Overview

Bird Island Basin is the most famous kitesurf spot in the Padre Island National Seashore, located on the Laguna Madre side. It's one of the best flat water spots in Texas, with ultra-shallow flats extending for miles. The National Seashore offers a preserved and wild natural setting. The water is so shallow you can stand everywhere, with hard sand bottom. It's a reference spot for kite schools and freestyle. National Seashore entrance fee required.

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Spot forecast for Bird Island Basin

Sunrise 07:32 · Sunset 18:55

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< 7 kn7–12 kn13–20 kn21–30 kn31–40 kn41+ kn Gusts Your minimum: 7 kn

Next tides

Low tide Tue 20 · 17:03 · 0.4 m
High tide Wed 21 · 01:22 · 0.7 m
Low tide Wed 21 · 08:04 · 0.6 m
High tide Wed 21 · 10:59 · 0.6 m

Forecasts provided by Open-Meteo

Bird Island Basin: when to go?

Rideable days and hours computed for a minimum wind of 7 knots · log in to set your own (foil, twin-tip…)

Season · peak

367h

in March · 31 rideable days

The spot works year-round: 30 rideable days a month on average, at 26 °C. It peaks in March, with 367 hours of usable wind.

Rideable days per month

Wind strength when it is rideable

7-12 knots · 61%13-20 knots · 37%21-30 knots · 1%

When the spot works, wind sits mostly between 7 and 12 knots — 61% of rideable hours. Big-kite territory. The coldest month is January, at 16 °C. The wettest month is June, with 237 mm.

Monthly averages: Bird Island Basin

Monthly averages — Bird Island Basin — averaged over 2 years of records — Weather data by Open-Meteo.com — How it is calculated
Month	Rideable days	Usable wind	Temperature	Rain
January	29.0	297 h	16 °C	74 mm
February	28.5	321 h	20 °C	14 mm
March	31.0	367 h	24 °C	189 mm
April	30.0	413 h	26 °C	44 mm
May	31.0	455 h	29 °C	171 mm
June	30.0	434 h	31 °C	237 mm
July	31.0	406 h	31 °C	87 mm
August	31.0	348 h	32 °C	16 mm
September	29.5	308 h	31 °C	202 mm
October	30.5	323 h	29 °C	16 mm
November	30.0	316 h	25 °C	104 mm
December	27.0	240 h	21 °C	40 mm

Photo gallery of Bird Island Basin

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Technical details of Bird Island Basin spot

The spot works with winds from N, NNE, NE, ENE, E, ESE, SE, SSE, S, SSW, SW, WSW, W, WNW, NW, NNW.

Rideable Not rideable

Spot opening date · Required level

Spot opening date: Open all year round
Required level: Beginner

On the water

Ultra-shallow Laguna Madre flats, you can stand everywhere. Hard and compact sand bottom. Perfectly flat water — one of the best flat water spots in the world. Warm and hypersaline water. Ideal conditions for learning, freestyle, and wakestyle. The SE wind is very reliable from March to September.

Hazards

Stingrays very frequent — stingray shuffle absolutely mandatory. Extremely intense sun, rapid dehydration. Little shade in the park. Padre Island National Seashore entrance fee. Restrooms and facilities are limited. Bring plenty of water. Mosquitoes possible in light wind.

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Additional stations

Packery Channel20 km

Readings reserved for Premium members
source noaa
GW3037 North Padre Island TX US15.6 km

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source noaa

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Webcams near Bird Island Basin

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Nearby spots

All spots: Texas

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Bird Island Basin kitesurf, wingfoil and windsurf spot