enjoyed it much more than we thought we would.

We came the day before the rescue alligators were brought in from Beaumont and watched as a “local” alligator was removed so as not to confuse it with the rescues. It was explained that the program was developed with help of the Department of Fish and Wildlife for education and rehabilitation. We came back the next day to see the 12 foot gator and many smaller ones in their enclosures.The view from the top is incredible and can be reached by an elevator or stairs. The waste water treatment plant next door is an odiferous distraction, but it’s got to be someplace I guess.

Enjoyed our visit! Excellent elevated walkway to wander amongst the birds in the marsh. Even watched feeding time for the gators, Big Padre lives up to his name for sure!

My friend and I really enjoyed our visit here! Wear good walking shoes because there's lots of board walks & paths! Lots of birds, fish, alligators, butterflies, snakes, even pink flamingos! The employees are very helpful and informative. Very pretty too, they even have waterfalls. Lots of sun & shade. Would be great place to take kids.

It was interactive fun! Feeding the gators and tortoises as well as the little turtles inside was incredible. I got to pet the large tortoise's head and got some cool pics. I held a snake and small gator! I got some of my favorite souvenirs at the gift shop and made some of my favorite memories!

Good daytime activity for our group of 9 (ages 10- adults). The gators, especially Big Padre, was the highlight for our group! We also liked the snakes (well, some of us!) The handlers brought out both small ones and the big python and let us touch them (it was an extra $10 to take a picture holding it, but touching was free!) The workers were very knowledgeable and friendly. We also enjoyed the nature walk along the boardwalk. Would recommend it for families of all ages!

The staff are very friendly and the variety of birds is amazing! We were impressed with the knowledge of the staff and their willingness to help. The grounds were very well maintained.

Very nice and relaxing view of nature. The complex consists of a museum and observation tower connected to a raised walkway that spans a large area. Many displays and shaded areas to learn about the various plants and animals that inhabit the area. Takes at least an hour to see everything, however if you watch the movies allow more time. There is a elevator in the observation tower, so you don't need to climb the stairs. Cost about 10.00 for adults, less for seniors and children. Worth the money. Very good for adults and also kids.

If you are a birder you would consider this paradise. I visited in the winter. The staff was very helpful in pointing out areas to find birds. The upstairs and boardwalk are perfect for taking photos.

I took my family here to get a change a scenery for the the afternoon. I was really pleasantly surprised at the neat things here. My teenage daughter really enjoyed feeding the tortoises. They came and took lettuce from her and she really enjoyed that. Feeding the alligator's was a little less interactive but they seemed to be enjoying the sun more than wanting food. Ha. The piers were nice to walk and we saw a variety of birds as well as alligators that were nesting in the area. All in all, it was a good day.

Nice quiet get-away place on the Island to avoid the "party atmosphere" and a good place to see a natural area that attracts many local species of birds. One can also find alligators in the wild.

This place should be called the birding and reptile center. There are so many alligators and other critters in the museum. We loved the alligator talk and you can feed the tortoises. The viewing center was about as high as you get on SPI. This proved to be much more fun than we thought. The walking trail is just under a mile so a perfect distance for all. We had lower expectations so we really enjoyed the amount of critters here.

We loved it!!! If you’re not use to walking or being expose to the elements this is not for you. This is for folks who don’t mind walking and smelling the fresh air watching local birds fly by and gators below lol. Yes there are gators!! Luckly when we went was a very hot day so most were hidding in shaded areas. I loved it got some amazing photos and got to see many wild birds. Take an umbrella and wear your sunscreen is hot and humid out there. We truly enjoyed our walk.

If we make it back to South Padre we will certainly include a visit to the Birding and Nature Center again. It was a great experience feeding the birds and enjoying the walk through the reeds and marshes.

Not our first visit to the SPI Birding Center, an amazing habitat is maintained in a small area. The southern climate on the water brings many bird species. Our guided tour, free with admission was very "intimate" and informative. The best tourist attraction on the Island!

This place is amazing. There are so many types of birds, turtles, and other animals in one place that you normally don't get to see - it's wonderful. It's very clean and laid out nicely. On a beautiful day it's a great thing to do outside.

I went hoping for the Mangrove Yellow Warbler and was blessed to have one come very close for a great look.

Everything was so interesting that we stayed 4 1/2 hours and my non-birding wife never got bored. I was in hog heaven spotting 59 species of birds and sharing scope looks with a number of other people who were interested in learning more about what they were seeing.

If you have any interest in nature, a visit to South Padre is not complete unless you stop here. Close looks at alligators is just a bonus.

The place is an animal conservation place and they are doing a great job. The tortoises are very friendly and the delta views were outstanding. Didn't see any birds though. The man talking about alligators was very informational and enjoy watching staff feed Big Padre.

My wife and I visited on Thursday, April 11th. It was nice out, so we decided to go on a lengthy walk to get to the Center. There is sidewalk all of the way out to the Center. There is also an Island bus shuttle stop just outside of the center. And next to that is the sea turtle rescue facility. It was not busy when we arrived. It is easy to pay at the kiosk at the front of the building. $5 Senior rate. The main building is very cool, with the 5 story viewing tower. We took the steps up to the top, but I did see an elevator. We did watch the documentary showing in the building. The boardwalks were very cool and it is quite a lovely area to walk. And we did see quite a variety of birds. We had a great visit and I would not hesitate to visit again.

Had allot of fun lots to learn all around a great experience definitely a must see when visiting SPI

enjoyed a leisure walk and saw various birds. bring binoculars to view the birds. birders paradise. may want to bring a hat during the sunnier weather as this is mostly open air, bring a jacket during the chillier months, it was quite windy (we were there March 15). there was one area where it was next to a water treatment plant and when your standing down wind, the smell is quite unpleasant.

went with teens and they lost interest halfway down the trails.

Reasonable prices. Loved getting to hold a snake and a little Gator. My daughter who is 5 was scared but she did it and I was proud. We saw a lot of different birds and lots of gators. Fed the tortoises and able to get really close. The only downside was walking the boardwalks in the middle of the day is so hot. But to be expected.

Small indoor displays area, good for an hour on a cold, rainy, very windy January day. We're not "birders" and the high winds and intermittent rains made walking the extensive outdoor boardwalk more of a brisk dash than a stroll. I did see one alligator in the wild swamp beside the boardwalk. And very much enjoyed seeing the pink Spoonbills.

This was on a tourism list of "rainy day activities", but in my opinion not worth the entry fee if weather doesn't allow you to walk all of the boardwalk and take time to appreciate the bay water views and birds.

Also, it is directly next to the Island's water treatment site on one side, detracting from any illusion of wilderness.

This place has a lot to see and learn! From the wildlife presentations to the birdwatching tower overlooking the island to walking paths out into the bay where you can see all kinds of different animals and birds, this is a great place to spend 2+ hours just observing and enjoying nature.

With a wide variety of animals in captivity and all of the natural wildlife surrounding the place, this is a must visit if you're on South Padre Island. Good for couples, families with kids, etc. Bring comfortable shoes for walking the paths and climbing stairs if you're brave.

A good value. Cheap to get in. Nice, friendly staff who kept joking that we should get married there :) Would love to return for another visit anytime!

The volunteers were all very informative and knowledgeable. We saw all we wanted to see including some alligators out closer to the bay and a large blue crab in the shallow water. My kids loved watching the herons fish!

We had a lovely afternoon at this lovely center for about 2 hours. Beautiful grounds, friendly staff and absolutely wonderful time. Be sure to feed the turtles!

We had a great time with our kids 8 and 9 years old. The bathrooms are clean And the whole atmosphere is calm and relaxing.

