RGV Family Summer Adventure Challenge journal 2017 by Edinburg Scenic Wetlands & World Birding Center

Team Name: _______________________ This summer, visit at least four different nature centers and parks in the Rio Grande Valley and complete 10-12 nature challenges. Upon completion of the challenges and journal submission, your family name will be placed in a drawing for the opportunity to win cool prizes. The challenge is for families with children ages 18 and under.

Families with children 18 and under are invited to join in on the RGV Family Summer Adventure Challenge (RGVFSAC) and spend all summer enjoying the outdoors. The Challenge is a chance to spend quality time together while visiting different nature centers and parks in the Rio Grande Valley and, upon completion of the challenges, an opportunity to win cool prizes! Instructions: In this journal you will find 12 challenges to complete over the summer (May 27 - August 26, 2017). For your family to be included in the raffle you must complete at least 10 challenges from at least 4 different RGV nature sites . For a full site

listing, refer to the site list at the back of the journal). This journal will help you and your family collect proof for each site/challenge. Teams can also submit journal entries and photos online at the Texas Nature Challenge website. Only one journal per family will be accepted (online, printed, or combination of printed & online). However, families may include additional pages, write-ups and photos, as desired.

Each Team is asked to register by calling (956) 381-9922. Registered Teams will receive a laminated “FSAC” Team Sign, a Discount/Free entry pass to select nature sites and other goodies. Participation in the RGVFSAC is free, however some sites may charge fees. Please call sites prior to your visit for information on fees and schedules.

Proof of Completion: We will require proof of completion for each challenge. Types of proof required include an employee signature (preferred) or printed/emailed photo of your family holding your “FSAC” Team Sign in front of the site’s entrance sign. Team Photos can be emailed to hpena@cityofedinburg.com. In the email, please include the Team name, activity date, site location and challenge number, so that we can credit you properly.

Deadline: Turn in completed journals to your local participating nature center no later than 5 pm on Saturday August 26, 2017. On-line entries must also be completed on or before August 26. Journals/online entries can be submitted anytime prior to deadline.

Family Information: Team Name:_______________________________________________________________ Adult Names: ______________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ Child Name & Age__________________________________________

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Child Name & Age__________________________________________

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Child Name & Age__________________________________________

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Child Name & Age__________________________________________

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Child Name & Age__________________________________________

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Main (ADULT) Contact: _____________________________________________________ Telephone: _________________________ Alt. Telephone: __________________________ Email Address: _____________________________________________________________

Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget to register your team BEFORE you begin at (956) 381-9922.

Challenge 1

More than 500 bird species have been seen in the RGV. That is more than half of all bird species found in the entire U.S.

Visit a nature center/park that loans out binoculars or bring your own. While you are there, take a walk through the grounds and identify four birds that you see or hear. List (or draw) them below. Please provide us with proof of your visit (signature or attached/emailed photos*).

In 2016, the newest species seen in the RGV was the Variegated Flycatcher. At #529, this South American resident overshot its wintering range in Brazil, and landed in Texas for the first time, landing at South Padre Island.

Nature Center/Park: ________________________________________________________ Nature Center/Park Staff Person* Printed Name: ______________________________________________________________ Signature: __________________________________________________________________ Date: ____________________________ * ALTERNATIVE: Take a photo of your group in front of the Entrance Sign holding up your â&#x20AC;&#x153;FSACâ&#x20AC;? Team Sign. Include print of photo or email to hpena@cityofedinburg.com.

Challenge 2 Visit a nature center/park that hosts a morning or afternoon family program or activity. Attend one with your family. Describe your experience or what you learned below. Ask an employee to print, sign, and date this page.

chic-chic-chic-chiczwEEEEEEEEEEEEE EEEEEEEEEEE... Do you hear that loud buzzing? You may be listening to the sounds of the Giant Cicada or

Chicharra Grande in Spanish. Although there are over 40 species of Cicadas in Texas, this one is known for its unusual long and loud sound, produced by vibrating special structures (tymbals) on its abdomen.

