Quinta Mazatlan - Birdwatching

from SOCIALIFE MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2021

by SOCIALIFE Magazine

UTRGV Scholarship

Quinta

MAZATLAN

The Perfect Rio Grande Valley Hobby

By Quinta Mazatlan, Center for Urban Ecology

Starting a new hobby (or even a life-long vocation) is like building a fire. The initial spark, the flash of interest, comes easily, but keeping the fire alive takes more thought. It takes rearranging the logs with a poker, adding more when needed, and the occasional breath from a bellow. All in all, similar to a hobby, it takes direction and effort.

Let’s consider birdwatching as that new hobby. The spark comes naturally, like lighting hitting a prairie; the spark bird. It could be a swallow twisting and turning overhead, or the quiet rustle of a thrasher in the forest understory. If you ask, most birdwatchers will be quite happy to share their spark bird.

Beginning to birdwatch can seem daunting. There are thousands of birds to learn (10,000, if you want to know all of them in the world), new tools to help you find them, and new places to explore. But fortunately, birdwatching can be what you make it, and everyone can go at their own pace. Many people like to watch the birds that visit their yard; 38.7 million people, according to a US Fish and Wildlife survey. Others are in for the thrill of the chase, and are willing to drive, fly, or boat thousands of miles to see a new bird.

Tools of the trade are next. Kiskadees, chachalacas, doves, and many other birds can easily be enjoyed and identified with our bare eyes and ears, but binoculars are important for seeing distant birds and getting more detailed views. Fortunately, there are many different options for binoculars, depending on budget and your personal preference.

Another useful tool is a field guide, whether hardcopy or electronic. There a many good field guides out there, and some specifically come as phone apps. The key is to get one that shows different angles of a bird, points out important field marks, and tells where the bird can be found (habitat and geography). You can also find lots of the same information on the internet – it’s a great time to be a birdwatcher.

The most important thing in beginning to birdwatch, however, is taking time to watch the birds. And this is where the best part of being a birdwatcher comes in: you can find them nearly everywhere and Quinta Mazatlan in McAllen is a great place to start your journey. You can watch birds while walking, jogging, or biking, just like you can sitting on a bench. Being able to do it at your own pace and at your own time is a great pleasure of birdwatching.