This was one of our favorite spots! The kind woman at the front desk was so welcoming and made us feel right at home. Saw TONS of alligators and loved the walkway and the whole tour. A great experience.

Excellent area for birding but the time of the year will dictate what you will see and how much. Many birds migrate through this area and if you hit it just right you will see a variety of birds. There is also a small butterfly garden. The center is clean, has a place to buy souvenirs and an excellent viewing platform. Make sure to take binoculars and plenty of film.

Love love love the birding center. The tour guides are exceptional. We especially liked our personal bird guides, Cathy and Kathy. Higher recommend

We visited this center and found it to be much larger than you might think looking at it from the street. The boardwalks are quite long taking you all over the expansive property. There are many birds to be seen but also turtles and Big Padre alligator and his mate. Definitely worth the admission price. The view from the top of the building three stories up is quite marvelous. We highly recommend you take the time to visit this facility...especially if you have kids along since it is a nice learning experience.

This was one of our favorite excursions. I had my photo taken with a baby crocodile and an African Boa. The staff are extremely knowledgeable and friendly and really want to make it a great experience for you. The grounds are breathtaking and you can stroll along at your leisure and take it all In.

Really wonderful place to visit & walk they have 3,330 of wood board walk, saw lots of alligators, tortoises, turtles & lots of birds. The mangroves provide some shade & shelter from wind. Nice gift shop, nice staff. The view from their observation tower of the entire Padre Island is incredible. Very worthwhile

What a wonderful learning experience! Such a variety of birds to see and so many people there that are willing to help you find them, learn about them, and help you develop an interest in birdwatching. While we were there we were also able to take in a very interesting and worthwhile presentation on birds of prey. It was excellent! Well worth our time and money.

The center gives a talk on alligators where you can hold a baby alligator and get a picture. The walk is on wooden boardwalks where you get a good view of Laguna Madre and go through surrounding wetlands. We saw a number of birds, fish, and crustaceans. The center has a small museum and gift shop as well as a bird tower to see more of the area. It does cost money to go in. Nice walk and I enjoyed reading the signs explaining the local wildlife.

The Birding Center has added many new exhibits since our last visit 4 years ago. They now have an alligator sanctuary and turtles. They have you alligators that you can hold and get a picture with. Philip was very friendly and informative when he sat with us and then set up all of the adventure pictures well worth the extra $10!

Good place to spend a couple hours. They had a 30 minute talk on alligators which I recommend. The boardwalk was calming and numerous birds and alligators are visible.

I have some serious concerns about the welfare of the rabbit on site, Winston. Rabbits need to have the companionship of at least one other rabbit—Winston is a single rabbit. In order to display their natural behaviours including running, jumping, digging, foraging and rearing up on their hind legs, they need proper enclosures, at least 9ft x 6ft—Winston’s enclosure looked like it was about 4ft x 2ft. The height needs to be at least 3ft—Winston’s appeared to be about 2ft on one side, and the other side was split into two levels, which looked like they were about 1ft high each. Rabbits like somewhere to hide, as a safe haven when they feel like they are danger, and as a place to relax in safety. Winston’s enclosure is completely exposed, without a hiding place, and without straw to burrow into. Winston shouldn’t spend a miserable life confined to a hutch, alone and with little or no space to exercise, mostly because his owners don’t realize what’s involved in caring for him. If you can’t commit to giving rabbits what they need to live full and contented lives, then rabbits are not for you.

A nice network of boardwalks over the marsh and out to to the bay. We saw a rare mangrove yellow warbler and a bunch of other birds unusual to us: spoonbills, green and night heron, clapper rail, shearwaters, piebald grebe, lots of different and gorgeous ducks. Also blue heron, pelicans and common shore birds. I think the total species list of confirmed sightings is something like 220. Entry fee is only $6 a day. We spent a couple hours. They also provide refuge for juvenile alligators removed from places where they were a problem and returned to the wild as breeding adults.

This is a nice set up but not a whole lot to see unless you are looking for birds. Took a family of 8, 6 of them kids, who got bored very quickly. They did have a large alligator, Big Padre, and some tortoises that the kids loved but not worth the $70 we paid for the 8 of us. We're not much into birds so maybe that it why we didn't get much out of it.

First time to the new facility. Very impressed with exhibits. Plenty of different varieties of turtles and sea creatures. Good contact with staff/docents.

Every time you go there is an opportunity to see different wildlife. I recommend you participate in the bird walks if possible.

They had more alligators than we saw in Florida! They had lots to see and a 5 star museum! We fed baby turtles! Excellent for kids ...bring a small umbrella for extra shade and wear bug spray.

Loved the boardwalks and all the info that they had at various overlooks. Be sure to climb to the top for a super view of the area.
The birding was good.

We had a great time here. Big Padre is awesome! We purchased the adventure pack so we got to wade with and hold the young gators.

Awesome birds close enough to see. I would love to walk the boardwalks everyday, but they charge $10. Saw several new birds for me: Great kiskadee was so cool (5 at once)

My wife and I took our two young kids here. We went on a sunny day so we could see everything very well. Alligators were just as cool as the birds.

Enchanting place - many bird species to observe. Bring a pair of binoculars if you can. Great walk with plenty of observation decks.

Worth the 6 hour drive from Austin. What a beautiful beach. Not busy at all. We walked for miles this morning. Clean the waters mighty fine. There’s a pier to stroll on and a great bar Claytons on the beach. What a fantastic place to visit😊

Don’t miss this, the weather was not cooperating to walk way out, but will definitely return. Friendly, knowledgeable staff, great for all ages

Beautifully maintained. Wish I had a few more hours there as it was exciting to look for nature in their habitat.

What a gift to the birds and to the people too! We were so impressed by this center! Their boardwalks over the mangroves were just stellar. The information signs spread throughout the center were a great help in identifying the birds we saw as well. We were quite impressed! Got some of the most gorgeous pictures here. We saw everything from herons to roseate spoonsbills to even sea osprey!

We've been traveling down the Texas Gulf Coast wildlife refuge to wildlife refuge. Thought we'd seen at least one of every species along the coast. But SPI Birding Center still managed to get us excited with birds new to us. Specifically, the reddish egret and the great kiskadee. Love the thrill of discovery!
We were there on a rainy day and the last ones off the boardwalk. The birds didn't mind the rain. We didn't either.
Be sure to go next door, see the Whaling Wall and wander their boardwalks.

Terrific guided 2 hour birding tour starting at 8:30 am (book it online) and led by Javi, naturalist, just $5 in addition to admission and absolutely worth it. Short, level boardwalk (about 3/4 of a mile) covering several habitats (salt water mangrove to the bay to fresh water) with a variety of birds frequenting each area. Tranquil stroll with lots of stops to admire the many birds. Javi set up his own telescope for us, in order to highlight certain birds, their plumage and even a huge shell. He was extremely knowledgeable and delighted in pointing out the different birds to us.

There is also a small alligator habitat at the beginning of the bird walk.

Great experience!

This is a worthwhile visit. The boardwalk trail is an easy walk for the young and old. Lots of birds to observe and some Gators. We attended a talk about Alligators with Jake which I would recommend. It was very informative and interesting. Gizmo, a small Alligator, was a special guest at the talk.

Nice visit, loved the boardwalk and views. Staff were friendly and helpful. Clean and well kept, not your average tourist trap. Worth the time to visit.

Booked myself onto their early morning bird walk. It was a bit more than 1.5 hours all on their boardwalk.

We saw fabulous water birds both from saltwater and from freshwater. Every kind of Egret and Heron, plus a fabulous selection of ducks, as well as spoonbills, and alligators.

They will lend you binoculars if you don't have a pair with you.

