Edinburg Scenic Wetlands

 The Edinburg Scenic Wetlands is a 40 acre park in the middle of the small city of Edinburg near McAllen, TX. This park was the first of the nine World Birding Center sites to open in Texas back in 2003. Surrounded by a city park with baseball diamonds and swings, the wetlands is built on reclaimed farmland and is bordered by Edinburg's effluent and floodwater ponds. These waterways attract migrating waterfowl as well as some of the Rio Grande specialties like the green kingfisher, my nemesis bird, and the least grebe, pictured above.

In the center of the park there is a beautiful interpretive center that includes exhibits, a classroom and gift shop. Looking out, one of the many windows that helps to fill the interpretive center with natural light, you can view the 3.5 acres of native plants that surround the center. With 180 different species of plants and flowers, that are native to the Lower Rio Grande Valley, these gardens are designed to attract the numerous hummingbirds and butterflies, like this little yellow, flitting about. There is also a dragonfly pond to provide habitat for the underwater larval stage of the dragonflies. Two and a half miles of walking trails let visitors get a good view of this oasis in the city.