Rio Grande Valley Chapter

Category: Blogs

  • Red-Winged Blackbirds

    Red-Winged Blackbirds

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    by

    Justin Case
    in ,

    by M. Kathy Raines Conk-la-ree! Conk-la-ree! The shrill, liquid burbling of migrating male red-wings—scarlet epaulets aflame—fills the air from mid-March to early May, ushering in the many delights of late springtime in the Rio Grande Valley.  “Your backyard is so noisy!” laughed my neighbor. Yes, it was. Wave after successive wave of red-wings not only…

  • Yellow-headed Blackbirds Stopping By

    Yellow-headed Blackbirds Stopping By

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    by

    Justin Case
    in ,

    by M. Kathy Raines Throngs of noisy, migrating male yellow-headed blackbirds, heads and chests aglow in the setting sun, descended upon limbs and open swaths of lawn to forage for seeds and insects at South Padre Island Convention Center last April. I can hardly wait to see them again.  Our wondrous spring fall-out—during which fatigued…

  • Long-billed Thrasher, our Woodlands Songster

    Long-billed Thrasher, our Woodlands Songster

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    by

    Justin Case
    in ,

    by M. Kathy Raines Lush, intricate melodies tumbled from a willow tree near the river at Sabal Palm Sanctuary one unusually quiet midday afternoon. But, searching treetops for the presumed songster, the illustrious northern mockingbird, I found none. Then, to my surprise, I realized this sweetness poured from a brownish, orange-eyed bird with a black-streaked…

  • Did You Know?

    Did You Know?

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    by

    Justin Case
    in , ,

    by Chuck Cornell I learn something new every time I accompany Bill for raptor banding. Here’s a few things that are not always known about raptors and a couple of truths about banding in the Rio Grande Valley.

  • Maybe Size Doesn’t Matter

    Maybe Size Doesn’t Matter

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    by

    Justin Case
    in , ,

    by James Bennie One autumn a few years ago, I was photographing butterflies and plants in Olmito when I noticed a yellow sulphur butterfly struggling like crazy, caught on a blue mistflower. I assumed it was in a spider web and as hard as it was beating its wings would soon get loose. It was puzzling, though,…

  • Raptor Banding with Bill Clark

    Raptor Banding with Bill Clark

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    by

    Justin Case
    in , ,

    by Chuck Cornell In 2015, my friend, Gus Rentfro, mentioned that he knew a guy who banded raptors. “Would you like to go out with us some time?” he asked. “Yes” was my reply and thus began my adventures with Bill Clark and raptor banding.  On the first outing, I drove my car and followed…