Nice setting and variety of wildlife, including alligators and tortoises. There are several shaded units with seating to rest. The only downside is it is next to a power substation, but you won't notice if you don't go to the north part of the site. You can hold a baby gator and a ball python snake if you pay extra.

Beautifully maintained preserve. The amount of birds we saw was just amazing, so many different species! A great place to spend an afternoon!

Beautiful and relaxing! We love visiting and seeing all of the birds, fish, crabs, and alligators! Didn't get to see the two big ones (alligators), but the walk was so serene!

The staff at the SPI Birding Center are exceptional. They are very informative and knowledgeable about their jobs.These educators are the best I have ever had the pleasure to meet in my life.

The nature center is lovely, but the boardwalk was exceptional! It was so long and well maintained. We saw tons of birds and lots of variety. I'd go back weekly if I lived closer.

Loved this place! Alligator talks, great educational exhibits, tower u can go up to see all around the island. The boardwalk is well kept and we saw tons of fiddler crabs, hermit crabs, birds, fish. They have their own tortoises which you can feed and pet, and some alligators that you can feed also, the kids had a blast! Also very inexpensive. The employees really seem to love what they do and have a lot of enthusiasm for the animals. We will visit again if we are in the area!

Very nice place for bird watching (we saw over 16 different species). The alligators are very impressive. Unfortunately there is a water treatment plant right next door which gives off a very unpleasant smell.

This is a must experience place. Get close to gators, tortoises, birds, flowers and marshes. Very informative and very relaxing walk. Bring a camera.

Nice place right next to Sea Turtle exhibit. Had nice presentation on alligators and even got to see a baby alligator. Nice little gift shop and you can go to top of building and go out to look at the bay and the nature trails. Long self guided nature trails were pretty nice with places to sit when your feet are tired! Make sure you stop by the turtle cage, one of them will let you scratch behind his ears!!

Birding and Nature Center is a wonderful way to spend time enjoying nature along with a large variety of birds and waterfowl. Well maintained boardwalks for great viewing of the area and very informative guides and staff. Be sure to go up the elevator to see the view of the Birding Center grounds and of South Padre.

This is one of the reasons that we come to SPI so often. Just a wonderful bird sanctuary. And they even have a few resident alligators.
We just about always see something spectacular when we go. This last time, we saw an osprey flying with a big fish in its talons and landing on a tall wooden post where he had lunch.

Amazing hour spent there, saw a lot of different birds, fish, turtles and even crocodiles. A lot of information here and there to learn all you want about birds.

I suggest visiting either early morning or late afternoon, as the bird activity is highest at those times. Walking through the sanctuary is a fascinating experience. The diversity of bird life is wonderful. Signs along the boardwalk assist one in noting species frequently seen in the area. Binoculars are helpful, one can rent a pair if you wish. Time is important, as a leisurely pace helps in observing and leaving the wildlife as undisturbed as possible.

Boardwalk was a nice area to walk around and see the different wildlife. Loved the view from the higher floors.

The board walk trail isn't that long, but it offers various types of birds fairly close. Really thrilled to see a Clapper Rail out in the open, a Least Bittern catching a snack, Green Heron, Belted Kingfishers, Roseate Spoonbills, a Redstart, etc.

This was a very entertaining and educational venture. We spent more time than I thought we would looking at birds, fish butterflies and American Alligators. If you go, make sure you sit in on one of the gator talks.

I loved holding the snake and baby alligator. I saw the adult alligators up close and enjoyed feeding the tortoises.

The nature trail is well worth the while to take in. You will also be able to see a number of shorebirds.

Although it was hotter than Satan's backside, the walk through the refuge was excellent! Coastal birds of all types, as well as water critters everywhere. A fun and educational opportunity. Staff was very helpful.

very well kept lighthouse and boardwalks out to the bay and back another route - a loop trail. They offer a presentation on the alligators which was entertaining and informative - be sure to catch it. There are tons of smaller alligators in the santuary to see and appreciate what they are doing for these critters and then there is Big Padre. Hard to tell if he was real so just accept he is and hear his story. It was very windy and chilly on our visit but I think it was be great in some warm sunny weather. There is a fee and a gift shop (of course) and information station. There is a butterfly garden but it was too cold for them to be in the area just yet.

I have been to other boardwalks along the Texas Coast but I was truly impressed with this one. The boardwalks wind through multiple marshy habitats and we saw so many varieties of birds pretty close by. Wonderful photographs! Be forewarned, there is an admission charge and the hours are limited.

Watching Big Padre get his breakfast was pretty cool. Knowledgeable staff. Fun to walk the planks and to go up into the observation tower It ‘s inexpensive to visit. All day passes. I’m told to go early in the morning or early evening for best bird wstching

Fantastic boardwalk nature trail winds through saltwater mangroves and fresh water marshes. Observing osprey catch their breakfast was a 1st for us. The guided tour by Javi was very informative and added to our great experience. The view from the observation deck is awesome.

This is a wonderful place to visit when you are on South Padre Island. Just outside the center as you begin on the walkway you encounter a couple of lagoons with alligators, probably between 30 to 40 of them, with a great walkway to observe them from. They have built a very long walkway that leads you through marshland and out to mud flats of the Gulf with lots of interesting birds and other wildlife. In fact in once area it looked like a Blue Heron was tempting an alligator to come after it, just staying far enough away to not get caught. Nothing really transpired, but the anticipation was worth it. Highly recommended and good value for the cost of entrance.

We were really excited to visit this facility and really disappointed. My husband takes pictures as a hobby and for a part time career. The day that we visited there was nothing to take pictures of.

This was great, well worth the small amount they charge. While there, you walk on raised walkways throughout a nature preserve. We saw multiple alligators, turtles, fish and many species of birds. They have a gift shop and some inside displays that are all included in the cost. You go at your own pace, and the entry fee is good for the entire day so you are able to come and go. Definitely spend some time here.

Great walk on a very nice boardwalk with lots of wildlife to see. The breeze feels great on a hot day. Get to see many gators very very close. The lookout was a great finale.

Wow. We visited a lot of wildlife parks on our trip in the Rio Grande, and this was the best. So many birds of many different species. In your face. Was surprised when we came back our second day at 7 a.m. We had the place all to ourselves. Was best time of day to see the most birds and the light was fantastic.

Our favorite was holding the juvenile gators. After learning about the gators a staff member made sure we were able to see Big Padre and his girlfriend to get some pictures. He made the experience even more memorable.

Take the time to walk around and see the sites here. We loved it! Very informative and educational for all ages. Plus a great gift shop.

We took the bird watching tour starting at 9 am. The guide was very knowledgeable and even though it was lightly raining but windy we had a great time. We were pleased with the mini-display of animals and the videos provided by the center. We come here every year for birding and generally find a species new for us.

I joined a group of Wonderful Women with a passion to bring awareness to all the trash on our beaches. We were in the Annual Trashion Show held on South Padre Island.

This is a fun place to visit. It was hot when we went, but the boardwalk has a lot of great things to look at and informational boards along the way. We loved feeding the alligators and tortoises! The inside museum offers a lot of good information and live animals to look at. The view from the observation tower makes a great photo! They also had good enforcement of COVID-19 precautions... face masks required inside and on the boardwalk when physical distancing is not possible.

Way fun, really educational, if you love birds and nature this is a must see! The building is clean with lots of good exhibits and the boardwalk is worth the walk!

Love seeing the animals close up in their own habitat and being able to hold alligators and feed them. In addition the bird watching is fantastic. Take your binoculars or rent some for $3, it is worth it! Don't forget to look in the water too! We saw so many fish and crabs! A great way to spend a summer morning!

