Birds, Butterflies, and Beautiful Weather

Coming back from San Antonio, I noticed a billboard at the Laredo City Limits. Normally it would say: "Laredo--Home of the Championship Bucks", or advertise some local hotel. Going by at the legal speed of 70 mph, I saw, instead, an invitation to see birds! Not only that, but there are specific dates to do this. So, for those of you not planning to drive into Laredo on IH35 any time soon, let me advise you that you are invited to look at Laredo birds during the first two week of February.

Laredo is geographically neither part of the Rio Grande Valley, nor West Texas. It's not too hilly, but definitely not flat as is, say Mc Allen. Left to nature, birds would be few and far between, except flying over to get somewhere else. However with a large man-made lake (Lake Casa Blanca), and tons of trees planted by the residents over many years, we actually have gracious plenty of birds. Two years ago, some folks with a lot of time on their hands, went out to Lake Casa Blanca and counted over 350 species! That's right, all those different birds right here in Laredo.

So while the Rio Grande Valley has hosted "bird watchers" for years, we are open for the business in February. On a recent visit to the Texas A&M International University's campus, I can attest to the presence there of cardinals, some beautiful yellow breasted and headed species, and some escaped parrots.

If you need more information, I am sure there is more information on the City's or Chamber of Commerce Web Sites. To facilitate your watching, and soon the migrating butterfies from Mexico will be here also, the weather is perfectly mild and sunny--what-a-town.