Port Aransas is on the northern end of Mustang Island, one of a string of barrier islands separating the Texas coast from the Gulf of Mexico. The Birding Center is on the back (inland) side of the island. It's surrounded by a fresh water lagoon that is cut off from the bay beyond and receives a steady supply of clean fresh water from the city's waster water treatment plant.
"Boots" is the Center's resident alligator. He's lived in the lagoon since before the Birding Center was built. On the day we visited, Boots chose to stay hunkered down in the mud under the pier, though one eye is open and I suspect he's well aware of what's happening around him. I wasn't tempted to dangle my toes in the water to test this suspicion.
Boots has been seen capturing an occasional slow seagull, but his main "job" is controlling the nutria population in the lagoon. From time to time, smaller gators have been released into the lagoon, but they soon disappear. Many suspect -- but no one has actually proven -- that the lagoon is only large enough for one fat and happy gator.
The Center consists of a pier that extends into the lagoon. It has a raise observation deck and two powerful scopes, one on the raised deck and one that is wheelchair accessible on the lower level.
The Birding Center in Port Aransas is named after Leonabelle Turnbull. Before her retirement to Corpus Christi, Belle was considered the island's resident birding expert. For many years she conducted interpretive tours at the Birding Center -- and for a lot more years than that, Belle has been Jo's mother.
Birding Center
