Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge

February 17, 2018

Laguna Atascosa is the largest protected area of natural habitat left in the Rio Grande Valley.  Our tram tour took us by the Laguna Madre (the 130 mile lagoon separating mainland Texas from South Padre Island), and through coastal prairie and thorn scrub.

Our tram

Laguna Madre

Coastal prairie

Yucca plants were in bloom.

Nilgai, antelope from India and Pakistan, were imported in the 1930s for hunting.  Bulls weigh over 600 pounds and females over 450.  They are skittish and have excellent eyesight so our photos used longer zoom than usual.

Crested Caracara

Greater Yellowlegs

Great Egret

Aplomado Falcons have been reintroduced to Laguna Atascosa, and there are now 40 pairs in the refuge.

Aplomado Falcon pair on hack box, used to acclimate fledglings.

Feeders and water features at the Visitors Center allowed for bird sightings.

Northern Cardinal

Red-wing Blackbird

Olive Sparrow

Long-billed Thrasher

Green Jay