Creation of a woodland meadow at Quinta Mazatlan, the McAllen World Birding Center satellite, is nearing completion. Nestled in the heart of McAllen across from the airport, the center has created a special habitat for birds and other creatures that seems miles away from the city. But in reality, the McAllen Airport is just across 10th Street.
The site is known for the beautiful old adobe mansion, dating back to the early 1900s, that was once owned by prominent citizens of McAllen. The site was converted to one of nine World Birding Center site and opened a year and a half ago. Since then, the city of McAllen has committed funds to expand the site.
Colleen Hook, manager of Quinta Mazatlan, said the city added four acres last year and recently purchased another five acres on Bailes Road in addition to the original eight acres included in Quinta Mazatlan. While over half of the area had not been developed, the land was very costly because of its location and represents the city’s commitment to preserving natural habitat.
Quinta Mazatlan is now developing an area called the Woodland Meadow, which has ebony and other trees that provide natural habitat for many of the birds species in the Valley. The meadow will have a large water feature about 20 feet tall to attract birds. It will also feature an amphitheater large enough for 60 people to sit and watch the birds.
"We will be able to conduct classes like Birding 101 or How to Landscape to Attract Wildlife, in the amphitheater," said Hooks.
The ribbon cutting for the new section will be held March 1.
"It’s a great place to just sit and watch the birds flying around in the trees around you," continued Hooks. She said the idea for the amphitheater came from birders who travel the world and visit sites all over the world. They come back and make recommendations to the board at Quinta Mazatlan.
Since it opened, Quinta Mazatlan has had over 25,000 visitors including many locals who use the site for weddings and other special events because of its natural setting.
"Winter Texans are fascinated by our birds," said Hook. "The favorite is the Green Jay because it cannot be seen further north than the Rio Grande Valley. Other favorites are the Kiskadee, the Altamira Oriole and the Chachalaca, which Hooks refers to as the Rio Grande Valley rooster because of its habits of waking up early and calling out. The Chachalaca is another bird not found north of the Valley.
"Up until now Quinta Mazatlan has provided only walking trails. But when the amphitheater is completed, visitors will be able to sit and observe these and other birds who come to the water feature and flit in and out of the trees," Hook said.
Two additional projects are planned for the near future. Next year, Quinta Mazatlan plans to add more signage and about 25 sculptures of wildlife native to South Texas such as the ocelot, the Texas Tortoise and the Texas Horned Toad. Hooks explained that many school children do not know what animals are native to South Texas and the sculptures will help them identify them.
A Midnight Madness fundraiser is planned for March to help fund this new project.
"We raise funds one year and the next year and unveil the project," explained Hooks, who said the money for the amphitheater was raised at the last fundraiser and would be unveiled at the next fundraiser.
A longer-range plan includes construction of a natural clay bank resaca on one of the newly-acquired sections to attract water birds such as the Kingfishers, the Roseate Spoonbill and a variety of ducks.
Hook said the Hummingbird Festival sponsored by Quinta Mazatlan had been moved up to April 19, 2008, so some of the Winter Texans still in the Valley might participate. It will be an all-day event with speakers, a wild bird show, bird banding and music.
She went on to say that Quinta Mazatlan has many Asian visitors who come specifically to see hummingbirds because they can only be found in the western hemisphere. The Buff-Bellied Hummingbird can be found at Quinta Mazatlan year-round. And other species of hummingbirds migrate through the site during their yearly travels.
Quinta Mazatlan is one of nine World Birding Center sites planned throughout the Rio Grande Valley. The sites at Bentsen-Rio Grande State Park in Mission (WBC Headquarters), Edinburg Wetlands, Old Hidalgo Pumphouse Nature Trail, Roma Bluffs, Estero Llano Grande in Weslaco, Harlingen Arroyo Colorado and Quinta Mazatlan are now open.
Resaca de la Palma State Park in Brownsville is expected to open in February. The last site, the South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center, is not expected to open until 2009.
Each site varies in size and has distinctive features that attract different species of birds.