February 10, 2018
The World Birding Center is a series of nine Rio Grande Valley parks and preserves designed to protect wildlife habitat and increase the understanding of birds and wildlife. Estero Llano Grande has 230 acres of wetlands, woodlands and thorn scrub and is the geographic center of the sites.
We were the only participants in a beginning birding lecture offered by park volunteers. They provided some tips for birdwatching and then showed slides of birds often found in the Rio Grande Valley. We liked their suggestion to identify three characteristics of an unknown bird to begin an identification. Characteristics can include coloring, size, markings, behavior, and shape.
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron
Great Blue Heron
Juvenile Yellow-Crowned Night-Heron
Pond slider, possibly red-eared
In the center of the picture, with its tail just touching the horizontal stick, is a Common Pauraque.
4 Comments
Alice McGregor · March 28, 2018 at 12:52 pm
Did you all actually take those photos? Really great!
Jane Appel · March 28, 2018 at 1:52 pm
Thank you, Alice. These are all ours, taken with pocket-sized point-and-shoot cameras. We will borrow photos sometimes but try to own up when we do.
Laura · April 1, 2018 at 8:45 am
Live the birding tips! Hoppy Easter!
Laura · April 1, 2018 at 8:45 am
Love the birding tips! Hoppy Easter!