Nature Center/Park: ________________________________________________________ Nature Center/Park Staff Person Printed Name: ______________________________________________________________ Signature: __________________________________________________________________ Date: ____________________________

Challenge 3

RIDDLES

Visit a nature center/park that houses and displays animals indoors. In the space below, list and describe (or draw) at least one live animal that you saw and learned about. Ask an employee to print, sign, and date this page.

What was the Tortoise Doing on the Highway? About 100 millimeters per hour

Why are Snakes hard to fool? You canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t pull their leg

Challenge 4 Visit a nature center/park that provides a water-based activity (ex: swimming, kayaking, fishing, tubing, etc.). Participate in the activity with your family. Describe your experience below. Please provide us with proof of your visit (signature or attached/emailed photos*).

In State Parks across Texas, fishing, where allowed, is free within park boundaries (no license or special stamp required). One such park is Bentsen RGV State Park and World Birding Center. Here, anglers often seek out the Alligator Gar or “catan” which can reach lengths of over 7 feet and weigh over 300 pounds. With 3 rows of teeth and scaly armor, this fish appears scary, but it is harmless.

Nature Center/Park: ________________________________________________________ Nature Center/Park Staff Person* Printed Name: ______________________________________________________________ Signature: __________________________________________________________________ Date: ____________________________ * ALTERNATIVE: Take a photo of your group in front of the Entrance Sign holding up your “FSAC” Team Sign. Include print of photo or email to hpena@cityofedinburg.com.

Challenge 5

RIDDLES

Visit a nature center/park. Using a field guide, identify at least four different plants or trees with your family. List and describe (or draw) them below. Please provide us with proof of your visit (signature or attached/emailed photos*).

What did the big flower say to the little flower? Hey Bud

What did the little tree say to the big tree? Leaf me alone!

Challenge 6 Visit a nature center/park. Use a butterfly field guide and/or checklist. Identify butterflies with your family and in the space below make a list of (or draw) four species you observed. Please provide us with proof of your visit (signature or attached/ emailed photos*).

Plant it and they will come... Although butterflies can drink nectar from many different types of plants, when it comes to laying their eggs, they can only lay them on a specific plant. This is to the benefit of both the butterfly and plant. When it emerges from the egg, the caterpillar does not have to compete with a lot of others for food, and the plant won’t get overeaten by caterpillars year round.

Nature Center/Park: ________________________________________________________ Nature Center/Park Staff Person* Printed Name: ______________________________________________________________ Signature: __________________________________________________________________ Date: ____________________________ * ALTERNATIVE: Take a photo of your group in front of the Entrance Sign holding up your “FSAC” Team Sign. Include print of photo or email to hpena@cityofedinburg.com.

Challenge 7

Over 66 million years ago during the Cretaceous Period, Starr County and the area around Falcon State Park was part of the shoreline of an ancient inland sea. Today, there is evidence of petrified trees, sea life and oyster beds in and around the area.

Visit a nature center/park that hosts nature walks or take a self-guided walk with your family. Use a field guide to help you identify the insects (other than butterflies) you see. In the space below draw an insect and identify it. Please provide us with proof of your visit (signature or attached/emailed photos*).

Challenge 8 Visit a nature center/park that provides outdoor family picnic areas. Have an outdoor family picnic and in the space below, write a poem or a story about your experience. Please provide us with proof of your visit (signature or attached/emailed photos*).

Squirrels are cute and fun to watch, but did you know that tree squirrels are not native to the RGV and can cause harm to local wildlife? Our true native squirrels are excavating ground squirrels like the Mexican Ground Squirrel. Living in burrows in mesquite or cactus flats, one can frequently see them in grassy parks, pastures and along the highway.

Challenge 9

One cool resident of the RGV is the Striped Bark Scorpion.

Visit a nature center/park that hosts an evening or night program or activity. Attend one with your family. Describe (or draw) your experience below. Ask an employee to print, sign, and date this page.

