Looking for Birds, Sea Turtles and Deer on North Padre Island?
North Padre Island Offers Many Different Wildlife
Viewing Opportunities Near the Beach Club Condominiums
North Padre Island Bird Watching
During a year over 350 species of birds may inhabit Padre Island National Seashore. Many are residents, many come through during spring or fall migration, and many simply find their way here accidentally, often when storms or heavy weather force them out of their normal range. At least nine species of threatened or endangered birds can be found here: Brown Pelican, Peregrine Falcon, Reddish Egret, Least Tern, White-tailed Hawk, Osprey, Piping Plover, Snowy Plover, and Wilson's Plover. Two of the unusual or rare species (presumably forced out of their normal range by weather or other circumstances) documented Sooty Tern and Masked Booby.
The island is an important stopover for many species of migratory birds because it lies on one of the main migration routes between North and Central America. Many species of central and eastern North America find their way to their wintering grounds by flying to the Gulf coast, then following the shoreline south. In addition, many birds that migrate directly across the Gulf often become exhausted and come here to rest and feed before continuing their journey. Padre Island also provides food and water to migrating species in an arid region, where both are scarce. Many migrants are shorebirds or wading birds, which feed on animal and insect life found in wetlands. Many ducks come to the Laguna Madre to feed on the many varieties of aquatic plants. For many raptors this area provides easy hunting as it is open country where, from atop a telephone pole, fence post, or mesquite tree, a bird can easily spot a mouse or snake hidden in the grass. Read more...
North Padre Island Sea Turtles
Five of the world's seven sea turtle species are found in the Gulf of Mexico: leatherback, hawksbill, green, loggerhead and Kemp's ridley. Nests from all five species have been documented at Padre Island National Seashore, either historically or recently. These magnificent marine animals, once abundant in the oceans, have declined during the last century. Human development on turtle nesting beaches, harvesting of the eggs, slaughtering for food and consumer products, and incidental capturing by the fishing industry are to blame for dwindling turtle populations. Each of the five sea turtle species of the Gulf is now classified as either threatened or endangered and could become extinct unless steps are taken to protect and enhance its populations. From late-April through July, many volunteers search the beaches of North Padre Island for nesting sea turtles and their eggs to document and protect them. Read more...
North Padre Island Deer
The white-tail deer is a reddish-brown, hoofed mammal. This shy animal is active just before sunset and just after sunrise. Found throughout Texas this deer breeds from September to December and gives birth to 1 or 2 fawns after 7 months. Females are usually antlerless and the males grow new ones each year. Males are larger than females. The deer are 4.50 to 6.75 feet long and weigh 70 to 300 pounds. Weight and antler development are both influenced by nutrition. There is an estimated 3 million deer in the state and 360,000 are harvested each year, a $20,000,000 business.
North Padre Island Coyotes
The coyote is a doglike mammal commonly seen at night or early morning and might be sighted crossing the road or searching the beach for food. Coyotes do not run in packs, but will search for food in family groups or cooperate with other adults to hunt large game. A true scavenger, the coyote will eat rabbits, rodents, carrion, garbage, snakes, fruit, insects, frogs and small domestic animals. The coyote prefers to den in sunny banks and hillsides and will enlarge dens of other animals. Mating occurs January to May and 5 to 6 young are born about 2 months later. Juveniles are hard to distinguish from adults by October or November. The average coyote is 41 to 52 inches and weighs 20 to 50 pounds.
The Beach Club Condos on North Padre Island are located near many fun activities:
