We have only two days left at SPI before we leave for New Orleans. Lois had been to the Birding Centre before we came (Gil doesn't do "touristy stuff"), so Roger & I decided to go today before our time here is over.

Padre Island (North & South) is the world's longest barrier island . On the Luganu Madre side of the island is the Birding & Nature Centre, where there "are dune meadows, salt marsh and intertidal flats, along with thickets of native shrubs and trees that are irresistible to migrating birds. SPI is a crucial first landfall - a lifesaver for birds making an arduous cross-Gulf migration from Southern Mexico and northern Central America."

The Birding & Nature Centre has over 4,800 linear feet of boardwalks and seven bird blinds. The boardwalks provide up-close viewing of spectacular wetland birds, migrating songbirds and the island's dazzling butterfly population. The Centre's building features a Birding Tower five stories high with views of the Laguna Madre, SPI, and the Gulf of Mexico."

We saw some amazing stuff. None of it is in captivity - they are wild birds and animals who are hanging out in the habitat. Probably the two coolest things - 1) an alligator sunning himself on the banks of water, who suddenly opened his jaws as we were watching; and, 2) a Great Egret who was walking around in the water, then suddenly flew up and landed on the railing 4 ft from us. We saw some other amazing and colourful birds, and one turtle. It was a good day. :o)