During the day, they camouflage well and are hard to see, but at night take a UV light to the bark of the mesquite tree, and you might find one of these glowing in the dark. The Striped Bark Scorpion is one of many bioluminescent organisms in the world, and is an easy critter to see at night in the RGV.

Challenge 10 Visit a nature center/park. Take a tour of their grounds with your family in search of reptiles and/or mammals. Use field guides to help you identify the wildlife observed. In the space below, list the types of reptiles and mammals you observed with your family. Please provide us with proof of your visit (signature or attached/emailed photos*).

The RGV is home to a number of threatened and endangered species, including the Mexican Treefrog. Found only in the very tip of Texas within the U.S., this small frog is nocturnal becoming most active after rainstorms. Sabal Palm Sanctuary is one place where it lives. It can be found near wetlands, resacas and riverbanks. During the heat of the day, it takes shelter under tree bark or damp soil.

Challenge 11

The TRUE Chupacabra Part of the Nightjar family, the Common Pauraque is a nocturnal bird found hunting along trails and roadsides looking for insects. Like other Nightjars, they have large heads, tiny beaks and wide gaping mouths.

Visit a nature center/park that allows bike riding. Visit the park with your family and take your own or rent them from the park and ride the trails. Describe (or draw) the experience you had with your family. Please provide us with proof of your visit (signature or attached/emailed photos*).

This strange feature led ancient civilizations to believe that Nightjars were stealing milk from their goats, which is how they got the name “Goatsuckers”.

Nature Center/Park: ________________________________________________________ Nature Center/Park Staff Person* Printed Name: ______________________________________________________________ Signature: __________________________________________________________________ Date: ____________________________ * ALTERNATIVE: Take a photo of your group in front of the Entrance Sign holding up your “FSAC” Team Sign. Include print of photo or email to hpena@cityofedinburg.com.

Challenge 12 Visit a nature center/park with wildlife friendly water features throughout the site. At one of the water features, sit still, close your eyes and listen quietly for five minutes. Describe what you heard, smelled or felt during the experience. Please provide us with proof of your visit (signature or attached/emailed photos*).

Padre Island was once considered the longest barrier Island in the world. Barrier Islands are long, narrow and straight and lie parallel to the mainland shore, providing a home for a variety of sea grasses, fish and other sea life. At three stories high, the tower at South Padre Island Birding & Nature Center offers great vistas of the barrier island, ocean, bay and mainland shore.

At a Glance Check off the challenges completed. Teams that enter completed challenges on-line at “Texas Nature Challenge “ will receive a digital badge that can be printed out and included in your journal. Challenge 1: Challenge 2: Challenge 3: Challenge 4: Challenge 5: Challenge 6: Challenge 7: Challenge 8: Challenge 9: Challenge 10: Challenge 11: Challenge 12:

Birds Morning/Afternoon program Live Animal Water-based activity Plants & Trees Butterflies Insects Outdoor Picnic Evening/Night Program Reptiles & Mammals Bike Ride Water Feature Senses

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*Remember, to be entered in the raffle, Teams must complete at least 10 of the 12 challenges at four different nature sites in the Rio Grande Valley. Deadline to complete challenges is August 27.

Short a challenge? For a bonus entry, describe (or draw) your favorite outdoor experience this summer.

Site Information & Summer Hours of Operation STATE PARKS Falcon State Park (956) 848-5327. 46 Park Rd, Falcon Heights, TX 78545. Park Open Daily 8 am - 5 pm, and until 7 pm on weekends. Bentsen-RGV State Park & World Birding Center 956-584-9156. 2800 S. Bentsen Palm Dr., Mission TX 78572 Park Open Daily 7 am - 10 pm Visitor Center Open Thursday - Sunday 7:30 am - 5:30 pm Estero Llano Grande State Park & World Birding Center 956-565-3919. 154A Lakeview Dr., Mercedes TX, 78599 Park Open Daily 8 am - 5 pm Visitor Center Open Wednesday - Sunday 8 am - 5 pm Resaca de la Palma State Park & World Birding Center 956-350-2920. 1000 New Carmen Blvd., Brownsville TX 78521 Park Open Daily 7 am - 10 pm Visitor Center Open Wednesday-Sunday 8 am - 5 pm

