Texas Travel Guide

Explore McAllen's Colorful World Birding Center

Birds come in as many colors as a rainbow, and bird lovers will find that McAllen, Texas, located in Rio Grande Valley is one of the country's most popular birding destination. Birders from all over the world flock to McAllen to see some of the colorful species found nowhere else in North America. Along with bird watching, there are 8 annual wildlife watching festivals in the McAllen region. At the World Birding Center you can learn more about the diverse bird species from expert birders and nature artists.

McAllen's World Birding Center is one of a series of 9 Centers throughout the regions. It is located within the grounds of Quinta Mazatlan, a historic Spanish Revival adobe hacienda surrounded by lush tropical landscaping and native woodland. The World Birding Center features walking trails; more than 15 acres of birding habitat, butterfly and dragonfly gardens and ponds; a small conference room, and ongoing nature programs. Quinta Mazatlan attracts many of the favorite “Valley specialties” found no place else in the country. Black-bellied Whistling Ducks nest in the patio palms, while Green Jays, Plain Chachalacas, Buff-bellied Hummingbirds, and Olive Sparrows inhabit the grounds.

McAllen Spanish heritage is rich and festive as well. Sitting on the border of Texas and Mexico, McAllen has a rich artistic community with heavy Mexican influence evident in the architecture, cuisine, music, language and art of the city. Many special events are held annually celebrating the bi-culturalism of the area. If planning a visit south of the border you'll find McAllen is a perfect stop over since it is only 8 miles from the Mexican border. Because of the proximity to Mexico, McAllen offers many ties to the country South of the Border. The McAllen Chamber of Commerce offers tips on traveling into Mexico, and can give advice on accommodations, specific destinations, attractions and money exchange, among other tips.

McAllen's World Birding Center in the Texas' Lower Rio Grande Valley has helped restore the wildlife habitat and promote birding and nature tourism. Comprised of nine sites strung along 120 miles of the Rio Grande corridor from Roma to South Padre Island, the WBC encompasses everything from saltwater flats and riparian woodlands to thick Tamaulipan thornscrub and palm-fringed resacas that attract an incomparable diversity of bird species.

As one of the most biologically diverse ecological regions in North America, the Lower Rio Grande Valley is a critical migratory stopover point for birds that move between the Americas. Among these 9 Centers is the Hugh Ramsey Park on Harlingen's east side to a 40-acre upland thorn forest on the west side. Harlingen's wing of the WBC provides breeding grounds for numerous "Valley specialties" and the endangered red-crowned parrot.

By Melody Schubert

Getting There - To learn more about the World Birding Center in the McAllen region and festive events and other attractions to enjoy visit the McAllen CVB at http://www.mcallen.org/Visitors. Follow the McAllen CVB on Twitter at http://twitter.com/mcallencvb.

A current list of all Rio Grande Valley reported birds is available at www.southtexasnature.com.

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