Birders Flock to Texas for Annual Festival

Birders and nature lovers from around the world will flock to Harlingen, Texas this month for the 12th Annual Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival. Slated to run November 9-13, the 2005 festival features field trips to dozens of top birding locations, seminars, lectures and a wide variety of children’s programs.

Festival-goers can also shop at the nature fair and meet world-famous birders. It’s a fun and affordable way to catch a glimpse of Red-crowned Parrots, Ringed Kingfishers, Great Kiskadees and many other birds found only in this unique region.

For more information about the Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival, visit www.rgvbirdfest.com or call (800)531-7346.

Accessible Hawk Observation Tower at Bensten State Park, Rio Grande Valley
Photo by Charles Pannell

The Rio Grande Valley features a number of wheelchair-accessible birding sites, thanks to the development of the World Birding Center. This network of nine birding sites dotted along 120 miles of South Texas river road includes accessible trails, viewing platforms, blinds, boardwalks and interpretive centers.

As an avid birder and the chair of the 2005 Texas Tropics Nature Festival, Ron Smith is quick to sing the praises of the Rio Grande Valley. Ron, who has been rolling along South Texas birding trails for many years, recently shared his suggestions about accessible birding sites with Emerging Horizons editor, Candy Harrington.

Says Harrington, “I had a hard time keeping up with Ron, as he rattled off accessible birding sites, boardwalks, trails, blinds and even a hawk viewing tower in the area. He gave me some great tips.”

Check out the Fall 2005 issue of Emerging Horizons for more information on accessible birding sites in the Rio Grande Valley. Candy’s detailed article highlights Ron’s suggestions and includes some great accessible locations she discovered on her own. And as always, lots of local resources are also included.