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To The
WelcomeRio GRande Valley
elcome to the Rio Grande Valley! Whether you prefer
nature and the outdoors, historical sites, parks, fishing,
Wboating or parasailing over the surf at South Padre Island,
the Rio Grande Valley has it all.
Visitors are attracted by the Valley’s mild winter weather, which
makes outdoor activities, such as golf and fishing, year-round
opportunities. Over 100,000 Winter Texans stay for the winter
season to enjoy our warm, subtropical climate with an average
temperature of 65-70 degrees.
In addition to the warm weather, Winter Texans are attracted by
the friendly people and the many social activities in the RV resorts
Jim Brunson and mobile home parks filled with fellow Winter Texans in the
Publisher winter. They also enjoy the beaches and relaxed atmosphere of
South Padre Island, dozens of talented entertainers from Branson,
Nashville, and other parts of the country who come here to perform
at the resorts, and a wide array of other activities, including festivals and special events.
The Winter Texan Times publishes a weekly schedule of shows, entertainment and
activities held in the RV resorts during the winter season – October through March. For the
latest information about what’s going on for Winter Texans, visit www.wintertexantimes.
com, or pick up a copy of the paper during the winter season at any RV resort or chamber
of commerce office Valleywide.
Winter Texans aren’t the only ones who have discovered the Rio Grande Valley.
Birding, butterfly and nature enthusiasts from all parts of the
Birding, butterfly and nature enthusiasts from all parts of the
country come to the Valley every year, attracted by the 545
country come to the Valley every year, attracted by the 545
species of birds and 330 butterfly species that are either na-
species of birds and 330 butterfly species that are either na-
tive to the area or that migrate through the Valley each year.
tive to the area or that migrate through the Valley each year.
Because of its neo-tropical climate, the Rio Grande Valley
Because of its neo-tropical climate, the Rio Grande Valley
is home to many tropical birds that can be seen nowhere
is home to many tropical birds that can be seen nowhere
else in the United States. It is also a major bird migration
else in the United States. It is also a major bird migration
corridor with two major flyways converging here.
With nine World Birding Center satellites located all
With nine World Birding Center satellites located all
across the Valley, visitors have the opportunity to view
across the Valley, visitors have the opportunity to view
different bird species, depending on the habitat offered by
different bird species, depending on the habitat offered by
each location. A brief description of each of the nine sites
each location. A brief description of each of the nine sites
is listed in this guide, along with other popular birding
is listed in this guide, along with other popular birding
destinations nearby.
With all there is to see and do in the Rio Grande Val- -
ley, we hope you enjoy your stay!
Inside
Points of Interest ...............................9
Top Valley Birding Sites .................36
this guide
Valley Chamber Offices ..................42
Valley Birding & Nature Events .....43 About the cover
Casey and Karen Balvert, of Ontario, Canada
are pictured on the cover as they visited Estero
Rio Grande Valley Visitors Guide Llano Grande in Weslaco, Texas to photograph
Vol. 21, No. 1 2018-2019 Edition the wildlife in the 235-acre refuge. Estero Llano
Published by Times Media Group, Inc. Grande is just one of the nine satellites compris-
1217 N. Conway ing the World Birding Center system in the Rio
Grande Valley. With 535 species of birds and 330
Mission, Texas 78572
(956) 580-7800 species of butterflies seen in the RGV, birding and
www.wttrgv.com nature tourism draws many visitors to the area.
© Copyright 2018 by Times Media Group, Inc. No part of Photo by Herb Moering
this publication may be reproduced in any form without the
express consent of the publisher. All rights reserved.
Page 8 Rio Grande Valley Visitors Guide 2018-2019