The Sabal Palm Sanctuary is a
nature reserve
A nature reserve (also known as a wildlife refuge, wildlife sanctuary, biosphere reserve or bioreserve, natural or nature preserve, or nature conservation area) is a protected area of importance for flora, fauna, or features of geological or ...
and
bird sanctuary
An animal sanctuary is a facility where animals are brought to live and to be protected for the rest of their lives. Pattrice Jones, co-founder of VINE Sanctuary defines an animal sanctuary as "a safe-enough place or relationship within the cont ...
located in the delta of the
Rio Grande Valley
The Lower Rio Grande Valley ( es, Valle del Río Grande), commonly known as the Rio Grande Valley or locally as the Valley or RGV, is a region spanning the border of Texas and Mexico located in a floodplain of the Rio Grande near its mouth. Th ...
in
Cameron County near
Brownsville, Texas. It is noted for being one of the last locations in the Rio Grande Valley with a profuse grove of
sabal palms, an edible-heart-bearing palm much prized by
pre-Hispanic inhabitants and noted by early explorers. As a relatively habitat-rich remnant of this Valley, it is a prized
birdwatching
Birdwatching, or birding, is the observing of birds, either as a recreational activity or as a form of citizen science. A birdwatcher may observe by using their naked eye, by using a visual enhancement device like binoculars or a telescope, by ...
and
butterfly watching
Butterfly watching is a hobby concerned with the observation and study of butterfly, butterflies. It also includes the "catch and release" of butterflies. There are clubs, handbooks, checklists, and festivals devoted to the activity.
The Canada Da ...
location for persons interested in the
ecology
Ecology () is the study of the relationships between living organisms, including humans, and their physical environment. Ecology considers organisms at the individual, population, community, ecosystem, and biosphere level. Ecology overl ...
of the Valley and adjacent states of northern
Mexico
Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...
.
The Sabal Palm Sanctuary closely approaches the southernmost point in the state of Texas, and is the southernmost point accessible to the public.
History and current status
The Sanctuary occupies a parcel of the former Rabb Plantation, a 19th-century
sugarcane plantation on the bank of the
Rio Grande - at that time, a river deep enough to float light
steamboats. The plantation's produce was shipped directly from the riverbank; the successful plantation's
Queen Anne mansion, built by Frank and Lillian Rabb in 1891–1892, was adaptively remodeled in 2013 to serve as the Sanctuary's visitor center.
With modern transportation, much of the Valley's land was replanted for industrial
citrus
''Citrus'' is a genus of flowering trees and shrubs in the rue family, Rutaceae. Plants in the genus produce citrus fruits, including important crops such as oranges, lemons, grapefruits, pomelos, and limes. The genus ''Citrus'' is native to ...
farming. In 1971, the Sanctuary parcel became the property of the
National Audubon Society, which continued to own it as of 2015. In 2010, the
Gorgas Science Foundation, a Valley-based
nonprofit organization
A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...
, leased the Sanctuary from the Society to operate and interpret it for the public.
The Sanctuary currently operates approximately 5 miles (8 km) of signed nature trails through the palm grove and adjacent habitats, including an old
oxbow lake that is currently evolving into a wetland
resaca. Other trails visit a
butterfly garden
Butterfly gardening is a way to create, improve, and maintain habitat for lepidopterans including butterflies, skippers, and moths. Butterflies have four distinct life stages—egg, larva, chrysalis, and adult. In order to support and sustain ...
and the shore of the Rio Grande.
Sabal mexicana
''Sabal mexicana'' is a species of palm tree that is native to far southern North America. Common names include Rio Grande palmetto, Mexican palmetto, Texas palmetto, Texas sabal palm, palmetto cabbage and palma de mícharos. The specific epi ...
'') grove, Sabal Palm Sanctuary (11 April 2016).
File:Buff-bellied Hummingbird-Sabal Palm Bird Sanctuary-TX - 2015-05-21at11-43-412 (21421266100).jpg, Buff-bellied Hummingbird ('' Amazilia yucatanensis''), Sabal Palm Bird Sanctuary (21 September 2015).
See also
*
Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge
The Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge is a National Wildlife Refuge located in the Lower Rio Grande Valley region of southern Texas.
It is along the northern banks and reaches of the Lower Rio Grande, north of the Mexico—Unit ...
References
{{Reflist
Protected areas of Cameron County, Texas
Rio Grande
Nature reserves in Texas
Nature centers in Texas
National Audubon Society