We arrived in the late morning and stayed through mid to late afternoon. I expected birding could be a little slow but was surprised to find good numbers of water birds with great viewing options. There is a tower but not sure it affords views as good as the boardwalks that take you out into the wetland areas.

Wonderful oasis of calm- lots of wildlife and easily accessible. Well worth the $6 admission. Not only birds but at least 3 turtle species,lizards and alligators.

Highly recommend, Beautiful, my adult children loved the tortoises and being able to hold an aligator for a photo! Information and the staff was so Kind!

This was a very fun place to spend a couple hours at. The boardwalk is great and goes quite far. We saw alligators and all kinds of different birds on our walk. They also have classes on different reptiles and you can even touch/hold an alligator, snake etc. Nice gift shop too!

What a great way to explore South Texas wildlife & Nature !!! A very nice indoor presentation of native wildlife...then take a long walk on the boardwalk to see nature at it’s best. Birds to alligators !!!

We enjoyed a couple hours here learning about the different birds and animals. Very informative and beautiful boardwalks

Learned a lot about rescued Turtle and the way human being can help them out moving forward.
Very eye opening how we are destroying our beautiful nature.

A beautiful walk. So many pretty birds! Feeding the tortoises was worth the price of admission!! Be sure to take a good camera and bring/rent binoculars!

Really really enjoyed this, lots to see! Go if you can when they feed the old gator Padre, It is something to see!! He is 55 years old and 800-900 pounds! You can see fish, birds and turtles!

This was a pleasant surprise! Very nice facility, friendly staff! Loved the long boardwalk around the property and onto the bay....hang on to your hat! A variety of birds throughout, lots of gators and several large tortoises. Mid week in September was a fantastic time to go, light amount of guests and relaxful walking. Signage was very informative. very nicely maintained.

The SPI Birding and Nature is really a neat side trip to take. Either with friends or family. Your children will enjoy seeing the different species of birds. But the best part is trying to locate the two alligators!

A very nice board walk self guided tour. Lots of information stops and viewing benches. Take your time and enjoy the Maudre

made it for the 10th anniversary. a must visit. so amazing and staff is stellar. beautiful boardwalk.

Very nice place. you can spend all day or just a few hours. Very nice walk with a lot of viewing to see.

This was a wonderful activity that anyone who visits South Padre Island should go. It is a location where many birds, fish, turtles, and alligators live. If you ave the timing correct you will see some migratory birds. Some have bright plumage and beaks.
Word of advice, bring sunscreen, water, hats, and comfortable shoes. There is almost no shade available while walking on site. Also, you do not walk in the actual marsh and water. They have some nicely planned and maintained board walks with railings. I also suggest you bring a camera and be ready to take a shot because sometimes the birds fly by. I, on multiple occasions, saw a crane fly by and was too awed by what I saw before I could take a picture.
You can buy alligator food and turtle food so you may feed them. I suggest you buy that. The turtle feeding is more fun. In fact, you can touch the turtle's shell. Stay away from the face. When you feed them the turtle cannot tell the difference between your finger and a carrot so watch yourself and you children while feeding them.
It was hot, the wind was not blowing, there were no clouds, and it was humid. The length of the walk and amount to look at means I suggest you take your time...about 2 - 3 hours. Also, when you walk by a set of trees, then walk by them again, you will see other wildlife.
This is a sensitive area so be careful with your trash.
There is also a tall structure you can go up in to see all around. That is also a must. There is an elevator you can take to the top so you do not need to take the stairs. People with disabilities should not have problems getting around. The boardwalk is wide enough, in my opinion, to get around.

This was more than I expected it to be. They are now also a rescue center for alligators so a lot to see. There are boardwalks to walk through the area and down to the water. You can see a lot of different wildlife while walking.

For us, it's worth the price (we get a week's pass, try to visit daily). Well-maintained (recycled surface) extensive boardwalk with many different habitats viewable. Daily (?) morning birdwalks done by volunteers (who vary in terms of a balance of knowledge and enthusiasm but are always helpful). Butterfly garden (only monarchs and queens seen in Feb this year). Good gift shop (but it's behind the pay wall). Electronic sign-in kiosks are touchy and a bit of a PITA.

I wish the price included holding the snake and baby gator but the nature walk was great. Plenty of variety of birds to see along the long path.
We got to see a bunch of the great blue herons catching fish.
The kids got to warm an alligators foot with their hands.
Heaps of juvenile alligators reside in a pond right outside the main building along with a handful of large tortoises that are all really close.
Cool stop.

Great place for seeing alligators, don't miss Big Padre, native birds and sea life. It's a very relaxing place to visit.

Had a great time at the Birding Center, saw lots of beautiful animals and the scenery is awesome . Will go back again when it a little bit cooler temp and different birds have migrated to South Padre Island.

This place was great for kids-snakes tortoises gators birds and ecosphere boardwalk!!!!!! Feed tortoises and gators

Right across from our hotel so we gave it a try. And a fun place to spend some time. Great idea to wear good walking shoes.

You can take the shuttle out to the Birding Center. They have different types of passes and memberships. Always an educator availlable.

Their boardwalk was unexpectedly long but wonderful! So many unique birds to see as well as turtles and alligators. They have a mini museum and lovely gift shop. Learned a lot!

Spent a good amount of our visit here. Wonderful layout with informational bird blinds for visitors. Saw many new birds for us. A special treat was the viewing tower. We could have spent most of our time up there. Also, the indoor area had very informative displays pertaining to wildlife and geography. We saw the baby alligators fed. We attended every day of our visit as it seemed new each time. Will definitely return next visit. Take plenty of water to hydrate.

I was very excited to visit the facility, since I am an avid birdwatcher and nature enthusiast. We fed the tortoises and then walked along the boardwalk towards “Big Padre’s” area. The workers were trying to motivate the alligator into showing himself to the bystanders. He did not come up to the surface, and the one worker started poking him with a pipe. At first he used a short pipe, but the alligator tried to hide in deeper waters and then he continued to harass him with a longer pipe. I asked them to stop, but they continued to poke the alligator and agitate him so that he could get out of the water and the spectators could take a picture of him (I assume). Then the other worker started splashing the water with a broom. This really annoyed the poor animal and he was outraged when he arose out of the water and made a deep sound and bit off the bottom of the broom. Of course this was applauded by the small audience, since conservation apparently equals sensationalism. I felt sick to my stomach and reported the incident to the person working at the cashier register and she was not overly friendly and referred me to the manager. He was professional and agreed that this type of treatment is unacceptable. I had to leave the facility, because the lack of respect towards nature under the artificial label of “conservation” broke my heart. Please, that animal has the right to peace. How many times should he be subjected to this type of harassment in a day?
I was trying to escape the rat race only to be reminded of the preposterous commercialization and insensitive treatment of animals and the gorgeous coast.

What a horrific experience.

Since this attraction opened we have been stopping by to view the birds and now the alligators. In the UK our Astoria population is very seldom seen, and here they are striving.
I hope everyone realizes what a special place is the South Texas ecosystem.

Usually a good collection of birds to be seen. The canter has some nice info and displays.

I feel like $12. is high for a boardwalk next to the sewage treatment plant. The smells can be overwhelming if you get a wrong breeze. If you walk up the tower you will get a view into the sewage treatment operation some things you cannot un-see..! I wish I would have never have walked up the tower..

It was a nice place to visit! It was very interesting, Would recommend to people visiting the island,

We spent some time walking the boardwalk to see many species of local fish and waterfowl. They also have a interesting Aligator pond where to rehabiltate gators from the wild. This place is a non profit conservation organization and the addmission is less than $10.

If you love birds, this is a neat place to view many variety of birds. A great place to photograph birds too. There are covered sitting areas when you reach the ends of the each walking paths.

