The Last Great Habitat

Kingsville, King Ranch, and surrounding areas proudly offer some of the best birding, fishing, and hunting locations to be found in South Texas. Join us and have a great time experiencing the incredibly diverse landscape in South Texas dubbed “The Last Great Habitat.”

Birding

King Ranch currently offers birding, wildlife tours, and private tours, with options spanning from 2 hours to 3 days and 2 nights on the remote Norias division of King Ranch. As early as 1947, famed conservationist Aldo Leopold called King Ranch “one of the best jobs of wildlife restoration on the continent.” The ranch has been honored as an Internationally Important Bird Area with 370+ species of birds recorded.  Explore habitats from wetland to grassland looking for birds such as Least Grebe, White-tailed Hawk, Crested Caracara, Vermilion Flycatcher, Great Kiskadee, Green Jay, Olive Sparrow, and more. A number of South Texas specialties such as the Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl are relatively common on the ranch.

Dick Kleberg Park, Kaufer-Hubert Memorial Park, Santa Gertrudis Creek, and Santa Gertrudis Creek Bird Sanctuary are also some of the many wonderful sites included in the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail.

Five different kinds of orioles are known to nest here
Twenty-five different raptor species have been recorded here
Among largest count of Harris’ Hawks, White-tailed Hawks and Crested Caracara
Largest U.S. Population of nesting Tropical Parula
Area lies in the two greatest flyways of Western Hemisphere
Primary funnel for migratory wildlife Coastal Migration Corridor for neotropics
Route for Circum Gulf migrants
Stopover for Trans Gulf migrants
Mild winters -great wintering area
At least twelve specialty birds can be seen in summer months
South Texas bird count (450 species) rates second to Sonora Desert (500 species)
South Texas known as “The Last Great Habitat” in conservation and environmental research
Green Jay on Christmas Bird Count usually higher than any other place
See Vermilion Flycatcher in winter
See Scissor-tailed Flycatcher in summer
One of the highest Christmas Bird Count areas without significant coastline

Fishing in Nearby Baffin Bay

In addition to the numerous birding locations, Kingsville is conveniently located within a short drive to some of the finest fishing to be had in South Texas. Located near the Gulf of Mexico, Baffin Bay is known for its saltwater trout, redfish, and black drum. Kaufer-Hubert Memorial Park & Sea Wind RV Resort provides a boat ramp, playground, picnic areas, fishing pier, and many other amenities. Additional fishing piers and bait-tackle shops are available at Riviera Beach Park. Fishing guides are also available and will gladly provide you with services at any time throughout the year.