South Texas is ground zero for avid birders, and with a network of World Birding Center (WBC) sites located near McAllen, there’s a variety of habitats for locals and migrants alike. Plus with access factored into the equation from the get-go, there’s no shortage of wheelchair accessible birding venues; which makes this verdant area the perfect choice for wheelchair-users and slow walkers who want to hit the birding trail.

Harlingen Thicket

At the top of accessible  WBC sites list is the Harlingen Thicket, which is located 35 miles east of McAllen. Located on the western 40 acres of the Harlingen Arroyo Colorado WBC site (www.theworldbirdingcenter.com/harlingen.html), the thicket boasts a nice wheelchair accessible trail through a mixed upland thorn forest.

Accessible parking and restrooms are located near the trailhead, with level access to the half-mile Arroyo Delta Trail. Although there is good access along the first section of this hard-packed dirt trail, after the halfway point it gets a little steep. Best bet is to connect to the quarter-mile Comol Trail, as it has a nice hard-packed dirt surface and loops back to the beginning of the Arroyo Delta Trail. It’s a pleasant half-mile stroll , and if you’re lucky you might even spot a red-crowned parrot.

Resaca de la Palma State Park

Down the road in Brownsville, Resaca de la Palma State Park (www.theworldbirdingcenter.com/Resaca.html) also offers some nice accessible trails. This 1,200-acre semi tropical retreat, which is carved out by the curves of the Rio Grande, features plenty of accessible parking with level access to the Visitor Center. Out back the accessible Ebony Trail includes a hard-packed dirt path with boardwalk access over the wetlands areas. It makes for a nice half-mile round-trip walk, with interpretive plaques and an accessible viewing platform along the way.

Other accessible trails include the .3-mile Mexican Olive Trail and the 250-foot Kiskadee Trail. Additionally, the nearly three-mile paved park road is wide, level and accessible; and since private vehicles are prohibited, it’s a good choice for wheelchair-users and slow walkers.

Old Hidalgo Pumphouse

Located 10 miles south of McAllen, the Old Hidalgo Pumphouse (www.theworldbirdingcenter.com/Hidalgo.html) WBC site features two components; a museum inside the former pumphouse, and a collection of accessible trails on the surrounding grounds.

There’s accessible parking near the pumphouse with level access to the museum, and accessible restrooms inside. The self-guided tour of the old pumphouse features ramp and cement walkway access to most areas. Outside in Pumphouse Park, paved walkways lead through the hummingbird garden over to the covered picnic shelter. Across the street there is barrier-free access to the channel observation deck and an accessible path down to the canoe launch below. It’s a small site, but definitely worth a stop, and it’s a pleasant place to take a lunch break.

Estero Llano Grande State Park

The WBC at Estero Llano Grande State Park (www.theworldbirdingcenter.com/estero.html) is  located 20 miles east of McAllen in Weslaco. There’s plenty of accessible parking out front, with level access down a paved trail to the Visitor Center. Accessible restrooms are located behind the barrier-free viewing deck, next to the Visitor Center. There are also a newtwork of wheelchair-accessible trails that wind through this 230-acre refuge. It’s the ideal place to spot wood storks, roseate spoonbills and hundreds of waders and shorebirds.

For a good overview, make a right on the first trail past the Visitor Center, and follow the sign past Ibis Pond on Wader’s Trail. The hard-packed trail gives way to a boardwalk over the marsh as it passes Avocet Pond, then transitions back into a hard-packed dirt trail, with an accessible pavilion near the end. From there, follow the signs to the hard-packed dirt Spoonbill Trail, which features a boardwalk over Curlew Pond, and then reconnects to the Wader’s Trail. Once you reach the bridge, you can either take one of the two Camino de Aves loop trails on the right, or turn left and head back to the Visitor Center. Alternatively, you can take the Wader’s Trail, the Spoonbill Trail and the Camino de Aves loops in their entirety, as they are all wheelchair-accessible.

Quinta Mazatlan

Located in the heart of McAllen, Quinta Mazatlan (www.theworldbirdingcenter.com/Quinta.html)  is a 1930s country estate that had a variety of incarnations — including a coffee house in the 1960s — before it became a WBC site.

There is ramp access to the adobe house which is filled with historic furnishings, exhibits and memorabilia. Outside, accessible trails dotted with bird feeders wind through the hummingbird garden, butterfly garden and wooded meadows. Although there are a few steps along the way, there are also accessible paths around these obstacles. All in all it’s nicely done access-wise, with hard-packed dirt trails and plenty of places to take a break along the way. As an added bonus, the trails are almost entirely shaded by the tree canopy, so it’s quite pleasant, even on warm days.

Roma Bluffs

Last but not least, the Roma Bluffs WBC  (www.theworldbirdingcenter.com/Roma.html) is  located 50 miles west of McAllen. Accessible parking is located near City Hall, with level access over to the WBC Visitor Center. Although there are steps inside, a wheelchair lift is also available.

Don’t miss the Roma Bluffs Interpretive Overlook, which is just a short walk away. From the Visitor Center walk towards the river, turn right on Portschellar, then walk a half-block up to the overlook. It’s a nice level walk, and the large deck features barrier-free access and offers a great view of the river, the woodlands below, and the neighboring Mexican town of Miguel Aleman.