The Rio Grande Valley is full of nature centers and birding sites. These parks are continuing to have activities. For those that stay a little longer, or are full time residents, these are some of the activities you can still catch in the wonderful outdoors of the Rio Grande Valley.
The Valley Nature Center will hold their first annual fishing tournament, Rock the Dock, at Lobo Del Mar on South Padre Island. The event will take place on June 5 from 6 a.m. to 12 p.m. Registration is currently open and closes on May 30. Cost is $350 per team. For more information, visit valleynaturecenter.org.
The Begin to Bird Watch program at Quinta Mazatlan will be held again on April 10 and May 8 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. The program invites guests into the world of birds, one full of beautiful colors, fascinating behaviors, and incredible diversity. After an introduction, guests will be introduced to some basic tips and tricks of how to use binoculars, identify birds, and using field guides and online resources.
On April 17, you can visit Quinta Mazatlan to learn about the basics of geology and earth history with environmental scientist Mia Trevino. In this event, she will go over the geologic time scale, the rock cycle, how to interpret rocks, and more. Although the Rio Grande Valley may not be bountiful in road cuts, cliffs, or mountains where the geology of an area is more apparent, it does have unique features that are fascinating to see and learn about. Oyster beds in Falcon State Park, sandstone bluffs in Roma, and volcanic ash deposits in Rio Grande City are just a few of the wonderful geologic attractions in the RGV. When you know what to look for, the world of geology opens up in the world around you.
Space is limited at Quinta Mazatlan to follow current state and county guidelines, so purchasing tickets ahead of time is strongly encouraged. Call (956) 681-3370 for more information or to purchase tickets. You can also visit their website for a list of more events or to purchase tickets at quintamazatlan.com.
The Edinburg World Birding Center (EWBC) also has activities you can participate in. Every Wednesday and Saturday, the center is asking volunteer with a green thumb to visit their park. They are seeking volunteers to assist with planting, weeding, and maintenance in their native plant nursery and community garden. For more information, contact Hanna Marble at (956) 381-9922 or visit www.EdinburgWBC.org.
The EWBC invites nature lovers to participate in the virtual program exchange with the Association of Nature Center Administrators. In this program, you can learn about the waters of the Pacific Coast, the birds of the eastern deciduous forest, the plants of the Great Plains, and so much more. As part of this exchange, nature and environmental learning centers throughout the US invite you to join their virtual programs. To participate in a program, view their calendar at natctr.org/events/exchange.
If you are looking for more activities to do during the off season in the Rio Grande Valley, visit our website at www.wintertexantimes.com and find our digital issues of the Rio Grande Valley Visitors Guide. Our guide gives you a list of nature and birding centers in the Valley, museums, and other points of interest in the area. Please call them ahead of time to check their hours and safety guidelines.
