Rio Grande Delta

South Padre Island Nature Trail & Board Walk
Tuesday, September 1, 2009

For the last 15 years I've spent hundreds of hours walking the wooden planks of our boardwalk. I have both sat at the end and marveled at a sunset over the Laguna Madre, watching as the Skimmers glide silently across the waters into the fading light. I've stood in the glory of hundreds of birds preening at sunrise, beginning their daily rituals before rushing around in search of food. I've known our alligator for the same 15 years, I've seen her valiantly protect a nest of unfertilized eggs, only to never be rewarded with a clutch of her own. I've seen her slowly lose her sight. I've spent cold, raining, freezing days hunkered down watching as the brave little warblers hop from tree to tree, gathering what little food they can before starting their long journey south across the Gulf of Mexico. I've spent scortching hot, windy, mosquito ridden days silently awed as freshly hatched Plover and Rail chicks dart through the succulents, their parents always keeping a watchful eye for predators. I've even seen snow lining the railing. I've been stopped by police officers at two in the morning wondering why on earth I'd be out looking for and listening to the various frogs and toads which grace our little island with song after summer showers. I've known and seen such wonderful things on our South Padre Island Nature Trail & Board Walk. I've met such a wide variety of people, from so many corners of the world, many who remain life-long friends, mentors, and colleagues. I grew up on the Island, I grew up on the boardwalk at the convention center.

Now it is being taken away from us? Now we must pay admission fees? How is this fair or even beneficial to the Island? How many visitors to the convention center, waiting, bored, etc are inspired by nature simply because they happened to wander over and onto this beautiful little boardwalk? Now there will be a ramp, but a ramp blocked by a gate? Is this really happening?

What about those, like me, who love to walk the boardwalk in the pre-dawn light--must we now wait till 8am when the birding center opens? How about enjoying a sunset, are we simply no longer allowed? How about Holidays, or times the birding center might be closed for whatever reason? I understand the Birding Center faces monstrous financial hurdles, but is this really the way to combat them? How about donation boxes, guided, informative, walks, how about something that doesn't offended those who have known and loved the boardwalk as it is for so long.

It is not that I really mind paying for a yearly pass or something similar, I do that with many, many wildlife refuges, sanctuaries, and parks. What I do mind is that something that has been free and open is now suddenly being taken from us. No longer will I be able to run from a warbler hopping around the Warbler Rest Stop to see a Purple Gallinule rooting around in the shallows off the board walk. Now I will have a blockade, separating the two.

I understand the convention center, in conceding to this plan, saves money by letting the Birding Center maintain the existing structures--but it is so insulting to all those who have known and loved this area for so very long.

I for one will fight this, I personally think the Board Walk, including the new sections, should be free and open to all. I feel that if the Birding Center can offer enough interesting exhibits, educational programs, and smart gift shop items, that they will draw in plenty of people who will support the free-for-all boardwalk. I think they will even get many who wander over from the convention center, people who would not visited otherwise. IF this can't happen, at least separate the two.

I hope there are people out there who agree with me. I will become more vocal in the days to come.

posted by Seth Patterson @ 11:22 AM, ,