Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center

The Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center sits about a mile from the Port A ferry landing, costs nothing to visit, is open from sunrise to sunset and packs more wildlife into a fifteen-minute walk than most state parks manage in an afternoon. The center has two main areas. Up front, there's a native pollinator garden and shade trees that double as a stopover for migrating songbirds. Out back, the boardwalk crosses freshwater wetlands toward an observation tower with views over the marsh. If you're going to visit once and want the best shot at a memorable trip, go in April or early May, mornings are best. You might spot bright pink Roseate Spoonbills, Great Egrets, Great Blue Herons wading the shallows or White and Brown Pelicans loafing nearby. You might even spot an alligator sunning itself near the water. Neotropical migrants like warblers, tanagers, orioles, buntings pile up in the trees and shrubs along the front sidewalk on their way north. Whooping cranes although endangered are occasionally spotted if you bring binoculars or a phone with a decent zoom. If you don't have your own binoculars the boardwalk has two mounted spotting scopes you can use for free. In the Summer you'll see resident water birds, the alligator, and plenty of pelicans. In Winter the marshes and water fill up with hundreds of ducks, plus shorebirds, raptors, and gulls. A lot of people walk straight from the parking lot to the boardwalk and miss the best part. The vegetation along the front sidewalk is where the songbirds hang out during migration, check the right side of the boardwalk first. As you start across, scan the marshes to the northeast for rails, gallinules, ibises, and ducks or the infamous gator. The tower is about halfway out and gives you a panoramic view of the marsh. If you have a scope or zoom lens, this is the place to use it. Past the boards end the trail keeps going into Charlie's Pasture, another 1.25 miles through salt marsh and coastal prairie.

Wednesdays at 9 AM the center hosts a free guided "Birding on the Boardwalk" walk with local experts Ray Dillahunty and Leslie Hoekstra. Some things you might consider bringing are binoculars, bug spray, and comfortable shoes (flip-flops work for the boardwalk, but not the unpaved trail beyond it)

The facility does *not* have restrooms, the closest public ones are at Port Aransas Community Park next door. There are *no* pets allowed in the Nature Preserve. There is *no* fishing, hunting, camping, or alcohol on the grounds. The boardwalk is wheelchair- and stroller-accessible, the trail beyond it is not.

The Port A beach is about 10 minutes from the center. Hit the boardwalk first while it's cool, then spend the afternoon on the sand. Port A Vacation Company manages a number of vacation rentals throughout Port Aransas, including several within a few minutes of the birding center. If you're planning a trip built around the outdoors (birding, kayaking, beach time) our team can help you pick a place that puts you close to all of it. Browse our properties or reach out and we'll point you in the right direction!