NATIONAL REFUGES & PARKS Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge & Lower Rio Grande National Wildlife Refuge 956-784-7500. 3325 Green Jay Rd., Alamo TX 78516 Park Open Daily Sunrise to Sunset Visitor Center Open Daily 8 am - 4 pm Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge 956-748-3607. 22688 Buena Vista Rd, Los Fresnos, TX 78566 Refuge Open Daily Sunrise to Sunset Visitor Center Open Thursday-Monday 8 am - 4 pm Palo Alto National Historical Park 956-541-2785. 7200 Paredes Line Rd, Brownsville TX 78526 Open Daily 8 amâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;5 pm

Site Information & Summer Hours of Operation NATURE CENTERS & SITES Roma Bluffs World Birding Center 956-849-4930. 610 N. Portscheller St., 78584 Roma TX Bluffs Open Daily, Sunrise to Sunset. Park open Monday - Friday 8 am - 5 pm National Butterfly Center 956-583-5400. 3333 Butterfly Park Rd., Mission TX 78572 Open Daily 9 am - 4 pm McAllen Nature Center 956-681-3333. 4101 W Us Highway 83, McAllen, TX 78501 Open Daily 8 am—12 pm & 5pm to Sunset Quinta Mazatlán & World Birding Center 956-681-3370. 600 Sunset Drive. McAllen, TX 78503 Open Tuesday - Saturday 8 am - 5 pm and Thursdays until Dark. Old Hidalgo Pumphouse Museum & World Birding Center 956-843-8686. 902 S. Second St., Hidalgo TX 78557 Open Monday - Sunday 9 am - 7 pm Edinburg Scenic Wetlands & World Birding Center 956-381-9922. 714 Raul Longoria Rd. Edinburg, TX 78540 Grounds Open Monday - Saturday 7 am - 6 pm, and until 8 pm Thursdays. Visitor Center Open Monday - Saturday 8 am - 5 pm Frontera Audubon 956-968-3275. 1101 S. Texas Blvd., Weslaco TX 78596 Open Tuesday - Saturday 8 am - 4 pm and Sunday 12 pm - 4 pm Valley Nature Center 956-969-2475. 301 S Border Ave, Weslaco, TX 78596 Tuesday - Friday 9 am - 5 pm, Saturday: 8 am - 5 pm & Sunday 1 pm - 5 pm Hugh Ramsey Nature Park and World Birding Center (956) 216-5951. 1001 S. Loop 499, Harlingen, Texas 78550 Open Daily 6 am to 10 pm

Site Information & Summer Hours of Operation NATURE CENTERS & SITES South Padre Island Sealife Center 956-299-1957. 110 N. Garcia St. , Port Isabel TX 78578 Open Daily 10 am to 4 pm Coastal Studies Lab 956-761-2644. 100 Marine Lab Drive. South Padre Island, TX 78597 Visitor Center Open Monday - Friday 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm South Padre Island Birding & Nature Center and World Birding Center 956-761-6801. 6801 Padre Blvd, South Padre Island, TX 78505 Mon & Tues 9 am - 7 pm, Wedsâ&#x20AC;&#x201C; Sun 7 am to 7 am Sea Turtle Inc. 956-761-4511. 6617 Padre Blvd, South Padre Island, TX 78597 Open Daily 10 am to 5 pm Sabal Palm Sanctuary 956-541-8034. 8435 Sabal Palm Rd. Brownsville, TX 78521 Open Daily 7 am - 5 pm

CONGRATULATIONS! Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve completed your Family Summer Adventure Challenge journal. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget to double check that proof is attached to your journal pages. We hope your family had lots of fun completing the challenges. Thank you for continuing to support your local nature centers and parks. Please turn in your journals to your local nature center by 5 pm on Saturday, August 27th.

Find more information about sites & challenges at NatureRocksRGV.org

NatureChallenge.tamu.edu