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Birders who are equally passionate about butterflies won't want to miss the National Butterfly Center. Thought still a small facility (but with room to expand), the five acres of developed native gardens are well maintained with a wide variety of flowers, trees, shrubs and grasses to attract and feed butterflies, and no small number of birds also enjoy the landscaping.

Because the National Butterfly Center is relatively isolated, it is a lovely, intimate setting that can offer up close views of a number of south Texas specialty birds alongside dozens of unique and colorful butterflies.

Pros

• Extensive gardens of native plants and flowers attract birds as well as butterflies.
• On-site nursery offers reasonably priced native plants for sale.
• Small bird feeding area and water feature helps draw in more bird species to the gardens.

Cons

• The scope of the facility is still somewhat limited, but it has enormous potential and great plans for future expansion.
• Lacks informational signs about local birds, but has extensive signage about butterflies.

Description

• Name: National Butterfly Center
• Location: 3333 Butterfly Park Drive, Mission, Texas
• Size: 100 total acres; 5 acres currently developed with plans to expand
• Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. September through March; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. April through August, some holiday closures
• Fees: Local residents and all senior citizens $5, children ages 4-13 $2.50, children 3 and younger free; non-resident adults $10 and non-resident children $5; annual memberships and weekly passes available

• Suggested Birding Time: 1-2 hours

Review - National Butterfly Center

Many birders are interested in other winged creatures, and those who appreciate butterflies will want to be sure to schedule a visit to the National Butterfly Center when they are in south Texas. Despite a grandiose name, the facility is a small five developed acres, but every inch of those acres is landscaped with native plants designed to attract and nourish butterflies. Fortunately for birders, many birds appreciate the same native landscaping, making the National Butterfly Center a hotspot of the region's specialty birds.

Guests should check in at the visitor center before browsing through the gardens. The Chrysalis Gift Shop offers hats, shirts, books and other souvenirs, and visitors can pick up a free map of the gardens as well as other information. Contacting the visitor center prior to a visit can verify whether any school groups or other tours or events are scheduled, as crowds can disrupt the birding and butterflying.

In addition to an open road to drive between parking lots, a wooded road extends from the visitor center to the gardens, and that corridor attracts even more bird species. The road is only a 10-15 minute walk directly to the gardens, but if the birds are active, it could take 30-45 minutes to stroll from the visitor center to the planned gardens, birding along the way. There are several wooden log benches at the roadside, allowing birders to take a breather while they enjoy the foraging birds. The road itself is mostly level and easy to walk, though the southernmost path that connects the gardens to the road is quite steep and can be difficult to climb. The path connecting at the north end of the garden area, however, is broad and level.

Ample parking is available at both the visitor center and closer to the gardens. The garden area is well developed and includes clean, well maintained restrooms, a picnic area and vending machines. The native plant nursery is near the gardens and offers a range of different sizes and species of plants for sale. Care sheets for the plants are available with each purchase.

Inside the gardens, plants are well labeled and signs depicting some of the more than 200 butterfly species recorded at the garden include descriptive information, range maps and photographs. Butterflies that have been seen at the National Butterfly Center include many tropical species, south Texas specialties and vagrant sightings, including species such as the guava skipper, tawny emperor, Mexican bluewing and zebra heliconian.

Birders visiting the gardens will want to be patient and wait for birds to appear; the stations that are set up for feeding butterflies attract abundant insects that are appetizing to a wide range of bird species. Birds that have been recorded at the National Butterfly Center include:

• Altamira oriole
• Buff-bellied hummingbird
• Clay-colored thrush
• Dickcissel
• Golden-fronted woodpecker
• Green jay
• Groove-billed ani
• Long-billed thrasher
• Northern cardinal
• Northern mockingbird
• Olive sparrow
• White-tipped dove

Birders should pay careful attention in the gardens, watching for foraging birds among the native plants as well as flitting among the trees or visiting the small pond water feature. The bird feeding area, including the hummingbird feeders, also attracts a fair number of species for easy viewing.

Today, the National Butterfly Center may still be small and rather unassuming, but it is a pleasant spot for birders to get intimate views of many local birds, and is well worth a visit. Future plans to add new gardens and an Exhibit Hall ensure that this property will continue to be crucial for both butterflies and birds, and it should always be on interested birders' itineraries.

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As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with complimentary services for review purposes. While it has not influenced this review, About.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our Ethics Policy.