I actually found this place through trip advisor
So glad we came
From feeding rhe tortoise to see the juvenile alligator
The different birds around and seeing Padre the alligator,the 2nd floor has a museum which is small but neat to check out
It was an amazing experience
Its good for Teens and Younger kids!

Fantastic boardwalk through the wetlands and marshes. Amazing bird, fish and other wildlife. Takes about an hour. Highly recommend you feed the turtles!

This was a wonderful easy to end or trip. As bidders were were impressed with the beauty of the area. Great boardwalk with covered areas to rest at.

The building and boardwalks are well taken care of and easy to navigate. There is a beautiful look out tower that you can access via steps or an elevator. Once on top of the look out you have a birds eye view of SPI and the surrounding area. We were also able to purchase bird seed and feed some of the birds. They were very fun to watch. The day of our visit we were also lucky enough to see one of the elusive alligators that call this reserve home. Well worth the visit. You can also enjoy a gorgeous sunset on the boardwalk!

Thank you, thank-you so much Brittany for befriending us and giving us a lesson on birding. You are an amazing person and you made us "winter texans" feel right at home. I wish would could have posted our thanks on the SPI Birding website but there doesn't seem to be a place for that. We loved meeting you and loved the whole experience. Thanks again

This is a nice place to slow down your vacation. There are a lot of alligators, turtles, birds, etc to look at. I really liked the boardwalks that took you through trees, marshes, and out to the bay. They have pretty large sea turtles that you can feed. My favorite was the Pink Spoonbill, they reminded me of mini flamingos. The admission price is fair and the staff is friendly. There is also an upper level that you can go to for a great view of the property and the bay.

Watched alligators being fed. That was a sight to see!
It was also fun to see all the beautiful birds in that region of Texas.
Really nice boardwalk to walk on around the preserve.

A good place for social distancing during Covid. A beautiful walk through plants and the ocean. Good family photo ops. Lots of interesting birds that will be fascinating for the whole family. Alligators and turtles, too! Must have a mask to enter.

Enjoyed our time birding. We spent nearly 2 hours observing not just birds, also many water creatures.

I highly recommend visiting the Center. We also recommend taking the free guided tour. Fran and George were our volunteer guides and they were great! Very knowledgeable and pointed out all the different birds - it was a great photo opportunity. The alligator part was interesting but our main interest was the birds. We also saw a few butterflies in the gardens but apparently this is often depending what the the weather. Be sure to take or rent binoculars to take full advantage as the birds are sometimes at quite a distance away.

We visit the Birding Center each time we visit South Padre Island. On this trip we took a guided bird walk there for the first time.
We were on the walk for 3 hours, and enjoyed every minute of the time. Our volunteer guide, Robert, is very knowledgeable as well as friendly and patient. He answers all questions about the center's birds and wildlife, and seems to enjoy the experience as much as the visitors do.
Bird walks occur at 9 am and 1 pm, but I recommend the morning walk if possible because the birds seem to be more active and abundant in the morning.
Binoculars are available for rent ($3.00)

I love the island because it's so uncommercial. Having a place to just enjoy nature is ideal. We saw birds, turtles, alligators, butterflies and more! The walking trails are peaceful and I highly recommend.

Visited on 19th November on our trip to SPI
We visit every year and have seen one maybe two Alligators, but this time they had 50 plus. They now have rescue & rehabilitation for Aligators. 50 young Alligators, plus two adults, Big Padre & his wife Bella.
Keep up the great work you all do.
Had a wonderful time.
Cant wait to go back.

We saw lots of alligators and a wide range of birds. It was fun and a nice walk to all the bird blinds.

It was great to share birding with my kids. Saw quite a few species and had a knowledgable guide! Would love to go back in a different season as well.

Originally a birding and nature trail into the wetlands in Laguna Madre. It recently became an alligator rescue. They work with Gator Country in Beaumont, TX as well. Enjoyed the education as well as the walk. My son was able to hold a small alligator and a boa for an extra fee.

I joined in the guided Nature Tour led by George and Fran. They were both very informative about gators, fish and birds. We saw many birds. Two knowledgeable bireders who are children saw 44
“Life birds” the days before while doing this tour.

A great place.We visit most years and love looking for different birds.Plus the alligators,fish and crabs

Friendly and informative staff. Perfect place to bird watch while strolling along the path. Many great wildlife encounters to observe.

The indoor exhibits and outdoor areas combine for a very good nature center. We happened to get there in time for a lecture on alligators that was very interesting. The volunteers there were very helpful with information and stories about the birders, etc. A nice way to spend an hour or two.

My children and their spouses were visiting and we went to the birding center. We attended the short introduction and then had the privilege of holding a baby alligator and a boa. Great experience. Had another commitment so we’re unable to take the walk but they all were interested enough to do that the next time they visit

We took a guided tour with one of their volunteers - Rose Ann - she was excellent! Rose Ann was very knowledgeable about the Center and the ecosystem of SPI. We were fortunate to see many birds. We are not “birders” but we really enjoyed the tour and learning more about the natural world. One advantage of the guided tour was that we had admission for the entire Center the rest of the day. We took advantage of that “advantage” leaving for lunch and returning for the afternoon. Also a nice location to see many alligators and learn about their relocation procedures for “nuisance alligators.”

In town for a town for a day and drove to south padre to see the dunes. Although it was a little chilly it was so beautiful.

Birds, alligators and snakes, oh my! This is a very educational and interesting place to visit. Our only disappointment was not getting to see Big Padre, their almost 15 foot Bull alligator. He was shy the day we went. Great for the young and the young at heart.

Nice assemblage of birds in a progression of coastal ecosystems moving from freshwater wetlands through brackish wetlands to saltwater flats. We saw many types of herons, stilts, rails, ducks, pelicans, and raptors. There were also roseated spoonbills at the center. several viewing areas separated by boardwalks. take a camera, as you can get pretty close to the birds.
Open 8:00 am-5 PM and has $48 fee for adults.

We were on a motor coach (bus) tour from the Chicago / Wisconsin area visiting sights in South Texas and our tour company chose the SPI Birding & Nature Center for our morning activity. The morning we visited was a bit foggy but it didn't deter us from having a wonderful experience. The young man we had for a guide was experienced and knowledgeable that described the Nature Center and it's inhabitants.

This place offers a beautiful and peaceful journey through nature. The staff were lovely people and very helpful.

We come this past Saturday,
The place is very nice, the staff is super fun, helpful and kind.
They explain you all kind of things, they had a talk about crocodiles and after that we went out to see them in a pond.

We were told they were rescued, and brought over here,

In here you can see turtles, fishes, a lot of birds, and crocodiles,

Please be aware to bring adequate clothing, you will need a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen to say the least.

Also, you can bring your bottle of water and refill it if you need it.

My 4 year old daughter had a blast here, 100% recommended if you like this kind of activities.

A good place to spend some time either alone or with family or friends. Beside birds you can see aligators, turtles, butterflies and a good view of the Laguna Madre. I like it best in the morning and late afternoon when it is less crowded, but I have never had a bad experience there. Even on a hot day you can find a shady spot to sit and enjoy the breeze. It gives you a glimpse of what this island was like beefore the hotels and condos arrived.

We enjoyed our visit and really like to be able to go at our own pace. The weather was hot and humid, but we saw a good amount of birds and wildlife. The alligator feeding was interesting to watch. Would recommend to go early due to the heat. Take your camera..preferably with a zoon lens!

We loved the sanctuary! We were in time for a presentation that was not only informative but highly entertaining! The alligators are very cool, and we thoroughly enjoyed the boardwalk and many birds we saw there!

A bit windy but wonderful. We went early before the crowd arrived and saw a lot of interesting sites. From big Padre to a live crap just inches over the edge of the boardwalk.

