Valley Nature Center, Weslaco

About the Area

Loop through six acres of pure nature and feed the birds at Valley Nature Center, a secret garden that is the oldest nature center in the Rio Grande Valley. Includes Cactus Gardens, Butterfly Gardens, Bird Feeding Stations, 1/4 Acre Wetland, Board Walk, Small Ponds, Walking Trails, and more!

Many plants were transplanted during the past 35 years to this protected area from sites which were slated for development. There is an on-going effort to enhance the plant diversity of the park. This aim is for protection of local plant species diversity as well as to make diverse food and habitat available for resident and migratory wildlife. By strolling the 1 mile of trails of the Nature Park, one may examine plant species native to such diverse areas as the Sabal Palm Grove, Arroyo Colorado Brush, the Barretal, Coastal Lomas, and the Chihuahuan Thorn Forest.

In Focus...

Easy Access Species:

• Migrating passerines are attracted to the feeding stations and water features.

Site Specialties:

• Typical valley specialties such as Plain Chachalaca, Great Kiskadee, Green jay, Long-billed Thrasher, Altamira Oriole and Olive Sparrow.

Dominant Habitats

• Floodplain Deciduous Shrubland

• Freshwater Marsh

• Mixed Forest

• Open Water: Fresh

• Riparian Deciduous Forest

• Riparian Evergreen Forest

eBird Hotspot Statistics

Valley Nature Ctr.

Last Updated 4/14/21

• Species Observed - 222

• Complete Checklists - 1257

• Bar Chart Link

• Illustrated Checklist Link