leonabelle turnbull birding center

JimJam01

lovely little birding spot- long boardwalk with several viewing/seating areas, as well as a look out tower. And a resident gator or 2 for your enjoyment!The water is so clear you can watch crabs dart under the walkway and fish swim by. Have never gone that I haven't seen something exciting!

luv2r0am

Don't miss this great bird sanctuary. It's a short walk back to the board walk and observation deck. Bird identification signs were helpful to us, as we weren't familiar with some of the coastal birds who hang out here. We saw one of the resident alligators and at least 20 lovely roseate spoonbills, among other creatures.

mushroommarlene

If it wasn't for not being able to outrun the mosquitoes, I would say spend as much time here as you can, taking in all the wildlife and habitat. We saw numerous shore birds as well as alligators.

annw777

We visited the birding center 3 times over our two day vacation and saw new birds each time. There is a boardwalk low to the water so it's easy to see the wildlife. We saw lots of different kinds of ducks, white Pelicans, great blue herons, green herons, turtles, ruddy duck with a blue bill, roseate spoonbills, purple martins (some so close on the railing we could almost touch them), nutrias, several different kinds of warblers and all types of other water birds. There are also alligators, but we didn't see them. If you are a nature/ bird watcher, don't miss the birding center when you visit Port Aransas. I would even suggest taking the ferry over to Port Aransas for a day trip. The center is free of charge, a short walk from the parking lot to the boardwalk, has a shaded park with flower gardens and information signs about the birds you are likely to see. There are no restroom facilities, but there are several other options within a block of the center. I highly recommend visiting this birding site, it's one of the best attractions of Port Aransas.

carlw86

The birding center in Port Aransas is a great example of turning urban space into an opportunity to experience nature. The Texas gulf coast has a tremendous number and variety of birds and this nature center is easily accessible for viewing. An early morning visit can be followed by a 3 minute drive to breakfast due to it's location. Hats off to the volunteers who made this facility happen.

FrequentRoadTrip

If you are a photographer, birder, or nature lover then this little honey hole is worth the trip from Corpus Christi. First of all - take the car ferry over if you've never been on one before. Second - go to the birding center & watch nature happen before your eyes. They even have bird spotting signs for idiots like me who like to take pictures but have very little knowledge of the subject. The longer you stay, the more you will see as critters move in & out of the area. I've been to much bigger wildlife refuges & seen less.

WomanWanderer

If you can get past the area that smells from the sewage facility, this is a terrific place to bird. It has a nice Boardwalk to get you close to a shallow area where birds gather. We were lucky to see close to a hundred spoonbills the day we were there. Also snipe, cinnamon teal and a sora.

720deborahs

Many birds to see. the volunteers made this place rock! they were extremely knowledgeable and they offered up their own equipment for novice birders to use. :)

813caitlink

My family visits here every year on our annual coastal fishing trip. It's a great way to see the birds and we have been very fortunate to spot one of the resident alligators!This is a really relaxing place to see the wildlife and it feels extremely safe.

pamelal467

This was a great easy to begin our birding vacation. We also speed on the way home. Little park, great birding on the boardwalk over the water and up on the tower. Don't miss it.

LizK703

Very interesting but didn't get to the the whooping cranes. The main museum was closed but was able to do the auto tour.

4familytravelers66

This is a most excellent spot for birders or non-birders. There are so many species here that your checklist will fill quickly. They even have ID signs posted along the boardwalk for visitors to ID common resident birds. Don't miss the HUGE resident alligator or the nutria that also inhabit the marsh. There is no restroom at the center but just next door, at the Port A community pool/softball field area, there are restrooms. This is a must see stop for any trip to Port Aransas!!!

MGWILD

It's an easy walk out on the boardwalk with some overlook areas and a tower for viewing. Saw a nice mix of species. Roseate Spoonbills were a real treat.

peacefuldbb

walkways and overlooks, wilson snipes, roseate spoonbills, variety of ducks, tons more. A recently completed eagle scout project has signs up with photos of the birds. Very helpful. Great for families and "young birders" Good job!

CostaRicaBirder

We are birders and this is one of the best of places to go on the island. The sewage treatment plant adjacent to the marsh puts its (already purified) outflow into the marsh to create a unique feature - a fresh water marsh.We're discriminating birders, and this site had most of the waterfowl which occurs on the island. A telescope or higher power binoculars are a help as the lake is large, but the birds have no fear lingering and roosting near the boardwalk. There is a staircase access tower where you can get about 15 feet above the water level.,As a special feature, nutria abound.