The Sabine National Wildlife Refuge manages 125,000 acres of protected marshland, 61 miles of levees and eight major water-control structures. It is the largest coastal marsh refuge on the Gulf of Mexico.

Refuge staff and other ornithologists have sighted 250 different bird species on the refuge. During February, March, and April, visitors are sure to see migrating warblers and other species that stay to nest, including barn and tree swallows, kingbirds, kingfishers, orchard orioles, and yellow-billed cuckoos.

White-fronted and white ibis also nest in the refuge as do purple gallinules, roseate spoonbills, great egrets, and great blue herons. Flocks of migrating shorebirds also visit the refuge in spring and fall.

Each February, the refuge plays host to thousands of ducks including blue-winged teal, American widgeon, and gadwall along with as many as 50,000 common moorhens. White pelicans spend the winter, as do some 100,000 or more snow geese.

• Exceptional birding throughout the refuge.
• The1.5-mile handicapped-accessible Marsh Trail, provides close-up views of the birds and other marsh animals as well as observation tower panoramas revealing miles of level marsh terrain, alive with wading birds, marsh birds, waterfowl, songbirds, swamp rabbits, muskrats, nutria, water snakes and alligators.
• Abundant recreational fishing, shrimping and crabbing in refuge canals and some impoundments (open to boaters from March 15 to October 15).
• Late August and early September cast netters can haul in gallons of white and brown shrimp.
• Nature photography