The Great Kiskadee is found from Texas to Argentina and is also very common in Bermuda, where it was introduced in the 1950s. Freeuse photo
Exploring Nature: Birding Festival
If you like birding festivals, you need to head south in November.
Specifically, you need to attend the 26th annual Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival, set for Nov. 6-10 in Harlingen.
Along with Galveston’s Featherfest, this is one of my all-time favorite birding events and offers an excellent combination of good birds and good times.
With headquarters at the Harlingen Convention Center, the Rio Grande Valley festival will feature such notable speakers as Pete Dunne, Rick Wright, Ted Floyd and Jon Dunn. In addition to field trips in the Valley, there will be a special 5-day bus trip to El Cielo, Mexico. I made that exotic bus ride and was delighted at the birds we encountered.
Some of my favorite sightings included great kiskadees, green jays, black-bellied whistling ducks, wood storks and ferruginous pygmy owls.
In addition to the Mexico locations, nearby sites at Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park and Sabinal Palms Sanctuary will be visited, along with various hot spots on the upper Texas coast.
If interested, call 956-423-5565 for information.
