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April is prime time for birding in the Lower Rio Grande Valley and, thanks to the development of the World Birding Center (WBC), a good number of accessible trails, boardwalks, viewing blinds and interpretive centers dot this semi-rural patch of South Texas land. Today, nine WBC sites stretch along 120 miles of river road, from South Padre Island west to Roma, and offer excellent opportunities for up-close-and-personal wildlife encounters. So pack your binoculars, and check out the spring migrants at some of these accessible birding sites in the Lower Rio Grande Valley.

Bensten State Park
Billed as the official WBC headquarters, Bensten State Park is located just seven miles northwest of McAllen, Texas. Although private vehicles are not allowed in the park, a wheelchair-accessible tram makes a loop every half-hour. Visitors can get on and off the tram and explore the park at their own pace.

Highlights of Bensten State Park include the Green Jay Blind, which features ramp access to wheelchair-height viewing slots; and a 210-foot Hawk Observation Tower with ramped access to the top, level areas every 30 feet and unobstructed wheelchair-height sight lines. They’re both very nicely done.
 
Edinburgh Scenic Wetlands
For a look at a different type of habitat, head on over to Edinburg Scenic Wetlands, which features an accessible interpretive center with floor-to-ceiling windows and wheelchair-height scopes aimed at the adjacent wetlands. Outside there are level crushed-gravel trails to the boardwalk overlook and Dragon Pond, both of which are only a short distance away.

The 2.5 miles of trails around the complex are do-able for most wheelchair users in dry weather. If you’d like to tour the whole complex, but don’t think you can manage the distance, call ahead and make arrangements for a golf cart tour. There’s no charge for this service, and it’s a very accessible way to get a look at the entire site.

South Padre Island
Finally, if you want to get a good look at a wide variety of shorebirds, then head over to the Laguna Madre Boardwalk on South Padre Island. Located just 75 miles from McAllen, the island is the first landfall for birds making that difficult cross-Gulf migration.

The 1500-foot boardwalk overlooks four acres of wetlands near the South Padre Island Convention Center. It features level access and it’s a good choice for wheelchair users or slow walkers. A covered shelter is located at the end of the boardwalk, and it’s a good place to enjoy the sunset. Additionally, the butterfly garden next to the convention center attracts some colorful migrants as well as a large assortment of butterflies.

And don’t leave home without your copy of Birding the Border: Tales of the Rio Grande Valley. Penned by Nancy Millar and Ron Smith, this collection of stories about the Rio Grande Valley includes contributions from local birding experts and nationally known birders from Ken Kaufman to former President Jimmy Carter. It’s a fun read and a great birding primer.

For more information about WBC sites, visit http://www.worldbirdingcenter.org/.

Candy Harrington is the editor of Emerging Horizons and the author of Barrier Free Travel: A Nuts and Bolts Guide For Wheelers and Slow Walkers. She blogs regularly about accessible travel issues at www.BarrierFreeTravels.com.