by M. Kathy Raines “Where are our birds?” I cried. Last winter, Cardinals and Green Jays joined our usual customers—House Sparrows, Curve-billed Thrashers, Black-crested Titmice, various doves — on the lawn or branches, at the feeder and among papery bamboo leaves. I opened my window so my cat and I could enjoy their morning calls and chatter. Now, I gazed upon eerily silent, bare…

Several years ago, a pink mint plant (Stachys drummondii) popped up in front of the tropical sage patch in my yard. Our weekly volunteer team had just found them all abloom in various gardens in Harlingen’s Hugh Ramsey Nature Park, so I knew what it was. Pink mint was our harbinger of spring, foretelling warmer…

by Caroline Cardile WOWE was held at the South Padre Island Birding and Nature and Alligator Rescue Center from Tuesday, February 8 through Saturday, February 12. More than 1600 visitors, over 40 Texas Mater Naturalist (TMN) volunteers, and numerous members of Arroyo Colorado Audubon Society (ACAS), our TMN chapter, and other nature organizations helped make…

by Michelle Cano The 26th annual Winter Outdoor Wildlife Expo (W.O.W.E.) was held from Feb 8-12, 2022, at the South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center and Alligator Sanctuary. A special appearance from some feathered guests were one of the main attractions.  Jonathan Wood, wildlife rehabilitator and master falconer, brought his entourage of eagles, hawks, falcons…

by Penny Brown Let me start by saying I have an active imagination. According to my adult children, I exaggerate, a lot. Having said that, the tale I’m about to share with you is shooting about as straight as a pig’s tail!  As you may have heard in August of 2020, the City of Rio…

by Ed Meza What was a vision three years ago for David Garza, Cameron County Commissioner for Precinct 3 became a reality on Tuesday, February 22, 2022 with the grand opening and ribbon cutting for the 10 acre South Texas Ecotourism Center (STEC) located at 501 W. State Texas 100, in Laguna Vista, Texas. This…