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The Bottom Line:

It's a misconception that an area of habitat must be large to be attractive to birds, and visitors to the South Padre Island Migratory Bird Sanctuary can discover outstanding avian diversity in a small series of connected plots tucked into a residential neighborhood. Specifically landscaped to be an ideal bird habitat, this sanctuary succeeds admirably and despite its small size, can be astonishingly welcoming to birds and amazingly productive for birders.

Pros:

• Easily accessible viewing areas are well-designed to provide expansive views into sheltered habitat areas and also provide excellent vantage points for bird photography.
• Native plants and water features demonstrate ideal birdscaping practices and show how valuable even small habitat patches can be for birds.
• Features outstanding bird diversity for so small a location, allowing birders to maximize their sightings with quick, productive visits.

Cons:

• Parking is limited and can be crowded during peak periods or when rare bird sightings are reported.
• No restrooms or other hospitality facilities are present.

Description:

• Name: The South Padre Island Migratory Bird Sanctuary (also called the Sheepshead Woodlot Sanctuary)
• Location: West Sheepshead Street, South Padre Island, Texas
• Size: 6 wooded residential lots; no walking trails but two small viewing areas
• Hours: Always open
• Fees: Free
• Suggested Birding Time: Less than one hour, but well worth checking back throughout the day

Review – The South Padre Island Migratory Bird Sanctuary

When many birders travel, they seek out the largest wildlife refuges with diverse habitats that can take hours to explore, and while those destinations can be phenomenal for birding, it isn't always necessary to spend an entire day exploring tremendous acreage to see a great number of birds.

At the South Padre Island Migratory Bird Sanctuary, birders can easily see a wide range of species in just minutes, and during peak migration periods, several dozen species might be spotted at the tiny habitat.

First established in 1999, the sanctuary is a series of six interconnected residential plots purchased by the Valley Land Fund to be restored as prime wildlife habitat, not only to support the local ecosystem, but also to educate residents and visitors alike about the effectiveness of bird-friendly landscaping. The restoration has included diverse native plants and water features, all arranged in such a way as to not only provide a restful space that meets birds' needs for food, water and shelter, but also to provide superb viewing for visitors to watch those birds. The lots are spread across West Sheepshead Street, and viewing areas are found on both sides of the street.

It might initially seem that using lots on both sides of the street would fracture the habitat, but the plantings are so diverse that birds don't mind, and they are apt to flit between each section of the sanctuary. The northern viewing area is slightly larger and includes an informational sign listing the partnerships the Valley Land Fund has to keep up its restoration work. The small loop pathway around the northern viewing area is level and covered with wood chips for easy, comfortable access, and is wide enough to accommodate crowds when needed. Parking is very limited and can be filled quickly when a rare bird is reported at the sanctuary, but the viewing areas are designed so many visitors can have good views into the different areas of the sanctuary, including the water features that attract many thirsty species. Orange halves, hummingbird feeders and a seed feeding area add more resources for birds to take advantage of and even more places for birders to observe closely for the appearance of another feathered visitor.

Together, these small patches of habitat create a migrant trap that is well known for its bird diversity. While the exact species that might be seen will vary depending on the season, local weather conditions and time of day, birds that are often seen at the sanctuary include:

• Baltimore oriole
• Black-and-white warbler
• Blue grosbeak
• Dickcissel
• Eurasian collared-dove
• Golden-fronted woodpecker
• Great kiskadee
• Hermit thrush
• Hooded warbler
• Inca dove
• Northern cardinal
• Northern waterthrush
• Orchard oriole
• Painted bunting
• Red-winged blackbird
• Ruby-throated hummingbird
• Sora
• Summer tanager
• White-eyed vireo
• White-winged dove
• Wood thrush
• Worm-eating warbler
• Yellow-billed cuckoo
• Yellow-headed blackbird

While the sanctuary can be productive all year round, the birding tends to be best during migration periods, particularly during spring migration. When a fallout occurs in southeastern Texas, the sanctuary is sure to be an amazing hotspot. Because the area is so small, even novice birders can get satisfying views, and no spotting scopes are necessary – many birds can even be seen without the aid of any optics. If visitors plan to stay long at the sanctuary, however, it can be wise to bring water and sunscreen, as there is very little shade available in the viewing areas, particularly the northern section.

Not all birding destinations need to be huge to be productive, and while many things may be bigger in Texas, the South Padre Island Migratory Bird Sanctuary proves that great things can still come in small packages.

As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with complimentary services for review purposes. While it has not influenced this review, About.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our Ethics Policy.