International Birding Festival
 Build it and they will come has become a catch phrase in modern times, ever since Kevin Costner first received the message (repeatedly) in the hit movie "Fields of Dreams."The phrase and the movie title both seem to fit when you're talking about the Rio Grande Valley International Birding Festival in Harlingen. MOTHER NATURE built the coastal wetlands of the Rio Grande Valley, and birds of every size and description have been coming to it ever since wings were invented. And the annual spectacle has gained the reputation as being one of the most diverse birding festivals in the world.
 Veteran bird watcher and author Roger Tory Peterson named the Rio Grande Valley one of the top 12 birding hot spots in the nation, and dedicated birders clearly agree. Every year, thousands of naturalists converge upon the Rio Grande Valley in search of some of the 484 species which have been sighted in the area. These species include numerous exotics and neo-tropicals.
In Harlingen, the headquarters for the 9th annual festival, youth groups have been ainting murals on the sides of empty buildings, marking the event. Conference rooms and meeting halls have been secured to host the many lectures and workshops scheduled during the event.
 According to past participants, the number one reason to attend the festival is the opportunity to bird world-renowned hotspots with world-class leaders! A total of 234 species were tallied during last fall’s festival and great leaders make our trips some of the best in the country.
If you’re looking for new optics, a field guide, gear, nature artwork or even innovative ideas for your classroom, you’re bound to find it at the Birder’s Bazaar. More than 60 vendors from across the nation will be on hand to help you choose a gift for yourself or a birder friend or to pick up literature on activities and topics affecting the avian world.
 Tropical Birds of the BorderNovember 6-10, 2002
While the fest will be headquatered in Harlingen, birding sites are varied and many. Planned activities involve field trips to Falcon Lake, a canoe trip down the Rio Grande River, Bentsen State Park, Brownsville, the Chihuahua Woods, El Canelo Ranch, Laguna Atascosa, Las Palomas, and the King Ranch - among other locations.
The festival attracts birders from all over North America. The festival features field trips, tours, seminars by several of the country’s top birding authorities, and a trade show which includes art, optics, birding supplies and gear, crafts, clothing and more. There is also a children’s program. Call (956) 423-5440 or 1-800-531-7346.
CLICK HERE for a list oif Rio Grande Valley Birding Hot Spots
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Rio Grande Valley
