Page 50 Rio Grande Valley Visitors Guide 2025-2026 Frontera Audubon Society Frontera Audubon Society (FAS) is an urban nature preserve on 15 acres in Weslaco that features bio-diverse thicket trails, wetlands, butterfly gardens, and a visitors’ center and gift shop. Also featured is the Texas Historic Landmark, the Skaggs House, a multi-purpose facility for cultural events and exhibitions. Over 170 kinds of butterflies and over 250 species of birds have been spotted here. FAS is home to species such as the Clay-colored Thrush, Great Kiskadee, Plain Chachalaca, Green Kingfisher, Black-bellied Whistling Duck, Green Jay, and more. Located at 1101 S. Texas Blvd., the hours are Tuesdays through Saturdays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sundays 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., and closed Mondays. Regular admission is $5, Seniors are $4, students 13 and up are $3, and children 12 and under are free. For more information, call (956) 968-3275, like Facebook.com/frontera.audubon, or visit the website at www.fronteraaudubon.org. Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge With the refuge’s primary mission of providing habitat for wildlife, the approximately 120,000 acres provides for a wide diversity of species. Visitors can enjoy many birds, including Green Jays, Plain Chachalacas, Harris’ Hawks, White-tailed Hawks, Olive Sparrows, Altamira Orioles, and Aplomado Falcons. Fall and spring bring migratory songbirds and Peregrine Falcons, and winter is the time to see Sandhill Cranes, White-fronted Geese, Redhead Ducks, and many other waterfowl. Visitors can connect with nature through various activities, including fishing, hunting, wildlife observation, photography, bicycling, and hiking. A visitor center with exhibits, restrooms, and a nature store is available. The refuge is located at 22688 Buena Vista Blvd. in Los Fresnos. For more information, including hours of operation and tour schedules, please visit the website www. fws.gov/refuge/laguna_atascosa or call the visitor center at (956) 748-3607. McAllen Nature Center Originally opened in 1960 as McAllen Botanical Gardens, the site reopened to the public as the McAllen Nature Center in 2013. Enjoy two miles of trails, including one mile that’s ADA accessible, winding through 33 acres of native thornscrub forest. The site is home to over 300 species of animals, including various birds, butterflies, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. You can also find over 200 species of plants within the center. Amenities include picnic tables, benches, drinking fountains, and restrooms. The McAllen Nature Center is located at 4101 W. Business 83, in McAllen. Check out the Facebook page, www. facebook.com/McAllenNatureCenter/, for news about events and updates at the center. Hours are Tuesdays through Sundays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, visit the website at www.mcallenparks.net/mcallen-nature-center/ or call (956) 681-3333. National Butterfly Center (NABA) The premier location in the United States to experience the beauty of wild butterflies, the center is the reason USA Today calls Mission, Texas, “the butterfly capitol of the USA.” Hundreds of species have been documented here, where cultivated gardens and trails showcase the nation’s largest botanical collection of native plants that provide breeding and feeding habitat for butterflies, caterpillars, and birds. A perennial favorite among butterfliers, birders, and nature photographers in general, the NBC is the easiest place to get great shots of many South Texas specialty birds, including year ‘round residents like the Green Jay, Clay-colored Thrush, Olive Sparrow, and Altamira Oriole. The National Butterfly Center is located in the NABA Section of the Lower Rio Grande Valley Wildlife Conservation Corridor, just one mile east of Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park, at 3333 Butterfly Park Dr. GPS coordinates are 26.180243, -98.364973. For hours, rates, and special events, visit www.nationalbutterflycenter.org. For updates on recent bird, butterfly, and wildlife sightings, like the National Butterfly Center on Facebook. For additional information such as scheduling group tours and activities call (956) 583-5400. Pharr Vanguard Academy Nature & Birding Center The Pharr Vanguard Academy Nature & Birding Center encompasses eight acres of land that features a walking trail through the local native habitat. Other park amenities include an amphitheater, pergola, pavilion with picnic tables, bird feeding station, and interpretative signage along the trail. Located at 1025 S. Richmond Dr. in Pharr, the park is open from sunrise to sunset.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTczOTk5Mg==