Birds of all types and gators were seen along the wooden pathway. Less than a mile walk we saw a variety of birds. Worth the stop. They do have a tower to climb if you want as well as other displays.

We stopped and fed the tortoises, the juvenile alligators and learned SOOOO MUCH about Big Padre. You must plan to visit when they are feeding him or you miss so much information and the the opportunity to see him (he is not always visible). Took the opportunity with the adventure ticket for my daughter to hold a snake and a baby alligator. Great pictures and memories! Walked thru the birding "boardwalk". Recommend bug spray for that part of the visit as the mosquitos enjoyed me a lot. Saw birds, fish, tiny crabs and a beautiful view of the ocean from the bird blinds. Fun for the whole family!!

The Birding Center has expanded since my last visit to include tortoises, rescued alligators, and butterfly garden. The price also went up. I still recommend for an educational, low key observance of nature.

We went about noon and we did not see many birds - but the alligators were awesome and we fed the alligators and turtles. We bought the ticket for our daughter to hold the snake and alligator for photos and that was fun. This place is very well done. The piers were so nice and walking trails. Go up in the lookout tower and while slightly gross the bird eye view of the city’s water processing plant was also a very up close look at waste water.

We spent about 2 hours here and I wanted more. Educational, relaxing, and hand fed alligators... all amount to a great time.

We had so much fun learning about alligators and their habitat! Met some really nice people today! They care about the natural environment of all the animals! I recommend everyone to visit and support the SPI Birding and Natural Conservatory they are people who care for nature!! Thank y’all for a Great visit!!!!

right next to sea turtle inc., make a day of it. inexpensive admission, great views, quiet, plenty of places to check out local wildlife, and informative staff on-hand. Do go up to the third floor observation deck for a view of the island, and a great perspective on the Laguna Madre marshland.

As birders we were excited to visit the birding and nature center. We were very impressed with the boardwalks which transverse the mangroves out to the bay. The site is near the water treatment plant, so the area includes fresh water ponds, brackish water and finally the salty bay. This habitat allowed us to view a variety of species of birds - egrets, herons, ducks, gulls, grackles, spoonbills, pelicans, warblers and many others. We spent a few hours in the morning and were allowed reentry before closing at 5pm. Once on the boardwalks, you could stay even after the center was closed, so we were able to experience a beautiful sunset. The birds seemed to be used to people, so we could get very close and get some beautiful photos. There are also free boardwalks from the convention center, but these did not cover as much variety as those at the birding center. The center also had a turtle and alligator area which would be great to show the kids.

Really enjoyed learning about the rescues of alligators and seeing the baby alligators and Big Padre. The boardwalk is really nice, we saw lots of beautiful birds- ibis, spoonbills, and pelicans among others. Enjoyable outing, well worth the entrance fee!

wonderful birding and nature center definitely would tour again, just be sure what day they are closed

We really enjoyed our afternoon visit! Our docent was from the state we were from so that made it really special. Her knowledge of the sanctuary and the wildlife there was so helpful. We enjoyed seeing the alligators and the turtles. It was so nice to actually see and hear birds singing!!!! Lovely walk on even walkways to enjoy the beauty of nature. Great fun for all - handicapped accessible. social distancing and sanitization followed with hand sanitizing stations throughout.

Let me say we have been coming here for years to enjoy the birds and the knowledgeable staff. Unfortunately, they have now moved to more of a zoo atmosphere featuring non native species (African tortoises, boa constractors) and alligator rescue. We have no problem with the gator rescue, except it has taken away the once lovely bird habitat and replaced with gators. The staff at the desk stated this was a money making decision and "the kids love it." My husband and I think this is a sad turn and wonder if management or ownership changed hands.

They had diverse boardwalks from mainland to bay and pond areas. Lots of birds but if you are short on time the convention center laguna madre trail is free and practically the same.

It was great being so close to the birds. We loved watching the birds flying back and forth and feeding in the gulf bay. My granddaughter also enjoyed seeing the alligators.

This is definitely a must visit place! Great for families, everyone was incredibly nice and the kids learned a lot from the experience. The kids got to hold an alligator and a snake and they loved it!

This is a place i like to visit yearly. This year they have added features. They added captive tortoises to watch and alligators. I love the layout of the center and the multiple opportunities to see all types of birds. I great place for anyone interested in birds.

My kids are not big fans of birds so I was concerned they wouldn't enjoy this. As we walked up, we were greeted by an adorable duck-type bird that seems to be some sort of hanger-on who gets fed around there. We missed the feeding of the biggest alligator, Big Padre who is HUGE. We did buy food for the smaller alligators and the tortoises. We then went back inside and were the only ones there for the last alligator talk of the day. My kids got a basically private talk about alligators (and bearded dragons since they had some there at the time). It was awesome and the kids were engaged (well the older ones) the whole time! I wish we'd had more time to walk the whole boardwalk.

Great stop for people of all ages... the boardwalk is accessible for strollers, wheelchairs, walkers, etc. The sights and sounds of nature is a nice break from the beach. We enjoyed looking at the flowers and seeking out various birds and the coveted alligators (which we never found). We did not rent binoculars so only saw what was visible up front. Nonetheless we thoroughly enjoyed the walk with nature. Some of the birds come scrambling towards you if they so much as hear the crinkling bag of seed so be prepared. The view from the top of the observation tower is stunning! Tip... you can purchase adult beverages inside and sit out on the deck area taking in the serenity and beauty.

We loved walking the board walk and seeing all the wildlife, from fishes, to birds, to alligators, and tortoises we thoroughly enjoyed the wildlife. We also got to see a gator talk and learned a lot about alligators, especially that the worst thing you can do to an alligator is feed it. We loved hearing Big Padre's story and how the birding and wildlife center came to also be an Alligator Sanctuary. Gator Jake was funny, and so knowledgeable and clearly has a passion for gators, he did a great gator talk!

This is a wonderful experience to see the fish, birds, reptiles on South Padre. It is a beautiful facility with helpful personnel and volunteers. A turtle worker made a special effort to educate us and to feed the turtles. It is all very well done and kept up. Bring your camera and a hat.

So many different animals and great views. We got to touch some baby alligators during one of their free shows. Nice walk on a beautiful day.

And I am not even a birder! We saw lots of birds - some familiar from our home in MN. We went on the tour with a lovely, retied gentleman. He was SO knowledgeable!

Really nice walk through the grounds-saw beautiful birds-and the baby alligators. Staff knowledgeable And very friendly—even got to feed a tortoise!

We only spent a short time here due to the high winds but could see the potential for a fun experience at a later time. The garden that is a Eagle Scout Project was a plus to have at the entry. The water features are relaxing while searching the water pools for the turtles and fish.

Gotta visit here, no questions.
They don’t force you off the boardwalk after 5 pm but the building closes. So get on the boardwalk by 5 and stay till sunset. Museum is pretty good and you ca. Learn something about ecology if you care. Turtle snakes, owls and baby crocs are pretty awesome too.

This was one of the highlights of our trip! For a small additional fee, you get a short class on their alligators, then get to take photos with a baby alligator! We were also able to take photos with a python named Lola. It was way cooler than I could have imagined, and our group (ages 35 to 50) all thoroughly enjoyed it along side many ages, including kids. We spent a couple hours there. You could easily spend more or less depending on how in depth you want to explore. There was a person working there named Phillip who was very kind and knowledgeable and eager to share his knowledge with you if you were interested (we were, and loved getting a chance to speak with him about the gators and the rabbit especially).

