Text by Naturalist Educator, Javi Gonzalez. Photos by Mary Volz and Javi Gonzalez Another spring bird migration has come and gone with the southern winds. Exhausted, but happy, birders finally get to rest after the intense birding frenzy. But the birds keep making their way, as our area is mostly just a halfway point. The native gardens are quieter now, but we are satisfied, and we are left with a reminder of how fleeting it all is and how valuable these coastal migration st

Here at the South Padre Island Birding Nature Center & Alligator Sanctuary, we try to plant new native plant habitats around our visitor center any time we get a chance, at least twice a year, in the spring and in the fall. We only use native plants because they are the plants our local wildlife have relationships with and benefit most from. They serve as host plants for caterpillars (bird food), and flower or fruit in synch with seasonal pollinator/insect emergence and bird

We all eagerly await that first cool northern breeze of the fall. The long summer is always peak fun, but we are left totally drained by the relentless heat. Our sizzling skin yearns for cool relief as we drag our dehydrated, raisin-like bodies into the promise of a new season ahead. September rain is a blessing after a scorching August. It quenches the thirst of the trees and plants in the gardens. Deep roots have their much-needed drink, but steam fogs the brain and lenses.

By Naturalist Educator, Javier Gonzalez Another spring bird migration has come and gone, and as usual, birders have been left in tatters...