World Birding Center

Encompassing over 10,000 acres (16 square miles) of preserved land extending along a 120-mile (190 km) river corridor between the small town of Roma, Texas, and the outer barrier island of South Padre Island, the park system hosts a large amount of native biodiversity with over 500 recorded species of birds, and serves as potential habitat for locally endangered wild cat species such as the ocelot[2] and jaguarundi,[3] as well as sanctuary for much of the other flora and fauna of the last remaining native Tamaulipan brushland.The resulting buildings and grounds were named one of the top ten green designs for 2006 by the American Institute of Architects Committee on the Environment (AIA/COTE).[12][13] An urban 20-acre estate preserve centered around a Spanish Revival Style mansion with a mission focused on education and environmental stewardship.[17] The center is located on scenic bluffs situated 120 feet (37 m) above the river, which allows good viewing including across the International Bridge to Ciudad Miguel Alemán, in Mexico and the surrounding area.[18][19] A 50-acre (20 ha) bayside preserve which features a five-story viewing tower facing the Laguna Madre Bay, more than half a mile of boardwalk, and a man-made wetland using fresh water from the island's adjacent water treatment plant, which serves to attract numerous species of local and migrant birds.
Boardwalk of South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center at Sunset
Rio Grande ValleyTexas Parks and Wildlife DepartmentUnited States Fish and Wildlife ServiceecotourismRoma, Texasbarrier islandSouth Padre IslandbiodiversityocelotjaguarundinativeBentsen-Rio Grande Valley State ParkEbony treessustainable architectureAmerican Institute of ArchitectsEdinburg, TexasEstero Llano Grande State ParkwetlandsArroyo ColoradoHarlingenHidalgoSpanish Revival Stylenatural historyResaca de la Palma State ParkBattle of Resaca de la PalmaMexican–American Warsemi-tropicalsteamboatsRio GrandeInternational BridgeCiudad Miguel AlemánMexicoLaguna Madre BayboardwalkGreat Texas Coastal Birding TrailLaguna Atascosa National Wildlife RefugeSabal Palm SanctuarySanta Ana National Wildlife Refuge