It was a sunny, but windy day. We went on a bird walk with two volunteer guides - Cathy and Kathy. They were knowledgeable about the birds as well as the area which made it all the better.
The entire area is a series of boardwalks with railings. That meant you really did not have to watch your footing like you may on trails.
They sell duck food and that made the ducks come in closer. So I got some decent photos. We saw lots of different wading birds and ducks. I suspect the wind was keeping the smaller birds in hiding because other than grackles and blackbirds - we did not see any.
There were a few spoonbills in the pond at the end - nice to see.
We saw a loggerhead shrike, actually two at the end of the parking lot as we were getting back to the nature center.
We went out for lunch and then came back. There was a nice photo exhibit there with the names of the birds on one floor. We also went to the top of the building for a nice outdoor view of the entire area. We took the steps, but they have an elevator. All in all - it was worth the $10 or so to get in. Less windy weather would have helped, but it was still a nice day.

My daughter and granddaughter at first rejected the notion of visiting here after leaving Sea Turtle next door, but found it the highlight of their trip! The long boarded walkways and explanatory panels regarding various birds, not to mention sighting them and watching them in their natural habitat was a sight to behold! We saw two tags indicating alligator sightings, but we did not see any. The highlight was seeing several flamingos. All in all, a very peaceful and pretty place to walk and watch the wildlife.

This place has so much wildlife! They have alligators, tortoises, birds, fish and even crabs! I love how we were given arm bands and were allowed to come and go as we pleased throughout the day. It wasn’t too crowded which was a huge plus. I definitely recommend checking this out if you’re in the area.

This is a neat place to go if you like wildlife. Buy the food for the alligators and turtles. We enjoyed doing it. Go early during the hot months. Make sure to go up in the observation tour. Take the elevator if you don’t want to do the stairs.

Well maintained facility with lot of activities. Renting out binoculars is a great idea. We saw many birds during our visit there. We were not lucky enough to see an alligator. View from the viewing tower was great. The Gift store had lot of wonderful things.

We loved the talks they had about the alligators and getting to hold a snake and alligator! The beautiful scenery and trail they had was nice and observing birds and fish and all kinds of life. The staff was so friendly and the facility was very clean and organized! Very entertaining and informational.

Very educational place for the kids. They bring out baby alligators and snakes that the kids can hold and touch. There is all sorts of wildlife to see in their natural habitat if you walk out on the boardwalks that take you through the shores of the Laguna Madre. Beautiful, educational and relaxing. Lots of different birds to see.

The birding center was very attractive and the boardwalk area well maintained. The cost is also very reasonable. We really enjoyed the alligator talk and watching them feed “big padre”. The only drawback was there were no birding guides because of COVID. The guides are really what you are paying for because you can park and walk the boardwalk for free. I still feel it was worth the investment.

There were so many animals. The building and trails were well maintained. So many cool alligators.

Terrific place full of knowledgable people to make your experience fun and educational. We went fairly early in the morning and saw many different species of birds, even though it is not the high season for birding. We spent almost 3 hours bird watching. There are alligators the kids will love too

The nature and birding center was totally worth visiting! If you are a nature or bird lover, this place is a must visit! I saw so many different types of wildlife: birds, crabs, turtles, fish, gators. There is a long boardwalk that stretches out over the acres of wetlands and extends over the ocean. Bring your camera! The best part was learning about their gator rescue, and getting to watch the keepers feed Big Padre, their 12 foot 50 year old alligator rescue. I learned a lot about alligator rescue! Be sure to wear sunscreen because I didn’t anticipate how long the boardwalk would be. Very good place to visit!

This little adventure was so much fun. Even for us older couples. The crew was awesome especially that cute bartender !!!! Thanks for an enjoyable cruise.

It was very interactive… Waking up and feeding the alligator was a plus…lots of birds to see and very educational.

Really a super place. The building was great and the lookout great. The boardwalk was a fantatsic hour stroll in the morning for us. The fish were cool.

Great nature center - friendly staff, well-maintained boardwalks, many places to sit/rest. Water fountains available, excellent viewing tower. Great way to spend half day in SPI!

We went here to see the alligators and to walk around a bit. The elevated paths were great! We spent a couple of hours walking around and climbing the stairs to see wonderful views of Padre from the top observation deck.

The best thing about this place was the staff person who gave a very interesting talk about alligators. He was funny and informative. There was also a feeding demonstration with their 2 largest alligators outdoors. The walkways were easy to follow, and there were all sorts of migratory birds to see. Very small gift shop area.

My family and I had an amazing time at the Birding and Nature center. The staff was very helpful and you could tell they were passionate about what they do. It was a great experience feeding the tortoises. My kids loved that the most. The view from the tower was breathtaking. This was a great educational visit for my family.

Awesome place right next to the turtle hospital they have turtles that you can feed and touch alligators that you can feed and a pretty nice aquarium on the inside very clean and boardwalk was very long we saw all kinds of animals and birds along our walk

A must see when you visit South Padre Island. A great place for bird watching and viewing alligators.

Great boardwalk, we took the morning tour at additional cost which was great. I would recommend it, the volunteers are fabulous. Lots birds to be seen which u might miss without experts helping you. Worth a visit with or without tour.lots of birds and alligators.

Gorgeous. What a wonderful walk through nature. We saw many different varieties of fish, crabs and birds. Even got to see a larger fish hunting the smaller fish. The herons were stunning up close and we saw a family of ducks with the tiniest of ducklings. We were a little sad that we hadn’t spotted a wild alligator and then in the last few minutes of our walk, one swam right by out of the blue!! Big Padre was a little shy today, but he popped his head and tail out enough for us to see how big he is, and his friend Lady Laguna made an appearance. The tortoises were so sweet and engaging. They may have been the best part. Spring a little extra for the the food!! Feeding those guys and the juveniles alligators was definitely worth it.

Highly recommend, there are a few covered bird watching area, and thus can get some shade! we really enjoyed the visit

A guided tour at the Birding Center is something you may not normally do. The tour was given to us as a Christmas gift and we really enjoyed the tour. Bill was extremely knowledgeable and made the tour very interesting. The 2 1/2 hour tour went quickly as Bill kept us moving but gave us time for questions, pictures, etc. A very well done attraction and well worth a morning of your time. Give the Birding Center a try.

Always the best! I went to today for a bird in nature walk but ended up stopping and listening to Javier Gonzalez tell about the alligators and the alligator rescue. Very interesting, absolute mess for any South Padre Island stop!

We had really good time. Lots of long boardwalks to view birds and native wildlife. They also have a gator demonstration where you can hike baby gators, they also have two huge alligators on site as well.

We visited the center while in SPI and really enjoyed it! The kids really liked seeing the alligators, turtles, fish, and the sneaky crabs! It was really windy when we were there, so the blinds far out were a bit chilly, and assuming that may have deterred some of the other species from being there. However, it was still a very fun way to see many different animals at the same time!

We had an amazing visit here at the bird sanctuary! A very informative presentation on local alligators, followed by actually touching and holding a small 2 year old rescue. Amazing boardwalks and native bird habitats. I would highly recommend visiting if you are in the area.

Great stop. yes there is a small charge but they need the support of the boardwalk, facilities etc. Great place to see birds from a safe boardwalk. Have taken some nice photos here or rails, grebes, herons, spoonbills, etc.

As a valley native SPI is somewhere you go often. We intended to do the water park today but the baby woke up with allergies so we decided to go here and the Sea Turtle Hospital. We didn’t even get to do 1/4 of this place because the baby was already tired. We were here about an hour and got to feed the tortoise and see a 750 lb alligator eat his lunch! And we enjoyed the indoor displays and creatures as well. Definitely worth your time to take the family to enjoy the beautiful nature offered here. Staff was very friendly as well! A lot to see and do here!

