Statue of Padre J. Nicolas Balli Located on South Padre Island. Historical Marker on base reads: "Padre Island, off the South Texas coast, is named for Padre Jose Nicolas Balli (177?-1829), whose family migrated from Spain in 1569 and became large landowners in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. In 1800 Balli applied to King Charles IV of Spain for 11 1/2 leagues of land on the island, and in 1804 started its first settlement, Rancho Santa Cruz. Padre Balli served as collector of finances for all the churches in the Rio Grande Valley and founded the first mission in present Cameron County. Padre Balli's ministry was a great influence on the lives of early South Texas settlers."

Staff person from the rescue and rehabilitation organization, "Sea Turtle, Inc" on South Padre Island live-streams the progress of Kemp's ridley hatchlings moving towards gulf waters at sunrise.

Photograph of Point Isabel Lighthouse (located at Point Isabel) in Cameron County, Texas.

Photograph of Point Isabel lighthouse as seen from western side.

Kemp's ridley turtle hatchlings moving towards Texas gulf coast waters at dawn.

Photograph of statue entitled, "Cristo de los Pescadores" in Isla Blanca Park on South Padre Island north west of the Jetties.

Staff members from the rescue and rehabilitation organization, "Sea Turtle, Inc" on South Padre Island release endangered Kemp's ridley hatchlings at dawn, surrounded by onlookers.

Eastward-facing photograph of the Queen Isabella Causeway and South Padre Island, taken from atop the Point Isabel Lighthouse.

Photograph of statue entitled, "Cristo de los Pescadores" in Isla Blanca Park on South Padre Island north west of the Jetties. The statue is on top of carved, stacked blocks of stone that have small plaques on them and it is behind a carved stone marker that has text and illustrations of a ship and anchors.

Photograph of Point Isabel lighthouse as seen from its base on the easter side.

Statue of Padre José Nicolás Ballí on South Padre Island

Juvenile Kemp's ridley sea turtles make their way towards gulf coast waters during sunrise at South Padre Island beach.

Photograph of the Milky Way Galaxy as seen from the Chisos Basin in Big Bend National Park.