Boardwalks through marshland and lagoons.There are shady areas with benches throughout the complex.Interpretive center.Sunscreen and bug spray recommended.Unless you are really into nature, not worth the price,the boardwalk next door at the convention center is free.

We enjoyed our walking tour with a most informative guide. We enjoyed the bubbly too. It’s worth the visit,

Went in the afternoon when it was a little warm but there was still a nice breeze.

We tried to feed the alligators but were told they weren't eating then, so we paid $3 to feed the tortoises. Kids loved it, grownups did too.

Enjoyed walking the boardwalk and seeing all the different fish and birds (and alligators of course.)

Would come back again!

We love South padre, and keep coming back whenever we can. The beach is one of the best, with white sand and great people.

SO many different birds to see here. The day we visited there were scissortail flycatchers all over the place! So pretty to see.

Provides a wonderful nature walking trail for enjoying the bounds of nature in SPI from alligators to egrets and a few turltes as well. Very enjoyable trail with much flora and fauna to introduce everyone to the south Texas gulf region. Sure best time would be in the early morning hours or late afternoon, especially during the hot summor or early fall months. Wide assortment of nature to enjoy, good seating and viewing areas.
Display areas inside are not outstanding nor of the quantity or quality expected by many. Film display area is lacking in offerings, informational films or overall personal input normally shown in comparable programs. Average and could use a lot more thought and effort in expressing the mission and goals of the center.

What a wonderful wildlife oasis in the middle of busy South Padre. We spent several enjoyable hours here and it was well worth the time

Had enough sun and sand so went to the birding place. Bought hand held umbrellas at dollar general for shade. Nice walking paths and several covered areas to sit and watch for birds. Alligators. Saw 21 chicks and a mother/daddy duck. Very cute. Very nice employees. Cute barn owl and friendly tortoise. Walk up or take elevator to tower for good view.

We had low expectations. My kids are older and weren’t super excited about another learning experience while on vacation but it ended up being one of our favorite places. So many cool animals. We did the wading experience w the gators. LOVED IT!!

We are so glad that we visited, but wish that we had gone earlier so that we had more time. We only had an hour, but needed at least another 30 minutes or so.

There are 6 birding stations to go to. We weren't there at the right time and didn't see any alligators but they do see them there. It wasn't the right time of year to see the migrating birds but we enjoyed what we did see. I would tell people to go see this place.

Nice long boardwalks above the marsh, with lots of bird sightings available. The water is low due to drought so shore birds are far away. Lots of alligators in the pond, and other displays inside. A haven for photographers.

I went with my mom and learned a lot about local birds, turtles, alligators and other animals. I highly recommend especially if you have children.

We spent over an hour wandering through the building and out all along the walkways out into the waterway. Not the biggest gator I've seen but the most laid back one.

The birding center is a must for Padre Island visitors. The boardwalks make it easy for anyone to enjoy an incredible day watching area and migratory birds. Binoculars are available from the center at little cost and enhance the visit. The entrance fee is very reasonable and allows visitors to come and go throughout the day. This time was my 3rd visit, and I'll go back every time on on South Padre Island.

This was the best visited place of my travel to Padre Island. It was most interesting to learn about the wildlife habitat and nature's plants and flowers. Great scenic views during the walking trail where picture taking is a photographer's dream.

Lots of birds to view and it is a nice walk out into the bay area. The butterfly garden is great. Well kept facility with plenty of parking.

Great way to spend a cool and cloudy day. Very informative with 2 tour guides. Lots of birds to see as well as wonderful indoor exhibit. Great for families too! Take the time to visit!

A good activity to do when not on the beach. It takes about 45 minutes to the walk throughout the marsh.

Nice walkway circling through the channels and reeds. Many birds could be seen close at hand. Easy to go at your own pace but they also had tours to provide educated trips.

Loved the boardwalks throughout for easy viewing. Saw a bowl of rosette spoonbills the day we were there, herons, egrets, an alligator plus many others.

Educational, relaxing and fun experience. My daughter and I visited and enjoyed listening about the alligators before exploring the park. She held a baby gator and python. We fed a couple of the friendly tortoises and the juvenile alligators before continuing along the expansive boardwalk. The marsh area is filled with many bird species. I was thrilled to see a few Roseate Spoonbills- one of several reasons I wanted to visit. I love this incredible and serene birding and nature center and will return whenever I’m in town.

I visited this place for the first time in 2016 and recently went back during a beach trip. They've added a few areas that are wonderful additions to the center, one being an opportunity to feed a tortoise, they sell lettuce leaves so you can get up close and personal and now they have a gator sanctuary that you can view from their boardwalk. You can also feed them but you are much further away from their mouths. Their bayfront boardwalk is relaxing and beautiful, an easy walk that circles back to their main building and giftshop which offers wonderful gifts from young and old alike. I'm so glad I went back for another visit.

The bird sanctuary was awesome. They give you alot of information about wild life in the area besides birds. I never knew that there are alligators in Texas. Besides the building there is a walk way that brings you to see the fish, birds, alligators, and the beach. I would recommend this for singles or families.

Outstanding educational center that showcases local birds and wildlife in a natural environment. East to walk elevated boardwalk takes you through the seaside wetlands where we saw herons (two different kinds), egrets, kingfishers, gulls, ducks, ibis, alligators and tortoise plus spoonbills. There is also an inside display about the south padre island area. Go on a day when you can be outside.

This was a fantastic experience overall! Shortly after we arrived, we attended an alligator talk, including a live baby alligator! There is food for sale to feed the baby rescued alligators and the big turtles, which was fun. You are even allowed to go 'carefully' into the turtle enclosure to feed them. We saw 'Big Padre' being fed at a separate location. Big Padre is a 900 pound alligator that was rescued. The feeding demonstration was very educational. My husband and I particularly enjoyed the boardwalk into the nature sanctuary. It was extensive and beautiful with many, many, crabs, birds, and other wildlife to see and photograph.

There's a tourist tour helicopter flying back and forth overhead all day long completely ruining the experience of this otherwise beautiful and interesting place. It must be so disturbing and disruptive to the wildlife with that noise. It's hard to understand how it can be allowed.
We live in a city with a large international airport, but the noise here is worse. And this is not even peak season. If I worked with the local wildlife, I would fight against that business that offers those tours.

Beautiful place! The boardwalk was very pretty and we got to see lots of birds including spoonbills which the kids loved! Their gator chat is pretty cool as well. They do get their freshwater from waste water on the island so be prepared so some smells. It’s worth checking out if you like nature type stuff!

Loved seeing all of the different birds. The boardwalk around is a little less than a mile’s walk in total. It was fun to take the time & learn what we did. Definitely cool seeing the alligators & tortoises. Also the option of holding an alligator & a huge snake was a hit with our daughter. Worth the small fee to get in. Jasmine & the young guy (with the big knife) were both knowledgeable & helpful with our experience.

If you come for the first time it is worth visiting or if you like to see the alligators. The view from the tower is certainly nice but once you've seen it you can walk on the free board walks starting at the convention center.

This place was really nice. I had been wanting to visit for a while so my husband & I went alone without our kids. It was really nice weather and there were lots of birds & Gators. I got to take lots of nice pix. The 2nd time however we decided to take the kids & it rained. We still very much enjoyed ourselves & our kids had fun & really liked it despite it raining. Definitely recommend for those who like bird watching, scenic photos, & walking. 😁

This is a don't miss experience if you have time to see it while visiting the island. You will be doing a lot of walking as yur read about birds, alligators, butterflies, etc. in their natural habitat. This would be great for the whole family. But not great for children younger than 8. You will walk on a trail about 2.5 miles long. There is impressive information about different birds, and alligators and some insects. I feel it merits taking the time away from sitting on the beach. Extremely educational.